The Elusive Moose

“When’s the best time to see a moose?”  That’s probably the hardest question to answer any time of the year.  The best time, unfortunately, is when the moose doesn’t know you’re there.  And that’s almost impossible.

See, moose have these huge, hairy ears that pick up the slightest noise.  They hear everything. Ask any hunter and you’ll get stories about a twig breaking, chewing gum snapping, a metal grommet clinking or even the infamous muffled sneeze.  And yes, in that brief second, that moose is gone.

I’m one lucky Vermonter.  I’ve seen “our” moose five times between 2006 and 2010.  The first time was Spring 2006 along route 7 in the Mt. Tabor area of the Green Mountain National Forest.  Brian and I were driving along and he said “Did you see the moose?”  Of course, I had missed it, being the driver and having to concentrate on the road, so we turned around and went back and there he was, a young bull moose, wallowing in the water, happily munching down all sorts of plants.  We pulled into the parking area, got out, and leaned on the car just watching him eat.  Within about 20 minutes the parking lot was filled up and the moose, instead of walking away, turned around and faced all of us in the parking lot.  This was when I first decided that “our” moose was a camera hound and had a sense of humor.   He stayed there eating, watching the people, “posing” for pictures, for a good 45 minutes.  When he left, he just sauntered deeper into the woods, taking his time, never even looking back to see if he was followed.

We felt very lucky to have seen him.  Other people were commenting that they had never seen a live moose before.  One fellow had lived in Vermont all his 75 years and this was his first moose sighting.  He had taken lots of photos and was going home to get them up on his Facebook page and send to his family.  I had seen tracks before, but never seen a moose in the wild.  Little did I know that the moose and I would have an interesting relationship in the future.

Apparently, the Silas Griffith Inn is right on the Moose Highway from Danby Mountain to the Green Mountain National Forest.  I would find moose tracks in muddy areas, moose scat on the trails, and occasionally strands of hair caught in the berries after the moose was helping himself to the newly ripened blackberries.  But one morning in May, around 4:30 AM, I was awakened by the dogs.  All three of them were barking at the window.  Then they stopped and I heard this unearthly noise and looked out the window.  There, in the field beyond the gazebo, was the moose, bellowing.  He stopped, and the dogs started barking again.  He shook his head, and wandered off.  Eventually the dogs calmed down, but I wasn’t able to fall back asleep.  I got up and started getting ready for the day.

All our guests wanted to know what that “awful noise” was in the middle of the night when they came down to breakfast.  I explained, and we went up to the field, where I showed them the tracks and fresh scat.  Everybody was excited, and some guests even set their alarms so they could see the moose.  But he didn’t bellow the next morning, and no one saw him in the moonless pre-dawn light, although he did visit, as evidenced by his fresh tracks.

A year later I saw him in my garden eating the baby peas.  I was not amused as I watched him munch down one whole section after another.  But I wasn’t going to argue – he was taller than I was and I could plant more peas.  That’s actually the only time I ever caught him in the garden, although he does eat from the apple trees all the time.  He’s a very picky eater and will sample apples, taking only a bite to see if he likes it, leaving the apple if it doesn’t meet his standards, and finishing it if he does.  I’ve found a lot of half eaten apples still hanging on the trees with huge, moose toothmarks.

Over the next few years he only woke me up twice more.  I think the dogs got used to him and just didn’t bother to bark anymore.  But he bellowed, and I looked out and saw him, a beautiful moose, king of the area, telling the world that this was his land and we were just temporary interlopers.  And when you’re 6 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh over 1,500 lbs, well, I’m not going to argue.

So, c’mon up to Vermont, where moose tracks abound.  Maybe you’ll be one of the lucky few allowed to see our camera happy moose.  But even if you never see him, just remember, he’s watching your every move.

No Room at the Inn - The Innkeeper's Dilemma

At this time of year one character in the Nativity Story is either totally overlooked or vilified. That person is The Innkeeper. He is never mentioned by name or profession. Quite frankly, he may have never even known there was a very pregnant girl and her husband looking for a room. His only mention is in Luke chapter 2, verse 7, quoted here from the King James Version:

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn.

So who was this mysterious Innkeeper? We can assume it was a man, because woman were not allowed to own property. He was married and had a family, because having a family was normal and expected. There was nothing out of the ordinary about the Innkeeper, nothing spectacular, nothing special. And the Inn was an ordinary, small town Inn. They probably served meals and drinks to both guests and anyone else. Instead of a garage they had a stable and would house horses, camels, donkeys and other working animals for a fee. They probably had chickens and a cow and their own donkey or horse. They would not have raised all their own food, but would have gotten much of their provisions from the local markets and farms, because Bethlehem was lacking in farmland. They probably had their own fig tree and a few other fruit trees in their courtyard. Their water would have been brought in daily from the local well.

Being an Innkeeper is a daunting task on even the slowest day. From cooking breakfasts, to cleaning rooms, basic shopping and maintenance, yard work, activity planning and problem solving, an Innkeeper's day is full from dawn to dusk, and then some. Now add a local convention, wedding, or other event that needs lots of lodging rooms to a small town and you get total chaos. The closest comparison up here in Vermont would be the Saturday of Columbus Day weekend during Foliage, when there is rarely an empty room. Now imagine those crowds of people having to stay possibly for weeks until they were counted and allowed to go back to their homes and businesses. This is the scene in Bethlehem the year Jesus was born.

When Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem that year, everyone who was related in any way to the House of David (Luke 2:1-4) had to go to Bethlehem for a census. This wasn't like today's census, where you fill out a form and, if you forget, someone will happily knock on your door and ask you questions. This was a "show up here or go to jail" event during which the Roman soldiers were more than happy to enforce the "go to jail" part. So all of a sudden, this sleepy little town is overrun with people looking for lodging, and there were not enough rooms to go around. We don't even know if there was more than one Inn in Bethlehem during this period. All we know is that somehow, some kindly person, sent Mary and Joseph to the stable because at least it was warm and Mary could rest a bit.

I can imagine being that innkeeper. Its late at night. You're full to the brim with guests and their animals. You're hoping you have enough food for breakfast, because you know the market will be out of something you need. You're exhausted and just want to go to bed when all of a sudden there's a knock on the door. So you answer it, and there's a young, extremely pregnant couple. What do you do? You can't shove them into a room with other guests - You're probably already done that. You can't let them sleep in the common room, because its full already with people willing to sleep on the floor as was the custom back then. You certainly aren't giving up your bed, so where do you put them? You send them to the stable, where they can sleep with their donkey.

Now this wasn't as strange then as it would be now. Shepherds and grooms were accustomed to sleeping with the animals if only to protect the animals and their packs from thieves. Even today at state fairs you can see people curled up on a hay bale or two taking a nap beside their animals between showings. Grooms also had to unpack and brush down the animals, get their food and water, and care for them. Horses in particular would be calmer with a known handler. So Mary and Joseph probably weren't totally alone when she went into labor, but we don't know for sure. All we know from the story is that Mother and Son were both happy and healthy after the birth, Joseph was there through it all, and things got cleaned up fast enough for Mary to receive her first guests just hours after Jesus was born.

And what about the poor Innkeeper? Somebody probably told him something like "that pregnant girl is having her baby and what are you going to do about it?" Did he help? Did he send out his wife or daughter? Did he call a midwife? Did he provide the swaddling cloths? How did he react when all those shepherds showed up, sheep in tow, to visit his stable? We don't know. How would you have reacted if you were the Innkeeper? How many Innkeepers out there have had the miracle of a birth suddenly surprise a guest?

So here's to that Innkeeper, forever immortalized as either mean or generous depending upon your interpretation of the event. And here's to all of us Innkeepers, as we enter another year. May we remember that poor Innkeeper and his dilemma. Would we have done the same as he did?

Merry Christmas to everyone this Holiday season!

Traveling with older pets

(This is the third in a series of articles about traveling with pets based upon my experiences as an Innkeeper here at the Silas Griffith Inn and my almost 30 years in the Hospitality business.)

As we age, although we don't like to admit it, we start feeling more aches and pains that weren't there when we were younger. The same holds true for out pets, no matter how good out care is of them, no matter how wonderful our vet care of them is. Arthritis, joint pain, stiff muscles, and love handles are all aging problems for cats and dogs, as well as us humans. But do these issues mean that Fluffy and Fido can no longer go with you on your traveling adventures.

No. It just means you have to prepare a little mores for their comfort and be prepared to make certain allowances for age.

Fluffy and Fido might not be able to take that 10 mile hike with you, but a 5 mile hike would be fine. Their stomach might be sensitive to new water or food, or even too many snacks. And, if they are tired, they may show it a little more a be a little crotchety. Here's a few tips to make your traveling experience more fun for everyone.

• First of all, call the Inn or hotel where you will be staying. Explain that you are traveling with an older pet and see if anything can be done to accommodate Fido or Fluffy. Here at the Silas Griffith Inn we have 4 rooms that open onto a wrap-around deck that allow easy same-level access to the meadow and fields for ease of walking. In the Winter we shovel a path to the deck, and in the Spring, Summer and Fall you walk across nice, soft, pesticide-free grass.
• Talk to your vet about traveling with Fido and Fluffy. He or She might have some insights and suggestions such as pet-safe pain killers or even mobility exercises and stretches to reduce stiffness.
• Bring your pet's regular food. A change of diet in an older pet is the commonest cause of upset tummies and intestinal issues. Keeping them on the same food also reduces stress and gives them something familiar every day. The stress of traveling can also cause tummy issues, so the more you can reduce stress for all of you the more you will enjoy your vacation. Write the feeding directions on the food container so that housekeepers or pet sitters know when Fido and Fluffy expect to eat.
  
• Bring water from home or use bottled water. As for humans, a change of water can cause digestive nightmares.
• If you are traveling to an area with different weather than your pet is accustomed to, plan accordingly. Older pets get cold faster, as do smaller pets. And in the summer, your pet's may overheat faster. Sweaters and blankets for your pet (although I have yet to see a cat keep a sweater on) are a blessing when traveling to snowy areas. And make sure your room has air-conditioning if you are traveling in the warmer months or to warmer areas.
• DO NOT leave your pet in your car for extended periods of time. Extreme heat and extreme cold are very dangerous to your pet. Many Inns (including us) and hotels have pet-sitting services available and either the housekeepers or Innkeepers would be glad to check on Fido and Fluffy while you are away and even take Fido for a walk if needed. But it is up to you, the Innkeeper to ask for this, as the pet sitter will need to schedule times and meet your pet and have written permission from you to care for your pets.
• If your pet is on medications bring enough to last your whole trip plus 2 days. This gives you extra just in case Fluffy decides to spit the pill down the heat vent one morning. Make sure the medications are clearly labeled to prevent any problems.
• Bring copies of all rabies vaccinations and other vaccines and inoculations with you. This is extremely important. If you are traveling most vets also recommend Kennel Cough vaccines just to be on the safe side.
• Spend time with Fido and Fluffy when you travel. From their point of view, they are going with the family to a new and exciting place, and then left alone in a room without mommy and daddy. Take time to play with them and explore the grounds with them safely on their leashes. Find out which channel has animal shows on and leave the TV on low for your pet. The Discovery channel and Animal Planet channels are perfect choices. Move a chair with a pillow beside a closed window so Fluffy can look out and watch birds and people, or just sleep in the sun.
  

Above all, traveling should be fun for all involved, and not a stressful hassle. Fluffy and Fido deserve a good vacation as well as you. Remember that in calendar years they may only be 10, but in dog and cat life-years that's equivalent to early 70's in human life-years. Fluffy and Fido might be a little slower, and more apt to watch the kids play ball than join in the fun. This is to be expected.

Happy Traveling!

Happy New Year 2010!!!

While 2009 started out just fine, it seems that I couldn't wait until I saw it end. With the economy, war, terrorism, freaky weather and everything else its hard to remember the good things about 2009, or if there were any good things at all. But let's see what happened.

Up here in Vermont, we again had one of the wettest years on record. The rain started in April and went all summer, all the way through September and into October. The good thing about the rain was we had an awesome Leaf Season with color lasting almost 6 weeks, and temperatures in the 60's almost to Halloween. We had a true Indian Summer for once.

The rain also was great for some vegetables. We harvested over 200 lbs of zucchini and about 100 lbs of summer squash in our little garden out back. Peppers did well, as did all the herbs and the quince bushes. But the wet was bad for the Rye and hay crops. And for tomatoes. We had 4 beautiful patches of tomatoes in the beginning of summer and lost 2 of them to the blight. I saw with my own eyes proof that the blight was wind born. 2 of the patches were in the open and they were totally decimated by the blight in a mere 24 hours. 2 other patches were shielded from the wind and did not get the blight at all and we got lovely, huge all natural tomatoes out of both patches.

Looking back at my gardening notebook, I'm amazed we had a garden at all. June 1, 2009 gave us a killing frost at 22 degrees F. We lost everything we had planted and had to start all over. Luckily my niece and I had planted 2 batches of seedlings 3 weeks apart so we had plants to go in, but many people were not that lucky.

We also experienced first hand the bee problem. Our corn grew to a wonderful height of over 7 feet tall, but did not get pollinated so the ears never developed. So, this year we will either borrow a beehive or learn how to pollinate corn ourselves.

The best part of 2009 was hosting wonderful people at the Inn. We are very lucky and have many guests who return year after year and we are very thankful and appreciative. We also met many new and wonderful people and their families and hope to see many back again.

We also hosted couples and families from Switzerland, Sweden, England, France, Norway, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, China, Japan, India, and Jamaica. Thank you to all of out International guests for sharing traditions, stories, and spending part of your vacation with us.

On the Nature front here at the Inn, we had 3 pairs of hummingbirds this summer. Sitting around the pool you could watch them dart in and out of the lilies and bees balm, and one of the Ruby-Throated males even would come down and hover by guests, as if he was introducing himself. Watching them zip and zing all over was wonderful fun. Other birds identified this year include the Pileated Woodpecker, the Red Eyed Vireo, Ruffed Grouse, Golden Eagle, Wild Turkey, and although I never saw it I found tail feathers from a pheasant in the field.

There is a young moose who lives in the neighborhood and he made his way through the yard every morning all spring. I saw him twice in 2009, and saw his tracks and scat every week. We also have a family of White Tail Deer in the area, and the fawns last spring were adorable. Daddy White Tail Deer has learned which garden sections are his and which are mine, thanks to a strategic walking path I take with our Australian Shepherd.

This year we will continue work on the walking paths through the field. We are also moving a few large rocks to make an outdoor sitting area by the apple tree grove for relaxing and picnics. My quest to identify all the wildflowers here at the Inn continues. I never knew there were so many different species of goldenrod!

So, I guess 2009 wasn't all that bad overall. We've managed to reduce costs by replacing almost all the bulbs with compact florescent bulbs, increased our recycling, increased our composting to include applicable paper waste to enhance the soil in the garden. We also discovered an old garden area in spring 2009 when lots of iris started poking up out of a rubble pile in the back area. Spring 2010 will see that area either restored or the plants relocated to a better area for everyone to enjoy.

We are still working diligently on restoring this wonderful old Inn properly, which takes time, sunny weather and lots of hard work. The clapboards were all made in the 1800's by Silas Griffith's lumber mill, as they are stamped on the back with his business stamp. This means hand scraping and painting when they are totally dry so the paint doesn't peel right off due to moisture buildup in the wood. So, section by section we will paint. We also found several more original storm windows in the barn and repainted, re-caulked, repaired and reinstalled them in their proper places. Each of those windows was individually made and only fit 1 window. I felt like I was doing the world's largest 3-d jigsaw puzzle at times, but we found their proper places finally.

So, thank you everyone! Your comments in the books in the rooms have been uplifting and helpful. Thank you to those of you who reviewed us. We appreciate the time you took and are truly grateful for your comments and criticisms. We've learned alot this past year and look forward to applying our knowledge to the years ahead.

Happy New Year!

Travelling with Fluffy - Cats and the Holiday Adventure

Let's face it, most cats hate to travel. I don't know how many times we've had to move beds, couches or even empty closets trying to find the cat and get her into the carrier. And for some reason, the smallest cat will expand about 10 times in size when you try to put her in that little, tiny box on wheels. One or both of you end up tired, exhausted and angry. So here's a tip to help survive traveling with Fluffy.

Don't do it. Get a pet sitter. I'm serious.

There are many bonded and insured companies that will come in and feed and water your cat, sit and talk to her, make sure she's just fine, and sometimes even scoop the cat box. Your vet can probably suggest someone to you. Or you can ask a friend you trust to check on Fluffy and give her fresh food and water.

Cats get very attached to "their" house. It is "their" bed, "their" window seat, "their" favorite chair, "their" pillow, and especially if you have a multi-cat household, "their" litter box. They have their favorite toys, when they hide during the day and only bring out at 3 AM when you have an important meeting in the morning and really have to get a good night's sleep. And they have a routine that is very important to them, even though we don't understand it at all. So the best vacation travel for your cat is the one which lets her go from room to room as normal.

Now if you just have to pack up Fluffy for the Holiday pilgrimage to Aunt Beulah's house, then here are a few tips that might make things a little easier for everyone no matter if you are staying at an Inn, with a relative, or in a hotel.

1. DO bring Fluffy's favorite sleeping pad or pillow. This will make Fluffy feel a lot more at ease and might save wear and tear on chair cushions and other pillows.
2. DO bring Fluffy's favorite toy, even if it is the obnoxious squeaky one. Fluffy will probably ignore it in a new environment, but might get malicious glee out of waking you up at 3 AM just like at home. Besides, the familiar toy might just distract Fluffy from playing with all the knick-knacks on the mantle. Or might not.
3. DO cat proof your room when you arrive, or ask the Innkeeper to do it. That pretty little antique pitcher will not bounce when it drops onto the floor. Likewise, dangling tassels, crocheted shade pulls and lace curtains are just ready-made entertainment as far as Fluffy is concerned. Anything small and portable is a potential cat toy, including the coffee packets, shampoo bottles and remote control for the TV.
4. DO bring a scratching pad for Fluffy. Unfamiliar carpet, the back of a pristine chair, and the wall in a closet are just waiting for Fluffy to claim them as her own. Another favorite scratching place under a new bed and the bottom of the box spring.
5. DO bring a clean litter box and Fluffy's favorite brand of cat litter. Cats get attached to the smell and texture of their litter. Different litter may lead to Fluffy refusing to use her box and leaving you and the Innkeeper presents all over the room.
6. DO bring copies of Fluffy's up-to-date vaccinations. Cats get cranky too, especially in new surroundings. They get tired of the "awww, Isn't she cute" comments, being ruffled by unfamilar people, hugged too tight, and competing with resident animals for space and attention. Other people cannot read your cat's emotions as well as you can, so they might miss the subtle signs that precede an angry swipe. Fluffy's paperwork might just prevent a prolonged stay for observation at the local vet.
7. Tell your Innkeeper if anything happens in the room. Your Innkeeper will appreciate your honesty and being able to clean up an "accident" immediately will reduce your cleaning costs. Cat urine is very destructive and once it sets it is almost impossible to remove. Cat urine rots wood and just a little will destroy floors, antiques, dresser tops and more. If it soaks into wall-to-wall carpeting then the whole rug and pad might have to go, as well as repairs to the underfloor.
8. Spend time with Fluffy. She will be anxious in a new situation, and might have a tendency to run away if she spies an open door. Contrary to popular belief, most animals that run away in unfamiliar areas do not get home.

So, if you must travel with Fluffy, be careful, be attentive, and pack well. And above all, have a safe, happy and healthy Holiday trip.