6/14/09

Sunday Favorites/Outdoor Wednesday/ Mackinac Island and a Bear!!

Welcome to Sunday Favorites with our lovely hostess Chari! It's been so much fun getting to know Chari over the last several months. She has a beautiful blog with so many interesting things that you will want to stay a very long time. Thank-you my friend for hostessing this meme! I have been so busy getting ready for my son to visit that I haven't been up to posting much. I haven't seen him since last October and it's been tough. I will keep you all posted on our visit. My DIL and son fly into Minneapolis tomorrow and then it's about a 2 hour drive to our home. I can't wait! On another note, I am still shaky and a bit excited. Last night I saw a bear! I was driving towards town and had only gone about 1/4 mile when I saw something Big and Black coming from the side of the woods. It was about 8:30 and dusk was just starting to settle. It takes your mind a minute to process what your are seeing. I thought to myself, what is that big black thing? Is that a big dog? And then, OMG, it's a bear!!! I stopped, and he scampered across the road while I sat in my car with my mouth wide open . He started up a hill into the dense woods near us and when I called his name, (here Bear, here Bear) lol, he would pause and look back at me. Oh I so wish I had my camera with me! This is my 2Nd bear sighting in 2 years and it's quite an experience. It wasn't that long ago, when there were no bear in our county. Only the most Northern parts of Wisconsin had any left and they were dwindling. The DNR put them on the endangered species list, and they have been multiplying and migrating farther and farther south. We happen to live in a county with a lot of big dense woods. There are other counties North of us with a smaller bear population. Well, enough said about that. I hope you all are having a lovely weekend. Cindy







This is my 2nd go at this, so please let me know if this works. I have been having trouble with my blog all day. Welcome to another Outdoor Wednesday, hosted by the lovely Susan http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ please check out all the other great outdoor Wednesdays.While walking the streets of Mackinac Island, Michigan last summer we came upon this little boy and his dog. I swear he looked like he was right out of central casting and he wasn't posing, he just happened to be sitting there with his dog.



The Mackinaw Bridge is 5 miles long and the longest suspension bridge in North America. It's longer than the Golden Gate. If you have a fear of bridges, as I do a bit, then this drive will be quite the rush. On one side of the bridge you will see Lake Michigan, on the other Lake Huron. The bridge connects residents from the UP to the mainland.






A small section of some of the gardens at the Grand Hotel. They are incredibly lovely!










A view of Mackinac Island as you are coming in on the ferry. There are only about 600 year round residents, however summer is very busy! If you ever get to visit, this is one magical place.







A side view of the beautiful Grand Hotel. We would have loved to stay here, however rooms start at $450.00 per night and coat and ties for the men and dresses for the women are required after 6:00 p.m. The movie, Somewhere in Time, starring Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour was filmed here. They have an annual lilac festival every June and I sure want to get there again this summer.







Thanks for coming by, Cindy










24 comments:

  1. I've been wanting to see Mackinac Island for years and your pictures just make me want to see it MORE.

    The boy and his dog is absolutely my FAVORITE.

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  2. What a gorgeous place. I would love to see it. YOur pics are so pretty. Thanks. Hugs, Marty

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  3. OMG! I would've sat there too! I love it when we see "unusual" wildlife. Something that just isn't quite expected, yet not unheard. We have quite a few bear around here believe it or not. We saw our first one about 3 months after we moved in. VERY COOL! See? Another one of God's simple gifts!
    Mackinac Island. I have always wanted to stay there. We will get there someday, but NOBODY told me you have to go across a bridge. Hmmmmm. I'm sooooo not a fan of bridges. Not after the San Francisco earthquake during the world series. Ugh.
    That movie was one of my favorites, and it makes you want to have lived during that time doesn't it? I Love Jane Seymore. I loved Dr. Quinn too! (hehehe)
    Well have a great week visiting, I don't know if I could go since Oct without seeing my son. MY GOSH! I'd be gong buggy too!
    ENJOY! Hugs my friend! Karen

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  4. Hi Cindy! Believe it or not, bear sightings here in New Jersey -- 1/2 an hour from New york City -- are pretty common. A few years ago I had to stop for a bear to cross the road in front of my car, right near a big hospital, in the middle of suburban sprawl! (I thought it was an injured dog at first!)

    Fabulous photos of Mackinac Island --now that's one beautiful spot! Wow. $450 a night for the big hotel? Ouch. Maybe in my next life. . . .
    Cass

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  5. I don't think I'd be calling after Mr. Bear- no way, no how!!! Macinac is someplace I've always wanted to visit. Do you think anyone would object if I camped out on the porch, though?!

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  6. Hello Dearheart...

    Ohhh myyy...a bear? OMG...I would have had a heart attack...hehe!!! I can't believe that you were calling out to him, Girlfriend!!! We have black and brown bears in the Rockies...but it's been a long time since I've seen one. It is a bit scary though...I hope that none of those darling little critters ever come up close to your house!!!

    I'm so excited for you...getting to see your son and DIL! Have a wonderful visit, Sweetie! Take lots of photos and share some of them with us...okay?

    I'm so glad that you joined in with Sunday Favorites again this week...sorry that you had so much trouble posting! Girlfriend, Mackinac Island is gorgeous! Ohhh yes, I would love to visit there! I was admiring all of those fabulous homes...they look like Victorian style homes...so beautiful! I thought that hotel looked familiar...hehe! I loved that movie and have seen it two or three times! Such beautiful photos, Darlin'...so glad that you shared them with all of us!

    Now you go and have lots of fun with your son!!!
    Love ya,
    Chari

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  7. ~Wow! What an amazing place and the little boy is too cute with his doggie friend. ~Gorgeous.

    Thanks for your kind visit Cindy.
    You're so sweet.

    Have a wonderful evening.
    ~Melissa :)

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  8. There is some serious cash floating around out there if they can spend $450 per night for a room. Yipes.
    It sure is a beautiful place though.

    BTW if you go out in the woods today you're sure to get a surprise.

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  9. Ahhh, a boy and his dog. Absolutely love it! Great pics!
    ~Michelle

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  10. Your pictures helped me imagine I was there and I can only imagine how shocked you were after seeing that bear!

    Have a great Sunday Cindy!

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  11. Hi Cindy,
    I saw a bear once here on our farm, but I was not as close as you were, it does take you by surprise though. you sound like me , I never have my camera with me when i need it!!! lol

    Beautiful place Mackinac Island , such a beautiful place. Thank you for sharing. Now go and enjoy this time with your family!
    Hugs,
    Sue

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  12. Bears...not sure I would have stopped and got out...nope. Not me. I am a big coward. I remember reading a story in Life Magazine years ago...and it was a story about ...a bear attack..and it haunts me to this day. Yes, it was probably a grizzly but I don't really care. I didn't sleep for a week...watched my kids like a hawk..
    Nope..not me.. :)

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  13. Wow Cindy !
    So pretty ! I love to visit those fancy hotels - don't stay - just visit....LOL !
    I hear you on the bridge thing..when I was growing up in the Bay Area (near San Francisco) We have a super long bridge and it goes for miles - kinda scary !
    Hugs ~ Kammy

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  14. I had to laugh when I saw your comment. I was wrapped up in your "bear" story that I didn't comment on the part about Mackinac Island.
    Somewhere in Time is one of my favorite all time movies. It was interesting and I got lost in the scenery and the hotel. And now I see this gorgeous picture you posted...and the movie is coming back to me. The story was so beautiful and sad and I thought one of Christopher Reeves best performances. The same of Jane Seymore.
    I can't believe that hotel is still there and looks, from the photograph, exactly the same! Thanks so much for the wonderful post!
    Mona
    Still goes for the bear though..LOL
    Hugs..and smiles..

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  15. when you have a few minutes, stop by my blog and pick up your "Daydreamer Award"... an award created by me...for bloggers like you!

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  16. Cindy, Be careful with those bears....also, I never knew that you had to cross a 5 MILE bridge to get there. My heart was pounding just looking at your beautiful pix. AND at $450 per night - that's a little rich for my blood, too. It looks like a cool place to visit though. ~ Robyn

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  17. Hi Cindy, wow, this is great. Your pictures are just wonderful. The settings are so lovely....thanks for sharing.

    Barb

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  18. The bear story just cracks me up and scares me a little bit. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment about the cloche party. We would love to have you and please do use your apothecary jar again. They are so neat to work with and we would love to see yours and how you decorate it and where you have it displayed. See you on Friday. Hugs, Marty.

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  19. I really did enjoy your tour. That bear must have been a shock. Thanks for sharing your photos with us. Have a wonderful day.

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  20. Great photos - beautiful country. The bears can stay there. :)
    Glenda

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  21. What a beautiful view! Lovely garden.

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  22. Great pictures, I loved, loved the bright painted daisies pictures!
    Have a great day. . .

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Welcome,
I would love to hear from you. Come back and visit anytime. Warmest Wishes, Cindy