Hi Friends! I realized today it’s been 4 weeks since I posted an update. When I began to get private message recently from folks asking if the Hortons were “ok” I thought I’d better sit myself down and give a short rundown on what we’ve been up to. And the truth of the matter is – it’s what we’ve been up that’s kept me away from the laptop for a while.  Bodie – He’s doing just great and seems to have adjusted to all his meds perfectly. We’ll go for labs the first week in March, which will let us know how his other body systems are faring with the heart meds on board. Then in April we’ll see hi ..read more

Originally posted on August 18, 2009, our first full summer on Mackinac Island.  When I look back as these posts I always get very nostalgic. They have an innocence to them that only someone who is new to the island, and seeing everything through fresh eyes, can have. After all these years – when we have first-time visitors come to see us – we still try to show them the island in that same way. Even with all the changes over the years, Mackinac, to me, is still filled with a magical innocence. I continue to love the wonder of it all. Hi!  Bear here. Sometimes I just get too comfortable w ..read more

Hi Friends! Just popping in to say hello this week before Christmas. All the gifts are wrapped and under the tree (except those that were shipped last week). Besides the last minute shopping and doctor visits (I had to have a laser procedure on my eyes as a follow-up to the cataract surgery I had a few years ago), we’ve found time to enjoy some holiday events and batten down for the beginnings of a nor’easter. The annual Palm Coast Boat Parade was so much fun. We enjoyed it with friends out on Mark and Shauna’s boat. We packed subs from Publix and a few beverages, and we anchored near the sho ..read more

Hi Friends! Is this holiday season as busy for y’all as it has been for us so far? I mean, wow! The little “day-blocks” on the calendar that hangs inside one of our kitchen cabinets were filled practically every day in November- and the December blocks are filling up fast! We had a great Thanksgiving at Julie and Matt’s – an annual event now. Jason, Jen and Alex were here for a few days, and the only missing family member was Blake (he spent Thanksgiving in Colorado, but will be home for Christmas). Since Thanksgiving . . . . . . . we’ve gone to an ugly Christmas sweater party (Ted and I visit ..read more

I promised to republish some of the “oldies” occasionally, and this one definitely fits that description! It was written and published originally on Sept. 28, 2009 – back when we owned our condo at Surrey Ridge and Maddie and Bear were our beloved furbabies. Occasionally one of those two munchkins would take over the blog, and in this one Miss Maddie was the writer. Hope you enjoy! Sunday morning – 10:15:  Hi.  Maddie here.  Mom and dad were out very late Saturday night on their “date”.  Mom was laughing when she got home about how romantic it was.  It seems that ..read more

Another busy, busy week! The highlights . . . Beautiful sunsets We always have beautiful sunsets here, but as fall and winter approaches (I say “approaches” because we’re still in the 80’s the last few days) the show from out back on our deck becomes even more spectacular. I think it’s like that everywhere, and I’m sure there’s some kind of scientific explanation for it. But for me it’s just more of God’s handiwork – no explanation needed. P.S. Yes, we have a new house going up behind us. Veterans Day Rode over to Bunnell (a little town just southwest of us) with friends on Saturday and attend ..read more

Hi Friends! So sorry it’s taken me a while to get back on the laptop for an update, but as you’ll see below, we’ve had a few things “going on”. After two weeks at home the luggage and boxes and plastic bins are all unpacked, and life at the beach has almost settled into its normal pace. The most important word in that sentence is . . . almost. You may ask, “What does that mean?” Ok, I’ll tell you. Since we’ve been home, we’ve . . . . . . . . Been House Hunting We looked at six houses and one condo in our quest to transition to one-level living. Three of the houses are in St. Mary’s, GA and thr ..read more

At 7:30 this morning Ted was loading packed bags, totes and rubber bins filled to capacity onto the back of a taxi. It was barely light and in the low 40’s. Bodie was standing out on the porch during the entire process, waiting to see if his dad was coming back or leaving. Our sweet boy has been watching our every move for three days now. He knows when the luggage comes out of the closet his world is about to change, and he has to make sure we haven’t forgotten anything of importance – like toys, treats, food or HIM! Yep! Five months requires a lot of stuff.Thank goodness tomorrow’s load will ..read more

Just a quick note tonight. I wish I could make you all proud of me and say, “I’m done! All the luggage is packed!” I am so not done. I dabbled at packing a little this morning and then Ted and I met Jill downtown for one last lunch together. Each day the maples on Cadotte become more brilliant. It makes going up an down the hill well worth the trip.On our way to the Chippewa, we ran into blog reader Karen Snyder and her mom Sonia, on the island for a fall visit and to shop the sales! After a great lunch at the Pink Pony, Jill and I did a little shopping of our own – and wandered around taking ..read more

Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! I had to start packing today. I’m a horribly slow packer. Always have been – it just takes me forever. So, if we’re going to be on the first ferry Wednesday morning, my packing schedule said I had to start today. Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! But . . . . when I let Bodie out this morning I noticed two of the Grand Percherons were in the turnout corral next door. I just love these big guys! I think these two were discussing that they didn’t have too many days left before they were off to Pickford for a long vacation . . . . . .. . . and they seemed to agree that sounded like a “Grand” idea to ..read more