Christmas on Mackinac Island

Well, here it is December already. I haven't posted since June. What? I guess life just changes things sometimes.

This past weekend Steve and I went to Mackinac Island to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season. It is such a unique experience I thought I would share the day with you. We went to the Christmas Bazaar, saw the Christmas tree on Main Street, watched Santa roll in on the fire truck and just had a grand relaxing day. 

Steve took all of the following pictures except one which I'll point out. I haven't been much in the camera mood lately, so enjoying the day and letting you and I see the fun through Steve's eyes was refreshing.

It wasn't a sunny day, but it wasn't freezing cold either. I have a backpack on and my pockets are stuffed with extra mittens, etc. I look like the Pillsbury dough boy. :) Here we are arriving to the island.

The Christmas tree was put up the previous night. Some fresh snow would make the scene perfect. Most of the shops are closed for the season but there was a handful we checked out. Only two restaurants were open. A few horses clip-pity clopped down the roads so we had to watch where we stepped. And three fudge shops were open for the weekend.

One of the restaurants

The other restaurant

So what do the locals do during the off season?

Play street hockey!

The Mackinac Island Community Center was packed with locals and non locals. Steve bought some raffle tickets to try and win a snowmobile. All of the proceeds go to the Island's medical center and to the churches on the island.

They chose the winning ticket today at 2:30. We're still waiting for the call. LOL

Santa! This picture was taken by the Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Service. (The ferry we took to and back from the island.)

Bikes and snowmobiles and carts were spotted everywhere. For those of you who don't know, automobiles are not allowed on Mackinac Island (with the exception of a snowplow, a fire truck, and other emergency vehicles.)

Before we headed back to the mainland, Steve wanted to take a selfie. Ha!

Two Mourning Doves...

Indigo Bunting

Those of you who know me or follow this blog know I love my birds. As soon as we returned from Wyoming, I put my bird feeders out and the birds came. I had such a variety that I could watch and listen to all day long.

Then the Bear came into the yard...

not my dog Bear...

a real black bear...

on his/her way to the backyard feeders...

at dusk.

Steve was on his way out of the house to shut things down in the garage for the night, and they met - Steve on the back porch, the bear on its way to the feeder. They looked at each other for a moment. The bear slowly turned around and left the yard.

Steve put all of my feeders back into the garage.

Yellow Finch

House Finch

A Sand Hill Crane strolling down our gravel road.

So now I just put black sunflower seeds on the stump in our front yard and backyard. Some of the birds still come, but not many. This pair of Mourning Doves are here every morning. I watch them over my morning coffee.

Thanks for remaining my constant feeders my Mourning Doves! But they should be called Morning Doves. I know their song sounds a bit melancholy, but I find it soothing in the morning over morning coffee. Not like they are mourning the loss of my feeders, but like they are morning birds. But sometimes they come in the afternoon and evening, but always in the morning. Hence Morning Doves...

Thanks for listening.

So Happy the Elk are Back!

Last evening we came home from town to find the elk had returned and were in the backyard down the hill!

Lots of them. So glad to have them back.

But last night it snowed so everything is white again. And tonight we have a winter weather warning so in the morning we will have more snow.

But we're glad they are sticking around and enjoyed their day on Big Hill.

Have a great week everyone!

~Debi