Luxury getaways to the ocean's edge
We have lots of fun guests coming to the Shag It and I’ve enjoyed playing host (and sometimes waiter). I particularly enjoyed these women, Betty, Pam, Joan, Gladys and Vangie, from CBS. Gladys emailed us that “We loved everything there. What a place! We have been braging about it ever
since.”
That’s the kind of feedback we’re working so hard for, and we hope to have them back for a night at the cottages. Gladys is also an artist, so I told her next time she needs to bring her brush!
Another incredibly sweet one from fantastic photographer Bud Vincent. He captured these three lambs on Random Island. He says he did not bother them, and they did not bother about him. Too cute! And just goes to show – you never know what you’ll find in Newfoundland!
Yet another example of the outstanding artistic talent in this province. Clifford’s wife Shirley sent me this piece – here’s what she said about it: “This is a sketch of Clifford that Angie Green did when we were at the art show in Botwood. Angie was exhibiting there as well and she is from Carbonear. Clifford said she is very talented.”
I would say she is very talented, too!
I just saw a little boat go across the harbour on a rainy, foggy morning, and I was drawn to yesteryear. At least for the time being, we here ‘around the bay’ are living in the past, present, and future – a rare trinity. It seems so fitting to live in Trinity Bay: an hour from St. John’s – a million miles from everywhere.
I lived long and gone far and seen my fair share of the world. Now I live in the trinity of my life right here in Trinity Bay. In the quiet of a rainy, foggy morning – it doesn’t get much better than this!
A few days ago we had a farewell lunch for three student workers who are leaving to go back to school. Kaitlyn (a.k.a Kapelin as we was called by her peers when much younger), Katie and Nick were all great additions to our team and we couldn’t wish them more well in their studies. They will be missed!
We had a nice lunch, and I learned something profound from these young people, in addition to the reinforcement that you can learn a lot from young people. With our phones these days, everyone (OK, including me) spends half the meal nose in screen instead of interacting. Kapelin had the cure.
We all had to surrender our phones, put them on vibrate, turn them upside down, and put them in the middle of the table. Anyone who answered their phone had to pay for lunch.
I even had Joe make some calls to them to test them (but they didn’t fall for it!). After we put the phones on the table – we had a very inclusive and fun lunch. But I had to pay because they didn’t answer the phones!
What a great idea to enforce proper etiquette. Thanks Kapelin. And thanks to all for joining us this summer and putting up with us!
So we had wonderful students and they learned a lot, I learned a lot, we learned a lot. Life is good.
Murphy agreed to forgo blogging duties today so that I could announce what for us is a long time coming, and the result of a lot of work and patience: we are now licensed to serve alcohol at the Shag It Cafe! We’re nearing the end of tourist season, but we’re still excited to now be able to serve beer and wine to our guests. So get your DD and come on down! 
We’ve instituted a new game at the Shag It .We had one of the neighbours make this game called ‘washer toss,’ which is something like horse shoes except you throw large washers with the hope of getting them in the pipe in the box. We are offering a free lunch to anyone who can actually do it – it’s not so easy, but it’s really fun.
And the good news? We are now licensed – so bring a designated driver, and enjoy a wine or beer with Joe Friday’s famous cod-au-gratin!
Another Saturday, another beautiful Newfoundland scene captured by the brilliant Bud Vincent. This was captured in Rock Harbour near Petite Forte, on the Burin Peninsula. Another classic!
We were happy that Terry French, Minister of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, came to the Shag It Cafe this past Wednesday. He came to try Joe Friday’s famous cod au gratin appetizer, of course, and he wanted to see what we have done with the place, too.
I believe he was impressed with the breathtaking view at the Shag It and all the work we did to convert the apartment into the original Newfoundland café it is now. He was even more impressed with the fact that across all our properties on the Baccalieu Trail, we have gone from 3 ½ employees last year to 23 this year.
We were also proud to show off The Doctor’s House, which he loved as well. We had a wonderful BBQ, saw the ponies, trekked the property, and said hello to the first born on the farm since we acquired it (we now have 4 beautiful baby chicks – stay tuned for pictures!).
We spent the night telling stories of this remarkable province and all the potential we both see in the Baccalieu Trail. We talked about how we are trying to provide the experiences the government is promoting, including in all those beautiful ads we see on tv.
I also learned that Minister French has connections to this Wonderful World of Whiteway – lucky man. He has land here that was given to him by his Aunt Minnie Bishop, who was a resident. He is well known by the locals and related to the Harnums.
We also talked about my late brother, Jack, who I know really liked Terry. Seems like the feeling was mutual. Overall, it was a blessed night, and we were happy to share our work with someone who does so much for this province.
Meet the lovely Hunt family, who, as part of a family reunion, joined us at the Shag It Cafe and Gift Shop. For a new operation, we are just learning how to accommodate large groups. Serving the Hunts was a challenge, but a fun one, and I think we rose to the opportunity! They were a great group of people, we’re thrilled they chose to come, and we wish them well!
