Real Spring on the Mendocino Coast!

Heidi here!

How lovely it is. This is a current photo, from our beautiful Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Almost dog ice cream time there too.

We are so blessed to live here.

Even Monique is enjoying all of the adorable little birds surrounding us right now.

And the blooms! Wow. What lovely sweet smells too. All that rain has made this one of the pretty springs we have ever had.

Here we are, reveling in nature.

Happy spring!

--Heidi

A little rain makes the frogs grow fonder

OK.  So we are having a little bit of rain. Chunk is refusing to go out -- except for breakfast of course.

Heidi and I are becoming Parcheesi Ninjas.

It's hard to complain though when everything is getting so nice and green. At least it's a mild rain -- and all of the moisture is wonderful for the flowers.

You know what really loves rain? Ferns. We have many, many types of native ferns here on the Mendocino Coast and I'm betting that right about now, each and every one of them is extremely happy.

Van Damme State Park, our local state park, right here in Little River, is famous for its multitudes of various types of fern.

Even in this misty weather, it's an awfully nice place to be.

Some guests at our Inn tell us that it's been years since they heard a frog. Can you believe that?

I can almost guarantee that if you come to Van Damme State Park this week, you will hear not only lots of frogs -- but some very happy frogs.

Celebrity Mini Donkeys Salute Fellow Famous Equine

Courtesy of NBC TV

Guess what? A mini horse was the virtual *star* of an episode of one of our favorite comedy shows last night. Lil' Sebastian, a grand old man at 25-years-old, stole the show, even from the very talented Amy Poehler, who plays an extremely lovable bureaucrat on the zany ensemble show, Parks & Recreation.

Heidi and I have been watching the show since it first premiered and we are pleased to report that it went from being spotty initially to being hilarious consistently now. It's one of the few shows Heidi and I can both enjoy. Usually, I'm more of a hard news and documentary donkey and Heidi follows the PBS costume dramas and increasingly, some of the shows on Starz, which have turned into a sort of PBS lite, with historical dramas and such.

But I digress. The purpose of this post is to send our very warm congratulations to our fellow celebrity equine, Lil' Sebastian, on his brilliant performance on last night's Parks & Rec. We wish him many, many more.

Victory Gardens on the Mendocino Coast

Things are so chaotic all over the world right now, what really calms and centers us is to get back to the earth. Yes, it might sound sort of clichéd, but Heidi and I do take real consolation from the simpler things and it's hard to stay worried, no matter how much bad news we see on TV, the way all of the gorgeous bulbs are coming up right now.

We spotted this amazing event at our local Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. They are doing a Victory Garden growing class, showing folks how to grow wonderful edible gardens in our coastal climate.

Details here!

The gardens are so lush and wonderful right now. You don't even need an excuse to go, but it couldn't hurt to learn something. That class is March 26th from 1 - 4.




Shiver the dog loves the Gardens at every season -- even though the dog ice cream doesn't start for a couple more months.  By the way, he looks 100% Podengo to me. I wonder if he's even aware of it himself. Oh, Shiver.

Nautical Life for Mini Donkeys

Here's our beautiful Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, just up the road. It's an ideal spot for watching whales and they even have a docent to help you spot them during the Whale Festivals going on right now. The Lighthouse warrants a visit at any time of year, given that it's home to a museum and exhibit about the roots of our county and a fascinating wrecked ship called the Frolic.

Heidi has heard that the Mama whales shelter their young in the Cove directly under the lighthouse while they browse for snacks. But as I have mentioned, Heidi is mad for whales and whale watching and she's  in her element right now -- during our annual whale celebrations.

Our turn this weekend -- the Taste of Little River comes to our Inn. Stop by our Donkey Cottage if you get the chance. We will be holding court. If we like you, you can scratch our backs but don't get ahead of yourself. Only if we offer.

Taste of Little River This Weekend = More Whale Fun

Heidi has asked me to do a plug for the upcoming Little River Whale Festival. She gets so excited about this stuff! You can't keep her down.

Apparently, March 11 - 13th there will be a passport you can get stamped as you swan around our tiny hamlet, sampling delicious foods from our local chefs, sipping local wines, chatting with historians, enjoying art, and of course -- watching whales! The Festival benefits our beautiful local Van Damme State Park.

We're even having an event right here at the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek.

Go to www.mendowhale.com or call (707) 961-6300 for more details.

I hope Heidi's happy! She's off peeking at the whales as we speak. She can't get enough of them.

Early rhododendrons on the Mendocino Coast

Heidi here!

I have to say, I'm not a patient donkey, and thank goodness our wonderful rhododendrons are in bloom at last at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.

Did you know that rhododendrons only grow in very specific spots on earth -- and the Mendocino Coast is one of those rare spots in North America?

We are so blessed -- between our temperate weather, ocean views, fertile soil that ensures the best cuisine on earth, ancient trees that tower over us, and I could go on and on!

According to Monique, I frequently do.

It's not my fault spring is so glorious in our home!

I am so looking forward to popping up to the Gardens to take a peek at the whales and visit the rhodies at the same time. They are planning very special whale watching walks at the gardens, in conjunction with this year's whale festivals, starting this weekend!

The bounty is almost too much for me. If I were a donkey from an earlier era, I'd be tempted to swoon. But then Monique is always on hand to provide a reality check. We are modern miniature donkeys. Our dignity is everything to us. Next to our meals. And having our backs scratched.

Here's another rhodie photo from the gardens. Catch me if I faint!