TILL NEXT TIME

Just one of the magnificent homes on Mackinac Island. Many people have asked to see more of The Grand Hotel. Since we were not staying at the hotel this trip, we could not get to those areas. There won't be any photos of the lobby, rooms (incidentally, they have 385 rooms and no two are alike), or other areas of the hotel. Should you want, however, you may see more on Flickr or YouTube, just click one or both of the links to be magically transported to their site. You can book a special internet rate of $149. per person. This includes your breakfast and dinner as well as discounted ferry tickets. Should you still be hesitating, there is no tipping within the hotel. It may not be high season but, Fall is beautiful and it is The Grand. Really, not a bad deal.

THE GRAND HOTEL UNE AUTRE VUE

This is The Grand Hotel shot from the main entrance. The carriages are taking people to and from the hotel. The fabulous porch is located just above the yellow awnings. You can also see some of the flower boxes filled with Geraniums.

THE GRANDEST OF THE GRAND

This is The Grand Hotel located on Mackinac Island. It is located on the eastern end of The Straits of Mackinac in Lake Huron between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. It opened for business on July 10, 1887. No cars or motorized vehicles are permitted on the island. The methods of transportation are horse and carriage, bicycle, and walking. The porch of the hotel is the largest in the world and has 2500 Geraniums in 260 planters. Several movies have been shot here including one of the ultimate"chic flicks" SOMEWHERE IN TIME. In keeping with the traditions of days gone by, a coat and tie is required for dinner. The grounds are meticulously maintained and breathtakingly beautiful. It has earned the honor of being one of the best hotels in the world and is on The National Registry of Historical Buildings. I will show more shots from Mackinac this week. No trip to Northern Michigan would be complete without a day trip to the Island. For the "Full Monte," book a room at The Grand Hotel. You will come back again and again. It really is that special.

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST

I saw this piece of art at a street fair awhile back. I didn't think much of it at first. But, it began to grow on me. I've come to appreciate the expression on her face, the position of her outstretched arm, and the angle of her head. She's an artist gazing at life passing in front of her and getting her inspiration. It's a nice piece. What do you see?

SEE ROCK CITY

This is one of those "happen upon" things that photographers find. At first glance, you think beautiful stone work;charming roof line;interesting window. Then you walk a little further and it hits you. You shake your head in disbelief. A Garden Shed? This wonderful piece of architecture and craftsmanship is a garden shed?Please, enlarge the photos, and shake your head, too. I bet those tomatoes are good.

THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT

This young lad is my grandson. After an evening session of feeding deer at a park in town, he spots the only puddle for miles around. He makes a bee line for it;laughing hysterically. Unfortunately, only one shoe made it through on his feet. Now reality starts to set in. Does he wade in to get it and risk the wrath of his mother who is shaking her head in disbelief. Or, does he just concentrate real hard and become invisible. Son, there's a price for everything. Only one scoop of ice cream tonight.

FROM BELGRADE HE CAME (FOR BIBI)

This magnificent bird is the Pileated Woodpecker. He stands about 18 inches tall. If you are old enough to recall the song WIPE OUT by The Ventures, then you will know what his voice sounds like. The first time we heard his call, we were dumbfounded. It took most of the summer to figure out what was making the noise. Then one day, I heard the maniacal call and looking up, whamo, there he was. Right outside my bedroom window. I can now cross off another item from my bucket list. Only 797,639 to go.

DOORIS DAY

This is the type of door you might see in a restaurant. Open it and you might find meat, fruit, vegetables and anything else requiring refrigeration. But on a house? This is the main entrance to a home;a stainless steel door. Let's see, it requires no maintenance, never needs painting and may withstand a nuclear assault. Somethings are just wrong! It sure is different, though.

THE GREAT DEBAIT

This gentleman was standing outside a restaurant we were going to. He was holding a fish that, presumably, he caught. I asked him what he used for bait. "Plankton," he responded. I ordered a hamburger.

BILL GATES

I have posted a few gates on this blog. Most have been expensive, gaudy looking things. These are simple, yet, elegant;no "Yuppi" would keep these. When the time comes to replace them, I'm sure they with find a temporary home in an antique store. They will not be "homeless" for very long.

WHAT'S BEHIND DOOR NUMBER ONE?

This is a door to nowhere. It is right on Main Street in the heart of the town. It is the most interesting entrance on the street. Yet, it is not a retail store, an office, or anything else for that matter. Rumor has it that it once housed a theatre group. It seems implausible considering there are stores on either side and the space is not much wider than the door itself. Just another of those interesting mysteries. It certainly is an attention getter and demands another summer of research to get to the bottom of.

FALLING INTO AUTUMN

Just a little preview of what's to come. The folks at Pond Hill Farm are getting ready. They have some Pumpkin like things that are close to 500 lbs. The squash is being harvested and the leaves are starting to change. It is supposed to drop into the low 40s tonight;ole' Jack Frost is getting ready. It may be still be Summer in the South, but, it's Fall up here.

LOOK, UP IN THE SKY. IT'S A BIRD. IT'S A PLANE. IT'S ...

I was out walking the dogs the other day and heard what I assumed was a swarm of insects approaching. I looked around but saw nothing as the sound grew louder. Then, with cat like reflexes, I looked up to see a small object in the sky. It was headed towards the airport just a stones throw from where we were. I dispatched the dogs and proceeded to the tarmac. I arrived just in time to snap a picture of the creature. It is a Sportcopter Gyroplane which is sort of an airplane that fell in love with a helicopter and reproduced. The model is call The Vortex. They have a neat video on their website. You may view it by clicking here. Maybe man was meant to fly after-all.

THE MIGHTY MAC

This is the Mackinac Bridge;The Mighty Mac. It separates the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with the lower. It is the third longest suspension bridge in the world. It opened to traffic on November 1, 1957. On the left side of the bridge is Lake Michigan on the right, Lake Huron. At approximately 5:30 PM on September 6, the 150 millionth vehicle crossed the bridge. It is said that a drop of water entering lake Michigan here takes 99 years to exit the lake at this spot. It is, after all, a self contained lake. I don't know who figured this out(or why) but it is interesting.

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

This is Chillermania the world headquarters of the Chiller Series of children's books. The author is Johnathan Rand. His works of fiction originally were centered in and around Michigan. The success of the series has prompted him to move beyond Michigan and write stories that take part in other cities in other states. His mission is to get kids to read. He believes kids like to be frightened but feel safe. While I think it a noble idea, I am not too sure about the scary part. Life can be a little too scary at times. I don't know the merit of frightening a child and the resulting effects on a delicate psyche. There is no disputing their popularity, however. This must be a very popular place around Halloween.

SKYWATCH - ONLY THE LONELY

Doesn't it just figure. The summer residents have left, the tourists have left, the town is all but deserted. And what happens, we are treated to the most beautiful day of the summer. A perfect SKYWATCH day. A light breeze and a calm Bay. Not a soul here to partake but me. Life is good!

WHILE STROLLING IN THE PARK ONE DAY

Have you ever been walking in the woods and come upon something that defies description. Well, that happened to us the other day. We tripped upon this assemblage of rocks. It is not near anything and doesn't appear to have been used for anything, either. Perhaps, some descendants of the Druids have reappeared. They do that every thousand years or so;and in the strangest of places.

THE LOCK NESS MONSTER

This is a Monster Anti-Theft Device. It will protect your bike wherever you leave it. No one will mess with him, no one will come near him. He is on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Available on line and at finer retailers internationally. Sleep well tonight knowing he is protecting your treasured possession. And to think, all these years I used a lock and key. Progress can be a beautiful thing, sometimes.

RUSHING INTO FALL

The beach is a deserted place today. The kids are back in school, the summer residents are closing their homes, there's a chill in the air. The shelves in the grocery store are being stocked with Halloween candy. One season is about to end and another begin. The cycle continues. So many good times were had and will be remembered again and again. The chairs await next summer's occupants, it's really not that far off you know. Memories to be made and told and retold. Again and again.

LABOR DAY - 2009

Enjoy the day! Hope yours is a wonderful one. This is where I will be spending mine. Little Traverse Bay, Harbor Springs, Michigan.

I'M ABSOLUTELY NOT KIDDING, I DID SEE THEM

I was out walking the other day when I heard a tremendous flapping noise. I turned in time to see these two large birds land just over my shoulder. I grabbed my camera and quickly took a picture of them. The one on the left was more than a little perturbed. I'm not sure what kind of birds they are but this I know for sure, they are from Sweden. Perhaps Steffe or Stromsjo might have more insight. Please click on the image to enlarge and get the full SKYWATCH effect.

BORN TO BE WILD

Remember growing up, you or your kids or someone you knew had a rocking horse. Well it is a different day and age. I present to you, The Rocking Motorcycle. Now your child or grandchild can rock away the hours dreaming of riding his or her own Harley. The wide open spaces has been replaced with the asphalt jungle. Roy Rogers has given way to Peter Fonda and  Marlon Brando. All the cool kids have them. Just be sure they wear a helmut.

DALL'ITALIA CON AMORE

I really love this mural. It transports a small Vespa shop from a busy street in Fort Lauderdale to a quiet canal in Venice. Fantastico! Click on the image to enlarge, it is worth it. Goda di.As for the Vespa scooters, very cool but not in this city. Too many crazy drivers to contend with. It is hard enough to get around in a car. The shop is always a fun visit, however.

A BIG EVENT

This month's theme for Theme Day is BIG. Well, this is one BIG chicken. He stands guard at the BIG Chicken Pizza parlor. If you happen by, stop in and order the BIG pizza. One more thing, those are some BIG cars out front. That should cover Theme Day pretty well. Can't wait for next month.Click here to view thumbnails for all participants