Pretty Ponies

Newfoundland ponies at a Newfoundland resortThere is one thing for certain – The Doctor’s House, an animal sanctuary, has some beautiful residents. I never thought I’d be responsible for ponies, but then again, I never thought I’d be doing so much that we do out here in our new lives as Innkeepers and Restauranteurs. I wouldn’t trade it – or them – for anything.

Thanks to our genius chef, Anna Dohey, for capturing such great photos and passing them along. You can see more on our Facebook page. Anna is also behind our New Year’s Eve menu, which we’re excited about. Clearly she is a woman of many talents!

Summer Memories

Horses at our Newfoundland resort

Here is a great picture recently sent to me by Paul Davis, Minister of Child, Youth and Family services and a good friend of mine. He took it when he, his wife Cheryl and special friends came out to The Doctor’s House to celebrate his clean bill of health and victory over cancer.

Paul is a singular human being who has done a lot for individuals and the public at large. He is an important part of the Newfoundland mosaic, and it is our honour to count him a friend and to have welcomed him to our Inn.

This picture certainly reminds us of the warmth of the summer sun. Thankfully, winter is better when we’re cozy, and when Christmas is coming. We’re so excited for Christmas at The Doctor’s House this year (all of The Berry’s family is coming) and for the fun New Year’s Eve we’re starting to plan. It’ll be here before you know it.

Joe Friday’s New Diggs

Horse at our Newfoundland Inn and SpaJoe Friday has a new place, and quite the place it is. We recently turned a garage at The Doctor’s House into a place for Joe (and soon to be a corporate meeting room attached!). Now he’s surrounded by Newfoundland ponies who like to poke their heads in his living room, to check out what he and Molly are up to. Pretty sweet!Newfoundland ponies at our newfoundland inn and spa

Running with the Herd at The Doctor’s House

Horses at The Doctor's house Inn and Spa, luxury in Newfoundland

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!

Bridie and Guests

Ponies at our inn and spa in rural NewfoundlandMike and Gloria, who had been in the Blueberry for three weeks, came to tour The Doctor’s House. Needless to say, we spent time with the ponies. Here they are with Bridie – Joe Friday’s pony. Needless to say, it was a fun day, and everyone enjoyed the Inn, and the ponies Gloria kept saying that all she could say was ‘aaaahhh.’ I told her that it was appropriate since our tag line is ‘open your eyes and say aaahhh!.’

Misty Won’t Go Hungry

Shovelling Hay in Rural Newfoundland

Here is Clifford cutting hay with a scythe on the side of the road in Green’s Harbour for Misty, his pony. This was a common sight back when I rambled the hillsides of Torbay.

Now it is a rare thing indeed, kept alive by very few – those with romantic ways who love the past.

 

Tuesdays with Murphy: Pony Up!

Golden retriever and Newfoundland ponies at Newfoundland Inn and SpaNow that Jerry and The Berry are getting The Doctor’s House up and operational (for our June 1st open), I have a fun task – getting to know all the Newfoundland ponies (there’s three of ’em) that make the Inn and Spa home. Normally I have no problem with my fellow four-leggeds, but Newfoundland ponies are proud and different, and there was definitely an intense initiation period. I think I’m starting to win them over. Good thing, too – Bridie just joined the family, and Clifford George thinks she’s pregnant. I’m going to have to work hard to become the leader of this big pack!Golden Retriever and Newfoundland ponies

Tuesdays with Murphy: Fields of Barley

What is not to love about life in the Wonderful World of Whiteway – I moved in with Jerry and The Berry months ago and they’re still finding new places for me to explore. Here I am in Hopeall where Newfoundland ponies normally roam at the Horse and Pony Protection Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. Unfortunately for me, all the horses are out to pasture for the summer. Too bad! I wanted someone new to play with – and I’m almost as big as them, so I thought they might take me as a fellow four-legged.

But I always look on the bright side of life and even though I was alone it was great fun to bound through the fields and smell the barley, flowers and scents of my cousins who run wild in these parts. Jerry promised to take me some new places in Hopeall this week, so, I’ll take him at his word, if you’ll take me at mine that I’ll share my adventures with you when he does. Paws crossed!

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Oh Sunny, Don’t Go Away

You can consider yourself an official Jerry by the Sea fan if you remember my first post about Sunny the Goat, way back in February. Sunny lives a happy life with Clifford and Shirley George, and must love this summer we’ve been having – all these sunny days, just like her namesake. She’s a cutie if ever there were one, and when Allison, the Georges’ daughter, sent me these shots, I knew I had to share them on my blog!Non-Newfoundlanders may not get the title of this post, a reference to one of the greatest songs by one of (if not the) greatest Newfoundland musicians, Ron Hynes. I got to see him perform live once, and it was so good it was almost life-changing – please take the opportunity if you ever get it. We learned this summer that Ron Hynes is battling throat cancer, so please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.