Tag: Newfoundland vacation

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Minister of Tourism Visits New Restaurant and Inn in Newfoundland

Minister of Tourism in Newfoundland visits our Newfoundland Inn

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.

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Joe Friday’s Bridie

Newfoundland pony at our Newfoundland inn and spaLooks like Joe Friday can add another title to his resume – ‘Horse Whisperer!” Well, maybe that’s going a little far – but he is starting to form a relationship with Bridie, this beautiful resident at The Doctor’s House. I see a great friendship in both of their futures!

I try not to promote (too) heavily on the blog, but I think some of our readers might be interested: our realtor Mark Glynn is offering a Facebook contest to win a night at The Doctor’s House. Enter here, and you might get to meet Bridie in person! Horse at our Newfoundland Inn and Spa

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Ocean Delight Sunset

Ocean Delight SunsetOcean Delight Sunsets – falling in love with this view is what started us on this journey, with Ocean Delight, The Doctor’s House, now the Shag It Cafe and Gift Shop. How can you see this and not fall in love, not figure out a way to spend more time here?

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Cod Tongues and All

Film Crew at our Newfoundland cottage rentalsCooking cod tongues with a film crew at our Newfoundland cottage rentals

With thanks to EDMO (Eastern Destination Management Organization), we had a film crew at the cottages from Travel Guy TV (TGTV) from Toronto . It was Frank Greco and his team, who are filming a new show to add to their series called ‘The Travel Guy.” This series is currently being broadcast on Discovery World HD.

They were here over 4 hours. Clifford was our ambassador. He cooked cod tongues and talked about Heart’s Content, Heart’s Delight, Heart’s Desire, Dildo, and other unique community names along the Baccalieu. It was an exciting day, we were excited and grateful for the opportunity to share our story. Stay tuned – we’ll let you know when it airs!Film crew filming at our Newfoundland cottages on the Atlantic Ocean

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Remembering Alice Batko

Sentimental Newfoundland Vacation

Please take a minute to read this beautiful article written by Terry Roberts in the Compass. It describes a beautiful experience we got to share last week.

Terry Roberts of the Compass Newspaper created the name ‘Alice in Newfoundland’ when he came to interview Ann Firman and Zofia Perry, two of our guests staying in the Blueberry. From Whitby and Oshawa, respectively, they booked the cottage last November for them and for Alice – their mother. Then on Dec 23, Alice suddenly passed away.

The daughters decided to bury her ashes in, Newfoundland, a place she loved so much – more than any other place she ever visited. So they kept the reservation, sprinkling her ashes on the beach in Whiteway and in the waters off Shag Rock. Alf, my guardian angel, and I took Ann and Zofia out to Shag Rock for the ceremony in the evening.

Ann and Zofia said Alice was a private person, but she would have loved all the attention. Terry did a great job on the story (as above).

Although I didn’t know Alice she will now be part of my life forever. As Tennyson once said, “I am a part of all that I have met.” Many a night as the sun paints the sky behind Shag Rock – due west – I will think of Ann, Zofia and Alice. She is home here in Whiteway. I will not forget being part of such a wonderful ceremony.

Here is the card they gave me about Alice – I would like for it to be said about me:

When I’m gone:
When I come to the end of my journey
And travel my last weary mile,
Just forget if you can that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile.

 Forget unkind words I have spoken;
Remember some good I have done,
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I’ve had lots of fun.

Forget that I’ve stumbled
And sometimes fell by the way.
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day.

The forget to grieve for my going
I would not have you sad for a day.
But in summer just gather some flowes
And remember the place where I lay.

And in the shade of the evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best.

 

 

 

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Shag It Joe

Shag It Joe

Anyone who had been to the cottages (or reads this blog regularly, for that matter), knows the many faces of Joe. He’s a service manager extraordinaire, doing any odd jobs you can think of, always going above and beyond, always anticipating our guests’ needs before they do. What can we say, we wouldn’t make it without Joe Friday!

And now that we’re running the Shag It Cafe and Gift Shop, that couldn’t be more true. It’s been crazy opening up this new venture (which is at our Whiteway cottages location), we have lots of great new staff, and we’re busy working on our kinks and getting it right. And we couldn’t have done that without Shag It Joe. Or is that Joe Shag It? Hm, not sure if either of those sounds right!

Either way, don’t forget – today’s the last day to enter our Facebook contest – the winner of the draw gets a $50 gift certificate towards the Shag It, or a Shag It tee shirt or apron. Should you enter? Shag It – why not?

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Newfoundland Vacation

Ocean Delight CottagesWe have our like-family guests, Mike and Gloria, to thank for these great shots of their Newfoundland vacation. After their time with us, they set us this email – it’s exactly the kind of feedback that makes us love our job, and keep creating new ways to help visitors enjoy the Baccalieu Trail. Below are their pictures of Brigus, another beautiful community on the Baccalieu Trail. Thanks again, Mike and Gloria, and we hope to see you back!

Hello,

Mike and I would like to thank you again for our enjoyable holiday at Whiteway. We met and enjoyed talking to a lot of wonderful people and have made some new friends.

Wished that the cafe had been open when we were there and could have enjoyed some of the home cooked treats.

Thank you Jerry for the boat tour of Shag Rock and the beautiful coast line of Trinity Bay. I got some great pictures of Shag Rock and also a long distance one of the eagles.

We will certainly recommend the cottages and the gorgeous Doctor’s House Inn and Spa.

I have enclosed some photos from our tours, not bad for a cheap camera.

Thanks again and all the best,

Mike and Gloria

 

Brigus, NL

Brigus Harbour

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Puffins, Puffins, Puffins

Puffings by Bud Vincent

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!
Puffings by Bud Vincent