Luxury getaways to the ocean's edge
I’m a mentor to many young four-leggeds. I just love the way they nip at your heals. Lately, I’ve loved playing with Bandit, a 6 week old Labrador pup. He owns Marissa, Heather’s daughter (Heather works at The Doctor’s House). It’s hard to believe this little one will be as big as me someday!
You know I like using this blog to share special stories from our guests – well, get ready to start seeing some guests from The Doctor’s House now, too! I don’t spend quite as much time there (I hold down the fort at Ocean Delight most days!), so Rosemary got this picture and told me about the wonderful ladies who make up the Red Had Edison Club. I’m told it was one of the friends’ birthdays, so they surprised her with a night at The Doctor’s House. They said it was important to spend time with your girlfriends because they are the ones who will always be there for you. Judging by the stories my daughters tell me, I think they’re right!
I’ve always dreamed of having a boat and feel so blessed to have one now. Our boat honors that dream – truly, I am thrilled to have a wake at last. Especially when I can enjoy peaceful evenings with The lovely Berry on the ocean, watching the setting sun – my favourite!
My daughters just love puffins – and really, who doesn’t? In fact, I know of my daughters goes on whale watches in Newfoundland, more to watch these little guys struggling to take off and fly so cutely overhead, then she does to see the whales.
So puffin-watching is quite popular in Newfoundland, and so is puffin photography. Every gift shop in downtown St. John’s sells postcards and posters adorned with the little guys. But I have to say (and I’m not biased!) that these pictures, from good friend and great photographer Bud Vincent, are some of the best I’ve seen. Enjoy!
I took this picture on a recent day trip to Grow Dat Farms. I’m always talking up the great day trips you can take on the Baccalieu Trail, so this summer, in our very limited free time, The Berry and I are trying to practice what we preach. Grow Dat Farms in nearby Heart’s Delight was a great place to start. They’ve got fruit, flowers, vegetables, and herbs, all organic and fresh. And of course, chickens! We love their hen house – makes me wonder if it’s something I could replicate at The Doctor’s House. Regardless, it’s a fun place to visit, and just a reminder to guests – we love giving recommendations if you’re looking for fun things to do in the area, and we have a list of local activities here.
Turns out I’m not the only one with a hand for blogging – please check out this wonderful piece, written by The Berry! Laurelyn was happy to guest post for the Newfoundand and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs, an organization I know she is proud to be a member of and support. With an extensive network they help women start, grow and advance leading-edge businesses (remind you of anyone?). Writing And Now for Our Next Act, Laurelyn outlines our journey from clueless about the hospitality industry to now operating three unique ventures. It’s a great read!
So much going on to be grateful for. Most importantly – my daughter and her boyfriend, Victor, are here to visit for a week. And, the recreational food fishery has started – bring on the A Wake at Last and the fishing! We celebrated Kathryn’s birthday yesterday with a boat trip and it was just what the doctor ordered. Picnic, fishing, presents (Kathryn loves her Shag It apron, now available since this is our first week open!), and time with loved ones. What a treat.
Murphy, gentledog that he is, happily gave up his Tuesday blogging post so that I could share some happy news that has been a long time coming – we have opened the Shag It Cafe and Gift Shop! Yesterday was quite busy and a bit of a blur, but I’ll upload some pictures soon (and stay tuned for upcoming events and specials!). We’re really thrilled to be able to offer fresh, healthy and local food and beautiful gift and art items, not only to our guests at the cottages, but to our community and passing visitors as well.
When we say we have an amazing view because we are right on the water, we mean, we have an amazing view because we are RIGHT on the water! Here’s the Shag It Cafe and Gift Shop as photographed from our boat, The Awake at Last. Now that we’re open, it’s going to be fun to see this patio filled with (hopefully happy!) customers!
Today’s a big, special day, and I’m excited to invite you to the opening of the Shag It Cafe and Gift Shop! We’re located in Whiteway, attached to our lodge by the cottages. Open today at 12, we’re offering fresh and homemade soup and chowder, salads and sandwiches, and homebaked goods, including gluten free options. And that doesn’t count the beautiful art and jewelry – or the view! A lot of work has gone into this, and doubtless this will be a busy week. A big thanks to all who have helped make this dream a reality. We’re thrilled to finally be able to share this gem with the community – we hope you’ll love it as much as we do!
We are surrounded by wonder and beauty at The Doctor’s House and the Wonderful World of Whiteway. Between Murphy, the ponies, the chickens, the flowers, the trees, the ocean, the trails, Shag Rock, Long Point Cove …. I don’t know which is more beautiful. It’s an embarrassment of riches, and this you can be sure of – we don’t take any of it for granted. Here’s The Berry tending to the horses – truly a labor of love!
Thankfully, my daughter is in town to share it, and we get to celebrate her birthday today – Happy Birthday, Kathryn!