Art Piscitelli, Il Guardiano

One of the best things about being at Glendeven Inn is that we get to work with the amazingly talented, Art Piscitelli.

He's the man who helps us make sure that everything is in perfect condition & running order.

He's not only helped us since we arrived just over a year ago, but he helped the last owners, Sharon and Higgins for eight years, and Jan and Janet DeVries before them.

Art's been here for around two decades. He knows where every fuse is located, where all the plumbing lines go underground and in the walls, he's amazingly skilled at doing anything that needs to be done around here, and the list goes on.

Art's done everything from small fun projects like making custom chicken nesting boxes and remodeling the entire coop for the 30 chickens and building our wonderful new mailbox (that's modeled after our Barn building), to large things like fixing numerous electrical and plumbing emergencies, helping us get the Wine Bar[n] and Sea Ridge Cottage ready for prime time, and troubleshooting just about everything when it goes wrong.

Here you see him creating one of our new signs -- this one is being made using a fantastic 100+ year-old pristine piece of redwood lumber that was salvaged when he and Higgins remodeled the Farmhouse kitchen years ago. Art stored this special piece of wood in the rafters of the shop for just the right moment. And its moment has come.

We're very lucky to have him around, and appreciate everything he does. Say hi to him the next time you see him.

We owe him a debt of gratitude for all that he does, and the way he gets it done.

Thanks Art.

- John & Mike

Sea Ridge Cottage

After working all summer to get it ready, Glendeven's new vacation rental house, the Sea Ridge Cottage, is now ready to go! We are very, very excited about it.

The Sea Ridge Cottage provides guests a new kind of coastal experience at the high standards that Glendeven sets in everything we endeavor to do. With its sweeping views and absolute quiet situated a quarter mile from any neighbors, this house is a paradise of tranquility and beauty.

Our first guest writes in the guest book, "I will remember the deer grazing outside, the silhouette shapes of the trees outside at day break, the attention to detail, and the quiet.", signed Ottmar Liebert.

We've decorated this fine little house in an unfussy slightly contemporary way. We love using eclectic things that we think go well together in color & detail, interest, and quality.

At the Sea Ridge Cottage, just six miles south of Glendeven, you'll find the same high quality linens and amenities , a large jetted hot tub just waiting outside your bedroom door, and quality in everything you see. It's a place to find peace and quiet surrounded by the power of nature, to rekindle romance together, or find a retreat to renew yourself.

We hope you get a chance to check it out on our website, and we hope to see you soon.

-- John

The Great Outdoors

So, one of the reasons we wanted to be in this beautiful part of the world was to take full advantage of all that it has to offer.

We've been at Glendeven Inn now for just over one full year and decided that it's time to start really making an effort to see and do more of the fun outdoor things there are here -- right outside the door. We've just got to make the time to do it, it's that simple. One new thing per week, that's the plan.

And, of course, it helps us to make recommendations to guests.

Given this new mantra, there's one thing that I've done a bunch of times over the past year: outrigger canoing up Big River.

Renting kayaks or outrigger canoes is quick and easy at Catch a Canoe and Bicycles Too which is just one mile north of us. You sign in, get your life jacket, a thorough safety refresher and away you go. Once up the river about 500 yards, you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere surrounded by nature. And in fact you are. It's quiet, there are no buildings, very few people, and you're likely to spot otters and harbor seals. And there are lots of birds too, which is pretty great.

Check it out next time you're here.

-John

Guinea fowl

The guineas have finally found their way to the inn. We keep six guinea fowl in the coop next to the llamas. Because they are a little noisy, we wanted them to be away from the inn a bit. We acquired the guinea fowl chicks about he same time as the chickens, but we don't house them together.

The reasons to keep guinea fowl are 1) they are cool, 2) they eat bugs in the garden without scratching and ruining the plants, 3) they clean up bugs around the llama dung piles and 4) they also eat ticks. Gotta love that.

Today, as you can see, they were all over the grounds of the inn. Over the past few weeks since they've been free ranging, they've gone across the shoreline highway (we had to stop traffic to get them back), and they've gone into the spring and woods where I'm sure they are finding lots of good bugs to eat.

Well today they made their way onto the inn property, and even seemed to want to get into the new Wine Bar[n]. Apparently they're anxious for it to open too.

-- John

Glendeven Events

For the first time in some years, Glendeven hosted a wedding just a few weeks ago.

We are so glad to be able to offer the inn for weddings, commitment ceremonies, and other events.

There are many different and varied venue options given our eight-acres, gardens, and our indoor & outdoor public spaces:

The courtyard of the Wine Bar[n] is a protected private space perfect for outdoor dining and other events. We had a full sit-down full-service dinner here for the wedding, and it was picture perfect.

Inside the Gallery and Wine Bar[n] we can hold up to 50 people, we have a full on- & off-sale wine license, on-site parking for 30 cars, and a Wine Bar[n] kitchen that helps facilitate the food and wine service.

There are lawns, and even pastures that can hold large tented events. We're going to explore this and offer the pasture lands as an option in 2009!

It is really very exciting and we cannot wait to host more. We've got two more weddings in October, and we are very excited!

Step by step, our goal is to offer more amenities to guests, and also more ways for Glendeven to be used as a venue for local and guest events. We're moving forward step by step -- we want to be sure to do it right!

More to come!

-- John

The Greenhouse

OK, so I kind of love my greenhouse.

The first time I toured the Glendeven property, there were many things that I liked about it -- the grounds, the rooms, the views, the state parks surrounding, the proximity to the Mendocino village -- but one thing clinched the deal. The greenhouse.

I'm not ashamed to say this either.

The greenhouse is a little building built by Glendeven's founding inn-owner, Jan DeVries, under the watertower, next to the pump room. At the time I first saw it, it had a full watering system already in place, but only had empty pots stacked neatly on the shelves. It was a little paradise just waiting to happen.

Last year I planted a number of things in the low planter and also stocked the pots with fun plants.

But this past winter, I went kind of crazy with the hanging begonia bulbs and then had to find patience. Well, now they're doing very well. They're thriving. And it all makes me pretty happy.

The greenhouse is a little jewel right in the middle of the property. It's a little hidden, which makes it feel even more special. Make sure you take a minute to find it when you're here.

-- John

Mendocino Music Festival

When chatting with guests, I'm often asked how we came to be in Mendocino.

About 15 years ago I was on a solo bicycling / camping tour of the northern Pacific coast when I happened upon Mendocino. I'd planned to stop for just a few hours for lunch, but when I arrived into town, I saw the huge white tents and 'discovered' the Mendocino Music Festival. I ended up staying for three days (instead of 3 hours) and had a wonderful time.

In all the years since, I'd always wanted to get back to Mendocino to enjoy the festival. It was always on my to-do list, but I never was able to make it.

So when we were looking for an inn to buy, I knew Mendocino was a fantastic spot. Romantic, stunningly beautiful, with fine dining, rugged outdoor activities and all the arts represented -- it's an all around world-class location. So when we found Glendeven Inn, I knew this was the spot. In all the world, this was where we wanted to be.

We ended up closing the deal last year in August and taking over the business during the time of the Music Festival. And this year by planning ahead, we were able to donate and support the Festival in a few different ways.

Last night, Glendeven Inn sponsored the coffee for the festival as seen in this (bad) image taken on my mobile phone.

It's good to be here on this one-year anniversary, and Mike and I are looking forward to seeing and hearing the remaining Festival shows of this season and to many, many more years in Mendocino.

--John

Chickens

"If you don't want to find me, don't look in the chicken coop." That's what I tell folks. I like it in there.

About six weeks ago, our new chickens started to arrive. They were two days old at time of arrival, and they came in three batches. We got every kind of laying hen and we'll have a lot of different kinds of eggs in every color you can imagine. Farm fresh eggs! Unfortunately, we have to wait months before they're laying, but it's going to be worth the wait! We have Barred Rocks, Aracaunas, Buff Orpingtons, and many many others. It's the Noah's Ark of Chickens. Essentially two of each.

We even got some Chinese Silkies just for fun.

We're using the old coop of the farm which is set back in the northeast edge of the pasture, and it's built like Ft Knox. No predators will get in for sure, which is one of the big potential problems in keeping hens.

It's very fun to go the coop and watch them work-out the pecking order, scratch around, and fuss.

Soon they'll be able to get out into their yard, but for now they're still too small. We worry about the neighboring cats a bit. Stay tuned for more pictures (and eggs!!)

-- John

Spring

The rhododendrons are blooming like crazy now. The daffodils have faded, but every day it seems like we discover something blooming new in the garden.
PJ the baby llama is a constant entertainment - and the promise of new life in springtime makes his arrival all the more welcome.