With the freshly fallen snow as the back drop, it’s been so fun decorating our home – especially now that my daughter is here to help. The moose stew, Christmas music and fireplace all make for the perfect Christmas around the bay. Life is good.
First Real Snowfall
We have been decorating and running around taking photos after the first snow fall. Wow! It sure is gorgeous on a different level. It actually makes me appreciate winter – and that’s a very new appreciate for me! Everything crisp and pristine, everything Snow White. I’m even smiling while I shovel (for now at least!)
And my daughter came home for Christmas yesterday, so things are looking good here at Ocean Delight.
Sunset Sunday: My Church
I told you watching the sunset is my version of church – and I even have the stained glass – ain’t it beautiful? Glorious sunsets here bring Doreen’s (The Berry’s mother) beautiful gifts to life. They remind me of the days I went to an actual church ( I was Altar Boy of the Year for 5 years in Torbay) when the sun would pour in through the stained glass windows and set my imagination to flight.
Thanks Doreen for the beautiful panes – they are gorgeous and we notice them every day. It is hard to believe so much pane can bring so much joy.
Budding Saturdays: Our Island in Winter
Since moving to the Wonderful World of Whiteway, I have made good new friends, and many of them are artists. But one of the best artists I know is an old friend – in fact he got me my first job when I was 14. Bud Vincent has an eye for photography unlike anything I’ve seen, and a love for capturing the beauty of this province. He often emails me such stunning pictures (a few of which are scattered over this site), that it seems a shame not to share them. So he has inspired me to start a new Saturday tradition – of showcasing the wonder of this province through the work of our talented artists. I think mostly I’ll be featuring Bud’s work – but if you or someone you love have something to share, please send it along!
Thanks again to Bud, and enjoy these seasonal shots. Check out his site or contact me if you’re interested in prints. (And don’t forget our Win a Free Stay Contest – we have our own winter wonderland out here you could be enjoying this winter for free!)
Man Hands
What do you get when you work you fingers to the bone? Boney Fingers!
Well, I got the hands my father always wanted me to have. Growing up, whenever we shook hands he would pull away and always say, “you have hands like a girl.” I liked that, probably because he didn’t. And besides, I always thought that smooth and soft hands were a calling to a lifestyle different from my ancestors.
But here’s a couple of pics after a hard day’s work on Project DIY (we’re renovating an apartment I rent) – we’ve been knee-deep in hard labour quite literally for over a week now. I look like the Chimney Sweep in Mary Poppins. I don’t have finger prints – they got worn off.
But there is a big reward for this kind of work. It is good for the mind, body and soul, and at the end of a day you can measure what you did. And then take some Advil, pour a bath and a Malbec, put on Christmas music, and soak the day away. I went from no finger prints to prune hands (not to be confused with these ‘Man Hands’). Life is good when you do that!
Tis the Season … for lots of Parties
Despite being generally quite tired most of the time from all the physical DIY labour I’ve been putting into a property in St. John’s, put me in a party, get the music going, and I become the Energizer Bunny. Under my tutelage, The Berry is becoming quite the dancer, too – and we can dance the night away. These pictures are from the Masonic Lodge Christmas Dinner and Dance in Heart’s Content last weekend. Of course, like many of you, this is only one of the Christmas parties we’ve attended so far this season – and it won’t be the last. But check out my great dance moves below, and you’ll see why I say, ‘bring ’em on!’
And guys, don’t forget – we’re running a contest so that one lucky winner can spend a weekend for FREE at the cottages. There’s plenty of time left to enter, and at this point not a huge number of entries – so the odds are in your favour. Check it out!
Tuesdays with Murphy: Bathtime!
Well it is back to normal – if you remember, last week I graciously ceded my Tuesday blogging space to Jerry so he could share our win of the 2012 Canadian Blog Awards (not many non-humans are so celebrated – I am truly honoured!). And there’s been a bit of a ‘to-do’ with this new website design (make sure to update your ‘favourites’ if you’d saved our old blog address – this one is slightly different), including a contest to win a free stay at the cottages.
And now, without further ado, we return to your regularly scheduled Murphy blogging schedule ….
Well, the other night, my humans were acting decidedly inhuman – they thought I needed a bath. Jerry thought he’d entice me into the bathtub easily. I’m a good boy so I always obey, but I got in very reluctantly and the got right back out again very enthusiastically several times over.
So I had to hear Jerry to say “Good boy, Murphy” at least a 1000 times. Every time I pretended I was going to bolt, he would go into his chant. Music to my wet ears, you might say.
Don’t tell them, but it wasn’t too bad. I got massaged with Baby Shampoo (the kind that doesn’t sting the eyes), and I got the best petting by The Berry and Jerry I could ever hope for. I guess this bath stuff has its upside.
And look at me now – all clean, bright and shiny. Maybe I should trick my humans into taking me to see Devon tomorrow. I don’t want to waste these good looks!
Rest on the Seventh Day
Sunset Sunday was created to give us a day of rest, and boy do we need it! Between some significant DIY work in one of our St. John’s locations, and – more obviously – getting the new website operational (!!!!!!!), plus some extra work for The Berry and an awesome party last night, we are pooped! If you’re reading this, it means our new site is working on your servers, which is awesome. We’re waiting until tomorrow to officially ‘launch’ – to make sure it’s completely up and running without any hitches. In the meantime, enjoy the sunsets, enjoy each other, and stay tuned for an upcoming contest to celebrate our new duds!
Winter Wonderland … This Could be You!
Perhaps this particular post is a little too self/cottage-indulgent – I don’t tend to use this space to advertise much. But hey, I was just voted for a 2012 Canadian Blog Award in the Business or Professional Life category (thanks again!).
Anyway, (surprise, surprise), I love Whiteway in Winter (when don’t I love it?). And I think we’ve come up with a fun way to share it with you over the holidays – with the New Year’s Even package we’re rolling out. We’re calling it our ‘New Year’s Resolution Package’ – since so many people resolve to spend more time with their family and friends! So we thought we’d make that a bit easier, with early check-in and late check-out, sparkling wine, a surprise celebration bag, a ‘morning after’ continental breakfast basket, and snowshoes and firewood for 2. Check over here if you’d like more details and pricing.
So there! That’s my pitch! If you don’t like it, don’t get mad at me – The Berry made me do it!!
Finally, stay tuned – this weekend we’re going to be revamping our website – we think you’ll like the new look. And we’ll be rolling out a contest (our first) to go along with it. Looks like the holidays are getting us in the Ocean Delight mood!
Santa’s a Bayman!
Look closely at the float above, and you’ll see – Santa is a bayman! No wonder he’s so jolly! As you can see, we recently had the 45th Cavendish-Whiteway Santa Clause Parade. I was surprised by the level of participation (although I’ve lived here long enough to know that Whiteway is rarely not surprising). And to top it off, afterwards everyone headed to the Fire Hall for a free lunch – how is that for community spirit? I think Ocean Delight might have to enter a float next year! 
Clifford George was Santa – perfect! And since we’re getting into that season, keep an eye on our Specials and Packages page – we’re currently offering a Buy One Night, Get One Half Off Special, and we’ll be rolling out another package soon. Remember, romantic getaways make great, unique gifts!