Vol 33 • No 07
$4.99
December 2020
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Tibb’s Eve Explained How to Deck Your Halls Mummers on Ice
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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 E-mail: mail@downhomelife.com Website: www.downhomelife.com Editorial Editor-in-Chief Janice Stuckless Art and Production Art Director Vince Marsh Graphic and Web Designer Cory Way Illustrator Mel D’Souza Illustrator Snowden Walters Advertising Sales Senior Account Manager Robert Saunders Account Manager Barbara Young Marketing Director Tiffany Brett Finance and Administration Junior Accountant Marlena Grant Accounting Assistant Sandra Gosse Operations Manager, Twillingate Nicole Mehaney
Warehouse Operations Warehouse / Inventory Manger Carol Howell Warehouse Operator Josephine Collins Distribution Sales & Marketing Amanda Ricks Sr. Customer Service Associate Sharon Muise Inventory Control Clerk Darlene Whiteway Retail Operations Retail Floor Manager, St. John’s Jackie Rice Retail Floor Manager, Twillingate Donna Keefe Retail Sales Associates Crystal Rose, Emma Goodyear, Jonathon Organ, Nicole French, Elizabeth Gleason, Rebecca Ford, Erin McCarthy, Marissa Little, Hayley Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Gauci, Beth Colbert, Kim Tucker, Heather Stuckless, Katrina Hynes, Lynette Ings, Stef Burt
Subscriptions Customer Service Associate Kathleen Murphy Customer Service Associate Nicola Ryan
Founding Editor Ron Young
President & Associate Publisher Todd Goodyear
Chief Executive Officer/Publisher Grant Young
General Manager/Assistant Publisher Tina Bromley
To subscribe, renew or change address use the contact information above. Subscriptions total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL, NS, NB, PE $45.99; ON $45.19; QC, SK, MB, AB, BC, NU, NT, YT $41.99. US and International mailing price for a 1-year term is $49.99.
Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement #40062919 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.
Printed in Canada
Official onboard magazine of
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106 sweet treats
Contents 46 rowdy time
DECEMBER 2020
46 Behind the Scenes of The Rowdyman Gordon Pinsent and Corner Brook residents reflect on the filming days of this classic Canadian movie. Connie Boland
58 A Cuffer with Petrina Bromley From The Big Apple back home to The Rock, the Come From Away star is busier than ever as the pandemic puts Broadway on pause. Linda Browne
64 Tibb’s Eve Tidbits How a time that never was became the time to have on December 23 Dennis Flynn
106 Festive Favourites Readers share their cherished holiday recipes and the stories behind them.
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Contents
DECEMBER 2020
homefront 10 I Dare Say A note from the editor 12 Letters From Our Readers Ugly sweaters, an impressive model schooner, and brothers in art
20 Downhome Tours Downhome readers explore Austria
22 Why is That? Why do we eat fruitcake at Christmas? Linda Browne 24 Life’s Funny Old School Word Play Orville Cole
25 Say What A contest that puts
28 santa claws
words in someone else’s mouth
26 Lil Charmers Kids at Christmas 28 Pets of the Month Festive Fur Babies
30 Reviewed Denise Flint interviews Premier Andrew Furey about his new memoir, Hope in the Balance: A Newfoundland Doctor Meets a World in Crisis.
34 What Odds Paul Warford writes a COVID Carol
36 Oh Christmas Trees Readers’ fresh takes on the traditional tree
40 Poppy’s Cure for the Pandemic Pout Alec Bruce
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snowy staycation
features 42 A Heirloom’s Homecoming Gander aviation historian returns a corporal’s wallet 75 years after his fatal crash. Connie Boland
54 Throwing Caution to the Wind Husband and wife team embraces art and entrepreneurship on Fogo Island. Amanda Stephen
42
lost & found
explore 70 On the Right Track The Avondale Railway Station invites all aboard for a trip down memory lane. Dennis Flynn
76 Escape to the Trails Discover the fun and adventure in snowmobiling that even a pandemic can’t ruin. Sue McFadden www.downhomelife.com
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Contents
DECEMBER 2020
102 pretty pastries
82 Hidden Gem of Southwest Arm Dennis Flynn shares his discoveries on the Heart’s Ease Beach Trail.
home and cabin 86 Lakeside Living This cabin-
96 spirit on display
turned-home bathroom design ticks every box. Janice Stuckless
92 Home Style for the Holidays Interior designer Marie Bishop’s advice for making “all things merry and bright!”
96 A Very Metal Christmas How this downtown workshop gets everyone in the holiday spirit Janice Stuckless
102 The Everyday Gourmet Andrea Maunder invites you to try Rugelach 6
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134 old-fashioned fun
reminiscing 118 Flashbacks Classic photos of people and places
120 Readers’ Holiday Memories From cherished toys to favourite foods, special people and traditional events, everyone has a story about Christmas.
About the cover This nostalgic scene, titled “Christmas in Brigus,” is the work of artist Ed Roche, who generously gave us permission to use it for this issue. All of Ed’s paintings celebrate the landscape, landmarks and lifestyle unique to Newfoundland and Labrador. View his work and learn more about this artist at EdRoche.com.
Cover Index 12 Festive Family Recipes • 106 Holidays with Heart • 120 Tibb’s Eve Explained • 64 How to Deck Your Halls • 92 Mummers On Ice • 134 www.downhomelife.com
130 Newfoundlandia Letters for Christmas Chad Bennett 134 Mummers on Ice Dale Jarvis takes us back to a different era of mummering and the heyday of competitive skating.
140 Puzzles 152 Marketplace 154 Mail Order 160 Photo Finish December 2020
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NL Premier Andrew Furey discusses his new memoir about Team Broken Earth and the Haiti mission. p.30
Meet the elves behind a special St. John’s Christmas tradition. p.96
Get more of readers’ holiday stories and photos at Downhomelife.com. Search: Christmas.
Find tons of holiday-themed recipes and traditional treats at EverydayRecipes.ca
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Submission Guidelines and Prize Rules
You could WIN $100! Every reader whose PHOTO, STORY, JOKE or POEM appears next to this yellow “from our readers” stamp in a current issue receives $10 and a chance at being drawn for the monthly prize: $100 for one photo submission and $100 for one written submission. Prizes are awarded in Downhome Dollars certificates, which can be spent like cash in our retail stores and online at shopDownhome.com.*
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 *Only 1 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 self-addressed, 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
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i dare say
This Christmas it’s about time. When someone asks me what I want for Christmas this year, I’ll tell them “time.” Throughout 2020, more than any other year it seems, I’ve complained about not having enough time, time passing too quickly, and where did the time go? In the past 12 months, some of us have had too much time on our hands; others couldn’t find enough time for things they wanted to do and needed to do; and for some, sadly, time ran out. So yes, for me this year I’m asking for time – measured in minutes, but also in moments and memories made. This season, I’m putting “time” in my letter to Santa and on my gift shopping list. Rather than paper and ribbons and bows, this gift is wrapped in warmth. It’s made by us for each other. We make time for the people we love. The gift is our attention and care. As lovely as jewelry and gadgets are as gifts, nothing says “I’m thinking of you” better than a phone call, video chat or visit (safely done). Time spent with someone you care about is never wasted. And it’s the only gift anyone will want someone to return. Happy holidays, everyone. And readers, thanks for your time.
o
Janice Stuckless, Editor-in-chief janice@downhomelife.com
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Family “Ugly Sweaters” Contest For our family Christmas gathering last year my youngest daughter, Sarah, suggested an Ugly Sweater Contest. We thought we would send this along in case Downhome decided to run an Ugly Sweater Contest this year. Dave Bailie Sackville, NB
We LOVE your sweaters! We had a staff contest a couple of years ago and it was a lot of fun. While it’s too late for this year, you’ve inspired us to create an Ugly Sweater Contest for readers in 2021. Thanks for adding to our wish list! Anyone else have a contest or story idea? Email us at editorial@downhomelife.com or write to us at Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3. 12
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Career Launched from the “Poor House” I just read Ted Kendell’s letter regarding the “Poor House” (October 2020). I could not help but smile. I always tell people that I started my career in the poor house. Most people have no idea what I am talking about. I was a high school dropout at 15 years old, and after two weeks as a waitress – not a very good one – I decided to try my luck in St. John’s. My first stop was the Grace Hospital, where the lady interviewing me told me “go back to school.” Not prepared to do that, I tried a few other places, but had no luck due to my age and lack of skill in just about everything. Back at my cousin’s house on Blackmarsh Road where I was staying, Georgie told me she had a relative working at the “Poor House.” She called Lulu to see if there were any jobs there. Lulu said yes and to come
www.downhomelife.com
down the next morning and meet with the Matron, Mrs. Barrett. And glory be, she hired me on the spot. The salary was low, but I had a bed in a six-bed dormitory with five other girls, and meals and uniform were included. I thought I had died and gone to Heaven. All my dorm mates and I worked as “maids.” We had a curfew, which I quite frequently abused. On the occasional times I was caught, I was required to visit Mr. Barrett at her office at 10 a.m. Her punishments were not very severe, but at my young age, pretending to be much older, just having to appear at her command was a scary situation. I remember Mrs. Kendall and Mrs. Gill very well. Though they were usually quite nice, at times when they caught me after curfew, they were as scary as Mrs. Barrett. I have to say I totally enjoyed my time there. The work was hard, but the
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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 Olive Green of Hants Harbour, NL, who found Corky on page 54 of the October issue. people I worked with made all the difference. We dated boys from Argentia Naval Base. Mostly they were always gentlemen. After one year, I decided to widen my horizons and got a position as housekeeper, caregiver etc. with a lady who lived in Arundel, Quebec, in the Laurentians. I took care of her for six months, then applied for a course as a psychiatric nursing assistant at the Douglas Hospital in Verdun, close to Montreal. The only prerequisite was a Grade 9 and I was in! I loved my year there. Most of the students were from the Atlantic provinces and the West Indies… I worked in psychiatry for several years in Montreal, then got a bit burnt out and took a course as an OR technician. I was on top of the world. Throughout all these years, I had taken high school and university courses as a mature student. Eventually I received my 14
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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.
diploma from High School of Montreal with a “Secondary V Diploma,” which was written totally in French. I went on to apply to Western Memorial School of Nursing in Corner Brook, NL, and graduated in 1983. Over the years, I’ve worked in Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec, North West Territories, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. I retired six years ago from a position as ER supervisor in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. So in conclusion, I have gone from a maid at the “Poor House” to nursing assistant, OR tech, site manager and, finally, ER supervisor. Love to any of my co-workers at the Poor House who remember Daphne Hayward, as I was known then. Mickie Hayward-Hunkin Alberta Beach, AB
What an amazing story, Mickie. And good on you for having such ambition! 1-888-588-6353
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+ applicable taxes
* 1-year Canadian membership. Total inc. taxes: NL, NS, NB, PE $45.99; ON $45.19; QC, SK, MB, AB, BC, NU, NT, YT $41.99. US/International $49.99
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NL Rock Art Central The last few years, rock painting here in NL has taken off. From young people to people up in their 90s have painted rocks to hide for someone else to find or to gift to a friend or family member. I started a group on Facebook for here in Central called NL Rock Art Central, with over 3,100 members and more joining every week. My wife and I enjoy painting rocks and hiding them, but we also get requests for certain things to be painted on a rock, anything from a memorial rock of a family member or a pet, to images of butterflies or cartoon characters. This is a collection that I did for a lady in Triton featuring three popular Newfoundland scenes: the outhouse with an iceberg in the background, the Newfoundland mummer and the relocating of homes back in the day being towed by boat. Our rocks have made it all over the world, from Jamaica to Florida to Quebec and all points in between. Colin Cramm Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
That art really, well, rocks!
Radio Comedy During the 1930s, much of our news and entertainment in St. John’s came through the radio. One fun radio program I recall was headlined “Arthur Priestman Cameron, the man from Yorkshire, who sings his own peculiar songs in his own peculiar way.” And they were. One I partially remember was sung to the tune “Funiculi funicula.” The few words I recall – not necessarily entirely correctly: “…they laughed at me, they laughed at Ma, 16
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they laughed at Jack, they laughed at Pa, when we went to Topsail in the famous motor car.” I hope someone will respond giving the full lyrics. John Williamson Halifax, NS
Does anyone recall this show or entertainer? Anyone know the lyrics to this song? Email us at editorial@downhomelife.com or write to us at Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3. 1-888-588-6353
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Home for the Aged and Infirm
Is it a Pudding Steamer? Browsing through the October 2020 issue of the Downhome magazine, I thought I would like to add my concurrence with the editor that this item pictured on page 16 is most likely a pudding steamer. Although I’m from rural New Brunswick, my wife is from Newfoundland and Labrador, so this may entitle me to respond to your fine magazine. Now some 80 years ago, during frequent visits with my wonderful Aunt Pauline nearby, she used to make what they called Steamed Brown Bread. This pudding was set in about three lidless tin cans with a measure of water in the pot. The lid was secured in place with latches similar to the one in the picture and cooked for a predetermined time. When cooked, the batter would rise just above the rim of the cans. Well, the result was delicious.
In the August and October issues of Downhome there were references to the Home for the Aged and Infirm on Sudbury Street. These references brought back memories to me, as I had occasion to visit a Mr. Martin there in the mid1950s. Mr. Martin (first name Edward, I think), who was paralyzed from the waist down, built a large model schooner, and when finished it was put up on tickets and I was the lucky winner. I sold the schooner shortly after winning it, as it was too large for my house. The model measured just over seven feet in length and was just over four feet high. I sold it to a neighbour of mine in 1956. I now wonder if this masterpiece of a model schooner has survived the passage of time, and if it has, where is it now? In the meantime, perhaps Mr. Ted Kendell of Hammond, ON [who wrote the letter published in the October issue] may have met Mr. Martin on his visits to the home, as he lived next door and may have some background information on Mr. Martin and may have seen the schooner being built. Robert (Bob) Thorne St. John’s, NL
Gordon Hayden Via email
You’re a reader, Gordon. That entitles you to respond to anything you see in Downhome. And we’re glad you did. www.downhomelife.com
Here’s a photo Bob sent of the model schooner built by Mr. Martin while living in the Home for the Aged and Infirm. December 2020
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“Peace”
My brother, Glenn Pinsent (1951-2015) was a visual artist, both with brush and camera. Glenn took things on with a passion when he decided to commit to his artistic talents. His poetry reflected his thoughtful moods; his photography captured the world of birds and moths. His work in these fields was published by Birders of New Brunswick, and was helpful to students and experts alike. Glenn loved to carve walking sticks (wobble sticks), loved music and oil painting. He cherished the country home he shared with his wife, Dot, and their horses. He was a sensitive part of his environment. Glenn was an electrician by trade and travelled throughout the province of New Brunswick. This painting, titled “Peace,” was inspired by one of Glenn’s photographs shared with the birders of New Brunswick for Christmas several years ago. He called it “Peace on Earth” [starlings and blue jays don’t ordinarily hang out together]. Glenn knew I also had an interest in this photo, and he advised me that he was to make it his painting project for the winter of 20142015. Glenn was diagnosed with lung cancer that fall, and as his journey of life was ending, his family gathered at his home to say goodbye. Glenn took me to his art studio and presented me with the basic elements and composition of this painting. He gave it to me as a gift, with instructions to complete it as I saw fit. Glenn wished that his name be credited along with mine. He was my youngest brother and there were a lot of wonderful memories flooding to mind during my work on the painting. With much reflection and celebration of his wonderful life, I finished the work in February 2015. It is being reproduced to be shared with his family, and now with you. Walt & Norma Pinsent Eastport, NL
Thank you for sharing this painting and the touching story of the brotherly collaboration behind it. 18
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Newfoundland
ponies
at the heart of Willow Creek Stables It’s said that if you’ve gained the trust of a horse, you have won a friend for life. No one knows this better than Wayne Jordan, a man known for his quiet and gentle nature, who turned his family’s farm in Perth, Ontario, into a Newfoundland Pony Sanctuary and Rescue. Willow Creek Stables is a non-profit with 8 full Newfoundland Ponies and 2 part-bred Ponies, as well as 7 other horses, with a focus on rescuing and rehoming critically endangered Newfoundland Ponies. Willow Creek’s amazing volunteers put in long days; they walk colicky ponies for hours and hours; they fundraise to pay vet bills and transportation costs; and they can be on the road for up to 20 hours driving to rescue a pony. In 2020, they rescued and rehomed 17 horses. With COVID-19 driving job losses and sky-high hay prices, they are expecting a busy winter for rescues. Wayne believes the ponies need time to settle down and start to heal. Willow Creek gives them all the support they need: time, care, nutritional support and lots of love! Ponies are surrendered for many reasons, many of them heartbreaking. These ponies must heal emotionally from the loss of their families and caregivers, and learn to trust others again. Willow Creek also educates the public about the plight of the Newfoundland Pony and promotes the breed at farm visits. During the pandemic, the ponies have offered much needed therapy to seniors in retirement homes and front line workers. They are monitoring several situations with ponies that might need them, and as always Willow Creek will be ready to help. To learn more about Willow Creek, please visit their Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/willowcreekstablesperth/ Top: Dr. Scott Robertson checking Midnight on his arrival at Willow Creek with Wayne Jordan. Middle: Some ponies are thin and weak when they arrive. Bottom: Rescued and getting a much needed hug!
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homefront Downhome tours...
Austria
Vienna Visit
Fran Childs of Stephenville, NL, encounters Mozart during a tour of Vienna. Classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, but created many of his most influential and enduring pieces during his years in Vienna. The house where he lived from 1784 to 1787, the Mozarthaus Vienna, is a now a museum. It is nicknamed “Figaro House,” after Mozart’s comedic opera The Marriage of Figaro. 20
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A Moment in Melk
Bill White of Princeton, NL, poses for a souvenir photo in Prelate’s courtyard of the famed Melk Abbey. Perched high on a headland overlooking the city of Melk and the Danube River is Melk Abbey. It was built in 1702, after fire destroyed the original castle that Leopold II, Margrave of Austria (a.k.a. Leopold the Fair), gifted to the Benedictine Monks almost a thousand years ago.
Alpine Adventure
Jacqueline LeGrow of Stephenville, NL, takes a hiking break in PillerseeTal (Pillersee Valley). There are more than 400 kilometres of scenic hiking trails in the Pillersee Valley, traversing grassy meadows of wildflowers, tracing deep blue lakes, descending into beautiful valleys and ascending breathtaking summits. www.downhomelife.com
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Expert answers to common life questions. By Linda Browne
Why do we eat fruitcake at Christmas? Whether you love it, loathe it, or feel just plain “meh” about it, most of us would probably agree that there’s never been a treat so maligned as the festive fruitcake. Comedian Johnny Carson once famously quipped that there’s only one fruitcake in the world, and people keep passing it around. Many sources trace the fruitcake back to Roman times. But Crystal King, a Boston-based teacher, marketing professional, author and culinary enthusiast who blends her love of food and Ancient Rome in her historical fiction works including Feast of Sorrow and The Chef’s Secret, says that what we know as fruitcake today, and what people consumed back then, are quite different things. “It’s a slight bit of a stretch, but the ancient Romans did have some form of compact cake made with what they called alica, a form of emmer groat similar to semolina,” she writes in an email to Downhome. According to the instructions noted in Apicius (a collection of Roman recipes believed to be compiled sometime in the 1st century AD), King adds, “Alica is boiled with skinned pine nuts and almonds, which have been washed in some ‘silver’ chalk to make them equally white... Add to this 22
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raisins, caroenum (a wine syrup) or passum (a sweet raisin wine). You would sprinkle ground pepper over the top and serve it in a dish. It would have plausibly been compacted together into something like what we might consider like an energy bar.” (In The Oxford Companion to Food, edited by food historian Alan Davidson, who also wrote many of the entries, he notes that this cake, “full of added ingredients,” was known as a satura, which is linked to the words “saturate” and “satire.”) While this isn’t exactly your Nan’s fruitcake, by the time the Renaissance rolled around, King says, “there were all manner of sweet pastries full of candied citron, ginger, raisins and currants, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.” She notes that Renaissance chef Bartolomeo Scappi described such pastries in his menus and had a recipe for a tourte containing grated pears and quince (a fruit related to pears and apples), “which are cooked 1-888-588-6353
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with marzipan paste, candied citron, candied orange peel, sugar, sugared pine nuts, eggs and crumbled mostaccioli cookies (similar to a biscotti). This is a bit more of a pie, however, baked in a pastry crust, but the flavours are clearly along the fruitcake lines.” She adds, “Candied citron, orange, lemon, lime and ginger were very common in tarts, cakes and pastries in late Medieval and Renaissance times... I’m quite sure that the popularity of the candied fruit in Italian cuisine likely excited British chefs… Plus, the preserved nature of the fruits made perfect sense in a fruitcake, which was meant to be made long before it was served.” In addition to a fruitcake’s impressive shelf life, another plus was that people could use pretty much whatever they had on hand, says Dr. Michael MacKinnon, who teaches the course Food, Diet, and Dining in Antiquity in the department of classics at the University of Winnipeg. “Fruitcake is one of those things that one can put practically anything into it, so that diversity would also appeal to variable harvests of fruits and other foodstuffs in antiquity,” he writes via email. According to Davidson, fruitcakes as we know them today “cannot date back much beyond the Middle Ages. It was only in the 13th century that dried fruits began to arrive in Britain, from Portugal and the E. Mediterranean.” In earlier centuries, he writes, these were called “plum” or “plumb” cakes (“‘plumb’ denoting all kinds of dried fruits”), and while the name survives in mainland Europe, “it often means a sadly dry product without much fruit.”
Some sources, including the Smithsonian Magazine, have surmised that the usually dry, mass-produced mailorder fruitcakes of the early 20th century are to blame for the treat’s unsavoury reputation. Some are so passionate in their distaste for the dessert that they’ve created events to celebrate their disdain, like the Great Fruitcake Toss in Manitou Springs, Colorado, where fruitcakes are sent flying through the air by hand, slingshot, catapult or other means. But for others, baking a fruitcake is a labour of love. Davidson gives a glimpse of how arduous this process was in the 18th century. “Fruit was washed, dried, and stoned if necessary; sugar, cut from loaves, had to be pounded and sieved; butter washed in water and rinsed in rosewater. Eggs were beaten for a long time, half an hour being commonly directed. Yeast, or ‘barm’ from fermenting beer, had to be coaxed into life. Finally, the cook had to cope with the temperamental wood-firing baking ovens of that time.” Throw in the cost of ingredients, and it’s little wonder that these cakes were reserved for special occasions like weddings, christenings and Christmas. Fruitcakes and Christmas sweet breads and cakes exist in some form around the world (such as julekage in Scandinavia, stollen in Germany and bolo de mel in Madeira), and regardless of how you feel about them, they’re likely here to stay. If you’re really not a fan of fruitcake, you can always use it as a festive door stop or paperweight!
Do you have a burning life question for Linda to investigate? Turn to page 9 for ways to contact us. www.downhomelife.com
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homefront life’s funny
Old School Word Play When I was a teacher in the 1950s, in order to encourage students to improve their vocabulary during English class, I sometimes asked students to look up a word in a dictionary, give the meaning and use it in a sentence. My favourite was the word pregnant. The definition: carrying a child. The sentence: “The fireman went up the ladder and came down pregnant.” On another occasion, I wrote these words on the blackboard and asked students to write sentences using them: bewitches, bewilder, beguile, defense, detail, defeat, denegrate. One sentence was “Youse go on ahead, I’ll bewitches in a minute.” Another student very cleverly used three of the words in one sentence: “De cat jumped over defense, defeat before detail.” Orville Cole Bedford, NS
Do you have any funny or embarrassing true stories? Share them with us. If your story is selected, you’ll win a prize! See page 9 for details.
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’ a “ ...Im ander l d n u o f New I’ll d n a d a e r baking b till I die ! ” be onndera Dawn Melbourne – Sa
Say WHAT? Downhome recently posted this photo (submitted by Vicki Collins) on our website and social media platforms and asked folks to imagine what this little baker might be saying. Sandra Dawn Melbourne’s response made us chuckle the most, so we’re awarding her 20 Downhome Dollars!
Here are the runners-up: “Momma always said I’d be rolling in dough!” – Mike Hennessey “I put the sweet in sweet bread.” – Melissa Pitts “I’m making a cutie pie.” – Sherry Collins Langdon
Play with us online! www.downhomelife.com/saywhat
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homefront lil charmers
Merry Little Band These tykes dressed up as mummers at their daycare Christmas party. Susan Dyke NL
Kids at Christmas Christmas Ham Ean got right into the spirit of the season for this festive photo shoot. Marilyn Crotty Chamberlains, NL
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Ho-Ho-No! Lesley helps Santa wrangle her children, Scarlet Duffney, 2 1/2, and her brother Bentley Lucas, 1 1/2, for that merry Christmas photo. Don’t worry, they’re still on Santa’s nice list! Lesley Duffney Stephenville Crossing, NL
Some Stocking Good After beating Santa to the cookies and milk, Eve is sleeping pretty till morning. Lorna Harty NL
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homefront pets of the month
Festive
Fur Babies A Night on the Town After all the excitement of her first Christmas, Pearl crashed in the village. Hannah Boyd Fairbank, NL
Present Patrol This pupper is reporting for duty to guard the gifts when they arrive under tree. Andrea Collins Fort McMurray, AB
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Santa Claws If the Big Guy needs a standin this year, Oscar is ready. Barbara Critch Mississauga, ON
Chinchilla Christmas There are two chinchillas in this photo. Can you find the second one? Jerrie George Mount Pearl, NL
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homefront
reviewed by Denise Flint
Hope in the Balance A Newfoundland Doctor Meets a World in Crisis Andrew Furey
Doubleday Canada $32.95 (hardcover)
In 2010, following a devastating hurricane,
Dr. Andrew Furey from Newfoundland and Labrador put together a small medical team to travel to Haiti and do what they could to help. From that first trip Team Broken Earth was formed. Now the organization has 1,200 volunteers working as small, geographically based teams from across Canada with missions around the globe. Hope in the Balance is Furey’s personal account of his work with Broken Earth, how he came to it and how he reconciles the relatively little they’re able to do with the overwhelming need for their services. As he faces one humanitarian crisis after another, he repeats to both himself and the reader the words of one of the early team members: Broken Earth is not trying to change the world, just someone’s world. There are some extremely harrowing scenes here. Furey trying to hold closed the artery of an 18-year-old gunshot victim as she bleeds to death is just one example. His decision never to return to a Haitian orphanage because he just can’t face the children is a less harrowing but equally affecting scene. Yet, rather than making us turn away, these episodes bring home to the reader our shared humanity. Saving one life might not cause a ripple in the world, but it’s clear that it makes the world a better place, not just for the recipient, but also for the one doing the saving. And, although this might not have been Furey’s original purpose, Hope in the Balance is sure to inspire others to similar acts of compassion.
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Q&A with the Author Denise Flint: You’re not an author and here you are with a book. Have you always wanted to write? Andrew Furey: No. How this evolved
DF: What was the best part of writing this book? The most surprising? AF: The best was recognizing that – it
was I started keeping a bit of a journal and it was helpful and cathartic, and that evolved into a blog and I found my voice. With some help I was able to find a voice that was able to tell a story about people around the world.
sounds simplistic – is recognizing you are who you are and it’s hard to share experiences of yourself, your province, your family and your team. Lots of time we’re just wandering through space, but you’re the sum of many people and we’re all connected. The book is my voice, but it is a collective effort that got us there.
DF: You don’t have a lot of time on your hands [Furey recently became premier of Newfoundland and Labrador]. What made you take the time to write a book? And how did you find the time? AF: Some of these chapters will be recognized from the blog, and frankly, the publisher came to me almost three years ago and from there we started putting the blog and stories together. It was an evolution and a collection into a book.
DF: Do you have a goal in writing this book besides just getting it off your chest? Is there a fundamental message you’re trying to get across? AF: I think there’s a personal one. This is about me trying to discover who I am and why I am where I am [prior to politics]. And the second element is to see if I could discover why Broken Earth worked, and through those arcs there’s different influences coming into play, whether it’s growing up in Newfoundland or the impact of my family.
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DF: What are you reading now? What’s your favourite kind of book to relax with? AF: I like a combo of fiction and nonfiction, and I usually have both going at the same time. The last book I finished was 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. I was reading that simultaneously with The Value of Everything [Mariana Mazzucato]. Sometimes I lean more towards the nonfiction, usually with an economical or psychological bent. Another book is All the Light We Cannot See [Anthony Doerr]. I really enjoyed it. I’m always reading nonfiction, even fun stuff like Malcolm Gladwell. Factfulness [Hans Rosling] is a great read for people who think we’re going backwards.
DF: What is Broken Earth doing now in COVID times? AF: It’s been hard; it’s been hard on the charity. There’s still an incredible group that still wants to give, but it’s hard to hop on an airplane. The core
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Andrew Furey presents a child in Haiti with a gift. Broken Earth photo is so strong and the will is so strong that we’ll come out the other side just fine, but it’s on hold. We’ve had to think about the future as every organization has, but we’re lucky that the day-to-day operation can be paused. I got three emails today about it. Some think now would be the time to return.
DF: I was struck by how this kind of overseas mission wasn’t something you’d ever been drawn to previously. Then suddenly it’s a big part of your life. Do you think there are moments in a person’s life that change everything? AF: Yes I do. I think that opportunities present themselves. Sometimes they’re hidden, sometimes they’re not. I think people’s lives can change for the better by recognizing challenges. It certainly has for me. It doesn’t have to be as dramatic as getting on a plane to Haiti. Hopefully, when we’re all old we can reflect on that being a good series of adventures. It opened my mind and heart, and made me a better doctor, father and husband, and made 32
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me develop better skills. The first trip was so difficult no one would have blamed us for walking away, and when you’re living it you don’t recognize it. Writing the book made me recognize it.
DF: What are your dreams for what the organization can become? AF: One of the nice things about the organization is that we didn’t have a big dream – it evolved organically. But now it would be by any measure successful if it just continued to do what it does now. Before COVID we wanted to expand into the United States and expand our footprint around the world.
DF: Will you ever get back to Haiti again? AF: Absolutely! I am 100 per cent certain I’ll return. Over the years you develop such strong relationships with people they’re almost closer than friends. They become family. I look forward to continuing that in the future. 1-888-588-6353
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homefront what odds
a COVID Carol By Paul Warford
I halt myself Have you sanitized the lights? Has checked the temperature on the outside the someone turkey? Is the turkey running a fever? If the corner store turkey is running a fever, I sure hope the ham entrance, pull out is cured. Like most years, I spend my Halloween cosa bandana and tume parties asking the other ghosts and goblins tie it around my what I should write my Christmas Downhome face, thinking, “At column about this year. Between their bloody fangs and eyeball margaritas they all told me the one time, only same thing: “COVID Christmas!” The way I see criminals did this. it, I’m a tad tired of the plague already – who how we’ll all feel by Christmas? I’ve Now, you’re a knows already written on this worldwide phenomenon criminal if you in a past issue, and I only have so many don’t do it.” witticisms to spare a global pandemic before they wear thin. But what can I do? This is the holiday season we’ll all be experiencing, and with any luck it’ll be the last one like this. So, after brainstorming with the mummies and zombies, I’ve decided to follow their advice. I’m sitting in my office listening to “Jingle Bell Rock” while a light rain wets the decrepit leaves rotting in my neighbours’ rain gutters. Late October, when this column is due, finds us wearing a mask in all public places – I’ve never seen so many pairs of foggy glasses! I halt myself outside the corner store entrance, pull out a bandana and tie it around my face, thinking, “At one time, only criminals did this. Now, you’re a criminal if you don’t do it.” Over at the cannabis shop where I work, I see them walk the stairs to our door before uttering curses, mid-reach for the handle: forgot the mask in the car. I bet you’ve forgotten your mask in your car at least once. I have to check IDs at my job, and it’s a tad embarrassing when I have to scan their date of birth, their expiry and then I have to...uh, “Would you mind just lowering
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your mask for a second?” I feel like a 1950s suitor asking for a kiss. “Welcome to the new normal!” I hope this expression is as forgotten as the burnt-out rims of Bonfire Night tires by the time you read this. At least be polite and call it “the new abnormal.” I know what normal looks like (I’ve been avoiding it all my life), and this isn’t it. That said, let’s keep in mind it’s still easy to make slush and drink it as long as we’re being mindful, and we’re washing our hands before we dunk them into the pickled wiener jar. I didn’t want to write about a COVID Christmas because this month, of all months, is meant to be chipper. It’s Christmas and I insist we have fun. Let me start by saying that a COVID Christmas makes for very easy song parodies. Once I put Christmas in my head to begin this piece, song titles kept showing up in my brain. “Have A Holly Jolly COVID,” or “Have Yourself a Merry Little COVID.” The words really blend quite seamlessly, so the creative kid in your family should try to come up with their own Christmas COVID song before gathering you all ‘round the piano to sing a family rendition. Now, I hate to burst your Atlantic bubbles, but many loved ones who intended to be home for Christmas this year will have to spend their holidays apart. Newfoundlanders thrive on family and community, so this fact will be hard for a lot of us. On the bright side, when your least favourite www.downhomelife.com
uncle starts rambling on about how his gout is acting up, you can just mute him during the Zoom call and wait it out until another family member begins speaking. And when you’re opening your gift from Aunt Mae, who always gives you hideous clothing you never wear, it’ll be easier to pretend you love the ugly scarf she got you. All you have to do is open the gift back-on to your webcam and shout, “I love it!” really loud when it’s unwrapped. She’ll never know the difference. Or has this crossed your mind yet? What a great year for mummering. St. John’s and larger towns tend to enforce an assumed, lazy sort of ban on mummering, now regimented to special events and specified parades. The sad reality of modern times is that it’s hard to trust someone with a covered face – even a fellow Newfoundlander – but now we all have covered faces, so why not put some rubbers on the wrong feet and go out for a janney? Drop in for a jigger of rum, scrub your hands at the door, and if you wear your mother’s big 42 bra over your face, I knows what I’m not gonna say. So, Merry COVID and a Season’s Sanitizings to all of you and yours, and we’ll see you safe and healthy in 2021. Paul Warford began writing for Downhome to impress his mom and her friends. He writes and performs comedy in Eastern Canada. Follow him on Twitter @paulwarford December 2020
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ONE OF THE TRADITIONS
of Christmas is visiting everyone’s house to admire their tree. Since that’s hard to do this year, here’s a tour of the more interesting trees that readers have shared with us.
Crab Pot Christmas Ella Akerman, 9, and Mason Akerman, 6, scaled the crab pot tree on their front lawn. Melanie Akerman Bay Roberts, NL
Tinsel Town The year was 1982, and tinsel (or icicles) was all the rage! Gloria Young Botwood, NL
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COVID-19 Tree “My mom, who lives in Bonavista, always decorates a tree in the shed for every occasion!” the submitter writes. It’s not traditional, but this is 2020! Trina Faulkner, Edmonton, AB
Upside Down Tree In a year when everything else has been turned upside down, why not? Leona Kirk, ON (nee Doiron of St. John’s, NL)
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Fisherman’s Tree Perry Harris of Heatherton, NL, made all the ornaments for this uniquely themed tree – starfish, painted shells, net knitting needles, killicks and more – and finished it off with a lobster claw topper and a garland of fishing rope! Winnie Mahoney Sydney, NS
Homesick Tree The Lawlors miss home a lot at Christmas, so they decorated their tree with a Newfoundland and Labrador theme and surrounded it with cheery mummers. Peggy Lawlor Edmonton, AB
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Cabin Fishmas Tree This tree celebrates cabin life as much as it does the Christmas season. Donna Halleran Labrador City, NL
Announcements Book Your Announcement Today Wedding Anniversaries 50 years and up Milestone Birthdays Starting at age 40 Memorials Celebrate a life
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homefront guest column
Poppy’s Cure for the Pandemic Pout By Alec Bruce
What cures COVID seasonal affective disorder, apart from dreaming about that long-rumoured shot in the arm? Try spending some time with your kids. And no, the pandemic hasn’t driven me to hang out with all the wrong kind of people. This summer, I spent more time than I otherwise might, at 60, with my five grandchildren, aged five to 11, on the shores of eastern Nova Scotia’s Chedabucto Bay – building tree forts, burying time capsules, roasting marshmallows, and telling ghost stories amid the yips and howls of coyotes creeping around our campfires. (Don’t even get me started on homemade ukuleles and drum kits that, we’re certain, kept the critters well and truly socially distanced from us.) A year ago, I might have hopped on a plane to coastal Cornwall or northern France, or done any number of other things a gracefully aging writerguy does for fun and profit at the cusp of his “late middle age.” 40
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Of course, that was long before COVID ripped the fun out of travel and stripped the profit out of just about every activity a normal, healthy adult can imagine. All of which may only mean that kids have better and less expensive imaginations than their elders. Certainly, my grandkids do. What do you do when the low, grumbling rollers off the North Atlantic continually wash away the ramparts of your medieval-style sand castle? Why, you dig a hole where the foundation once was, fill it in with stones, driftwood, clam shells, crab carapaces and the exoskeletons of unfortunate sand dollars, and cover it up with rocks and tree boughs. Sure, but what’s it for? The oldest of the bunch shook his head sadly at me. “Of course, it’s a time capsule, Poppy.” Before I could further embarrass myself by again asking what’s it for, he added with a pat on my arm, “We’ll open it when we’re grown up… OK?” What do you do when there’s nothing to watch on the tiny TV in the country house? Why, you head out to the shed, grab a hammer and wire cutters, and forge a path to the perfect spot in the near woods to build a fort. The youngest looked at me doubtfully and furrowed her brow. “You don’t have to come farther if the branches are too prickly, Poppy.” Okay, can I go back to the house then? “Well, no, you should probably stay right there to keep the snakes away.” So, reptile bites but not tree scratches? Roger that, Captain! I understood perfectly that in any campaign, every soldier has a role to play. Carry on, then. And they did. For three hours. When they were done, I was duly escorted to www.downhomelife.com
the “big room,” framed with fence posts, and given a repast of mud stew and moss salad. What do you do when the day is done and there’s nothing left but the glowing embers of the campfire to keep you warm? Why, you put down the $600 acoustic guitar you brought for just such an occasion, head into the wood dump behind the outhouse and find enough scrap to pull together a handmade ukulele, or two, outfitted with a yard or more of kitchen twine. “Poppy, maybe you should check on the coyotes,” one said. “That’s a good idea,” another agreed. “Get a stick,” yet another advised. “Can I have another marshmallow?” the fourth wondered. “I don’t like ghost stories,” the fifth opined. This Christmas, we’ll be together again. They don’t know it yet, but one of them is getting that old guitar of mine. I’m expecting that the “dirty half-dozen” will find something (or many things) for me to do as the tuning forks, flat picks and capos come out. Like, for example: Go down to the basement, cobble together scraps of newspaper and shoelaces, manufacture a full ream of homemade wrapping paper, and emerge with a jolly and slightly half-cut Santa Claus in tow ready to sing all 12 verses of Good King Wenceslas in a high, perfect countertenor. But I’m good with that in these fretful times. Forget the winters away in sunny climes, or the river tours in historically edifying locales. These days, you just can’t beat the bespoke staycation, as long as you make damn sure to spend all of your time hanging out with all the wrong sort of people. December 2020
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creased and battered, is back with the family of Cpl. Nicholas Brando, an American serviceman who died in a plane crash 75 years ago. “It was the right thing to do,” aviation historian Darrell Hillier says during a telephone interview from his home in Mount Pearl, NL. “The most appropriate place for the wallet, and its contents, is with the family.” On the night of February 14, 1945, a B-24 Liberator bomber approached the former military base at Gander, NL. It was a messy night, the sky heavy with snow. The plane, which had been bound for the United Kingdom, crashed in a remote area of Central Newfoundland. None of the 10 American airmen onboard survived. “My understanding is the wallet changed hands over the years, but was initially found by a trapper shortly after the accident, which makes sense considering the condition it was in,” Darrell explains. “The papers inside were very well preserved. It’s not something that got wet, or damaged, or deteriorated over time.” The deceased soldiers were young, many recently out of flight training school. They left behind mothers, fathers, spouses, families, fiancées and girlfriends. Cpl. Brando, the aircraft’s radio operator and gunner, was a 22-year-old native of New York City’s Brooklyn borough. He was married just six months when he left his wife behind and departed for overseas.
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tion enthusiast. “Documents in the wallet verified it belonged to Cpl. Nicholas Brando,” Darrell says. “I couldn’t believe it. I was floored.” He continues, “It was important to me to find this family. When I was writing my thesis, I was fortunate to track down members of other families who were quite helpful, but I didn’t have any luck finding anyone from the Brando family. When I got the wallet, I restarted my efforts to find them, but I Back Row (L-R): Cpl John E. Baker; Pte still didn’t have any luck.” Mark G. Lantz; Pte Harry Karpick This past October, Front Row (L-R): Cpl Charles J. Parsons, Jr.; James Matarese, Cpl. Cpl Nicholas Brando; Cpl John W. Tarpey Brando’s great-nephew, contacted Darrell via Facebook after Cpl. Brando’s wallet offers a a family member found an online glimpse of his personal life before the article highlighting Darrell’s thesis. crash. He carried a birth certificate, a The family knew Cpl. Brando had document certifying completion of a died during the Second World War; radio operator and mechanic course, however, the specifics were lost with an American Red Cross card and a the passing of descendants with direct record of immunization. His personknowledge of the tragedy. James was al documents included a driver’s persurprised to learn the wallet had surmit, a jagged scrap of paper with an vived the crash and remained intact. address scrawled across it and a reliDarrell offered to send copies of his gious document. Darrell recently research documents and photos to returned everything to Brando’s famJames. He said he could either donate ily in the United States. the wallet to a local museum or return Darrell was a teenager when he it to the family. became fascinated by WWII crash “I read the thesis to my mother, sites, specifically the more than 20 and it was emotional discovering the estimated to be in the Gander area. pain and frustration that her grandHis master’s thesis examines the Bmother, father and other uncle must 24 Liberator site, and the experihave felt,” James says. “I was ences of 10 American families shocked to learn of the wallet and attempting to understand and navicould not wait to share the news. I gate their loss. Darrell received the think it was important for everyone wallet from a friend and fellow avia44
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that we fulfill the wishes of his mother, Mary Brando, and see it returned to the family. “It truly is an amazing story,” he adds. “In a short period of time we went from knowing very little about his disappearance to holding the wallet he was carrying with him, as well as being able to read a cache of documents and personal letters surrounding his disappearance.” In his thesis, Darrell points out the return of personal items was very important to families of missing airmen. “I think that’s because it has a direct connection to their loved ones,” he says. “The US War Department knew that and would go to great lengths to recover and return personal belongings. They recovered as much as they could at the time, but it was winter when the aircraft was found, and it was covered in snow. They did go back in the spring and recover personal belongings from another crew member.” Darrell shipped the wallet via courier to the US. “It was well wrapped up,” he chuckles. “My only concern was that it got there quickly and safely. The worst thing that could happen was it disappear in transit, but it all worked out.”
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James contacted the Cradle of Aviation Museum at Mitchel Field in Long Island, New York, where the crew had boarded the doomed flight. They expressed interest in exhibiting the artifacts in the future. “Things come full circle,” Darrell says. “You never know what’s out there and what people keep. It was amazing to know the wallet still existed because I had written about this individual, and this crew, and had been to the crash site. “It was pretty surreal to connect with the family, and it’s certainly rewarding to know the wallet and its contents are back where they belong. It just took a while – 75 years plus a couple of days in the mail.” Newfoundland and Labrador’s Provincial Archaeology Office, the regulatory agency for all archaeology conducted within the province, established a buffer zone to maintain the integrity of the crash site. Darrell’s thesis, Stars, Stripes, and Sacrifice: A Wartime Familial Experience of Hope, Loss, and Grief, and the Journey Home of an American Bomber, is posted on the Memorial University Libraries website: Research.library.mun.ca (search “Darrell Hillier”).
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Spring 1971: actors have taken over Corner
Brook’s Broadway, with city residents stepping in as movie extras. Phil Simms is walking home from work, and Gordon Pinsent is starring in The Rowdyman, one of the first feature-length films to be shot in Newfoundland and Labrador. “I was coming up my driveway,” Phil recalls recently from his current home on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. “They were using two houses on Valley Road, and one was next door to me. This fellow asked if the basket I was carrying was the one they used down at the mill. I said, ‘Yes, every morning men go to work with one of these strung over their arm.’ “I lined my basket with mill paper,” Phil adds. “When the fellow asked if Gordon could borrow it, I told him when I got home and took everything out, I would bring it back. You see a lot of my lunch basket in the movie.” Released in 1972, The Rowdyman follows Will Cole (Gordon Pinsent), a happy-go-lucky, mid-30s paper mill employee with a penchant for partying and pranks. Cole is a rogue well known to bartenders – and the local police. He fights often, befriends everyone, chases women, enjoys a pillow fight, and is always happy, always laughing, until a tragic accident in the mill forces a change of perspective. Gordon, a native of Grand Falls-Windsor, NL, wrote the novel and the screenplay. The movie was directed by Peter Carter and produced by Lawrence Dane. Phil brown-bagged it while Gordon walked the streets of Corner Brook with the millworker’s lunch basket, a symbol of employment in many pulp and paper towns. The basket was returned when filming on the Canadian classic ended, with a liquid present nestled inside.
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Lunch basket used by Gordon Pinsent in The Rowdyman and donated by Phil Simms to the Corner Brook Museum and Archives Photo courtesy of the Corner Brook Museum and Archives
Poster of The Rowdyman. Photo courtesy of the Corner Brook Museum and Archives
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Phil later donated the basket to the Corner Brook Museum and Archives, but he kept the bottle of rum. Gordon won a Canadian Film Award for best performance by a lead actor for his portrayal of the boisterous Cole. The movie was shot in less than a month, for under $350,000, in Corner Brook and St. John’s. Barbara Anderson was one of 50 members of the Presentation High School Drum and Bugle Band that performed in a scene at Margaret Bowater Park. “We all met there and formed in our marching formation under the direction of band leader Tommy Murphy,” the Corner Brook resident remembers. “It was a windy day, and we played various pieces of music. It was a lot of fun.” “It was an exciting time,” Floyd Spracklin agrees. The retired teacher and author of Shellbird was a university student when he signed on with the production, working as assistant gaffer, chauffeur and stunt man. “In one scene, I acted as a wind barrier,” Floyd chuckles. “We were behind the old CBC building and we had to line up in a circle around Gordon and Frank Converse (Andrew Scott, Cole’s best friend).” The proximity made it difficult for some actors to keep on task. “We were right in their faces. Because we were that close, the scene had to be shot and reshot, until Gordon told everyone to turn around.” Shooting that scene is one of Floyd’s favourite movie memories. “I learned a lot from working on the set,” he says. “I learned a lot about the movie making process, and it really stood out for me how disciplined everyone has to be, 1-888-588-6353
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“They were shooting a scene at the Bank of Montreal. Gordon comes out of the bank distracted, and I was supposed to nearly hit him. I went a little too close for comfort. He laughed about it later, but he said the next time I shouldn’t try to make it too real. He was so funny – really, really funny.” including the actors.” And then there was the time Floyd came close to hitting Gordon with his car as he walked across a downtown street. “Gordon asked if I would pick him up every day and bring him to the set, which of course I did,” Floyd recalls. “They were shooting a scene at the Bank of Montreal. Gordon comes out of the bank distracted, and I was supposed to nearly hit him. I went a little too close for comfort. He laughed about it later, but he said the next time I shouldn’t try to make it too real. He was so funny – really, really funny.”
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The movie opens with an aerial shot of the Humber River. The camera pans left with the rising sun reflecting off the paper mill. Emissions rising into the early morning sky is a familiar sight. In 1971, movie locations varied. Royal Canadian Legion, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd., Bank of Montreal, the old hospital, private homes, hotels, and Corner Brook Museum and Archives were all used in the film. Watching The Rowdyman in 2020 is like taking a trip down memory lane. Some movie locations, such as Eva’s Dress Continued page 52
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Remembering The Rowdyman a Bit Like Opening an old Album By Connie Boland
I met Gordon Pinsent in 1988. I was fresh out of journalism school, and the acclaimed Canadian writer and actor was in Pasadena, NL, to read the scripts and narrate a series of videos for the Awakening the Entrepreneurial Spirit project. “Do you mind if I make a few edits?” Gordon asked after reading my work. I darn near fainted. Thirty-two years later, I have the privilege of talking to him again. “Do you think Will Cole will eventually settle down?” I ask Gordon midway through our recent telephone interview about The Rowdyman. “Probably,” he says. “If they can find him!” There’s a scene in The Rowdyman where Will Cole (Gordon Pinsent) sits on a riverbank with Ruth (Linda Goranson). “Just once, we should put in some time together,” Will says before gently touching Ruth’s shoulder-length brown hair and nuzzling her neck. “I don’t know if I can be right,” he adds before they kiss. “Will wasn’t a great town leader and he didn’t have a lot to offer,” Gordon says from his home in Toronto. “He simply was 50
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who he was. He took his very innocent aspects down the main streets and he spread them around. “I didn’t know I’d ever be of the right state of mind to produce a film based loosely on elements from my childhood, or elements of someone I knew. Or know when to stretch those elements to get the idea across and make a film presentable for public consumption,” Gordon says. “All I knew was it was a time in filmmaking in this country and in the United States when you found something close to the bone, and you got it done. If I could stay true to a few things and throw in ‘lovely, tell your mother,’ I might be able to get away with this.” 1-888-588-6353
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In the movie, “lovely, tell your mother” indicates all is well. “I got that in Grand Falls,” says Gordon, who grew up in the central Newfoundland town in the 1930s and ’40s. “I was a child, nodding to a neighbour as we passed on the street. ‘Mrs. So and So, how are you?’ I asked. ‘Lovely, tell your mother,’ was her reply. That was the first time I heard it, but it came to her as naturally as molasses.” Almost 50 years after the filming, many people in Corner Brook can recall where they were and what they were doing when The Rowdyman came to town. “It’s interesting to have an aspect of your life that others can remember along with you,” Gordon says. “It’s a bit like opening an old album and saying, yes, I recall that.” The goal was to make a movie that was true to his memories and fulfil a responsibility to the audience. “Although the inner workings came from somebody from Grand Falls, it didn’t take much to realize it was cheek and jowl up against Corner Brook, or any other place in Newfoundland from the standpoint of the flavour I was looking for,” Gordon says. People identified with the movie characters, particularly the boisterous Cole. “I went back to Corner Brook years later, and I don’t know who the gentleman was, but he seemed a bit off. It might have been the drink,” Gordon chuckles. “He asked me, ‘When are you leaving town?’ and it was like a line out of a bad movie.” Gordon said he planned to leave the next day. “The stranger replied, ‘Well that’s good, because I’m the Rowdyman here now.’ He put his hand in his pocket and I wondered if he had a gun,” Gordon laughs. “He hauled out a little glass that he brought with him, I guess from across the street, and offered it to me.” The actor thanked the stranger but declined the whiskey. “For years I would go across the country www.downhomelife.com
for one reason or another, and on more than one occasion, somebody from a couple blocks away would scream, “Hey, Will!’ and lines from the movie would come at me. I got a lot of that,” Gordon says. “There was nothing I could get away with from that point on, with everyone thinking I’m a printed version of this individual. It touched me deeply, but at the same time, it’s not easy to lay yourself out for all the criticism that may come at you like snowballs from Grand Falls.”
Pinsent is 90 now, and his voice is as rich and deep as it was 30 years ago. He left Newfoundland and Labrador as a teenager, but never lost his love for his home province. In 1986, he starred in and directed John and the Missus, another Newfoundland-based movie. “I was talking to a young boy who was going away. ‘You’re leaving now,’ I said, and it struck me. I picked up a rock and gave it to him. I told him, ‘This came from here and so did you, don’t forget it.’ “I’ve had a tremendous sense of togetherness with Newfoundland all my life,” he adds. “That doesn’t change. You always knew you’re from this land. It was stamped on your forehead. Everything ended up being compared to that.” December 2020
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Top: Cover page of The Rowdyman screenplay signed by Gordon Pinsent. Photo courtesy of Floyd Spracklin Above: A dated Call Sheet for a particular scene to be shot at the “party house” Photo courtesy of Floyd Spracklin
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Shop on Broadway and the Hong Kong Restaurant, no longer exist. Grace LeDrew was a teenager when the movie crew came to town. Her brother, Gus, was hired as an extra. “He and Gordon became pretty good buddies,” Grace says. “Gus invited him up for a feed of fish… that he would later ask Mom to cook,” she laughs. “Gordon showed up, loved the meal and stayed for a few hours… He tried to talk to me, but I was so shy,” she recalls. “It was a wonderful night. My mother, Helen, played the piano and everyone sang along. It was lovely. It’s my beautiful memory.” The Rowdyman’s supporting cast included Canadian actress Linda Goranson, who played Cole’s love interest. The late Will Geer appears as Stan, Cole’s aging mentor. Will was an American actor often recognized as Grandpa Walton on the television series, “The Waltons.” Floyd met most of the cast during his time on the set, and he saw the affable Will at the former Holiday Inn, the hotel where the production team would meet daily to review raw footage. “I remember sitting a couple rows back from a giant of a man. It was Will Geer. He was silently nodding and looking at everything that was going on.” The Rowdyman opened to rave reviews. Corner Brook residents turned out en masse to watch the movie. Phil was at the Majestic Theatre and he enjoyed the show. “It was pretty realistic,” he says. “Some parts of it were embellished, but all movies are like that.” Phil’s favourite scene is a true-tolife look at mill workers on lunch break at the paper mill. Gordon and 1-888-588-6353
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Karl Spracklin (left), Floyd Spracklin and Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent at the 30th anniversary showing of The Rowdyman, 2001 at the former Majestic Theatre in Corner Brook. Western Star photo various coworkers are on the roof. “It’s nice up there,” Phil remembers. “Having your lunch on the roof of the mill on a fine summer day… there’s a great view from up there.” In September 2001, Gordon returned to Corner Brook to mark the 30th anniversary of the movie with a screening at the Majestic Theatre. Floyd was there and proudly introduced his brother, Karl (who since passed away), to the actor. Floyd has an autographed copy of the screenplay, and a dated call sheet that specifies everything required on the 14th day of shooting. Thirty-nine www.downhomelife.com
scenes were to be filmed at the “Party House.” Three couples dressed in “respectable” clothing were extras for the party scene. Props included plastic glasses, ginger ale, beer, ice and pretzels. Director Peter Carter was to choose the music. Fish and chips, and three guitars were needed. As the song playing over the closing credits suggests, “it’s a lovely, tell your mother kind of day.” If you’re interested in revisiting these Corner Brook times and seeing The Rowdyman once again (or for the first time), it is available to watch on YouTube. December 2020
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Husband and wife team Adam and Jennifer Young embrace art and entrepreneurship on Fogo Island. Story and photos by Amanda Stephen
From their home in Joe Batt’s Arm,
Adam and Jennifer Young spend time musing over the magnificent Atlantic seascape. The craggy shoreline of Fogo Island is punctuated by multicoloured fishing punts; grey-backed herring gulls seeking purchase; and collections of little red sheds, stages and outbuildings that seem as eternal as the tides. It’s the architecture that really draws their attention: those little red fishing buildings that seem to hover magically just above the waterline at high tide, and otherwise appear like circus performers teetering on wooden stilts too narrow to hold them upright. Red sheds that mark the passing of seasons in their own way: freshly painted in the spring, shores tacky with rust-coloured kelp in the fall, and then coated in a thick layer of ice through the harshest winter months. 54
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Released earlier this year, Adam and Jennifer’s debut children’s book is aptly titled The Little Red Shed. A beautifully illustrated journey of change, self-discovery and learning to love your differences, the story is magical in its smooth language, vivid illustration and resonating themes. With Adam as a professional visual artist and Jennifer writing creatively since childhood, The Little Red Shed is the perfect combination of their passions and skill. And although Jennifer’s growing up on Fogo Island makes the choice of subject and story a natural one, the couple have journeyed long and hard to get here.
untouched natural beauty and warmth of community that is so easily taken for granted when it’s almost all you’ve ever known. Jennifer insists that she is not a risk-taker. Nevertheless, Adam and Jennifer relinquished security and took the plunge to Newfoundland in 2008. Their daughter Bella, was just a year old, they had few job prospects, their house in Moncton had not sold as hoped, and they moved in with Jennifer’s parents. The following years saw the couple settle into teaching positions at the local school on Fogo Island. Adam began pursuing art more seriously,
“We used to come here every summer, and it was like a magical place – for kids, for people. And I remember thinking how amazing would it be to raise your kids in a place like this,” says Adam. Teachers by trade, Adam and Jennifer met while completing their bachelor of education degrees at Crandall University in Moncton, NB. Traditional paths followed: they settled into Moncton life, buying a house close to the school where they both worked. Summers were spent with Jennifer’s family in Joe Batt’s Arm, NL, but with every waning season it became harder and harder to say goodbye to the island they loved. “We used to come here every summer, and it was like a magical place – for kids, for people. And I remember thinking how amazing would it be to raise your kids in a place like this,” says Adam. For Jennifer, the desire to move home was doubled by seeing her husband’s wonder and awe for the 56
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both he and Jennifer added master of education to their resumes, and they welcomed their second daughter, Scout, now six, into the world. They purchased The Castaway, the local bar two doors down from Jennifer’s parents’ house, and converted it into their home. Quickly, life was becoming full. “It got to the point that we were burning the candle at both ends,” says Adam. “We were both doing our master’s degrees. We had two really young kids. I remember going to bed at two o’clock in the morning and waking up at five o’clock. We would do that every day.” Jennifer remembers vividly the stress of their final exams, written three weeks after Scout was born. They had reached a breaking point. 1-888-588-6353
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They either had to give up teaching or give up art. Jennifer believed the decision was obvious; to give up art was unthinkable. It was time again to throw caution to the wind. The couple left their teaching positions and became entrepreneurs, opening Young Studios as Adam’s gallery and studio. “It’s exciting when you do that, when we took that leap into doing our own thing,” says Adam. “We talked about wanting to write our own book and do that kind of thing, but there was never time to do it and there was always something more pressing. So when we actually did say that we were going to be our own business owners, time freed up for us and we were able to go down those other avenues that we always wanted.” Although the release of a debut book should be something to relish, there is no moment of rest for this family. The closure of schools in March saw Adam and Jennifer reprise their roles as teachers through weekly online drawing classes. A focus on shopping and travelling local this summer saw steady interest in the gallery. And this
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Inside The Little Red Shed, Adam and Jennifer’s debut children’s book fall, the Royal Canadian Mint released a limited edition luminescent silver coin featuring Adam’s depiction of a 1978 UFO sighting near Clarenville – his second commemorative coin release to date. Jennifer and Adam sincerely hope that their journey to entrepreneurship in Newfoundland and Labrador can inspire other families to come home and follow their dreams. They will tell you it’s not an easy path, but with creativity and passion there is opportunity to carve out a small niche in this rock. Just like the journey in The Little Red Shed, this couple has embraced the unconventional and followed their hearts to stand strong and proud on the rocky shores they call home.
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From The Big Apple back home to The Rock, the Come From Away star is busier than ever as the pandemic puts Broadway on pause. By Linda Browne
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As a young girl,
Petrina Bromley never dreamed she’d make it to the world’s biggest stage. But after studying at Memorial University’s School of Music and years of honing her theatrical chops with local companies Peter MacDonald Productions, Shakespeare By the Sea, Newfoundland Young People’s Theatre and Artistic Fraud, she’s a bona fide Broadway star. As of this printing, she has portrayed the role of Bonnie (based on real-life Gander SPCA manager Bonnie Harris) in the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away more than 1,200 times (in New York and other locations). But on March 12 of this year, the pandemic forced Broadway to shut down and the next day, Petrina began her journey back home to St. John’s. But home for a rest she isn’t. In fact, it seems she’s busier than ever these days. She took some time out to chat with Downhome about her latest projects (including the musical Tell Tale Harbour with Alan Doyle and others), how a song about a goat helped her land her dream gig, and why the spirit of Come From Away is needed now more than ever. (This interview has been edited for length.)
Downhome: What initially inspired you to pursue theatre as a career path? Petrina Bromley: When I was in high school, I was very fortunate to have a music teacher and a drama teacher who both also worked professionally outside of teaching in school. My drama teacher was actually involved in a lot of local theatre in Saskatoon and did some work with “Switchback” [1980s CBC TV series]… and I sort of thought that would be the perfect combination, because it never really occurred to me that you could make a living being an actor... and also, when I had been in elementary school, Karen Oakley was my music teacher then, at Pius X, and she did the same thing... I remember sitting as a very young kid and watching her on stage and thinking that is the coolest thing. www.downhomelife.com
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DH: Did you ever dream of making it to Broadway? Was that something that was on your radar at all?
DH: I can imagine that audition must have been pretty nervewracking.
PB: No, it wasn’t. When I was a
tell, to be honest with you, because it was hilarious. I sent in a taped audition... and was asked to come down to New York to do a callback kind of thing. And at the time, I thought this will make a great story when I’m older. I’ll be able to say one day I got to go down to New York and audition. The show wasn’t a Broadway show at that point in time; it was going to be in La Jolla, California… I walked into the casting agency... and all over the walls are all these posters of famous plays and musicals and movies that you’ve heard of that have been cast out of there… and all I could hear once I got my coat off and sat down was some very young and extremely talented woman singing “Let It Go” from Frozen, higher and louder than humans should be able to make noise. And I just laughed out loud thinking, what am I doing here?
really young kid and I had watched the musical Annie and fallen in love with that, I thought Broadway sounds like a really cool place, in the way that Disneyland sounds like a cool place or Hollywood sounds like a cool place. But I don’t believe I ever thought that I would be there… And I live in Canada, I live in Newfoundland, how the heck is that ever going to happen?... It was through working with Rising Tide that I actually met David and Irene [the husband and wife team who wrote the musical Come From Away]… And then they subsequently saw me in a couple of productions in Toronto because I toured up there with Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, and they invited me to audition and I magically [laughs] managed to land the part. 60
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PB: It’s one of my favourite stories to
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There is no way they’re gonna cast me. I don’t make those noises. I sing folk songs...We had to do a song from the show, it was a version of “Welcome to the Rock” that is now completely different... and then they said, “Okay do you have something else to sing?”… So, unaccompanied I sang “The Mobile Goat.” And they let me sing the whole song [laughs]. And to this day I credit Joan Morrissey with getting me the gig.
DH: Now that you’re back here in Newfoundland, what do you miss most about New York? PB: You know, there’s an energy and a real kind of a feeling of the place that is just so alive and active. I do miss that. I miss being able to go to great theatre. Anytime I had time off, I would try and get to see something else that someone else was doing, and I had the opportunity to see some incredible, incredible work while I’ve been down there… there were a bunch of shows that were just about to open, who were having previews and things, which I’m sad to have not been able to see. I miss all the people in my company, all the cast and the crew. There’s a whole
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family there. We now have Zoom and Skype chats and things, which are great and I’m very grateful for that, but you miss being able to be with people in person. And the great food. New York is a city of great food. I do miss that.
DH: Since you’ve been home, you’ve been keeping busy. I understand you did the virtual Terry Fox Run. And you’re involved with the musical Tell Tale Harbour. Can you tell us about that? PB: That was so much fun... they’re workshops, so they’re still hashing out what the show is. They’ve reached the point of having a draft, and it’s always a very healthy thing to have that read out loud by people and get feedback on what they think the play is and what it’s accomplishing. Jillian Keiley is the dramaturge and director… Ed Riche [author of Rare Birds] has been brought on to do the writing of the book of the show, and Alan Doyle is writing the music with Bob Foster, who actually is the musical director for Come From Away in Toronto. Adam Brazier is the artistic director of the
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Petrina Bromley’s Slate Born St. Rita’s Hospital, Sydney, NS. (My dad worked for CBC Radio and they moved him around a lot. We moved back to Newfoundland not long after.)
Education Bishop James Mahoney High School, Saskatoon, SK (Did I mention we moved a lot?); MUN School of Music
First Theatrical Role In Grade 8, in the chorus of Scrooge and Friends, a musical version of A Christmas Carol.
Favourite Musical Grey Gardens by Michael Korie, Scott Frankel and Doug Wright.
Pick Someone to Play You If it’s a drama, Kate Winslet. If it’s a comedy, Rachel Dratch.
Biggest Inspiration It’s a long list. I know so many women whose drive and creativity inspire me constantly, but Jillian Keiley has been a driving force in my own life and career for a long time. She’s fearless creatively and one of the kindest, most generous people I know. 62
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Confederation Centre of the Arts in PEI in Charlottetown, and this is their project, so he commissioned it. And Adam is also involved in the writing. The four of them are doing it. So, it’s a kind of a reworking or reimagining of The Grand Seduction, which was originally a French film called Seducing Dr. Lewis… They’ve deviated from it in many ways, but there are parts of it that are very much the same as well. It’s still the story of a rogue Newfoundlander trying to save his community, and they have to have a doctor to do it. It’s really, really fun. I mean, the music is Alan, so it’s all really upbeat, fun, smart music. And Ed, of course, is such a funny, funny writer. So it’s going to be quite the piece when they get it done. They’ll move on to other workshops now and continue the process, so it’s a little while from actually being on stage. But it was really amazing to be a part of that, to sit in a room with other people and talk about theatre. My inner theatre nerd was basking in every moment… the room was big enough that we could socially distance and sing together. You don’t notice how much you miss something until you get a chance to do it again.
DH: What other interesting things have you been up to since coming back to the island? PB: I have been doing a bunch of these virtual runs. I have a treadmill, so I can do it at any point in time... if I can raise some money for an organization while I’m doing something I do all the time anyway, then why not? Plus it’s such a great motivator, to participate in these things and be 1-888-588-6353
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part of a community in some way, shape or form. I’m also teaching online at Grenfell. I’ve been teaching a master class for third and fourth years. We’re trying to do some singing online [laughs], which is very challenging. But it’s like a basics of singing is what I’m teaching them, and some music theory and stuff like that… And I’m writing a show for Persistence Theatre, a local company here in town. They’re doing a whole digital, online season of one-woman shows, calling it It’s Women’s Play… so I’m writing a script called “What Hangs in the Balance,” and it’s loosely, very loosely, about the Catherine Snow murder case. She was the last woman hanged in Newfoundland, in 1834. A lot of people claim that she haunts the courthouse. And in 2012, the Historical Society actually did a retrial of her case… and she was acquitted.
DH: This pandemic has been tough on everyone, in different ways, and there’s so much divisiveness in the world right now, it can be hard to stay positive. How have you stayed positive throughout this, and has your
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role in Come From Away helped you look on the bright side of things? PB: I’ve been part of telling this incredible story of generosity and kindness for years now. And I think this is a time when we all need to be very generous with each other and very kind and gentle to each other, because everybody’s experiencing their own version of the pandemic. And for some people, they’re taking bigger risks because of their jobs: first responders and health care workers and even in the early days, the people who were on the front lines in our grocery stores and all of our service industry people who were out there still working. Those people also then go home and have kids and have lives and have other concerns. They have mortgages and rent to pay and all that kind of stuff. So, I think we just need to give everybody space. Everybody’s gonna have a bad day or 10 or 20. And I think if I’ve learned anything from the show it’s that, you know, just be generous with people in terms of accepting that there’s a lot going on that is bigger than us… we get through these things together. It’s the only way.
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My father recently
sent me off on a quest to explore one of the most offbeat Newfoundland and Labrador “holidays” – Tibb’s Eve. He started it by telling me, “There was a family nearby, the Browns, who were good hands telling a story using expressions that probably went way back hundreds of years to Ireland or England. If some person was a bit lazy about getting his barn painted they would say, ‘Don’t worry, I have it on good authority he will have it painted by Timm’s Eve.’ Same thing about a loan of a tool to anyone who had selective amnesia about returning things promptly: ‘Yes, my boy, he will rush that back to you Timm’s Eve.’” They called it Timm’s Eve, but the meaning was the same as the more common Tibb’s Eve – “a time neither before nor after Christmas,” Dad explained, which meant a time that didn’t exist. So anything that would happen then, really wouldn’t happen at all. “It was not a specific date like it has come to mean now,” he said.
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Some of the oldest local references I could find to Tibb’s Eve bear out this interpretation. It was never meant as a disparagement on any person or a family name, it was simply shorthand for saying never. A 1906 Newfoundland book called Adventures of Billy Topsail
The Dictionary of Newfoundland English carries a similar interpretation, noting the origins are uncertain but that it is also called “Tib’s Eve” or “Tip’s Eve” or “Tipsy Eve,” and it originally meant simply “a day that will never come” or never. One theory of Tibb’s Eve’s origin
In any case, a more recent and secondary meaning is “a day of two before Christmas,” when men would go from house to house in the afternoon to visit and perhaps sample each other’s holiday home brew. describes a scene where a sailing vessel captain gets in battle with an unrelenting pan of ice: “Sure,” said Billy, after a glance to the bridge, “he’ll hit that pan till he smashes it, if it takes till Tibb’s Eve!” “Tibb’s Eve?” “Sure, b’y. Does you not know what that is? ’Tis till the end o’ the world.” Those who wrote letters to the editors of St. John’s newspapers in a bygone era employed the phrase Tibb’s Eve to take a dig at slow moving political bureaucracy, as in this example from the Terra Nova Advocate and Political Observer in 1880: “…works of improvement and passing resolutions to take effect at Tibb’s Eve, a date the Board of Works doesn’t recognize.” 66
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links it to a fictitious St. Tibbs; another is that it’s a corruption of the proper name Tabitha, or a nickname for some person whose personal story or morals reflected an unlikelihood of achieving canonization (the process of being made a saint in the Catholic Church). In any case, a more recent and secondary meaning is “a day or two before Christmas,” when men would go from house to house in the afternoon to visit and perhaps sample each other’s holiday home brew. To that end it is sometimes associated with a chance to have a drink early. Nowadays, local eating and drinking establishments have taken on Tibb’s Eve as festive event. On Facebook there’s a community 1-888-588-6353
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group called “Celebrating Tibb’s Eve on Dec 23rd,” all about this uniquely Newfoundland and Labrador tradition. One entry quotes Dr. Phillip Hiscock, folklore professor at Memorial University, explaining that Tibb’s Eve as a day of visiting and drinking seems to have begun after the Second World War and originated on Newfoundland’s south coast. One of the great fans of Tibb’s Eve is Ron Delaney of Bay Robert’s, NL, who has written about it in his blog, “Delaney’s Rant.” He recently shared with me his deep familial connection to Tibb’s Eve. “For us, Tibb’s Eve was not all about alcohol as it is sensationalized today – which is sad. It was preparation to ensure the house and soul were ready for the season and that there was not much to do but celebrate. My grandfather brought the tradition from Dunfield, Trinity Bay, to our clan,” he says. “Tibb’s Eve is a special day for me and the Hurdle/Delaney Clan. It has been for generations… It was a time of sampling and ensuring all preparations for Christmas were taken care of. That included ensuring the baking
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was done, various rooms in the house were painted – the smell of fresh paint always reminded me of Christmas – and plenty of food and beverage was on hand.” Ron notes that it was a particularly wonderful time of anticipation and special treats for him and his young relatives. “As a child, I remember going downtown Harbour Grace with some of my siblings, taking Pop to run his errands. These were exciting times, as we knew that in only days the big fellow would be here and, more immediately, we knew that when we went back to Nan and Pop’s there would be sampling. As children, it was a chance to taste Purity syrup and Christmas cake, but in later years as adults there was a chance for a ‘dram’ of liquor in a small Legion glass,” he recalls. “Today, this celebration has kind of exploded into a new tradition for many; they have been introduced to another part of our culture. I hope they celebrate it in the means for what I think it was intended – to prepare, make sure all is right, and get your heart ready to accept and welcome Christmas.”
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life is better Sunset ride at Tom Luscombe River. Eldred Allen, Rigolet, NL
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explore
Story and photos by Dennis Flynn
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The late August afternoon
sun sends an indigo shadow across the grass, elongating the image of the train conductor standing in front of Avondale artist Rosemary Byrne. She says with a smile, “Wow, he really looks the part, doesn’t he? I can almost believe he is a long-gone railway worker directing a train that has figuratively, and literally in this case, reached the end of the line.” I grin and say, “He’d be kept on for sure if the Bullet or the Trouter’s Special was still on the go. We’d get a berth and a job for him aboard somewhere.”
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Above: This building is the oldest existing railway station in the province. Right: Station museum artifacts from the heyday of rail in Newfoundland
The “conductor” and museum volunteer, Andrew Power, responds good-naturedly, “Never mind about that. I don’t think the pay and pension plan would be that good. Only thing running on the St. John’s to Port aux Basques mainline railway is ghost trains these days. Except for us on this little section of track, of course; we’re still here and keeping on running strong.” 72
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We are at the Avondale Railway Station. Constructed in the late 1800s, it’s the oldest existing railway station in the province and the site of a wonderful museum. “Right now, in addition to being the oldest remaining station, Avondale has the last remaining mainline tracks, which run about 1.8 kilometres from the main building and head towards Brigus Junction,” explains 1-888-588-6353
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“Right now, in addition to being the
oldest remaining station, Avondale has the last remaining mainline tracks, which run about 1.8 kilometres from the main building and head towards Brigus Junction”
Avondale Mayor Owen Mahoney. “The station was closed for quite a number of years for a variety of reasons, but with government grants, the cooperation of town council, MP Ken McDonald and many groups, plus a lot of volunteers helping out, we have been able to restore this beautiful building.” He continues, “I grew up in Avondale all my life, and I live close to the
station, and as a child this station was always where we came to see what was happening, to hear the news and to be around others. I put many a penny on that track when the trains ran years ago to flatten them out, but that was the thing was done when we were boys.” He adds, “My uncle John Parsley worked on the railway, and I used to be able to get on sometimes with a [Canadian
Mayor Owen Mahoney grew up in Avondale when this train, rather than parked, would be moving down this track. www.downhomelife.com
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About
the Museum Five train cars on display outside, including a dining car The station building, more than 100 years old, is a Provincial Heritage Structure Avondale was a key connection for passengers and freight bound for Conception and Placentia Bays Station was closed when the provincial railway service ended in the 1980s The station museum houses exhibits about the railway, and about historical life in Avondale and surrounding area 74
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National] CN pass and ride the train now and then, and it was wonderful – the stuff of lifelong memories.” Local resident Ted Doyle Jr. joins the conversation with his own memories of the Avondale station. It was his home at one time. “I lived in and grew up in this station,” he says. “I was five years old when my family moved here around 1971. We came over from the west coast near Stephenville Crossing. We were a family of nine in total. Dad was transferred here as the station agent, so the railway housed his family upstairs.” One of the upstairs rooms in the museum is a furnished bedroom on display. “It was always full of people coming and going, and energy. This was the spot to be in Avondale,” Ted recalls, then reveals that “we were the last family to ever live in this building. My mother actually passed away here in the station in December of 1983, and we moved out in March of 1984. We were all very sad to go, but that was it, what could you do? Dad got transferred to a new job in Bishop’s Falls until the railway finally closed down for good across the province.” The caboose on display in the Avondale yard is dedicated to Ted Doyle Sr., “and some of his models of the station he built are still on display in the museum, so when I am up here, all the time I feel the connections.” Mayor Mahoney sees me eyeing some of the rolling stock on the track. He graciously lets me and a friend try a short, supervised spin up a portion 1-888-588-6353
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of the track and back. Pumping those hand carts gave us a real feel for some of the manual labour that section crews would have encountered on the old days maintaining tracks. I’m told that soon the museum will add a speeder (a motorized version) to the collection. Salvaged from the former Trinity Loop Amusement Park, after some refurbishing it could be on site and running next summer. Meanwhile, Rosemary continues to work away while Andrew patiently poses. She was something of a fixture here all summer. “It has been lovely to sit here in the open air outside on nice days and, respecting all the social distancing and public health guidelines, work on paintings and
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sculptures. We have also had other painters, knitters, rug hookers, and a variety of talented folks drop by informally to work on their art projects and share stories and memories of the station,” she says, and recalls a railway memory of her own. “When I was a teenager, I travelled by myself all the way across the island on train departing from Avondale, and eventually continued up to the mainland for a summer visit. It was a simpler, wonderful time, and I remember the bustle and the energy around this old building as I sat waiting on a bench in the very same spot I am sitting now. I can’t put into words how good it feels to see positive things moving here again.”
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explore
While we can’t fly away for a winter holiday this year, there’s plenty of fun and adventure in snowmobiling that even a pandemic can’t ruin. By Sue McFadden
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Photo courtesy of ISMA
It’s been a tough year, hasn’t it?
We’ve had to keep steering toward the positives through what has seemed like a nonstop blizzard of scary news and global anxiety. With Newfoundland and Labrador being among the least hit provinces with the COVID-19 virus, many would call that the biggest positive of all. Ours has remained a relatively safe province in terms of active cases and pandemic growth, and most residents seem inspired to work together at keeping it that way. This winter many families are expected to pursue snowmobiling as a lifestyle activity they can do together. Maybe we can’t go on a winter holiday to some warm, sunny tropic, but we have this amazing alternative right here at home. “Snowmobiling is one of the best activities that we can do because you’re typically distanced anyway,” says Tony Sheppard, general manager of Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation. With the recreational vehicle industries in both Canada and the US reporting a marked increase in the sale of snowmobiles, ATVs and boats this year, it looks like a winter staycation is going to be likely for a lot of people in the 2020-21 season. Tony says he expects to see an increase in the number of sledders on the www.downhomelife.com
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groomed trails and around NL’s breathtaking backcountry. “Based on the activity levels that we’ve seen from recreational dealers, vehicle sales are through the roof,” he explains. “So we can anticipate we’re going to have a busier season this year than we had last year, and last year was a record season.” And, really, snowmobiling is ideal as a safe and healthy family outing. In light of the pandemic, with its social restrictions and contagion concerns, families can go snowmobiling together in their extended bubbles and have a great time without compromising personal safety or
the safety of others. “The only potential issue could be with the social activity that revolves around warm-up shelters and campfires,” Tony notes, “but the COVID-19 rules and regulations are ingrained into our lives now, so I don’t think it’ll be any different with the shelters. When people go anywhere that’s not their own home, they put on a mask and they socially distance. This won’t be any different.” In normal circumstances, our province hosts winter visitors from all over North America who come to revel in its incredibly beautiful scenery and groomed snowmobile
COVID-19 Guidelines for Safe Snowmobiling Maintain social distancing outside of your bubble, whether on the trails or in the warm-up shelters Don’t socialize in the middle of trails Observe the new, highly visible signage in warm-up shacks Always have masks and hand sanitizer in your gear bag 78
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trails. Happily, it can still be enjoyed this season by anyone who lives within the Atlantic bubble. While Newfoundland and Labrador’s borders are closed to tourists from the rest of the world right now, NLSF says snowmobilers from Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick are heading across the channel to ride here. When planning a family or couples snowmobiling staycation, a lot of big and little enjoyments can be incorporated into the trip. For the kids, it can be an opportunity to learn winter survival skills, including how to start a campfire or build a shelter. They can also create snow people or snow sculptures outside the warm-up shelters. Consider bringing along the makings for s’mores, or banana boats, or just hot dogs, and have a boil-up along the way. You can travel the groomed trails to multi-use public areas for snowshoeing, ice fishing or winter hiking. Why
not incorporate some sightseeing side trips to places like the Lomond Sinkhole near Wiltondale in Western Newfoundland or the Gaff Topsails in Central? Couples can plan an amazing sledding getaway by seeking out ideal cabin accommodations (especially those with a hot tub). There are numerous restaurants, gas stations and retailers along the trails that offer hot drinks, great meals and places to stay. Just google “snowmobile sightseeing in NL” to get lots of good ideas for places to ride, or for guided tours or machine rentals. You can also visit www.newfoundlandlabrador.com for a wider range of information and suggestions for planning your trip. We’re certainly not out of the woods as far as moving beyond the bubble goes, but it’s a perfect year to take advantage of being in the woods and enjoying every positive thing our province has to offer in winter.
Photo courtesy of ISMA
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TRADITIONAL
SUNDAY SUN NDAY DINNER DINNER R
Songs & Stories
d’arcy d arcy a y Broderick Broderic & Kevin Evans Ev va ans SUNDA AY Y’S 1:000 - 4:30 PM Join us each and every Sunday for “An afternoon of Songs, Stories and Sunday Dinner” with D’Arcy Broderick and Kevin Evans. W Wee will be serving up our Traditional T raditional Newfoundland Sunday Dinner with all the fixings...so if you’re not in the mood to cook Sunday Dinner,, come on down to Broderick’s Pub and allow us Dinner to cook Sunday Dinner for you as you listen to some of the most beautiful ballads performed by two of Ireland’s and Newfoundland’s Musical Pioneers.
201 201 WATER WATER T SSTREET TREET SST. T. JOHN JOHN’S, ’S, NL
“ If music be the food of life, welcome to Broderick’s Pub“
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201 WATER T STREET ST. JOHN’S, NL
EVERYDAY
SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH
MOLSON
PINTS $ 00
THE LARK IN THE MORNING 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
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d’arcy Broderick Broderick in Ev va ans & Kevin Evans
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$
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explore
Dennis Flynn shares his discoveries on the Heart’s Ease Beach Trail
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Passing by the
resting figure of St. Alban the Martyr, I stop mid-stride as I spot the arrow passing by about eye level, and I am immediately taken aback. The hunting weapon of the Beothuk, an extinct indigenous people whose land this once was, hangs in the air. It is perhaps the most apt and poignant directional signage marker I have ever seen on a trail, anywhere. A reminder that others have long trod these routes before us. A simple declaration on a sign at the trailhead in Gooseberry Cove, Trinity Bay, NL, states, “We respectfully acknowledge that this land and these waters are the ancestral territory of indigenous peoples. This reproduction of a Beothuk arrow will lead you on your way.”
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With that I embark upon the roughly 3.1-kilometre looping trail that leads through the forest to stunning Heart’s Ease Beach, striking headlands, a small pond, and even a sea arch that resembles an elephant contemplating an intriguing island just offshore. I stretched out the hike to roughly six kilometres by exploring almost every little side track and climbing up all the various lookouts to take in the sweeping vistas of the beach and headlands. This trail starts and ends at the Anglican Church of St. Alban the Martyr. The current building – which dates back to September 5, 1928, when the cornerstone was laid – is very easy to spot with its distinctive towering blue steeple. The path is short, but mighty in terms of all there is to see. For a photographer or a hiker, it is a joy. For a 84
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sea kayaker (with the right training, gear and ideal weather conditions), it presents a number of possible meandering routes running from Gooseberry Cove along the tombolo beach, passing by pocket coves amid the cliffs and reaching to the postcard pretty community of Southport with its rich shipbuilding history. (Photographers should note that the remains of a schooner hugging the shore in Southport makes a dramatic image to capture at low tide). The Southwest Arm Historical Society website notes, “The abandoned community of Heart’s Ease Beach, located between Gooseberry Cove and West Random Head, was amongst the earliest European migratory fishing stations in Newfoundland and is believed to have been frequented from the early 1500s by French Basques, and from 1-888-588-6353
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the late 1500s by English migratory ships from the south of England.” But this history of utilization goes back much further, as the website explains: “It occupies a relatively sheltered location and its large shingle beach for drying salt cod near once productive cod fishing grounds made it a most attractive fishing site over the centuries. In 1991, L. Dean found Maritime Archaic Indian stone tools there, and these have since been confirmed by archaeologists to date back approximately 4,000 years. Before the arrival of the Beothuk in Newfoundland circa 50 AD, Heart’s Ease Beach would
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undoubtedly have been frequented by the Dorset Eskimos.” Strategically placed storyboards explain the flora and fauna of the area, the history of the migratory fishery, backgrounds of early European settlers and the various indigenous cultures that all converged at this special place where the pavement yields to pathways at a hidden jewel of a location. There is more to say, but I will conclude by simply noting it is well worth the drive off the beaten routes to come explore for yourself. Easing your heart at Heart’s Ease Trail might just be the perfect cure for whatever ails you.
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Lakeside
Living
This cabin-turned-home bathroom design ticks every box Story by Janice Stuckless | Photos by Candace Kennedy
When
Gertrude and Robert Bradbury decided to turn their Pinchgut Lake cabin into their full-time home, they embarked on a massive renovation that increased the footprint of the building, added some desired comforts and updated the style. To help them achieve all this, they hired Holly Costello Interiors.
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“The entire renovation was extensive but necessary to turn a part-time weekend getaway into a full-time home with all the necessary amenities for everyday living,” says Holly. The new upstairs bathroom is a good example of adding more than just function to this home. In the original layout, the principal bedroom and bathroom were located off the main living area. This new, larger bathroom is upstairs on the opposite www.downhomelife.com
side of the cabin facing the water. Huge windows let in plenty of gorgeous natural light. The couple’s existing clawfoot tub was relocated to the new bathroom and set in front of a window, where a soothing soak meets a calming view of the lake. It sets the tone for a woodland oasis, where the warm pine walls and ceiling, and soft-toned tile floor, combined with the lake view, bring the outside in. December 2020
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A separate shower features custom tiles of pale cream natural slate, matching the floor. The double vanity with floor-to-ceiling drawers and cupboards provides plenty of storage and room to share. The integrated lighting in the vanity is one of Gertrude’s favourite features of this room, designed to give optimal lighting for makeup and styling. Her other favourite feature is one that is both fun and convenient – a laundry shute. It’s contained inside a custom linen cabinet in the bathroom and connects to another custom cabinet in the laundry room below. Talk about form and functionality of design. 90
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The real fun part of any redesign, says Holly, is choosing the colours, patterns, fabrics and other finishing touches that give the room its character. One of her favourite choices for this room is the deep green colour of the vanity. “I wanted to use a pop of colour for the vanity cabinet to make it a focal point in the room, and provide a beautiful contrast against the yellow wood tones in the pine walls and ceilings,” Holly says. “To define some detail in the vanity, I had the cabinet shop, Quality Cabinetry & Carpentry Ltd., add a dark glaze to highlight specific sections of the custom doors and drawer fronts, which they executed beautifully.” Some of the other finishes to this space were very specifically chosen for their sentimentality, an emotion you may not think of bringing into a
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bathroom design, but why not? The beautiful framed silk art hanging above the clawfoot tub originally hung in the formal living room of the couple’s former family home. “I think this brings some drama into the space, and the colours are the perfect complement to the green vanity,” says Holly. At the entrance to this bathroom, which has no door, is a lovely cushioned seating area. This antique settee had belonged to Gertrude’s grandmother, and now it brings grace and style to this corner of their new home. “The end result of this design,” says Holly, “is a principal bathroom retreat encompassing the homeowner’s elegant and traditional style, paired perfectly with the rustic cabin setting.”
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HOME and Cabin
Home Style for the
Holidays Interior designer Marie Bishop’s advice for making “all things merry and bright!”
Simply placing candles, pine or fir boughs and pine cones in various areas of your home will add a feeling of holiday warmth.
The season is upon us...
and after the year we’ve had, it’s time to reflect, take stock and celebrate. It’s a time to be mindful of others in our community, enjoy the connections we have with our neighbours and friends, and gather together with our families. And even though this year they may be smaller, rest assured, there will be gatherings. Whether you’re over the top with your Christmas décor or you’re a minimalist, there are numerous ways to make your home a warm and magical place for the holidays. The tree is usually the traditional centrepiece, but there are so many other areas where you can showcase your style and creativity. 92
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Rustic, natural, neutral or glam – decide on your look and then run with it. For instance, your dining table: nothing feels more magical than a visual invitation to sit and enjoy a holiday meal with loved ones in whimsical surroundings. It’s easy to create an enchanting winter wonderland setting where you can showcase a fabulous meal and relax for the evening with your guests.
Start with a white linen table cloth, then add groups of three or five white pillar candles down the centre of the table (the battery operated ones with remote control are best). Vary the heights by using white or crystal candle sticks, leaving some sitting on the table, preferably in tall glass vases. The more reflective items there are the better. Use a sparse garland of cedar or pine woven around the candles. Add touches of white florals, such as white versions of poinsettias, roses, carnations etc. If it’s a setting you plan to www.downhomelife.com
keep on display for a week or two, it’s best to use artificial flowers unless you’re good with replacing them every three or four days. Then add groups of small white, silver or gold ornaments throughout, or choose another colour (such as green or red) as the accent and add touches of that. White linen napkins wrapped around the cutlery on white china plates, with water and wine glasses to the side, finish off the look. If white isn’t your china colour, use your accent colour for plates and napkins to give that sophisticated, yet whimsical look. December 2020
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Depending on the size of your table you can always add more accessories, such as glass or acrylic reindeer, snowflakes, silver trees... anything that will add more glitz and sparkle. Once the chandelier light is dimmed and the candles are lit, your table will glow and your guests will linger.
A wreath for your door is a given as entrances are a great place to welcome the warmth of the season. If you have a seat or bench, a seasonal toss cushion, comfy throw, stuffed teddy bear and even a Christmas storybook evoke childhood memories. If there’s a table in your entrance, create a Christmas vignette to add whimsy. Poinsettias, pine cones, a few candles and the jolly old man himself, all placed on a round serving tray offer a tidy seasonal greeting. You could add a few vintage ornaments or Christmas cards from years gone by to showcase holiday memories.
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Any small side or console table in the house is another excellent place to paint a holiday scene, and this can be repeated in several places. Three or four small boxes wrapped in brown paper and trimmed with plaid ribbon, a sprig of fir or pine tucked into the ribbon and a few candles will brighten a dark corner with Christmas delight. Whatever your decorating style, remember to enjoy the holidays. Don’t get overwhelmed by your to-do
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list; buy cookies instead of baking them; use gift bags instead of wrapping paper, or let your locally owned retailer wrap for you. One of the advantages of buying local – most offer the wrapping service for free. Reconsider your gift choices. Friends would probably rather an invitation to coffee or lunch than an object they really don’t need. As this most unusual year draws to a close, stay safe, and enjoy your friends and families this holiday season.
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HOME and Cabin
How this downtown workshop gets everyone in the holiday spirit BY JANICE STUCKLESS
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THEY DON’T LIVE AT THE NORTH POLE,
and she’s not Mrs. Claus (that we know of!), but Janice Puddicombe does have help from a bunch of “elves” in a workshop making little tin men and all the assorted decorations that go into the annual Christmas window display at Jenkins & Puddicombe on Hamilton Avenue in St. John’s, NL. She’s been designing these displays for more than 25 years, and they are the talk of the town. Jenkins & Puddicombe was founded in 1983 by Janice’s father, Arthur Jenkins, and her brother-in-law, Bob Puddicombe. Much of their work is in heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) installation, and they specialize in stainless-steel: commercial kitchens, hospital labs, brewery production lines, ship galleys etc. They also do smaller custom jobs, such as kitchen hoods in private homes, and metal work for garages and autobody shops. “For the general public coming in, we supply the old-school stuff, like a bit of smoke pipe for people’s wood stoves, that kind of thing,” Janice explains. “Anything out of metal at all, they can make it.” Janice came to work there decades www.downhomelife.com
ago, “answering phones and taking care of customers and stuff coming in,” she says. Her husband, Bert, is a sheet metal worker. He does estimates for the company. Her sister Miranda, who’s married to Bob (Bert’s brother – the two sisters married two brothers), is in charge of health and safety. Another brother, John Puddicombe, does fabrication. This is truly a family business. Currently six other employees round out their staff of 11. “There’s a lot of sheet metal companies around, but they’re not specializing in a lot of the smaller things that we can do,” Janice says. Her dad, Arthur, was an “old school” tin smith. “Everything was made by hand years ago, they tapped everyDecember 2020
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thing out with their little tools and that was it. Now today, of course, it’s all done by machinery. But we still have the fellas who can do the small work, tapping it out, because they learned from the guys that started here years ago... Our shop has the old-fashioned tin smith work that we can do, yet we can still keep up with all of the bigger projects with the machinery that we have. So we’re kinda unique in a way.” The window tradition was a dream of Janice’s after the company moved into their current property, the former Newfoundland Foundry building, in 1985. It’s the first time they had a big display window, and Janice was inspired by childhood memories of shopping in old downtown. 98
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“I remember walking down Water Street with my grandmother, doing the Christmas shopping and the raffles, and looking at all the windows. I enjoyed looking at Christmas windows and anytime anybody had a display, I stopped and had to have a look at it,” she fondly recalls. It’s a kind of tradition that she wanted to carry forward. Her husband Bert also provided some of that inspiration. He designed and built a tin man costume to wear to the first ever George Street Mardi Gras in the 1990s, and he won first prize in the coveted costume competition. That Christmas, the tin man starred in Janice’s first holiday window. “The first year that we did it, we had ‘The Night Before Christmas’ [as the theme], and we had the tin man in the chair with the book in his
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hand, and we had the Christmas tree and everything else,” Janice recalls. “When I first started, I didn’t think they’d be as popular as it became.” The tin man became their mascot – Bert wore it in several Christmas parades and it starred in many holiday window scenes. The tin man was even incorporated into the company logo, replacing the more traditional tin-smithing tools graphic. Eventually, the big tin man was retired once the little tin men came along. The little ones gave Janice a lot more to play with, and gave John a lot more work! After Janice and brother-in-law John come up with a plan for what to put in the window, he sets to work painstakingly creating every little tin man and every piece of tin decoration. “That stuff can’t go through a machine, so John makes it all by hand,” Janice says.
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They estimate it takes about 12 hours to make just one little tin man, and John is doing all this in between paid work for clients. Over the past three decades, the Jenkins & Puddicombe window has had more scenes than Janice can probably remember. She’s done Santa’s workshop; outdoor winter fun
fish,’” she laughs. “The kids take it to [be] real. I’m glad the window feels that real to them.” Right after Remembrance Day, the window gets covered in paper to hide the work going on for the Christmas reveal, which Janice and a few helpers work to get done before the downtown parade. A lot of people
with tin men skiing, sliding and hanging out at a hot chocolate stand; even going round and round on a motorized skating rink one year. Janice has decorated for other seasons, too. They’ve celebrated the fall harvest, and gone camping, fishing and bike riding in the spring and summer. Janice loves the reactions people have to her window. “I had one young fellow came there and he had his little girl with him, and she wanted to look at the window. And that year was the one where I had them out in the boat and they were fishing, so it was a summer window. She wanted to wait; she kept saying, ‘No, I want to wait and see if he catches a
park on her street to go watch the parade, and she knows that stopping to admire the window is part of their festive fun. As of press time in October for this issue, Janice already had her vision for Christmas 2020. “This year I’m kinda taking a different approach to it altogether,” she says. “It’s still going to be an outdoor scene, but they’re all going to be individually in their own lanterns,” like old-fashioned street lamps overlooking a downtown street, surrounded by pretty lights and ornaments. The tin men will be like many of us this holiday season, in our own bubbles but sharing in the Christmas spirit.
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life is better Quidi Vidi Village, St. John’s, NL Sheldon Hicks, Portugal Cove-St. Philips, NL
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HOME and Cabin
the everyday gourmet
Have you ever had
Rugelach?
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the everyday gourmet By Andrea Maunder
Andrea Maunder is the owner and creative force behind Saucy & Sweet – Homemade Specialty Foods & Catering.
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When travelling, I’ve always sought out local food markets and grocery stores, even corner stores. I love to take my time browsing the aisles or stands, picking up interesting foods and ingredients. I’ve always preferred to rent a place with a kitchen, so I can cook like the locals. I find it a deliciously immersive way to understand the culture of a place and people. By knowing what they eat, I feel I get to know a little more about who they are. Knowing it may be a while before we are all travelling again, these days I find myself drawn to the foods and flavours of other places: a virtual trip via my tastebuds. Practically every culture has some sort of cookie or sweet little bite, some that are associated with holidays and celebrations. Gingerbread and shortbread cookies are certainly staples on a Newfoundland Christmas cookie tray. In thinking about what recipe to write for you for December, rugelach sprang to mind (pronounced ROO-gul-aahck – with the last syllable having more of a soft guttural sound than a hard k). Rugelach is a traditional Jewish treat, associated with Hanukkah but enjoyed year-round, and originating in Poland. It’s a crescent-shaped tender pastry filled with jam, spiced sugar and dried fruits, nuts or other treats. I discovered them on forays into European-style bakeries and delis in my early 20s when I moved to Toronto for school. I prowled community enclaves like Chinatown, Greektown, Little Italy etc. in search of new and exotic foods. I was always so keenly interested in their cuisine and loved it when my enthusiasm and questions were welcomed by shopkeepers who took the time to share their knowledge with me. Inspired by Hanukkah and Christmas both being in December this year, I have created a recipe using traditional methods, celebrating seasonal flavours and using easy-to-find ingredients. You can switch up the filling flavours to your taste, anything from chocolate to poppyseed. Only thing is to use dried fruit (not fresh) and jams that are not too wet, to preserve the texture of the dough. The dough is incredibly forgiving and December 2020
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easy-to-work, as it contains cream cheese along with butter, so even bakers who are new to pastry can enjoy success. Rugelach hold and freeze well, so go ahead and make up a big batch to share with friends and family.
In a time where we must remain physically distant, I think it’s wonderful that we can embrace the flavours and traditions of others in a simple and tangible way. A lovely way to bring us all together. Happy holidays to you and yours.
Rugelach (makes 32-48 cookies depending on the size you choose) You will need a rolling pin and pastry or pizza cutter. An offset spatula is handy for spreading the marmalade, but a small silicone spatula, butter knife or back of a spoon will do. For the pastry 250 g package of full fat cream cheese (not whipped), room temperature 1 cup room temperature salted butter (half a 454 g block) 1/4 cup white sugar 1 tsp vanilla or 1/4 tsp almond extract 2 1/4 cups flour Filling Up to one cup marmalade (if very coarse, buzz in food processor or blender to chop pieces)
1/2 cup white sugar 2 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp freshly ground nutmeg Zest of one clementine or small orange Tiny pinch salt 1 cup dried cranberries, chopped 1 cup toasted salted pistachios, chopped 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (mini or regular) Milk or cream for brushing pastry (opt) Icing sugar for dusting (opt)
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer (use the paddle or beater blades, not the whisk), cream together cream cheese and butter until light. Add sugar and extract; mix well. Turn mixer to low and add the flour, mixing until just combined. If the dough is still very sticky, add a little more flour but don’t make the dough dry – it is meant to be a soft dough. Divide into four equal balls and then flatten each into a nice round disc. If your kitchen is warm, wrap and refrigerate the dough for a half hour. On a lightly floured board, roll each disc into a 10-inch circle. Try to keep an even thickness and pat and shape the round as you roll it out to keep a nice circle shape. Set them aside on a parchment-lined pan as you work. Let them rest in a cool spot as you prepare the filling. (Again, cover and refrigerate dough if your kitchen is warm.) Mix the half cup of sugar with the ginger, nutmeg, salt and orange zest (you may not use it all). Set aside. Chop cranberries and pistachios, to about the size of rice, into their own bowl. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. 104
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Working with one pastry round at a time (lay it on a bit of parchment so it doesn’t stick to the surface and can rotate as you work). Spread pastry with a very light skim of marmalade. Sprinkle with just enough spiced sugar to lightly cover. Sprinkle a quarter of the cranberries and pistachios evenly over the round. Sprinkle a quarter of the white chocolate chips also, but concentrate them to the outer third of the pastry round (you’ll see this makes the cookies easier to roll up). Using a piece of parchment, press the filling lightly into the pastry. (Parchment keeps your hands from getting sticky. Set it aside to use for the next round.) With the pastry/pizza cutter, cut through the pastry as you would a pie or pizza. Start by dividing in half, then each half again (creating quarters). And then if you want smaller rugelach, divide each quarter in half again (creating 8 triangles) or into 3 pieces (creating 12 triangles). Beginning with the outer (wider) edge, roll each triangle toward the middle. Place on prepared baking pan, point side down and gently curve the outer edges of the dough a little to make a crescent shape.
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Continue with each round until all the cookies are rolled, giving them a little space on the baking sheet. They don’t expand much. If desired, brush with a bit of milk or cream (aids browning, but I don’t bother – I like them with just a hint of browning at the edges). Bake at 350°F for 18-20 minutes for small rugelach, 22-24 minutes for larger cookies. Allow to cool a few minutes on the pan before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar before serving, if you like. They store really well in an airtight container – 7-10 days – and they freeze beautifully.
TIPS! You can switch up the flavours. Try raspberry jam with almonds and chopped apricots; cherry jam with chopped pecans and little chocolate chips; ginger marmalade with raisins and walnuts etc. You can also flavour the sugar differently – swap out ginger and/or nutmeg for cinnamon or allspice. If using cloves, just a pinch will do. Replace clementine zest with lemon or lime zest to work with your fillings. Be sure to use a jam made with pectin that isn’t wet. Fresh fruit is also too wet to use. December 2020
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Recently we asked readers to tell us about the foods they look forward to every holiday season and to share the recipe. Thank you to everyone who responded. Your stories and recipes have left us feeling full. Turn to page 116 to see which of you won the Downhome care package, a reward for taking part in our Everyday Recipes challenge. Happy, tasty holidays, everyone!
Nutmeg Logs “This recipe has been passed down through at least a couple of generations, given to me by my aunt. For many years we would spend Christmas at her place with our children, and these nutmeg logs were always everyone’s favourite. I’d say it’s at least 20 years now since she shared the recipe with me, and I have made them every Christmas since.” – Shane McKay, Mississauga, ON 2 2/3 cups flour 1 tsp nutmeg 1/4 tsp salt 1 cup soft butter 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg 2 tsp vanilla
Frosting 2 tbsp soft butter 1 cup icing sugar rum nutmeg for sprinkling
Stir together flour, nutmeg and salt. In a larger bowl, cream butter, then gradually add sugar. Cream well until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture gradually and knead well into a dough. On lightly floured surface, shape dough with hands by rolling pieces of dough in long ropes 1/2-inch in diameter. Cut ropes into pieces about 1 1/2 inches long. Place one inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes, until light brown on bottom. Do not overbake! Cool well and spread with frosting.
Frosting
Cream 2 tbsp butter. Beat in icing sugar and add a capful of rum for creamy spreading. Spread frosting on cooled logs and then sprinkle with nutmeg. Note: When making the icing, you can add a little more rum to thin it out if it’s too think. And if you accidentally (or on purpose) put in too much rum, you can add more icing sugar to thicken it up.
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Cottage Cheese and Bacon Biscuits “These are great for Christmas morning or brunch anytime. I got this recipe from an elderly client many years ago. It was on an old milk calendar. I have given the recipe to so many people who have asked for it.” – Alice Smith, Tara, ON 2 4 1 2 1
cups all-purpose flour tsp baking powder tsp salt tbsp butter cup cottage cheese
1 egg 1 cup old cheddar cheese, cubed 1/4 cup milk 1/2 cup Ready Crisp bacon
Combine flour, baking powder, salt and butter until crumbly. In a separate bowl, mix together cottage cheese, egg, cheddar cheese, milk and bacon. Add wet mixture to dry. Knead with your hands until it forms a dough. On a floured surface, roll out dough into 3-inch rounds 1/2-inch thick. Place rounds oneinch apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 10-12 minutes or till golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes. Transfer to a stainless-steel bowl and cover with a tea towel to keep biscuits warm and soft. Makes 12-14 biscuits. 108
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Gluten-Free Eggless White Christmas Cake “I created this recipe about 30 years ago for friends and family who advised me they were wheat-intolerant… A word of warning: This cake is very rich! A little goes a long way!” – Claudette Mancini, Burlington, ON 1 box (150 g) coconut milk powder (available in Asian food stores) 3/4 cup coarsely chopped brazil nuts 1 cup slivered almonds 1 cup each of candied red and green cherries 1 cup candied pineapple
1 cup candied mixed fruit, with or without citrus peel (I prefer without) 1/2 cup golden raisins 1 tsp almond flavouring 2 cups blanched almond meal 1 tin Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
Preheat oven to 300°F. In a large bowl, thoroughly combine everything but the sweetened condensed milk. Add milk and mix thoroughly; mixture will be somewhat stiff. Prepare 2 loaf pans with non-stick cooking spray and line them with waxed paper on the bottom and up the sides. Note: Pans can be full. Cake doesn’t “rise.” Place both pans on lowest rack of oven. Bake for 50 minutes. Don’t overbake. Remove from oven and cool in pan on wire rack. Once cakes are cool enough to handle, but not cold, run a sharp knife around edges of pans (or use a plastic utensil if pans are coated with a non-stick coating). Invert the cakes onto a wire rack and carefully remove the waxed paper. Once cooled completely, wrap each cake in a plastic bag and cool thoroughly in the fridge for one or two more days, or even longer, before cutting with knife (wet knife with cold water for clean cutting). Alternately, store cakes in a plastic bag in the fridge or place in the freezer for up to six months. Note: Cake can be easily sliced, but because it is so rich, small slices are probably the best size for serving.
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Ruby Slipper Cake “I mostly bake it Christmas time and decorate it with holly leaves. It’s loved by all who get a chance to taste it.” Barbara Noble, Burlington, NL 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1 pkg white cake mix 1 cup sour cream 1/4 cup water
2 eggs 1 (3 oz) pkg raspberry jelly Icing sugar, just a sprinkle
Sprinkle nuts evenly over the bottom of a greased and floured 10-inch tube or bundt pan. Blend the next four ingredients and beat at medium speed with electric mixer for 2 minutes. Put 1/2 cup of batter into a bowl, sprinkle with jelly powder and blend. Pour 1/3 of the plain batter over the nuts in the pan. Spoon about half the jelly mixture in a 1-inch-wide ring around the centre of pan, keeping away from the sides. Repeat layers ending with white cake batter, spreading it over the jelly mixture to cover. Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes until cake tests done. Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on cake rack. Dust with a little icing sugar and decorate for the holiday. 110
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Cranberry Christmas Cake “This recipe has been our favourite over the years. I suppose it was because there were so many berries in the fall of the year.” Cecilia O’Quinn, St. Mary’s, NL 3 eggs 2 cups sugar 3/4 cup butter, softened 1 tsp vanilla 2 cups flour 12 oz fresh cranberries (or thawed from frozen)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat eggs with sugar until slightly thickened. The mixture should almost double in size. Add butter and vanilla, and mix for 2 minutes. Stir in flour just to combine. Add cranberries and mix throughout. Spread in a buttered 9" x 13" pan. Bake for 40-50 minutes until browned. Check for doneness with toothpick. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
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Tomato Soup Cake (Christmas Edition) “Mom used to make this traditional tomato soup cake recipe at Christmas instead of fruitcake.” Mary Flagg, originally from Grand Falls-Windsor, NL 3/4 cup butter 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 can tomato soup 1 can water 3 cups flour 1 tsp baking soda 3 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup fruitcake fruit and glacé cherries, dredged in flour
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease angel food cake pan or bundt pan. Cream together butter and sugar; stir in soup and water. In another bowl, sift dry ingredients together; stir into wet ingredients and mix well. Fold in fruitcake fruit and cherries. Bake for 50-60 minutes. You can frost with almond paste if you like, but we just ate it plain.
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Overnight Christmas Casserole “I was searching for a quick, easy and delicious morning breakfast last year for my four boys that I could just have ready to pop in the oven while we opened our Christmas presents. Found one! This one is a keeper. (PS: I also chose to add a liberal sprinkling of cinnamon!)” Brenda Luco, Calgary, AB 12 slices day-old bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (Italian bread works best, I have found) 2 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, divided 12 eggs, beaten
2 cups whole milk 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/3 cup maple syrup 1 cup white sugar 2 tbsp cornstarch 1 cup water 1 tbsp butter
Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange half the bread cubes in the dish, and top with cream cheese cubes. Sprinkle 1 cup blueberries over the cream cheese, and top with remaining bread cubes. In a large bowl, mix the eggs, milk, vanilla extract and syrup. Pour this mixture over the bread cubes. Press down the cubes a bit to sort of “soak” them and make them “French toast-like.” Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight. Remove the bread cube mixture from the refrigerator about 30 112
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minutes before baking. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cover and bake 30 minutes. Uncover, and continue baking 25-30 minutes, until centre is firm and surface is lightly browned. Remove from oven and keep warm. In a medium saucepan, bring sugar,
cornstarch and water to a boil. Stirring constantly, cook 3-4 min. Mix in remaining 1 cup blueberries. Reduce heat; simmer 10 min., until blueberries begin to burst. Stir in butter and pour sauce over baked casserole. Serve immediately.
Dad’s Turkey Stuffing “Us kids would stay up till midnight every Christmas Eve helping to chop the veggies and fruit to put in it. Those were the good times.” Vera Hand, Parkland, AB 1 1/2 large boxes soda crackers, toasted and rolled very fine 2-3 lbs pure pork sausage, casings removed 3-4 Macintosh apples, peeled and diced 2-3 medium onions, diced
3-4 stalks celery, diced 1/2 cup dark raisins, chopped 1 tsp parsley 1/2 tsp sage or to taste 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning 2 lbs bacon or fresh pork rind to cover turkey breast
Toast and roll crackers very fine. Add pork sausage. Mix well by hand. Mix fruit and vegetables together really well by hand. Add parsley, sage and poultry seasoning. Mix well. The sausage has a lot of spices in it, so Dad never added salt or pepper. He’d taste for spice when all was mixed, before stuffing the turkey. When stuffed, put turkey in a parchment-lined roaster. Cover breast with bacon or pork rind. Roast in a 300-350°F oven for 6-8 hours depending on bird size. (Also, depending on turkey size, you can reduce or add ingredients to the recipe.)
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Carol Ann’s Gingerbread Cake with Rum Sauce “Our daughter introduced us to this delicious gingerbread cake and sauce, a recipe she got from her husband’s mother. We enjoy it now every Christmas Day at our family gathering. We even started a new tradition, with my daughter baking the cake and her dad making the sauce.” – Ivy Burt, St. Philips, NL 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1
cup cooking molasses cup white sugar cup vegetable oil eggs cups flour tsp powdered ginger tsp ground cloves tsp cinnamon tsp baking soda cup boiling water
Combine together in a large bowl, the molasses, sugar and oil. Mix well, then add eggs and stir together. In a separate bowl, combine flour, ginger, cloves and cinnamon. Add the dry ingredients to the liquid mixture and
combine. Mix together baking soda and boiling water. Stir this into batter. Pour into a greased and floured tube pan and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes. Let cool and remove from pan. Serve with this delicious sauce:
Sauce 1/2 cup butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup whipping cream, not whipped 1 tbsp rum or 1 tsp rum flavouring 1 tsp vanilla Pinch nutmeg
Bring all to a boil in a double boiler. Serve hot over cake. Enjoy!
Joan’s Christmas Fruit Balls “This is my sister’s recipe. We came from a large family and all loved this at Christmas. She is passed on, but this recipe lives on.” Patricia Kent, Thunder Bay, ON 30 quartered marshmallows 2 cups graham wafer crumbs 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1/2 cup red maraschino cherries (halved)
1/2 cup green maraschino cherries (halved) 1 (15 oz) can condensed sweetened milk
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Chill overnight in fridge. Next day, shape into balls. Roll in shredded coconut or crushed peanuts. Store in a covered container in the fridge or freezer. 114
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Dark Christmas Fruitcake “I send [this cake] to friends and family from coast to coast and around the world. It has gone as far as Mongolia and Australia.” Jean Allen, Centreville, NS 1 lb currants 1/2 lb dates (chopped) 3 lbs raisins 2 lbs glazed fruit 6 oz red cherries (chopped) 6 oz green cherries (chopped) 1 cup chopped walnuts 2 cups sliced almonds
Dredge the fruit and nuts with 2 cups of flour. 1 lb butter (melted) 1 cup brown sugar 1 1/2 cups white sugar 1 tbsp lemon extract 1 tbsp almond extract 1 tbsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup sour cream 10 eggs 1/2 cup brandy
Beat above ingredients together until smooth.
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3 1 1 1 1 4 2
cups flour tsp baking soda tsp baking powder tsp nutmeg tsp salt tsp cinnamon tsp allspice
Combine dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Add to fruit and nut mixture; combine well. Line pans with parchment paper. Bake at 250°F for 3 1/2 – 4 1/2 hours, depending on pan size. (If they were small loaf pans you could make 9. I have small round cake tins that make nine 1 1/2 lb cakes. I have also used my large loaf pan which makes four 3 1/3 lb cakes, which I cut in half, giving me 8 cakes. I usually make 3 recipes a year, so I give a lot of fruitcake away. I mix this recipe in a special dishpan I keep just for my fruitcakes.)
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Cherry Cake “This is my favourite dessert at Christmas. My mom would always do her baking a couple of days before Christmas. Because there were 11 children, she had to make a couple of cakes. The thing that’s special about this cake is my mom would spread on her special icing and then I got to help put cherries on top. She told me to make sure I counted the cherries so we would all get one each. Then she would sprinkle coconut on top, like it was flakes of snow. I looked forward to Christmas every year because I loved her cakes.” Brenda Sheppard, Stag Harbour, Fogo Island, NL
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pkg cream cheese cup butter 1/2 cups sugar eggs 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder 2 cups cherries (mix of red and green) White icing, more cherries and shredded coconut for decorating
Cream together cream cheese, butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, blending each one well. Add vanilla, flour, baking powder and cherries; stir to combine. Pour into a greased cake pan and bake at 325°F for 80 minutes. Remove from oven. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan. Ice with your favourite white icing, and top with more red and green cherries and sprinkle with coconut.
Congratulations! Shane McKay of Mississauga, ON, is our random draw winner of the Downhome Holiday Care Package! He’ll be receiving a special stocking filled with down-home goodies. Shane’s winning entry is the Nutmeg Logs recipe on page 107.
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reminiscing flashbacks
Christmas in Cape Broyle Louis O’Brien poses with his one-year-old daughter, Irene, in Cape Broyle, NL, in 1958. “Dad was 36 years old. I was too young to remember this Christmas, but I have always loved this photo,” writes the submitter. Irene O’Brien, Kentville, NS
Christmas Cookie The Clarke family made sugar cookies together every Christmas, a tradition passed down to them by their mother. “During [my mother’s] childhood, sugar was a luxury item and was in short supply, but her mother always made sure to put just enough aside for the Christmas season so that her children could share in the sugar cookie experience.” Adam Clarke, Kentville, NS 118
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Christmas with Nan Three generations of twin girls pose with their matriarch, 94-year-old Anastasia Yetman of St. Mary’s Bay, NL, in 2007. Together for Christmas are Augusta Whelan and Monica Yetman, on either side of Anastasia; Meleny and Melissa Yetman on the outsides; and the youngest, Maria and Grace Bragg. Paula Bragg, Dartmouth, NS
This Month in History St. Stephen’s Day, December 26, 1869, was mild. The oldest inhabitants of St. John’s, NL, could not recall a winter with so little snow or frost. Among those outdoors taking advantage of that year’s unseasonable weather was 26-year-old Frederick Weston Carter. A popular young man, Weston Carter was the son of the attorney general and had recently been called to the Newfoundland bar. Weston Carter and his two companions were walking along the north side of Signal Hill near Round Pond when suddenly they heard shrieks for help. Two girls had ventured out to skate and had fallen through the brittle ice. Weston Carter immediately ran towards them. As he tried to pull the panicking girls to safety, the ice broke under his weight and he fell through. While his companions did their best to raise the alarm and get help, Carter and the two girls sank and were lost. The people of St. John’s raised money to erect a monument to his honour. It stands on Military Road in front of Government House. 1-888-588-6353
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Readers’
Holiday
Memories
From cherished toys to favourite foods, special people and traditional events, everyone has a story about Christmas. Let these readers’ stories take you back and perhaps stir up some beautiful memories of your own.
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The Year Rudolph Came to Town
By Ruth Brown, Glenwood, NL
When I was growing up
there was always a Christmas concert, usually the highlight of the school year. Some children hated it, especially the older boys, while others looked forward to showcasing their various talents. I remember two things about Christmas 1952. The first was my singing part at the concert. The teacher called out the names of the students she had picked to participate in a drill. I was disappointed that my name wasn’t there, but my friend’s was. I cried, but the teacher told me not to worry, she had a part much better suited for my talent. I was to sing “Jolly Old St. Nicolas” all by myself. The second thing that stands out happened during Santa’s visit. It was the custom for everyone in attendance to have a lunch of syrup, sandwiches and cookies after the concert, which was followed by a visit from Santa. There was always a big Christmas tree in the corner adorned with decorations made by the pupils, especially paper chains coloured with crayons and glued together, and lots and lots of tinsel. The parents brought along small gifts for their children that were tied on or placed on the tree. That particular year, there was one special gift up high, close to the star. It was a plush Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer toy. Everyone was oohing and aahing and wondering who the reindeer was for. After the concert and lunch was over, Santa came in the school ringing his bells, and everyone was clapping and singing “Jingle Bells.” Most of the children were excited, jumping up and 1-888-588-6353
down, while some of the smaller ones were frightened to death! Santa started to take the individual gifts off the tree and call out the name of each child, who would then run up and take the gift from Santa. Some parents had to accompany their shy children, who would give Santa a big hug after accepting their gift. After all the other gifts were given out, Rudolph was still on the tree. Santa carefully stood on a chair and lifted Rudolph down. Everyone was silent, hanging on to hear whose gift it was. Finally, Santa called out the name of my five-year-old brother. Dad had my brother in his arms, and as they approached Santa, my brother started to cry. Dad had to take Rudolph from Santa and thank him. Finally, my brother reached out and put his arm around Rudolph’s neck, hugged him tight, then buried his head in Dad’s shoulder. It was the first visit of Rudolph to my small Newfoundland town! December 2020
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Our Last Outport Christmas By Daphne Belbin Tumlin • Houston, TX
In 1952, Christmas crept
into New Chelsea, NL, in the dead of winter when nothing was moving but the rabbits. The short, narrow path from our house to Adelaide and Bill Mansfield’s house looked like a canyon with its tall, white side walls. But the snow and bone-stabbing cold did not keep their two boys, Lester and Billy, at home that Christmas Eve. By 4:00 when it was nearly dark, they arrived at our house to listen to the BBC Christmas Eve programming on the battery-powered radio. Ours was one of only four households in New Chelsea that had a radio. By 5:00 we were ready for our traditional Christmas Eve meal of salt fish and sweet raisin bread, but Lester couldn’t tear himself from the radio. After each carol he would beg to stay for “just one more song.” He was so caught up with the music that when he heard the first sound of jingling bells, he thought it was coming from the radio. But then he 122
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caught a glimpse through the window of the bright red suit and white beard, and he fled to his own house without stopping even to put on his coat and boots. Santa’s bells sent my siblings and me scrambling, too, without having eaten our meal. We jumped into bed and covered our heads in fear and excitement. Santa, perhaps overly 1-888-588-6353
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eager to play his role, had arrived early. Through the bed clothes we could hear him say, in a low, rumbling voice, “A doll for Daphne, a pencil box for Evelyn and Eleanor, and a gun for Calvin.” Evelyn started to say, “But I don’t want a pencil box—” until Eleanor pulled her under the covers and told her to be quiet or we wouldn’t get anything at all. Next morning we spread the contents of our Christmas stockings on our parents’ bed. There were wooden spin tops, chicken wish bones, hazelnuts and walnuts, peppermint knobs and candy canes, and right in the toe of each stocking there was an orange. When we looked under the Christmas tree, Evelyn and Eleanor discovered that it wasn’t just a pencil box that Santa had left, but a brand new double-long sled. Daddy had always had his eye out for a juniper tree with the perfect curve that he could cut down the middle to make symmetrical runners for a slide, and this year he’d found the perfect tree. Calvin got a gun, a set of wooden blocks and a big store-bought spin top; I had a doll and a set of marbles. Santa had never left so many presents before. Christmas Day began with our mother and father sitting by the radio to hear the “Message from the Throne.” The connection to the British monarchy was strong. We were by now a part of Canada, but except for the “baby bonus” cheques,
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nothing had changed. At 10:00 that morning, while the beef and vegetables roasted in the oven, Daddy went out with his friend, Elliott Button, to make the traditional Christmas rounds. While the kids played with our new toys, Mommy brought out from the pantry and placed on the table the globeshaped, sweet-smelling English plum pudding that had been steamed days earlier in a tin mould. Then she prepared a plum sauce. By 1:00 Daddy still had not come home. Mommy fidgeted with the table setting, poked at the fire and paced between the pantry and the kitchen, looking outside each time she passed by the window. Finally, about an hour later, Daddy came stumbling up the steps. Clearly, he had over-indulged in Christmas cheer while on his rounds. He headed straight for the daybed in the corner of the kitchen. Mommy quickly pushed the children up the stairs, but we could still hear everything that was happening. “You can throw up in this pan,” Mommy said, “but it’s the last time you’ll throw up in that pan or in any other pan.” Then we heard the sound of the big white enamel pan whizzing across the kitchen floor. Mommy believed that drunkenness was the lowest form of depravity, and she would not tolerate it in her house. I wonder now whether my father made a promise to her that Christmas Day
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The author’s parents in a photo taken the year after this memorable Christmas because after that he never touched another drop of alcohol for as long as he lived. Despite Daddy’s inebriated state on Christmas Day, Mommy wouldn’t let anything spoil the remaining 12 days of Christmas. We all participated in the voluntary madness of janneying every evening. We went from house to house as soon as darkness fell and the oil lamps in the kitchens were lit. Like every janney, we entertained our hosts until our identity was guessed, then we stayed on for food and drink. Everyone was full of good humour and song. That year my parents seemed to need the hearty laughter and strong music. Or perhaps what they needed was the 124
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security and certainty of their customs as a shield against the unknown world that was slowly encroaching upon them. Years later when my mother recalled that Christmas, I was surprised to learn that she had experienced an aching sadness that was as uncharacteristic as my father’s insobriety. They must have known then that we would leave the outport a few months later, the first of many migrations to come that would take my family farther and farther from our roots. Yet the traditions and love embodied by that Christmas would never leave us. We will always have that outport Christmas in our hearts. 1-888-588-6353
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Through a Child’s Eyes By Nicole Foucault • Gold River, BC
My favourite Christmas memory doesn’t even
involve gifts or food! It was in 1957, the year I turned eight (on December 5). That year, I would attend midnight mass for the very first time! I was so excited!
I distinctly remember wearing my new coat. It was black with white snowflakes. The yellow collar zipped into a soft hood. The leggings were grey. I also wore my new yellow angora hat with the matching mittens. The night was crisp, cold and clear as my family and I walked the two blocks to our Notre-Dame de Lourdes church in Cyrville, Ontario. It was nighttime, but to my surprise, it wasn’t dark. At first the stars were shining, then tiny snowflakes started falling. To me, it was a magical night! I loved the beautiful decorations outside and inside the packed church. Of course, I fell asleep halfway through mass, but I did get to sing some hymns and carols. The voices in the choir were wonderful, but I didn’t dare turn around and look up. I’ve forgotten the gifts I received that Christmas, but if I close my eyes, I can still see the stars, the snowflakes, the lights, the decorations, my new clothes, and I can hear the music of that amazing night for a little girl, a long time ago…
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Christmas, Lights, Reaction!
By Monty & Margaret Hall • Lakeville, NS
Our Christmas story happened in 2019.
We were decorating for the season and decided to put one of our antique tractors on our lawn near the roadway. We put a lot of Christmas lights around the outline of the framework, a large red bow on the tractor front and a large wreath on the back of the tractor seat. We plugged the lights in and went into the house to warm up. Soon there was a knock at the door. It was a new neighbour to our small country village. She said, “I really don’t know you both, but I want to tell you that I drove by your place as you were decorating your tractor and you both gave me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. You made me think of my own parents as they worked together on projects.” We wished her Merry Christmas and hoped she enjoyed the tractor lights in evenings to follow. Now we had a fuzzy feeling! Our great-grandson Clayton gave us another great, though different, reaction. As he and his mom, dad and sister Aria were arriving for a visit one evening, he said, “Oh no! Great-grandpa drove over his Christmas tree lights with his tractor, and now the lights are wrapped all over his tractor!” Now we had a happy, fuzzy feeling, with some belly laughs to ensure a Happy New Year!
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My First Christmas Away from Home
By Lloyd Harris Clarenville, NL
I was born in 1932. In July 1951, I secured work as a rough
carpenter with the bridge and building department of Canadian National Railway in St. John’s, NL. The work location was out of Seal Cove, Conception Bay, where a foreman, a cook and eight employees occupied CN boarding cars and worked at rehabilitation along the railway adjacent to the shoreline at Seal Cove, Upper Gullies and Kelligrews.
It was my first time at work and away from my Port Blandford home for any period of time. I enjoyed the summer immensely. The position was seasonal and was to terminate on December 23, when employees would be laid off. Boarding cars returned to St. John’s until the following spring, when work resumed. On the morning of December 23, instead of getting ready for home, our orders were to join freight trains for Humbermouth to work on washouts along the line to Port aux Basques. We departed Seal Cove and arrived at Humbermouth on Christmas Eve. The foreman and cook went for food supplies. It being the holidays, we were given extras, such as chicken and Christmas cakes. After leaving Humbermouth and into the morning, everything became still. We were not moving. Daylight on Christmas morning found us on a siding at St. Fintans. We would not be proceeding farther west, as all repairs had been completed and we would be returning home on the next available train. Along with the 1-888-588-6353
remaining crew, I spent my first Christmas Day away from home. The day wasn’t all that bad. We had roast chicken with all the vegetables, Christmas cakes, and some members opened their liquor supply to help with the celebration. We were given a choice of returning home on the No. 2 Express. Another employee and I decided to ride our boarding car home, since there was plenty of food on board and we wanted to see as much as we could of the west coast. On Boxing Day we departed St. Fintans and arrived in Humbermouth late at night. All stores were closed, but we found a distributor and bought ourselves a bottle of liquor for our journey home. We left Humbermouth on December 27 and viewed the valley, river, Shell Bird Island, the Man in the Mountain, across the Gaff Topsails and into Bishop’s Falls. After Bishop’s Falls, I arrived home to Port Blandford. During my 41 years of employment, this was the only one spent away on Christmas Day. December 2020
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Christmases in St. George’s By Eva Harview Praught • St. George’s, NL
Can you smell the cinnamon,
raisins and molasses paired with the pungent wood smoke? This smell, deeply steeped in my nostalgia, evokes Christmases in St. George’s on Newfoundland’s west coast in the 1950s and ’60s. As children, we knew Christmas was just around the corner by the aroma of different spices as we entered the door of our modest home after school. Our wonderful mother, Catherine, would be making her Christmas cakes, molasses cookies and sweet raisin bread. Her beige earthenware mixing bowl, wooden rolling pin and beautiful red apron were all ready for the important Christmas rituals. The tea kettle on the back of the wood stove would be purring like a kitten as it simmered, patiently waiting for its thirsty takers to have a mug-up of hot 128
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tea with a freshly baked molasses bun. Visiting Toyland, in the basement of O’Reilly’s store, in December was every child’s dream. Our excitement of Santa Claus grew as we drooled over the sight of little dolls in small plastic cradles, miniature sets of china dishes, paper doll cut-outs and miniature train sets. As the days grew shorter and the evenings longer, the pungent smell of Javex and J-Pine began to permeate our home, as everything had to be cleaned before the decorating began. Mother would 1-888-588-6353
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As the days grew shorter and the evenings longer, the pungent smell of Javex and J-Pine began to permeate our home, as everything had to be cleaned before the decorating began. decorate with pretty coloured crepe paper streamers, strung from corner to corner and attached to the centre of the ceiling with a crepe paper bell. The windows, draped in their winter curtains, sported Christmas wreaths with little trinkets. The kitchen and dining tables were spread with Christmas cloths and topped with centrepieces of artificial fruit and nuts. Our brother Billy was assigned the difficult task of finding the perfect Christmas tree; it had to meet the expectations of Mom and his sisters. He’d venture into the forest behind our home with his axe and return with two trees in tow; parts of the second tree were used to improve the first if need be. Christmas Eve presented a lot of hustle and bustle, as the tree had to be decorated and the rabbit pie made before we headed out to celebrate midnight mass at St. Joseph’s church. It was tradition to have rabbit pie after mass. On Christmas morning we all sprung out of bed to see “What had Santa left for me?” One year, I got a laundry kit – a little wash tub, scrub board, clothesline, miniature clothespins and a little box of Rinso laundry detergent. Santa must have seen me admiring that at O’Reilly’s. During the Christmas season, our home was filled with love and laughter. Our mother had a cozy way about 1-888-588-6353
her, granting every visitor a lovely lunch and a soothing chat. She could have been Mrs Claus in another lifetime. On the daybed, across from the wood stove, our father Willie would reminisce of Christmases past. The funny twists he added to the many tales would have our neighbours shaking with laughter. Mummering was very popular. As children we were very excited to dress up in adult clothing stuffed with pillows, our faces disguised with lace curtains and pillow cases. We would knock on the doors of our neighbours, and in a growling voice we would ask, “Any mummers allowed in?” We were treated with fruit cake, Purity syrup and coloured hard candy. Each day of our Christmas holidays was filled with outdoor fun, such as skating on the frozen pond down by the train tracks, sliding on Bennetts’ Hill and building snow forts. Our cheeks were always rosy red and we were full of energy.
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reminiscing flashbacks
Letters for Christmas by Chad Bennett
“Where are you from?”
I asked as he sat down next to me on the edge of the pier, breath falling out, shoes sent to explore the space between falling and flying. “Sagona, Thomas Quann. You?” He extended a leathery paw, warm and worn. Shaking his hand, I replied, “Jack Driscoll, from St. John’s, nice to meet you.” “Have you heard the latest?” I shifted my seat. “Only that the captain is injured or sick or something and that we won’t be sailing anytime soon. We should know more this evening after the doctor’s been to see him.” Silence filled our ears. I couldn’t tell you how long we sat 130
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watching the Thames run away to the sea. We both knew that if we didn’t set sail within the next two weeks, we wouldn’t get home for Christmas. A holiday away, in foreign London, in the year 1810, sat heavy. “Are you hungry?” he asked. I looked up from that far away feeling. “Yeah, I could eat. Do you know anywhere good?” “I walked past a newly opened spot called the Hindoostane Coffee House. Food from India apparently.” “What do they eat there?” “Something called curry. It looks interesting.” “What is it?” Thomas smiled, shrugged. “Uh, well... it’s cheap.”’ “I’m in.” Our host and restaurateur, Sake Dean Mahomed, was gracious and understanding. He himself had been away from his family since moving to London to open the restaurant, but if all went well he would see them soon. He sent us out into the nestling London night mouths tingling, bellies full and warm, with thoughts of family ringing along the cobbles. The cabbie brought us as far as our meagre coppers would take us and we made our way on foot up Pall Mall towards the Thames. The gasmen – the lamplighters, as they are known – began igniting the streetlights as we passed. Only a few years earlier, Pall Mall became the first street on Earth to be lit by gas streetlights. The fixtures, shaped like 1-888-588-6353
cut diamonds, played their exciting light upon the street. “We won’t see anything like this back home,” I said. Thomas nodded along. “No, nothing like this. Although on occasion – very special occasion, mind – we all gather near the Whites’ home to build a bonfire.” Thomas smiled with inward eyes. “These bonfires are enormous, seemingly bigger every year. The whole island is bathed in orange gold, like the warmest summer day, even in the teeth of winter. Then a Keeping or three will start to sing; Arch Skinner on the fiddle; everyone dancing; secret laughs from unseen corners. I have to climb the hills that ring the snug little harbour just to see it, you know, to make sure it’s real. I look out over the dark ocean and then back down at the warm glow of the village, that sort of warmth can get you through. I have a wife and three children, I’ve never missed a Christmas before.” Thomas grew quiet and our feet kept rhythm. “I know what you mean,” I began. “On a still winter’s night, I enjoy strolling my small corner of the world just to see the warm light spilling out of the windows around me. I then find my way to the front of my home, and from the opposite side of the street I try to understand the feeling which plays its way through me. I smell the cold and know that those lights are for me; I feel the crystalline crunch on my skin and know that the warm glow across the December 2020
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“Alright, I’ll skip to the parts I know to be most true. ‘...I’m sorry I can’t be there for the holidays. I know this will cause you pain as it does me. However, I am cheered by the thought that we will be together soon. I’ll see you and be warm in your eyes. You’ll smile, and I’ll be safe in that smile. I’m just out for a short stroll, my love, and I’ll be home on that perfect day where you are, soon.’” street is mine whenever I want it. I open the front door and I see my little girl’s blue eyes filled with gold and my wife’s eyes of warm amber and emerald.” “What will you do if the captain can’t sail?” Thomas asked the question he himself had been trying to answer. “Well,” I began with a sinking feeling, “stay or go. We probably can still make it home on another ship, but we’d be giving up the bulk of our wages. If it were a real choice I would go right now, but I’m just not sure it is. Funny how often that happens.” We rounded upon our ship at dock, and the looks upon our fellows’ faces said it all. “What news?” I asked. The young boy on watch, Frankie, stepped forward. “The captain will need six to eight weeks to recover.” Thomas sighed, air rattling up his neck as though it were a tin can. “Eight weeks, plus another six for the crossing... we’re not getting back there are we?” I shook my head. “Not this year. I 132
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can’t afford to forfeit half my pay.” We entered into the thin lights below deck and claimed our respective bunks. “We’ll need to write letters home, letting them know what’s happened,” I said, and gathered pen and paper. Thomas found me the next morning. “Can I hear it?” “Alright, I’ll skip to the parts I know to be most true. ‘...I’m sorry I can’t be there for the holidays. I know this will cause you pain as it does me. However, I am cheered by the thought that we will be together soon. I’ll see you and be warm in your eyes. You’ll smile, and I’ll be safe in that smile. I’m just out for a short stroll, my love, and I’ll be home on that perfect day where you are, soon.’” Silence. I clear my throat. “Too much?” Thomas pulled himself up. “No, not at all,” he said and raised a glass, handing me another. “To Newfoundland, to home, to family and to that perfect day.” 1-888-588-6353
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reminiscing
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For those who grew up in Newfoundland and Labrador, the arrival of year’s end may conjure up images of mummers and janneys, those colourful characters who parade from house to house in disguise, in search of fun and maybe a bite to eat or a drop to drink. This year, the image of mummers I have in my mind is one from a historic photograph. There’s a dapper youngster in a fine coat and beaver top hat with a tie knotted around his neck and a cane in one hand. Around him are other young people all rigged up, including a bevy of girls in coats and beflowered hats, their faces obscured by silk scarves, doilies and pillow-case masks. There is a
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cowboy with a six-shooter on his hip and a rifle slung over his shoulder, and what looks like a soldier, perhaps there to protect the crowd from some sort of shaggy creature one can dimly make out lurking in the background. Remarkably, they are all whizzing around on an outdoor ice rink in the heart of Harbour Grace. I first saw the photo when it was shared by Matthew McCarthy, economic development officer with the Town of Harbour Grace and volunteer with the Conception Bay Museum. The photo is from the museum’s collection. “It’s a fascinating photo – nostalgic and almost otherworldly,” says Matt. “When you first see it, you know you’re looking at something truly unique.” The museum had the photo for years, but in 2018 shared it online for the first time. “With the reach of social media, the response was overwhelming – I think it was shared almost 200 times. The pond where they’re skating can be seen on old survey maps. It was later drained to accommodate road widening on Harvey Street; however, the footprint of the pond is still visible today at the top of Kingswell Lane.” It’s a remarkably detailed photo, capturing one joyous, ephemeral moment. It also hints at what Harbour Grace must have looked like a century ago. In the background, behind white paling fences, are two stately homes. In the top right, you can see a hip-roofed house, which was known as “Braehead.” This 136
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building was the childhood home of Dr. Roy Goodwin, the town dentist for many years. On the left is a property known as the “Fruit Field.” At the time when the photo was taken, the ways in which people went mummering were varied. Sometimes people were masked, sometimes not. Sometimes they went house to house, and sometimes they just paraded the streets. Sometimes there was a traditional play performed or set dances. And sometimes, apparently, mummers went skating. While ice skating is always a popular winter pastime, our Victorian and Edwardian ancestors had a passion for it that might seem a bit unusual today. Ice skating races drew large crowds, and newspapers from the period include thrilling stories of individual races and rivalries. There are reports of crowds into the hundreds gathering to watch specific races. When not watching races, people flocked to ponds and public rinks to promenade on the ice, often accompanied by live music. Starting on December 23, 1891, and continuing for about a week thereafter, the Evening Telegram newspaper ran a series of advertisements from the St. John’s Curling and Skating Rink:
THIS RINK, which has been thoroughly renovated and made comfortable for Skaters, will OPEN (weather permitting) on CHRISTMAS WEEK, with a GRAND CARNIVAL – representing the MUMMERS of the olden time – when the Total 1-888-588-6353
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Abstinence Band, with Mr. John Bennett as Conductor, will supply Music of the newest and liveliest description. The Rink will thereafter be open EVERY NIGHT throughout the Season with the above Band in attendance. Admission - Skaters 20c., or a Book of 12 Tickets can be obtained for $2. Spectators 10c. Another St. John’s rink that catered to mummers was the Parade Rink, which boasted of “Reliable persons in charge of Refreshment and Dressing-rooms.” In 1891, the City Rink (also in St. John’s) held a February skating carnival, with “Costumes Rich and Rare.” The Daily Colonist newspaper of February 4, 1891, published a very detailed description of this carnival:
“There were full seven inches of ice in the rink, and the surface was clear and smooth as a mirror. The decorations were very tastefully arranged, especially out in the centre, under the high octagonal bandstand where a Pyramid of Green was erected, its surface dotted at regular intervals with bright and pretty flowers, while on either hand, the statue ol Terpsichore [the Greek muse of dancing] stood guard. Strings of flags, stretched from side to side and dropping downwards from the lines, swayed gayly to and fro with the movement of the skaters beneath.” Fifteen hundred spectators had gathered to watch the costumed 1-888-588-6353
skaters, who were arrayed in a “veritable Pandora’s box of colour, thrown out pell-mell.” The description of the costumes took up inches upon inches of type in the newspaper column, and those selected for comment included Red Riding Hoods (several of them); brides; soldiers; policemen; ancient maidens; kings, princes and dukes of every nation under the sun; and a shepherdess. Grace Darling, the English lightkeeper’s daughter who rescued the crew of the shipwrecked Forfarshire in 1838, made an appearance, as did Biblical figures, Humpty Dumpty, George Washington, Joan of Arc, and His “Satanic Majesty” clothed all in red. Other mummers, perhaps agents of Himself, made their way around the rink disguised as a cigarette and a bottle of Irish whiskey. The music was said to have been well-chosen and well-played, and the extravaganza ended promptly at 10 o’clock, with the singing of “God Save the Queen.” The young mummers of Harbour Grace, preserved in photographic form, were part of this once-popular tradition. It is one that I’d love to see reintroduced in some way. As someone who is not a particularly skilled skater, any custom that will allow me to put on a disguise and a few extra layers of padding before stepping out onto the ice is a good one! Stay safe, and remember to let the mummers in this holiday season! Just make sure they wear a mask and take their skates off at the door. December 2020
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2012_Puzzles3_1701-puzzles 10/29/20 9:13 AM Page 140
puzzles The Beaten Path
Annette Harvey photo
By Ron Young
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 above community in letters that get smaller in size.
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Last Month’s Community: Cartyville 140
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Sudoku
from websudoku.com
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
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Downhomer Detective Needs You After more than two decades on the Urban City Police Force, Downhomer Detective has come home to rid Newfoundland and Labrador of a new threat – cunning thief Ragged Rick. A real braggart, the slimy criminal sends DD a blurry photo of his surroundings plus clues to his whereabouts just to prove he’s always a step ahead. DD needs your help to identify where in Newfoundland and Labrador Ragged Rick is hiding out this month.
Use these 5 clues to identify where Ragged Rick is now: • Located near the very tip of the Northeast Avalon • Locals rescued survivors of the 1875 Waterwitch shipwreck • East Coast Trail runs through here • Merged with its neighbour, Shoe Cove, in 1987 • Marine Park is a popular summer time spot
Last Month’s Answer: Battle Harbour
Picturesque Place NameS of Newfoundland and Labrador
by Mel D’Souza Last Month’s Answer: Bloomfield 142
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In Other Words Guess the well-known expression written here in other words.
Last Month’s Clue: Overlook the pachyderm inside the space In Other Words: Ignore the elephant in the room This Month’s Clue: Pitch prudence into the gale In Other Words: ____ ______ __ ___ ____
A Way With Words NEVER TIME
Rhyme Time A rhyming word game by Ron Young
Last Month’s Answer: Never on time
1. An electrified Christmas sock is a _______ _______
This Month’s Clue
2. The greatest sleep is the ____ ____
PE AS
3. A ruby sleigh is a ___ ___ Last Month’s Answers 1. wall fall, 2. make and break, 3. twin grin
Answer: ____ ____
Scrambled Sayings
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.
E C A H D A A D E O H H E E O M E O G H T S I I H T W H U Y T T V O T S O X
A E M T
R D A F T A D E E M A N T B S E L I X T E S N W A O U H S S S U I Y T E S R Y S W T H Y Y
Last month’s answer: Wisdom we know is the knowledge of good and evil, not the strength to choose between the two www.downhomelife.com
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Rhymes 5 Times Each answer rhymes with the other four
1. stocking 2. boulder 3. wharf 4. tease 5. secure
____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________
STUCK? Don’t get your knickers in a knot! Puzzle answers can be found online at DownhomeLife.com/puzzles
Last Month’s Answers: 1. witch, 2. stitch, 3. ditch, 4. glitch, 5. hitch
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!
Abe Ax Tree Tally _ __________ _____ Account Hurt Hop _ __________ Last Month’s 1st Clue: Ade Ark Course Answer: A dark horse Last Month’s 2nd Clue: Eight Hock Sick Way Stump Answer: A toxic waste dump
Unscramble each of the five groups of letters below to get 5 Newfoundland and Labrador place names.
1. ICONLET 2. ETCHMILLS ROKOB 3. SALADRIM ACHEB 4. RAVEDHEIR 5. RAGSKIES Last Month’s Answers: 1. Lockston, 2. Trouty, 3. Melrose, 4. Port Union, 5. Catalina
A nalogical A nagrams Unscramble the capitalized words to get one word that matches the subtle clue. 1. A SUET RUSH ~ Clue: won’t leave you lost for words 2. I FEELS ~ Clue: it’s still you 3. GROAN MOM ~ Clue: initial impression 4. RED LAD ~ Clue: expects others to step up 5. DRESS SET ~ Clue: the sweets thereafter Last Month’s Answers: 1. refrigerator, 2. calendar, 3. employment, 4. minister, 5. silence 144
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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: astern 1-10: later on 1-91: allure 2-32: quickly 3-43: string 6-9: cellblock 6-36: expect 8-6: uncooked 9-39: valley 10-100: individually 12-14: amazement 13-15: moist 13-43: grape drink 15-19: postpone 17-15: club 18-20: Robert E. 21-61: pamphlet 22-24: knight’s title 22-62: whip 24-94: govern 29-27: fall behind 30-21: word thief 33-36: cosy retreat 35-15: posed 35-32: dispatched 35-39: rob 36-38: beverage 45-47: zero 47-42: tarry 47-50: fibber 49-29: everyone 49-47: become sick 50-20: sexual assault 50-44: banister 51-53: feline 53-93: tease 56-53: lummox 56-59: fat 59-89: sunrise 62-22: segments 66-36: flutter www.downhomelife.com
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95-75: pale 95-99: value 97-67: peewee Last Month’s Answer
B E A U T I C I A N
ENE S ON OT A OW L NE P ONR I N E T E S PP E O I T
V A R U R A S A N A
O V E P E E R E N T
L E G I S L A T E S
EN LN DO NL UA OT P S S A DO UR
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The Bayman’s
Crossword Puzzle 1
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by Ron Young
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40 43
47
48
146
December 2020
31
34
36
42
15
44
41 45
46
49
1-888-588-6353
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ACROSS 1. that fella 3. vagrant 4. “Was up to __ knees in gravel” 6. Go __ wit’ ya 7. “We’ll rant and we’ll ____” 9. “__ _ ______ at the moon over Harbour Le Cou” 16. Twillingate ___ – defunct newspaper 17. Canadian Labour Congress (abbrev) 18. “Your tawts ___ too far aft” 19. Virgin Arm (abbrev) 20. “A wild bird never laid a tame ___” 21. Air Liaison Officer (abbrev) 22. sat (colloq) 23. Edward to his friends 24. “Fogo, Twillingate, Moreton’s _______” 26. man’s title 28. Purity product 30. Simon ____ 32. Santa’s first word 34. “Arn?” response 35. Ireland’s violent era 38. “How’s ye gettin’ __? 39. male deer 40. furry foot 42. “Tipsy ___” – Dec. 23 43. mallet 45. Gooseberry Island (abbrev) 47. regarding (abbrev) 48. similar 49. “But __ ____ they sank to rise no more” (2 words) DOWN 1. mummer’s steed (2 words) 2. janney 5. “I’m sick ______ to be in three hospitals” 8. useless person (colloq) 9. mixed metal www.downhomelife.com
10. clean 11. “Jack ___ every inch a sailor” 12. press 13. seine 14. “_____ dog is brave on his own dungheap” 15. father 17. taxis 25. “She’s like the river that never ____ dry” 26. Pa’s mate 27. assemble 29. Paradise Arm (abbrev) 30. flurries 31. camp kettle (colloq) 33. not in 36. rant 37. seep out 40. ___ soup fog 41. short for Arthur 43. greeting 44. “I gotta clink in __ tinker and I can’t glutch” 45. Goose Arm (abbrev) 46. “How __ ya?”
E W E W A E A N T A T T O S U T E A A L N T H B E M E
F R O M T H E S H O R E S O F
ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD G O U L R N A A T M O I D L D E
B A T N D B O A D V M E B A R F I B A N E S T A A M E R P A S
A N I G H S
B O V E E O N T R I D O D E O P D E G D U P B O U N D D A A H O R E
December 2020
147
2012_Puzzles3_1701-puzzles 10/28/20 3:50 PM Page 148
DIAL-A-SMILE © 2020 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.
____ 8228
__ 47
___ 843
________ 33727423 ____ 8439
___ 733
_ _ ____ _ 2 2 4548 9 ______ 684377
__ 86
__ 27
___ _ _ _ __ _ _ 843 6 7 3 58 3 7
Last Month’s Answer: Everything is funny, as long as it's happening to somebody else
©2020 Ron Young
CRACK THE CODE
H
Each symbol represents a letter of the alphabet, for instance =T Try to guess the smaller, more obvious words to come up with the letters for the longer ones. The code changes each month.
T _ _
_ _ _
_ _
H m x D 7h kO
_ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _
_ _
x n J0D H7kb
7L
L
b kH
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, bkB l x nRx _ _ _ T _,
OD 0 HL
_ _ T
_ _ T
i JH
T _ _
Hm x _ _
kO
_ _
kO
_ _ _ _ _ _
fD l JxL Last Month’s Answer: Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master. 148
December 2020
1-888-588-6353
2012_Puzzles3_1701-puzzles 10/29/20 4:47 PM Page 149
Food For Thought
© 2020 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.”
taxi =
_ _ _
worst =
wqw
conflicts = battle =
vq b t
_ _ _ _ _
te y
_ _ _
Vpl
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
y b llkl b _ _ _
_ _ _ _
teIl ’
vqVl
b
_ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _
_ _
_ _ _
Vpl
_ _ _
wqk
_ _ _ _
_ _
wehh et
_
b lkIl b
y b qtt
zk
}z d
_ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
wqhzkl}
give =
pV
et
hz dt eltV
nonsense =
_ _ _ _
_ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _
et _ _ _ _ _
z Vpl b
_ _ _
wlV
_ _ _
Vpl
_ _ _ _ _ _
pe ypl
b
Last Month’s Answer: Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow's reality. www.downhomelife.com
December 2020
149
2012_Puzzles3_1701-puzzles 10/29/20 4:27 PM Page 150
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 WATCH SANTA DELIVER DOWNHOME MAGAZINE
Last Month’s Answers: 1. Saucepan; 2. Stove; 3. Day bed; 4. Clippers; 5. Hand; 6. Legs; 7. Table leg ; 8. Door; 9. Fridge; 10. Sugar bowl; 11. Chair; 12. Curtain. “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.
150
December 2020
1-888-588-6353
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HIDE & SEEK SWEETS
The words can be across, up, down, backward or at an angle, but always in a line.
BISCOTTI PARFAIT CANDY PIE CANNOLI PRALINE CHEESECAKE PUDDING CHOCOLATES A J N K Z CUPCAKE Y P M V S C A B B A CUSTARD E U Q H A DONUT N O H Q Q A P U G T FLAN E M N L B Last B N D M U FUDGE G C C D M Month’s L L I U Z GELATO Answers Y E C L F L U T B R GINGERBREAD C C A T M LADYFINGERS F X W Q U C Y I K U MACAROON P Z F E E L F G Y S MARSHMALLOW W V Y F G MUFFIN B I D N Y P M F U V T I O M J S N D
P I Q R Z D M U D H H C A W E R A R
U B S C A D I D I X R U J D T E N P
D X E C L T O G Z Q F U E L R G Z O
D Y K A O N S E T M J Z U B U N O F
I W A Y U T U U M X R Q R E H I Q S
N Z C T E V T D C G B E Q A Z F A W
www.downhomelife.com
G O P C B L P I S B G V V D Y Y E B
W Y U B P R A A S N S Z F N O D E E
B O C F A W N J I D H E T U F A O V
K K L L Z I H G X Q O S L S C L D X
F H I L F E T I I L R S S F J L I W
N N E F A T Z N R W T U O M I H J F
E E U K T M E B P X B L Z U J R I P
SHORTBREAD SOUFFLE SUNDAE TORTE Z N G P O P R B Q Z N P A J C O F M
S C E R I F E H A F G D D G Z E F T
C M M Q W J H R G C R Y X C F L T G
F H R N O R N W I R E P P E P V S G
W A R M S P I N A C H U A Z C S U M
T I A F R A P S H Z E P J D O F X G
C U H F G I A N J S K D X B U P I P
T C I B H H V L S S I G E I O X B D
F L A N R T W O R L A Y B N U P L A
C A U L I F L O W E R E X T Y W P D
T O M A T O A A Y R T U A R C P A J
A R B V H N C X H A D Z N L M S J E
V D W S L U P R R C Z T S I L E E V
M A C A R O O N Y R M A S U W C Z I
K S W B Q V L N E R O G P G H I V W
P A U M A U U M L E P M N E B O I Y
Q T E D L F H H P G C R U V G Y R X
I P L G I Z A D E T R G L O M Q H P
I T P E A A V S C A A D I A I J C Q
A I O A L G E L A T O Q U J H X S Y
P E A C R R J Y H W D A Y F G N Y I
Z W A C N B A W W I I C Q X Z Z O Z
P N T R E M A M E V Y D N A C J X E
S G H J C A Z P F J S P V C S R N F
L S D C H S V X S Z H C W V R I R N
W E L I T C Q L F U Q O R W R U P O
R L H O K I Z N P A C F Y G P M I P
S H N H I E L C P L S H E H Q F D J
December 2020
J C T R I L O C C O R B O T T M G Q
T A X N T S G A A T X P B W H C J D
E K A C E S E E H C D U I X C O M K 151
2012Mktplace_0609 Marketplace.qxd 10/28/20 3:57 PM Page 152
FOR SALE
UPSCALE CONDO
St. John’s, West
NEW PERLICAN, NL
Excellent Views Furnished, 2 BR, 1 Bath $227,900
Beautiful, modern ocean view home in peaceful New Perlican, NL. Only 2 years old and very well built. Your dream retirement or summer home awaits!
709-739-5437 gshep@hotmail.ca
MLS# 1221201
Lloydcollins@royallepage.ca • 709-725-5115
Movers & Shippers SAMSON’S MOVING
A&K 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
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Call Jim or Carolyn - Peterview, NL 709-257-4223 709-486-2249 - Cell samsonsmovers@yahoo.ca www.samsonsmovers.ca
Andy: 416-247-0639 Out West: 403-471-5313
aandkmoving@gmail.com
Moving you from Ontario and Newfoundland... or any STOP along the way!
DOWNEAST CONNECTION 709-248-4089 905-965-4813
Hawke’s Bay, NL (collect calls accepted) downeastconnection@yahoo.ca
FIVE STAR SERVICE Without The Five Star Price! ★ Local & Long Distance Moves ★ Packing
Voted CBS Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year
A Family Moving Families Professionally and economically
★ Door-to-Door Service Across Canada ★ Replacement Protection Available ★ NL Owned & Operated
MOVING INC. 709-834-0070 866-834-0070 fivestarmoving@outlook.com www.fivestarmoving.ca
Over 25 Years Experience in the Moving Industry 152
December 2020
Coast to Coast in Canada Fully Insured Newfoundland Owned & Operated
Contact: Gary or Sharon King
Toll Free: 1-866-586-2341 www.downhomemovers.com 1-888-588-6353
Marketplace
2012Mktplace_0609 Marketplace.qxd 10/28/20 3:57 PM Page 153
I’ll Go the Length of Meself A New Book by Phil Earle on Captain Guy Earle Captain Guy Earle of Carbonear was a legendary master mariner of Newfoundland & Labrador. Read the incredible story of this daring and compassionate rascal who sailed and soared in the times of schooners and rum running. Penned by his son Dr. Phil Earle, I’ll Go The Length of Meself is a must-read for anyone interested in our province’s history and fishing culture; and in fearless figures who fascinate and inspire. Geoff Sterling once called Skipper Guy a “Newfoundland Hero.” Premier Smallwood referred to him as a “very great native son.” “Captain Guy was a daring seafarer whose legendary adventures rivalled those of the heroes in such Hollywood films as Captain Blood, Down to the Sea in Ships and Captain Courageous.” | Gordon Lore (Author)
Contact: Dr. Phil Earle • earlephil@hotmail.com Independently published & distributed
www.downhomelife.com
December 2020
153
EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR CHRISTMAS! Mummer Christmas Stockings $10.99 each
Mummer Pillow Covers $10.99 each
Elliston Mummers #79544
Elliston Mummers #79554
Mummers on Signal Hill #79545
Mummers on Signal Hill #79555
Mummering in Dildo #79546
Mummering in Dildo #79556
Mummer Indoor Floor Mats 18” x 30” $14.99 each
Elliston Mummers #79540
Mummers on Signal Hill #79542
Mummering in Dildo #79541
NL Christmas Cards
Tree Skirt
Lightup LED Bulb
Elliston Mummers #79543 | $21.99
NL Sayings #79532 | $5.99
5 assorted designs, 25pk
#79533 | $6.99
Assorted Mummer Candles (3pk) NL Mummers Wine Glasses $21.99 each Ugly Stick #73793 Violin #73794
#77688 | $9.99
FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com
FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com Clarenville Christmas 2020 Pewter Ornament
Wooden Cutting Board
NL Mummers Flat Wrap
#75789 | $14.99
3 Assorted #79536 | $1.99
Mummers Peel and Stick Gift Tags
NL Mummers Window Clings
48pc #79534 | $1.99
#79535 | $2.99
front
Plastic Placemat and Coaster Sets (8pc) $4.99 each
gift box back
Christmas in the Cove by Kelly McEntegart Sheppard
#79452 | $18.99
Mummering in Dildo
Mummers on Signal Hill
Elliston Mummers
#79539
#79538
#79537
Mini Bulb w/Box Iceberg and Puffin
Indigena Beauty Products Bath Soak 80g $6.99 each Partridgeberry
#60044 Blueberry
#60043
Lip Balm $4.99 each Partridgeberry
#60041 Labrador Tea Smooch
#61255
#43337 | $9.99
Dark Tickle Soap $6.99 each
Rowhouses of NL Ornament #60204 $9.99
Bakeapple
Blueberry
Partridgeberry
#79381
#79383
#79382
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353
GIFTS Hand Painted Row House Shot Glasses A
B
Hand Painted Wine Glass
Row Houses of NL Ornament
D
C
Hand Wash Only Sold Assorted Colours More colours online
#59831 | $5.99 each
Hand Painted Key Rack Row Houses
#72979 $16.99
#76315 | $6.99
Hand Painted Coasters Row Houses
Hand Painted Row House Mailbox
Set of 4, 4" x 4" #59827 | $24.99
#47594 | $99.99
Assorted Colours, 10" x 3 1/3"
#59826 | $24.99
Downhome Mummer Coaster Set - Set of 4
Downhome Mummer Magnetic Thermometer Downhome Mummer Pewter Key Chain 60345 | $6.99
3" | 60342 | $10.99
3"x 3" | 60343 | $6.99
Downhome Any Mummers ‘Lowd In? Ornament
Row House Pewter Key Chain
1.5" round #60344 | $4.99
76316 | $6.99
#60340 | $5.99
2D Wooden Magnet Row House
Magnetic Thermometer Row House
Coasters - Row House
3" x 3.5" #60338 | $6.99
Set of 4, 4" x 4" #60337 | $10.99
Downhome Mummer Wooden 2D Magnet
Raised Level
Raised Level
3" x 3" #60339 | $4.99
FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com
FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com Little Red Mini Button Accordion
Celtic Tin Whistle with Tune Sheet
Dory Dan Musical Spoons
#48726 | $19.99
#3470 | $15.99
Includes Learn to Play Instructions and Songs
#74074 $49.99
Brian Bursey 2021 Calendar
Wall 12" x 11" #79463 | $12.99 Desk 5" x 6" #79464 | $6.99
Ed Roche - 2021 Calendar Newfoundland
Images of Home 2021 Calendar by Trish Walsh
13 3/8" x 24" #79468 | $24.99
#79563 | $13.99
Official Newfoundland Sou’wester $11.99 each
Magnetic Thermometer Scenic Newfoundland and Labrador
Coasters - Scenic Newfoundland and Labrador
3" x 3.5" #74455 | $6.99
Set of 4, 4" x 4" #74462 | $10.99
Magnetic Thermometer Newfoundland Sayings
Coasters Newfoundland Sayings
Screech-In Certificate
3" x 3" #72902 | $6.99
Set of 4, 3" #72900 | $10.99
#3530 | $1.99
Tartan Infinity Scarf
Children #40652 Youth #40651 | Adult #40650
Newfoundland Watercolour Scene Mug
Fisherman Nut Cracker #76002 $29.99 gift box included
#57617 | $24.99
* While quantities last.
#55665 | $12.99
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353
GIFTS
Sherpa Fleece Throw - 50" x 60"
cial Spe ice Pr Any Mummers ‘lowd In? #75515
Was $39.99 | Now $32.99
Fleece Throws $19.99 each Mummering in Dildo #79547
Mummering on Signal Hill #79548
Elliston Mummers #79549
FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com
FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com
Downhome Cookie Cutter Newfoundland Map
Moose Head Cookie Cutter
Moose Cookie Cutter
with sugar cookie recipe
with sugar cookie recipe
#49564 | $7.99
#49563 | $7.99
Downhome Fish ’n’ Brewis Net #35876 | $3.29
Traditional Newfoundland Mesh Vegetable Bag 11" x 15"
#60592 | $5.80
Downhome Pease Pudding Regular Size Bag w/Recipe
#35871 | $2.99 XL Size Bag w/Recipe with sugar cookie recipe
#75944 | $3.79
#75942 | $9.99
Tea Towels - $6.99 each Any Mummers #77316 ‘lowd In? Kitchen Sayings #65130 Puffin #65131 Lobster #48613 Lighthouse #48612 Moose #65083
More Selection Online!
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353
TASTY TREATS Summer Savoury
Lee’s Mini Snowballs
Newfoundland Seasonings $7.99 each
60g Bottle
#34177 $8.49
200g tub
#78551 $6.99
28g Package
#34176 $3.99
Screech Coffee 454g Bag
#39365 | $19.99
Newfoundland Screech BBQ Sauce
225g Bag
#39005 | $9.99
350ml
#48150 | $9.99
K Cups
#57077 | $12.99
Cod 65g #77379 Moose 100g #77375 Ragin’ Bayman 100g #79465 Steak & Burger 100g #77377
Dark Tickle Salad Dressings (250ml)
Dark Tickle Traditional Jam
Bakeapple
#79380 | $15.99 Partridgeberry
#79378| $11.99 Blueberry Bakeapple 250ml #1005 | $16.99 Partridgeberry 250ml #1015 | $12.49 Wild Blueberry 250ml #1009 | $12.49
#79379 | $11.99
Dark Tickle Gift Box Partridgeberry and Bakeapple 2 x 57ml Jam 2 x 135ml Sauce
#50223 $38.99
Dark Tickle Traditional Sauce 250ml
Bakeapple and Partridgeberry 2 x 125ml #50225 | $23.99 2 x 57ml #47529 | $18.99
6 x 57ml Wild Blueberry, Crowberry, Bakeapple, Squashberry Jam, and Rhubarb Pickles
#50224 $43.99
Dark Tickle Old Fashioned Spread 250ml
Bakeapple
#59717 | $12.79 Partridgeberry
#59716 | $9.99 Wild Blueberry
#59718 | $9.99
Wild Blueberry #59715 | $9.99 Partridgeberry #59714 | $9.99 Bakeapple #59713 | $14.49
FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com
FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com
Downhome Candy $2.99 each
Puffin Poop 100g #46793 | Caribou Poo 100g #46794 | Moose Droppings 100g #46795 Bunny Buttons 100g #46796 | Moose Bait 82g #74725 | Fish Bait 82g #74726 | Cod Tongues 80g #78020
Newfoundland Chocolate Company - NL Sayings Chocolate Bars - $6.99 Each | 50g
Oh Me Nerves #60023 | Whadda Ya At? #60026 | Yes B’y #60027 | Crooked As Sin #60029 Shag It #75255 | God Love Your Cotton Socks #75256 | Arse on Dat #77728
Newfoundland Chocolate Bars - $5.99 each | 42g
Blueberry #50684 | Coffee Hazelnut #75356 | Dark Orange #75359 | Dark Wildberry #50687 Fruit and Nut #75358 | Hazelnut #50688 | Dark - Low Sugar #47303 | Dark Mint #50686
Dark Tickle Tea 20 Tea Bags $8.99 each Screech Bakeapple Patridgeberry Blueberry Blueberry Green
#45644 #45641 #45642 #45643 #63348
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353
CHILDREN
Plush Puffin #44414 $8.99
Plush Puffin w/sou’wester
Plush NL Dog
#64669 $14.99
Rhymes from the Rock Bonnie Jean Hicks & Leanna Carbage
Newfoundland and Labrador Lullaby - Riemann, McCarron and
#43618 $19.99
Maggie and Hero Margaret O’Brien
Steuerwald - Hard Cover
#58304 | $9.95
#49135 | $12.95
#33660 | $13.95
Numbers in Newfoundland
Nanny’s Kitchen Party
A Newfoundland Christmas
Bonnie Jean Hicks Illustrated by Leanna Carbage
Rebecca North Illustrated by Laurel Keating
Dawn Baker
#75941 | $9.95
#77678 | $12.95
#43813 | $9.95
Christmas in Newfoundland
A Puffin Playing by the Sea: 12 Days of Christmas in Newfoundland and Labrador
A Moose Goes A-Mummering
Mike Martin
Lisa Dalrymple
Gina Noordhoof
#77993 | $16.95
#53792 | $16.95
A Newfoundland and Labrador Christmas Wish
Where are you Puffling? A Bird Island Adventure
Necie - Hard Cover
Erika McGann
#57326 | $8.95
#77685 | $9.99
#52955 | $12.95
The House of Wooden Santas Kevin Major
#3945 | $24.95
FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com
BOOKS - ADULT Downhome Household Almanac & Cookbook
Downhome Household Almanac & Cookbook 2
Cooking Up a Scoff
#2739 | $19.95
#13433 | $19.95
#79297 | $14.95
Our Best Berry Recipes From the Readers and Staff of Downhome
Our Best Seafood Recipes From the Readers and Staff of Downhome
#55888 | $10.99
#58362 | $10.99
#38322 | $19.95
East Coast Keto
The All New Purity Cookbook
Fat-Back & Molasses -
Bobbie Pike
New Edition!
The Treasury of Newfoundland Dishes Cookbook - Jill Whitaker
Ivan Jesperson
#78131 | $34.95
#16361 | $19.95
Island Vegan Marian Frances White
Newfoundland Recipes Carol Over
#78676 | $29.95
#2495 | $4.95
#38455 | $9.88
Rock Recipes Barry C. Parsons
Rock Recipes Cookies: My Favourite Recipes for Cookies, Bars & Sweet Treats Barry C. Parsons
Rock Recipes Christmas: Your Complete Guide to a Delicious Holiday Season Barry C. Parsons
#75585 | $22.95
#60474 | $22.95
Vol. 1
#53803 $26.95
#2313 | $9.95
Downhome Cookbook
Vol. 2
#56832 $26.95
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353
CLOTHING AND APPAREL Sweeping Map NL - $44.99 each Size S-XXL
Hoodie NL 1497 Fushia
#78151 $42.99 Size S-XXL
“Yes B’y” Blue
#61605 $19.99 Pink
#61604 $19.99 Size S-XXL
“Oh Me Nerves” Definition
Dusty Rose #79087 | Misty Blue #79093
Newfoundland Lifestyle
Nautical Knot
Black
Orchid
#74295 $19.99
#78873 $14.99
Size S-XXL
Size S-XXL
Newfoundland Flag Rhinestone Map
NL Satin Rhinestone
#61360 $24.99
#77661 $24.99
Size S-XXL
Size S-XXL
Fleece Lined Toque
#74448 $12.99
Fleece Lined Mittens
#74450 $10.99
#73496 $19.99 Sizes S-XXL
“Home” Newfoundland
#74396 $19.99 Size S-XXL
Scarf - Newfoundland Crest
Grey with Beige and Slate Blue Trim
#74449 $15.99
FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com
FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com Hoodie NL 1497
Keep Calm and Let the Newfie Handle It
No Friggin Way
Black
#58878 $42.99
#63201 $14.99
#63132 $14.99
Size S-XXL
Size S-XXXL
Size S-XXXL
Sayings Drop Out
Newfoundland Map with Sayings
Newfoundland Lifestyle
Sale!
#63026 $14.99
#74855 $19.99
#78867 Was $19.99 Now $14.99
Size S-XXXL
Size S-XXL
Size S-XXL
Black
Letter Map NL
Newfoundland 1497 Moose
Hoodie Plaid Moose
Navy
#58803 $19.99
#78969 $19.99
#77793 $49.99
Size S-XXL
Size S-XXXL
Size S-XXL
Moose Dropping
Newfoundland Rocks
Hoodie Quilted Flag
Black
#47932 $21.99
#74946 $19.99
#78989 $59.99
Size S-XXXL
Size S-XXL
Size S-XXL
Experimenting with Sea-Weed
Pot Head
Hoodie Camo Newfoundland Labrador
#76530 | $19.99
#62428 $19.99
#78983 $49.99
Size S-XXL
Size S-XXXL
Size S-XXL
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353
CHILDREN Kids’ T-Shirt Cuter Than a Puffin $12.99 each Infant (Sizes 6m, 12m, 18m) Light Blue #78050 Hot Pink #78031
Kids (Sizes 2, 4, 5/6) Light Pink #78054 Royal Blue #78058
Oh My Cod! Too Cute To Throw Back! Infant T-Shirt (Sizes 6m, 12m, 18m) Pink #78809 | $13.99 Blue #76700 | $13.99
Infant Onsie Ocean Green #78805 | $14.99
Stud Puffin Unisex Boxers (Sizes S - XL) #47832 | Was $21.99 Now $16.99!
Sale!
Unisex Pants (Sizes XS - XXL) #51944 | Was $36.99 Now $27.99!
Unisex T-Shirt (Sizes XS - XL) #51942 | Was $24.99 Now $18.99!
Infant Onsie (Sizes 6m, 12m, 18m) #47814 | Was $21.99 Now $16.99!
Youth Tye Dye Shirt Peace, Love, The Rock
Youth Zip Up Micro Fleece Puffin $29.99 each
Size XS-L
Size XS-L Wildberry #79431 Navy #79436
#79134 $17.99
Youth Hoodie NL EST 1497 $36.99 each Size S-L Navy
#73915 Maroon
#78954
FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com
PURITY PRODUCTS
Purity Goodie Box #79290 $49.99
Jam Jams Cookies
Syrup 750ml
$5.99 each
Hard Bread 625g
#78947 $7.99 350g #18709 | $6.99
Strawberry #79558 Raspberry #15358 Pineapple #77660
Jam Jams - 2 Pack Bull’s Eyes Candy
Candy Barrel
#1085 $4.50
#49556 $4.50
#79557| $1.60
Peppermint $4.50 each Nobs #4238 Lumps #4239
Kisses $4.50 each Assorted #3997 Peanut Butter #4010 Rum & Butter #16805
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353
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photo finish
C’mon
We Goes
The elves snuck us this photo of Santa rounding up his reindeer on Christmas Eve! Brendon Gould Port au Choix, NL
Do you have an amazing or funny photo to share? Turn to page 9 to find out how to submit. 160
December 2020
1-888-588-6353
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