Remember the Vanderveens, and the Old Man on the Sea? Well Joe Friday couldn’t let them go back to the mainland without a Screech In! He needs the practice if he’s going to be a real Screecher! They were a fun bunch and it was a fun night – all smiles and good sports for the cod-kissing. It helps that they loved their time at the cottages and plan on coming back next year (music to our ears!). And of course, as usual, Mr. Murphy wanted in on the action – he loves people, even when they’re downing questionably strong rum!
Observing the Observer
Check out the shots I got of Michael Hanson, a photographer from Seattle here working for Coastal Living magazine (he also does work for the New York Times). He’s a great guy, and it was fun to take him out (with Alf, naturally!) on a boat ride to Shag Rock and to Green’s Harbour Point to see the eagles. He also took some shots of Joe Friday, in fisherman’s gear, and The Berry and me at our Heart’s Delight cottages. It was all fun.
All in all, I can’t compete with Michael – he’s quite the talent. But, I can take pictures of him taking pictures, which I did! And check it out: he has a regularly updated blog, too (maybe not updated as much as mine, but hey, I’ve got to have something!). 
Tuesdays with Murphy: Holding My Own
Jerry and The Berry spend a lot of time talking about their new friends out here in the Wonderful World of Whiteway, but don’t forget that we four-leggeds enjoy our socializing, too. Here’s Arthero, an Italian Mastiff who visited me in Heart’s Delight last week. Don’t let his size fool you – he’s actually quite the gentle beast, as sweet, if only slightly less refined, than me. And thanks to my daily dips in the Atlantic, I’m fit enough to keep up with any dog – in fact, I love playing with everyone I meet! 
Actually, I think we’re two peas in a pod!
Old Man on the Sea
We were almost in trouble last week, as we’d promised Laura Beth and Greg, honeymooners from Orangeville, a ride out to Shag Rock as a wedding gift – only my boat is currently out of commission! Thankfully, Alf, my guardian angel, has a little more luck with his and took us out. Coming along for the ride was Don and Iris Vanderveen, celebrating their 41st anniversary. Don was dubbed ‘Old Man on the Sea’ by his wife (her words, not mine!). It was especially fun on this trip to see one couple with 41 years of marriage, and another just starting out – I hope it’s a memory that will last for them!
Later that day we had out Don and Iris’ daughter, Kathy, and Dennis Travis, who are here to help celebrate their 41st anniversary. We always love it when families use Ocean Delight as a venue for these get-togethers – it’s what we’re all about.
Name That Church: Port au Port
I was amazed how quickly I got response to my mystery church post last week that I thought I’d through the challenge out to the Newfoundland blogging community again, this time with not one but two churches. They’re both on the Port au Port Peninsula, and were pretty enough to be snapped, but their identity it unknown to me. So, people of the west coast, history buffs and Newfoundland aficionados – can you help me out by naming either of these two churches? I’d love to know – leave it in the comments!
Of course the Port au Port Peninsula is a pretty and little area on the west coast, near Corner Brook. One of its points of distinction: an alpaca farm! 
That’s my daughter’s hand!
And look below – I told you it was pretty!
Oh! What a Night!
Murphy and I had the place to ourselves the other night – The Berry and Joe Friday both had to go to St. John’s to work. What a sunset we had – and what an excuse to kick back in silence and recuperate from lots of hard work, mental and physical. The waves just wash it all away.
I was happy, though, to take a break from the relaxing to set up floodlights and a cd player (for Newfoundland music, of course!) and bring down wood to the beach for our guests at The Blueberry – Veronica and Jim, and Mike and Patricia, from Kingston, Ontario. They invited me to have a beer and enjoy the night with them, and few offers have been more tempting! Work for a board meeting called me away, but I was there in spirit! (and here’s my last blurry night shot, I promise! – I wanted to share this moment with you, but I’m getting used to my camera still …. Allison George has told me to turn up my ISO settings at night, so I hope that helps!)
The Bounty of the WWW
Here’s The Berry picking berries – raspberries – right on our property, teaming with enough to give us a bucket-full. Coupled with fresh trout (from Alf, who else?) and homemade bread, they made the perfect breakfast. Nature keeps on giving around here.
This is a great year for blueberries and partridgeberries. Our neighbours have promised to show us the best spots. Lookout – here come the muffins!
The Bays Are Alive (with the Sound of Music)
Meet The Sky Family, a wonderful, gifted family from PEI who share their Bible ministry with their Celtic music. They’re currently touring the island (this weekend will be their last show, in Corner Brook), and they stayed with us while doing a fundraiser in Green’s Harbour for the Acreman Elementary School and Community Playground. They all stayed in the Cranberry – squished would be an understatement, as it normally only sleeps four, and their group, by the time they showed up, had grown to nine!
Beyond being a great family and their service to the community, they were a real treat to have around, because they kept spontaneously bursting into song and you could hear them everywhere. Thanks to this musical family, the bays were alive with the sound of music!
Honeymooners’ Delight
You may remember Shauna and Geoff, a young couple from Kingston, who were our first guests to be screeched in by Joe Friday. They also have another distinction – our first honeymooners! Here they are happily displaying a Clifford George original – given at a discount for the occasion – in front of their cabin. They loved their stay – thanks in part to donated bikes from Whiteway’s own Lisa Day, and tea and a boat tour from Clifford and Shirley. Fresh fish helped, too!
If you watch our Youtube video, Geoff says he thinks “Ocean Delight chose us.” That’s exactly how we felt when The Berry and I decided to buy these cottages. We’re thrilled that Geoff and Shauna enjoyed our place as much as we do (and wish them all the best!), and we hope we’ll have lots more happy, honeymooning couples to share it with in the future.
Tuesdays with Murphy: Friendly Rivalry
Since coming to Ocean Delight I have become quite the athlete quite easily (natural water dog that I am), bounding into the ocean without fear whenever Jerry and The Berry need me fetch things (like I am above, swimming for my favourite toy).
And since coming to the Ocean Delight family, I’ve learned about a relative in Virginia – namely Mabel, the pit bull who owns Jerry’s daughter, Adrienne. This Mabel seems quite charming, but all I hear about is how great Mabel is, how sweet Mabel is, what a great personality Mabel has, how Mabel can out-swim all her retriever friends when she goes on hikes.
Well I’d like to meet Mabel and set the record straight. It’s one thing to swim in rivers, and another to jump into the heady North Atlantic! That’s why I have webbed feet! But while I’m sure, as a retriever, I could outperform any terrier (even if they are of a larger variety), I might just have to let Mabel think she’s won – after all, not only am I her uncle, I’m also a gentleman!
So look at these pictures and let me know what you think – who makes the more fetching water dog?
My guess is, it’s a tie!
