Hi Everyone!
Oh my gosh! This has been the LONGEST month!
I have to admit I’ve enjoyed my vacation from writing this month, but for the last week or so I’ve looked at the calendar more than once to see how many days of my self-imposed “writing vacation” was left. I’m glad it’s over . . . because I sure have missed sharing and hearing from all of you!
If we’re friends on Facebook, some of what I’m about to share will be repetitive, but maybe there will be enough new stuff to keep you interested.
SUNSET INLET
Home sweet home. So happy to report that – after exactly one year (as of October 31) – we are truly settled in. I don’t know if Florida will ever be my favorite place to live, but two things are really beginning to make it feel like home. First – wonderful new friends! While we were in Michigan, Sunset Inlet really filled up, as houses were finished and people moved into the neighborhood. We spent our first week back meeting new neighbors and getting reacquainted with the ones who were already here when we left.
The other thing is our home. The longer we live in it, the more we’re making it ours. Decorators are wonderful, and mine is the best . . . BUT! After the decorator has come and gone, it’s all the little things you add that make a house a home. That’s the fun part, and I love doing it. Of course, Ted says if I bring home one more “throw” pillow he’s going to place a moratorium on his credit cards. But that’s ok . . . I have my own.
The weather has been HOT (Ted would say warm – I say HOT) and muggy since we’ve been back. We had a nor’easter blow in right after we arrived, with winds around 30 mph for three days straight. THOSE days were cooler because of the constant wind. I’m hoping the first week in November will see a cool down that lasts AND less humidity!
Even though the weather hasn’t been fall-like yet, I can’t say enough about the beauty of our surroundings.
Ted and I have both jumped back into our volunteer jobs. For me that means the ER and the Flagler Humane Society. After being gone for 2 1/2 months I was faced with almost all new faces in the cattery (although a few of our ‘regulars’ were still there – mostly our sweet little black cats).
MACKINAC ISLAND
What can I say? I miss Mackinac, and miss it even more knowing we left just as “leaf” season was cranking up. But, thanks to friends who were there and shared, we get to enjoy the beauty of Fall on the island through their photographs.
BIG MACKINAC NEWS!
Guess who’s going to the Mackinac Christmas Bazaar the first weekend in December?! Do you see me jumping up and down waving both arms in the air??
It’s true, it’s true! Original Murdick’s Fudge has asked me to come up to write about how they open for three weeks in December to make the fudge that goes out all over the country for on-line orders. Instead of a complete summer crew, it’s all done by just a few special Christmas elves. It’s going to be a great story, and I can’t wait to share it! Ted is staying home for this trip – he is never going to be a cold-weather person. Bear and Maddie were very happy to hear a pet sitter was not in their near future!
Ok . . . I know it’s a frivolous thing to add to your prayer list . . . but it sure would be nice if there was lots and lots of fluffy white SNOW during that weekend!!! I’ll be flying up on Thursday, Dec. 3 and returning to Florida on Monday, Dec. 7. So EXCITED!!
BRAGGING RIGHTS
I think that about catches you up on what’s been happening with the Hortons. Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, and our list of guests for dinner is growing each day – which makes us so happy.
Notes: I’ll be keeping the Mackinac Island blog open until after my December trip, then I’ll close it down until we return next July.
So . . . . what have y’all been up to???? Wouldn’t it be awesome if everyone reading this did a little one-paragraph version of what you and yours have been up to in October? Happy events, prayer requests – whatever you want to share.
Ok- see you back here in a few days – or a week – or whenever I’ve got something to share.
Have a GREAT week. I’ve missed you all! God bless.
You weren’t the only one checking the calendar waiting for your blog to return. Thanks for all the news and photos, even though I see it on Facebook, I can’t get enough.
October has been a good weather month up until a few days ago. Soccer, for my granddaughter Tiana, ended yesterday in a cold, windy and rainy day, but they won the game and Tiana scored two of the three goals!! We’re very proud of her. I also had a close friend from high school that I hadn’t seen in 45 years come into Madison for the Badger/Rutgers football game. She and her husband arrive a couple of days prior to the game, so we had two wonderful days to enjoy together…That was my October and it was a good one!!
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Grandchildren are the best, aren’t they Joleen! And so are old friends! We had visitors last week from Georgia who we hadn’t seen in ages – R.D. and Kim Harter. They were staying in Daytona, but came by to see us and then we all went out to dinner later in the week. So enjoyed seeing them!
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For some reason, Hilde isn’t able to post a comment. She emailed this to me, so I cut and paste it here:
I just read your blog and I sure did miss you. So glad your back!! Anyway, I left a comment and this time I saved it just in case. Well good thing I did because once again it didn’t show up lol. So I copied and pasted below what I wrote.
Oh My Goodness! It sure is nice to hear from you again Brenda. I sure did miss you! I have to say that I am SO jealous of your trip to the island in December, sure wish I could go. Bud and I have talked about it, but you just never know how the weather will be for driving at that time of year. Sigh! But of course, I can’t wait to hear all about it when you go. I want to say that I hope you have lots of snow, but then again, that would mean we probably will too and I’m kinda with Ted, I’m not a cold type of person. LOL! Love all the pictures and Kitty. I feel bad for her. I have to say that I don’t think an animal shelter volunteer would be a good place for me to work…too sad. Our plans for Thanksgiving this year will be spent in Galena, IL. It’s a beautiful little town 3 hours north of here, on the border of Wisconsin, and Iowa. Just a little get away. I’ve also become a Jamberry Consultant because I fell in love with the wraps and I like having pretty nails. So that’s about all I’ve been up too. Can’t wait to hear from others. Love ya and missed ya.
Even if you can’t see my comments, always know that I AM reading.
Love Hilde 🙂
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I hadn’t realized how LONG and how MUCH I’d missed seeing you in my email! Glad you took time off but REALLY glad you’re back!
My hubby and son ran the Chicago Marathon the first part October. I went and enjoyed a nice hotel, lol. It was a LOVELY weekend for all of us. LOVE LOVE LOVE taking the train between Ann Arbor and Chicago! Hubby and I made a quick trip up north another weekend. We chose not to go to the island this time. Quick trip, rainy, cold-ish weather….we decided to venture up to Sault St. Marie and watch ships in the Soo. I’ve become mesmerized by them. We looked around that nice little town a bit. We’ve really been giving a lot of thought to wanting a place up north where we can sit and see the water. Pipe dreams at this time, but you never know when a blessing may fall your way!
Prayer request for hubby’s dad. VERY LONG story short….he’s had surgery at Mayo Clinic in MN to replace (twice) a jawbone with a titanium one he’s still struggling to heal from. He’s had infection long before the surgery and its not getting much better. Face stays swollen, everything is painful and he’s no longer able to eat solid foods. Eating was about his only real enjoyment before and now he doesn’t even have that. He’s one that’s drawn to negatives and self-pity ANYWAY, so now that he’s had plenty of reason to feel that way….there’s just no helping lift him up. Check-up visits every couple of months continue and hubby or his brother have to take a week off work each time to see them from KS to MN and back. It’s getting old on everyone.
Thanksgiving! I THINK we very well may have our son’s girlfriend here for the day. Her family is in OK. It’ll be a first for our family to have….what WE think will be an eventual addition to the family. So far we seem to like each other sufficiently, lol.
Have a good one, everyone! And Hilde….I’ve been to Galena, IL. It’s a real nice little town!
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The Chicago Marathon! I’m way beyond impressed – with your husband and son for running – and with you for NOT running it!
So sorry to hear about your father-in-law’s troubles. My prayer will be the infection clears and doctors are able to do something to make his quality of life less depressing. I know his sons feel helpless and also stretched almost beyond their resources. Prayers lifting for them also.
We also have a girlfriend of a son coming for Thanksgiving!
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Congrats, Hilde, on the consulting job. I’m not familiar with that product, but I’m off to research it now! Galena sounds like a great place to spend Thanjsgiving!
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Great to have you back, Brenda! We were on the island the end of September. We lucked out again and had beautiful weather! My big an announcement is that I am retiring the end of December! A little scary but I will not have any trouble finding things to do. And I, like Joleen, enjoyed ( ha ha) the Badger game yesterday in the cold and rain!! Ugh. You just never know about the weather. Of course today it is sunny and supposed to be 60 degrees! Oh well……have a wonderful November everyone!
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It is great to see you blogging again and updating us on your family and the island. I have missed that.
In October, Tony and I, plus another couple, spent 10 days in Pennsylvania touring Gettysburg, Hershey, Lancaster, Philadelphia and Valley Forge. While I was jogging in Hershey, I smelled chocolate. After touring the Hershey Museum and Chocolate World,I thought my mind was playing tricks on me, but my friends who lived in Hershey said the city really does smell like chocolate. That was wonderful. The fall colors were magnificent and the weather was perfect.
Please keep us updated. Bless you.
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Oh wow, Barbara – that sounds like an awesome way to spend some fall weather time. It also sounds like my history-loving husband would love it! And smelling like chocolate would be the icing – no pun intended – on the cake!
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I must have missed (or chose to ignore) the announcement on your October vacation from blogging — just last night I went through my deleted mail to make sure I hadn’t deleted a message by mistake! Glad to have you back — I’ve missed my “fix” every week.
We are thinking of flying to Mackinac next summer — the drive from Florida is just too much for George. Would you mind sharing your route w/me? I know there is a shuttle from Pellston to the ferry docks but am curious about the best way to get to Pellston (we’d probably fly out of Tampa but I am guessing the airlines would have similar schedules). One of my bucket list items is to actually fly onto the island — have you ever done that?
Thanks Brenda — I love hearing about all of your adventures!!!!
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Hi Kathy. When we went in June we flew from Daytona Beach to Traverse City, then did the Mackinac shuttle from there to ferry. That’s about a three-hour drive. In Decenber I’m flying from Daytona to Pellston, with stops in Atlanta and Detroit. A friend is picking me up at the airport, but in the summer it’s a 15-minute ride on Mackinac Shuttle to the ferry from Pellston.
The only time I flew onto Mackinac was a February when I went up for Winter Festival. St. Ignace airport to Mac Island airport – a 5-minute hop over the frozen Straits. Awesome! I’m sure it’s just as beautiful with no ice!!
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Do you fly Delta? I’m not sure what airlines go into Pellston.
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Yes! Delta all the way.
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Glad to see you’re back after Surrey Hill closed took some time off to haul hay to get ready for winter with the horses this fall has been beautiful I’ve done a lot of riding this year which I’ve enjoyed so much and tonight I get to spend the night on Mackinac Island what a way to end October and bring in November lots of people heading home from the Grand Hotels Halloween party and lots coming over for the last night at the Grand.
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Sounds perfect to me, Denise! Remember you and Mike have a standing invitation to stay here whenever you’re nearby in Florida!
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Welcome back! Outstanding post trying to talk Sirena into going up to Mackinac around that time for a little winter break too.
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That would be just awesome if y’all landed on the island during Christmas Bazaar, Jason! Hope all is well with you both!
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A couple football games – my best friend, her parents and I are season ticket holders at Miami University. (If you want to get in trouble where you live – this Miami was a University while Florida still belonged to Spain.)
My 20th high school reunion – no way it has been that long. And oddly despite what women can change about themselves, the men were harder to recognize.
Last weekend, my friends and I went to Michigan for our annual girls weekend. So much fun sharing my favorite vacation spots with them. We shopped Ann Arbor and toured Greenfield Village. We, also, did something I’d never heard about before and toured Meadow Brook Hall. Wow! I highly suggest it to anyone around there.
Other than that work, home, the usual 🙂
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20 year reunion, Laura! You are a baby! Next year will be my 50th!
What fun to have such a great trip with friends – sounds like a blast!
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Hi Bree!
I’ve been following your blog, and I’m a lover of Mac. Island as well! I make a point of going every year and hope to someday live up there! Since you mention in your post that you were going to the Christmas Bazaar I was wondering if you have any tips?? I’ve been trying to find a hotel for that weekend to take my mom (she has had a rough year) but every hotel I look at seems to be booked or simply not open for the winter season! I think my problem is I want to take my dog, and most places don’t allow that, lol.
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That’s a tough one, Megan – for all the reasons you mentioned. The only alternative really is to book in St. Ignace or Mac City and come over for a day trip. Good luck, and I hope you can work something out for you and your mom!
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So glad you’re back. Sunday nights I would get ready for your blog, when I realized it was still Oct. Disappointing for me. Busy helping with the grands. Exhausting but fun. The colors of the leaves in Ohio have been just beautiful this year. We’ve had lots of little critters visiting this year. It wouldn’t be Oct. w/out, Ohio State football. It’s my very favorite sport. Of course, we’re all anxiously awaiting big games with Mich. St. and the other school from Ann Arbor.
As usual, enjoying our dogs to the max. They are the best.
Thanks so much for your wonderful update and photos. They are just great.
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Awwww. Thanks, Christine. It’s nice to be missed. Sounds like your October has been exciting and filled with good things!
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Yeah! You’re back. While you were on vacation from writing, I was on vacation. My sister and I went on a New England and Canada cruise that originated in New York. Our cruise left the week that hurricane Joaquin was projected to come up the coast. While I am sorry it stayed south and rained on South Carolina, we had wonderful weather – except our day in New York. If you ever get to Halifax, Nova Scotia, I recommend the Segway tour. It was good fun and not hard at all if you can stand up, lean forward to go, and lean back to stop.
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Chevy, that sounds like the most fun ever – the Segway tour! And I’ve always wanted to visit Nova Scotia!
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