Downhome September 2015

Vol 28 • No 04

$4.99

September 2015

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Festival listings for foodies NL’s newest “pop” star Brigus: 20th century fashion capital

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life is better Published monthly in St. John’s by Downhome Publishing Inc. 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 Tel: 709-726-5113 • Fax: 709-726-2135 • Toll Free: 1-888-588-6353 (24 hours) E-mail: mail@downhomelife.com Website: www.downhomelife.com Editorial Editor Janice Stuckless Associate Editor Ashley Colombe Assistant Editor Elizabeth Whitten Special Publications Editor Tobias Romaniuk Art and Production Art Director Vince Marsh Production Manager Paulette Emberley Graphic and Web Designer Cory Way Graphic Designer Melissa Fillier Illustrator Mel D’Souza Illustrator Snowden Walters Advertising Sales Senior Account Manager Robert Saunders Account Manager Dave Parsley Account Manager Roy Baggs Account Manager Barbara Young Account Manager Elaine Pond Finance and Administration Senior Accountant Karen Critch Junior Accountant Marlena Grant Executive Assistant Lynette Vaters

Operations Manager Alicia Hanlon Warehouse Operations Warehouse Operator Josephine Leyte Distribution Sales Representative Michelle O’Toole Sr. Customer Service Associate Sharon Muise Inventory Control Clerk Heather Lane Retail Operations Retail Manager, Twillingate Wanda Bath Retail Sales Associates Nicole Mehaney, Kelly Parrell, Donna Keefe, Crystal Rose, Brittany McDonald, Jackie Rice, Gabrielle Atkins-Branigan

Subscriptions Sr. Administrative Assistant Amanda Ricks Customer Service Associate Charlene Tucker Customer Service Associate Allison Watton Founding Editor Ron Young Publisher and President Grant Young Chief Operating Officer Todd Goodyear Chief Financial Officer Tina Bromley

To subscribe, renew or change address use the contact information above.

Subscriptions total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL $39; NB, ON $44.07; NS $44.85; PE $44.46; QC, MB, SK, AB, BC, NU, NT, YT $40.95. US and International mailing price for a 1-year term is $49.00.

Digital subscription: 12 issues for $27. Go to www.Downhomelife.com/digital

Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement #40062919 CCAB audited circulation September 2014 The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred, whether such error is due to the negligence of the servants or otherwise, and there shall be no liability beyond the amount of such advertisement. The Letters to the Editor section is open to all letter writers providing the letters are in good taste, not libelous, and can be verified as true, correct and written by the person signing the letter. Pen names and anonymous letters will not be published. The publisher reserves the right to edit, revise, classify, or reject any advertisement or letter. © Downhome Publishing Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Printed in Canada Official onboard magazine of

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wild weather

Contents

SEPTEMBER 2015

54 Six and Stressed Educators and medical professionals are noticing increasing levels of childhood anxiety. What are the warning signs and how can parents help their kids? Shannon Duff

66 Wild Weather CBC meteorologist Ryan Snoddon explains some of our wild weather and freaky conditions.

Elizabeth Whitten

76 Food Fishery Fun

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no throw-backs

www.downhomelife.com

Our readers hauled in some impressive catches this fishing season – and they sent us the photos to prove it!

104 Best Lunch Box Recipes Spice up lunchtime at work or school with these eight delicious snacks.

September 2015

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Contents homefront 10 I Dare Say A note from the editor 11 Letters from our Readers

SEPTEMBER 2015

29 soda scene

Remembering the closure of the Bell Island mines and public opinions on “The Rock”

22 Downhome Tours Exploring the United States with Downhome 26 That’s Amazing Fascinating news from around the world

28 Life’s Funny Early birds get the groceries

29 Quidi Vidi is a “Pop” Star St. John’s scenery to grace Jones Soda bottles

30 Lil Charmers Berry Pickers 32 Say What? A contest that puts words in someone else’s mouth

34 Pets of the Month Best Buds 36 Blast from the Past Remember “Fun with Dick and Jane”?

38 Why is That? Find out why birds sing and wolves howl at the moon Katherine Hudson 40 Reviewed Denise Flint reviews Patrick O’Flaherty’s Paddy Boy and Leslie Vyrenhoek’s Ledger of the Open Hand 4

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the new wave

42 A Cuffer with Necie Linda Browne chats with local children’s author Necie Mouland 44 The View From Here Ed Smith muses about expecting the unexpected 48 What Odds Paul Warford talks about his new life in the big city 50 In Your Words I’m a Pseudo-Newf Barbara Strong Muir

52 The Homework Debate How much is enough?

features

74

tale of two fish

www.downhomelife.com

62 All Hands On Deck The program helping to inspire a new wave of marine enthusiasts Linda Browne

74 Two Sides to This Fish Story The fateful day that both Mom and Dad hit their jackpot The Bennett Family September 2015

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Contents

SEPTEMBER 2015

84 sure shots

80 Sure Shots Featuring photographer Lyndsey Murray-Nybom

explore 86 What’s On The Go Exciting events happening in Atlantic Canada

88 We’ll Rant and We’ll Roar

93

Culture meets cuisine at Elliston’s annual food festival Dennis Flynn

92 Fall Foodie Festivals Celebrating everything from apples to garlic to partridgeberries in Atlantic Canada

foodie paradise

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food & leisure 100 Everyday Gourmet Lemon Tart with Blueberry Compote Andrea Maunder

112 Stuff About What do Niagara

126 Brigus-made

Falls, Wilma Flintstone and “maneating badgers” have in common?

114 Meet the Crafter Rug hooking is a way of life for Molly White of Woody Point Ashley Colombe

118 Down to Earth How to best reap what you have sown Ross Traverse

reminiscing 122 Flashbacks School days in 1930s and ’40s Newfoundland

123 This Month in History The first lighting of Cape Spear Lighthouse

124 Outport with Style How Brigus About the cover Jeinean Barney of Forteau, Labrador snapped this photo of a boat threatened by crashing waves. Turn to page 66 to learn more about Mother Nature's bad side.

Cover Index Food Fishery Fun • 76 8 Ultimate Lunches • 104 Kid Burnout • 54 Wild Weather • 66 Festival Listings for Foodies • 92 NL’s newest “pop” star • 29 Brigus: Fashion Capital • 124 www.downhomelife.com

was once the most fashion-forward spot in Newfoundland Dennis Flynn

128 Between the Boulevard & the Bay The Newfoundland Rangers Ron Young

136 Downhome Mail Order 140 Downhome Real Estate 144 Marketplace 148 Puzzles 160 Photo Finish September 2015

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Quidi Vidi has a new claim to fame. Details on p. 29

What’s wrong with Dick and Jane? Find out on p. 36

Win a Kiddie Book Bundle!

Find our Geocaches

Visit www.downhomecontests.com September 4-21 to enter to win a selection of Newfoundland and Labrador-themed children’s books, written and illustrated by Necie.

(See related story, page 42.)

Downhome has hidden geocaches – containers filled with small treasures – in the wilderness of our province.

Visit us online for details on how you can track them down. www.downhomelife.com/cache

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Submission Guidelines and Prize Rules Be a Winner!

Every reader whose photo, story, joke or poem appears next to the yellow “from our readers” stamp in a current issue will be awarded 20 Downhome Dollars.*

Submit Today!

Send your photo, story, joke or poem to

Downhome 43 James Lane St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 or submit online at:

www.downhomelife.com

At the end of this year, a panel of Downhome staff will select the top submissions published in 2015, which will be put to a public vote on DownhomeLife.com in early 2016. The submission with the most votes will win an iPad and a 12-month subscription to Downhome magazine. *One prize per submitter per month. To receive their prize, submitters must provide with their submission COMPLETE contact information: full name, mailing address, phone number and email address (if you have one). Mailed submissions will only be returned to those who include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope. Downhome Inc. reserves the right to publish submissions in future print and/or electronic media campaigns. Downhome Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material. www.downhomelife.com

September 2015

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i dare say

Thank God I grew up without the Internet.

Todd Young photo

More than once I’ve realized how lucky I am to have grown up with a big brother and not Big Brother.

There’s no video evidence of the stupid stuff I did, no timeline of the regrettable things I said. When I was being bullied I could walk – or run – away.

Today’s kids, though, have it rough. Thanks to social media, their lives are online practically from birth (and in some cases, the actual birth!). They often can’t just walk away from bullies; thanks to the Internet and mobile devices, kids can’t hide. The foreverness of the Internet ensures their momentary shame outlasts even them. Privacy and freedom to do stupid kid stuff – and forgiveness for such stuff – is, I think, at an all-time low.

I know sometimes adults make fun of kids for having so much more than previous generations: more toys, more clothes, more technology, more opportunities. But something else they have more of is stress.

Shannon Duff brings us an eye-opening story about the anxiety crisis among elementary school kids (see page 54). It doesn’t have anything to do with the evils of the Internet, but it does have to do with pressures unique to modern society.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my cat videos and Twitter account like anyone else, but I do like to unplug once in a while and do things “old school.”

Thanks for reading,

Janice Stuckless, Editor Janice@downhomelife.com

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Say Cheese!

Recently I baked “Cheese Biscuits” from the recipe in the April 2015 edition of Downhome magazine. Delicious! Now I serve my guests these homebaked biscuits with bakeapple jam and bakeapple or blueberry tea. What a Newfoundland treat!

Christine Seeley-Buffett, Bareneed, NL

We’re glad you enjoy that recipe, provided for us by Bernie-Ann Ezekiel and her cooking class at Academy Canada in St. John’s, N.L. Has anyone else had great success with our Everyday Recipes and have food photos or stories to share?

Write to us at Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3, or email editorial@downhomelife.com. www.downhomelife.com

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Bell Island Mines Forgotten?

Honouring Mr. Horwood

While reading my favourite magazine, the July issue of Downhome really hurt me. On page 128 (“Blast From the Past”) you wrote of all the things that happened in 1966, including Newfoundland’s Come Home Year, but you never mentioned about the closing of our iron ore mines on Bell Island, Conception Bay. When [Premier] J.R. Smallwood announced the closing would take place June 30, 1966, all Bell Islanders, and many other Newfoundlanders, were saddened. Each family was given $2,400 for our house and property. So many moved to Ontario to find employment.

Oliver and I, with our three children, moved to Peel Village in Brampton, Ontario in July 1966. We found work immediately (I as an R.N. working in the hospital, and Oliver as a merchandiser with Ford Motor Co.).

Although we continue to make a success of our lives (including our children), we still miss our dear old Bell Island. We rely on all our good memories of family and friends, plus many photographs.

Since you have such a wide distribution of readers, I would imagine that someone would know the whereabouts of Roberta Horwood.

I do not know her married name, but her father was my Grade 11 teacher. Near the end of that year, he suggested that I should write to McGill University for an application form for a J.W. McConnell Memorial Scholarship, which was available to Canadians and Newfoundlanders. This was before Newfoundland joined Canada. I thought I didn’t have a chance. When he found out that I didn’t send for it, he sent for it himself. When it arrived, I felt honour-bound to fill it out.

Then I forgot about it.

Next I took summer school training and taught in Greenspond for a grand total of seven days before I discovered that I had won the much-coveted scholarship. If one kept a first-class average, it would be good for four years and paid for tuition, residence fees, student society fees etc. So I went off to McGill and it did indeed change my life.

After my BA, I worked my way through med. school, with help from McGill through scholarships and bursaries. Mr. Horwood knew that I became a doctor, then a specialist in pathology.

For many years I have given a scholarship to Cape Breton University, and last year I started a scholarship for students in the high school in Bonavista. What I want Roberta to know is that this scholarship is in honour of my mom and dad – and my Grade 11 teacher, Mr. Robert Horwood, Roberta’s father. I

Muriel White, Bowmanville, ON

Thank you for writing to us, Muriel, and reminding us of the significance of the 1966 closure of the Bell Island mines. It is as fateful an event to Bell Islanders as the resettlement program of the ’60s and the cod moratorium of the ’90s are to those who experienced those events. The lives of a generation were forever altered as a result.

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find corky sly conner Hidden somewhere in this issue is Corky Sly Conner.

Can you find him?

Look carefully at all the photographs and in the text of the stories. If you spot Corky, send us your name, address and phone number, along with a note telling us where he’s located. Your name will be entered in a draw and the winner will receive a coupon worth 25 Downhome Dollars redeemable at our store, or through our website.

Send your replies to: Corky Contest

Congratulations to Geraldine Faetz of Toronto, O.N., who found Corky in the July issue on the Blue Puttee uniform on page 71.

think she would like to know that her dad is being remembered in this way. He was instrumental in getting me started on my life’s work and now I am trying to give back, so to speak. I just hope Roberta hears about this.

Dr. Hilda Tremblett Big Bras D’Or, NS

We also hope Roberta gets your message, Hilda.

Child’s Play Reading the article [“Child’s Play,” July 2015] reminded me of Sunday school picnics where we would play various games. Looking back it is a wonder that we all survived. St Mary’s church Sunday school picnics were held in Bowring Park [St. John’s, N.L.]. We would gather at the church hall and be loaded into 14

September 2015

43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3

mail@downhomelife.com www.downhomelife.com *No Phone Calls Please One entry per person

Deadline for replies is the end of each month.

the back of stake-bodied trucks and taken to the park. Imagine doing that with about a hundred children nowadays? We would have various races, tags and treats. One of those games was The Grand Old Duke of York. Gathering in a circle everyone would hold hands and sing out: The Grand old Duke of York, he had ten thousand men.

He’d march them up to the top of the hill (everyone would advance to the centre, still holding hands, and raise our arms into the air) And march them down again (everyone would back out to their original position) And when you’re up, you’re up and when you’re down you’re down (everyone would go to a squat position) And when you’re only half way up, you’re neither up nor down 1-888-588-6353

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(squatting half up, half down).

It seemed like fun at the time.

Ted Kendell, Hammond, ON

Thanks, Ted. That brings back memories! Any other readers have childhood game memories to share? Write a little something about it and mail it to Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3, or email it to editorial@downhomelife.com.

certain it was a ship’s foghorn. Now, Marjorie, you’ve presented another possibility. Any other readers familiar with such moose-calling horns or have a photo of one to share? Write to us at Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3, or email us at editorial@downhomelife.com.

Is it a Moose Horn?

The mystery item you mentioned in the July issue (p. 20) is a moosecalling horn. I have one, but without the box. The bellows blow it, but mine you just blow it by mouth.

Marjorie Seeley, Oakville, ON

Those who previously responded to the letter in the July issue all seemed

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Mystery Couple I found this photo some years ago among my mother’s things, after she had passed away. I have not been able to determine who the beautiful couple is. I thought someone in your reading audience might be able to help me.

Grace Vincent, Pasadena, NL

Does anyone recognize this couple? If so, please contact Grace at egracevincent@yahoo.ca. And let us know, too, please, so we can update other curious readers. Reach us by emailing editorial@downhomelife.com or by writing Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3.

Correction

RECENT TWEETS Jennifer Reid @jenniferdawn07 Grandmudder got her Downhomer in the mail today which means we'll have July's edition of @downhomelife memorized by supper time! #addicted 16

September 2015

In the August issue we ran a story called “My Grandfather the Character” in which we incorrectly identified the subject as Capt. John Dinn.

His name, in fact, was Capt. John Dunn. Downhome sincerely apologizes for the error.

Dear readers, Would you like to comment on something you’ve read in Downhome? Do you have a question for the editors or for other readers?

Submit your letter to the editor at DownhomeLife.com/letters or write to us at 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3.

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The Rock A debate has been ongoing through our letters section and on our website about the use of “The Rock” to describe Newfoundland and Labrador. Here are two opposing views on it. Where do you stand?

Hard Times with “The Rock”

to stew in his own ignorant bliss.

I read with interest Bob Moss’s letter regarding “The Rock.” It seems to me that very few from our province use the term; the only times I’ve heard it was from Mainlanders. I don’t know how the Dept. of Tourism can curb its use any more than we can control how we are being portrayed or stereotyped.

I can relate to the verbal abuse Bob mentions we were subject to just after Confederation. In the summer of 1957, a group of us attended a Cadet Instructors Course at Aldershot, Nova Scotia. For six weeks we had to listen to stupid Newfie jokes and were treated with such derision and humiliation that it made a lasting impression on me.

I can also offer a different perspective with an American experience I had at Houston, Texas some 12 or so years ago. We were at some church social when a man from Calgary announced, “This guy is from Newfoundland; they talk funny down there.” An American lady, who was a professor, came and spoke to me. She had visited our province the previous summer and spoke very glowingly of her visit, [about] what an experience she’d had and that she had seen the puffins. Our Calgary friend queried, “What is a puffin?” I was tempted to say, “Someone puffed up with his own importance,” but allowed him

Charles J. Beckett, Gambo, NL

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September 2015

Thanks for adding your experience to the discussion, Charles. Next is someone with a very different view.

Solid as The Rock One only has to travel around the coast to see that the Island is indeed a very rocky place. Travel inland and you will find forests and rocks, marshes and lakes, and rocks, and barrens with lots of rocks on them!

Although I moved away in 1999, I don’t consider “The Rock” to be a derogatory term. Something that is known to be very dependable is considered to be “solid as a rock.” Newfoundlanders have a reputation for being dependable.

As far as the American wondering if there are any trees on the Island [in Bob Moss’s letter], I’m reminded of the time that my wife and I were honeymooning in Niagara Falls, and while walking across a parking lot to our car we overheard several Americans who had stopped to look at our licence plate. One asked another where Newfoundland was. We had a job to keep from laughing when we heard him say it was up near Ungava Bay! A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Robert (Bob) Dawe, Bridgewater, NS 1-888-588-6353

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Thanks, Bob, for sharing your view.

We asked our website visitors for their comments and Alicia “Celeste” Loughrey wrote: “I see it as an endearment, but I have been told that it’s mostly us NLers that had to move

away that feel this way...” Emily Hindle Hepinstall of Washago, O.N. wrote: “Stand up, Newfoundlanders, when you are called ‘The Rock.’

[Think] Rock of Gibraltar, Rock of Ages, even Blackpool Rock [candy]...”

Here is a graph showing the overall results of our poll about the use of The Rock: 4% I love it

37%

59%

I don’t mind it I am offended by it

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Found on Facebook

Eric Abbott This is how you do it at 92 years old. Bonavista, NL. (pictured: Clarence Butler)

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homefront Downhome Tours...

The United States

Stellar Vacation Stop

Members of the Byrne family, originally of Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L., get together in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Marilyn Foss photo) While the work of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) may seem out of this world, many of us benefit from its technological advances every day. NASA research has led to inventions such as the insulin pump, memory foam, scratch-resistant eyeglasses, freeze-dried food and many other conveniences we take for granted.

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Kentucky Lucky Sylvia Smith of Balmertown, O.N. visits the “bluegrass state.”

Kentucky is best known for its bluish species of grass and the annual Kentucky Derby – also called the “run for the roses,” for the mantle of red roses traditionally draped on the winning horse. At 142 years old, it is the oldest continuously held horse race in the country. Despite its long run, only three fillies (female horses) have ever won.

Famous Fracas Denise and Ken Reynolds of Cleveland, N.S. visit the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

The site of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo – in which Mexican troops defeated the Texans during the Texas Revolution – welcomed a generous celebrity last year. British musician Phil Collins visited to donate his huge collection of Alamo relics – amassed on account of his fascination with the battle’s most legendary victim: American folk hero Davy Crockett. A new museum will house Collins’ items.

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OLD

Turn something

Into something

NEW

WIN!

&

For full contest rules and to enter visit

www.homeandcabin.ca

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0 0 0 , $4prizes in

Challenge closes October 30, 2015

Includes five $500 prizes plus a GRAND PRIZE valued at $1,000 from The Lakeside at Thorburn

The Challenge: Using reclaimed materials, create something for the home, cabin or yard.

Entries will be posted on the Home & Cabin website, as well as Home & Cabin social media accounts.

How to enter: Fill out the entry form on www.homeandcabin.ca and submit the required photos as listed on the entry form page.

Submissions must include a photo of the reclaimed materials used in the project before the project is started and photos of the finished product. Items can be collaborations and can be made by more than one person. The submitted piece must be available for inspection by judges if requested. Photos submitted through the online entry form will be used for judging. Photos should be bright, in focus, and should clearly show the project.

What you’ll get: One overall winner will be selected from among the entries and will receive the grand prize. In addition, a winner will be selected from each category to receive a prize. Winning projects and honourable mentions will be published in the winter 2015 issue of Home & Cabin.

Proud Partners

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homefront

That’s

AMAZING Wild news from around the world

Monkey See, Monkey Tattoo

It’s one thing to let a monkey paint your back, but it’s another thing to decide to make it permanent. German artist Jan Schekauski had Dasha, the pants-wearing rhesus monkey, climb his back, flicking paint and creating its masterpiece. After the paint dried, a tattoo artist traced and then permanently inked the design.

Schekauski called his project “Dancing Monkey with Pants.”

Facing the Music

Everyone has lived near one annoying person at some point in their lives, but the people living in a neighbourhood in Northfield, UK have a horror story. For the last three years, Michael Thornton had been terrorizing his neighbours by singing the 1970s hit “Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs,” by folk band Brian and Michael, at all hours of the night. It was so obnoxious, it was illegal. Thornton has been sentenced to 20 weeks in jail and could face eviction. His neighbours are looking forward to the peace and quiet, while Thornton’s fellow prisoners are in

ishment.

How Now, Tall Cow

Blosom, the world’s tallest cow ever, has passed away at the age of 13 – but she won’t soon be forgotten. Her height of 6'2" has earned her a spot in the 2016 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. The 26

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Holstein-Friesian cow lived on a family farm in Orangeville, Illinois, USA.

Mess-up in a Bottle

“Help me I’m trapped in the SoBe factory.” This was the message some people found under their SoBe bottle caps. Several consumers thought it was a genuine plea for help, while others assumed SoBe (a beverage company owned

by PepsiCo.) was making light of forced labour. Turns out, it was neither. The offending phrase was selected from SoBe’s 2013 “Message in a Bottle” contest, in which customers sent in suggestions. The company apologized and announced it’s discontinuing the message – after reassuring the public that its employees are not, in fact, trapped inside their factory.

Divine Feline

Some cats may act holier than thou, but one feline in Japan kind of is. In June, thousands attended a funeral for Tama the cat, who was posthumously made a Shinto goddess. Tama started off as a stray hanging out at a struggling train station in rural Japan. In 2007, she was made an honorary stationmaster (and eventually clawed her way to vice president) of Wakayama Electric Railway, where she greeted passengers while wearing a cape and hat. Her presence lured tourists to use the railway – and it’s

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homefront life’s funny

Open Box Lunch This story took place in Bay Roberts, N.L. years ago on a grocery store parking lot. My friend and I had driven to the grocery store together in my husband’s open-box pickup truck. I was checked out first, so I brought my groceries out and loaded them aboard the truck box, then returned to the store to find my friend. When we came back out, we noticed a crowd of people, some with cameras, gathered around my husband’s truck – where a flock of gulls were gnawing down on the meats I had just bought! There was bacon hanging over the back of the truck and pork chops pulled out of their packaging. It was a mess!

Rose Fowler (Jones), Cambridge, ON

Do you have any funny or embarrassing true stories?

Share them with us. If Snowden sketches your story, you’ll win a prize! See page 9 for details.

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Quidi Vidi is a “Pop” Star In the coming months, anyone walking down the soda pop aisle of a grocery store might spy a label with a picture of iconic Quidi Vidi, St. John’s, N.L. on it.

Jones Soda invites the general public to submit photos for the labels of their glass bottles. They’ve featured everything from carousels to animals, and images from all over the world. Newfoundland’s Aiden Devereaux sent in a photo late last year and recently he learned they’d chosen his picture.

Back in December, Aiden was hanging out in the cafeteria of Memorial University and his friend was drinking Jones. “I noticed you could submit your own photos for the label,” Aiden says. “And my friend suggested I do it because I was just learning to take some photos and getting into taking photos.” www.downhomelife.com

When it came to deciding what picture to send in, Aiden chose Quidi Vidi. “I really like it down there. I like those stages down there out across the water. I’ve taken a few pictures of them and I like the area,” says Aiden. “I thought they [Jones] might like it because it’s a Newfoundland thing and they might think that’s interesting and they probably don’t see it all the time. It’s a unique spot.”

Since first contacting him about his photo being a “staff pick” for a label, Jones has sent Aiden a few designs to show him what it may look like. The labels were for cream soda. If he had a choice, Aiden confesses, he’d go with root beer.

Regardless of the flavour, he says, “I’m hoping to find a bottle when it comes out.”

He won’t be the only one.

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homefront lil’ charmers

Berry Pickers Bakeapple Bliss After a long day of picking, Isabella and her mom have enough berries to make many jars of jam.

Shannon Rogers, La Tabatiere, QC

Berry Happy Six-month-old Erin Easton is all smiles posing with her first batch of Newfoundland blueberries.

Katherine Easton, Reidville, NL

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True-Blue Berry Lover William MacLean needed a bath after his first taste of blueberries.

Melanie Osmond & Mark MacLean Via email

Slim Pickings

For Christian Sparkes, the sight of an empty berry pail is reason for concern.

Tanya Fitzpatrick St. Lawrence, NL

Do you have a cute “Berry Pickers� photo?

Submit at www.downhomelife.com and you could see it in a future issue! www.downhomelife.com

September 2015

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“We heard you were ” having trouble sleeping ing – Heather Hard

Say WHAT?

Downhome recently posted this photo (submitted by Beryl Keddy) on our website and Facebook page and asked users to imagine what the sheep might be saying.

Heather Harding’s response made us chuckle the most, so we’re awarding her 20 Downhome Dollars!

Here are the runners-up: “What are ewe looking at?” Danette G. Rowsell “Don’t let the sheep’s clothing fool ya.” Nancy S. Crossman “Where’s Aunt Martha?” Dave Strong

Want to get in on the action?

Go to www.downhomelife.com/saywhat

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homefront pets of the month

Best Buds Travel Pals Maisie never leaves home without her favourite friend.

Bonnie Piercey, Gander, NL

Protective Pup No one comes between Casey and his teddy bear.

Daphne Ivany Lower Lance Cove, Random Island, NL

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Good Day on Toys Six-year-old standard poodle Harloe admires her many playthings drying in the breeze.

Theresa Oliver St. John’s, NL

Do you have a favourite photo of a furry friend?

Submit at www.downhomelife.com and you could see it in a future issue!

www.downhomelife.com

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homefront

Remember “Fun with Dick and Jane”?

The very first Dick and Jane book, published in 1930, had only pictures; the first one with words, published soon after, used simple, repetitive phrases to teach elementary readers: “See Spot. See Spot run.” The main characters were siblings Dick, Jane and little sister Sally; Mother and Father; and the family pets – Spot the dog and Puff the cat. By the 1950s, most school children in North America were learning to read with Dick and Jane.

But in the 1960s and 1970s, new studies showed that a generation who’d learned to read using the Dick and Jane method were actually poor readers as a result. That discovery, and the lack of cultural diversity in the books, led to the eventual demise of the Dick and Jane series.

In 2003, Grosset & Dunlap republished first editions of Dick and Jane – but also issued a disclaimer that these books should not be used for educational purposes.

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What were your favourite childhood books? Share your memories via email at editorial@downhomelife.com or by writing to Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3.

Downhome asked our Facebook friends if they remember the Dick and Jane readers, and here is what some of them said: Deanne Squires

“That was one of the first readers I had in school.”

Judy Edna Sparkes

“I wish those books were still available for my grandchildren to read.”

Donna Saunders

“I have found two books at a second hand store, but newer versions. Not the old ones we had back then. I’ve always loved these readers!”

Dru Gerrard

“We have the Dick & Jane book in our museum here. God I feel old! A museum, for God’s sake! LOL”

Noel Martin

“Oh, oh, oh, see Sally run.”

Debbie Abbott

“Look Jane, see Spot, see Spot run. I learned to read with these books.”

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homefront

Expert answers to common life questions.

By Katherine Hudson

Why do birds sing?

Even before the sun peeks over the horizon, the early morning air is filled with the chirps, twitters and crowing of a bevy of birds. There’s more than one hypothesis about why they do that.

“At first, people believed for a long time that birds sang for the pure joy of it,” says David Bird, an emeritus professor of wildlife biology at McGill University. “Now we know birds sing for a lot of different reasons, many important reasons: for proclaiming their territory [and] attracting a mate.”

Dr. Geoffrey Hill, a professor of biology at Auburn University in Alabama, offers one explanation for the “dawn chorus,” as it’s sometimes called.

“Sound is reputed to travel more efficiently before the sun rises, and thus this hypothesis proposes that males sing before sunrise because they sound better,” writes Hill in an email.

Dr. Kevin McGowan, who works at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York, adds that morning offers the optimal acoustic environment: little noise and no wind.

However, Bird points to a study of bird calls by the University of Western Ontario, published in 2003. “They discovered that the calls didn’t carry any further in the morning than they did in the afternoon, but that the calls were more consistent.

It would be akin to you listening to music on a beach where nobody’s on the beach with you at all and you can hear it quite loudly, and later in the 38

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day, you’ve got all kinds of people there making all kinds of noise, that sort of thing, and the calls are not as consistent anymore,” he says.

Another scientific theory is that song is a signal of the health and vigour of singing males. “By singing for an hour before the sun comes up…for an hour before there is a chance to forage and ingest good energy, males are signalling to females that they are so healthy they can go all night without eating and then sing for an hour before they go

out foraging for the first time in the morning,” writes Hill.

McGowan says another reason birds might sing in the final stages of night is to defensively broadcast their territorial presence.

But up in Canada’s north, where in the summer there is no dawn, do birds still sing together? Yes, says McGowan.

“Interestingly, birds above the Arctic Circle have a peak of synchronized singing early in the morning, even though there is no actual dawn.”

Why do wolves howl at the moon?

We’re all familiar with the image: a wolf’s head upturned, letting out a mournful howl beneath a big, full moon. But wolf experts will tell you, wolves don’t actually howl at the moon in particular – they just howl in general, and it often happens beneath the night sky.

According to Bob Hayes, wildlife biologist and author of Wolves of the Yukon, wolves are nocturnal hunters. “They travel and make kills at night, and after a kill there is a lot of howling, talking and locating pack members. However, they are not howling at the moon. They are howling to communicate with their family members, much like we would do when we are calling for our kids to come in at midnight,” he writes in an email.

Valerius Geist, professor emeritus

of environmental science at the University of Calgary, says howling together in a pack helps warn off other packs.

“Pack-howling puts a chill on neighbouring packs. Intruders get killed, all right, but pack members can be injured or killed. Individual howling serves to orientate pack members during spread-out hunts,” he writes in an email.

“Also, a lone wolf howling asks for family members to answer in order to join them. I observed them spread out to comb the valley I was in, and invariably they howled here and there as if keeping touch with one another.”

Do you have a burning life question for Katherine to investigate?

Turn to page 9 for ways to contact us. www.downhomelife.com

?

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homefront

reviewed by Denise Flint

Ledger of the Open Hand Leslie Vyrenhoek Breakwater Books $19.95

When small-town prairie girl Meriel-Claire moves to

Winnipeg to go to university and meets her sophisticated roommate Daneen, she is introduced to a life very different from her own in poet and short story author Leslie Vryenhoek’s first novel, Ledger of the Open Hand. After they leave university Daneen becomes an acclaimed writer while Meriel-Claire becomes a bookkeeper and financial advisor.

As their career choices illustrate, the two women couldn’t be more opposite. Yet each has something the other craves and the relationship between the two women – can it even be called a friendship? – is at the heart of the book.

Oscar Wilde wrote that a cynic is someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Meriel-Claire, from whose point of view the book is written, just might be a woman who overvalues everything and, consequently, cannot put a price to anything. So she takes refuge in balance sheets, which she intuitively understands and where the figures – and their precise worth - are neatly laid out. As the novel progresses she slowly learns the true value of money and just what it can and cannot purchase. And while doing so she learns the value of the people around her and of herself.

Vryenhoek is travelling in territory mastered years ago by Margaret Atwood, but while that might seem intimidating she has no need to feel inadequate on such a journey. Her nuanced examination of a woman’s life is well worth the read and draws to an almost lyrical ending.

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Paddy Boy Patrick O’Flaherty Pottersfield Press $17.95

Paddy Boy: Growing Up Irish in a Newfoundland Outport is both retired English professor Patrick O’Flaherty’s autobiography of his childhood on the North Shore of Conception Bay and an homage to the characters that surrounded him. His was clearly a life of hardship and poverty, with few of the modern amenities we take for granted – including adequate and nutritional food, rudimentary health care and decent schooling.

While acknowledging that life was not perfect, this breezy account highlights the joys of such a bucolic childhood while presenting a clear picture of a very different day-today life than the one we now enjoy.

At about 150 pages, Paddy Boy is a slim volume. However, it is rich in content. O’Flaherty’s brief anecdotes about particular inhabitants of the community convey a sharp and complete picture of both the person in question and his surroundings and companions. When he writes at greater length the reader almost begins to forget that he or she doesn’t actually know the

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person being described.

Paddy Boy takes a while to get started. The opening chapter is a bit slow and somewhat confusing, as if it’s necessary to know something about the author before reading. However, once he gets into the meat and potatoes of the story, the pages fly by. The tale concludes with young Paddy off to St. John’s for the first time to attend boarding school. If O’Flaherty decides to continue the story he will certainly have an established audience eager to see what happens next.

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A Cuffer With Necie This local children’s author is spreading the love for her home province, one book at a time.

By Linda Browne

Children’s author Necie Mouland with her books Linda Browne photo

Necie Mouland never set out to be a children’s author/illustrator. Now with seven books to her credit – she has become exactly that. It all started in 2007, when her beloved hometown of St. Bernard’s-Jacques Fontaine in Fortune Bay, Newfoundland was celebrating Come Home Year. Necie (who was living in St. John’s) wanted to do something to help with the fundraising efforts, so she created a children’s book about growing up there, titled There’s No Place Like Home, with the proceeds going towards repairs to the local church.

Word about her book wasn’t long spreading, and one day she received an invitation to appear on CBC Radio’s St. John’s Morning Show. A few hours after the show aired, Necie received a phone call from DRC Publishing and the rest, as they say, is history. Recently, Necie chatted with Downhome about her journey.

Downhome: What kind of books did you read growing up?

Necie: I loved Pippi Longstocking, I loved Mr. Magoo. I loved everything. Ordering from the Scholastic book order was probably some of the most exciting times during the school year for me [laughs]. And my children, same thing. I kind of lived 42

September 2015

vicariously through them while they were growing up with their Scholastic book order because I was then too old to get my own!

DH: How did growing up in St. Bernard’s influence your work?

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where if you fell down in the street, five mothers came out to see if you were OK. We swam in a pond, we skated on a pond, we had freedom, we picked berries, we had boil-ups.

My grandparents lived right behind us; my aunt lived just out the road.

And I don’t think you really realize until you grow up and look back at how unbelievably charmed this childhood, if you’re fortunate enough to grow up in a place like that, was...And throughout all my books, except for the Ferryland book and the one that I illustrated for Hebron, you’ll find St. Bernard’s in every one. Whether it’s the people, or the background, or the boats, or the hill, or the pond – a lot of them are actually from St. Bernard’s. But it is not just my hometown, everything Newfoundland and Labrador inspires me.

DH: Why is sharing N.L. history and culture with children so important to you?

N: I think because part of me will always be a child, number one. Also, childhood is where I experienced all of these things first-hand…Many of the traditions of this province are not as commonplace today as they were years ago, so some kids may not get to grow up experiencing them themselves, but it is still part of their heritage. Plus, it’s a great way to share our culture with those

who live away. I’ve gotten emails from all over the world – from adults, from people who have grandchildren who are growing up somewhere else – so they’re sending the books to them.

DH: Can you share some stories about people who have been touched by your books?

N: One lady sent me an email. Her dad had not lived here in Newfoundland in 30 years…She gave him the book, he sat down and read it and she said he just cried and cried and cried. And it’s always on his coffee table...It swells your heart. It absolutely does. And I’ve gotten emails saying, you know, “What a wonderful ambassador you are, representing our culture and heritage and language.” And there are funny stories as well. There’s a little boy who won’t go potty without Salt Fish and Scrunchions!

DH: Do you have an idea of what’s next?

N: More uniquely Newfoundland and Labrador books! I’d like to do more charity work, like books [where] a portion of the funds would go to charity...I want to do some good things with it. I really do…It’s been a wonderful ride and I hope it’s a long time before it ends.

Wishing all our members, families and friends a safe Labour Day holiday!

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homefront the view from here

the expectation of the unexpected

By Ed Smith

Somehow or other Can you believe this is happening? we got through July September! I’m talking about September! and August with a Somehow or other we got through July and August with a modicum of what passes for modicum of what summer in these parts, and now we’re into passes for summer autumn! There’s something wonderfully wrong in these parts, and with this picture. now we’re into It’s so tempting to be negative. In this province, autumn! There’s we have come to expect eight weeks of reasonably warm and seductive weather. I say seductive something wonder- because it lures us into thinking that the best is fully wrong with this yet to be, which of course is a crock. It’s a crock picture. when you’re talking about getting older, and it’s

a crock when it comes to Newfoundland and Labrador weather.

At the same time, it is easy to find much that is positive when we find ourselves being dragged head over heels, kicking and screaming into this, the ninth month of the year.

The number nine has an almost mystical aura about it in folklore, ancient writings, scripture and modern psychological thought. Obviously I can’t go into this in any depth here, but let me briefly explain and corroborate the place of this almost magical number throughout history.

If, for example, one does not include Judas Iscariot, Matthew and Peter, there were nine disciples at the Last Supper. Actually, we have only Leonardo da Vinci’s word – or his paintbrush – that they, too, were there. He may have painted them in from memory.

If you leave out that most unpopular of the laws that Moses brought down from the hill – “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” there are nine commandments. A lot of people would like to see that one go, that’s for sure. Bear in mind that Jesus said that you have only to look at someone of the opposite sex with the thought, “Wouldn’t mind a piece of that” (my words), and you have already

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committed adultery. That would find almost half the population in total guilt.

I’ll give you just one more example of the mystical quality of the number 9. Remember the old hymn, “There were 90 and 9”? Makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, doesn’t it?

Let me talk about something a little more substantial about everyone’s favourite month. You probably didn’t know it, but while there may be more weddings in May and June, studies show that there are more first dates in September.

There are other “firsts” in September, too, but we certainly won’t go into them here.

September, the ninth month, has a magical, romantic quality about it as well. It’s the Harvest Moon month, when lovers stroll through parks and down back roads and along isolated paths, leaning close, striving to be closer and succeeding.

It’s the month when young men and women find themselves away from home for the first time and feeling free of parental restraints.

Don’t you remember when you were

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in college or university? It was pure magic, and it was in September.

For me there are several reasons September is the most beautiful and most meaningful month of the year, by far and away. First, September is the first month of Indian Summer,

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when the nights especially are somehow warmer and softer, and the moon seems twice as large and many times closer than at any other time. It holds the promise of something wonderful and new. I can’t

decent dollar could be made if one wanted to apply oneself. Got my first guitar that way.

And as everyone who grew up in a Newfoundland outport knows, late in September you had to get your

It’s the month when young men and women find themselves away from home for the first time and feeling free of parental restraints. Don’t you remember when you were in college or university? It was pure magic, and it was in September. explain it any other way.

In the Septembers of my childhood, the joy of stolen fruits and vegetables was hard to overestimate. The young carrots were sweet and delicious. (So what if they were covered with dirt from the garden, which was a liberal mixture of kelp and manure.) You needed your pocketknife to peel the young turnips, but the effort was well worth it.

And the apples! Nothing in the Annapolis Valley could touch Newfoundland apples taken straight off the branches under the owner’s nose. OH likes to tell of the time she and a friend almost got caught in the very act and had to spend an uncomfortable length of time up in the tree, fearful and trembling.

Home gardens were full of raspberries and strawberries to be had for the stealing, too. The damsons weren’t quite right for eating, but great for throwing at each other after dark. Blueberries were ripe by the time school opened. Not only were they wonderful eating, but a 46

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team together for bonfire night and begin assembling (polite word for taking what doesn’t belong to you).

Boxes and barrels had to be confiscated and trees and boughs cut and piled in a secret place.

There is one other reason the month of September is especially important to me. The birthday of one Edward Alexander Dorman Smith is recorded at that time. It’s important to me because it’s the only proof I have that I was born. I’d tell you the date, but the expectation of being inundated with all those gifts is just too overwhelming.

It’s hard to believe it’s all come ’round again: September and my birthday. Didn’t expect to live anywhere near this long.

Still don’t.

Author and humorist Ed Smith’s column began appearing in the Downhomer in 1988. A retired educator, he has written many books, including five collections of his columns. edsmith@nf.sympatico.ca 1-888-588-6353

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homefront what odds

city slacker

By Paul Warford

“Hello big city!” I bawl out to no one in particular as I miss the bus and sort my recyclables.

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If I can just make a

brief aside here, readers, I’d love to point out how bizarre it is that by the time you peruse this, the September issue, I will be married or on the lam. As it stands, we’ve almost straightened out the flower arrangements and we’re thrilled to soon be receiving new toasters.

Anyway, here we are and here I am! We are now successfully transplanted in St. John’s, like so many tomato plants will be this summer. As I take to the sidewalks I can’t help but feel like I, too, am in a slightly larger pot than I once was.

Even as I type I have to filter out a tremendous clatter just outside the coffee shop, as fellows move about this girder and that beam for some colossal construction project happening on Water Street. After nine months of living in my hometown, which felt a bit like a too-tight sweater before I even left high school, I welcome the noise. I welcome the change, whether it be the new faces I pass or the quarters I drop into the open accordion cases of the few buskers we have here in our capital.

“Hello big city!” I bawl out to no one in particular as I miss the bus and sort my recyclables.

It’s great to be living here once more, though I’m not quite a fan of the angle St. John’s finds itself at. With hills averaging an incline of about 75 degrees, my legs already feel more toned than I need them to be, and I shudder at the thought of winter as Gabby (the dog) and I pant our way up the hill to get our groceries. The old complaint of “uphill both ways” suddenly feels true as I find myself without automobile or horse and carriage, peering at the looming slopes before me.

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more to discover than I do. I’m excited to watch her eke out the city that works for her. She’s good at that.

I’m a little easier to please. So long as I have a (somewhat) quiet coffee shop to nestle in, such as this one,

you through the Haunted Hike (though I think they already have a guy for that). The point I’m making is that it’s nice to be here, and I hope the city will feel the same way about me before Andie and I pack up to go on the run again.

We’ve moved together several times now without any major catastrophes or fistfights, I’m happy to report. The truest test of love is put to a couple when they have to carry a box spring and mattress together. and a buzzing microphone to speak into from time to time, I consider myself a happy resident.

This time, however, I hope to take advantage of more than just the stores and their fronts. I lived here before, cruising through history courses, education degrees and the like. However, apart from telling jokes at the faculty Christmas party, I never really left my mark in the city. I’m not out to design a new condo property or exact a crimespree, but I would like to contribute to the beautiful culture we’re so proud of here. Now, we all know that Downhome magazine is a very cultured publication – I’m cultured to be writing for it, and you all have very high brows to be reading it – but I’d like to add more to the city than this humble column alone. I want my name on posters and I want those posters on poles, fighting the wind. It’s nice to feel at home in a new space, but perhaps it’s better to feel involved. Maybe I’ll put off a play that will jerk your tears, or I’ll don my cape and lead www.downhomelife.com

We’ve moved together several times now without any major catastrophes or fistfights, I’m happy to report. The truest test of love is put to a couple when they have to carry a box spring and mattress together.

Sometimes life is like a move, I guess: You tilt things this way and they won’t fit through the door, so you tilt them that way and they still won’t fit. As your hair drapes over your eyes and sweat beads your every cranny, you try your best to just make it work long enough so that you can heft the next item. Life can be tough, but sometimes you just need to come at it from a different angle.

Here’s hoping that our first weeks of marriage have been injury-free, and that if you, too, live in the city, you’ll keep an eye out for my smiling face.

Paul Warford began writing for Downhome to impress his mom and her friends. He writes and performs comedy in Eastern Canada. Follow his (racier) blog: www.paulwarford.com.

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homefront in your words

I’m

By Barbara Strong Muir

50 per cent Newf, and I’m ridiculously proud of it.

I was born and raised in New Brunswick by my purebred Newfoundland father, Ted, and my New Brunswick-born but world-raised mother, Lynda. But the fact remains: I’ve never, ever lived in Newfoundland and Labrador.

So why do I follow through with my burning desire to tell everyone who asks, “Where are you from?” that although born in the country’s only officially bilingual province, I am halfNewf? My birth province is fine as far as provinces go. It has the warmest waters north of the Carolinas. The Saint John River is a boating Mecca and my favourite place to spend my 50

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summers. But that little tidbit of information represents who I am more than my geographic place of birth, or the other provinces where I have put down roots.

As a child, my family spent one week every three or four years vacationing and visiting Newfoundland family in Springdale and Little Bay Islands, forging the fondest of childhood memories. This is the province where I took my now husband, Jason, on our first vacation together, to show off “my” province and inevitably fall in love under the northern lights in Gros Morne National Park.

From the genuinely friendly people; unique, quiet inlets; and crystal clear, almost tropical (until you dip your toe in) blue waters, to the cod tongues and cheeks, seal flipper pie, short (ok, very short) warm summer days, the ferries and gooseberries, this culture is in me. It pumps through my veins, and I want people to know it.

In my travels across Canada, having also lived in Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia, I find when I tell people that I hail from the country’s “drive-through” province (thank you, David Myles!), most often I become the honorary bilingual person invited to translate for people speaking French. However, when I reply with my more common answer, “I’m from New Brunswick, but I’m actually half-Newf” – eyes light up and smiles grow larger, sparking stories from travels done or dreamed of.

To some mainlanders, the province is like an exotic travel destination.

Almost always, I am asked to “say something in Newfinese,” and I am www.downhomelife.com

My Newfoundland connection, my dad, Ted Strong, and me. Thanks for the genes! instantly a party favour as I stumble my way through “I’s the B’y.” Suddenly I am the expert on an island on Canada’s far East Coast, though I’ve spent no longer than eight consecutive days on my “home” soil.

I think who you are and where you come from has a lot more to do with heart than geography. Now with twin five-year-old daughters, I want to pass on this important part of our heritage. I see the anticipation in their eyes when I point to Newfoundland and Labrador tourism commercials on television, and the wonder on their faces when our Newfoundland family visit at Christmas dressed up like mummers.

They’ve finally had the opportunity to experience the province, a place of silent icebergs almost as large as the fjords, where they met relatives previously experienced only via Facebook. New tastes were discovered. New memories were built.

I’m a professional photographer and during a recent photo shoot I was doing of a family, the father, from Labrador City, asked me, “Where’s the bathroom to?” A smile came across my face as I directed him to the loo. My inner Newf smiled, too.

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homefront

The Homework Debate Every school year, there is discussion about how much homework is enough for kids – and their parents – to face each weeknight. Opinions are as varied as the students themselves, as evidenced by an online poll we ran this time last year on DownhomeLife.com. We asked our website visitors:

“Do you think school kids (K-12) should be assigned homework?”

YES 78%

NO 17%

I don’t know 5%

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“NO! Teachers are paid big money to TEACH our kids and they should teach them what is needed in school, not send them home for us to help them learn it.” – Tony Mac “Yes! Being a teacher, I feel children need homework to help them learn responsibility. Many children are not taught responsibility, and therefore when they come out of school they do not know how to be responsible. This is an important trait people need to learn, and I feel giving children some form of homework helps them learn the outcome if they do not complete their work.” – Teri Lynn Marie “…Not so much where the kids lose sleep and family time. Half hour is good enough. Regardless how good the teachers are, each student learns on their individual scale...[I’d] rather see them do some homework than fall behind. More than homework suffers when this happens.” – Rosi Phillips “Not as much as what gets assigned. A little (15-30 min.) is enough. They’re in school seven hours a day. Many of us don’t bring our jobs/work home with us, so why should the kids be made to work long hours?” – Heather Lane “I see kids every day walking home from school with book bags so heavy they are hunched over trying to carry them. No need for that.” – Vince R Hancock “Yes, growing up I always had homework, and it certainly didn’t kill me.”

– Amanda Williams “I think they should! It teaches them responsibility! My boys have never seen a day of homework, and I can see the difference between them and how I was at their age.” – Tracy Lush-Shawnoo www.downhomelife.com

“Not giving children sufficient amounts of homework will only set them up for failure in the long run. Without the selfdiscipline skills that homework helps to develop, children that continue with post-secondary education will experience a culture shock and won’t know how to cope with the intense [amount] of independent work and study that they will be faced with.” – Alicia Hopkins “The school work that is covered during the hours of school should be sufficient for any student. Special assignments to work on over a period of time, a book to read over a period of time, should be enough for any child to have to do at home. There are many different ways and other activities to find discipline and responsibility other than sitting at a table for hours doing work that could be covered in the classroom.” – Miranda Jenkins Puddicombe “I don’t mind my kids having homework. I get to see exactly what they are doing in school and teach them to be responsible and turn it in on time. But luckily they have no overload of homework yet, just the usual reading logs, math sheets and spelling words.”

– Nicole Pittman Cramm “When giving homework, one teacher ...don’t know what the other is giving.

They may think they are getting 15-30 min., but [by the time you] get homework from 3-4 teachers, that 15-30 min. is now...a couple of hours. As a single working parent who works until at least 6-8 at night, coming home and then getting meals cooked and cleaned, and then at homework if the child needs assistance [means] a long day for both the kids and parents.” – Kathy Bowles September 2015

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As parents we possess a natural instinct to do whatever it takes to make sure our children do better in life than we do. This altruistic desire is well documented by psychologists. Each generation must ensure the survival of the next – it’s human nature at its most basic level. It’s also what compels us to fork out thousands upon thousands of dollars for music lessons, swimming lessons, tutoring, dancing, hockey, singing – and whatever you as a parent feel is necessary to give your child the best shot possible once they reach adulthood in a highly competitive, dog-eat-dog world.

While some argue that a busy routine is a good thing that will secure the foundation of a well-rounded citizen, there are those who believe we may be asking too much of our children and thus setting them up for failure.

“When we think of mental health issues and anxiety, we don’t normally think of young children. We think of adults and maybe high school students,” says Aubrey Dawe, principal at Beachy Cove Elementary in Portugal Cove-St. Philips, Newfoundland. He understands the pressure some parents are under to help their children succeed. He also sees first-hand the effects of that pressure.

“I’ve been noticing here in our schools, and the other schools I have taught in, children with anxiety – and severe anxiety, the numbers of those have been increasing,” says Dawe. After a long day at work one day last fall, Dawe says he came home but couldn’t stop thinking www.downhomelife.com

about one of the children at the school; the sixth grader was suffering from anxiety. Then it occurred to him that this wasn’t the only child he had dealt with that day.

“Then there was one in Grade 4 that I helped out, and then there was also that one in Grade 5, and Grade 2, and kindergarten – and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. On that day, I had helped out children from K-6 with anxiety issues,” says Dawe. He says that realization was like a lightbulb moment for him. “I thought, ‘That can’t continue, we have to do something.”’

Taking a Stand In January 2015, Dawe and the school’s administration organized a mental health forum at the school to discuss the issue of the children’s anxiety. More than 150 parents showed up to take in the presentation and get advice from mental health professionals, including a mental health social worker, a child September 2015

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“The need is very real. It has to be a priority in our schools. Mental health issues are very prevalent and we need to acknowledge it, and we need to understand them, and we need to learn how to help those children.”

– Aubrey Dawe, principal, Beachy Cove Elementary

psychiatrist, the school counsellor and the school nurse. Dawe says the fact that so many people were interested in the school forum proves there is a problem.

“The need is very real. It has to be a priority in our schools. Mental health issues are very prevalent and we need to acknowledge it, and we need to understand them, and we need to learn how to help those children,” says Dawe.

He says having kids involved in extracurricular activities will help them stay engaged and sociable.

“However, some children in some families are involved in too much,” says Dawe, adding that children at a young age often don’t even know that they are stressed. “It’s often articulated as ‘a bad belly,’” says Dawe. “They don’t have the insight to say, ‘Hey, I’m feeling some anxiety here.’”

He says the issue of childhood anxiety is not exclusive to his school, either.

“It’s in every single school. If anyone tries to tell you different, they’re not telling the truth,” he says.

Dr. Janine Hubbard agrees. She’s an adolescent and childhood psychologist based in St. John’s who treats children with anxiety issues.

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“We are definitely seeing an increase in childhood and adolescent anxiety, there’s no doubt about that, no question,” Hubbard says.

Many young people have anxiety, she continues, including children as young as two or three years of age.

But she’s quick to point out that not all stress is bad. In fact, most highfunctioning people have a certain level of anxiety.

“Minor levels of stress can actually be a really good thing. That could be things like school, friends, sports; it could be music competition. Those are all things that in small levels are really good and positive. It’s when they become excessive that we obviously start to worry,” says Hubbard. Left unchecked, stress and anxiety can manifest itself through self-harm, such as cutting or drug and alcohol abuse. It can also lead to withdrawal from friends and withdrawal from academics.

Signs of Stress Hubbard says there are some clear indicators to watch for if you think your child may be overwhelmed.

“You want to look for behavioural changes, things like changes in their sleep pattern. You want to look at 1-888-588-6353

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New fears can be a sign that your child is stressed out. new fears that are starting to come in; you want to watch if perhaps there’s a change in their social interactions,” she explains. Echoing Dawe’s point about the “bad belly,”

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Hubbard says parents should watch for complaints of physical discomfort – particularly stomach pain and headaches. She says if your child is showing any of these signs, the very first course of action is to talk to your child. “That’s first and foremost,” says Hubbard. “It’s actually one of the things that the literature shows, is that speaking with your children on a regular basis is one of the best things you can do to counteract stress.”

For parents who have their children enrolled in multiple activities and worry they may be involved in too much, she offers this advice: “You need to know your child. There are children who thrive and excel on that level of activity and would be bored and miserable sitting around at home; whereas there are others for whom it is overwhelming and exhausting and causing too much stress. It’s really about knowing your child’s temperament, knowing their activity level, knowing their energy levels and knowing their interests.”

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Parental Pitfall One well-meaning – but damaging – parenting trend, says Hubbard, is “helicopter parenting.”

“We’re seeing very well-intentioned but perhaps misguided parents, in their attempt to protect kids, basically doing everything for them. We’re now getting them at the university stage, where [parents are] calling up profs,” says Hubbard. “What we’re getting is this over-parenting, which means kids aren’t learning to problem solve for themselves. And that’s what we’re thinking may be contributing to some of the stress levels because, if you think about it, if you haven’t figured out how to problem solve and you’re always relying on a parent to do it, it decreases your sense of mastery and increases your sense of being overwhelmed.”

In addition to avoiding over-parenting, providing consistency in the home and being selective about media exposure should help alleviate some stress, says Hubbard, adding that simply spending time

with your children goes a long way.

“Just spend unscheduled downtime with your kids...let’s just hang out and see what happens,” she says.

Dawe is proud of the success of his school’s mental health forum, as he believes it’s helped open those lines of communication. “I think it got the conversation started in our school, but I also think it got the conversation started for K-6 schools,” says Dawe. “Our goal is to keep the conversation going.”

Dawe says he learned a lot through the forum, but the thing that resonated with him the most was a phrase the psychologist used during her address. “She said, ‘Having fun is fundamental – spending time with your children and creating memories.’” To that end, Beachy Cove Elementary began inviting parents to the school during the final period to take part in a sports activity with their children. “It’s another initiative in which we got very positive feedback. It’s created some scheduling headaches, but the net gain is well worth it.”

“We’re seeing very well-intentioned but perhaps misguided parents, in their attempt to protect kids, basically doing everything for them. We’re now getting them at the university stage, where [parents are] calling up profs…What we’re getting is this overparenting, which means kids aren’t learning to problem solve for themselves.”

– Dr. Janine Hubbard, adolescent and childhood psychologist

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Mental Health Help If you think your child may be suffering from anxiety, speak to your physician and/or school guidance counsellor. In addition, you may find the following resources helpful:

www.bridgethegapp.ca Eastern Health’s mobile app, Bridge the gAPP, aims to support and promote mental wellness amongst youth in Newfoundland and Labrador. www.psychologyfoundation.org The Psychology Foundation of Canada offers “Stress Lessons,” a downloadable guide that teaches parents about youth stress, signs to watch for and management techniques. www.apnl.ca Search for a psychologist in your area on the Association of Psychology Newfoundland and Labrador website. www.anxietybc.com Anxiety Disorders Association of British Columbia (AnxietyBC) offers helpful information about childhood stress, plus tips and advice.

1-888-737-4668 The Provincial Mental Health Crisis Line is a 24-hour, seven day a week provincial telephone crisis service for people experiencing mental health problems.

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life is better Summer in Conception Harbour, NL Jim Desautels, St. John’s, NL

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features

The Oceans Learning Partnership’s Coastal Explorers program is helping to inspire a new wave of marine enthusiasts.

By Linda Browne

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With the ocean

covering about 71 per cent of its surface, it’s little wonder that Earth is known as the “Blue Planet.” The ocean is responsible for everything from the air we breathe to the food we eat, and plays a vital role in regulating weather and climate. It is the beating heart that connects us all – yet we know relatively little about it. In fact, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 95 per cent of the underwater world remains unexplored.

While the ocean is especially closely tied to the history and culture of Newfoundland and Labrador, one local organization – the Oceans Learning Partnership (OLP) – believes there is a gap that exists in marine education. Since 2011, the non-profit organization has been working to bridge that gap by providing youth with intimate and interactive educational experiences that can’t be duplicated in a traditional classroom setting.

“We’ve got this strong tie to the sea here in Newfoundland, but yet what the kids are learning in the classroom doesn’t really reflect that.

We don’t often think about the ocean, so it’s not integrated into the curriculum, and yet it plays such an important role,” says Chelsie Archibald, manager of field programs with the OLP. “We have our programs for kids, but we also do teacher training and feel it’s really important that teachers have that confidence to teach about the ocean,” she says. To achieve its goals, the OLP works with partners

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like Parks Canada, Memorial University, the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association.

While the OLP organizes a range of activities for youth (everything from travelling touch tanks to World Oceans Day events), it is their flagship program, the Coastal Explorers field school, that is making waves – in a very positive way.

Based at four locations around the province (Holyrood, Terra Nova National Park, Bonne Bay, and at lab facilities at the Ocean Sciences Centre in Logy Bay), the field school aims to get youth from Grades 4-12 interested in ocean science and technology by taking them out on the water aboard the “floating classroom” and providing them with real-world experience. Activities are designed to engage students and encourage teamwork, while meeting required learning outcomes.

After receiving a lesson in boating safety and navigation, students essentially get to be marine scientists for the day as they get their hands wet with plankton tows and squid dissections; haul in crab pots and study the crustaceans; and take water samples to measure salinity, pH and temperature. Students also get the chance to operate a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to observe sea stars, kelp beds and other ocean life up close, and use scientific and oceanographic equipment to collect and record data, among other activities.

“They get so excited about seeing

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animals up close. They get really excited about seeing plankton.

Here’s this tiny life that drives everything in the ocean; it’s the foundation of the food web. And yet we tell them to look over the side of the boat and they say, ‘Oh, there’s nothing there.’ And then they help us with the plankton tow and they realize there’s so much life – it’s just microscopic,” says Chelsie.

“It’s just opening up their eyes to this amazing environment, this really special environment we have here in our own backyard.”

Swept Away Recently, 22 students from Kerri Mercer’s Grade 8 French immersion science class from Holy Trinity High School in Torbay participated in the program. They sailed the coastal waters around Holyrood and learned by doing.

“Living so close to the ocean, we have a fantastic opportunity for students to get involved in exciting, hands-on education to learn about the environment we live in,” Kerri says. “A four-walled classroom, a teacher, books or videos can never

compare to the hands-on experiences Coastal Explorers offers.”

Her students are giving the program the thumbs up, too. While he’s not sure what he might like to study after high school, student Ryan Scott says participating in the field school has piqued his interest in ocean-related careers. And when it comes to his favourite part of the field trip, there’s no contest.

“I really liked going on the trip because we got to use the ROV and we got to look at stuff underwater...they even pulled up a piece of seaweed and we saw a bunch of fish,” he says. “It was really fun.”

Chelsie says while many schools have expressed interest in coming onboard, the high bussing costs to the field sites (coupled with limited budgets) can be prohibitive, especially for schools in rural areas. To overcome this problem, OLP has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to help cover program fees and transportation costs, allowing more schools to participate.

Especially in this province, and especially at this time, marine education is seen as so important to the

A high school student studies a snow crab up close.

David Howells photo

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next generation.

“This is an environment for so long we’ve gazed out at, and now we have these tools that actually enable us to look under and really understand more about the ocean. So it’s an exciting time. And if you look at Newfoundland industries today, there’s a lot of opportunities related to the ocean. Our economy is really strongly tied to the ocean. We have a huge ocean technology sector; we have transportation, fisheries, aquaculture...so there’s a lot of potential that these kids could grow up and stay here in Newfoundland and work and have really rewarding, interesting careers,” says Chelsie.

“We’re so dependent on the ocean, and the ocean’s facing these really complex, challenging issues. So we need to raise the next generation to understand those issues better, whether they become scientists or whether they’re just members of the voting public. We need to become more ocean literate and really just start to appreciate what we have here.”

For more information or to contribute to their campaign, visit www.coastalexplorers.net

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Ocean Science, By the Numbers

97

the percentage of the planet’s water contained within oceans

50-80

the percentage of all life on Earth found under the sea

20

the approximate percentage of the Earth’s surface covered by the Atlantic Ocean

70

the percentage of the world’s oxygen produced by marine plants

8 million

approximate amount (in tonnes) of plastic tossed into oceans each year

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Other

than religion and politics, there’s probably nothing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians take more seriously than the weather. So serious that in July, meteorologists Ryan Snoddon (CBC) and Eddie Sheerr (NTV) were taken into custody by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and charged with impersonating a meteorologist, failing to provide the necessities of summer and trafficking in RDF (rain, drizzle and fog). Of course, they were quickly released and it was all a collaborative attempt to lighten the mood of the public who’d been suffering a miserable summer weatherwise.

Fortunately for Downhome, we caught up with Ryan before the RNC did and interrogated him about – what else? – the weather. But not just any old system. We asked Ryan to explain the circumstances that create some of the wildest moments in weather.

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Waterspouts Ahoy In mid-July, a waterspout came ashore on a New Jersey beach, leading to some pretty intense moments for witnesses and damage to property. Windows were blown out and a 16-foot aluminum boat was carried several blocks.

A waterspout is a column of wind and cloud with some condensation. “They form, of course, over water, usually over warmer water. However, they have been spotted off the coast of Newfoundland,” typically over the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Ryan says. “They often develop with slightly warmer waters and they develop near the surface of the water, and then actually stretch vertically up to the cumulous cloud.”

Waterspouts are usually weak and disappear quickly, but they can pack winds of up to 150 km/hr.

“So if you see one [when you’re] in a boat, you definitely don’t want to drive close to it,” Ryan cautions. “But again, they often dissipate quickly, and especially if they ever run aground or move onto land, they dissipate almost immediately.”

1775 The Great Newfoundland Hurricane, N.L., Canada

4,000 number of fatalities, all sailors at sea 30 ft height of the storm surge 2 number of Royal Navy schooners destroyed

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Close, But No Tornado

Raining Fish and Frogs

Funnel clouds aren’t sighted all that often in Newfoundland and Labrador, so when one was seen last August in the St. John’s metro area it caused quite a stir. Shocked residents were snapping and sharing photos of a vertical, swirling mass of clouds over their neighbourhoods.

“Funnel clouds form in severe weather setups, usually in towering cumulus clouds or a cumulonimbus. Like a tornado, a funnel cloud forms in a rotating thunderstorm cell; however, the main difference between funnel clouds and a tornado is when a funnel cloud touches the ground, it becomes a tornado.”

Luckily, they’re not something folks in this province have to worry too much about. “Tornadoes are really rare here,” Ryan says.

In 2010, the Australian Outback experienced fish falling from the sky.

This past summer it rained fish in India. “There were pictures of fish that people had picked up on the sides of the road and whatnot,” says Ryan. “Thankfully I’ve never had a chance to forecast non-aqueous rain.

I mean, the raining of fish or frogs or animals that can’t fly is mind bending almost, isn’t it?”

Non-aqueous rain might be the most bizarre weather phenomenon you’ll ever experience. Scientists aren’t even sure about the cause.

“The leading theory is that it’s caused by an intense thunderstorm updraft, or most likely a tornado, [which] is that one weather event that actually is known to pick things up in one area and drop them in another.”

1900

1954

Galveston Hurricane, T.X., United States*

Hurricane Hazel, O.N., Canada

12,000 number of fatalities 4 category of hurricane

4,000 number of families left homeless

*considered the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history

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81 number of fatalities $1 billion cost of damages (con-

sidering inflation)

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Pelleted

by Ice

The Ice Fog Cometh

Weather can sometimes wreak havoc on summer baseball games, usually causing a rain delay. But there was one time that Philadelphia Phillies baseball player Jesse Biddle actually had to miss a game due to a headache after being brained in the melon by ice pellets.

And if you’ve survived a winter in Newfoundland and Labrador, you’ve experienced the sting of those little chips of ice as Mother Nature flings them at your exposed cheeks at 70 km/h or so.

“Some people say ‘oh, it’s hailing,’ but ice pellets [are] basically snowflakes which fall through a warm layer in the middle of the atmosphere,” Ryan says. “So the snowflake comes out of a cold layer, goes into a warmer layer above zero, and then falls back into a freezing layer and has time to refreeze into a little ball of ice before it hits the surface.”

Last November, Pilis, Hungary experienced just how powerful ice fog can be. What forecasters thought to be regular fog turned out to be something, well, extra special. As the fog enveloped the forested hills, it encased the landscape in ice.

To get ice fog, the temperature has to be below -10°C. Ryan says ice fog is made up of ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. “So it’s like fog, it looks like fog, but it’s actually ice crystals,” he explains.

That’s not the same as freezing fog, which starts out as water and only becomes ice when it hits a very cold surface. Ryan explains, “Whereas freezing fog is actually super cooled liquid water droplets, so it is fog, which can actually occur between temperatures of zero and -10°C, and it’s these water droplets that are super-cooled but are still water. And only when they contact a certain surface below zero, like your windshield or a fence or a tree or whatever, that they actually turn to a thin film of ice.”

1970

1975

Bhola cyclone, Bangladesh*

Super Typhoon Nina, China

500,000 number of fatalities 30 ft height of the storm surge 205 km/h top wind speed

229,000 number of fatalities 42 inches of rainfall in 24 hours 61 number of small dams that broke

due to rainfall

*deadliest tropical cyclone on record

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Super Cool Clouds It’s not often that you’ll see noctilucent clouds, though they were recently spotted in Scotland’s Northern Isles.

They look sort of like candy floss that’s been stretched gossamer-thin.

“I really love these clouds, mainly because they’re so rare,” Ryan says. So rare, he’s only seen noctilucent clouds once before, while on the mainland. They’re “made up of extremely small ice crystals, just 1/10,000th of a millimeter. So very, very, very tiny and they’re way up in the atmosphere, just below the mesopause. So that’s about 80 km aloft, so way up there,” he says. The temperature in the upper atmosphere has to be below -123°C for these clouds to form.

“The best chance to see them is in clear conditions when you can see up that far into the atmosphere, at sunrise or sunset when the sunrays kind of reflect off those ice crystals. And they often appear kind of colourless or a bluish-white appearance.”

Ryan adds, “And they’re very, very cool looking.”

2003

2006

Hurricane Juan, N.S., Canada

Tropical storm Chantal, N.L., Canada

8 number of fatalities 100 million number of trees

$25 million approximate cost of

uprooted

185 km/h top wind speed 300,000 number of homes cut off

damages

12 number of hours it took for 200 mm of rain to fall in Argentia (source: Environment Canada)

from electricity

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Volcano with Attitude “Imagine an erupting volcano, it’s one of the most fierce things on the planet,” Ryan says. “During an erupting volcano, hundreds and thousands of pieces of earth are spewing out and colliding into each other. These pieces bumping into each other create an electrical charge which builds and builds until it becomes unsupportable and lightning flashes through the cloud to neutralize it.” Meteorologists call that a dirty thunderstorm.

“So it’s not unlike if you were rubbing your feet on a carpet back and forth and then touched the person beside you. You’re neutralizing yourself. A very cool phenomenon, for sure.”

One of the best places on earth to see a dirty thunderstorm is Japan’s Sakurajima volcano. While the phenomenon is rare elsewhere, this volcano spews out lightning on a regular basis. And it makes for quite the frightening sight.

2008

2010

Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar

Hurricane Igor, N.L., Canada

215 km/h top wind speed 140,000 number of fatalities 700,000 number of homes

250 km/h top wind speed 1 number of fatalities 200 millimetres of rainfall $200 million cost of damages

destroyed

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Great Balls of Fire

St. Elmo’s Fire

For decades a mystery on Bell Island, Newfoundland has gone unsolved.

Theories from government experiments to the supernatural have abounded about what electrocuted livestock and burned out appliances one strange day in 1978. Eyewitness descriptions of a loud explosion or “boom” and floating balls of fire point to possible ball lightning – something that until recently wasn’t considered a real thing.

“I didn’t know for decades that scientists considered it an urban legend.

It’s only recently that it was caught on video, in fact, a couple of years back,” Ryan says. “It appears as a glowing orb, it ranged from the size of a golf ball to a grapefruit. It has been reported as a few metres wide in some of the largest cases. There’s actually still no proven scientific explanation for ball lightning, which makes it even more fascinating, I think.”

It might look like blue flames, but it’s not fire. It’s been known to appear as a hazy glow in cockpits, at the tips of aircrafts and on the mast of ships during thunderstorms. St. Elmo’s Fire is “generated the same way that lightning is in a thunderstorm.

There’s a charge difference between the clouds and the ground. St. Elmo’s Fire needs a very large difference between the air and the charged object, like the mast of a ship,” Ryan says. “When the object discharges its built-up energy, air molecules rip apart, the gas begins to glow and emit light; and with St. Elmo’s Fire that discharge can last several minutes, creating a constant glow.”

Though St. Elmo’s Fire is plasma, it’s the type of gas that determines what colour St. Elmo’s Fire will be. Nitrogen and oxygen produce a blue and violet glow.

In the past, witnessing it was considered a bad omen, but sailors traditionally saw it as a sign of good luck.

2011

2012

Hurricane Irene (affecting U.S., Q.C., N.B., N.S., N.L.)

Hurricane ("Superstorm") Sandy, Caribbean, Eastern U.S. and Eastern Canada

$130 million cost in damages 40 number of Americans killed 1 number of Canadians killed 150 mm highest rainfall during the

hurricane, recorded in Quebec

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233 number of fatalities $68 billion cost of damages 24 number of U.S. states affected 8 countries in its path September 2015

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features

By the Bennett Family:

Gerald Bennett, Loretta Bennett, Anna (Bennett) Kennedy, Madonna (Bennett) Crane We grew up on Bell Island, in Newfoundland’s Conception Bay. Our father, Gordon O.F. Bennett, was a descendant of John Bennett, one of the earliest settlers of the island. Our mother, Florence Mary Bennett (nee Jones), who grew up on “The Green,” was of Welsh and Irish ancestry.

When the last of the Wabana mines closed in 1966, our parents left their home on Bell Island and moved to Georgetown, Ontario, where Dad had already arranged for work at a steel fabricating plant. Our mother soon found her retail experience and sewing skills were appreciated at a local dry-goods store.

But they both loved “the water” and they loved jigging for the fish that swam in it. So in 1971, they returned home to settle in a nice bungalow on Red Bridge Road in Kelligrews, Conception Bay South. Dad found work as a watchman at the Trades School in Kelligrews.

The Big Fish Tale Our family has heard this story many times. The following is my mother’s version. Dad’s story differs only in the sequence of events, the size of the individual fish and, of course, who caught the bigger one.

Our sister Loretta remembers being told that it was an unusually warm and calm November morning in 1977, when Mom and Dad set out to jig a fish or two off Kelly’s Island in the little boat Dad had built, guided by plans in Mechanix Illustrated.

No doubt after moving around to several locations, hoping for more fruitful fishing grounds, our mother called to our father, “Gord! I think I’m grounded,” meaning her jigger had hooked something on the bottom. Our father took Mom’s line and soon replied, “If that’s ground, then the ground’s coming up.”

Soon, with Dad’s help, Mom had a monster fish in the boat.

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Gordon and Florence Bennett with their big fish – who caught the biggest one was always up for debate. Photo courtesy of Gerald Bennett

But it was only a few minutes later that our father called out, “Florrie, I believe I have the bottom, too!”

“It better not be bigger than mine,” she retorted.

There were soon two big fish in the boat. At 73 and 69 pounds, these were fine fish by any Newfoundland standards. Of course, they both laid claim to the larger of the two massive cod.

At that time our sister Anna was working at the Janeway Hospital in St. John’s. She remembers being at work and receiving a frantic call from our mother to “Come up, come up!” (to Kelligrews). But Mom refused to say why. During the roughly 30-minute drive from the Janeway, Anna wondered what the excitement was about. Judging from Mom’s excitement and the fact that Mom had never before called her at www.downhomelife.com

work, doubled with the fact that the family often went in on Lotto tickets together, Anna thought “We must have won the lottery!”

Mom very excitedly told Anna the story when she got home. We have often wondered if Mom would rather haul in a big pot in Auction 120, Lotto, or that big fish?

It was only a few years later, when the talk of declining cod stocks hit the news, that Mom was often heard to say, “I believe we may have caught the breeder that day.” She may not have been far off – some fisheries scientists now believe that it is the large, old female cod that produce the preponderance of fertile eggs.

As the years advanced, Mom and Dad returned to Georgetown, O.N. where they now lie under a stone that says simply: “Gone Fishing.”

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features

First Fish

“My uncle took me out in boat to attempt my very first cod fishing trip.

As soon as we casted our lines into the deep ocean we were pulling them up! This was my first ‘big one’ – on my first try!”

Jessica Turner Calgary, AB

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High Five!

“It took me a couple of hours to get them while getting beaten to death by the waves, but it was a great day and well worth it. I love the recreational cod fishery!”

Matthew Young NL

The Ones that Didn’t Get Away

The submitter enjoyed a successful day of fishing with friends in Butter Cove, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland.

Paula Price Corner Brook, NL

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The Big One

This monstrous cod tipped the scales at 37 lbs and measured 43 inches.

Ruby Roberts Twillingate, NL

Conception Bay Beast

Judging by the size of this catch, Don Arnott is going to be eating codfish for a long, long time.

Jennifer Hiscock CBS, NL

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Fish For Dinner

Kayla Petten (left) of Bareneed and Kathryn Mercer of South River caught these beauties off Port de Grave, Newfoundland.

Linda Mercer South River, NL

Good Start to the Season

This was Kevin Wall’s very first catch during this year’s food fishery.

Raelene Wall Via Facebook

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sureSHOTS

Featuring photographer Lyndsey Murray-Nybom

For this new bride,

the honeymoon was the start of a new love affair – with Newfoundland and Labrador. Two years ago, Lyndsey Murray-Nybom and her fiancé, with their eight-year-old daughter as a witness, were married aboard Marine Atlantic’s MV Atlantic Vision just before it left port in North Sydney, Nova Scotia to cross the Gulf to Port aux Basques. They enjoyed their first time on the island of Newfoundland so much they returned to cover more of it this past spring.

“Newfoundland is my new favourite subject [to shoot] and there are still many other places I need to cover there on my photo map!” she enthuses.

Wildlife and scenery are Lyndsey’s favourite subjects, and they are plentiful in Newfoundland. “I love the backgrounds (not staged) and just how raw and unedited scenes and situations can make great shots,” she says.

Lyndsey took more than 3,500 photos during her most recent visit. One of them tells the story of how Lyndsey “got her moose.” Lyndsey and her husband and daughter were hiking a coastal trail in Gros Morne National Park. “Not too far in, as we were stumbling around the big rocks along the shoreline, my husband turned to show us an old worn out fisherman’s buoy he’d picked up on his walking stick. [Instead] with a stunned look on his face, he said there were two huge moose headed in our direction,” says Lyndsey. While trying to remain calm and keep her balance on the suddenly precarious rocks, Lyndsey tried in vain to get a good photo. The moose were getting closer, seemingly headed for the river behind them, the one that led back to the family van. Lyndsey and her family backtracked slowly upriver until they were safely inside the van. From there they staked out the river, waiting and hoping for the moose to appear.

“Our persistence paid off, as one of the moose eventually came out of the bush after an hour of us waiting,” says Lyndsey. “The moose popped out of the river gully right in front of our van and started running for the bush – this time I was ready for him!” (See photo on page 85.)

Lyndsey gets lots of practice stalking wildlife in the backyard of her Odessa, Ontario home as well. “We live in a country setting, so I have my feeders for my birds outside, and my husband has created so many lovely gardens for hummingbirds and butterflies,” she says.

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Photography is something Lyndsey recalls enjoying as a teen, but she put the hobby aside when she went to college. About nine years ago, her husband bought her a Kodak digital camera and her passion was reignited.

Now she doesn’t go far without her Canon Powershot SX50 HS and Canon Rebel EOS T5.

In addition to capturing beauty and cataloguing memories, Lyndsey is grateful for her photography because it helps her contribute to good causes. She donates her photos to silent auctions that raise money for charity. “What a great feeling in knowing someone wants to bid on your photos and the money raised goes to something that you love,” she says.

Lyndsey and her family are already planning their next visit to Newfoundland and Labrador. They’ll be arriving in the fall of 2016, when Lyndsey will no doubt find thousands more ways to see the province through her lens.

Are you an amateur photographer with a great portfolio?

Would you like to be featured in an edition of Sure Shots?

Tell us a bit about yourself and send us a few sample photos by emailing editorial@downhomelife.com (subject: sure shots). www.downhomelife.com

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wha t’s on the

Go

Digby, NS September 2-6

Avid motorcyclists won’t want to miss the country’s largest multi-day motorcycle rally, the Wharf Rat Rally.

There will be incredible stunts, motorcycle parades, an armwrestling competition and tons of lives music.

Plus, folks will have the opportunity to meet two actors from the hit TV series “Sons of Anarchy” – Kim Coates (Tig) and Theo Rossi (Juice).

Kim Coates

Springdale, NL September 10-12

Head to the town’s stadium complex for the annual Springdale Craft and Trade Show. With about 60 exhibitors displaying everything from jewellery to artwork, quilts, foodstuffs and much more, there’s truly something for everyone.

Gander, NL September 11-13

ATV enthusiasts, start your engines!

Newfoundland’s premiere ATV extravaganza, Quad-a-Palooza, is back again this year. Experience awesome trail rides, join an ATV parade through the streets of Gander and get dirty during Muddin’ Mayhem – a messy course that promises a ton of fun. Weekend packages ($299 + tax per couple) available.Visit www.destinationgander.com for package details.

Heart’s Content, NL September 8

Join radio operators at the Heart’s Content Cable Station for Get Connected, an event celebrating the retrieval and landing of the first transatlantic cable in the town back in 1866. During the event, witness amateur radio operators as they contact cable stations around the world from the historic site.

Quad-a-Palooza photo

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Fredericton, NB September 15-20

Each year hundreds of musicians converge in Fredericton for the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. Hear from the likes of Colin James, Matt Andersen, Matt Mays, Charlie A’Court, Matt Minglewood and many others.

Victoria, PEI September 11-18

Newfoundland and Labrador’s own comedienne Cathy Jones is bringing her brand of hilarity to the Victoria Playhouse with her one-woman show, “Stranger to Hard Work.” In a funny, thought-provoking way, Jones shares her unique perspective on everything from food to money and the troublesome people in her life.

Marystown & Carbonear, NL September 11-19

This month Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers are bringing their wacky antics and hilarious tunes to St. Gabriels Hall in Marystown (September 11 & 12), and the Princess Sheila NaGeira Theatre in Carbonear (September 15-19).

Lewisporte, NL September 17-19

The 19th annual Lewisporte Craft and Trade Show will fill the Lewisporte Stadium with more than 70 exhibitors selling a huge variety of unique items.

Shoppers will find handmade crafts, woodworking, jewellery, artwork, recreational equipment and much more. Door prizes include a $500 show voucher and awesome gift packages. And during the Armstrong & Quaille Mad Dash for the Cash, one lucky participant could walk away with up to $620!

Corner Brook, NL September 19

The 15th annual Fall Craft and Gift Expo happens at the Pepsi Centre, with 50 exhibitors showing off a wide variety of products.You’ll find everything from artwork to food, clothing and jewellery. It promises to be a great time for your kids as well, with free treats and a fall craft project to complete.

St. John’s, NL September 27

No need to hop on a plane or catch the ferry to witness an NHL game, because this fall IceCaps Entertainment is hosting an NHL Exhibition game at Mile One Centre. Don’t miss the Ottawa Senators facing off against the Carolina Hurricanes during this incredible evening of hockey. www.downhomelife.com

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Culture meets cuisine at Elliston’s fall food festival Story and photos by Dennis Flynn

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Wearing

mud-splattered cargo pants and a T-shirt adorned with twigs, grass and God only knows what else after an afternoon spent lying on the ground photographing puffins in Elliston, Newfoundland, they spot me. The American tourists stop their vehicle and wait until I’m within hailing distance as I make my way up the grassy slope, camera in dirty hands. They’re either shocked by the state of me, or looking for directions, I think to myself.

Turns out, it’s neither. They are not lost, just curious about all the “sod-covered bunkers,” as they call them, embedded in the banks in people’s backyards. Perhaps they are some kind of personal bomb shelters leftover from a long ago conflict, they wonder aloud. I chuckle on the inside and, with as much diplomacy as I can muster, I reply, “You can relax, ma’am. The only thing we are guarding here are potatoes.”

That was more than a decade ago and we all laughed when I explained that they had wandered into scenic Elliston, the Root Cellar Capital of the World, where these structures preserved vegetables in the days before electricity.

These days Elliston has evolved into a renowned culinary destination, attracting thousands to its annual Roots, Rants and Roars festival. I myself have sat on the grass overlooking the ocean, sampling delicious food as musicians perform alongside age-old root cellars. It makes for an unforgettable feast of sights, sounds, smells and tastes.

This year’s festival is scheduled for September 18-20, and I recently checked in with Chris Sheppard – a chef, college instructor and one of the event’s organizers – to find out what they have in store.

“Roots, Rants and Roars is a food festival that celebrates local Newfoundland and Labrador food, and our culture, and the beauty of the landscape,” says Chris. “We have five chefs

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Some highlights from last year’s festival that come in from all over the country and they host our five-kilometre Food Hike on Saturday afternoon, which goes around the beautiful coastline of Elliston with stops at stations every kilometre or so to sample great cuisine.”

Roots, Rants and Roars also makes great use of the province’s local culinary talent – including the friendly folks from Elliston. The residents themselves will be preparing a huge selection of desserts to be served up in the local park on Saturday.

“We also have very well-known local chefs who put off two great events for us, namely the Cod Wars on Friday night – where they all compete to be named the champion – and a new event called The Feast on Saturday night.

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under the big tents in Elliston Municipal Park with a family-style service, where each chef does a different course. Platters of food are served and shared,” says Chris. This event went over particularly well last September, he adds.

“People loved the concept. They sat down with strangers and talked and left as friends…So that is wonderful, when we hear stories of new connections and friendships developing as a result of sharing a great meal,” Chris says.

More than food to sink your teeth into What’s a meal without a little mood music? Past events have benefitted from performances by some of Newfoundland and Labrador’s finest musicians including The Navigators, Amelia Curran, Jim Payne, Fergus O’Byrne, Séan McCann, Craig Young and others. This year’s event promises to have the same top notch talent that festival goers expect.

Joining the festival for the first time this year is Newfoundland and Labrador visual artist, Bobbi Pike. She will be adding to the festivities in a unique way.

“I am very excited to be joining the

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chefs on the food hike for the 2015 Roots, Rants and Roars event. We will be working on site at one of the chef hike sites, where we will invite each and every guest to become a part of Roots, Rants and Roars history – by adding their own mark to a piece of Bobbi Pike art,” says Bobbi. That’s right. Bobbi will have a large painting of the Elliston landscape on display and the public are welcome to come up and add their own little touch to it.

“This piece of interactive, crowd-produced art will be auctioned off at the end of the festival to one lucky bidder, with all funds going back to support the Roots, Rants and Roars Festival.”

While festival patrons reluctantly leave the town of Elliston with smiling faces and satisfied bellies, Chris says the come-from-away chefs leave absolutely shocked and awed – in the best of ways.

“They are blown away by what they are seeing and where they are cooking.

Their backdrop is the ocean and the cliffs,” says Chris. “This is the real, rural coastline of the province that if you stay in the cities you may not get a chance to see.”

For a detailed schedule of events, visit rootsrantsandroars.ca.

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y wouldn’t in the fall. And wh ns tio ca va eir th ke rvesting, food True foodies ta rms ripe for the ha fa d an ds ar ch or they? With al fare this time of ed the freshest loc te an ar g gu e ar os aficionad da small towns, bi mn in Atlantic Cana tu au ch ea s, , tie ily ck un year. Lu rate their bo re in between celeb , cities and everywhe ng ways. This year sti re te e, fun and in iqu un nin ho up als it g tiv in fes offer petites to s can bring their ap an . di ies na rr Ca be ge tic id lan At c to partr from apples to garli ouring everything

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Sausage Fest

/ Nova Scotia /

If meat served in tube form is your thing, then don’t miss Halifax Sausage Fest, happening September 19-27. During Sausage O the Night and Sausage Throwdown 2015, you get to be the judge and help decide which restaurant serves up the best sausages.

Plus, join in the Downtown Halifax Sausage Crawl – a tour of (you guessed it) succulent sausages – as well as the official beers of Sausage Fest.

Riley Smith photo

Fall Flavours / Prince Edward Island /

Folks can enjoy culinary adventures throughout Prince Edward Island during the province’s month-long celebration of food. Fall Flavours takes place September 4 – October 4 and includes events like Lobster Party on the Beach and the Taste of New Glasgow. Each year thousands turn out to witness celebrity chefs like Lynn Crawford, Michael Smith and Anna Olson at work.

©Tourism PEI / Yvonne Duivenvoorden

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Beatrice Schuler Photography

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Heritage Blueberry Festival / Nova Scotia /

The Heritage Blueberry Festival in Maplewood, Nova Scotia is on Sept. 12 (12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.) at the Parkdale-Maplewood Community Grounds. Be sure to come hungry because the menu’s packed with hearty food – including Lunenburg sausage, sauerkraut, pudding, Solomon Gundy and smeltz potato. If you have room, there’ll be blueberry pie and blueberry grunt with ice cream for dessert. Admission is $15 for adults and $8 for children.

Kids under 5 get in for free.

Bridgetown Ciderfest / Nova Scotia / The 32nd annual Bridgetown Ciderfest celebrates the apple harvest in Nova Scotia’s gorgeous Annapolis Valley. September 9-13, check out a smorgasbord of events – from the rubber duck race to the cardboard boat regatta, pie eating contest, apple orchard tours and plenty of chances to eat your fill.

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PEI International Shellfish Festival / Prince Edward Island / The Prince Edward Island International Shellfish Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, September 18-20, at the Charlottetown Event Grounds. Much-anticipated events include the PEI Potato Chowder Championship and the trivia game Who Wants to be an Islander, hosted by Rob Barry.

Celebrity chefs Lynn Crawford and Ricardo will be on hand to demonstrate how to cook shellfish. Plus, don’t miss your chance to face off against a world record oyster shucker – you could walk away with $2,000.

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Avondale Garlic Festival / Nova Scotia / The Avondale Sky Winery hosts its Garlic Festival on September 19 (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.). Besides learning just about everything there is to know about garlic – from how to cook with it to planting it, curing it and storing it – festival goers may also peruse a selection of fine art, enjoy live music and sample wine.

Admission is $2.

Leona Nielsen-Hennebury photo

Rhoda Oldford photo

Eastport Peninsula Agricultural Exhibition / Newfoundland and Labrador / First held in 1937, the Eastport Peninsula Agricultural Exhibition is a timehonoured tradition in Newfoundland and Labrador. This year it runs October 8-12 and, as usual, there will be a wide variety of events for all ages. Check out the pet show, craft fair, cooking demonstrations and the garden party – including a pumpkin-carving contest. Plus sit back, relax and enjoy a dinner theatre performed by The Eastpen Players.

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Humber Valley Agricultural Fall Fair / Newfoundland and Labrador / Head to the Hodder Memorial Recreation Complex for the 47th Humber Valley Agricultural Fall Fair in Deer Lake, taking place September 18-19. Check out the pie and farmers’ auctions, as well as a dairy show. Children will be kept busy at the petting farm, and competing in a potato sack race and bubble gum blowing contest. Plus, vendors will be around selling delicious goods.

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Tunarama Festival

Roadkill Cook-Off

Every year in Australia people line up to participate in the World Champion Tuna Toss to see how far they can throw a fake tuna fish.

Participants submit their “road kill” inspired dishes, featuring ingredients like squirrel, groundhog, deer and porcupine. Despite the name, the animals used in this West Virginia event aren’t actually scraped off the highway.

Chinchilla Melon Festival Every two years, the “Melon Capital of Australia” holds the Chinchilla Melon Festival. The main event involves contestants shoving their feet into melons and skiing down a path.

La Tomatina Annually in Buñol, Spain, hordes of people gather to hurl tomatoes at one another in a messy, squishy rumble.

Drawing crowds of up to 45,000, it might just be the world’s biggest food fight.

Bugfest Those who aren’t squeamish may want to sample the fare at Bugfest, hosted by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Foods served generally star some creepy, crawly ingredient.

Worm quesadillas or cricket ice cream, anybody?

Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes) Similar to carving pumpkins at Halloween, people in Oaxaca, Mexico carve radishes at Christmastime, upholding a 16th-century tradition.

Ivrea Orange Festival Each year the people of Ivrea, Italy celebrate the town’s freedom by hurling oranges at one another. By the end, the place is practically beaten to a pulp.

Carnival at Vilanova i La Geltrú Every year on Fat Tuesday the bakeries of Vilanova i La Geltrú, Spain provide kids with ammunition for the Meringue Wars – and later that day, folks begin tossing around candy of all types. The end of this super-sweet festival marks the beginning of Lent.

Coopers Hill Cheese Rolling Participants race a 9-lb wheel of cheese down a hill in the English countryside. The first person to cross the finish line wins – what else? – the cheese!

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Els Enfarinats Each December 28, the town of Ibi, Spain, plays host to a staged invasion of rebels. The invaders demand taxes and throw eggs and flour at anyone who resists.

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Fogo Island Partridgeberry Harvest Festival / Newfoundland and Labrador / Hop aboard the ferry and celebrate Thanksgiving weekend at the Fogo Island Partridgeberry Harvest Festival (October 10-11). Watch the Outport Square Dancers kick up their heels, let your young ones try their hand at boat building, and peruse the work of local artists and crafters. Of course, there will also be food aplenty – so be sure to come hungry for jam and baked goods.

Indulge / New Brunswick / Scenic St. Andrews is the setting for Indulge 2015, New Brunswick’s food and wine festival (happening October 16-18). You can show off your culinary skills during the pie-baking contest – or display your eating skills during the pie-eating contest. Treat yourself to one of the festival’s main events, the Harvest Feast: a five-course meal in gorgeous Kingsbrae Garden. And on the festival’s final day, bring the whole family for a hike up Chamcook Mountain in support of the food bank (be sure to bring canned goods to donate, and watch out for surprise treats along the way).

Lauren Tidd photo

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life is better Paddling around Little Bay Islands Daniel Rumbolt, NL

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food & leisure everyday gourmet

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Lemon Tart with

Blueberry Compote

the everyday gourmet

By Andrea Maunder

Andrea Maunder, locovore, wine expert and pastry chef, is the owner and creative force behind Bacalao, a St. John's restaurant specializing in "nouvelle Newfoundland" cuisine. www.bacalaocuisine.ca

www.downhomelife.com

This summer in Newfoundland

was less than ideal for berries, but if you managed to get out and pick some blueberries, I have a wonderful recipe to help you celebrate your harvest. I frequently pair blueberries with lemon. Since blueberries are so sweet and low in acid, they can be a little bland in baked goods; the lemon provides a fragrance and acidity, enhancing them without masking their lovely, jammy flavour.

In this month’s recipe, the blueberries will become a compote to accompany a tangy lemon tart. The tart recipe is one of my favourites – mainly because I love tangy-sweet lemon desserts, but even more so because the crust is forgiving (even for a novice baker), the lemon filling is simply mixed and poured in (rather than having to make a lemon curd, which involves a water bath), and the crust and filling are baked together (rather than having to bake and cool the crust separately). It’s gorgeous on its own, but when you add wild Newfoundland blueberries, it becomes spectacular.

Another bonus: this recipe can make one large 12" tart or a dozen individual 4" tarts.

Alternatively, it can be baked in a 9" x 13" lasagna-type pan and cut into bars. Whichever you choose to make, you can be sure it will be met with oohs and aahs, as people taste the tender crust, tangy lemon and sweet blueberry compote together. But don’t divulge how easy it was…just accept the praise.

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Blueberry Compote 2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (or 2 cups frozen, thawed – if there is more than 1/4 cup of juice, drain off remainder and set aside) 1/3 – 1/2 cup sugar

Zest of 1 lemon, finely grated Juice of 1 lemon Pinch salt 2 tbsp cornstarch 2-3 tbsp water

Simmer berries (with the juice) with 1/3 cup sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice and salt in a medium pot over medium-high heat, until the berries burst and it looks saucy – about 10 minutes. Taste for sweetness and add extra sugar if necessary. Dissolve cornstarch in water to make a slurry. Stir slurry into bubbling compote and allow to thicken (it takes a couple of minutes) until it reaches the consistency of (lumpy) gravy and appears glossy. If not thick enough, mix up a little additional cornstarch slurry. If too thick, add a little reserved blueberry juice or water. Transfer to a bowl and chill.

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Lemon Tart Crust: 1 cup butter, room temperature (not margarine) 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 tsp good vanilla extract 2 cups flour

Lemon Filling: 3 cups white sugar Pinch salt 1 cup lemon juice 3 tbsp lemon zest 6 large eggs plus two yolks 1 cup white flour

Crust: The presentation is most elegant if you use a 12-inch fluted tart tin; mine have removable bottoms, which are so easy to use. But you can use a springform pan if that’s all you have – just take the crust up the sides about an inch. In a stand mixer, or in a mixing bowl and using a hand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla. Add flour and mix until combined.

Remove from bowl and, on a floured sheet of plastic wrap, pat dough into a disc. With a well-floured rolling pin, roll dough into a circle an inch larger in diameter than your pan. The dough should be about 1/3" thick. Invert the dough into the pan, using the plastic wrap to help, and pat down to fit the bottom and come up the sides. Trim excess. Don’t worry if the pastry breaks – that’s what I meant by “forgiving.” Simply pat it back together. (Or divide the dough into 12 equal-sized pieces for individual tarts, or roll to fit into the 9" x 13" pan, taking the dough up the sides.) Chill crust in the freezer while you make the filling. (Oh, by the way, no need to grease the pans; the pastry is buttery enough not to stick.) Preheat oven to 350°F. Lemon filling: It’s difficult to tell you exactly how many lemons you will need for this recipe. It depends on their size and juiciness. I generally use 6-8 large lemons, and find the zest from 3-4 of them is about 3 tbsp. Be sure to use fresh lemon juice. Zest the lemons first using a microplane or the finest setting on a grater. Then roll the lemons with your palm on the counter to yield more juice before you slice into them.

In a mixing bowl (with a pour spout if you have one), whisk together the sugar, salt, zest and juice. Next, whisk in the eggs and yolks until well incorporated. Whisk in flour until smooth (don’t beat). Pour into chilled crust.

Place baking pan(s) on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake 45-55 minutes, until the crust is golden and the filling is set. (Individual tarts will bake in 25-35 minutes.) It’s fine if there are a few brown flecks in the lemon filling. The point of a fine knife will come out mostly clean when done. Cool to room temperature and remove from pan (if using springform or fluted tart pan). Chill completely. Cut large tart into 12-16 wedges. If making bars, chill in the pan and cut.

Serve topped with a generous spoonful of the cooled blueberry compote and, if you’d like to gild the lily, some whipped cream. www.downhomelife.com

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everyday recipes.ca

Your kids are back to school this month and they say they just can’t take one more year of the same old ham and cheese sandwiches. Pleasantly surprise them and spice things up with any of the following snacks – but be sure to make extra because you’ll want them for lunch, too!

Turkey & Chorizo Sub Sandwich 2 sub rolls, split in half lengthwise 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 8 slices provolone cheese 8 slices turkey breast 32 slices chorizo sausage

1 tomato, thinly sliced 4 leaves romaine lettuce, washed and dried 1 small red onion, sliced thinly 1 bell pepper (any colour), sliced thinly 1/2 cup old cheddar cheese, grated

Mix the Dijon with half the mayonnaise and spread it on both bottom halves of the sub buns. Spread the top halves with plain mayonnaise. Start layering the ingredients on the bread, dividing equally between both subs, in the order listed above, starting with the provolone. It’s best to start and end with cheese, as this helps “glue” the ingredients together if you plan on heating the sub. Yield: 2 servings

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Chicken Finger Wrap 2 (12") flour tortilla wraps 1/4 cup mayonnaise 8 chicken fingers, cooked, cooled and chopped 1 cup lettuce, washed, dried and chopped

1/2 cup tomatoes, small dice 1/2 cup old cheddar cheese, grated 1/2 cup bacon bits (use real ones!)

Divide all the ingredients into two equal amounts. Spread the mayonnaise on the wraps, covering about 3/4 of the surface. Pile the remaining ingredients in the centre of each wrap so that they form a rectangular shape, resembling the shape of the finished product; this will help you roll it.

Tightly roll up the wraps, tucking in the ends as you roll. Yield: 2 servings

intable For pr cards e recip it vis

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French Toast Fingers 4 slices thick-cut Texas toast 2 eggs 1 tbsp dark brown sugar 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 1/2 1/2 1/4

tsp ground nutmeg cup whipping cream cup milk cup butter

Whisk together eggs, sugar and spices. Add the cream and milk. Whisk vigorously to thoroughly combine. Soak the bread in the milk mixture for at least 5 minutes. Melt the butter over medium heat in a large, heavy bottomed skillet. When the butter is hot, add the soaked bread (draining off excess liquid first). Cook until the toast is golden brown on both sides, and the egg mixture inside is cooked completely through. Reduce the heat, if necessary, to ensure the inside is completely cooked without burning the toast. Remove from heat and cool on racks. Once cool, cut into fingers and serve with syrup.

Yield: 2-4 servings

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Tuna Salad Sandwich 1 can tuna, drained well 2 tbsp mayonnaise 2 tsp relish

1 tbsp red onion, minced Salt & pepper 2 English muffins, split and toasted

Combine all ingredients (except English muffins) to make a tuna salad.

Spread equal amounts of tuna salad on two halves of the English muffins. Top with other halves and serve. (If desired, you can add other toppings such as lettuce, tomato or bell peppers). Yield: 2 servings

intable For pr cards e ip rec visit

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Curried Chicken Salad Sandwich 1 chicken breast, baked, cooled and shredded 1 tbsp red onion, minced 3 tbsp mayonnaise 2 tbsp raisins

1/2 tsp curry powder 2 leaves romaine lettuce, washed, dried and chopped 1 tomato, thinly sliced 4 slices bread, toasted

Mix together in a bowl, the chicken, onion, mayonnaise, raisins and curry powder. Allow to chill for about 15 minutes. Arrange the lettuce and tomato on two slices of toast (if you prefer, spread a little extra mayonnaise on these two slices to help “glue� the lettuce to the toast). Divide the curried chicken salad equally between both slices and spread it evenly. Top with remaining toast and serve.

Yield: 2 servings.

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intable For pr cards e recip it vis

Black Bean Dip & Chips 6 (12") flour tortilla wraps 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil Sprinkle of paprika 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 3 tbsp sesame oil

4 tbsp tahini paste 2 tbsp fresh garlic, minced 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 6 tbsp lemon juice Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 325°F. Brush the tortilla wraps lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with a little paprika for colour. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until tortillas are crisp and golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Break them into chip-sized pieces. To make the dip, blend all the remaining ingredients in a food processor until they are smooth. Season to taste. Yield: 4-6 servings

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Calzones 1 (1-lb) pkg frozen bread dough, thawed 1 small can pizza sauce 36 slices chorizo sausage (or pepperoni or salami – choose your favourite)

1 small red onion, small dice 1 yellow pepper, small dice 6 button mushrooms, sliced thinly 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Sprinkle of salt & pepper

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Divide the dough into six equal pieces; roll each portion into a circle that is no more than 1/4" thick. Spread each piece of dough with pizza sauce, keeping it 3/4" from the edges. Divide all the remaining ingredients (except oil, salt & pepper) among the six dough circles. Arrange the fillings over the left half of the circles and fold the right halves over the filling to seal. Use a fork to press the edges together.

They should look like little apple flips. Using a small knife, poke a few holes in the top of the calzones to allow steam to escape. Brush calzones lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake on a parchment-lined sheet pan for 20-30 minutes. The calzones should be golden brown and the bread cooked through. Cool on a rack. (These can be made ahead and frozen until you need them.) Yield: 6 servings

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English Muffin Pizzas 8 English muffins, split and toasted 1 small can pizza sauce (your favourite kind) 80 thin slices chorizo sausage/pepperoni

1 orange pepper, small dice 1 small red onion, small dice 1 small log goat cheese, crumbled

Preheat oven to 325°F. Spread pizza sauce over the 16 English muffin halves. Divide the remaining ingredients between the English muffin halves and layer them as follows: sausage/pepperoni, peppers, onion and cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the sausage is hot and the cheese starts to soften and take on a slightly golden colour. Cool completely on a rack. (These can be made ahead and frozen until you need them.) Yield: 8 servings

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food & Leisure stuff about

The honey cart (or jelly cart) arriving in St. John’s neighbourhoods used to bring folks out of their homes to greet it.

Nothing like the ice cream truck, though – the honey cart was there to collect human waste before the days of indoor plumbing!

Honey Wilma Flintstone, cartoon wife of Fred Flintstone, was fashioned after the character of Alice Kramden, quick-witted wife of short-tempered Ralph Kramden in the classic TV show “The Honeymooners.”

Honey badgers (they love honey and just about anything edible) have a reputation as ferocious predators. In 2007, rumours abounded of “man-eating badgers” in an area of Iraq, and locals blamed the occupying British forces for releasing the aggressive beasts. (They, of course, denied this and local veterinarians confirmed that honey badgers had been there all along.)

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The Honibe Honey Drop, a lozenge made of pure dried honey produced by Island Abbey Foods of P.E.I., was named the world’s best new food product in 2010. You could say the taste is out of this world – Commander Chris Hadfield enjoyed them during his stint on the International Space Station.

Children should not eat honey before their first birthday. Honey contains bacteria known to cause infantile botulism, a poison that affects the ability to move, eat and breathe. The immune systems of older kids and adults are able to pass these spores safely through their bodies.

Honeymoon Bridge in Niagara Falls was the largest steel arch bridge in the world when it was built in 1897. It was destroyed in 1938, when a winter storm sent tons of ice over the falls, crushing the base of the bridge and toppling it. It was replaced in the 1940s by Rainbow Bridge.

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food & leisure meet the crafter

Molly Made

By Ashley colombe

For this Woody Point, Newfoundland native, rug hooking is a way of life.

Molly White of Woody Point, Newfoundland wasn’t born with knitting needles in her hands – but she was pretty close.

“I’ve been knitting since I can’t remember,” says Molly. “Mom says I was around four or five when I took an interest in knitting and crocheting, watching her.”

As she got older, Molly’s artistic pursuits grew and evolved with her. In addition to knitting and crocheting, she also mastered embroidery, weaving and felting – and studied visual arts and dressmaking/tailoring at the Bay St. George Community College in Stephenville (now College of the North Atlantic).

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Molly’s rugs often depict the rural, coastal scenery that surrounds her.

Then back in 2000, an opportunity came up for Molly to try her hand at a craft she’d never practised before: rug hooking. She enrolled in a beginner class and says she took to it from the start.

“It’s like someone that can cook can cook, and people that can’t cook can’t cook – and I’m one of the ones that can’t cook,” says Molly, laughing. “But textiles, it just seems like it comes natural.”

Originally a practical pastime in Newfoundland and Labrador, years ago women made the cosy mats – using recycled scraps of material – to cover their cold, bare floors.

Despite its long history, growing up Molly says she never witnessed anyone in her family practising the craft. “It skipped my mother’s generation,” says Molly. “With my mother’s generation the cushion floor came into their lives, so they didn’t need the mats to cover the floors anymore.” www.downhomelife.com

In recent decades, Molly and many other local artists have revived the craft by turning it into an art form that typically adorns walls rather than floors.

Despite how the rugs’ function may have changed over the years, the process is still very much the same as it was generations ago.

Typically, hooking a rug involves drawing a design onto a backing (usually burlap, rug warp or linen) and filling it in using the material of your choice: strips of wool fabric, Tshirt scraps, pantyhose – whatever’s available. “Just go down with your hook and pull up loops, so loops is what forms your pattern,” explains Molly. Having mastered the skill, Molly now enjoys mixing mediums. In a single rug, for instance, Molly often incorporates embroidery stitches alongside the traditional hooking technique, producing a truly dynamic piece of art.

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Above: Molly turned her garage into an art studio in 2006.

Right: Row houses stand out against a seascape in this vibrant Molly Made hooked rug.

Opposite: More of Molly Made’s artful designs.

Crafty Career Molly says she always knew she would eventually turn her creative ways into a business, and about a decade ago she finally decided to follow her dream.

“In 2006, I was working at a local restaurant and decided that wasn’t what I wanted to do anymore,” says Molly. “So I came home to my husband one day and I said, ‘I think we’re going to take the garage and build it into a studio…so that’s what we did.”

It’s a leap of faith Molly is still so grateful she took. The Molly Made Fibre Art Studio has since expanded again and includes a craft shop where she sells her own work, as 116

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well as that of other artists.

“It’s just a pleasure to get up and create all day long. I’m very fortunate, very pleased, to have the business I have,” she says.

And it’s a pleasure she’s passing onto others. In addition to selling finished rugs, Molly and her husband, Austin (also a talented rug hooker), create and sell rug-hooking kits suitable for beginners. Each one contains a pattern plus all the tools and materials needed to hook a rug.

Lucky for Molly, there’s a widespread market for her kits. They’re sold at various retail locations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, across Canada and even in the United States. While she creates 1-888-588-6353

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some kit patterns specifically to appeal to consumers outside the province, she says across the board her biggest sellers are still triedand-true Newfoundland images: the saltbox house and the clothesline.

She says that doesn’t surprise her.

“People know about Newfoundland and our traditions,” she says.

Aside from just plain enjoying her job, Molly says it also feels good to help keep this part of the province’s culture alive. To that end, while she doesn’t have a set schedule, Molly offers classes and workshops in rug hooking to anyone who wishes to learn the craft. And folks are also welcome to drop by the studio in Woody Point to watch her and Austin at work. If you do visit, be sure to admire her finished rugs while you’re there – because one thing’s for sure: if it’s Molly Made, it’s beautifully made.

www.downhomelife.com

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food & leisure down to earth

How to best reap what you have sown

By Ross Traverse

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The satisfaction of planting and maintaining your food garden comes at harvest time. When that is depends on several factors, including the type of vegetable grown and the growing season.

It’s important to know how and when your crops can be harvested.

The first frost warning in the fall is also a signal to harvest crops that will be damaged or destroyed by freezing. Root crops can survive a light frost early in the fall, but vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers will be damaged unless they are harvested or protected from freezing. Certain crops, such as broccoli, cauliflower and green beans, have the best flavour and texture when they are harvested before they completely mature. Many herbs can be used all season long, harvested as you need them. Others, like summer savoury, are most flavourful when harvested all at once and dried.

Even the time of day can be important: the best time to harvest most leafy vegetables is early in the morning because they will be crispier than if they were taken up later in the day.

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Rhubarb Rhubarb is a very versatile perennial plant that produces succulent, edible stems very early in the season. Rhubarb growing in the garden can be forced earlier by covering with a plastic tent or bucket. The stems from the crown of the plant should be twisted slightly and pulled out rather than cut off because you get more stem that way and there is nothing left to rot on the plant. If you have extra rhubarb you can easily freeze it without blanching. Rhubarb relish is a classic in many Newfoundland and Labrador households. And rhubarb jam, cakes and pies make delicious desserts. Even rhubarb juice makes a refreshing summertime drink.

Lettuce Head lettuce is best left to grow into firm heads, but harvested before the centre starts to bolt (produce a seed

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stock). It should be cooled down immediately and stored in the vegetable section of the refrigerator.

Leaf lettuce can be harvested all season long, though later on it is not as tender. It is best to plant lettuce two or three times during the growing season, so that you always have the best quality lettuce. Bibb or butterhead lettuce is best grown to produce a soft head and then harvest it all at once.

Swiss Chard Swiss chard is one of those leafy vegetables that can be harvested continuously from early summer until frost in the fall. The outer leaves can be removed or the top of the plant can be cut and allowed to grow new leaves again. The entire Swiss chard plant can be cut, blanched and frozen just before the first frost.

Spinach Spinach has a tendency to bolt during the middle of the summer, so it is best to plant the seed early in the spring for a crop around June. Seed can also be sown in August for a fall crop. You can break off the outer leaves or harvest the entire plant at once. Like all greens, spinach can be blanched and frozen.

inside the pod should be only onefourth its natural size because if the beans are left to mature, the pods will become tough. Most varieties will give you a continuous harvest for several weeks. Pick the beans early in the morning and cool them down to store in the refrigerator if you’re not using them right away.

Dill pickled beans are a real treat.

Broccoli Broccoli heads are actually the immature flower stalk of the plant that is a member of the cabbage family. The supermarket variety is not nearly as tender as the one growing in your own garden that you can harvest when the heads are small and compact; if you wait too long the flower heads will open up and produce yellow flowers. After you cut out the terminal head, smaller sized heads will develop off the main stem of the plant. It can be continuously harvested until a hard frost. Broccoli is best used fresh from the garden. It can last several weeks after cutting if it is cooled down right away in ice water and then put in the refrigerator. Of course, it can also be blanched and frozen for future use.

Brussels Sprouts Green Beans Green beans, also known as snap beans, are best harvested when they are crisp and snap easily when bent.

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Brussels sprouts are like miniature cabbages growing on the stalk of the plant. The top of the plant should be snapped off around the last of August to get more sprouts developing. The sprouts lowest to the ground can be harvested first, or you can wait until all the sprouts 1-888-588-6353

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have developed. The flavour often improves after a frost in the fall.

Preserve Brussels sprouts by blanching them for a few minutes in boiling water, then freezing them.

Cabbage There are early, midseason and late cabbage varieties. The late varieties can be stored fresh for a month or so if the temperature is just above freezing. Early maturing cabbage should be harvested early in the morning and then cooled down right away so that it will keep fresh for several weeks. Over mature cabbage in the garden will split, but this can be delayed by twisting the plant one-quarter turn in the soil so you break some of the roots. Storage varieties of cabbage will not be damaged by a light frost, but they should be harvested before the ground freezes.

Onions Onions should be harvested before a hard frost. The tops of the onions should be bent over a few weeks before harvest in order to get the tops to dry up. They need to be cured in a warm, dry place for a week or so to develop the dry skin they need for good storage. Then the onions must be stored in a cool, dry place. If the onions have thick necks they will not store very long, so they should be used first. Onions can be chopped and frozen for storage without blanching.

Potatoes New potatoes can be harvested two or three weeks after the plants bloom. Potatoes for storage are www.downhomelife.com

usually left in the ground until the stalks die back naturally or are killed by frost. The surface of the potato tuber should be allowed to dry for a few hours before putting in storage. The traditional root cellar is the ideal storage condition for potatoes and other root vegetables.

Potatoes should not be exposed to light in storage because they will turn green and are then not edible.

The potato tuber should not be allowed to freeze because it will develop a sweet taste. Temperature of the storage should be around 5°C.

Root Vegetables Root vegetables such as carrot, turnip (rutabaga), beet and parsnip can be left in the ground until after a light frost. Parsnips can actually be left in the ground all winter for a harvest in early spring. Some varieties of carrot also can be left in the ground all winter if they are mulched with evergreen boughs or another similar material. New carrots can be harvested as soon as they are big enough to eat, letting the others grow bigger. Begin harvesting beet once they have reached about one inch in diameter. And don’t discard the beet leaves, which can be used as greens.

Ross Traverse has been a horticultural consultant to gardeners and farmers for more than 40 years. downtoearth@ downhomelife.com September 2015

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reminiscing flashbacks

Faces of Grand Falls

Grade 9 students attending Grand Falls Academy in 1948 pose for photos on the steps of the school.

Mary L. Allen Markham, O N

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School Days in Howley

Clayton Loughlin’s students pose for a photo in Howley in 1935. Pictured in the front row (left to right): Evelyn Clarke, Jean Brown, Shirley Woolridge, Basil Coombs, Ed Stroud, Jack Vardy, Arch Taylor, ? Yates, Goldie Wiseman, Mina Coombs, Madeline Coombs; middle row (l-r): Clayton Loughlin (teacher), Nell Vardy, Maude King, Una Hicks, Lil Martin, Maisie Lane, Cornellia Wiseman, Lily Yates; back row (l-r): Ralph Vardy, Allistar Pelley, Ern Roberts, Neil Taylor, Joyce Yates, Dulcie George, Edna Clark. If any former classmates would like to get in touch with Lenora, please contact Downhome.

Lenora Maude Wagg (King) Dundas, O N

This Month in History Though people had been living on the island of Newfoundland for hundreds of years, it wasn’t until the 19th century that lighthouses were installed along the coast. On September 1, 1836, the light was first lit at Cape Spear, the most easterly point in North America. It was the second lighthouse to be built in Newfoundland and today it’s the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province. Construction began around 1834, with the tower rising from a twostorey building where the light keeper and his family lived. Several generations of one family – the Cantwells – made their lives there, manning the light for more than 150 years. Interestingly, the light itself was second-hand: it had previously guided sea-goers at Inchkeith, a tiny island off Scotland’s east coast. In 1955, nearly 120 years after it was first lit, a new lighthouse was built at Cape Spear nearby the original. Now a National Historic Site, the old lighthouse has been restored to its 19th-century glory and is open to the general public. www.downhomelife.com

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reminiscing

Dennis Flynn delves into the history of a factory that once made Brigus the most fashion-forward spot in Newfoundland.

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As the evening sun passes through vintage

windows, it casts a glowing spotlight on the variety of retro-chic garments on display. The bolero-style jacket and burgundy pencil skirt trimmed in gold have a distinct European flair, and for a moment I imagine I might be in some grand castle a half-century ago, perusing the fine woollen apparel of some jet-setting lord and lady.

Truth is, I’m much closer to home.

Jenifer Soper of the Brigus Historical Society is giving me a private tour of the beautifully restored John N. Leamon Museum – Ye Olde Stone Barn, in Brigus, Newfoundland. The aforementioned fashions, which began life at a long-defunct local factory, are artifacts on display on the museum’s second floor. Admiring them, Jenifer explains, “You may not realize Brigus was such a fashion centre, but back in 1953, the Eckhardt Knitting Mills [later renamed the Brigus Knitting Mills Ltd.], were established to produce knitwear for local and export markets.”

Initially operated by an Austrian

man named Alphonse Eckhardt, production began at the mills in 1955.

Later that year control of the mill was passed to the Newfoundland government and it continued operating with up to 90 employees for another 15 years. The reason given for its demise was inadequate markets, but locally the feeling was that the Brigus Knitting Mills made products “that wouldn’t wear out,” says Jenifer.

To prove that point, Jenifer directs my attention to a men’s 100 per cent pure wool sweater, manufactured in 1957. The mills’ former manager, Ralph Roberts, donated the article, which he apparently wore for 17 years and “couldn’t wear a dent in it.”

Left and above: Workers at the Brigus Knitting Mills in the 1950s and ’60s Courtesy of Ralph Roberts

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As luck would have it, Ralph, the sweater’s former owner, still lives nearby. So I pay him a visit at his home in neighbouring Cupids, hoping to hear more about his time working at the mills.

In Ralph’s study, he and I peer at documents and black-and-white photographs related to the job he loved. Now 86, Ralph’s memories of the facility he managed from 1956 until 1971 are razor sharp.

“It was a lovely place to work and

they were a great group of people.

I really enjoyed my time there and they were tremendous workers,” says Ralph.

“They had 48 pieces of machinery, including circular knitting machines there on the knitting end, and up to 90 people working there. The wages were 35 cents and 50 cents per hour, which was good pay for the day.

There was no union there, but we treated the people well.”

Upscale Attire

Above: A 1964 advertisement for the Mills. Right: “The Newfoundland Uniform”

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The clothing coming off the production lines at Brigus Knitting Mills wasn’t any ordinary duds, according to Ralph.

“We bought high-class wool in bulk by the tonne from Austria and Italy, and it was very affordable at the time. Everything was done in-house, but we would get service on the equipment and new designs for clothes from as far away as New York. We had one particular product that was a type of heavy jacket or sweater we referred to as ‘The Newfoundland Uniform’ that retailed for $25.95 and it could be in any colour. I had colours coming out of my ears, and I can still remember our colour codes today…red was 799, blue was 842, and green was 891, and in total we had about 40 different shades,” says Ralph.

Products made in Brigus were bound for sale in St. John’s, Montreal, Toronto and even the United States, he says.

“I always enjoyed the 1-888-588-6353

opportunity to travel to meet distributors and retailers. I had a habit of looking at a hem or a seam on a garment they would have on display in a shop or warehouse, and if the quality was not up to snuff, I would tell them – with a big smile on my face – that ‘we would never let that go out the door in Brigus!’ Then I would show them a sample of our clothes, and because I was nice about it and our work was top-notch and perfectly hand-sewn, a lot of times it resulted in an order for the mills.”

They didn’t just cater to large orders for shipping, though; Ralph says customers often arrived at the mills to be custom fitted for articles of clothing.

“They would pick a style, a colour, get measured by the seamstress inhouse, and we’d make them exactly what they wanted,” says Ralph. “For most people it worked really well and the finished product fit like a glove.

But every once in a while we would get someone who was built like a Christmas tree: they were big and broad in the bottom, went to nothing at the top, and had parts sticking out at odd angles all over. They were a bit more of a challenge for the cutting department, but we always made them happy and look very good as well.”

Despite the top-shelf clothing produced at the mills, the enterprise was shuttered in 1970. Ralph stayed on to clew things up until the following year.

Looking back, Ralph believes the mills’ closure was a function of the economics of the small operation and antiquated equipment. But he also believes it came to an end because of www.downhomelife.com

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Ralph Roberts looks back over archival photos of the Mills he once managed.

a shift in fashion away from durable, high-quality goods to cheaper, more disposable products from overseas that were not meant to last. Ralph doesn’t know what became of the equipment after the mills closed, but says sections of the buildings eventually became a fish plant and are still in use today. Hopefully the workers occupying that space today enjoy their jobs as much as Ralph did.

“It was a fine place and I had a good relationship with the employees.

They worked with me and I worked with them. We had our own cafeteria and cooks on staff, and had our own recreation on breaks and played indoor badminton in the big auditorium. I made $650 a month and actually lived on site in a small apartment with my wife and first child for awhile,” says Ralph.

“I really enjoyed my time at the mills and think very fondly of the people who worked there.”

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reminising

between the boulevard and the bay

The Newfoundland Rangers

By Ron Young

Not only were the Rangers in charge of maintaining law and order, they were responsible for other government services as well, from social welfare to education and much in between.

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After the start of the Great Depression,

which began with the crash of the Wall Street stock exchange in 1929, the Dominion of Newfoundland found itself in a precarious economic situation.

Apart from the crash itself, because Newfoundland had paid back its debts (approximately $35 million) incurred during the First World War – the only dominion, including Great Britain, to repay its war debt – the island dominion had no working capital and was bankrupt. Since Newfoundland could not pay on its remaining $97 million debt, Canada, fearing that Canadian banks would be harmed, and Britain, who feared for the credit of the empire as a whole, stepped in.

Lord Amulree of Scotland was given a Royal Commission to look into the problem. One of the results of the Commission saw Newfoundland’s last prime minister, Frederick Alderdice, vote his government out of existence to make way for the Commission of Government, which was headed by three Newfoundlanders and four men from Great Britain.

One of the proposals of the Amulree Commission was that a police force be formed to maintain law and order in certain outport settlements in Newfoundland and Labrador. (Newfoundland was already served on the Avalon and as far east as Bonavista by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, which was founded in 1729, making it possibly the oldest civil police force in North America.) In 1935, the Newfoundland Ranger Force set up headquarters in the Waterford Valley of St. John’s; its officers were trained about 90 kilometres away in Whitbourne, at a facility created on the former estate of Sir Robert Bond called the Grange. Minimum requirements for recruitment included being single, having successfully completed high school (which then 1-888-588-6353

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Early recruits of the Newfoundland Ranger force Photo courtesy of Heritage NL

meant Grade 11), being at least 5'9" and no heavier than 185 lbs. With the large number of out-of-work men because of the Depression, the new police force had the pick of the crop for the 30 recruits that made up the initial Newfoundland Ranger Force.

The training, administered by a Canadian sergeant major, included marching and battle drills, and how to use 303 rifles and .38 Colt revolvers, which they were issued.

They were even taught how to handle teams of dogs for transportation during the winter months.

Their Ranger uniforms consisted of a khaki tunic and breeches with a brown stripe down the leg. The Rangers’ first chief was Royal Newfoundland Regiment Major Leonard T. Stick. (He was also the very first man to sign up and fight with the Blue Puttees in WWI, and whose uniform is on display today at the Road to Yesterday Museum in Bay www.downhomelife.com

Roberts, N.L. There was a short write-up about him in the July 2015 issue of Downhome, p. 71.)

Not only were the Rangers in charge of maintaining law and order, they were responsible for other government services as well, from social welfare to education and much in between. They were made responsible for the collection of customs duties and other fees, and acted as wreck commissioners (investigating the loss of schooners and other ships, and their cargo) for the Department of Finance. For the Department of Natural Resources, they were charged with the inspection of logging camps, enforcement of game laws, issuing game licenses and overseeing the fighting of forest fires.

Rangers were given the responsibility of issuing relief payments, arranging medical treatment and hospitalization, and escorting mental health patients to hospital in St. September 2015

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The outports of Newfoundland and Labrador to which the Rangers were sent were in a sad state of affairs. The Depression had driven the price of fish down to $1.40 a quintal and the gross annual earnings of a fisherman dropped to only $200 a year – in the worst cases, a mere $60 per year.

John’s for the Department of Public Health and Welfare.

They also acted as truant officers and organized adult education programs for the Department of Home Affairs and Education.

For the Department of Public Utilities, they supervised the maintenance and construction of public roads, wharves and breakwaters. They also appointed postal carriers and postmasters in the areas in which they were stationed.

The first six posts to be occupied by the Rangers were on the coast of Labrador. Corporal Frank Mercer and Constable Ed English set up a station at Hebron, Labrador’s northernmost community. Ranger Morris Christian was given charge of the one-man post at Nain, while Ranger H. Guzzwell took over the one-man station at Hopedale. Sergeant Ed Martin and Constable G. Fitzpatrick manned the principal Labrador post at Cartwright. And Constable Harry Walters and Constable L. Chaffey took up the one-man posts at Port Hope Simpson and Battle Harbour, respectively.

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Later that winter of 1935-36, Ranger posts were set up in Bonne Bay under Ranger V. Nugent; at Deer Lake by Corporal C. Robertson and Ranger L. O’Reilly; at Englee by Ranger J. Thomas; in Glenwood, with Corporal Brian White and Ranger Ronald Peet; at Harbour Deep by Ranger J. Thomas; in Port Saunders

by Ranger J. Nichols; at St. Anthony

by Rangers J. Brown and V. Duff; in Twillingate by Sergeant J. Delahunty and Ranger C. Summers; and at Westport by Rangers T. Curnew and H. Manson.

The outports of Newfoundland and Labrador to which the Rangers were sent were in a sad state of affairs. The Depression had driven the price of fish down to $1.40 a quintal and the gross annual earnings of a fisherman dropped to only $200 a year – in the worst cases, a mere $60 per year. The price of paper dropped, affecting the logging industry, and other aspects of the Newfoundland and Labrador economy were cutting back. More than 60,000 able-bodied men were put out of work.

The six-cents-a-day dole (welfare), 1-888-588-6353

1509_reminising_0609 Home Front.qxd 9/3/19 1:50 PM Page 131

Newfoundland Rangers at the training facility in Whitbourne Photo courtesy of Encyclopedia of NL

which the Rangers distributed monthly, was seldom enough to get a family through the month without going hungry before their next dole was due. Many died of starvation.

Sometimes there were food riots, which had to be dealt with, sometimes by a lone Ranger.

The Ranger force grew over the next 15 years to a total of 72 members, which were sent to other outports to set up Ranger stations. The

www.downhomelife.com

Rangers remained in existence until after Newfoundland joined Canada as its 10th province in 1949. On July 31, 1950, most Newfoundland Rangers became members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Ron Young is a retired policeman, published poet and founding editor of Downhome. ron@downhomelife.com

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life is better Shoal Cove Beach, St. Lawrence, NL Nancy Molloy, St. Lawrence, NL

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OVER $25by s in saving g! in ib r c s b u s

Now more than ever a subscription to Downhome magazine is a great value. Not only do you save over $25 off the cover price, you receive:

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FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com

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18. Newfoundland The Rock - T-Shirt Sizes S-XXL Black #55843 | $19.99 Grey #55307 | $19.99

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Qty.

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Description

Service Guarantee If you are not completely satisfied, please let us know. We will exchange any item in resaleable condition. Sorry, no returns on earrings, books, opened CDs or DVDs. If you do not receive your order or it is damaged upon delivery, please let us know within 3 business days. Overnight delivery available: please call for details. Product prices and shipping costs may be subject to change without notice.

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Please complete your order form carefully. Please send this form along with payment to the address at bottom, or fax to 709-726-2135.

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Please make cheques payable to Downhome Incorporated and send to Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL A1E 3H3 Toll Free: 1-888-588-6353 • Fax: 709-726-2135 mailorder@downhomelife.com • www.shopDownhome.com

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St. Anthony, NL Light-filled, open plan and renovated 3-bedroom house with study, 2.5 bathrooms, hardwood floors, large basement, on a side street with harbour views. Owners relocating, all reasonable offers considered.

Call Kevin Simms (709) 454-7700

Ocean Front Land Opportunity Random Island, Eastern Newfoundland

Key Advantages of This Location: • • • • •

56 acres of wooded ocean front land on Smith Sound Site dimensions: 1,470 feet ocean frontage x 2,140 feet x 1,280 feet x 1,700 feet Only 3/4 mile to the main road and bridge to Milton Close to Clarenville, regional airport, Terra Nova National Park & Twin Rivers Golf Course Use potential includes private etstate, sheltered mooring facility, residential large lot subdivision as an alternative to Clarenville • Priced at CAD $672,000.00 (56 acres x CAD $12,000 per acre)

Contact: Paul Quigley at 709-747-2797 or pquigley@penav.nf.net O'Dea Realty - Chris O'Dea at 709-685-6559 or cod@warp.nfld.net 140

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Business Opportunity For sale as a going concern, 85 acre Sod Farm on the Burin Peninsula, NL. 60 acres in sod. Complete with all the equipment necessary to grow, maintain, harvest and deliver sod.

Includes approx. 40 acres in inventory. Also included in sale: hydro-seeder and landscaping business. Serious inquiries only. 709-279-2442 or 709-277-2137

TORONTO & EAST Buying Or Selling?

Already here & just moving across town?

Call Cindy Cranstoun (nee Parsons), formerly from Stephenville, NL, for all your Real Estate needs & great Downhome Service!

Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage Bowmanville, ON 905-623-6000 (Office) 905-243-5984 (Cell)

1-877-623-6002 cindy.cranstoun@rogers.com www.cindycranstoun.com

Looking for A Great Investment Opportunity?

Located in Sunnyside, NL, this five-bedroom home is fully rented for years. There is also a six unit RV park. This can be yours for $289,000.00.

Geoff Green 709-427-7923 geoffgreen@exitrealtynl.com

www.downhomelife.com

Main Street, Lewisporte, NL Waterfront property.

3-bdrm, 1.5 bathrms, outstanding ocean view. $139,000.00. For info: (709) 541 5497 treck750@gmail.com

Marketplace Information Prices start at $50 for a 1 column x 1 inch colour advertisement. This size fits approx 20 words. The smallest size of advertisement with a picture is $100.

(709) 726-5113 Toll Free: 1-888-588-6353

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Retire in La Scie...

a beautiful fishing village • 10 Seniors Cottages For People 55+ • Walking Trails • Icebergs • Seniors Programs • Active Fishing Community • Friendliest people in Newfoundland!

Call today!

709-486-8484

eburton.cji@gmail.com

Real Estate rates

Prices start at $50 for a 1 column x 1 inch colour text advertisement. This size fits approximately 20 words. The smallest size of an advertisement with a picture is $100.

Wesleyville, NL

284-286 Main Street

Known as Winsor House, built in 1905, unique in design & filled with character. Great potential as family or entrepreneurial venture. Foyer has 2-windowed alcoves & lg staircase w/original woodwork leading to diningrm & livingrm, both w/fireplaces: original mantles & high ceilings fr. original wood. Study w/sunrm in rear, 3/4 bath, & commercial laundry. Kit. w/original hutch, opens onto back deck. Upstairs, boasts 4 substantial bdrms, ea. w/ensuite, 2 with jetted tubs. 2004 NL Historic Trust Southcott Award winner for building restoration/preservation can be registered as a heritage site. $249,900.00. MLS #1115095.

Brad Tetford, REALTOR® HomeLife Experts Realty Inc. bradtetford@homelifenl.ca www.homelifenl.ca Tel: 709-746-2756 | Fax: 709-747-9009

Call Today!

709-726-5113 Toll Free 1-888-588-6353

Email advertising@downhomelife.com

Sandy Point Road, on Exploits River by Norris Arm, NL This house spares nothing, it has it all! 5 year old home, new interior with all the finishes from paint to flooring to cabinets and stainless steel appliances, Approx. 3500 sqft, 1684 sqft main floor, 520 sqft second floor, full finished rec room in lower level at 1296 sqft. On an acre of land with a panoramic view of the Exploits River. River access and only 1/2 km from the old railway tracks. 15 mins to Bishop’s Falls and 30 minutes from Grand Falls-Windsor. Perfect property for someone who enjoys the outdoors and wants hunting and fishing in their backyard.

Asking $549,000.00, but willing to accept reasonable offers.

Ph (867) 873-9178 Cell: (867) 445-7468 142

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Barry Clarke 709-589-9000 Toll Free: 1-800-982-5224

Clarke Real Estate Ltd. Extra Land Incl. $229,900

Brand New! $259,000

Carbonear: 52 Long’s Hill, 2-bdrm, ensuite, lg kit., fridge & stove incl, gar.

Carbonear: 5-7 Grassey Ln. 3-bdrm, main fl. laundry, 1 1/2 baths, quality finishes.

Spectacular View of Ocean!

Fixer Upper $179,000

Broad Cove: Beach Rd, 3-bdrms, new windows, siding, roof, lg gar., fully furn.

Salmon Cove: 4-bdrm, 2 1/2 baths, island kit w/built-ins, main floor laundry.

Full photo packages on line @

www.downhomelife.com

www.barryclarke.ca

Business For Sale Excellent business opportunity pub/lounge ideally located overlooking waterfront in Botwood, NL. Established February 2001. Building 2400 sqft. Owners retiring. Turnkey operation. Includes 1200 sqft banquet room, 2 sound systems, security system, pool tables, kitchen equipment, tables, chairs, coolers, full basement with garage. Asking price $360,000.00 neg. For more information:

www.landingpub.net Call Karen:

709-486-6750

September 2015

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Marketplace Happy 65th Anniversary!

Oliver and Muriel White, R.N.

Oliver and Muriel (nee Parsons) were married in St. Cyprions Church, Bell Island, NL by Rev. W. Legge on September 14, 1950. They have 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Where welcome is more than a word A 38 room hotel with fully licensed lounge, VLT’s & restaurant.

1-877-428-3646

St. Anthony, NL

www.haveninn.ca

JEFFREY WILSON, PROPRIETOR Sales & Service of HOHNER Harmonicas & Accordions www.wilsonmusic.ca dr.harp@rogers.com • 1•888•720•HARP(4277)

Wishing All Our Members a Safe and Happy Labour Day Weekend 2015.

We are the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers with a proud history going back many years.

Serving major construction projects such as the Hebron Project, Long Harbour,Schefferville and Muskrat Falls, along with other NL projects with pride and professionalism.

Celebrating our 60th Anniversary in 2015!

Ironworkers Local 764, 38 Sagona Avenue, Mount Pearl, NL 144

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Marketplace

www.downhomelife.com

September 2015

145

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Marketplace Stonewall Inn 4 Star - Spaniard’s Bay, NL Uniquely decorated rms with full bathrms. Comp.

3 course breakfast.

(709) 786-4385 1-866-477-8404

www.bbcanada.com/stonewallinn

Berries • Breads • Butters • Canned Goods • Confectionary Cookies/Biscuits • Crackers • Fish • Jams • Salt Beef • Savory Purity Products • Chatman’s bakery products • Tea Bags & more!

184 Main St., Cambridge, ON, N1R 1W7 • Tel: 519-623-3561 • Fax: 519-623-7921

Wholesale • Retail • Mail Order www.stoyleswholesale.com

sales@stoyleswholesale.com *Open Tues. - Sun.

Everyday Recipes www.everydayrecipes.ca 146

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Movers & Shippers GR Moving & Storage • Covering NL to ON & all points in between • Fully Insured • Over 20 yrs in the moving industry •local moves within NL

Call George or Jamie: 709-745-7731 or 709-691-1765 Ontario: 416-247-0639

www.grmoving.com

A Family Moving Families Professionally and economically Coast to Coast in Canada Fully Insured Newfoundland Owned & Operated

Contact: Gary or Sharon King

Toll Free: 1-866-586-2341 www.downhomemovers.com

FIVE STAR SERVICE Without The Five Star Price! ★ Local & Long Distance Moves ★ Packing & Storage

Voted CBS Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year

★ Door-to-Door Service Across Canada ★ Replacement Protection Available ★ NL Owned & Operated

MOVING INC. 709-834-0070 866-834-0070 fivestar@nl.rogers.com www.fivestarmoving.ca

Over 20 Years Experience in the Moving Industry

Clarenville Movers Local & Long Distance Service Your Newfoundland & Alberta Connection Over 30 years Experience Toll Free: 1-855-545-2582 Tel: Cell:

709-545-2582 709-884-9880

clarenvillemover@eastlink.ca

• National & International Moving Specialist • Fully Insured & Bonded • NL Owned & Operated • Free Estimates

Moving you from Ontario and Newfoundland... or any STOP along the way!

DOWNEAST CONNECTION 709-248-4089 • 416-918-4813 • 905-965-4813

Hawke’s Bay, NL (collect calls accepted) downeastconnection@yahoo.ca

Flat Bay, NL 709-647-3630 • 1-888-647-3630 sales@beanlandmoving.com www.beanlandmoving.com

SAMSON’S MOVING Let our Family Move Your Family Home

Newfoundland, Ontario, Alberta and All Points In Between Newfoundland Owned & Operated Fully Insured, Free Estimates Sales Reps. in Ontario and Alberta

Call Jim or Carolyn - Peterview, NL 709-257-4223 709-486-2249 - Cell samsonsmovers@yahoo.ca www.samsonsmovers.ca

Shop Downhome www.shopdownhome.com www.downhomelife.com

September 2015

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puzzles The Beaten Path

By Ron Young

Karen Anderson photo

Block out all the letters that are like other letters in every way, including shape and size. The letters that are left over will spell out the name of the abovecommunity in letters that get smaller in size.

C

D

K

E

F

G

T

m

L L

H

O

N

n

H K

U

x

J

B H

U

T

A

N

H

C K

I

G

x

C K

B

E

x

E

n

J

N

I

D

E

V

D

O

U

B

B

J

N

D

m

H G

F

K

n

n

K

T

I

H

A B

B

A F

m

K

E

O

U

m

U

E

G

J

T

K

x

H C

D

O A

I

E

Last Month’s Community: Makkovik 148

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1509_PuzzlesNEW2_0612-Puzzles 9/3/19 1:56 PM Page 149

Sudoku

from websudoku.com

The object is to place a number in each empty square so that each row across, column down and 3 x 3 square within the larger puzzle square contains every number from 1 to 9, and no number is used twice in that row, column or small square.

Skill level: Medium

Last month’s answers

?

Need Help

Visit DownhomeLife.com/puzzles for step-by-step logic for solving this puzzle

www.downhomelife.com

September 2015

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Help Downhomer Detective Solve The Crime © 2015 Ron Young

N

ine bank robberies took place in Urban City over a period of four months. The modus operandi in each case was the same. A person, who appeared to be male, would run into the bank wearing a black balaclava and carrying a sawed-off, pump-action shotgun, and would fire a shot into the ceiling. He’d then pump another round into the chamber and shout, “I’m Balaclava Bill, give me the money from the till, unless you want to be blown to hell!”

He’d then throw the money into a Sobeys shopping bag and run out the door. On several occasions, he was seen to enter a white pick-up truck and speed away. No one was ever able to get the licence number, but all who saw the truck said there was a black, brown and white dog, possibly a beagle, in the cab.

One hot day Balaclava Bill struck again, robbing the Toronto Dominion Bank on Elm Street at 11:30 a.m. Again Balaclava Bill was long gone before police arrived. Around 1:00 p.m, Downhomer Detective was driving down Oak Street when he spotted a black, brown and white beagle trotting down the sidewalk carrying in its mouth what looked like a black balaclava.

He followed the dog. At number 11 Pine Street, the dog turned into a drive-

way where, lo and behold, there was a white pick-up truck parked. Lying on his back on the hood of the truck, sunbathing, was a man wearing only black swim trunks. The dog dropped the balaclava in front of the truck and gave a little bark.

DD took out his badge, identified himself as a police officer, and asked the man, “Is that your dog?”

“No,” replied the man, “I’ve never seen him before in my life.”

“The TD Bank on Elm Street was robbed about an hour and a half ago,” said DD, “by a man of your build, wearing a black balaclava. Where were you an hour and a half ago?”

“I was driving back from Cedartown,” the man replied. “I got here just five minutes ago. Cedartown is 900 kilometres away and I’ve been driving for over nine hours.”

Picking up the balaclava and stretching it out in front of the man, DD asked, “Is this your balaclava?”

“No, it’s not,” answered the man.

The dog, meanwhile, seeing that DD was holding the balaclava in his hands, gave an angry growl.

“You lied to me,” said DD, “and I’m placing you under arrest for robbery.”

What lie did the suspect tell DD?

Last Month’s Answer: There is no such thing as a female peacock. The female of the species (correctly referred to as peafowl) is called a peahen. Anyone who ever raised peafowl would know that.

Picturesque Place NameS of Newfoundland and Labrador

by Mel D’Souza 150

September 2015

Last Month’s Answer: Pool’s Cove 1-888-588-6353

1509_PuzzlesNEW2_0612-Puzzles 9/3/19 1:56 PM Page 151

Double Definition Incidental Idioms To solve the puzzle, fill in the blank with a double-meaning word which also means the same as the clue word.

Last Month’s Clue: TNT Dinah and Dale were beautiful girls I asked Dale out for a date one night She said, “I can’t go, I’ve just set my curls, But my sister ___________” Answer: Dynamite (Dinah might) This Month’s Clue: capture I ran and ran through the open meadows Past a butterfly and a bumblebee Where the dandelion and the daisy grows Then I took _______ neath a shady tree

Match the better-known and lesserknown idioms with their meanings.

1. a slap on the wrist 2. back seat driver 3. between a rock and a hard place 4. come hell or high water 5. never cry wolf A. if you tell lies people will stop believing even your truths B. one who thinks he knows more than the person doing the job C. stuck between two very bad options D. very mild punishment E. will try in spite of the obstacles Last Month’s Answers: 1-D, 2-A, 3-B, 4-E, 5-C

In Other Words

Guess the well-known expression written here in other words.

Last Month’s Clue: The prematurely awakened animal of flight is the one who always snatches the creature that eventually ingests human remains.

In Other Words: The early bird catches the worm.

This Month’s Clue: It is not in our mandate to ask for justification for the attempted accomplishment, but only to complete and perish.

In Other Words: ____ __ ___ __ ______ ___; ____ __ ___ __ __ ___ ___

A Way With Words Last Month’s Answer:

death life

Life after death

NE

This Month’s Clue

O

ST

ANS: ___________ www.downhomelife.com

Rhyme Time A rhyming word game

by Ron Young

1. To pretend to have a pain is to ____ an ____ 2. A baby fowl not feeling well is a ____ _____ 3. A red metal drain plug is a ______ _______ Last Month’s Answers 1. found a sound, 2. found hound, 3. smelly jelly September 2015

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Jumbled Jargon

Acronymical LAST MONTH’S CLUE

212 is the D. F. at which W. B. LAST MONTH’S ANSWER

© 2015 Ron Young

Place the following word groups in the right order to get a quote by

Degrees Farenheit at which Water Boils

Stephen King

THIS MONTH’S CLUE

> TIME TO <

29 is the P. C. H.

> IF YOU DON’T < > TOOLS TO WRITE <

Rhymes 5 Times

> TIME OR THE <

Each answer rhymes with the other four

> HAVE THE < > DON’T HAVE THE < > READ, YOU < Last Month’s Answer: When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative.

Scrambled Sayings

1. shining 2. past 3. give 4. underneath 5. precede

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

Last Month’s Answers: 1. allow, 2. bough, 3. vow, 4. chow, 5. endow

by Ron Young

Place each of the letters in the rectangular box below into one of the white square boxes above them to discover a quotation. Incomplete words that begin on the right side of the diagram continue one line down on the left. The letters may or may not go in the box in the same order that they are in the column. Once a letter is used, cross it off and do not use it again.

A A C L

L O I D E H A E G N G G O E S O S E U N O V I O R R P O T W H R Y O O U Y O V Y O T Y U P

S I I E G S R T I I O S W I O U T T

H N F A H N I O I O S T O T

Last month’s answer: Do not be awe struck by other people and try to copy them. Nobody can be you as efficiently as you can ~ Norman Vincent Peale 152

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Four-Way Crossword F o re Wo rd s • B a c k Wo rd s • U p Wo rd s • D o w n Wo rd s

By Ron Young

Unlike regular crosswords, in Four-Way Crossword each letter is not necessarily related to the letter in the adjacent row or column, but is part of one or more words in some direction.

1-3: encountered 1-10: city 1-91: medicines 3-53: leash 5-25: belonging to us 7-37: unpaid 8-6: sever 10-7: hay tower 10-30: dine 10-70: reckon 10-100: purportedly 11-14: par 12-16: locale 19-59: domain 23-63: thither 25-55: genuine 23-26: sour 24-26: craft 26-28: decade 28-48: penpoint 30-21: got through 30-28: compose 32-36: Soricidae 32-37: astute 34-14: sought office 36-56: toupee 40-37: compensated 41-61: feline 44-47: delay 48-18: tie 48-88: incinerated 52-54: mine output 57-59: glue 60-53: rumrunner 60-57: content 61-66: score 62-22: more awful 62-65: left 64-62: neo 65-85: beret www.downhomelife.com

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66-69: garden 68-48: chafe 68-66: beam 73-71: Me monsieur?

74-77: precipitation 75-73: fiord 77-57: hen-pick 79-77: lodge 80-78: noise 81-90: decorative 82-62: quarrel 83-86: moniker 85-83: homo sapien 89-69: assist 91-94: memo 91-100: significant 94-64: deserve

94-74: auricle 95-93: saturated 95-99: value Last Month’s Answer 1

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U N P L E A S A N T

N O T E N L E D I H

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AK E B AK E C I AO L ME N OUW T R A T T L OOR B OU

R E L A T O T E E T

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fun & games puzzles

1

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The Bayman’s Crossword Puzzle

3

by Ron Young

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ACROSS 1. directly 4. epoch 5. berth money 7. paddle 8. United Church Hall (abbrev.)

9. Newfoundland Hockey Association (abbrev.)

10. longjohns 17. Badger Dam (abbrev.)

19. loose ice (colloq.)

21. Osmonds Hill Arm (abbrev.)

22. pre-Confederation welfare 24. “Sonny don’t go away I __ here all alone “ 25. mosquito (colloq.)

27. after Oct. 28. chip away with a blunt axe (colloq.)

30. never (poetic) 31. “I’d throw him __ anchor” 33. Watsons Island (abbrev.)

STUCK?

Don’t get your knickers in a knot! Puzzle answers can be found online at DownhomeLife.com/puzzles

A nalogical A nagrams

© 2015 Ron Young

Unscramble the capitalized words to get one word that matches the subtle clue.

1. TRUE NOVEL ~ Clue: willing without billing 2. ELL SUCKS ~ Clue: not a chance 3. LEVEL DART ~ Clue: on the road again 4. FORTH PICK ~ Clue: long prong 5. I CUD JAIL ~ Clue: here comes the judge Last Month’s Answers:1. furniture, 2. gallantry, 3. hilarious, 4. sleepover, 5. jealousy.

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34. lane (colloq) 36. nest robber 39. “Sick enough to __ anointed” 40. Daniel’s Harbour (abbrev.)

42. “Snowing by the ______” 43. Eastern Ground (abbrev.)

45. cranky (colloq.)

48. identical 50. Organization of European Economics (abbrev.)

51. short skirt 54. sister 55. bare buff 56. strike 57. small pie 58. “Who should I ___ but a lovely fair damsel” 59. “A dripping June brings all things in ____” DOWN 1. “Those little boats of ____________ ____ the world to me”

2. “If there is a hen __ a goose, it’s surely on the priest’s table” 3. empty net (2 words, colloq.)

6. “I tell you today home in London the Times is read by ____ man” 11. National League for Nursing (abbrev.)

12. passing on 13. shore fast 14. “He don’t care ______ night overtakes him” 15. webber 16. road (abbrev.)

17. rest break (colloq.)

18. pitcher plant (2 words, colloq.)

20. ____ Blondahl – singer, songwriter 23. “A man __ a galloping horse wouldn’t notice it” 26. Path End (abbrev.)

29. mouth (colloq.)

31. “I met her ____ father” 32. born 35. Herring ____– Newfoundland community

37. selfish 38. motorhome (abbrev.)

40. party (colloq.)

41. “A single line may have two _____” 44. over-abundance (colloq.)

46. lease 47. ____ a scattered eye out 49. “__ _ leaky punt with a broken oar” (2 words) 51. Master of Sacred Theology (abbrev) 52. Institute of London Underwriters (abbrev) 53. grandmother 1

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ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD

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R 19

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Tangled Towns

by Lolene Young Condon and Ron Young

Sound out the groups of words below to get a familiar expression.

For best results sound the clue words out loud!

Amid Some Morn Height Stream

_ _________ ______ _____ Aged Who Hoe

___

Last Month’s 1st Clue: Say Leaned Eon Answer: Celine Dion Last Month’s 2nd Clue: Hoe Pew Heaven Ice Hummer Answer: Hope you have a nice summer www.downhomelife.com

F O

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Unscramble each of the five groups of letters below to get 5 Newfoundland and Labrador place names

1. LAMESUN 2. FESFRJEY 3. BIRDLIKE 4. ORALBARD TICY 5. SWEATEND Last Month’s Ans: 1. Melrose, 2. Carbonear, 3. Hopedale, 4. Irishtown, 5. Jamestown September 2015

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DIAL-A-SMILE

by Ron Young

© 2015 Ron Young

Pick the right letters from the old style phone to match the numbers grouped below and uncover a quote which will bring a smile to your face.

___ 843

__ _ ______ 76 3 254378

______ 747273

__ 46

___ 843

_______ _ 5264824 3

“ _7 _5 _8 _7

_ _ _ –_ _ _ _ 896 9673 _____ __ 36454 74 _ _ 4 7

”

_ __ 8 29 Last Month’s Answer: If today’s children are seen and not heard it would be a crying shame to wake them. ©2015 Ron Young

CRACK THE CODE

by Ron Young

C

Each symbol represents a letter of the alphabet, for instance = N. Try to guess the smaller, more obvious words to come up with the letters for the longer ones.

The code changes each month.

_ N _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ N _ _ v B C nW KC WBzCf B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N

0DvOK _ _ _ _

X W iv _ _ _ N

nBOC

_ _ _ _ BBO n

z0

_

WJnvC

_ _ _ _ _ _ N _

zXDWi nOCn _ N _ _ _ N _ KC WBzCf _ _ _ _ _

nW

0 OO

Last Month’s Answer: If you always face the sunshine you cannot see the shadow 156

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Food For Thought

© 2015 Ron Young

Each food symbol represents a letter of the alphabet. Find the meanings to the words then match the letters with the food symbols below to get a little “food for thought.”

chubby =

_ _

aftermath =

wash =

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superficial =

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v i[

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k e xV Y _

o fv k x n

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sc _

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k vv V

xY _

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dv Y n V c

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e VV _ _ _

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_

_

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vk

_ _ _

Y v e V Vv]

s x z z [ Yn

_

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generally =

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s en v [

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]e t [

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typography =

_

ke n

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d x Yne t [ Y Last Month’s Answer: Every great person first learned how to obey, whom to obey and when to obey.

www.downhomelife.com

September 2015

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Different Strokes

Our artist’s pen made the two seemingly identical pictures below different in 12 places. See if you can find all 12.

ERN AND COAL BIN ON THE GANDER RIVER

Last Month’s Answers: 1. Tree; 2. Legs; 3. Guitar case; 4. Guitar; 5. Jacket; 6. Cap; 7. Picnic table; 8. Crag; 9. Van; 10. Peak; 11. Collar; 12. Boy moved.

“Differences by the Dozen”- A compilation of Different Strokes from 2002 to 2014 (autographed by Mel) can be ordered by sending $9.95 (postage incl.; $13.98 for U.S. mailing) to Mel D’Souza, 21 Brentwood Dr., Brampton, ON, L6T 1P8.

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HIDE & SEEK

BINGO CHARADES

Last Monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Answers

www.downhomelife.com

September 2015

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photo finish

Fish Out of

Home Water

While enjoying a dive down south, this submitter proves you can take the man out of Newfoundland, but you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take Newfoundland out of the man!

Gerry Dunphy Tors Cove, NL

Do you have an amazing or funny photo to share?

Turn to page 9 to find out how to submit.

160 September 2015

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1509-Cover-NL_0609-Cover-NFLD 9/3/19 2:13 PM Page 4

Che our ck out web new site!