Travel, Travel, Travel

Whew, we're finally all settled in from our great vacation. We had such a fantastic time! We are (hopefully) going to head back up to Michigan in October to watch one of Chase's football games and take him to his first Red Wings game. We've had a few unexpected things pop up this week though, so we'll just have to see if that works out or not. I'm still hoping for it though!

We had so much fun canoeing in MI that we're looking at buying a canoe for next summer. Hopefully there's some rivers that we can canoe down around here! LOL! So we'll have to see how that goes.

Things are gearing up for hockey season here! Jim had his hockey registration last week and starts this week with some "practices." And our hockey team kicks off their season Labor Day weekend! Yay! Can't wait for that!

I started a new book series. It's by Charlaine Harris and is the Sookie Stackhouse series. There is a tv show on HBO called True Blood that was based on this series. I had no intentions of reading the books, but a friend of mine highly recommended them. And wow, she was so right. They have been fantastic. I read the first two books while we were driving to and from Michigan and read books 3 & 4 this week! I went out and got books 5 & 6 today. It's taking some major self-control not to just read the books instead of doing the things I need to get done. Such as homework, cleaning, packing...

Yes I said packing. I leave on Monday for Palm Springs, California. I'll be there until Friday. It's for work but I'm excited to go. I had hoped Jim would be able to tag along but he has to cover for the 2nd shift guy this week so he was unable to go. They're having a cold front move in, so it looks like it will only be 105-110 while I'm there. And I say that while laughing my butt off. I'm so going to melt. I know everyone says "oh well it's a dry heat so it wont' feel hot" blah blah blah. That might be true, but I'm pretty sure that 110 is 110...Soooo yeah. We'll see if I make it through walking through fire this week. hahaha. I am also hoping for a small earthquake while I'm there. Nothing big (no damage) but I want to feel one! LOL! Weird, I know.

Well, you know that list up there? Yeah, I keep procrastinating and am really not getting anything done. So I guess that means I need to get off the computer and get some stuff done. Ugh. Anyways, hope you all enjoyed the vacation pics. I'm sure I'll have some pics from Palm Springs as well. Although I don't know of what...maybe of my on the sidewalk from heat stroke??? We'll see.... :)

Last pictures from Mackinac Island!

The Grand Hotel from the ferry ride back to St. Ignace

I told Jim I wanted one of these houses...I wonder if I'll get it??? haha

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City, MI

Mackinac Island Part VI

Fort Mackinac Commissary

Grand Hotel. It was pouring at this point so we did not get a chance to walk around the Grand Hotel's gardens. What we saw though was gorgeous, so I imagine it is all pretty breathtaking. We had to pay $10 to tour the hotel since we weren't staying there. But I will say this. It was so interesting and it was evident that back in the day when the hotel was built, the hotel must have been the top of the line, best hotel to stay at, ever. It would have been amazing. It was still awesome, but we prefer more modern and contemporary hotels. With that being said, I would probably pay the $480 to stay there for one night, just to be able to say I've stayed there. :) Maybe next time.

We had to sit on the famous front porch of the Grand Hotel. :)

My view from the porch. You can see Lake Huron out there, but the rain made it pretty hazy and not very clear!

The 660' front porch. So relaxing!

Mackinac Island Part V

Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery. One of only 4 cemeteries in the USA that has been granted the ability to fly its flag at half-staff at all times. The other 3 cemeteries are Arlington Cemetery, Gettysburg and Pearl Harbor/Punchbowl Cemetery.

Skull Cave

Arch Rock

Rifle firing at Fort Mackinac. Fort Mackinac was really neat. Mackinac Island was fought over for quite awhile and changed hands a few times. The French, British and Americans fought over it because of the fur trade. Fur trading was so big on the island that whoever had control of the island controlled the fur trade which resulted in a whole lot of money. Fort Mackinac still has the original buildings from when it was a military fort and they are set up with original furnishings. It was pretty awesome.

Schoolhouse at Fort Mackinac

Cannon firing at Fort Mackinac

Mackinac Island Part IV

Little Stone Church

The Governor's summer residence.

An original Mackinac Island fire tanker

The official Mackinac Island hearse

Mackinac Island Part III

Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. We took this tour around part of the island which was great because it took you to many of the attractions on the island but also gave you a history of it and pointed out other places that you might not have known about. It was definitely worth the time and money for the tour.

The post office. If you are a Mackinac Island resident, you have to pick up your own mail from the post office. They do not deliver!

Mackinac Island Courthouse and Police Station

Mackinac Island Medical Center