Baseball & Bathing 2013- Part 1

I've been noticeably missing from the blog-world lately; many, many projects in progress, but none that can be revealed just yet. 

And I realized I never shared anything form the 2nd annual Baseball & Bathing weekend, so here's part 1! 

Grand Hotel hosts period baseball games, using 1860's rules - a great excuse to dress in our finery and provide some period spectators.

We were a slightly larger group this year and just look at our handsome escorts:

It was a lovely day for a baseball and a picnic, a bit warm, so we were fortunate to find a bit of shade to spread our blankets and our wonderful "spread" of lunch.

Our repast included chicken "patties" - chicken salad in pastry shells - a receipt from Miss Eliza Leslie's cookbook, blackberry pie made from fresh picked berries, fresh baked bread with preserves, vegetable bounty from the garden and a bit of hothouse fruit too!

Who knew that fruit could lead to such scandalous behavior!

We also enjoyed some rousing rounds of battledore - great fun!

The baseball teams use a progression of period rules, including a set form 1868, so it made a great reason to wear my 1868 dress. And as Mackinac is a "Watering Place", I could get away with wearing a hat, even at my advanced age. My plan was to wear a fanchon bonnet, but it didn't get finished in time (and still isn't), so it was hat or nothing.

A gentleman on the Island is developing his period photography skills and was pleased to models dressed in period styles.

Those good looking gentlemen again!

Heading up the hill, to don our bathing costumes - part 2, coming soon!

Touring Michigan - Boyne City Farmers Market

I love living on Mackinac, but there are a few things available in the "real world" that I do miss - and one of those things is visiting the farmer's market on a regular basis.

I recently discovered a great farmer's market in Boyne City; it's been in operation since 1982 and currently has over 70 vendors, all located within a 30 mile radius.

There was a very long line waiting to purchase raspberries - they were HUGE, and ours didn't make it back to the car, we ate them all as we strolled.

There were lots of flowers available, especially sunflowers.

I would have loved a bouquet, but it just isn't practical when camping in a tent.

Actually, I think I would have come home with bushels of produce if we hadn't been camping, it all looked so wonderful.


There was so much more than produce and flowers on display, we sampled some wonderful cheeses from Farm Country Cheese House (a pound or so came home with us), discovered Cook Family Farms meats, tasted (and purchased) artichoke pesto, and tried our best to be strong and resist all the incredible baked goods.

Farm markets offer so much to a community, providing positive financial opportunities for the farmer, making a variety of locally grown and made farm products directly available for purchase, as well as encouraging direct communication between local farmers and their customers.

Eat local!