The early wildflowers are starting to bloom in the Red Hills down by Chinese Camp, and the grass is growing, the creeks are flowing, and there’s lots of birds for me to bark at! I even saw a real live road runner the other day, but I didn’t see a coyote chasing it.
Here at the hotel our crocus and daffodils are coming out, but sometimes at this time of year it can still snow on top of them. We got a lot of rain and snow last month, and that’s good because my mom says that most of California’s water comes from the mountains when the snow melts. People still have trouble getting into Yosemite sometimes because the roads have a lot of ice, so please be careful when you drive around up here.
My mom was so mad at me the other day. I found this great new toy, and it felt good on my teeth, but boy did she yell and say bad words when she found me chewing on it! But what I really don’t understand is what kind of animal it came from, and why she says the tooth is blue when it’s black and silver. But she had to go buy a new blue tooth because she couldn’t put it over her ear any more because of me. But I know she still loves me anyway!
Have you been by to see the new colors inside the front of the hotel? The name of the color is “Salsa” and it’s really different than the old pinky colors! It’s more deep orangy colors and the trim is a tan, and there’s new ivory-colored curtains with rods too. Oh, and the new lights! Everybody loves those. They’re a darker metal with frosted shades and there’s a little pineapple shape at the top that my mom says is a traditional symbol of hospitality. They look really nice and old-fashioned, and the paint color is really a real historic paint color, too. People are surprised to hear that. The restaurant has a new name too, The Cellar Door. Like for a wine cellar! And soon we’ll even get new carpets in all the hallways and rooms. Come see what it looks like!
Wow, our annual special Valentine’s Day dinner was sold out, and then even with last minute cancellations more people came in and filled every table, even in the bar. It was a tail-wagging success! Lots of people were calling on the phone and coming in the door that didn’t have reservations, and some of them had to get turned away, so don’t let that happen to you! If you want to be with us for Easter dinner or any other big eventslike that, reserve early!
It’s February in the Sierras, which means the weather is all over the place. Warm one week, inches of snow the next. We’ve had a solid week of storms, and driving’s been crazy up here, even in Groveland. So if you’re coming here this time of year, always plan for the worst and bring chains. Better to be safe than sorry — somebody got caught in a sudden storm and slid right into the big sign for our grocery store up the street! Broke it right off. It’s just leaning up against a phone pole now until they can put it back up. So be safe, not sorry, and make sure your tires are good, bring chains, and slow down. People are always driving way too fast in bad conditions. We want you to visit us and be happy and safe!
I’m really looking forward to spring, now more than ever. On Groundhog’s Day we had lots of sun, so they tell me that means six more weeks of winter. Oh no! But that just makes me love the spring even more when it does come. Visit me and my family soon!
The weather doesn’t seem to be able to make up its mind, but that’s what January is like. One day it’ll be snowing out of nowhere with these huge flakes coming down, and the next day people will be in t-shirts! It’s crazy California weather. It really keeps things interesting.
Speaking of interesting, the dining room is closed for the next couple of weeks while they paint it, and there’s colors all over the walls while they figure out which ones are best. Oh, and the lamps are all changing too, from the bright shiny brass ones to lamps with darker metal, and everybody that sees the new ones really likes them. The new dining room will be darker colors, and I think it will feel cozy and elegant at the same time.
The lakes around here are so low, and we’ve all been waiting for the rain and snow to come. Last night it finally did! Groveland is about 2850 feet, so we don’t get snow much, but people ask all the time if we do. I like the white stuff sometimes, but it’s nice that people here don’t have to drive in it much at all, and the people that come to visit don’t need chains and it’s safer, so that’s good too.
The decorator man is here this week, and he and my human mom are picking out new paint colors for the dining room and talking about maybe putting in a new slate floor in the entry and bar. The dining room will be closed from January 26 until February 11 for the changes, but then open again in time for Valentine’s Day dinner, which looks so yummy! Filet mignon? I’m gonna sit up and beg for that!
I just found out about our Courtyard Theater summer concert series, and there’s a lot of tail-wagging fun coming this year. Some new acts, like Rolling Stones, Beach Boys and Rod Stewart tributes, and some old favorites like The Beatles and Johnny Cash tributes and Jack Foltyn as Elvis. There were so many happy, dancing people in the courtyard last summer! I hope you can come join us!
First it was piles of snow, now it’s warm enough that I’ve seen people going sleeveless this week! I wish the weather would make up its mind. Not that I’m complaining — I love this beautiful weather! The birds come out, and the plants seem so happy too. The sun comes in the window and makes the floor nice and warm for laying on. It’s great!
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, of course. The first little flowers will be out, the birds start singing, and people get all romantic. Early spring is so pretty here at the Groveland Hotel, and this year Valentine’s Day even comes on a Saturday — my human mom circled it on her calender. We’ve already got people reserving rooms for that weekend and getting the Valentine’s Getaway Package. I’ve heard the people talking about what an amazing deal that is, too. If you’d like to come visit me that weekend, hurry and call up so you can still get a room!
We got an email from some nice people who remembered when my dad was just a puppy and Grover was taking him for a walk. That was fun to read! Send more emails like that, we love to hear from people that have stayed here, especially fun memories. Another man came by that had an old ledger from the hotel from the 1890s when the hotel had a little store in it. You could see what people had paid for cigars and other things, and whether they’d ever paid their tab back or not. The handwriting was really fancy. The man brought old photos of when his family owned the hotel a long time ago. They were really neat!
If you have any memories about the Groveland Hotel, old or new, please let us know!
We were full to overflowing on New Year’s Eve! I still can’t believe how many people came to visit us here at the Groveland Hotel for our annual bash this year, and I had fun watching the cars trying to find somewhere to park. It seems the whole town was celebrating, and I even managed to stay awake for the stroke of midnight.
2009 is already looking bright for the hotel, and we hope to have even more people this year staying with us. I love seeing them come in from all over the world, speaking all their different human languages! Last year a few of the countries people came from included Argentina, Japan, China, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, France, England, Ireland, Germany, Canada, Russia, Switzerland, Netherlands, Indonesia and more.
Soon people are going to come and do some work to make things look even nicer, like new carpet and paint and work around the reception area. Paint smells make me sneeze, but when it’s all done it’ll look really nice! I can’t wait to see what colors go in the dining room, too — everybody’s been looking at paint samples, but they won’t show me!
Here’s looking forward to a bright new year!
Hi again everybody! The winter weather just keeps on coming, and boy are my little paws cold. My human mom wants me to go in the back yard and I just stop and look at her to say, “You want me to do what?!?” This next week it’s supposed to warm up into the 50s, so I’m really looking forward to that. We beagles don’t have much fur!
We’re going to have a fun New Year’s Eve party here at the hotel, and I hope you can come! We’re having live music by The Satellites upstairs, with dancing and food and wine… oh my! It’s our annual bash, and you can get the party only for $29, or a whole five-course dinner with the party for $99. Just before midnight, you can say, “See you next year!” And then after the countdown you can brag to your friends that you spent two years at the Groveland Hotel!
People love to talk about the history of the hotel, including our ghosts. We had another ghost hunter woman call this week asking about Lyle and the others. Of course, we dogs can see them even if the humans can’t, and I have to say that Lyle is a pretty nice guy. He waves at me and I bark back, which makes my mom wonder what I’m barking at half the time. It sure is a fun place to live… even if you’re dead like Lyle! But we like our lively guests, especially if they bring their pups for me to say hello to.
Wow, did it snow here in Groveland! We got several inches of the white stuff, and it’s so cold on my little paws! I had fun running around in it, then went in where it’s nice and warm for a rest after. My human mom’s family was up visiting for the holidays too and brought their canine companions of all ages and sizes, some of whom were Great Danes! We barked at each other a lot, but it was all in good fun. I love to play in the snow with my doggie friends, and I’d love to meet yours — bring them on up for a visit!
Speaking of snowy visits, a lot of people don’t realize that Tioga Pass, the part of Highway 120 that goes over the mountains to Mono Lake, is closed all winter long. It’s the highest auto highway pass in the Sierra Nevada mountains, reaching over 9500 feet at its highest point. Usually they can’t dig it out from under all that snow until June! Make sure you plan your trip accordingly when you head up our way. A good alternate route to take is to head into Yosemite Valley, then once you’ve spent the day there, exit on Highway 41 south through Fresno and then go through Bakersfield to points east.
That’s all for now! Drive carefully and I hope to see you soon.
Hi there, and welcome to my blog! I love trotting around town and sniffing out interesting things to tell you about.
This time of year the whole town is decked out in pretty garlands and sparkly foil and ribbons, I really love it. It takes a lot of people to decorate the town every year, and then they have to take it all back down! I give Kay Glaves and her crew five Ginger Snaps for the effort. Thanks everyone!
I hope you come visit me for the holidays, I always love to wag my tail at people and say hello, but you know what I like even more? Visiting with other four-legged friends here at the Groveland Hotel. Did you know we have the Golden Bone Award from The Dog Lover’s Companion to California? Oh, and we have a new addition to our sign out front that lets everyone driving by know that we’re completely pet friendly too — a heart with paws inside it. I think it looks really nice!