This is my masters' son, James, and his awesome girlfriend, Rachel, dancing the Jitterbug. I say "awesome girlfriend" inspite of the fact that she owns two cats, one that would just as soon scratch your eyes out as to look at you! However, that has no bearing on the way they dance or the fact that James opens in a play next month at Action Adventure Theater in Portland or that Rachel runs her own business called Camp Smartypants and is one of the most creative females I know. But then, how creative can four-legged female dogs really be, I ask you? And can they do the Jitterbug? No, but I may look like I am doing the Jitterbug sometimes when in fact, I am just raising my leg to water a bush at the Blue Heron B&B where I am Pet Host extraordinaire.

It has been perfectly glorious weather for a dog that loves the sun, even though I am black and practically burn up if I am in the sun too long. My master was mentioning the "r" word (rain) this morning and I held myself back from a low warning growl, like he can control the weather? He doesn't even control me, although I let him think he does. So this is how it goes here at the Blue Heron B&B this time of year...if the sun shines, we get last minute folks coming from the Seattle or Portland areas and if we get rain, we get ZIP! Now next weekend, there are already folks who have booked rooms and there will be three dogs! YAHOO! Two puppies and a chihuahua. This old dog will teach them some good manners for staying at a B&B. I'm the Pet Host and that's my job!

 

This is me tanning myself in the sun with total abandon.

Even though it was a rainy day on San Juan Island, I had a great time with my master. I liked Hotel De Haro and walking around Roche Harbor, but my favorite place was out on Lime Kiln Point State Park.

In the summer you are supposed to be able to see whales from the land. That day we didn't see any whales, but we did see some very cold, wet kayakers. How confining to be in a tiny float in the water and not be able to race around the rocks and trails! Oh, oops! I gave it away. Yes, I was "off-leash" even though I wasn't supposed to be. You see, I can be such a pill on my leash...pulling, stopping, pulling...that eventually I get free! Yahoo! 

 

Yes. This is me, Pulaski, and yes, I am the new writer of the Blue Heron B&B Innkeeper Talk blog. The owners needed my help and as Pet Host, I came to their rescue. You will probably see a lot of pictures of me. This one is me looking like a nun. I'm not Catholic, but I sure hear good things about the new Pope. In fact, we hear all kinds of things at the breakfast table from the guests at the B&B. I'm not allowed in the dining room, but I have my ways of finding out what's being said unless I am outside playing with a pet guest. Last week, there was a cutie that checked in...white, fluffy...but seriously didn't give me the time of day. That's OK, 'cause there have been plenty of dogs that have become great friends of mine in the 8 years that the Blue Heron has been open on Orcas Island.

 

It is not El Nino, nor is it La Nina. It has not snowed, nor has it been particularly sunny. However, look at this beautiful little purple bloom! I believe it to be a Harmony Iris. There is soon to follow many more flowers emerging from 50 bulbs planted last Fall. San Juan Garden Club was having a fundraiser and I supported it. My rewards are coming! The breakfast table at the Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast will be adorned with a variety of wonderful blooms. Flowers have become a necessary table item ever since a dear guest from England, Nigel Goodwin, reminded us that "You must always have flowers on your table." And so we must.

 

I lost the ability to post images. It was random and the return of the browse button was random. I'm beginning to see all of life as random. This has been sitting on my desktop waiting for it's emergence in a post on the blog. No profound words accompany this picture...I just love it! Is it the nostalgia that I feel from growing up in a small mountain town? Could that have been me raking the leaves? (No, actually, I was the pudgy little girl in the attic with my nose in a book.) Is it the bonfire? The illusion of warmth and somemores? (Did I spell that right? You know, the gooey burnt marshmellow on the falling apart graham cracker with the chocolate that is supposed to be there but you already ate it)...sigh

Our pet-friendly policy took on a new meaning on New Year's Day at the Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast. We had a wonderful young couple call and book a room and said they might bring their dog if we were pet-friendly. I assured them that we were and would be very happy to have them and their pet stay with us. It was late when they checked in on New Year's Eve, but my husband was up and met them at the door. In the morning, I asked if they had brought their dog. He replied nonchalantly, "No, they didn't bring their dog, but they brought their birds." Well, this is a first for this pet-friendly establishment!