This article MOSTLY speaks for itself – but I never miss an opportunity to get a word in! With little more than a year in the tourism industry, we’re not experts – but we’ve been very happy with our progress and have learned a lot. We were thrilled to share some of those lessons with the St. John’s Board of Trade Business News. If you haven’t read it yet, take a look! The Berry knows her stuff and has lots to offer!
Daniel Payne Visits the Cottages
Ok, Ok, I tried taking a break from blogging – and it didn’t stick! I love my daily writing routine, and besides – there’s so much going on around here that I love sharing. Like when the very talented Newfoundland musician, Daniel Payne, brought some friends out to stay for two nights. I love his music, by the way, and it was a favourite of guests last summer when I would take them out boating or fishing.
Wine and flowers on the deck, great company, bright sun soon followed by a glowing sunset. What more could you ask for – or blog about?
Tuesdays with Murphy: And the Work Goes On….
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times – a four legged’s work is never done. Jerry, The Berry and their fantastic crew of Eric, Michael, Hubert, Leslie, Mike and Roy, think they’re busy – which they are, building us a new cafe and gift shop (!) and preparing The Doctor’s House for our fast approaching open date (!). But they forget – it’s so much harder to supervise! I have to many pies to keep my paws in – I barely have time to relax by the water anymore. Of course Jerry still gets my morning walk in, but I’ll sure be happy when these new projects are up and running, and I can go back to my usual role as Guest Relations Supervisor – that’s my favourite! Especially when people take advantage of pets staying free this Spring and bring me lots of friends!
Tuesdays with Murphy: Where Would You Rather Be?
St. John’s or the Wonderful World of Whiteway – what would you say? Here I am at my lavatory in olde St. John’s, small and enclosed with no privacy – hardly dignified. And here I am in the open country, running, hunting, retrieving and having a ball, with the biggest ‘loo a four-legged could ask for. 
It’s usually great when The Berry or Jerry say, “do you want to go for a ride?”- it usually means we’re going to a new trail to explore. But when I see them packing a bag and talking about Costco, banks, meetings and the like, woe is me. I know I am on a trip to boredom.
Of course in town I live in perpetual hope, like a gambler at the Lotto machine, that we’ll go to Bowering or Pippy Park, around the pond, up Signal Hill or along the East Coast Trail. But that rarely happens, as they are always in such a hurry – so I patiently wait for the scent of the open road back home. Please hurry!
Here We Go Again (Updating the Blueberry)
Since we’re not as busy as we were in the summer season, we’ve had time to upgrade as we continue on our mission to be the best on the island. So we recently gave the Blueberry another facelift. We put laminate flooring in the bedrooms and an antique headboard in the small bedroom. The Berry found it on Kijiji and it is gorgeous. Then we put in new night tables and lamps in the big bedroom, and mounted new Tiffany lights in the ceiling. We love the results and hope that our guests will, too!
Tuesdays with Murphy: More Monty
Happy New Year, friends! I hope everyone had a safe and fun time last night and has enough coffee to get them through today! Jerry and The Berry are excited because in a little while they’ll be holding the draw for everyone who entered our New Years Giveaway – the winner will get a free stay at the cottages! I wonder who I’ll get to play with!
So you may be wondering who this sweet guy pictured is – he’s my new best friend, another four legged! With all the commotion over the holidays, you may have missed the newest addition to our Ocean Delight family – Monty! One thing’s for sure – we love him already (but being the first child of ODC, I’m not worried about losing my place!). Thanks to Tammy Webber for the beautiful picture of our beautiful pony. And expect to see lots of him in the future!
Cliff, Misty, and New Year’s Reflections
A big thanks to Shirley for this beautiful picture of Clifford and Misty. As 2012 is winding down, we reflect on all the things we are grateful for. I knew before we moved to the cottages that we were getting a great chance to start a new and fulfilling life. But I had no idea what that would look like. I am continually thrilled that it has meant making new friends like the George’s. Their compassion, their openness, their infectious love of Whiteway and art and animals and the Baccalieu inspire me and The Berry daily. So I hope all our friends – new and old – will enjoy a very Happy New Year.
And please remember! Today is the last day of our very first contest! The winner gets a free stay at the cottages, so please follow this link and enter. You never know – you might get one last holiday present this year! Good luck!
Sunset Sunday: Year Winding Down
Thanks to Joe Friday for this beautiful picture of the sun setting over Shag Rock – he really has a great eye for photography and you’ll see lots of his work throughout the site. But more importantly, as I’m reflecting on this ending year, thanks to Joe for all his hard work, and for coming out here to share this life with us. And thanks to Laurelyn for her dream that led us out here, for her relentless efforts to keep us going. Thanks to our fabulous guests who make it all worth it, who write us great reviews on TripAdvisor and sometimes even start to feel like family. Thanks to Alf, Hilda, Clifford, Shirley, Lisa, Albert, Renee and all the other wonderful people who have welcomed us into this new community with open arms and given us more than one leg-up along the way. Thanks to Murphy for lifting our spirits every day. Thanks to my daughters, who are my inspiration and my sounding boards. And thanks to everyone who reads this blog, for when you comment here and on Facebook, and if you voted for me for the Canadian Blog Award. Looking out on Shag Rock each night with all these blessings, how can I be anything but grateful?
The Loon … and You???
Wine, a view, a warm place to watch the snow fall. It’s hard to believe I haven’t lived in the Wonderful World of Whiteway my whole life. We’re making it easier to share the experience with you with a New Years Special and a contest to win a free stay here. I hope some of my blog readers are able to take advantage and enter the contest – you might read about the cottages, but you gotta see ’em to believe ’em!
Budding Saturday: Awaiting Christmas
You may remember that I’m starting a new Saturday tradition of promoting Newfoundland art on this blog. If you’re an artist or know or love one who’d like to be featured, please email us! In the meantime, I’m sharing some pictures captured by one of the best Newfoundland photographers I know – Bud Vincent. I love how he’s able to capture the beauty in all things, big or small, winter or summer. And especially Christmas!