A Few Photos from Mackinac Island

 Something woke me up around 5:45 this morning.

Probably the pitter-pat of rain against my window.

 I decided to get up and read in the front room, watching the rain pour down and enjoying the dim, quiet house.

A moody and cool atmosphere accompanied the rain, and since any sudden change in weather or season tends to have an impact on me, a feeling of cozy inspiration began to swell up.

It's been such a hot and sunny summer that this was a welcomed change of scenery. Perhaps even a precursor to fall.

I busied myself with breakfast, laundry, and other chores. But the moment I saw a break in the rain, I put on my boots and rain jacket and went for my daily nature walk.

I need a day at home. We've been out and about so much lately that my housework requires some attention from me. But now, back at home, and most of our laundry caught up, I can take a moment to record a few photos here.

We recently visited Mackinac Island, a several-hour journey north from us. It was such a lovely little getaway that I would be quite content to stay put now and get back into our school-year rhythm.

Here I am on Main Street, running my errands.

(The pink bag is a slice of fudge I purchased for my mother's birthday.)

There are no vehicles on the island. You get around on foot, on bike, or by horse-drawn carriage.

We stayed in a beautiful house right on the water that friends of our family very generously shared with us.

Here Roman and Nola are about to take off on the 8-mile trek around the island. The last time I biked the perimeter of Mackinac island, I was a few months pregnant!

(In the background you can see Elsa and Soren fishing with their grandpa on the dock.)

So many great places to eat out...

So many fun things to explore...

Behind this water fountain, which is located in the backyard of the Grand Hotel, there is a Secret Garden I was determined to find...

Micah knows that once I am resolved about something, I will stay the course through any difficulty. 

In pounding rain, and after many wrong turns, we finally discovered the discreet, unpaved path that led us to this...

I am convinced that Freckles and Duncan (from the book we're reading) created it, because in a remarkable coincidence, the day after we returned from the island, I read this...

"On the line side he left bushes thick for concealment, and entered by a narrow path he and Duncan had cleared. He called this the front door, though he used every precaution to hide it. He built rustic seats between several of the trees, leveled the floor, and thickly carpeted it with heavy, wooly moss. He planted wild clematis, bittersweet, and wild grapevines, and trained them over until it was almost covered. Every day he planted new flowers, cut back rough bushes, and coaxed out graceful ones. His pride in his room was very great, but he had no idea how surprisingly beautiful it would appear to anyone who had not witnessed its growth and construction." 

(an excerpt from Freckles by Gene Stratton Porter)

A few more photos from the island...

Elsa took this photo...

For being such a small island, we were impressed to find quite a few churches there. All different denominations.

It's tradition that we get our picture taken by this gate...

Such a fun trip! I can't wait to go back.

💖

Before I end I'll share a few updates on our half-bath project.

Probably around twenty years ago, in Micah's first house, he installed a penny floor.

I found an old picture of it right after we were married and our dining room table was moved in...

Well, ever since we've lived in our farmhouse he's wanted to do it again.

So, the kids helped sort pennies, and our little half-bath has been given our "two cents worth."

I like the border!

Today is grout and polyurethane day, then we can move on with the project.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today, friends.

💐

~ Courtney