May 10, 2012

Oh my, my! I am transported back in time, just as Christopher Reeves was in that movie Somewhere In Time, which was filmed here on Mackinac Island at the Grand Hotel.  How elegant and lovely it is.  I feel like any moment The Cool Police (related to the Knitting Police)  will find out I am not posh enough to be here and make me leave.   It is too wonderful! Yesterday was long.  I got up at 6am (having gotten home from Texas at 7pm the night before) and went back to the airport.  After flying to Detroit, I flew on to Pellston, MI–the cutest little airport I ever saw!  It has one baggage claim, complete with (sadly) stuffed dead animals-a mountain lion and three bear cubs. I boarded a shuttle that drove me to the dock of the ferry that would take me to the island. Then I took the ferry ride across... We passed the Mackinaw Bridge... Approaching Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel in the distance. Once on land again, I was taken to the Hotel by horse drawn taxi.  The town itself is darling with over 10 fudge shops on the island.  Here's my taxi...(no cars are allowed on the island) and a closeup of the Hotel... Here's my room–frou-frou but darling! We had high tea and champagne first thing, and dinner soon thereafter... Everywhere I look there are wonderful antiques and unique furnishings, such as this settee: Note the geranium carpeting.  Geraniums are everywhere as well as on the stationary, the scent of the soaps, stenciled on furniture. A children's set of antique chairs... The famous Wrap Around Porch, supposedly one of the largest in the world... My class was such fun.  We were a small intimate group and the students worked so hard!               Here are their wonderful Fair Isle Cardigans: Now the workshop is over and I am leaving the island tomorrow.  What a wonderful experience this has been!  I hope TKGA plans another retreat here someday.  Don't miss it!