Banners Over Bath

Every spring Main Street Bath sponsors a public art dispay called Banners Over Bath. Anyone can pick up a canvas for a small fee and paint a banner to go with that year's theme. The banners are then displayed downtown on the lampost to brighten up the downtown during the rainy, sometimes muddy, spring in Maine. This year's theme celebates Bath's status as one of ten semi-finalists in the national Great American Main Street competition - a competition which we won! I took a walk downtown and took a few pictures to show you but you can also see the banners here or, better yet, take a trip to Bath and see them in person.

Romance and Companionship

It is the season of love and we have had a lot of couples taking advantage of a romantic getaway to Bath and our B&B. They love the quiet and curl up in front of the fireplace to relax and unwind from the stresses in everyday life. They stroll downtown and browse the local shops bringing back a bottle of wine from Now You're Cooking to share before dinner at Solo Bistro or one of our other great restaurants. All this has me thinking that maybe I need a companion too! Mark, Amy and I watched the Westminster Dog Show this week and I saw all those wonderful breeds strutting their stuff for the judges. Of course, no Italian Bergamascos were there but that is okay - we know we are in a class by ourselves. But seeing all those dogs makes me think a little "mini me" would be a wonderful addition to our family. Now I just need to convince Amy and Mark that I would help train and keep a youngster in line. Wish me luck and if all goes well I may have help with all the greeting and blog writing in the future.

My Favorite Day!

My favorite day in Bath is fast approaching - Dog Days - will be celebrated on Sunday, August 21st. Part of Front Street in downtown Bath will be closed off so we can walk freely with our masters and not worry about traffic. The local shop owners will have stuff for sale out on the street with some featuring stuff just for the four legged shopper. The brave dog, Keylo, that serves in Bath's police department will do a demo of his work and we can have a portrait taken by Soggy Dog Designs and the Creative Turtle

There is also a Silly Pet Tricks contest but I don't think I will be entering that one. The day will conclude with an outdoor concert at the gazebo in City Park featuring "The Natives are Restless". The picture is from last summer's Dog Days festivities and shows one of my many admirers. I can't wait until Sunday!

Bath Heritage Days

The excitement is building in downtown Bath for the city's annual festival - Heritage Days. This is four days filled with tons of activities throughout the downtown. It all kicks off on Friday with the Sunrise Rotary's Chicken BBQ which, of course I do not get to attend, and live music at the Gazebo. Throughout the weekend and into Monday, you can hear live music on two stages, shop at the Craft Show, take in all the art at Art in the Park, or cheer at the Fireman's Muster or the Strongman Competition. The Pattend Free Library also holds their big Book Sale this weekend, the antique car show shuts down Front Street on Sunday and the Independence Jam happens at the Skatepark. The big 4th of July Parade is Monday at 11 a.m. - this is my favorite event because Mark and Amy always take me to the parade to watch. Sometimes they even share some food with me from one of the many food vendors in the park. Since we are the City of Ships there is even a boat parade following the more traditional parade. The weekend festival wraps up with fireworks on Monday - not my favorite event - all that noise but I do enjoy the rest of the celebrating!

Summer in Maine

I've been lazy, hanging out in the garden and napping away my days in the sunshine. That's how life is here in Maine, especially in the summer. We move at a slower pace - take time to enjoy "the way life should be". Yes, I have responsibilities -greeting guests, giving just the right amount of attention and helping with breakfast and tea clean up - but somedays I pretend I am the one on vacation and take the time to just soak up my surroundings and relax at this beautiful, peaceful Bed and Breakfast that I call home.

Number 3 - What Wonderful People!

Sorry for the delay in keeping up with my blog and the list of the Top 5 Reasons to Stay at a B&B, especially ours. I was a bit distracted waiting for an addition to the family - Amy and Mark's great nephew (my cousin) was born yesterday so now I can get back to my job - sleeping in the sun, blogging and greeting guests.
So the 3rd best reason to stay at a B&B - the people!!! Our guests come from all over the United States and the world, bringing a variety of experiences, languages and vacation ideas with them and this all comes together in the dining room at breakfast. Talking with each other, sharing plans and adventures that each has had while visiting Bath and midcoast Maine shapes each guests stay into a unique experience. Guests often find out that this is a very small world we live in. I remember we had one couple visiting from Germany and also a family staying with us from New York. While everyone was at breakfast and talking they discovered that the gentleman from New York had recently given a lecture at the law firm where the woman worked in Germany! Or the time the couple showed up from Essex, England and were staying 2 nights. The next night a couple comes to the door looking for a room also from Essex, England. Seated together the next morning for breakfast they discover they only lived about 20 minutes apart! I also enjoy when guests come back from a day out exploring the sights and share all their stories with each other over afternoon tea on the patio. I get to hear about what they did, how cold they think the ocean is even in the middle of the summer and where they found the best lobster. And lastly, it is not just the wonderful guests here at the Packard House but also the wonderful dog!

Doing the Math

Everyone in the tourism business is talking about rising gas prices and if this is going to deter people from taking vacations. I have been thinking about this and did a little math to show people that their vacation costs will not be out of control just because gas has gone up. Let's pretend you are coming to Bath from the Philadelphia area, approximately 445 miles, and your car gets 25 mpg. When gas prices were around $3.00 it would have cost you $54 in gas. With gas prices now at $3.60 it will cost you $65. So the difference is only $11 one way which really is not bad. All things in perspective as Mark likes to say!

Winter Beach

Yet another monster snowstorm is on the way but Amy and Mark decided a trip to Reid State Park and the beach was the order of the day. I stayed home on my warm bed and watched the snow from the window. They did take lots of pictures to share with me which I am passing on to you. The beach is gorgeous any time of year.

Views from the Windows

Another snow storm today so I am inside but it sure looks pretty outside so I took some pictures to share with you. You can see once the storm passed there was a bit of sun peeking out over the rooftops on Pearl Street.

My Walk Around Bath

A beautiful winter's day and I got to go for a little walk around town. Check me out at all these great downtown Bath spots - the Gazebo in City Park, overlooking the Kennebec at Waterfront Park, by the clock at Front and Centre Streets and in the newest store downtown - the Winter's Gone Alpaca Store! They did make quite a fuss over me.

The Winning Recipe

Last month, the Benjamin F. Packard House B&B sponsored the Dreamland Theater movies here in Bath. At each of the two movies shown, there was a drawing to win one of our famous baked goods. The first winner has yet the claim his prize, but the couple who won at the second movie are picking up their winnings today. Each winner gets to pick from a choice of three baked goods. Being that the second couple is vegan, Amy needed to make some adjustments to the choices to meet their dietary needs but she found three good recipes and they chose the Pumpkin Pecan Braided Bread. It turned out wonderful and the house smells of toasted pecans and cinnamon. Luckily, it is a big recipe and makes two loaves so hopefully there will be some leftovers for my breakfast tomorrow.

A New Pet Store in Town

Downtown Bath is always fun to visit when Amy and Mark take me for a walk. I get to look in all the store windows but rarely do I get to go in. Once in a while they take me in the bank or the library but only if it is going to be quick. I get a bit excited with all the attention and these places allow well behaved dogs only. But now things are different. There is a store downtown just for me - Wags and Whiskers! We walked down on Sunday so I could check it out. Unfortunately we missed the visit and pictures with Santa but I did buy myself (okay, I had to borrow money from Amy) a cool ball to play with. I posted a picture of me at the store so you can see how happy I am. They have all sorts of great stuff and I saw those chicken treats that I get once in a while at home so I am thinking they have been shopping at Wags and Whiskers without me. Anyway, when you're in Bath, check it out. It is a great place to buy your best friend a suprise for when you get back home.

The Big Fall Weekend

Well the big fall weekend is here - Columbus Day. There is a lot going on in Bath this weekend with Autumnfest. There will be a great Maine made craft show, the Farmers' Market, Citizens' Involvement Day, music, scarecrow making and lots more all happening downtown on Saturday. The weather looks like it is going to cooperate so there should be a good turnout. The Columbus Day weekend also marks the end of the season for two favorite eating places - Fat Boys Drive In and their unbelievable frappes (we called them milkshakes back in PA) and Five Islands and that wonderful lobster. Yes, we still have lobster year round but there is nothing like sitting on the dock at Five Islands and scarfing down a lobster and onion rings. I guess being open only on a seasonal basis gives us all something to look forward to through the winter and mud season. Our cool little city of Bath, of course, does not shut down and we are a year round town. There are lots of things still going on throughout the fall and before we know it all the activities for An Old Fashioned Christmas in Bath will be gearing up. So don't put away those thoughts of a getaway to Maine just yet - we are here, we are open and I am waiting to greet you when you arrive.

Dog Days in Bath

Today was the first Dog Days in downtown Bath and I got to go! Merchants set up booths along Front Street selling all sorts of cool pet stuff and many of them were also giving out treats. Of course, picky me, didn't accept anything (I do love my peanut butter biscuits which I get every night). I did gets lots of attention and made lots of noise so the other dogs would know that I was there. I hope Bath does another Dog Days - it was lots of fun for me.

Happy Anniversary

The three of us cannot believe it - it has been 5 years to the day since we opened the doors of the Benjamin F. Packard House Bed and Breakfast. From those frantic six weeks we had to get the place ready to open with buying furniture, bedding, decorating and planning to our first guests (I'll never forget them Amy let them bring their little dog in for the night) to updating bathrooms and other off season projects and finally to all the great guests who have graced our doorstep in the last five years - it has been wonderful. Besides the business, living in Bath has just enhanced the last 5 years. This is a fabulous "little city" to live in. Our neighbors and friends are great, the downtown is vibrant and there is always something happening. This weekend is the big Heritage Days Celebration with a craft fair, chowder/chili cook off, boat parade, carnival, live music and, my favorite, the 4th of July parade. Amy and Mark usually take me along and I am quite the hit with parade watchers - maybe someday they will actually ask me to be in the parade! Of course, there will be fireworks too - but I stay home for those. You could say I am not a fan of the fireworks. So Happy Anniversay to us and to all our past guests, our family and great friends who have supported us and helped make this all possible.

It is the waiting that is hardest

People ask all the time about what it is like to be an innkeeper. Amy and Mark tell them how it is a lifestyle not just a job and it is not for everyone. All three of us love it - meeting new people, hearing about other people's travels, telling people about Bath and what a cool little city we live in, and of course, all the attention I get. The hardest thing about innkeeping is the waiting... waiting for guests to arrive, waiting for guests to come down to breakfast (for me personally waiting until they are done with breakfast to see it any leftovers will make it in to my dish)and on nights when we are not full, waiting to see if we will get guests who have not booked ahead. Good thing we have a comfortable place to wait! Here I am sitting by the garden gate waiting for guests (or anyone else who stops by to say hello)!

Amy and Mark finally got the new garden ready for planting. Last Sunday, Mark turned over all the sod, then on Tuesday he rented a rotatiller and they both worked hard tilling the soil and removing the big clumps of sod, raking, tilling some more and more raking. The finished garden looked great to me - lots of place to dig. Of course they won't let me any where near it. Looking forward to the Bath Garden Club's Annual plant sale on Saturday, May 15th so they can fill the garden up with perennials. It will add nice color to that side of the house but I still think it would be better just to leave it unplanted and leave me in it to dig to my hearts content. Oh well, a dog can dream!

Not My Best Day

It was bath day today - and I am not talking about a celebration of where we live but the fact I had to get my yearly bath. Amy and Mark took me to a "do it yourself" place which was having a fundraiser for the local animal shelter. The volunteers washed me (with help from Mark) for a $20 donation. Not a bad deal for them but not great for me. I hate baths! Even more humiliating was Amy taking pictues which I am sure she will post to my blog. Oh the indignities I suffer in order to be a good innkeeping dog.