Fortunately the day got better. It was a picture-perfect Berkshire day, sunny, in the sixties. Instead of grocery shopping, we drove on the newly opened road to the top of Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts (not the Matterhorn!), from the south end, north of Pittsfield,  and meandered down to the north end, just outside of Williamstown. It is past peak but many of the leaves are brilliant golden and the red maples and Japanese red maples are outrageously scarlet. The muted rust tones have their own special beauty. There won’t be many more days like this this year, I’m afraid. See it now!

When will someone drop some bread or bacon?

The alarm rings at 6:00 am. I stretch for a few seconds — I was not originally a morning dog! — get out of my cozy bed, put my paws on Ellen’s bed and gently tap her. Ellen then turns off the alarm and gives me a cookie for doing a good job. I have only overslept a couple of times in nine years!

While Ellen is showering and getting dressed, I move into the living room to take a short nap. Ready for another innkeeping day, Ellen, Piper and I walk 30 steps across the driveway to the inn’s kitchen, where Piper and I are the first to be fed breakfast.

After our breakfast, Piper and I head out to the garden, barking quietly at the kitchen door when we want to come in. Meanwhile Ellen is preparing breakfast for our guests. The homemade bread is in the oven, the muffins to go in later. Ellen prepares the fruit course and puts the finishing touches on the entree. I stay alert waiting for the kitchen timer to ring. And when it does, I find Ellen, tap her left with my paw (sometimes I am a little overzealous and nearly knock her over).

When my kitchen job is done, I move on to the dining room, where I greet each and every guest. Although I am supposed to be lying down, I admit that I do get up and pleasantly stare at the guests and their food. I am on a strict diet, and they are not supposed to feed me (Ellen is very strict about this), but I am an optimist and am always hoping the guests will drop a tasty morsel. Like most Golden Retrievers, I love to put my head on people’s laps, and I do this when Ellen isn’t looking, but don’t tell her that — I have a reputation to uphold.

When staff is cleaning up from breakfast, I take a long nap in the kitchen or join guests on the porch while they finish their coffee and read the newspaper.

Then it’s errand time! I always wear my service dog coat while we are out and about. Some people smile at us, like they do at babies. Others are rude and point at us, as if they have never seen a dog before! Our outings most often take us grocery shopping or out to lunch. I have my own special spot in most Lenox restaurants — the corner table on the patio at Church Street Cafe or in the back room or near the window at Bistro Zinc. This makes me feel as if I’m at Cheers!

While Ellen bakes in the afternoon, I nap until the timer goes off.

At 3:00 pm comes the fun part — greeting guests at the door with my most appealing wag. I even lead the way while the guests get acquainted with the inn. If the guests have a dog and if I like the dog after a welcome sniffing, I may follow the dog around.

While the guests are enjoying hot cider and pastries in the library or iced tea and lemonade with pastries on the porch, Piper and I enjoy our dinner and then a romp in the garden before rejoining our guests.

It’s a long and tiring day so in the evening, while Ellen is cooking or working on the computer, I stretch out for a long nap. And then it’s time to move my venue to the sofa in Ellen’s living room, my all-time favorite place. We enjoy a long cuddle, and then it’s bed time.

I am a working dog, and as you can see, I work very hard for my cookies! For some reason, though, Ellen says she wants to work as hard as I do in her next life! Why is that?

The overflow includes: 23 chargers; four sweatshirts; 5 nighties; 8 pairs of shoes; several very nice sweaters, 1 pillow, 1 blanket, a sleeping bag, and “good as new” men’s winter parka.

Some former guests call as soon as they realize something is missing, but most don’t bother. After a year, the wearable items go to Goodwill.

But I must admit, I am guilty of leaving things behind when we travel. I am sure that there must be hundreds of tennis balls somewhere in Dog Heaven.

Once we were at an innkeeping conference at a lovely resort in New Hampshire. When we got home, I looked through Ellen’s suitcase for my squirrel. My friend Amy gave it to me as a gift because she knows I love to chase squirrels. I could not find that squirrel anywhere.

So one of the inn staff members called the hotel. “Good morning,” he said. “Ms. Chenaux stayed at your hotel earlier this week and seems to have left behind a squirrel.” The hotel operator, without missing a beat, asked,” Sir, could you please describe the squirrel?”

Needless to say, my squirrel and I were reunited within a couple of days.

Posted by Quinn

Gnocchi with Morels and Snap Peas

We just returned from eating and drinking our way through Napa and Sonoma counties in California! I must tell you that we dined in some of the US’s most incredible restaurants, all of which have cushy carpeting for me to snooze.

The Napa Valley at this time of year is heavenly! The air is infused with roses and rosemary, which are in bloom in profusion.

One of the dining highlights was Martini House in St. Helena, owned by renown chef Todd Humphries. This is where Peter Chenaux will be starting his externship tomorrow, having graduated from the Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone campus. An innovative and tasty culinary experience with excellent and welcoming service.

The ultimate culinary experience had to be at Cyrus in Healdsburg. Everything from service through the eight-course tasting menu was a feast for the eyes and the palate. A sample tasting for you: Thai-Marinated Lobster with Avocado, Mango, and Hearts of Palm; Gnocchi with morels and snap peas; Soft Shell Crab with corn and scallions; Wagyu Beef with burdock and shiso in oxtails umeshu consomme artisanal and farmhouse cheeses; Verjus Sorbet with blood orange riesling soup to cleanse the palate; Strawberry Rhubarb Bread Pudding; and Caramelized Walnut Carrot Cake with yuzu-carrot sorbet. Wait,  there was more! Upon departing, they presented us with a personalized menu and a rich chocolate cake to take home. Each dish was accompanied by Cyrus-chosen international wines.

Memorable feasts!

We did take some time out for fun and went to the aquarium. This is probably the third or fourth aquarium I’ve been to, and since the viewing area is quite low for children, I can see the various fish, including sharks! I am always mesmerized. [I also recommend the Maritimes aquarium in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.]

Then on to Coke. They do put on a great exhibit, and you get to sample Coke-owned beverages from around the world. Ellen really seemed to like the carbonated apple drink from China since she kept going back for more! So, if you’re ever in China…

The exhibit was the prelude to the Coke Store. Anything you can think of is available with the Coke logo! They and Disney are the best at branding!

It was weird in Atlanta as we rarely saw people on the street in the heart of downtown. There were some very nice homeless people who greeted me each morning on the closest patch of grass.