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!

Daffodils are up

Our gardens are alight with color again! Just a heads up.

I don't even mind a light, spring rain in temperate weather, even though it means that our days of being able to stay inside and play games are numbered. Heidi is champing at the bit to start her usual spring round of bird watching and attending endless whale festivals, so I'm taking advantage of our very last days of Parcheesi.

Chunk and his brethren are big jigsaw puzzle fans -- no idea why they find that interesting -- but they know that warm weather is just around the corner so it's time to find that final piece to the 1,500 piece puzzle they bought this winter online, depicting  George Washington crossing the Delaware. Chipmunks love history. Who knew?

Heidi is still pouting because she wanted James Franco for best actor. I told her and told her that everyone knew Colin Firth had it sewn up but she didn't believe me. I think it was more than enough that he hosted the show but she's obsessed with him these days. Come to think of it, next week's whale festivals will be a welcome distraction!

The Whales are Coming!

Well, actually the whales are here, but the annual whale festivals are starting and I can't wait!

Heidi here, in case you couldn't tell. Monique thinks I'm mental to get this excited about whale-watching, but I'm not the only one. Whale-watching is so huge here on the Mendocino Coast that they have designed a whole month's worth of events around it, changing towns each weekend, and every year more people get excited too.

What makes whale-watching in Mendocino unique is how close the whales actually come to our coast, due to the sheltered nature of our coastline, combined with really deep water. Let's be honest, the beaches are no good for swimming for that reason but they are perfect for the world's largest marine mammals.

Some favorite spots for spotting whales from shore include the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, the headlands in front of Pt. Cabrillo Lighthouse, and of course, our own ocean-view hot tub, right here at the Inn -- or one of the hot tubs in one of our private homes and cottages -- some of which are right over the Pacific. All of these places -- and more -- are having very special whale-related events starting next week. More on that in future posts or check it out at: mendowhale.com, the official home of Mendocino's whale festivals -- complete with whale sound effects!!!

Enough for now. Monique is nudging me because we are only half way through reviewing all of the films nominated for Best Picture and we like to start watching the Red Carpet pre-show early! Here's a final image to whet your appetite for whales. Happy Oscar Sunday!

I'm a Whale Watcher

Hi from Heidi!

Monique thinks I'm a nature-loving nut, but this time of year I get very excited because we start to see the really heavy part of the grey whale migration -- a movement that peaks in March, right around when the local towns have their annual whale festivals. (Little River's is March 12 and 13th this year.)

The wonderful thing about our whales is that you can see them right from land. Guests at the Inn can even catch them from our hilltop hot tub outside our Creekside spa in a yurt or from their private balconies or hot tubs.

Of course there are boat tours too but not everyone enjoys being on a boat -- including me -- and especially not on the Pacific when it's rough weather.

Another option for landlubbers (those of you who don't have the vantage point we have from Donkey Cottage) is to go to the wonderful Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens or Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, not too far from the gardens, where I have heard the Mother Whales leave their babies directly under the headlands in a sheltered cove and go in search of snacks.

The lighthouse is just a fun place to visit in general because it has won awards for its amazing restoration of the keeper's house and other buildings and there is a museum and mini-aquarium there.

Monique is poking me, telling me it's too soon to start going on about whales since the festivals aren't till March, but the whales are coming by NOW and I'm too excited to keep it to myself!

Pt. Cabrillo Lighthouse

Bye for now!

--Heidi