The highlight of the weekend was definitely the barn dance Saturday evening, not only because I love period dance but because it was the "professional debut" for some friends who have been working hard on their impressions as musicians - they were fabulous!
This is my all time favorite piece, it came out exactly as I envisioned, "Shell Game" or "Shelly" (my special pieces always seem to have nicknames!), a functional, heavily bead embroidered bag in the shape of a turtle.
This is "Jewel of the North", definitely the largest beaded piece I've ever done at 4 foot by 6 foot and covered with thirteen different scenes or icons of the Island. Jewel was part of "Turtles Around Town", which was a fund raiser for the Mackinac Island Community Foundation.
I've plans for more turtles, all just a bit different, all needing to find their own little niche,
The light was placed in service in 1892 and is now a lovely museum, you can even climb the tower. Walking the shore quickly demonstrates why the light was and is a necessity - a huge limestone shoal surrounds the point.
A variety of wildflowers manage to survive on the rock, despite the lack of soil and baking in the sun.
We were surprised at another aspect of the beach - the huge piles of zebra mussel shells.
The piles were three feet thick and stretched for dozens of yards. Apparently, wind and current can cause them to accumulate in certain areas. Zebra mussels are an invasive species thought to have been introduced to the Great Lakes in the ballast water of foreign ships. They are incredible prolific and are negatively affecting the ecological balance of the lakes.
It was quite odd to walk the beach accompanied by the crunch of shells, but it's a beautiful place to visit, both for the inherent natural beauty and opportunity to support historic preservation.
Kitch-iti-kipi is an oval pool about 40 feet deep with an emerald bottom. Spring water flows from the fissures in the underlying limestone at over 10,000 gallons per minute throughout the year at a constant temperature of 45 °F.
Ancient tree trunks with mineral encrusted branches can be seen, as well as a variety of trout that appear to be suspended in the crystal clear waters of the spring. 
A self-operated observation raft guides park visitors to vantage points overlooking the underwater features. This raft is on a cable that is pulled across the spring pool by the park visitors.
The state of Michigan acquired Kitch-iti-kip in 1926. History records that John I. Bellaire, owner of a Manistique Five and Dime store, fell in love with the black hole spring when he discovered it in the thick wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the 1920s. It was hidden in a tangle of fallen trees and loggers were using the nearby area as a dump.
Bellaire saw its potential as a public recreational spot. He could have purchased the spring and adjoining property himself, however persuaded Frank Palms of the Palms Book Land Company to sell the spring and 90 acres to the state of Michigan for $10. The property deed requires the property to be forever used as a public park, bearing the name Palms Book State Park.
Like so many attractions in northern Michigan, there are many Native American legends attributed to the springs, but it is likely most are false, created as publicity to entice visitors.
Regardless, it's a great place to visit and enjoy the natural beauty.
