Beautiful Day at Buckhorn Cove

Did you know we have our own private beach? It's called Buckhorn Cove and because it is a Cove, it is frequently super-temperate down there. It's just across the street a piece from our place here on the Mendocino Coast and in addition to spectacular rock formations, there's just a lot of nice, clean sand and some smaller rocks that are perfectly formed for sitting on and reading a book. It's not even hard to walk down to, unlike so many of the rugged and inaccessible beaches on the North Coast. This one is positively accessible -- yet you have to know it's there (no signs -- it's private) which means it's also uncrowded.

This photo was taken two days after Christmas of a couple of teenaged guests at the Inn. Who says there's nothing for teenagers to do in Mendocino? There's plenty to do if they like to hike or kayak or explore or just hang out on the beach. This day was warm enough to wade and it was only two days ago! Wow! We are lucky in our weather.

Here is the mighty Podengo and his junior side-kick in training, Remy Martin, that same day at the beach. Dogs are allowed off leash on this beach and these two had a blast, I am told.

Happy Holidays to you from all of us up here

As you can see, Chunk is back in shape now that he has quit being a full-time chef and winter is upon us, making foraging just a bit harder. This shot would have made a nice photo for our holiday letter which I have already sent out.

Heidi was of the opinion that we didn't need a holiday letter this year and that I was only writing it to compete with the hoof-stock down at B. Bryan Preserve.

That's just silly!

Of course we need a holiday letter, regardless of what our cousins do or do not do. We are all about spreading good cheer, Peace on Earth, etc. etc.
 

The earth is very peaceful on the Mendocino Coast and we are so lucky to be so comfortable and cozy up here. It's not even raining at the moment! We are all just snuggled up with nog, and board games, and the Internet (of course we have Wifi!) and full of the spirit of the season.

Take that zebras!

Heidi checking in!

Happy holidays and shalom from Heidi.

I know Hannukah is long since over but it was too soon this year, don't you think?

I'm grabbing the blog while Monique is off composing our Christmas Newsletter to send the zebras and elk at B. Bryan Preserve, down the coast in Point Arena. I hope she's not going to be too wordy or heavy! She gets so competitive sometimes and I do feel that holiday letters can give exactly the wrong impression. They can be an opportunity to sort of blow your own horn -- especially if you are Very Endangered or just feeling that way this time of year...

But I do adore my cousins the Grevy's zebras down there. They are always having babies and they are chatty as the day is long. 

Here's a favorite photo of cousin Pistol when he was just a lad:

Photo by R.H. Carter

Isn't he sweet? I think so but of course he's family so I am biased.

Off to go check on Monique. I think there's nothing worse than a LONG holiday letter, don't you?

To Christmas Letter or Not to Christmas Letter?

Perfect Xmas Letter Shot?

Heidi and I are having a mild disagreement about whether or not we now have to craft a Christmas letter to send to the African hoof-stock down at B. Bryan Preserve. I argue that since our blog is so updated, if they want to know what we are up to, they can just read it.

You can even subscribe with RSS and other fancy tools!

Heidi says that A) Zebras and elk are notoriously technophobic (i.e., not big fans of reading on the screen) and B) It's a matter of etiquette, since Domino sent us his.

I'm not about to go to press just to prove something to Domino but it IS true that the Grevy's zebras are quite close friends of ours. They are just such sociable creatures! Heidi says it's no wonder there are only 2,000 of them left on Earth. They are far too friendly. Which is a depressing sentiment at the holidays, isn't it?

Photo by R.H. Carter

At any rate, the hills are green and it's making me feel cheerful so I will probably relent and send out a holiday missive -- at least to the Grevy's. They are sweet as pie.

Fried Plaintains and a whole lot more...

Here is Chunk's niece, Lovey. She was doing his chopping when he was doing the chef thing. Now that he's studying to be a massage therapist, she's gotten busy canning and pickling some of the stuff she has chopped.

Chipmunks don't live on their body fat (don't tell Chunk!). They live on whatever they can store for the winter.

The rest of us can run down to Pacific Tapas! They are open 4 to 10 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, no reservations necessary.

The dishes include things like Gambas Con Pancetta (Grilled Prawns Wrapped in Spanish Bacon with Sherry Dipping Sauce), Lobster & Fontina Cheese Chile Relleno (Anaheim Chiles Stuffed, Battered & Cooked Golden Brown & Finished with Lime Cilantro Cream Sauce), Croquettes de Zucchini (Zucchini Fritters Served with Tangy Apricot Mango Salsa) and those famous fried green plaintains!

If we keep on like this, we're going to get as chunky as Chunk!

Pacific Tapas is fantastic!

At least that's what the chipmunks tell us. Heidi and I were so busy with holiday parties and preparations, we didn't get down there ourselves this weekend -- the official opening weekend of the new place.

Chunk and Punk said a good time was had by all.

Neither of them are going to be sous-chef, as it turns out.

Chunk has decided that chef work is too stressful for him and is training to be a massage therapist now instead and Punk says their techniques aren't experimental enough for him. He wants to continue his work with foams, mousses, and sous vide.

As long as he doesn't expect us to eat much more acorn foam! Let me tell you, a little bit of that stuff goes a long way.

And being that Punk is a major conspiracy theorist (he doesn't believe in either luck or coincidences) we are very relieved that the major contest between the chipmunk cousins has ended so peacefully -- without Punk going too wiggy on us.

Punk's a busy boy these days, and that suits us all just fine. Especially Chunk, who needs to be left alone to meditate!

Pacific Tapas is open on Route 1, just down the road, Wednesday through Sunday, 4 to 10 p.m. No reservations, nothing fussy. Just delectable little plates and modest prices to make them even more delicious!

Note from Domino

Photo by R.H. Carter

We aren't the only hoofed animals with blogs on the Mendocino Coast. Did you think we were?

Our friends at B. Bryan Preserve have a blog as well, although the zebra and African elk (various kinds -- all very cute), aren't writing the thing themselves, obviously.

They are WILD animals, while we are domesticated -- board games, pedicures, scrapbooking, etc.

They have acres and acres to run around on and live just like they are in the wild -- and although their barns are very comfy they do not rival our beautiful Donkey Cottage.

On the other hand, they aren't too wild to send an e-mail every now and then.

Domino, an extremely endangered Hartmann's Mountain Zebra, likes to keep us on his Holiday e-Newsletter list, and even though he's barely two years old, I have to say there's a fair amount of bragging that goes on there.

Heidi says that being extremely endangered gives him an attitude, but I think it's more about being extremely adorable. That has to have gone to his head. Personally, I feel closer to the Grevy's Zebras but Heidi says that's silly. They are all our cousins and since they just live down the road in Point Arena (another hopping small town on Highway One, similar to our home town of Little River), we can't play favorites.

Watch me.

I heard they are getting giraffes soon. I am all over that! I love, love, love a tall man.

Podengos on Earth and Goodwill Toward Mini Donkeys!

Here is the Mighty Podengo, patrolling the deck of Rose Cottage, just across from our Donkey Cottage, here at the Inn.

Like most of our cottages, Rose Cottage has marvelous ocean views from the deck, which is why the Podengo is on patrol.

Whales probably can't walk on dry land, but Podengos are ever vigilant. Someone has to be.

Whales come very close to our coast here in Mendocino, something about the geography of the coastline. It makes us a mecca for whale watchers.

Here's the chest of pet perks and gear, which guests get, in addition to the Pet Welcome Packet, which is where you will find the tasty dog treats you crave.

If you are a dog, of course! We never raid the dog treats, even if they are organic and handmade.

We have our pride!

Welcome to our Winter World

It's not a coincidence that "Murder, She Wrote" picked Mendocino Village to pretend to be New England. (Punk would say, "There are no coincidences!" But he's a Conspiracy Chipmunk...More on that anon.)

As you can see, it's just gorgeous. This Village, every square inch of which is an Historical Preserve, is just a few miles north of us, via our lovely Route One, that lazes along the mighty Pacific across from our Inn.

We can see the Pacific from our cottage, and at this time of year, Heidi becomes obsessed with whale watching and just about drives me to distraction.

I say "just about" because it's impossible not to feel peaceful with these kind of views.

Moisture turns the Mendocino Coast into another kind of paradise, returns it to a primeval Redwood Rainforest -- filled with mushrooms, lush mosses, verdant glades -- all beneath the hushed, sacred beauty of some of the Earth's oldest trees.

Come see for yourself if you don't believe me.

Thoughts from Heidi

Hello!

It's Heidi!

How are you all? I am very, very happy now that we have our classic, Mendocino Coastal winter weather. It's so lovely and misty in the mornings and our fields are a gorgeous emerald green!

It's no secret that I love board games and our Donkey Cottage is stocked with them, just like all of the cottages here at the Inn.

But enough about that.

I have noticed recently that with the imminent opening of Pacific Tapas, Monique has been making more comments that I am comfortable with on the subject of our friend Chuck's...girth, for lack of a more tactful way to put it. Here is a much more flattering picture of our little friend. I never think it's nice to run a photo of someone eating to begin with!

I just know he will make a wonderful sous chef -- if they can get past the whole "rodent chopping and stirring sauce in the kitchen" thing. I know a rat was a chef in a recent movie but I'm not sure if that was a documentary or not?

Monique and I get to the movies so seldom. We always catch a few films at the Annual Mendocino Film Festival but those are usually just very select, rather poetic pictures. It's been in May in the past but this year it's in early June. We have seen some really wonderful films that way.

I'd better run! Monique tends to hog the lap top. She's become obsessed with playing chess online with people from all over the world. I've warned her that you never know who you could be playing with long distance like that, but she just laughs and says she bets they don't realize they've been beaten by a miniature donkey.

You know what?

I bet they don't.

Love and kisses,

Heidi

Pacific Tapas opens next Wednesday!

The news is in!

Pacific Tapas opens a week from today.

Chunk can't stop eating those plantains he is frying constantly. Don't tell him I said this, but Chunk is going to get the job as sous-chef, but he's not going to be able to fit through the door when he gets it if he keeps on like this.

Beautiful ocean views, delicious dishes mostly under $10, sensational sangria and stuff on tap. The new place is going to be red hot.

Heidi and I might trot down there when it opens up and poke our noses in for a bite. It's not as fancy as La Petite Rive, what with being in the old post office building in what passes for "downtown" in Littleriver (one word), so we are assuming it's a mini donkey-friendly environment.

In the meantime, we will try to keep Chunk on an even keel and enjoy our seasonal weather!

This photo is old -- it's GREEN here now!