Mackinac Island, Michigan - "Joy Comes in the Morning"

 

Sing praise to the LORD,
  you saints of His,
And give thanks at the
  remembrance of His holy
  name.
For His anger is but for a
  moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a
  night,
But joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:4-5 NIV

Mackinac Island - "The Eyes of the LORD"

 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are opened to their prayers.

1 Peter 3:12

Mackinaw Island - Speak to the Earth and It will Teach You

 

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the LORD has done this?
In his hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.
Does not the ear test words
as the tongue tastes food?
Is not wisdom found among the aged?
Does not long life bring understanding?

"To God belong wisdom and power;

counsel and understanding are his.

What he tears down cannot be rebuilt;

those he imprisons cannot be released.

If he holds back the waters, there is drought;

if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.

To him belong strength and insight;

both deceived and deceiver are his.

He leads rulers away stripped

and makes fools of judges.

He takes off the shackles put on by kings

and ties a loincloth around their waist.

He leads priests away stripped

and overthrows officials long established.

He silences the lips of trusted advisers

and takes away the discernment of elders.

He pours contempt on nobles

and disarms the mighty.

He reveals the deep things of darkness

and brings utter darkness into the light.

He  makes nations great, and destroys them;

he enlarges nations, and disperses them.

He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;

he makes them wander in a trackless waste.

They grope in darkness with no light;

he makes them stagger like drunkards.

"My eyes have seen all this,

my ears have heard and understood it."

Job 12:7-25, Job 13:1 NIV

'Step Among the Stairs led to Heaven's Gate'

Dinah in Heaven
By Rudyard Kipling 1932

She did not know that she was dead,
  But, when the pang was o'er,
Sat down to wait her Master's tread
  Upon the Golden Floor,

With ears full-cock and anxious eye
  Impatiently resigned;
But ignorant that Paradise
  Did not admit her kind.

Persons with Haloes, Harps, and Wings
  Assembled and reproved;
Or talked to her of Heavenly things,
  But Dinah never moved.

There was one step along the Stair
  That led to Heaven's Gate;
And, till she heard it, her affair
  Was--she explained--to wait.

And she explained with flattened ear,
  Bared lip and milky tooth--
Storming against Ithuriel's Spear
  That only proved her truth!

Sudden--far down the Bridge of Ghosts
  That anxious spirits clomb--
She caught that step in all the hosts,
  And knew that he had come.

She left them wondering what to do,
  But not a doubt had she.
Swifter than her own squeal she flew
  Across the Glassy Sea;

Flushing the Cherubs every where,
  And skidding as she ran,
She refuged under Peter's Chair
  And waited for her man.
Continue reading http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/dinah_in_heaven.html

PL Fallin Butterfly Wings Gallery II

Butterflies come in all sizes, colors and shapes.  I never can get enough of their brilliant colors and the gracefulness of their delicate wings. This gallery has a variety of colors from white and black to brilliant orange. The different backdrops adds to the uniqueness of each butterfly.

Mission Church Mackinac Island

I have a fanciation with historical building such as churches, lighthouses and barns.  This is the Oldest surviving church built in Michigan.  Built between 1829 - 1830. The first protestant church to do mission work with the local natives.  It is now a popular wedding site.

St. Anne Parish Mackinac Island

Historical Catholic Church built in the 1820's and refurbished in 1990's.  The church has a museum in its basement. It has a long history with Mackinac Island and ministered to the troops station at the Fort.

Island of Wagon Wheels & Horse Pulled Carriages

 

Mackinac Island is a very unique place to visit if you want to get away from cars and motor vehicles and traffic noise.  If you want to see what it is like using horse and buggies for traveling around town, then this is the place to visit.  Everything and everyone is transported by horses, carriages, and wagons including the trash pickup and taxi services. Of course you can always walk or ride bikes. The streets can smell from all the horse traffic so clean up after the horses is also important. I cannot even imagine what the stench was like in a large city like New York or London in horse and carriage days.

PL Fallin Butterfly Wings Gallery

A gallery of some of my favorite butterfly wings from this summer.  I lament that summer is gone and so are these precious butterflies.  Hopefully, I captured their beauty and they will live on through these images.  Life is so short.

Sitting on the Dock in the Rain

Sitting on the Dock in the Rain

Rain clouds gathering overhead,
Thunder roaring from the darkness,
Gusty winds stinging my face,
Walking as fast as I can
Down the cobblestone lanes,
Horse hitch wagons splashing puddles,
People flocking like larks,
Shaking off the raindrops,
No umbrellas to spare,
Sitting on the dock in the rain.

Rain fallin down in buckets,
Pouring down the planks,
Every bench drenching wet,
Stranded here for awhile,
On an island with no cover,
Dampness creeping into my shoes,
Sea gulls flying against the wind,
Squawking around every bend,
Sitting on the dock in the rain,
Hoping for the ferry to come in.

By PL Fallin

Delicate Butterfly, Why are you sitting on my knee?

Delicate butterfly
Why are you sitting on my knee?
Don't you have someplace to go?
A flower with sweet nectar,
Leaves on a lushly bush,
A breeze to sing you a song,
A delicate waltz in mid air,
Misty fountain to cool your wings.

Delicate butterfly
Why are you sitting on my knee?
We are both so still, so quiet,
No movement, like statues at a pond,
You don't make a sound,
Yet we hear noise all around,
I don't dare disturb
Or move your resting place,
Why do I enjoy your company so?

Delicate butterfly
Why are you sitting on my knee?
You are so graceful
Your touch is so light,
I feel peaceful and joy,
You selected me instead of a flower,
A special moment you grant me,
A treasury of splendor,
You have captured me!

By PL Fallin

Butterfly Landings at Mackinac

Mackinac Island - A Place Without Time

Time still stood and the cobblestone streets are still the same with the sound of horse drawn buggies and wagons wheels rolling down the streets.  No sound of man made motor cars and engines.  

Mackinac Island

Just visited Mackinac Island.  No cars, trucks or motors allowed.  All horse and buggies and bicycles.  Ate lunch at the Pink Pony.  9 miles of beauty.  It was a unique and wonderful trip.