{Mackinac Island Carriage Tours - Michigan}

Yes, when we did buy the ticket for the Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry (link below post) we also included the Mackinac Island Carriage Tours ←(click it). That is a narrated carriage tour in 2-segments, lasting one hour and 45 minutes. 

This is actually the photo I made with my iPhone from the tickets, that I'd placed on these stones... Seen in the previous post, link below this posting.

After getting off the Ferry, you have to turn to the right, onto Main Street where you redeem this for your actually TIMED tickets.

This is the spot, on the left side and easily recognized. We had still a time lapse so that's when we created all those photos for the previous post.

The carriages will actually stop, to the left and you will be guided onto the right carriage at your TIME schedule received.

Some ancient carriages are shown here. 

Love the Mackinac Island Carriage Tours sign above!

Here we go, seated in a smaller, two-horse hitch carriage and going up the hill towards The Grand Hotel, that I will show later...

Those carriages do have a roof, not always easy for snapping photos... but nice against the sun or rain!

Here at the  Surrey Hills Carriage Museum everybody has to leave the two-horse hitch carriage and visit inside, buy gifts, use the bathroom or eat something. 

Boys are boys and husband Pieter is quite interested in this antique fire truck from Mackinac Island!

Pieter now is wearing his Burberry jacket inside, where the air conditioning is running...  A favorite Last Call Outlet score. 

Quite a study and it feels great for having your hands free on such a day while carrying the light weight back pack. This Timberland score we found at TJ Maxx and it has served on several trips.

Imagine the clattering noise such wheels made at that time over cobblestone streets. 

Sure, with that many horses around during the tourist season, there need to be blacksmiths and here you see all the tools used.
Do They Know? ←click it for more pictures about rubber-over-steel shoes etc.

As the Saying Goes, ‘If the Shoe Fits, Wear It’ ←(click it).

Some of the private island carriage horses wear what looks like a rubber bootie!

In the two-horse hitch they did pass around such a black rubber one.

Above in this photo you see a mold of a composite horseshoe, like you will find when clicking the above link.

From here you leave, through the back of the building, on a three-horse carriage that fits 35 passengers!

While standing in line, you can watch how those gentle giants, get cared for with water!

This red head is tilting the water wagon for our three-horse hitch!

It is good that they get a break and a drink before having to work hard again!

Most horses used on Mackinac Island are Belgian or Percheron horses.

There we go! Now we take the back roads through beautiful Mackinac State Park.
You can see photos of the area here: Mackinac Island Carriage Tours

Everywhere we looked we saw the US Flag waving, very patriotically.

Our three-horse hitch carriage stopped one more time to let passengers get to the Arched Rock.
However, I did walk into the woods for making some wild flower photos instead...

Strong horses, well trained and very hard working.
BUT at the end of the season, they will again go: To Fresh Woods and Pastures ←click it.

We started out on Main Street, near the coast towards the center, than went up to Grand Hotel, yellow dot to the left.
The change from two-horse hitch carriage to three-horse hitch carriage was just below where the orange marker is.
From there we went through the forest to Arch Rock, to the right and back to Fort Mackinac.
Click the picture for a better view!

Just a tiny island but oh so beautiful!
We were so blessed for having such sunny weather with blue sky.
Next I will show you some photos from Mackinac Island Flora
Hope you enjoyed the ride!

Related links:
{Patriotic & Romantic Mackinac Island, Michigan} | previous post by me
{Shepler's Mackinac Island, Michigan Ferry} | previous post by me
{505 S Huron Avenue, Mackinaw City, Michigan} | previous post by me
{Delta Annual Companion Certificate Flight to Detroit, Michigan} | previous post by me

{Cashmere Words of Wisdom & Update}

It is now over one month, since my Mom went to heaven and I want to THANK all of you for your sweet comments, emails and any support that we have received. It feels good for having such an extended network of friends that do care and are there for one another during times of trial.

YES, I am doing fine! Photo from February 8, when we went for a walk around the neighborhood.

Success - Realization - Compassion - Divine - Reality - Present - Courage - Awakened - Enlightened - Beauty - Love - Patience - Thrive - Temple - Vibrant - Spiritual -  Pure - Truth - Joy - Karma - Immortal - Dharma - Soul - Kindness - Meditate - Simplicity - Laughter - Discipline - Fortitude - Dream - Passion - Sacred - Faith - Calm - Serve - Trust - Create - Prayer - Peace - Grace - Liberated - Reborn - Focus 

When I did see this Cashmere knit top on sale at Last Call by Neiman Marcus, I had to have it...

Waiting long enough, it went down from $ 298.00 to $ 89.50!

Love its Words of Wisdom; like Life's Complete Poetry!

Aside from that, this very Cashmere top I will treasure forever, as I wore this during the last FaceTime call with Mom; 2-½ days before her death. 

Here I am wearing it on my black Escada jeans from the Last Call Neiman Marcus Outlet in Orlando, Florida and with my sleeveless black cashmere mock neck underneath for added warmth.

Suede boots are also from Last Call.

Yes, I have lost weight, all the way down to 50.9 kg (112 lbs) I went back up to 51.7 kg (113.7 lbs) on January 21 and now I'm around 52 kg (114.4 lbs) and feeling great; which is important!

Mainly I have been worrying about his guy... Husband Pieter had heart cramps or Angina Pectoris.

Guess it was from all the stress and emotions from the last couple of months.

On February 17, Pieter got all the results from his Cardiologist from the Electrocardiogram, Nuclear stress test and Echo and he does not need surgery. On March 10, he is seeing his Heart Surgeon. We were so happy! 

It is only 4-½ years ago since Pieter had his quadruple bypass + stent placed in his neck—and these heart cramps did scare us.

Ironically, his previous appointment with his Heart Surgeon on January 27, got cancelled... that was the day Mom went to heaven!

I want to keep this guy next to me for many more years; God willing!

Continuing our Blissful Relationship...

On the day that my youngest brother did FaceTime, while he was visiting Mom in the hospital, I did walk outside with my iPad, so husband Pieter too could see Mom and talk with her. 

It was when Pieter almost had finished the 57 m (187 ft) long Wood Trail from the greenhouse up near the house.

Huge tree roots had lifted it up, so Pieter did take it up entirely, put new wood beams underneath and took all rusted nails out and drilled in life-time warranty screws. 

He also put side boards alongside, for keeping the soil from getting washed by rain onto the trail. 

Pieter did treat it with a wood preservative.

Here I proudly stand on the finished Wood Trail on January 28, the day after Mom went to heaven, together with Speckie–girl).

Just iPhone pictures but you get an idea...

Love this quote:

'I wear the key of memory, and can open every door in the house of my life'. - Amelia E. Barr

Thanks again! ♥

{The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass}

The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills in Florida are not to be missed if you ever are in the Miami area!

This is also the Valet parking entrance and you are at the right corner to start browsing Neiman Marcus Last Call, Saks Fifth Avenue or Bloomingdale's and all Outlets at the Colonnade to your right.

Sawgrass Mills is the largest outlet mall in the United States!

HOW large?

2.1 million square feet or 195,096 square meters, which is 19.5 hectare!

According to Miami.com's Sawgrass Mills Survival guide you deserve a medal - and a foot massage if you ever walk those 350 stores and outlet shops...

Yep, in the above screenshot, you see Neiman Marcus to the left and at the top you read Escada and that's how all designer outlets are lined up on both sides of the Colonnade and under a roof. 

Rain or shine - you will be fine. 

Neiman Marcus with super bargains and if you can't make it to the outlet, you also can order on line: Neiman Marcus Last Call ←(click it)

Trip Advisor review by me:

“Sawgrass Mills Colonnade is the BEST shopping + valet parking!” ←(click it)

The Valet parking is a MUST in order to save your feet as the parking lot is like Miami.com put it here above: acres of parking lots with no empty space in sight...

There also is a Wolford outlet store; one of my favorites.

Have you ever been to the Sawgrass Mills Mall?

Related links:

Sawgrass Mills | website for finding store directory, mall map and directions

{Outlet Scores}

Always a pleasure to find great Outlet Scores and we are often successful in Florida.

This Escada jeans suit we found at Escada Outlet Store in Florida, right after I came out of the hospital, when I got almost completely paralyzed because of a rare auto immune disease. I had lost so much weight that I barely could keep any pants on my hips...

Here I wear it again with two new Oultet Scores from the Wolford outlet.

Yes, those Outlets are great for Men's clothes as well.

Here husband Pieter is wearing his favorite jeans brand: Zegna with a nice vest from Last Call by Neiman Marcus.

Pieter captured me laughing at one of our cats; they always follow us like doggies!

You can see the Cotton Velvet Wolford top with the leather belt.

Lovely belt with roses... that was a pre-surgery gift when we were in Florida for a relaxing vacation in September of 2013, but with horrible weather.

Got so lucky that this was in the Wolford Outlet at Orlando, FL

On our latest trip we learned that they closed in February.
But there is one in Fort Lauderdale at The Colonnade!
With Last Call by Neiman Marcus and Escada Outlet store at the Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass, that makes it super...

Do you also treasure such Outlet Scores?

Related links:

{# 148 and my blog is 1 year old today!} | previous post by me with mention of being paralyzed

{Our Citrus Aurantifolia - Key Lime} | previous post by me from stay at Key West after being paralyzed

{My Angel Sister & Mariette's Back to Basics Explained} | previous post by me
{The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass} | previous post by me

{Orange Michael Kors Bangle from Last Call Neiman Marcus}

So sorry for not being able to visit other blogs because of Internet problems. As soon as I get those resolved you will see me around! 

As mentioned several times before, it really pays off to shop at Last Call by Neiman Marcus, either at their stores or on line at Last Call. This really is like The Rich Life on a Budget as blogger friend Adrienne Shubin puts it. So please see my newest addition:

This is me on a very bright and sunny day, March 14.

Also showing off our happy white pansies inside our Fiberglass Window Boxes! For sourse see below post.

Wearing my Escada Outlet orange top and black jeans.

Moving inside our gazebo barely does escape the almost too bright light!

Wearing my silver and gold earrings, necklace, bracelet and ring from Tane, the Mexican equivalent of Tiffany & Co.

And here you see the Mexican Tane jewelry next to the new Michael Kors Orange Buckle Bangle...

Michael by Michael Kors Golden Buckle Bangle, Orange 

Signing up for email notification from Last Call pays off as they frequently run these sales for one day with 30% off or higher! 

Do you love shopping from outlets?

Related link:

Flower Framers of Cincinnati | Source for Fiberglass Window Boxes

{Peacock Candles}

Finding some nice gifts for special people at times is challenging. For our friends from India we found some appropriate gifts since the Peacock has a very special meaning in their culture. Not only being it the national bird but also a symbol of grace, beauty, joy and love. Look what I found...

Fragrant candles... This photo is from September 4, taken outside on our balcony.

Loved those Peacocks.

The candle to the right is real wax but flameless and works on batteries.

The one to the left is a real fragrant candle inside this painted glass holder.

Backside of the painted glass holder. This was a treasure find at Last Call by +Neiman Marcus.

QVC had these Peacock candles and I just loved them!

Do you also look for special gifts year round?

{ME, Turning 20 on December 3!}

Yes, I am turning 20 on December 3! As a United States Citizen, that is... 

After all, it is not bad to get a second chance in life for starting over and being young again!

It does perk you up.
On Friday, December 3, 1993 we got up at 4:15 AM for driving to Atlanta for the Naturalization Ceremony at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building. At 8:30 it started for 257 people from 60 nations and it lasted only till 9:55 AM.
So we raced back to Dublin; still in time for Rotary lunch. Husband Pieter proudly introduced me as his NEW American wife... 

Twenty (20) years old...

Haha my sweater is 25 years old; got it at the Christiana Mall in Newark, Delaware on Saturday, August 27 of 1988.

I fell in love with the leaf pattern and also because it is cropped.

Nah, that's NOT a new car... It's just an old LOVE!

We got this Infiniti FX35 in Brilliant Silver on August 12, 2005 for Mom & Dad's arrival.

Mom just got a knee replacement and we wanted her to get in and out of a car comfortably so we got this one.

But do you like my new boots? 

Dolce Vita Hayla Suede Ankle boots in black from Last Call by Neiman Marcus with 40% off. 

Black legwarmers are from our local TJ Maxx...

Pantyhose are French Dim that I purchased at Sogo, Japanese department store in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

Jeans skirt is from Escada.

Related link:
{Today I turned 17!} | previous post by me
{My Hat Attack NYC GAVROCHE} | previous post by me, wearing the same Escada skirt
{Dutch American Heritage Day 2005 with Mom & Dad} | previous post by me about Mom & Dad's final visit to the USA...