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!
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!
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!)
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!
Screeching In!
Well, we’re not experts yet, but this weekend we hosted our first Screech-In, and MC Joe Friday did a great job, if I do say so myself! Shauna and Geoff from Kingston were our first targets, followed by Ron and Sheryl from Toronto (apologies for the blurry photos – I’m still getting the hang of taking shots is low light!).
Screech-Ins are of course a Newfoundland tradition that, if completed by Mainlanders (by, among other things, downing Screech and Newfoundland ‘steak’ and kissing a cod or cod-like substitute), confers upon them unofficial Newfoundlander status. It’s a rite of passage for any intrepid traveller to the island, and we were more than happy to share it with our guests (and Murphy, who wanted in on the action!). It was a lot of fun, and we’ll be doing another for guests later this week – who asked if they could pay for it, but that’s hardly the Ocean Delight way!
Joe Friday, usually loathe to be the centre of attention, loves his new post as Master of Ceremonies!
Geoff is now branded a Newfoundlander for life – gotta love it!
Nostalgic Boats
I love little boats in the harbour – nostalgia, I guess. Yesterday I was in Green’s Harbour and had to get these shots. The setting was picture perfect, although I wasn’t close enough to get that perfect shot. Still cute though!
Little boats for a little post!
Tuesdays with Murphy: Statue Proposal
Why anyone would chose to leave the Wonderful World of Whiteway I don’t know, but Jerry and The Berry sometimes make trips to St. John’s to take care of ‘business’ (doing their business seems to mean something different to them than it does to me!). They’re often talking about their downtown hideaway, which I guess guests can rent, just like they do the cottages. And supposedly downtown there’s some bronze dog statues in beautiful Harbourside Park (all hearsay to me).
Anyway, if these dogs are immortalized in St. John’s, then maybe it’s time Whiteway makes a similar landmark. I think I cut a fine figure – here’s my pose. Any sculptors out there looking for a new job?