A Little Cottage On The North Coast

My first few years in Mendocino, I lived at the inn. I loved living at the inn. People always asked me if it was hard to seperate my work from my leisure, it wasn't. Guests were always respectful, the inn seldom intruded on my private time. And I really enjoyed getting to know the guests.

But the economy intruded and it made more sense to put the suite of rooms I was living in back into service. I started to look for a place to hang my hat nearby.

Friends of mine that I met up here invited me to rent the one-bedroom apartment above the garage on their ranch in Albion. Within 6 months of moving there, I met Sarah, we were married and soon after, we moved into a little 2 bedroom cottage on another part of the ranch.

This little cottage was at one time the milking barn. We are very lucky to be fortunate enough to live here. We have a huge rolling lawn with a great view of the ocean. In addition to having two baths inside, it also has an outdoor shower for those warm days when the thermometer reaches 60 :)

I miss living at the inn, but Sarah and I love our little cottage. And with a new addition to the family due in August, I think the guests at the inn will appreciate the fact that we no longer live near their rooms.

Pura Vida Brings The Afro-Carribean Beat To The Coast

Again, everyone has a second job up here in Mendocino. Margi, a long-time innkeeper here at Brewery Gulch, has a band with her husband, Jorge. Pura Vida is extremely popular in Mendocino county. Their pan-latin repertoire includes rumba, mambo, chachacha, samba and cumba. Pura Vida was recently featured at the Anderson Valley Pinot Festival. You can listen to clips from their latest CD here.

The Thoughtfulness of Guests

We have a couple that has stayed with us for the past three years. They always come in May, they are from Staffordshire and they are just the nicest people. Somehow, maybe through my blog, or maybe through Facebook, they heard that Sarah and I are expecting. They brought this little music box all the way from England! This is why I wanted to be an innkeeper...for the relationships you develop with guests over the years. Thank you, Ken and Barbara.