Downhome May 2021 by Downhome Publishing Inc

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3 Steps to Perfect Planters

$4.99 May 2021

Vol 33 • No 12

First Fish in Space

7 Signs of Spring Gear Up for May 24

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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 Assistant Editor Nicola Ryan Editor Lila Young Art and Production Art Director Vince Marsh 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 Retail Operations Retail Floor Manager, St. John’s Jackie Rice Retail Floor Manager, Twillingate Donna Keefe Retail Sales Associates Crystal Rose, Jonathon Organ, Elizabeth Gleason, Erin McCarthy, Marissa Little, Elizabeth Gauci, Kim Tucker, Heather Stuckless, Katrina Hynes, Lynette Ings, Stef Burt, Ashley Lane, Sarah Bishop

Subscriptions Customer Service Associate Cathy Blundon Founding Editor Ron Young Chief Executive Officer/Publisher Grant Young President & Associate Publisher Todd Goodyear 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

May 2021

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66 road trip

Contents 92 business buzz

MAY 2021

40 Dearest Diary Dennis Flynn chats with Kyla Miranda about her “Nan’s Journals” project.

56 First Fish in Space Learn more about the mummichog that made big leaps for fishkind. Todd Hollett

66 King of the Road A summer spent travelling the province, just a man and his cat in an RV. Connie Boland

92 Busy Bees Industrious honeybees, dedicated keepers and local farmers show that working together makes the sweetest results. Nicola Ryan

www.downhomelife.com

May 2021

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Contents

MAY 2021

homefront 10 I Dare Say A note from the Editor 12 Letters From Our Readers Fun in the snow, ethereal visitors, and Schrodinger’s cat

20 Downhome Tours Readers explore

just chillin’

Cartagena, Columbia

22 Why is That? Why do people throw salt over their shoulder, and why do pigs roll in the mud? Linda Browne

24 Life’s Funny Hide-a-Key Ida (Collier) MacKenzie 25 Say What?A contest that puts words in someone else’s mouth 26 Lil Charmers Sweet Siblings 28 Pets of the Month The Nose Knows

Columbia bound!

30 Reviewed Denise Flint reviews Michelle Butler Hallett’s new novel, Constant Nobody

32 What Odds Paul Warford goes off script

34 Fresh Tracks Wendy Rose chats about Baby Eagle with Matthew Hender

sniffin’ around 4

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60 sure shots

features 44 Behind the Curtain Costume designer Marie Sharpe has dressed so many of our favourite players on stage and on screen. Ed Seaward 50 Legacy on the Line A Bonavista family’s efforts to safeguard their built heritage Kim Ploughman

60 Sure Shots Featuring photographer Scott Udle

explore

72 ode to a trail www.downhomelife.com

72 The Skerwink Trail David Rex 76 Rural Murals How a local businessman and a local artist teamed up to put their town’s history on display. Paul Bonisteel May 2021

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Contents

MAY 2021

spring is in the air

80 Seven Signs of Spring Celebrate the season of new beginnings, with help from readersubmitted photos. Nicola Ryan

home and cabin 86 Stuff We Love May 24 Ready Nicola Ryan

88 Ready to Renovate? Marie Bishop

96 Todd’s Table Baked Cod in a

86 100 gear up

that’s bananas!

Cast Iron Skillet Todd Goodyear

100 Everyday Recipes Gone Bananas!

106 Down to Earth Designing a planter Kim Thistle 6

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116

first adventures

reminiscing 110 Flashbacks Classic photos of people and places 112 Visions and Vignettes Adventures of two young scalawags in a fictional long-ago outport Harold N. Walters

116 Summer of ’63 Isle aux Morts was the place to be for this young university student on his first big adventure. Victor A. French About the cover This striking photo of the Tablelands is one of many photos of Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly his beloved west coast, that the late Aiden Mahoney submitted to Downhome over the years. Aiden passed away in 2020, at age 75.

120 Race Against the Ice A field of ice pans could have spelled the end for this boy and his uncle. Aubrey Barfoot 122 A Trip of a Lifetime Mom, dad, grandmother and nine children in a 1957 Pontiac Rose Noel

Cover Index Three Steps to Perfect Planters • 106 Road Trippin’ • 66 First Fish in Space • 56 7 Signs of Spring • 80 Gear Up for May 24 • 86 www.downhomelife.com

126 Puzzles 138 Classifieds 140 Mail Order 144 Photo Finish May 2021

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You’ll go bananas over these recipes! p. 100

? ? ?? ? Puzzles Got You Stumped? Sneak a peek at the answers at Downhomelife.com/puzzles.

May 2021

Bet your summer job wasn’t as adventurous as this fella’s, exploring the southwest coast in 1963. His story begins on p. 114.

Like the reader-submitted photos in this issue? Browse thousands of them whenever you want at DownhomeLife.com.

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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.

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

43 James Lane St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3

to Don Dalton of St. John’s, NL who found Corky on page 42 of the March issue.

mail@downhomelife.com www.downhomelife.com Deadline for replies is the end of each month. *No Phone Calls Please. One entry per person

www.downhomelife.com

May 2021

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i dare say

Same place, new time. Today I returned to the place I sat last year to pose for a photo for the May column. Like last year, it was sunny, a little breezy and cold. Back then, the pandemic lockdowns were new and everyone was talking about the coronavirus. Today, there are still COVID-19 restrictions everywhere, and we’re all still talking about the coronavirus. But a lot happened between then and now. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have worked hard to crush every wave of the pandemic so far, and we’ve been spared the worst of it. Still the losses do wear heavy. People have continued to step up in their communities, helping their neighbours and supporting local businesses. Students and teachers deserve a special shoutout. No one has had their work/school and personal lives turned upside down more than them. In particular, I think of those Grade 12 graduates, classes of 2020 and 2021, who didn’t get to celebrate in style with their classmates; the students who missed out on the real first-year experience of university or college; and the elementary students absorbing what they can through a screen. A lot has been said by adults about the pandemic, but what do the kids think of it all? We also have a new premier since the pandemic began, and we endured the longest “voting day” in our history. Let’s hope there are lasting lessons from that once-in-a-lifetime experience. In a year it has become second nature to keep a safe distance, connect with loved ones online, wash our hands and wear our masks. Seeing someone’s full face in public now would be as shocking as seeing someone topless. And who would have thought in May 2020 that we’d be already vaccinating people against COVID-19 by May 2021? Whereas last year it was hard to see the path ahead, we now have laid enough track behind us to believe we can ride this whole thing out. In the words of our beloved Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, “Hold fast.” Janice Stuckless, Editor-in-chief janice@downhomelife.com 10

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A lot has been written this past year about living with COVID-19, mostly from adults’ point of view. But what do our young people think of it all? We’re offering anyone under 20 to share with us their view on the pandemic by writing a story or poem about it, or drawing or painting a picture that tells us what this past year has been like for you. What stands out? What has affected you most? What will you remember about this when you’re all grown up? We’re accepting your stories, poems, paintings and drawings – anything creative really – until June 30, 2021. We’ll publish them online and in upcoming issues of Downhome. Entries will go into a draw for a free one-year subscription to Downhome of your very own (one drawn in May and one in June). At the end, there will be a grand prize draw from all entries for a special gift pack!

Submit your entry today! (little kids will need a parent’s or guardian’s help): By email: editorial@downhomelife.com

By mail: Downhome Pandemic Pictures 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3

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Downhome at Work In November, I helped a friend move from Alberta back to his hometown of Trinity, NL. While there I fell in love with Newfoundland, the people (even though we were in quarantine while I was there) and, of course, Downhome magazine. As a thank you, he gifted me a subscription to the magazine. Now I spend my night shifts reading Downhome and dreaming of the day that I can take my whole family back to Newfoundland for a holiday and really get to visit the province. Phil Troyer Via email

This photo made our day. Thanks, Phil! 12

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Reasons to Garden

Also Binge Worthy

I love Kim Thistle’s gardening articles. However, I had a problem with #27 of the 38 Reasons to Garden [“It encourages your children to become gardeners,” February 2021 issue]. My son, many years ago at the tender age of nine, joined the local horticulture society for $1. He planted the required seeds. As they grew, he “planted” rocks to combat the weeds, thus killing the seedlings. The Dutch lady sent to inspect the gardens was so disgusted by his ingenuity she gave him his dollar back and told him not to join again. This, however, was not lost on Mark, as he is now a master stone mason in Ottawa.

I enjoyed your February article about binge-worthy Newfoundland films and TV shows, but you missed a great one – “Up at Ours”! It was where I was first introduced to Mary Walsh and Ray Guy as actors and it’s “can’t miss viewing” at our house.

Mary Rowsell Ottawa, ON

It’s not so much he had no green thumb, it’s just that no one recognized the seeds he’d planted. They obviously blossomed much, much later.

www.downhomelife.com

Dan Burt Via email

That was a great little series, produced by CBC Newfoundland and Labrador in 1979-80. It also starred venerable local actors Kevin Noble and Janis Spence. For our feature, we tried to only include shows and movies that you can watch now online or on DVD. We could only find a couple of short clips shared to YouTube – including one with a guest performance by Figgy Duff. It’s certainly worth a look for old times’ sake!

May 2021

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Chillin’ with Downhome

After nearly a week of heavy snow in Gander in early March, I decided it was time to get outside and have some fun! I carved myself a comfy chair in the large snowbank on my back porch, and even carved a ledge to rest my cup of tea while I read the latest issue of Downhome! Ida Reid Gander, NL

Thanks for the photo, Ida. You obviously know how to pass a winter’s day in style!

Praise for March Issue I must once again commend you all for so many interesting stories every month. Most of them connect me with my grassroots of Newfoundland. Proud again to be called a “Newfie.” What a delightful feeling. The stories in March Downhome: first, regarding Dennis Flynn’s bike tour of Bell Island. I remember it well; I used to visit there in the summer to see Uncle Leo and Aunt Rita Peddle. Also, the Kindens Bakery in Lewisporte, a town I visited to see Uncle Bern and Aunt Kay Peddle. Then the Union Cable Building in Bay Roberts; we used to shop there as I’m from Tilton. I also remember St. Patrick’s 14

May 2021

Day: Mom made shamrocks out of green ribbon for us to wear. Then to read about Sam’s Place, tears came to my eyes. I followed that story in February 2000. What a sad ending. I still think of the Walsh families. Once again, all the very best to you all and keep safe. Now that the virus is spreading in Newfoundland my prayers are with you all. God bless all you Newfoundlanders and Newfoundland, a piece of Heaven on Earth. Veronica (Peddle) Lunn Grand Prairie, AB

Thank you for all the kind words, Veronica. Continued on p. 16 1-888-588-6353

W y a t

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Where will your next adventure take you?

East Coast Trail, Conception Bay South

Explore the wonders of Conception Bay South by using one of our sample itineraries as your guide. Plan your next adventure with us. www.conceptionbaysouth.ca www.conceptionbaysouth.ca T ownOfConcep o TownOfConceptionBaySouth ownOfConceptionBaySouth townofconceptionbaysouth @TownofCBS @T TownofCBS o

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Snow Dog

We went for a winter walk around our property [in March] and the following emerged from our stroll, along with a couple of stiff backs the next day! When in Rome— scratch that, when in snow, make a snow dog! An albino Newfoundland dog! This is “Snowgan,” a 12-foot-long, five foot high (lying down) Newfoundland dog. For perspective, Snowgan is photographed with its model, Logan. At 150 pounds, our three-year-old Newfoundland Logan looks pint-sized next to his snowy likeness. As you might expect, both special pups are receiving a lot of attention around Cupids lately. Peter & Sandy Yetman Cupids, NL

What an incredible sculpting job you did! Thanks for sharing (and Logan for posing).

My Father’s Encounter with The Light After I read the story “Twillingate Mystery Light” in the March 2021 issue, I got cold shivers! It reminded me of a story my father, Michael Simmonds, had told me as a child. He was the skipper on a small schooner, the Englee, that sailed out of Goose Cove on the Northern Peninsula. That boat was very important to the business of MacDonald and Sons of Goose Cove. It brought supplies including food and salt to the small communities like Grandoise, Fishot 16

May 2021

Island, Croque, Ireland Bight and Locks Cove, and brought back their processed fish, whether it was saltbulk or dried. But for one voyage, the Englee was going on a different mission. It was to get a load of fuel for the business from a farther away place: Lewisporte. They headed out on their trip with no weather forecasts as there are now. As they sailed into Green Bay, as I recall him saying, it was at night. My father noticed a light coming up from behind them. He, of course, thought it was another boat, but then he noticed it 1-888-588-6353

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was moving so fast. It soon caught up to them and continued on past them, and he said it was very bright as it moved along over the water. It continued on away from them and eventually went out of sight. Because my father had heard of weather lights before, he suspected that was what he’d seen, and he said to his men that they would head into port for the night. He had just got into the harbour when the wind struck a gale. He said they would have been lost for sure had they not gone into port. I can’t recall what that port was, but next day they continued on to their destination of Lewisporte and picked up their load of fuel.

Being young at the time, I missed some details of the trip, but The Light has always stayed in my mind, and I was so glad I bought your magazine and read about Bakers Light! Who knows? It may have been the same light my dad saw, and it brought back a precious memory! Kay Taylor Via email

Well, we all have cold shivers again, now. Thanks, Kay! Also, the editor wants to point out a possible error in her column in that issue, in referencing where she may have seen Baker’s Light. The proper name for that beach is Snellin’s Cove.

~ Notices ~ David Cluney Clarke May 19, 1944 – January 5, 2021 DAVID CLUNEY CLARKE of White Rapids, NB, passed away peacefully at the age of 76 with his family by his side after a long battle with cancer. Born in Twillingate, NL, he was the son of the late Peter and Alecia (Cuff) Clarke. There he grew up with his siblings Edward, Clarence, George, Rose and Betty. Dave moved to Toronto in 1965 and married the love of his life Aleatha Gallan in 1968. They moved to NB in 1981. They raised two children, son Lionel and daughter Kelly. David worked as a crane operator with Maksteel in Toronto for 15 years and then was a self-employed gravel truck operator until his retirement. He was a member of the Labor Union, spent 39 years as a spring fishing guide and a handy man to all who knew him. He was a dedicated member of Saint Agnes Anglican Church, Gray Rapids. He loved spending time and making memories with his family and friends, spending time at the camp, fishing, hunting, boating and playing cards. Dave was always proud to tell everyone he met that he was a Newfie. He is survived by his wife of 52 years Aleatha (Gallan) Clarke, son Lionel (Gwen) of White Rapids, daughter Kelly Clarke (Pete Gillespie) of Gray Rapids, 4 grandsons Peter (Kali), Dexter, Jacob & Dixon, 2 great granddaughters Skyler & Scarlet, brothers Clarence (Ruby) and George, sisters Rose Jamieson (Gord) and Betty Doucette (Romeo) and many nieces, nephews, cousins & long-time friends. David is preceded by his father and mother Peter and Alecia (Cuff) Clarke and his brother Edward Clarke. David Cluney Clarke is resting at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Blackville, NB. Due to current restrictions the funeral service will be held at a later date. Burial will be in Doyles Brook Cemetery later in the spring. acdc1968@hotmail.com

www.downhomelife.com

May 2021

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A Dime a Visit I am not a writer, just a person with a small story to tell, actually two stories, about angels. My friend lost her husband. She was beside herself with grief. One night she was having trouble sleeping when her husband visited her. She asked him to lie down with her and he did. She fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, and when she awoke the next morning she was clutching a dime in her hand. Well, she did not get up in the middle of the night and put a dime in her hand – proof that her husband had indeed visited her that night. The second story is about my cousin, Rowena. She was about to go into the hospital for surgery, so I called her to wish her well before her operation. At the time of my call to her cellphone, she and her husband, Clyde, were walking along Water Street in St. John’s. We were talking away when she said, “Clyde, there’s a dime on the ground. Pick it up.” I said, “Yes, pick it up my dear; that’s your angel mother letting you know she’ll be with you

during your surgery.” Then I told her my friend’s story. She had never heard about the dimes appearing meaning angels visiting. She put it in her pocket and wanted to take it into the operating room with her, but that was not allowed. When she awoke from the anesthetic, the first thing she asked for was her dime. She certainly believed her mother was with her that day during her five-hour surgery. After she went home, I called to check on her and asked if she still had her dime. She said it was on her nightstand and she would never part with it. Those are two examples of angels among us. As for me, I truly believe! Norma French Dunville, NL

Thanks for sharing these stories, Norma. Anyone else have stories of finding dimes, or seeing butterflies, or receiving other messages from loved ones who’ve passed away? These stories can offer comfort and hope, and are always interesting!

Schrodinger’s Cat

Good morning Janice; First off, let me say that I love Downhome. I peruse it for the whole month… not necessarily from the front to the back. I just read your editorial on page 10 [January 2021 issue] and had to smile when I saw your reference to Schrodinger’s cat. How often does one find that in any magazine? My granddaughter is a lover of physics and is off to university in September to study engineering. As a surprise for her, I am rug hooking Schrodinger’s cat! It took a while to come up with a design but this is what I decided on. You made my morning. Diane Burton Glovertown, NL

You made our morning, Diane. Terrific job on the rug hooking, and great design choice! 18

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Sponsored Editorial

Adventures in Witless Bay with Woody Jeannine Winkel’s interest in Newfoundland Ponies peaked when she moved to St. John’s from Germany. She has been riding and looking after Woody, (NPS#655 aka ‘Blacky’) a 20-year old Pony and has been hooked ever since. “His personality, strength, looks, and his hardiness in all kinds of weather – he’s amazing,” she said. “Newfoundland Ponies are wellrounded with great qualities. They played an important part in the history of Newfoundland before ATVs and cars took over and I find the history and its unique link to the Province very interesting,” she added. Her boss got Woody from the former HappaNL Horse Rescue, and in exchange for helping with barn chores, Jeannine became Woody’s sole rider. Woody lives in Witless Bay where’s there’s no shortage of beautiful trails to explore along with her Shetland sheepdog, Arwen. Woody also is very kind with people they meet along the way and says ‘hello’ with a gentle nudge. People also love it when they join the annual Santa Claus parade! They pick blueberries together when they’re in season. Jeannine fills her bucket and Woody carefully uses his lips and teeth to pick his own berries. She recalls once when he wandered off and came across another berry picker’s bucket that was laid on the ground. “What a feast he had; it was much easier than picking his own. Luckily the other berry picker thought it was funny. I collected Woody and led him back to

our own picking spot, where he stayed,” she laughed. Her love of Woody and the companionship he gives is balanced against the care and commitment she provides. She encourages people who are interested in getting a Newfoundland Pony to learn about the animal’s needs year-round and to be aware of the costs involved (feed, vet, hoof care and boarding if not on your own property). She recommends finding a mentor who has experience with keeping horses. “Get in touch with the Newfoundland Pony Society; they have knowledgeable members ready to give advice on breed-specific needs. Think about what you would like to do with your horse and find a horse (or pony) with a temperament and level of training that fit your own level of training. If you have no horse experience, volunteer or take riding lessons at a local barn,” she added. As for her Shetland sheepdog, Arwen, she and Woody are not the best of friends but in the name of adventures together, they get along just fine.

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homefront Downhome tours...

Columbia

Las Murallas

Todd Lamswood and his travelling companions pose in Cartagena’s old town. The Cartagena city walls, Las Murallas, were constructed by the Spanish, beginning in 1586, to protect the rich port city from thieves and pirates. This extensive and imposing fortification system is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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La Gorda

Colin and Nancy Pearson of St. George’s, NL, pose by La Gorda in Cartagena. This voluptuous bronze sculpture by Columbian-born artist Fernando Botero can be found in the busy Plaza de Santo Domingo. The legend is that if you touch her bottom you will one day return to Cartagena.

Islas del Rosario

Barry Jefferies, formerly of Exploits, NL, enjoys a beach vacation. (submitted by Karen Schieck of Elmira, ON) About an hour off the coast of Cartagena you’ll find the Rosario Islands, a small archipelago surrounded by clear Caribbean water. Founded as a national park in 1988, here you can snorkel to vibrant coral reefs or relax under the palm trees with a cocktail… or two. www.downhomelife.com

May 2021

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Expert answers to common life questions. By Linda Browne

Why do people sometimes throw salt over their shoulder? You might’ve performed this strange ritual dozens of times without even thinking about it (or know someone who has). But why, after already spilling salt, would you throw another pinch of it over your shoulder? Some link the spilling of salt with lies and treachery associated with Judas Iscariot at The Last Supper (indeed, if you take a look at Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, you’ll see the spilled salt near Judas’ elbow). It’s little wonder then that Christians might associate this action with bad luck. However, says Dr. Phil Stevens, an expert on superstition and associate professor of anthropology emeritus at the State University of New York at Buffalo, this superstition is likely ancient and pre-dates Christianity. “This is one of the few superstitions that doesn’t involve magical thinking, but rather demonstrates a fear of and desire to accommodate spirits,” says Stevens in an email to Downhome. Table salt is pretty easy to come by these days, but in the early days of human history, it was a scarce and expensive commodity, “and highly prized as a food seasoning,” Stevens says. 22

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“Indeed, we might even say that salt was the essence of being fully civilized, as opposed to primitive, undeveloped, ‘savage’ in the 19th-century sense. In Haitian zombie folklore... it was said that the master fed his mindless zombie slaves bland food; if they were to taste salt they would instantly realize their less-than-human zombie status and would rebel.” While there are many different kinds of spirits throughout different cultures, Stevens says, “in all cultures that have them, spirits are believed to hang around areas of human activity. Evil spirits want to intrude and harm, but even benign or benevolent spirits are envious of people being people, and are at least curious about what people are doing. “But all spirits are potentially dangerous,” Stevens adds, so humans generally don’t care for their company. When we think of spirits, we tend to think of them as having 1-888-588-6353

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human characteristics and tastes – including our taste for that sweet sodium chloride. “So precious was salt, so sought by both people and spirits, that if the user spilled any they assumed spirits would come immediately to grab it,” Stevens

says (adding that “in the Christian context, ‘the Devil,’ or Satan appears in the role of ‘spirits’”). “So they would toss a pinch over their shoulder for the spirits, to at least temporarily distract them, while the person cleaned up the spilled salt.”

Why do pigs roll in the mud? It’s their love of rolling in the mud that partly lends pigs the reputation as filthy animals. But on the contrary, pigs are quite clean, and highly intelligent, and they have good reason for participating in this seemingly dirty display. According to a 2011 study published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, wallowing in the mud is beneficial for our piggy pals for a number of reasons. The study, from Marc Bracke at Wageningen University & Research Centre in the Netherlands, notes that it’s possible that wallowing “is intrinsically motivated (‘hardwired’) and that it is an important part of pig welfare.” Bracke says pigs (which don’t have functional sweat glands) roll around in the mud more when it gets warmer, to stay cool and prevent hyperthermia. “Mud is more effective than clean water in temperature control because mud allows the evaporation process to continue for a longer time,” he explains. But pigs tend to wallow year-round, even when it’s below freezing. And they’re not the only ones that enjoy a good mud bath – other animals, including elephants, rhinos, hippos and water buffalos, do too. For pigs, Bracke adds, wallowing is also an important part of their skin

care routine, as mud may act as a sunscreen of sorts and help protect against flies, mosquitoes and parasites. Bracke also points to a study from the 1980s that observed more wallowing in sows that were ill, noting that diseased pigs may wallow to cool in case of fever, or to help alleviate discomfort and pain. He also mentions that “wallowing in wild boar has been ascribed a function in disinfection of wounds in the skin of males resulting from fights for access to females,” and that “the bactericidal properties of mud could also help male wild boar to combat infection.” Bracke notes that wallowing may also be related to sexual behaviour – for example, through scent marking – and that wallowing in pigs “may also play a [more general] role in status advertisement, signalling group membership and identity with [the smell of the soil in] the home range.” So the next time you see a pig enjoying a mud bath, don’t judge.

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

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

May 2021

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homefront life’s funny

HideA-Key One day I had invited some ladies in for a card game, tea and dessert. Earlier that day, I visited a neighbour. It was a short visit, as I had to get home to clean and bake for my guests. When I went to leave, I couldn’t find my car keys. They weren’t left in the ignition, they weren’t on the ground, they weren’t anywhere that I could find them. I had to ask my neighbour to drive me home to get my spare key for the car. I complained that afternoon to my friends about the lost key, as it was a key fob that costs about $350 to replace. After the ladies went home, I decided to take a cool shower on this very hot day, to relax and collect my thoughts. Maybe I’d think of where that key could be. As I removed my bra, I heard a small thump on the bathroom floor. My key! When I’d dropped in at my neighbours’, having no pockets to hold the key, I’d slipped it inside my bra. I’d never used my bra as a pocket before – and I’m sure I never will again! Ida (Collier) MacKenzie Murray Harbour, PEI

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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ining d r o o d t “Ou VID is O C g n i r du ght?” dox i r d e w o all -Mad zgerald Fit – Trina

Say WHAT? Downhome recently posted this photo (submitted by Brendan Clark) on our website and social media platforms and asked folks to imagine what this bird might be saying. Trina Fitzgerald-Maddox’s response made us chuckle the most, so we’re awarding her 20 Downhome Dollars!

Here are the runners-up: “Whose turn is it to say grace?” – Cassie Boone “You and me, same time tomorrow?” – Sara Jean “I am just waiting on my drink order.” – Heather Harding

Play with us online! www.downhomelife.com/saywhat

www.downhomelife.com

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homefront lil charmers

Sweet Siblings My Girl Ian and Eva pose with an iceberg at Cape Spear in June 2014. Phyllis St. Croix St. John’s, NL

The Dock of the Bay The submitter’s grandkids, Ty & Reese Rideout, check out the waterfront in Corner Brook. Gail Rideout Corner Brook, NL 26

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Walking Along Camren and Reagan pause at a scenic spot on the hike to Chambers Cove in St. Lawrence. Michelle McCarthy Burin, NL

Stand by Me The submitter’s nieces enjoy the sunshine in Ship Harbour, NL. Nicole Power St. John’s, NL

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May 2021

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homefront pets of the month

The Nose Knows! Follow Your Nose Finnigan loves to dig in the yard. Amy Legrow Via DownhomeLife.com

Keep Your Nose Clean Willow sticks her tongue out at the camera. Candice Mayo Hopedale, NL 28

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On the Nose Finn’s pink and black nose is beautiful and unique! Karen Pinsent Brighton, NL

Turn up Your Nose Guinea pig Q-tip sniffs the air, hoping a treat is nearby. Stacey McDonald Guelph, ON

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homefront

reviewed by Denise Flint

Constant Nobody Michelle Butler Hallett Goose Lane Editions $24.95

Kostya Nikto, literally nobody, is an NKVD officer, a member of Stalin’s secret police force. Temerity West is a British spy. The two meet in civil war-torn Spain in the 1930s and form a tenuous connection, which is strengthened when they encounter each other again in Moscow. Their intertwined stories form the basis for Constant Nobody, Michelle Butler Hallett’s latest historical, suspense, spy, romance, call-it-what-you-will novel. Temerity is a sort of gateway character, allowing us to view events, and how they affect people, from the outside. Kostya is more fleshed out. His story is the more important one. What will he do to survive in a world that has shown how completely indifferent it is to anything but his utter compliance? How will he negotiate his way through mine-strewn paths of public and private loyalty and responsibility? How can he possibly survive, both physically and morally, the world in which he finds himself? Constant Nobody is a compelling read about a time and place western writers often don’t bother with. It addresses fundamental questions of personal responsibility and whether it’s possible to be a good person and still do bad things – and whether the concept of being a good person is even a relevant one. Butler Hallett did her research and, as a bonus, readers can learn something about history as well. One thing I did find irritating about the book was the non-standard punctuation. The use of em dashes rather than quotation marks meant I was constantly backing up to see where the talking started. It disrupted the flow. Otherwise, Constant Nobody is practically perfect.

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Q&A with the Author Denise Flint: How did you choose this time and place to write about? Michelle Butler Hallett: I’ve been interested in Russia and the Soviet Union since I was little. I grew up at the end of the Cold War, and when the USSR fell I became even more interested. A lot of defectors started in Gander [NL]. I write about power anyway, so writing about police officers in the NKVD [the Soviet secret police] is something I’m interested in.

DF: You don’t pull any punches when it comes to flawed heroes. How sympathetic is Kostya supposed to be? MBH: I’m not interested in trying to apologize for him or any person like him. I’m interested in tyranny and how he feels he does things by his own free will and twice as much by compulsion, as his favourite fairy tale says. We don’t have to approve of someone to try to understand them. I feel he’s in a fairly difficult situation. When does one say no? It’s a long, slow boil for him. He says, ‘I kill people to survive.’ Many in that position never confront that about themselves.

ive, too. I’ve been really lucky there.

DF: There’s a lot of serendipity in this book. Do you believe in fate? MBH: I don’t know. I do feel there’s more to our lives than choice. We delude ourselves, especially in the West, into thinking if we’re good people we can have good things. But things can entangle us and suddenly we’re hopeless. The pandemic has shown us that.

DF: Where and when do you write? MBH: Early in the mornings. I’m usually up by five – I used to be a night owl, but I trained myself over the last 10 years, I’ve got to work around responsibilities – and weekends.

DF: Are covid times making it harder or easier to write? Why? MBH: For me it is harder. I’m home a lot more. I’m not allowed to leave my house and there’s that gnawing anxiety at the back of it – oh my god, there’s a worldwide plague! Having said that, I’m well into my next project. With all that anxiety, the drive to communicate is becoming more urgent; we all need stories.

DF: When did you know you wanted to be a writer? MBH: Goodness, I was about seven

DF: Tell me something positive about the pandemic. MBH: It’s made a lot of us more aware

years old and I had a really good Grade 2 teacher, and when I made the connection between what I was doing at home and what she was doing at school in creative writing, that was it. Daisy Ellsworth was her name and she probably saved me because I was already checking out of school. My parents were always really support-

of other people and of experiences outside of our own. There seems to be a greater awareness that ‘I’m connected and have to look after other people.’ It’s not perfect and going up against eugenics and ageism – it [COVID-19] only affects the weak and the old – but I hope the conversation continues.

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homefront what odds

going off script By Paul Warford

Several fragments I stare at a dairy farmer advertising and he stares back at me. His image is stuck of Perspex milk to the inside of a bus shelter and I stand just out(Plexiglas) have side it, hiding from the wind. Shane calls for the been glued to storyboard. I see it nestled in a shopping cart we’ve hijacked for the evening and run it to his Francois’ cheeks, side. The storyboard is a thick, coiled book with forehead and tall, blank pages. Each leaf is divvied into six and a director can sketch scenes in chin to simulate squares, these. The storyboard is a reference for Shane, a broken glass. collection of the images he already has in his The result is very head that will eventually become Grind Mind’s newest movie. Few things are as important as the convincing. storyboard on shoot day. Francois sits and smokes while the effects man, Justin (a.k.a. “Buddha”), applies dabs of fake blood to areas of his face. Several fragments of Perspex (Plexiglas) have been glued to Francois’ cheeks, forehead and chin to simulate broken glass. The result is very convincing. Shane studies the storyboard, muttering to himself about the order of the next shots we need. “Okay, let’s try it again,” he suggests, and everyone shuffles into place. Buddha seals his tub of blood and Francois stands in wait. Shane scrutinizes the scene through his camera’s display screen. “Okay, gimme the line, Francois.” He does so, but I’m not sure it’s the same as the original version in the previous take. (Desperate to put my English degree to use, I always offer to edit Grind Mind scripts before we film.) I want to tell Shane the discrepancy, but I also don’t want to interrupt. We’ve been here for hours and we’re getting tired. I keep it to myself for the sake of expediency. Later, when Shane plays the footage back, he realizes with an “Ah, @!#*” that the wording doesn’t match. That was more than a year ago. Then in February 2021, we finally had the go-ahead to make a 32

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film we were supposed to have made 10 months prior (COVID-19 caused a postponement). We’d been selected, we would be funded, we would be mentored and now we would film. There were no roles for me this time; no acting for me to do. I’ve done everything from coffee runs to gripping for Grind Mind, but with funding we suddenly had professionals helping us do these things. So now I am Assistant Script Supervisor. It has a nice ring to it. The job, in a word, is continuity. A guy in a ski mask runs through the woods carrying a gun and a satchel of money. The actor stumbles over a branch, everyone has a laugh, and we have to ask him to run through the woods again. Now, which hand held the gun and which held the bag? Pointing out what the camera sees in case the director’s eyes miss it, this seems to be the job. When it comes time to edit and stitch everything together, the script supervisor’s notes are meant to bring issues to attention and ultimately save time. Amanda was my mentor, and she’s a pro. There are very few script supervisors currently active in Newfoundland and Labrador’s bustling film community, and she’s known for her reliability. “It’s a department of one,” she tells me while showing me the computer program all script supervisors use, contained within an iPad dangling from her neck. Her fingers move so quickly I can barely keep up. She’s marking slate information (“Scene 10, Take 2” sort of stuff) while sniffling against the cold. She has cut the index www.downhomelife.com

and middle fingertips from the gloves she’s wearing and advises me to do the same in the future – makes it easier to use the iPad’s touch screen in the cold. Shane calls “Action!” and she starts watching the monitor, a small video screen that shows a live feed of what’s being filmed. “Don’t ever let anyone block your view of the monitor,” she cautions. “People from other departments will stop to watch; they don’t need to see it, you do,” she says, pointing at me for emphasis. I concentrate on the heat packs adhered to the undersides of my socks. Our scene is outdoors and the night is cold. After 20 minutes of lighting adjustments, the actors are ready. “Roll sound!” “Rolling!” “Action!” calls Shane. “The boom shadow is in the shot. See it?” Amanda points at the monitor. I do see it. The operator has held the boom mic a little too low and the lights are catching it. I watch over her shoulder as Amanda hurriedly types “boom shadow in shot” for this particular take, and I realize I’m learning. My 20s were spent in academia, where I’d never heard the words “script supervisor” once. Still, I was preparing for the job the entire time. Follow your passion and the rest will start to make sense. 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 May 2021

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fresh tracks

new music talk with Wendy Rose

Baby Eagle

Matthew Hender YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM AS MATT HENDER,

bassist from The Long Distance Runners, or Crooked Stovepipe, or The Kubasonics. Perhaps you’ve seen him play with High and Lonesome or the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. Or maybe you recognize him from his years of slingin’ CDs at Fred’s Records in downtown St. John’s. It’s time to get reintroduced. Meet Matthew Hender, solo artist. He released his debut solo album, Baby Eagle, in November 2020. In an unusual decision in the digital age, Hender opted to only have physical copies of the album, refusing to put his music on streaming services due to the “lack of financial respect they give to the artist that creates the content,” he explains. After one listen, it’s understandable why Hender went this route. A ’60s-’70s-esque rock/pop album like this deserves a dedicated listening experience. “He lost his voice, he lost his 34

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voice, in December’s rejoice, he lost his voice, he lost his voice, there was no choice,” Hender sings on the album’s soft and sublime opening track, “My Dream.” These lyrics represent the singer’s harsh reality – in the album’s infancy, Hender had a rough cold and cough. The virus attacked a nerve and left him with a paralyzed left vocal cord. The cure was rest. “I can hear little warbles in my voice on the album because of the paralysis, but it’s my voice and I’m proud of it,” he shares. “Battlelines Drawn” is a thrilling ride, with ominous, plinky piano layered with an electric guitar solo, with a dramatic mid-song, emphatic pause. 1-888-588-6353

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“Goodbye, My Friend” could pass for a long-lost song from the late, great Harry Nilsson. The fourth track, “Big Fish,” feels like a more modern dream-pop song, with gentle piano and a folksy outro. I assumed “A Slice of Pie” hearkened to the famous midnight pie raffle at High and Lonesome’s bluegrass nights, but instead, this is a love song with a hint of humour. Hender’s layered vocal harmonies create a beautiful chorus. “Sundown” is a personal favourite, with a fun organ solo and wild howling. The spooky music video – released on Halloween 2020 – is worth a watch, too. “’Til Daylight” opens with a folksy guitar solo and closes with a whistle solo. The lyrics explore society’s fascination with social media, and the valuable time many of us waste seeking validation from no one and everyone: “Just sit and waste away my life, staring through the glass and wire and light…” The album begins to fade out with “Tonight’s the Night,” a short but heavy piano piece with epic vocal stylings. The album’s ninth track seems appropriately titled – “The Show is Over Now.” In this final musical offering, Hender seems to thank his listeners, and reminds them that there’s more to come – and this listener is thankful for that! Baby Eagle is available exclusively at Fred’s Records, the alma mater that provided Hender with “an enlightening education that no masters or doctorate degree could provide,” he says. www.downhomelife.com

Q&A with the Artist

Wendy Rose: How did this project begin? Was it the sudden, crushing weight of pandemic loneliness or longpent-up creative energy that could no longer be stifled? Matthew Hender: I feel that my album,

Baby Eagle, was something that was destined to happen eventually. It just happened during a pandemic. I’ve always been an ideas guy and provided lots of great ideas in my previous projects with other musicians, but I was not a great finisher. Now, I was going to finish this project all by myself. I started the process of this album a full year before I laid anything down to a recording, and it took a lot of work to finally reach this point. I had to write a lot of bad songs just to write a mediocre, good or great song with meaningful and thoughtful lyrics, and music that really evokes feeling from the soul.

WR: Some know you from rock group The Long Distance Runners, or from Ukrainian speed-folk family band The Kubasonics, or from the bluegrass sixpiece High and Lonesome – what should listeners expect on first listen? MH: Listeners should expect nine

songs, sung with my voice, with music my hands made. There may be small elements from those other groups, but really it’s gonna be 100 per cent me. The nine songs deal with my personal thoughts of the current world we live in, including the divisions in society, the cutting of ties, complacency, gluttony, disease, addiction to technology, death, and an offering of a silver lining that everything is gonna be alright. May 2021

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Chris Donnelly photo

I’m a studious lover of classic ’60s-’70s singer-songwriters, and the songs are inspired by the vocal stylings and overall arrangements of greats like Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Pete Townshend and Lennon/McCartney.

WR: What’s the story behind the album name? MH: Ten years ago, I played double

bass on Amelia Curran’s acclaimed album, Hunter, Hunter. Amelia dubbed me “Baby Eagle” – partly because of my youthful go get ’em attitude, and I was the youngest person in a group of local legends like Sandy Morris, Geoff Panting, George Morgan and The Once. Ten years later, I was lucky enough to grow and gain experience in my field. I played many styles of music, performed on a multitude of recordings and toured the world. Through all of these experiences, I was known as Matt Hender, the guy who plays bass with such-and-such. I wanted to be more than the guy next to the person people paid to see. So I retook my given name, Matthew, for my own music. 36

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An eagle is said to inspire and represent longevity. So a baby version must be one that is on the cusp of those things. This is where I feel I currently am, trying to inspire while on the cusp of my solo career.

WR: You played every instrument on this album! What’s on that list, and what did that recording process look like? MH: I originally started making this

album in 2019. However, due to vocal cord paralysis, everything got pushed back. By January 2020, and having somewhat recovered, I started recording my piano at 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning to have complete silence. Recording everything from home, I began adding all the other instruments to the songs and even recorded a couple of new songs from scratch. The instruments I played included 1-888-588-6353

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acoustic guitars, electric guitars, fourstring bass, eight-string bass, double bass, piano, organ, synthesizer, mandolin, cello, clarinet, various percussion and a theremin. With 90 per cent of the record done and COVID restrictions loosened, Chris Donnelly [drums], Krisjan Leslie [sound engineer] and myself were able to finish the record safely.

WR: What’s in store for 2021? How is our Baby Eagle planning to spread its wings? MH: I mean, the sky’s the limit! I’m

gonna keep promoting my album. If you are reading this article, it is highly

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unlikely you know who I am, know my story or have heard my music. It’s all good, I’m new, and if you made it this far, you now know something about me. I’ve also started to create the sophomore follow-up to Baby Eagle. Right now the ideas are just flowing through me. Sadly, we are still dealing with the trials and tribulations of COVID-19. It really has put a harness on possibilities for a musician. I very much want to do a Maritime tour. I’ve done it before with various bands, but never on my own. I would really like to take my girl and our dog, and just drive.

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life is better A calm day in Burgeo harbour Kimberley Keats, St. John’s, NL

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features

Dennis Flynn chats with Kyla Miranda about her “Nan’s Journals” project

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History

is helped made whole by avid diary keepers. The published journals of Anne Frank, Nelson Mandela, Captain Robert Falcon Scott and others have provided uniquely personal perspectives on the world in their time and historic events as they happened. It’s the desire to document their lives in a way that can be looked back upon years later that drives many diarists.

Preserving those reflections, particularly of her own grandmother, is what drives artist Kyla Miranda’s current project. Her nan, 89-year-old Doris Hynes (nee Clarke) of Holyrood, NL, was born in Little Bay East on the Burin Peninsula, and grew up in nearby Fortune. “Nan went to school for nursing in Halifax and worked as a nurse in Come By Chance and in St. John’s. She also spent time at Arnold’s Cove railway station as a teacher, as my grandfather and his family worked on the railway,” Kyla says. By all accounts Doris has had an interesting life, has

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a sharp memory and a positive outlook, and was a strong believer in keeping informal records along the way. Now her granddaughter has taken to social media to preserve and share Doris’s most interesting journal entries. She posts a new excerpt every few days on social media, with the hashtag #nansstorynl. Kyla says, “I grew up in my nan’s house, so we are quite close and she has always been a special influence in my life. She has done so much for people over the years, whether that was hosting them, or helping them

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out, or delivering babies. Her life is so intriguing and full of these stories I wanted to share.” One such ongoing story revolves around Doris’s father, Kyla’s great-grandfather. “At a young age, Nan’s father was ‘lost at sea’ and a memorial service was held for him. However, he was actually picked up by a ship going to Portugal and eventually brought back again. Shortly after, he actually did drown at sea in 1935, in a separate incident on a ship called the Alsatian. After he was actually truly gone, there was little closure. Given that he had survived to come back the first time, perhaps they were expecting another miracle. From my understanding, it was years before they had evidence of the final shipwreck.” Kyla continues, “So Nan grew up with just her and her mom, and her mother did all sorts of different jobs to make ends meet. Eventually my nan took on an apprenticeship with a local doctor and then went to school for nursing in Halifax. She came back to Newfoundland to work as a nurse and she married my grandfather, who was a railway worker, and they moved to Holyrood.” While Doris grew up an only child (her mom later remarried and had two sons), Doris and her husband had a house full. She bore seven children, including two sets of identical twins. Says Kyla, “I always remember her talking about how there were five babies under the age of three in the house at the same time.” Kyla, a Hynes also from Holyrood and now living in St. John’s, is a real estate agent by day. In her own time, 42

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she’s an accomplished artist. “I have been an artist ever since I was a little girl, and my first real ‘sales’ were painted beach rocks with landscapes!” she says. “I’m mostly known for graphite pencil portraits, but I’m now focusing on drawing prints and acrylic landscapes – more as a hobby, as my day job takes a lot of time. I am truly a project person, so will always be involved in something.” The Nan’s Journals project is her latest. Many years ago Doris wrote a little memoir to herself and kept adding to it. She gave it to Kyla, who eventually typed it up but didn’t quite know what to do with it. Kyla notes, “It was always in the back of my mind, and this year 2021 is Nan’s 1-888-588-6353

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90th birthday in October, so I thought first that I would print it out and add some pictures. But with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and continuing into this year, I don’t know how any celebrations will look, so I felt it was important to do something more significant in advance.” Every few days, Kyla posts an excerpt from her Nan’s diary on her Facebook and Instagram accounts. Sometimes she adds an old family photo, and sometimes she includes a photo shared by others, such as local

Kyla and her grandmother Doris Hynes photographers. So not only are these memories being brought to light, but they are also becoming more substantial as more information and context is shared in the comments. “I find that social media can act as a really powerful tool for storytelling and story building… it is a more active way to create conversation, rather than something passive and personal like reading a book. Behind www.downhomelife.com

every story there is so much context and so many other stories and knowledge, both historical and personal. By putting it out there this way we can enrich her story, as well as the stories of those who read it. There is also so much excellent research and knowledge about Newfoundland from this era – including topics on shipwrecks, the railroad, nursing etc. – that it’s really a limitless source of information that we can take from and build on. There are also people who can contribute in other ways, such as photographers, who have shared their work through adding photos to the story. In this way I feel other people can add to Nan’s story, but at the same time we enrich other people’s stories and knowledge. It is a win-win on many levels.” So how does her grandmother feel about all this attention? “She is a modest, quiet lady, but enjoys it. Nan is happy that we are sharing the story and is an active participant in what I share, though she doesn’t necessarily follow along directly online. I believe Nan always wanted to share these stories in some way – though this might be a different way than she originally imagined.” Kyla adds, “The readers are really enjoying it. Many people relate these things to their own experiences. I feel there is a certain sadness for some people who had wished they had collected their own family stories and no longer have the opportunity to do so.” You can read “Nan’s Journals” on Kyla’s Facebook and Instagram pages, @YYT_Newfoundland_Homes, and follow the hashtag #nansstorynl. Everyone with a positive note or information to add is welcome to comment. May 2021

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features

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Costume designer Marie Sharpe has dressed so many of our favourite players on stage and on screen. By Ed Seaward

“I don’t do plaid jackets and rubber boots.”

Words from Marie Sharpe on her life-long approach to costume design for local theatre, television and film. Marie’s approach reflects her perception of the variety of Newfoundland and Labrador culture and how that culture should be portrayed, beyond the clichés and stereotypes – a collaborative approach that should reflect the characters to help the director and author tell the story. “Clothing,” she says, “is a big part of that transformation. It is about the character in the play/film. Who are they? Their history? Their socioeconomic status? Where would they shop? What can they afford?”

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Marie’s career in costume design started with sewing. Undoubtedly, her love of sewing can be traced back to her birthplace in St. John’s – Goodview Street, where she lived until she married – and her admiration of her maternal grandmother Martha. Though Martha died when Marie was only three or four years old, Marie heard countless stories from her own mother, Mary, who was good at repair and mending but said Martha “was a brilliant seamstress.” Of course, Depression-era necessity really drove Martha’s sewing, like taking her husband’s winter coat, pulling it apart and piecing it back together as two coats for her children. These stories of her grandmother deeply resonated with Marie. In high school, Marie signed up for a sewing course and, for her, “the whole process was natural. I took to it like a duck to water.” If Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) had a fine arts program in the early ’70s it would have been Marie’s choice, hands down. As it was, she ended up studying sociology but continued with the sewing, earning a few bucks by making clothes to sell at the Student Centre. A friend who was working at the Arts and Culture Centre (ACC) asked Marie if she would like to join her and help sew for the annual fall musical (that year it was The Music Man, starring Gordon Pinsent). 46

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Pretty much, folks, that was that. In Marie’s words: “The day I went in I was totally at home.” The staff at the ACC must have recognized the same thing as they asked her to stay for an upcoming Christmas show which led, upon her graduation in 1974, to a permanent part-time position for 10 years (though working full-time hours, and beyond). Marie’s original

An early photo of Marie and her mother Mary title was “wardrobe mistress,” and she was solely responsible for the costume department and designing all costumes. Sometime in the early ’80s they changed her title to costume designer and her position was made officially full-time. Regardless of title, Marie officially held the position until “retirement” in 2011. (I put “retirement” in quotes because Marie has continued in a bevy of theatre and film ever since.) It is not an overstatement to say 1-888-588-6353

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“I spent many, many long hours in libraries researching different periods of clothing. I had no problem at all doing this. I read and read and read until I figured it all out.”

Marie and husband Paul Marie’s role profoundly affected arts and culture in Newfoundland and Labrador. But when I asked her about receiving the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service Award of Excellence in 2004, Marie waved it aside in typical self-effacement with a breath-releasing, phttt. Then in 2010, she was honoured again, this time with a Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council Award for Artists’ Achievement. Over her career with the ACC, www.downhomelife.com

Marie turned a once humble sewing and wardrobe room into an irreplaceable costume bank. Her industriousness, instilled in her by her parents as she grew up on Goodview Street, combined with her education helped her develop her costume design philosophy. Although sociology may not seem related to textiles, it provided a solid grounding in understanding how society works and how to do proper research. According to Marie, “This held me in good stead when I was figuring out how to build a show. I was the first person at the ACC, or in Newfoundland, who was going to be the costumer full-time. The job evolved around me. I spent many, many long hours in libraries researching different periods of clothing. I had no problem at all doing this. I read and read and read until I figured it all out. There was no one before me, I had no one to ask. My degree gave me the confidence and the know-how to learn what I needed to learn. No internet back then.” Marie’s work ethic also led to great amounts of overtime, which she used for time in lieu – a flexible work arrangement that allowed her to accept side projects, such as with the CBC on a program called “Tales of Pigeon Inlet.” Ted Russell, who had died in 1977, was a former politician May 2021

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Marie Sharpe (right) and Wanita Bates who once served in Joey Smallwood’s cabinet. After leaving politics he became well-known in the 1950s for the stories he wrote and narrated on radio as “Uncle Mose” about life in a fictional outport he called Pigeon Inlet. CBC-TV adapted some of those stories into half-hour shows in the ’80s. From there, Marie became a stalwart of NL theatrical, television and film production. Over the next 30 years she was involved in a number of wide-ranging films including The Divine Ryans in 1998 and Maudie in 2015; TV documentaries such as Ocean Ranger and Newfoundland at Armageddon; and various TV specials: e.g. Buddy Wasisname & the Other Fellers, the St. John’s audition for “Canadian Idol,” and even that Canadian classic, “Heritage Minute” (the one about Marconi and Signal Hill). Her involvement in “Republic of Doyle” was probably the television production most recognized by 48

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Canadians outside the province. During the first two seasons, her name rolled with the key credits at the beginning of the program: Marie Sharpe, Costume Designer. But it’s not “seeing her name in lights” that has ever driven her; it is the work and the people she works with that have motivated Marie. One of the early people who enthralled Marie was singer Joan Morrissey, a Newfoundland icon in the ’60s and ’70s. Marie worked on the musical Gypsy at the ACC, which starred Morrissey, and remembers “Joan had the first gold-selling record in Newfoundland and was often at the ACC, performing in concerts, a lot of them charity concerts. She always stepped up.” Unfortunately, Joan Morrissey suffered severe depression after heart surgery and died by suicide in 1978, at the age of 42. The most constant performer over Marie’s career has been Mary Walsh. For Marie, Mary is a girl from the 1-888-588-6353

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neighbourhood, “having started life on the bottom of Carters Hill, just below the steps across the street from my Uncle Gerald’s store. She went to a different Catholic School than me. But knowing that we came from the same neighbourhood always made me one of Mary’s nearest and dearest.” Marie worked on Mary’s first one-woman show, Dancing with Rage. “Although it was the life of Marg Delahunty, Princess Warrior, it was loosely based on Mary’s life. Much of it was purely fictional, but you could always imagine that these sometimes hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking situations could be Mary Walsh’s truth,” Marie says. “It was a complicated show to do because she never left the stage. All of the costume changes took place onstage in front of the audience, starting out in a child’s bathrobe, ending in the Marg Princess Warrior. I cannot count the number of times that I had to rebuild that costume over the years.” Another standout for Marie has been her involvement with the theatrical company Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, beginning in 1998 on their production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Some of Marie’s costumes for their productions, such as Oil and

Water and Colony of Unrequited Dreams, have travelled to theatres across Canada. Marie’s artistic life came full circle in 2019 when she designed costumes for a short film about Joan Morrissey’s life, Surrounded by Water (also the title of one of her most famous songs). The Canadian Alliance of Film and Television Costume Arts and Design nominated Marie for Costume Design in Short Film. Although she didn’t win, she attended the awards. “It was a lovely weekend of events and I got to know some great people. At dinner, I sat with the lady who designed ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’” True to Marie’s modest nature, she “never intended to go but I got guilted into it at the last minute.” There you have Marie, if you want a summation. Her loving husband Paul, and daughters Victoria and Rebecca, had to guilt her into an award ceremony meant to celebrate her and her work in the industry she loves. Not the limelight for Marie – rather like that phttt she gave when I asked about her Public Service award. Perhaps we can rephrase an old saying to fit Marie Sharpe: You can take the girl out of Goodview Street, but you can’t take Goodview Street out of the girl.

About the author

Ed Seaward’s novel, Fair, was published by The Porcupine’s Quill in 2020. Mother Daughter Happiness was a screenplay finalist at the 2019 Pasadena International Film Festival. His writing series Profiles from the Bright Side of the Road can be found on his website, edseaward.com. Although born in London, ON, his father was born in St. John’s, NL, and his paternal grandfather in Gooseberry Cove, Trinity Bay. Ed currently lives in Georgetown, ON, with his wife, Barb. www.downhomelife.com

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A family’s efforts to safeguard their built heritage for generations who follow By Kim Ploughman

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Our fishing culture

is one of the greatest treasures we hold in Newfoundland and Labrador. This truth, however, does not stop the winds of time from slowly dismantling the architecture associated with the province’s most important economic and cultural industry. In our outports, there are many vestiges of our fishing past that continue to be worn down by ocean winds and saltwater spray. One such premises belonged to the Mouland clan. Walter Mouland, who passed away nine years ago at the age of 97, was the last of the fishermen in his lineage to use these structures. He gave up his fishing licence after a lifetime on the water just a few years before the 1992 cod moratorium; and as such, he did not qualify for any of the government compensation. Walter Mouland’s stage and flakes, previously used for more than a century, have sat idle ever since. In the years since his passing, his surviving family members have been working to have the Moulands’ stage and flake preserved as an important part of local history. Lucy Mouland, oldest daughter of Walter and his wife Minnie, together with interested local Roger Ball, initially spearheaded the efforts to safeguard her father’s fishing premises, located on what locals call Moses Point. Before Lucy passed away on December 31, 2020, the family had signed ownership of the structures over to the Bonavista Townscape Foundation. While the Foundation did not provide an update when contacted, it has previously www.downhomelife.com

Walter Mouland was the last generation of his family to use the stage for fishing.

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Walter Mouland and wife Minnie pose in the stage on Moses Point in this undated photo. publicly stated that the flake and stage are valued by the town and will be preserved as significant heritage assets. At another rebuilt flake on the road to the Bonavista lighthouse, an information board declares, “The fish flake is one of the most recognizable of all structures used in the production of Newfoundland salt cod.” Walter’s stage is considered the last of the small stages that once crowded the shorelines of Bonavista. They were left unpainted, as they were considered temporary structures. More permanent fishing “stores” in Bonavista, located away from the sea, were coated with red ochre, which helped preserve them through the passage of time. Linda Templeman, Lucy’s younger sister, still lives in the historic fishing town. She observes that many tourists make their way to the weathered and weakened stage and flake, but she worries that her family’s heritage structures may not be saved. “I guess it’s all about timing and money,” she says in a recent phone conversation with Downhome. On Moses Point, in Linda’s early 52

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years, the rhythm of fishing life beat as it did all along the province’s seashore. The men would bring in fish and the family would engage in gutting, splitting, washing and salting the catch. Then, it would be laid outdoors to dry on the fishing flakes. Linda recalls that in addition to the stage still visible, there was a second one farther out in the water. “We used to help Mom put the fish out on the flakes and rush to bring it in when it looked like rain,“ says Linda, recalling she had “fallen down through that flake more than once,” and even has a scar to prove it. Fishing was indeed a family affair – so much so, that Walter built swings underneath the flakes for his children. “They wanted us to be close to them so they could keep an eye on us,” says Linda. The family’s house is located on Roper’s Street, not far from the fishing room. All five of Walter and Minnie’s children were born and raised there. “Lots of good memories in that home,” reminiscences Linda. At one point, Walter’s parents, Philip and Mary Mouland, lived on one side 1-888-588-6353

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of the house with their family, while his grandparents, Ambrose and Sarah Mouland, lived on the other side of the “two-part house,” which had two stairwells. “He was an inshore fisherman, not like trawlers – just had his boat and two men to go fishing with him,” Linda says with pride, adding, “Dad loved fishing... especially out with his cod traps.” Notwithstanding his deep and abiding passion for fishing and being on the water, Linda says he never wanted his three sons to follow in his footsteps. “Youngest brother went for a summer, but Dad wanted them to get an education.” Over time, Bonavista’s identity transformed from jigging fish to hooking tourists. Towards the end of

his life, Walter perhaps unwittingly helped merged these two industries in his own way As his granddaughter, Bonita, enthusiastically shares in an email, “My Pop was very proud of his flake. Many tourists would visit there and he would yarn his stories about it. He absolutely loved doing this.” (Bonita and her cousin both had their wedding photos taken by the old premises, and Bonita now owns the centuryold family home where Lucy lived until her passing.) Linda also recalls that in his later life, her “normally quiet” father proudly spoke to a good many traveller from his spot on a bench in front of his house, sharing tales from the good ol’ fishing days and how things have changed.

The stage is still very much a part of the Mouland family, with members including it in their wedding photos www.downhomelife.com

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Submit your favourite photos of scenery, activities and icons that best illustrate the down-home lifestyle. We’re looking for a variety of colourful subjects – outports, wildlife, laundry lines, historic sites, seascapes, hilltop views, and so much more – and photos from all four seasons. This is your chance to get in on our most popular reader contest and try to woo the judges into choosing your photo for the 2022 Downhome Calendar. These calendars are seen by tens of thousands of subscribers and displayed all year long.

What are you waiting for? Submit today, using one of these ways:

by mail: Downhome Calendar Contest 43 James Lane St. John’s, NL A1E 3H3 online: www.downhomelife.com/calendar Must be original photos or high quality copies. Digital photos must be at least 300 dpi, files sizes of about 1MB. We can’t accept photocopies or photos that are blurry, too dark or washed out. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want your photos returned.

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features

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WHEN I WAS A KID,

I spent a lot of time at my uncle’s cabin on the banks of Freshwater Pond on Newfoundland’s Burin Peninsula. While there I always enjoyed the warm summer days spent wading in the shallow waters, navigating through the pond vegetation, and catching sticklebacks and small striped fish I would call “tiger trout.” I later found out my “tiger trout” were banded killifish, and at that time they were only known to inhabit a few water systems in the province. The island of Newfoundland is home to two species of killifish: the banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanous) and the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), both of which are very similar in appearance and size, and may be found schooling together. Because of this, it is often difficult to distinguish between these two native species. The mummichog (a Native American word for “going in crowds,” for how it travels in large schools of sometimes hundreds of fish) may also be known as chub, salt water minnow, mud dabbler, marsh minnow, mud minnows, mummies, gudgeons and common killifish. What also sets the mummichog apart, though you wouldn’t know it to look at it, is that it was the first fish species to swim in outer space. In 1973, a pair of mummichog were flown into space in a plastic bag aquarium aboard SkyLab, during the SkyLab 3 mission. At first they showed some difficultly swimming due to the gravity changes,

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but after 22 days they swam normally. Fifty mummichog eggs at advanced developmental stages were also taken aboard the space craft, and 48 hatched during the flight. The hatchlings showed no effects from the space travel and swam normally. Mummichog are slightly larger than banded killifish, usually measuring 7.5-9 cm, but can reach lengths of up to 15 cm. The thick body is elongated and highly variable in colour. Colouration may change with the substrate, but is

SkyLab played host to a pair of mummichog in 1973

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Fundulus diaphanous

generally olive brown or olive green, with thin, wavy, silver bars on the sides. (Banded killifish have irregularly spaced black and silver bars.) The colours are more intense in the males during breeding season as the sides become steel blue with silvery bars, the undersides turn yellow or orange-yellow, and the dorsal fin becomes mottled with a small eyespot near the rear edge. (Male banded killifish turn bright blue during mating season.) Females are paler without the intense colours, and their dorsal fin is uniformly coloured. Like the killifish, the mummichog’s mouth is upturned for surface feeding. Most are sexually mature at two years old and around 3.8 cm; their normal lifespan is about four years. Neighbourhoods to watch The banded killifish has a wide distribution in eastern North America, ranging from South Carolina to the Atlantic provinces. In Newfoundland, there are currently 42 (10 until 2015) known populations in isolated locations around the island, including the Burin Peninsula, Indian Bay watershed, Ramea Island, Grand Bay 58

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West, Loch Leven, Stephenville Crossing, St. George’s Bay and York Harbour. There is also an introduced population on the Avalon. They are typically found in quiet, shallow water less than one metre deep, near vegetated areas of ponds, lakes, rivers and estuaries with sand or gravel bottoms. While they are primarily a freshwater species, they can tolerate brackish water. The mummichog, on the other hand, are widely distributed along the Atlantic coast from the Gaspe Peninsula, Anticosti Island and Port au Port Bay in the north, to northeastern Florida in the south. They are also present on Sable Island off Nova Scotia. They prefer areas of brackish water, usually in saltmarshes, muddy creeks, eel grass or cordgrass beds, sheltered shorelines, estuaries and tidal areas, especially where vegetation is submerged. A few landlocked populations do exist in freshwater lakes near the shore such as Digby Neck, Nova Scotia. They can tolerate highly variable salinity, temperature fluctuations from 6-35⁰C, very low oxygen levels and heavily polluted waters. During cold months in northern 1-888-588-6353

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Fundulus heteroclitus

ranges, mummichog move to upstream tidal pools and burrow up to 20 cm into the mud to overwinter. They can also bury themselves in mud if caught in drying pools between tides, even travelling short distances over land to get back to the sea. How they live and die Both species spawn in spring and summer, and where their ranges overlap they’ve been known to interbreed. A banded killifish – common food for brook trout, Atlantic salmon, American eels, kingfishers, herons and mergansers – will lay 50100 eggs. These fish are susceptible to habitat changes in the sediment and water flow, often the result of land use and development, road construction and forestry activities. And they can be threatened by motorized watercraft activities and removal of aquatic vegetation. As a result, banded killifish hold the distinction of being the only freshwater fish of special concern listed by www.downhomelife.com

COSEWIC in Newfoundland. Female mummichog will spawn up to 740 eggs, in clutches of 10-300 eggs. It is not known how habitat changes affect their mortality, and their populations are currently considered healthy. Both species are omnivorous and have very similar diets that include small crustaceans, insects, larvae, nymphs, mollusks, turbellarians (flatworms), mosquito and mosquito larvae, midge larvae, water fleas, copepods, amphipods, very small fish, fish eggs, diatoms, algae and plant material. Mummichog, which can consume up to 2,000 mosquito larvae in one day, have even been used as an attempted biocontrol for mosquitoes in some areas. And finally, something else that sets the mummichog apart from the banded killifish: it’s considered good luck to kiss a mummichog. This claim has not yet been verified, however, because, really, how many people are keen to kiss a mummichog? May 2021

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features

sureSHOTS Featuring photographer Scott Udle

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BORN AND RAISED in the provincial capital and a longtime resident of the nation’s capital, Scott Udle loves them both. “Ottawa is a beautiful city,” says Scott, who recently retired from the Royal Canadian Mint, “but I am most inspired by the beauty and history of Newfoundland. Our roots are in St. John’s and Random Island, so each summer I will make multiple trips to my favourite spots like The Battery, Cape Spear, Signal Hill, Hickman’s Harbour and others.” One of Scott’s favourite photos is of a Newfoundland pony near Elliston. “This one is special to me not only for the subject, but also because it was the first time I had won any sort of photo competition,” he says. “It was selected for the cover of the 2019 Downhome calendar.” (see p. 64) The first photo he took that he felt was “good,” he says, was of the striking architectural styling of the Lou Ruvo Alzheimer’s Clinic in Las Vegas, Nevada (see p. 63). It had perfect lighting, something he wishes he’d waited around for when he visited Bruges, Belgium. “I had just started out in photography and wanted to capture as much as I could. But I ended up trying to see too much and missed out on some real beauty. My biggest regret was leaving Bruges about an hour too soon. The light would have been perfect in that old city,” he laments. “But I learned a valuable lesson about slowing down and pacing yourself – you may never have the opportunity to take that photo again.” Scott’s interest in photography began when his daughter was born in 2001, and got a boost when he and his brothers made it a kind of team sport. “We would frequently go on outings and challenge each other with weekly topics,” Scott says. www.downhomelife.com

“Eventually, we each found our own paths with mine leading to landscapes – especially Newfoundland landscapes.” Scott is “mostly interested in early morning and late evening landscapes, and I really enjoy experimenting with long exposures,” he says. “I tend to be a warm weather photographer.” In the winter, he spends more time indoors, practising still life and macro photography in his basement. He also volunteers with his local camera club, as competition director. “Joining a photo club can be a great experience for photographers of any skill level from beginner to expert,” he says. “They provide opportunities to learn through guest speakers, seminars, group outings and resource materials. The competitions are a great way to receive unbiased feedback. But the social aspect may be the most rewarding because you have something in common with everyone in the room.” Scott says the Canadian Association for Photographic Arts has an extensive list of affiliated clubs across the country, and a google or Facebook search of your area might turn up even more. To see more of Scott’s photography, follow him on Instagram @2jillsphotography. May 2021

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www.downhomelife.com

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www.downhomelife.com

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explore

province, e h t g in ll e spent trav n RV. A summer an and his cat in a nd just a m onnie Bola By C

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In 2020, Brian Lynch did something many people would love to do. The St. John’s resident packed up his motorhome and drove north, south, east and west, visiting every community in Newfoundland and Labrador along the way. The former Newfoundland railway employee handled freight before his retirement, gaining an in-depth knowledge of areas on and off the beaten track. “I saw places that aren’t even on the map,” Brian says during a recent telephone interview. It was the summer of staycations. The COVID-19 pandemic brought forth public health guidelines and travel restrictions. Residents took to exploring what our province has to offer. Brian bought a 30-year-old motorhome for $7,000. He ensured

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it was road worthy, and stocked up on food, spare parts and kitty treats. Brian hit the asphalt in August with his adopted cat, Edie, riding shotgun. “I like to be on the move,” Brian says. “I was tired of being at home, and I wanted to get out on the open road.” The closure of the Canada-US border meant his home in Florida was off limits. His business was at a standstill. “Catering wasn’t happening,” Brian says. “I didn’t have one job in 2020, whereas normally I had one hundred.”

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Some photos from Brian’s trip, with Edie (right)

He was non-committal when family requested a trip plan. “I told them I didn’t know. It could be a day. It could be a week. It could be a month. I could get sick or give it up. I might not like it.” From his cabin at Whitbourne, Brian began by visiting communities on the right side of the Trans-Canada Highway on the drive west. He visited communities on the opposite side on the way home. Edie was comfortable both ways, spending the days curled next to Brian, nestled in the cat carrier, or motoring along with Kenny Rogers on the stereo. Brian kept a log as the kilometres rolled by. He noted the mileage, where he went and who he met. A bit of a storyteller and not short on imagination, Brian posted entertaining entries on Facebook, where family and friends followed his journey, with his tall tale of John Croke. It began in St. Brendan’s on Cottel Island, when Brian 68

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paused in front of a dilapidated building with a sign: John Croke Ltd. General Store. An equally decrepit boat was beached nearby. Brian decided John Croke had to be around somewhere, so he kept an eye out for him in his subsequent travels. Brian looked for John Croke on Change Islands. He thought he spied John Croke working as a flagman on the Labrador Highway. In Dildo, Brian was positive he saw John Croke in a dory. “I was mistaken,” he wrote. “It was Guillermo Rodriguez. Jimmy Kimmel’s sidekick. He loves Dildo and decided to stick around for a year or so.” Brian eventually found John Croke closer to home, at Ocean Pond, with his head in a barrel. “Apparently Uncle Willy fell into the well,” Brian wrote. “Wally went to help him get out and then got stuck. John joined in and tried to haul the two of them out. It didn’t work. RIP to the Crokes. St. Brendan’s finest.” From August to November, Brian visited 758 communities on the island and 27 in Labrador. Pandemic restrictions prevented him from travelling up the Labrador coast to see the five communities there, but he plans to return. Brian was granted permission to drive through Quebec and into New Brunswick. Then he sailed from North Sydney to Port aux Basques, where he self-isolated for 14 days. On the southwest coast, Brian parked his RV and travelled on a smaller ferry from Rose Blanche to La Poile. With nowhere to overnight, he set up his tent in a shed on the wharf. “I saw some fellows,” he remembers. “They’d walk about 100 yards, stop, open a beer and have a drink. I asked where the convenience store www.downhomelife.com

Brian’s Trip By the Numbers On November 9, 2020, Brian declared his vacation over and posted the following stats on Facebook for anyone considering a staycation like his.

84 Days on the road 16,584 Kilometres travelled 758 Communities visited on the island

27 Communities visited in Labrador 785 Total communities visited 5 Communities missed 7 Islands visited with motorhome

7 Remote communities visited by ferry 63 Gas fill-ups 81 Nights sleeping in the RV 2 Nights in a B&B 1 Night in a tent

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Some more photos from Brian’s road trip, including a breakdown in Marystown.

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was, and then I followed the same route.” He met a teacher and heard about the school’s only student. Curious by nature, Brian talked to fishermen, craftspeople and artisans. He saw Grey River and Lawn, Robinsons and Stephenville Crossing. There were weather delays, and a few small issues with the RV along the way, including having to be towed into Marystown for repairs. On the Northern Peninsula he drove into Conche. At Trout River, the sunset was spectacular. Brian watched the comings and goings of people who depend on the province’s ferry system. He saw different ways of life that make up the fabric of a diverse province. “I ate fish and chips on the wharf when I wanted to,” he says. “I went to restaurants and tasted local food. It was delicious.” An isolated community on the southwest coast captured his heart. Before making the trip, Brian had only heard of Francois. “Hands down, my favourite,” he says. “Years ago, I saw pictures of Francois that were absolutely amazing. The fjord and the mountains. It’s a beautiful community.” Advice for Others “I documented everything,” he says. “Every bill and every receipt. I know exactly what it costs. If someone else decides they want to do this trip, or do half of it, they can use that as a reference point.” While many people told Brian they would love to follow his path, he said it’s not for everyone. “If you are the type of person who likes to know what’s around every corner, and in every nook and cranny, this might be www.downhomelife.com

Expenses for 84 Day Road Trip Gas: $4,989.54 Food: $1,538.25 Camper repairs: $1,345.87 Truck repairs: $845.52 Ferry charges: $548.21 Propane: $302.21 Accommodations: $247.00 Total: $9,816.60 or $116.86 per night for you. You have to be adventurous,” he cautions. “I’m the kind of person who finishes a job. You know when you see someone shovelling snow and when they’re done, they aren’t really done? They go and take another little piece off here, or they widen a bit there. That’s me... Because of that instinct, I got to visit everything.” Spending 84 days on the road is not always easy. “You have to be comfortable with your own self,” he says. “You must be organized and make up your mind that you’re going to do it. A lot of people are afraid to do something because they might have trouble. Be prepared for things to go wrong and roll with the punches.” He adds with a laugh, “I’m a real big believer in roadside assistance.” So, what’s next? Brian is selling the house in Florida that he hasn’t seen since 2018. There’s that trip back to Labrador, and maybe an excursion across Canada. He might revisit some communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. “I was blown away by the interest in my trip,” he says. “But you know what? It’s a good freaking story to tell.” May 2021

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We turn and go ’long Dog Cove Road, Past “Newhook’s” house of old, Until we reach that piece of land, “John Baker’s,” long ago. We now begin upon a trek That will be oh so grand. A sea stack towers before us, It’s called the “Naked Man.” We’ve now reached the very high cliffs With pounding surf below. With the ocean white and foamy, It’s where the rip tides flow. We’re now upon a headland high, Below a paradox – Small crevices and caves produce Sweet sounds from “Music Box.” We come upon a lookout rest And view the “Dog Cove” sand. Such rugged and cragged beauty, The best in all the land. And now we climb but higher still Until we reach the crest, And there we are to dare ourselves, Look down on eagle’s nest. www.downhomelife.com

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Under o’erhanging rock we find Moss, lichens in each nook. Like walking through a fantasy In a fairy tale book. And now we come to “Skerwink Head,” To stand and drink the view. To the east see famed “Fox Island,” South, cliffs of “Baccalieu.” And now our eyes turn to the west And spy old “Ireland’s Eye.” And when there resettlement came They had to say good-bye. Across a bridge and up some steps, My legs tired and aching. The climb is hard and very steep – Lighthouse view, breathtaking! 74

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In the background lies “Trinity” Cod was king in days of old. But now it’s where the tourists flock The “Pageant” is their gold. And over marsh and through a glade, As sunlit shadows dance, The surf sound on the beach below, Puts the mind in a trance. “Sam White’s Cove” now comes into view, Once a great fishing station. But nature has since reclaimed it, No more grand plantation. A little farther, find “Farm Pond,” Its water calm and clear. A short trek around this small pond The end of trail is near. Here we are, at the end of trail Past five hundred years of history. Then think of stacks and rugged cliffs And ten thousand years of mystery.

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explore

How a local businessman and a local artist teamed up to put their town’s history on display By Paul Bonisteel • New Harbour, NL

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Fred Woodman dislikes vinyl siding.

In 2004, when it came time to refurbish one of the storage sheds belonging to Woodman’s Sea Products of New Harbour, NL, he decided to incorporate his love of local history into the project. He had the shed sided with panels on which were painted murals displaying aspects of the history of New Harbour. To do this work, he contacted Andy Williams. A talented native of New Harbour, Andy graduated from Grenfell College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2001. His other work includes portraiture, still life, landscape and decorative arts. Fred and Andy chose four scenes to display on each of the four shed walls. Fred is the great-grandson and namesake of Fred Woodman, who’d married in 1885 and together with his wife, Caroline, began operating a small store in New Harbour. They later began to trade in salt fish and general goods in Trinity Bay. Later still, the business would involve salt fish export to Brazil, Portugal, Spain and the Caribbean. In time, frozen fresh fish processing replaced the salt fish business. They decided to paint the front of the shed facing Highway 80 to appear as the Woodman store did circa 1940 in an old photograph. A second scene depicts the pothead drive, also inspired by a photograph circa 1940. Potheads or blackfish (longfinned pilot whales) followed their chief food source, squid, into Trinity Bay every August. When the pods of whales www.downhomelife.com

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were sighted, all hands would take to the boats to surround the pod and drive the whales to shore where they were killed, flensed, butchered, the oil rendered and the meat sent to supply the local fur farming industry. Neither Fred nor Andy anticipated any controversy displaying the pothead drive. While some student interpreters at the Whaling and Sealing Museum in nearby South Dildo have had to endure considerable criticism from visitors opposed to the previous practice of whaling and the current seal hunt, there has been no negative reaction to the mural. Visitors and residents of New Harbour alike expressed considerable interest 78

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in the topic of the mural, previously unaware the industry had persisted for more than 30 years. The other two panels are recreated from paintings by New Harbour artist Raymond Hillier. The schooner Duchess belonged to Fred Woodman and is shown as she appeared off Cat Cove, New Harbour, in the 1930s. She’d been used in general transport of goods and in the fishery. Locally built, she was an example of established shipbuilding in Trinity South, the industry being one of the original reasons New Harbour was settled in the mid-1700s. Shipbuilders working for Benjamin Lester of Trinity settled here to access virgin timber stands. 1-888-588-6353

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The final panel shows the Whitbourne-Hearts Content branch train crossing the “trussel” (note the local spelling for trestle) in New Harbour circa 1923, from another painting by Raymond Hillier. “Below the trussel” was a local expression to indicate where women did their laundry on the rocks by the Salmon Hole river, before the arrival and convenience of washing machines. Originally, Fred thought the murals would be full colour paintings, but Andy elected a high contrast method for several reasons. For one, he had experience with this method, and the photos and paintings he was drawing upon had limited colour or were black-and-white or sepia toned. Andy did not want to be confined to merely copying the images onto

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panels; there is an abstract quality to the finished panels. Up close one just sees blobs of black. Only by standing back and taking in the whole mural does the picture emerge. In all, Andy worked seven months on the project, from October 2004 until April 2005. It is now 15 years since the mural panels were first installed on the storage shed. They have withstood wind and weather and continue to be enjoyed by residents and visitors to New Harbour. Sources: Garry Cranford and Raymond Hillier, Potheads and Drum Hoops: A folkhistory of New Harbour, Trinity Bay (Harry Cuff Publications, St. John’s, NL, 1983). Willis P. Martin, Two Outports: A history of Dildo-New Harbour (Flanker Press Ltd., St. John’s, NL, 2006.)

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explore

Celebrate the season of new beginnings, with help from reader-submitted photos.

By Nicola Ryan Is there any season more hopeful than spring? Here in Newfoundland and Labrador, spring comes slowly and subtly after all of winter’s shenanigans. One day you’ll notice a change in the light, a softening of the snow banks, and soon, little hints of life will be everywhere you look! We’ve come up with seven of our favourite signs that spring has arrived.

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ice pans Early in the spring, saltwater harbour ice breaks up into pans of various sizes often called “clampers.” Playing on the clampers and jumping from one pan to the next is called “copying.” It can be hazardous (there have been tragedies), so stay close to shore over shallow water. Years ago, copying pans was considered practice for future sealers who’d have to travel over ice pans during the hunt.

Ford Gerald photo

fishing boats & gear Another sure sign of spring in the harbours and bays is seeing fishermen readying their vessels and gear for another season on the water. Fishing has been going on here for centuries; Newfoundland and Labrador has some of the oldest fishing villages in North America. www.downhomelife.com

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Lynn Burton photo

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rain, rain

Bernice Goudie photo

Spring is often the rainiest season of the year. The forecasts in April, May and June usually show a soggy mixture of rain, drizzle and fog influenced by air coming inshore off a mixture of open water and sea ice. Better weather is on the way, but for now, throw on your raincoat and go singin’ in the rain.

robins

The poets say that spring comes on the wings of returning birds. American robins arrive on the island portion of the province in waves by early June. If you look carefully in sheltered spots, you might find a nest with a clutch of beautiful blue eggs. The blue eggshell colour comes from pigments in the mother robin’s blood.

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ake aine Fre Charm photo

flowers

In many regions across the province, cheerful crocuses peeking up through the snow mark the arrival of spring. Crocuses do best in full sun, and parts of the garden that are shady in the summer, when trees are in full leaf, are usually good spots to plant spring-blooming crocuses. In June, dandelions dot the landscape, and hyacinths, daffodils and lilacs fill the air with their sweet scents.

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baby animals Nicole Watson photo

Caribou and moose, and foxes and hares have their calves and litters in late May or early June. Ducklings are on the way, too, and there is nothing sweeter to see than a mama and her brood.

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oto orthcott ph Tanya N

icebergs Drifting down from Greenland and appearing in April and May, these frozen visitors mark the arrival of spring in a massive way. Icebergs can be hundreds of metres long and weigh millions of tonnes. Smaller pieces of ice are known as “bergy bits” and “growlers,” and Twillingate is often called “the Iceberg Capital of the World.”

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HOME and Cabin

stuff we love by Nicola Ryan

May 24 Ready

ALL-WEATHER TENT If you’re willing to brave unpredictable weather to spend the May 24th weekend camping, pick a sturdy tent. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4 tent is easy to set up and features two vestibules for easy exit and entry and extra storage. Factory sealed seams and a coated floor offer excellent wet weather protection. Best of all, it can stand up to gusty wind, driving rain, blowing snow or whatever the forecast has in store.

SLEEPING PAD The Sea to Summit Comfort Plus insulated air sleeping mat is very comfortable, warm and reliable. Its innovative design has two separate air chambers with separate inflation valves, so you don’t have to worry about it springing a leak and deflating. Your back will thank you in the morning.

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CAMP CHAIR The Helinox Chair Zero is a compact, lightweight, supportive camp chair. Made of an ultralight, seriously strong polyester performance fabric and sturdy aluminium alloy poles, it provides comfort and support and resists damage from sun and weather. It’s easy to clean and comes with a five-year warranty.

STOVE TO GO For a hot breakfast in the morning, fire up a Folding Firebox Campfire Stove from the Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co. This clever little stove is easy to light and keep going. Holes in the sidewalls increase airflow and let you feed branches and twigs directly into the burn chamber. Perfect for a boil-up, it’s stable enough to cook wieners, toast, fish, steak or whatever you want (add your own grill), and it folds flat for easy portability.

SMARTWOOL SOCKS Nothing can ruin an excursion like having cold, wet feet. Keep your tootsies warm in a pair of Smartwool socks made of high-quality Merino wool. Thinner and softer than regular wool, Merino wool wicks moisture and sweat away from skin and absorbs odour caused by bacteria – no more stinky socks!

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Ready to Renovate? BY MARIE BISHOP

If the word “renovation”

gets your creative juices flowing and your idea centre stimulated, you’re probably a DIYer who can’t wait to start sketching plans and getting your hands dirty. However, if that word sends shivers down your spine, but the inevitable is about to happen, you’d best buckle in. Generally speaking, you undertake a renovation project because you and/or your mate want a new look, or you need more space, or the space you have can be used more efficiently. Sometimes it’s a “do it or move” situation. Either way, if a renovation is in your future, here are a few pointers to get you through it. This article will focus on a kitchen renovation, but the procedure is much the same for any reno you will undertake. 88

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The very first step is to put ideas to paper and figure out what is it you really want. Of course there will be changes and compromises, but you have to start somewhere and this step will reveal if everyone is on the same page. Think about what your dream kitchen would look like and piece together what is realistic and affordable for your space.

From there you will need a plan. A good, detailed plan will save you time and money in the long run; it’s much easier to erase a pencil line than move a wall. If this isn’t something you’re comfortable with, hire a draftsperson or kitchen designer to finalize the details for you. There are a lot of puzzle pieces that need to fit properly in order to create a functional, efficient and good-looking kitchen.

Do your homework, a little research goes a long way. Check out the latest appliances, lighting, counter top materials, cabinet styles, cabinet hardware and paint colours. There are a lot of choices to be made and it can get pretty overwhelming. But if you have a firm idea of what you like and what you can afford, those decisions will be a little easier.

Next step: create a budget and be realistic. You need to have a budget in mind for the overall project, and you will need to break it down into categories: Flooring, Cabinets & Countertop, Lighting, and Contractor – which should include all the physical work, tear up, plumbing, reconstruction, plastering, painting and lighting. The www.downhomelife.com

kitchen supplier generally looks after the cabinet and countertop installation. Sometimes a general contractor will give you a price that will include an allowance for all of the above. However, that allowance is usually at the low end of the spectrum; if you want nicer lights or better flooring, for example, that becomes an “extra,” so read the fine print and ask lots of questions. Add at least 10-15 per cent to your overall budget regardless – there are always cost overruns and unforeseen expenses.

So, now you need a contractor. This contractor can make or break your faith in renovating. Ask for, and check, references. Make sure they carry their own insurance and are covered by workers’ compensation. It’s also a good idea to have a prepared contract, or at the very least a check list of what is expected, which both you and they should sign off on. Items should include the negotiated price, an outline of work to be done, a timeline for each segment of the project and an overall start to finish date. Ask your contractor to keep you in the loop. If costs are going above budget, materials are on backorder, trades people aren’t showing up on schedule etc., you need to know. May 2021

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Before

This particular 50-year-old house I worked on for a client was about to receive a three-level, back to the studs makeover. And even though the modest-sized kitchen had undergone a few updates, it would have been a shame to leave it behind. It just wasn’t the inviting, functional, welcoming space the homeowner envisioned to go along with the major facelift that was happening. The bonus was its breakfast area that looked out into the beautiful, private back garden. The problem was the space was visually cut in half with the peninsula. So, the kitchen was ripped out, floor ripped up and walls ripped back to the studs, which was actually cheaper than trying to redirect plumbing and rewire for lights and appliances 90

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behind the existing drywall. The homeowner moved out to live with relatives for a few months while the tear up and construction were underway. A smaller renovation might have allowed life to go on within the house, but this was major. The vinyl floor was replaced with engineered wood, which ran through1-888-588-6353

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out the house. The cabinets chosen were Shaker style, painted – white uppers and soft blue bottoms with counter tops of blue pearl granite (actually Labradorite from Norway). The tall pantry unit near the window was replaced with floating shelves above and a longer counter space below for a small TV (which was high on the wish list) and a coffee area. The peninsula was removed and the dishwasher was placed along the wall. Under cabinet lighting, a new light fixture over the breakfast area and pot lights throughout created soft, ambient and task lighting as needed. Overall, the homeowner was delighted with the end result. The open, light, welcoming kitchen is a joy – a place to prepare a meal, share time with friends and family, and sit for morning coffee with a view of the pretty plants and wildlife outside.

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Industrious honeybees, dedicated keepers and local farmers show that working together makes the sweetest results. By Nicola Ryan

“We have many bees,” Trevor Tuck

says with a laugh. Trevor is the owner of Tuck’s Bee Better Farm, a honeybee farm established in 2013 in Grand Falls-Windsor.

“We keep roughly around 100 colonies of bees,” Trevor says. “On average there’s about 50,000 bees in each colony, so I’ll let you do the math on that one.” Multiplication’s not my strong suit, but even a knucklehead like me knows that works out to a lot of bees. Tuck’s Farm maintains the colonies of bees, collects the honey produced in the hives and works in partnership with other local farmers to produce a variety of all natural honey and berry products. Those products are sold through various retailers around the province. As part of the partnership, Tuck’s bees are loaned out to the other farms to pollinate their crops. “The farmers grow the berries,” Trevor explains, using cranberries as an example. www.downhomelife.com

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Trevor Tuck photo

A honey bee colony (left) has 40,000-50,000 worker bees, and cranberry farms (right) can require two to three honey bee colonies per acre for pollination! “When the plants are just starting to bloom, I go gather up my bees, bring them to the farmers’ fields and then let them out to go. They get used to the area and find those flowers they need, that pollen, to feed their young. The first available pollen is in those plants we brought them close to. So then they go out and they start to pollinate those crops.” As a result, the bees are happy, the farmer gets a much greater yield, and Tuck’s Farm can produce a batch of delicious honey. “We do a cranberry juice sweetened with honey, and a variety of liquid honey and raw honey,” Trevor says. They produce cranberry, partridgeberry, blueberry, raspberry and strawberry sauces sweetened with honey, too, and goods like cut-comb and candles. The farm also partners with other small-batch makers to create cosmet94

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ics and soaps. “We let them do what they do well, we focus on what we do well, and we partner together. We’re stronger together than we are on our own,” Trevor explains. So what kinds of flowering treats in fields and gardens do honeybees like best? “In spring they really like maple trees, when they go into bloom,” Trevor says. “They also love dandelions and all your different varieties of clovers.” The types of plants the bees visit and the specific conditions of the area where they grow have incredible influence on the taste of the honey produced. “I could have honeybees that are 10 miles apart and the honey would be different,” Trevor says, likening the process to growing grapes for wine. “You’ll get different notes in those flowers because of the different conditions, which gives you 1-888-588-6353

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different chemistry to the honey, different components to it that are more prevalent.” Each small batch of honey from Tuck’s farm is unique, and demand is steady for the products the farm produces. Before COVID-19 hit, Tuck’s Farm had big plans to expand its facility and juice manufacturing operations, and hire on more folks. Trevor was looking forward to travelling to receive training on new equipment and do research on best practices. “It’s certainly put a little bump in the road,” Trevor says good-naturedly. “It’s nothing we can’t deal with.” Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the few places in the world where honeybees live free of parasites and therefore do not have to be exposed to chemicals or antibiotics. Part of the farm’s mandate is to share knowledge and educate folks on the essential role bees play in the ecosystem, and how to protect our special bee population. “We have a global opportunity here to be able to help save bees,” Trevor explains. “The island provides a perfect space to breed healthy bees that can be studied.” Researchers might be able to gain insight leading to solutions for some of the challenges

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affecting bee populations worldwide. “It’s a great research opportunity,” Trevor says. In the meantime, there are still things that ordinary nature-lovers can do to protect and care for bees. Trevor’s best advice is to plant flowers and allow weeds like dandelions to thrive in the garden. “Enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature, let it run its course, and the bees will be healthier,” he says. He also recommends learning as much as you can by checking out articles, books, videos and websites – especially if you’re interested in having a hobby apiary. “Once you get a bit informed about it,” he stresses, “then you can look into getting bees. You’ll know what you’re getting into and you’re giving them a better chance.” He adds, “Just tell anybody if they’re wanting to, make sure they get informed about it first because it’s more than just putting bugs in a box!” For more information on bees and beekeeping, visit Newfoundland and Labrador Beekeeping Association (NLBeekeeping.com) and the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association (OntarioBee.com).

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Todd’s table

Baked Cod in a

Cast Iron Skillet

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Todd’s Table By Todd Goodyear

When he’s not dreaming up or cooking up great food, Todd Goodyear is president and associate publisher of Downhome. todd@downhomelife.com

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There is no doubt

that fish is a favoured meal, if not the favourite of all meals, in our home. What kind of fish? Salmon, trout, halibut, haddock, mackerel – they’re all “fish.” But speaking in the traditional sense, when I say we’re having fish for supper, I am talking about the almighty northern cod. In Alaska they refer to the crab as king, but not in these waters. The king, in my opinion, will always be the cod. Now I still get the question, what kind of fish? That is not asking about the species; that question clearly is for what style of cod! Pan fried? Boiled? Au gratin? With brewis and scrunchins? Chowder? Stew? Salt? Corned? And the list goes on. How about baked? I would say that baked cod was always my least favourite way of having cod fish, simply because I had no clue how to bake it properly. I often overcooked it and dried it out. To be honest, I really didn’t like the flavour it took on after baking, so I rarely prepared cod that way. But when it comes to cooking, I always say listen to others, grab those tips and recipes. Turns out, an old dog can learn new tricks. I recently got this cod recipe from a good friend of mine who’s taught me much over the years about cooking, so I gave it a try. The jury is still out on what to call it, baked or oven-fried. You will get what I mean as we go through the recipe. For the side dishes, I pan-seared asparagus in olive oil and butter, and made a Caesar salad. The choice is yours when it comes to what side you serve, so for this recipe we will be talking mainly about the method of cooking the cod. You will need a cast-iron skillet / frying pan. A cast-iron Dutch oven can also work if you have more fish or simply don’t have a pan.

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Baked Cod in a Cast Iron Skillet What you will need to feed 3 people: 6 pieces cod fillets (more or less, depending on size) 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tbsp baking powder 3 tbsp avocado or grapeseed oil 2 tsp kosher salt 2 tsp fresh ground pepper 2 tbsp white wine Very, very important – you must get the cod as dry as possible. I thawed my 3 fresh-frozen cod fillets and cut them in half, yielding 6 pieces. Using smaller pieces of fish makes them easier to flip in the pan as well. Then using paper towel, I squeezed and squeezed the water and moisture out of the fish. This is essential to the meal, as wet cod will simply steam and the flour will not dredge properly. After squeezing the water out, I placed the cod on a rack and let it air dry some more and get up to room temperature before hitting the hot pan. Place your cast-iron frying pan in the oven and preheat your oven at 400°F. So you are preheating the pan with the oven. This is a must for this recipe. Don’t forget your oven mitt, as the handle is going to be hot. 98

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Timing may vary depending on the thickness of the fish, but the key is making that pan as hot as the oven. I cooked mine for 4-5 minutes and took the pan out, added the pepper and flipped the cod, then added pepper on the cooked side. Back in the oven for another 4-5 minutes. When you take the pan out, drizzle the white wine directly over the cod while it is still in the frying pan. Plate the cod with your side(s) and enjoy! There you have it, delicious baked cod. Or I even call it “pan-seared cod in the oven.” Either way it is a real treat!

Todd’s Tips Do not use olive oil or butter at these high temperatures. Use avocado or grapeseed oil.

While the oven and pan are preheating, season the cod with salt and dredge in the flour and baking powder mixture. Shake off the excess. When the oven reaches 400°F, use an oven mitt to take out the pan. Coat the entire bottom of the pan with the oil. Place the fish in the pan, do not crowd the pieces, and place the pan back in the oven.

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It deserves repeating: get that fish as dry as possible before you cook it. The baking powder will help brown the fish. Remember, cook with confidence. If I can do it, so can you.

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HOME and Cabin

everyday recipes

Gone Bananas! Did you know that you can replace 1 egg with 1 mashed banana in a baking recipe? That’s just one reason why we love cooking with bananas. Here are six more.

Banana Bread 2 mashed bananas 1 cup whipped salad dressing 2 cups all-purpose flour (or 1 cup whole wheat + 1 cup white)

1 cup sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/4 cup crushed walnuts (optional)

Combine all ingredients well. Spread evenly in a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350°F for one hour. (Tip: Replace walnuts with chocolate chips or blueberries for a tasty variation. Also, use this recipe to make muffins by using greased muffin tins and baking at 400°F for 20 minutes.) Yield: 1 loaf or 12 muffins

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Chocolate-Banana Bread Pudding 1 banana, sliced into coins 1 1/2 cups milk 1 1/2 cups whipping cream 4 egg yolks 3 whole eggs 1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup dark cocoa powder, sifted 1/4 tsp nutmeg, ground 3/4 tsp cinnamon, ground 10 cups bread, cut into 1" cubes Caramel sauce for drizzling

Preheat oven to 350°F. Scald the milk and cream. Whisk together the whole eggs and the yolks with the sugar, cocoa and spices. Temper (prevent from cooking) the egg mixture by slowly adding the hot milk/cream while stirring constantly. In a large bowl, pour the resulting custard over the bread cubes and mix in the banana slices. Let sit until much of the liquid is absorbed. Give it a good stir to be sure it’s all coated. Pour the mixture into two large, greased casserole dishes. Bake for approximately 30-45 minutes. It should start to puff up and spring back when poked. Serve warm with caramel sauce. (These puddings – without sauce – freeze and reheat very well.) Yield: 16-20 portions

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Flax, Berry & Banana Smoothie 1/2 cup milk 2 tbsp vanilla Greek yogurt 2 bananas, cut into slices and pre-frozen 3/4 cup frozen partridgeberries 2 tbsp flax seeds

Place milk and yogurt in the blender first and add everything else on top. Blend on high speed until everything is smooth; add more milk if necessary to allow the ingredients to properly mix. Serve immediately. Yield: 2 servings.

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Spiced Banana Fritters 2 2 2 1 1 1 2

ripe bananas tbsp milk eggs tbsp butter, melted cup all-purpose flour tbsp white sugar tbsp brown sugar

1 1/4 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg Small pinch of ground cloves Canola/vegetable oil for frying 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar for dusting

In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Mix in milk, eggs and melted butter until smooth. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, sugars, baking powder, salt and spices. Stir dry ingredients into banana mixture. Heat oil in a deep fryer to 375°F. Drop batter by the spoonful into the hot oil and cook, turning only once, until browned, 5-7 minutes (if they brown too quickly, leaving the centre undercooked, then reduce the temperature of the oil to 350°F). Drain on paper towels and dust with confectioners’ sugar. Yield: 12 fritters.

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Banana Bites 2 med. bananas mashed 1 cup quick oats 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/4 cup coconut (optional) Combine all ingredients and drop by teaspoonful on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Let cool on a cake rack. Store in a covered container in the fridge for a week or freeze them to enjoy later. Makes about 20 bites.

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Banana Brulée 1 1 1 1

banana sliced L 36% whipping cream tsp ground cardamom oz brandy

1/4 cup + 1/2 cup brown sugar 11 egg yolks 1 tsp vanilla

Combine in saucepan: cream, cardamom, brandy and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup brown sugar, yolks and vanilla, and whisk till smooth. Gradually whisk cream mixture into yolk mixture, so as not to cook the egg yolks; continue whisking until fully combined and smooth. Cut up bananas and divide them evenly among 6 ramekins, then pour mixture over top. Place filled ramekins in oven-proof pan, then fill the pan with water until halfway up the dishes. Bake at 275°F for 25-35 min. or until set. Remove from pan and chill. When ready to serve, sprinkle white sugar on top and place in oven on broil until tops reach desired brownness (watch them carefully so they don’t burn). Yield: 6 servings

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down to earth

Pretty Pot Designs by Kim Thistle 106

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Let’s have some fun. We are going to design a pot for your step or patio together.

First of all you must choose a container. Many people pick beautiful mosaic or intricately patterned pots that catch their eye due to the beauty of them. When using this sort of container, keep in mind that the pot is the attraction and the plants will take the back seat. No loud-mouthed petunias in this type of vessel. If you want your plants to be the focal point, choose a solid colour or something with a nondescript pattern for your pot. This said, a colour that makes a statement, such as bright pink or bright blue, makes a wonderful container choice as long as you choose flower colours to complement it. Those aforementioned bombastic petunias in bright purple would look deadly in a hot pink pot. Next you need to think about the soil you will use to fill your pot. A light and airy mix with some organic matter mixed in is the solution. Avoid heavy garden soils that will hold too much water; this will encourage root rot and your plants will look sickly and slowly die. A mix that is too light will dry out quickly and will not anchor your pot, making it easier to blow around your deck when the gale force winds of autumn hit. We like to use a soilless mix, such as pro mix, and add some organic matter such as worm castings or compost. This not only provides good aeration for the plant roots, but also gives them something to feed on. When plants are grown in the ground they are able to stretch their roots to find nutrients. When grown in a container pot they will use up the nutrients available, and once those are depleted you will notice a steady decline in the health of your plants. Be sure to fertilize throughout the summer. A slow-release fertilizer added to the container at time of planting will be of great benefit but will not replace regular feeding. www.downhomelife.com

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Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers Now for the hard part, what plants do you want to use? The Proven Winners™ people have summed it up in three words. To have a container that merits attention you need a thriller, a filler and a spiller. To break this down, the thriller is a taller plant in your container. The fillers are the shorter plants that are placed in front of or around your thriller and the spiller is, of course, the hanging plant that is placed at the pot’s edge.

Thrillers

Fillers

Dracena

The most commonly used and often referred to as a spike

• Argyranthemum These beautiful daisies bloom well into late fall

• Coleus • Snapdragons Plant a cluster of at least three

• Grasses, like King or Prince Tut

Siberian Iris • • • •

Celosia Ideally a cluster of three Geranium Canna lily Ferns such as Japanese painted or Ostrich

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Petunias • • • • • •

Marigolds Ornamental kale Dusty miller Begonias Verbena Bracteantha

Coleus

As long as there is a taller centrepiece

• Geranium As long as there is a taller centrepiece

• Osteospurmum • Impatiens 1-888-588-6353

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Spillers

Sample Pot Patterns

Calibrachoa Commonly called million bells

• • • • •

Lobelia Ivy Plectranthus Creeping Jenny Dichondra

• • • •

Fuchsia Hanging petunias such as Waves Cool Wave pansies Vinca Muelenbeckia

www.downhomelife.com

• Siberian Iris, Heuchera, Patriot Hosta, Cool Wave pansy, Silver Falls Dichondra • King Tut grass, Coleus (one dark and one light), Creeping Jenny, Plectranthus • Celosia (Fresh Look), Lantana, Calibrachoa, Mercardonia • Snapdragons, Flowering Cabbage or Kale, Redbor Kale, Creeping Jenny • Sallyfun Salvia, Sunpatiens, Lobularia • Bella Upright Fuchsia, Non Stop Begonias, Hanging Lobelia Always check the tags on the plants to be sure you are planting the correct plant for the exposure. For example, fuchsias wilt in full sun and do much better in partial shade or shade. If you are in a windy area, choose scaevola and Hiemalis begonias. If you get hot sun all day, lantana and celosia will thrive. Be adventurous. Try some new things. I’d love to see your creations at the end of the summer. Send your pictures to me by email at downtoearth@downhomelife.com. Kim Thistle owns a garden centre and landscaping business on the west coast of the island. She has also been a recurring guest gardener on CBC’s “Crosstalk” for almost three decades. May 2021

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reminiscing flashbacks

A Family Affair The submitter’s great-great-grandmother, Sarah Ann Harrison, poses with family members Parrie Lee, Laura Lee and Mimi; Alpheus (Al), Sterling and Alton (Otie). Angela Welsh Aurora, CO, USA

Mother & Daughters Margaret Bennett poses with her daughters Eileen, Callista and Madonna. Eileen Simms Pasadena, NL

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South Side Story The submitter, Herb Noseworthy (bottom right), poses with his aunt Glady and cousins Jack and Gerald on the South Side of St. John’s in 1941. “I think this is the best picture I have seen showing the South Side as it used to look,” he writes. Herb Noseworthy Christina Lake, BC

This Month in History On the foggy morning of May 15, 1919, locals in Placentia Junction, NL, were astonished when from the sky above their gardens descended a 192-foot airship piloted by somewhat queasy Americans asking for directions to St. John’s. The craft was the US Navy dirigible C-5. Previously used for coastal patrols, it was now preparing for an attempt at crossing the Atlantic Ocean, as part of the Trans-Atlantic Air Race sponsored by the owner of London’s Daily Mail newspaper. That evening at Woodley Field, near Pleasantville in St. John’s, the craft was undergoing engine service when the winds began to pick up. The crew of the American cruiser Chicago were brought in to secure the blimp, but soon it was out of control and began to break free. Alarmed onlookers scrambled to help as it rose into the air. In the control car, Lt. Charles Little pulled the emergency cord to deflate the giant ship, but the cord broke and the remaining steel mooring cables snapped. Lt. Little had to jump to the ground to avoid being gusted out to sea with the blimp. The C-5 was never seen again. 1-888-588-6353

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reminiscing visions & vignettes

Gnat, do you mind…

Bird’s Nests? By Harold N. Walters

Tears half the size of jellybeans flowed down Sally’s face. Ugly Maude patted Sally’s back as tears plopped onto the crushed robin’s nest Sally cradled in her hands. Shards of blue eggshells lay on the ground beneath broken boughs. Harry wanted to blacken Slab Woodman’s two eyes. “Yes, Slab Woodman did it,” Ugly Maude insisted, confirming what she’d already told Harry when he’d happened upon the girls standing alongside the bushes behind the belfry. “I saw him haul the nest off a limb and dump the eggs on the 112

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ground. Then he stamped on them.” Sally handed the nest to Harry and knuckled her eyes. She glutched down strangling sobs. “We were coming from Uncle Pell’s and saw Slab Woodman and two of his buddies ripping apart the branches of 1-888-588-6353

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that tree.” She jitted her chin towards the bushes. Harry glared left and right as if expecting to see Slab Woodman gloating nearby. Slab and his cohorts, of course, had skedaddled. Despite knowing Momma Robin was unlikely to return, Harry placed the nest back on a bough. His right hand clenched into a fist. His left hand joined Ugly Maude for a moment of pat-pat-pat on poor Sally’s back. Sally swallowed a final sob. “When Slab saw us, he bawled out something brazen and took off back to Bun Town.” Harry’s eyebrows knotted tighter than his fist. “I’ll get en for that.” He wished to reap reprisal for Sally’s tears, more so than Momma Robin’s ravaged nest. Half an hour later, Ugly Maude had led Sally off to do girl things – as far as Harry knew, to dress up splits and call them dolls. Harry dodged along the road looking for Gnat. “You seem distracted,” Gnat said when Harry found him attempting to catch brook trout with his bare hands in the pool underneath the Big Bridge. “I want to hammer Slab Woodman,” Harry said. Gnat dried his hands in his armpits and cocked a questioning eyebrow at his friend. “Sally and Ugly Maude saw Slab and his buddies tear up a robin’s nest and break the eggs.” Harry added, “And he made Sally cry.” Gnat chuckled at Harry’s grim, determined voice. “Ah, and you’re goin’ to be the gallant knight.” Not denying it, Harry suggested, “Let’s dodge out to the Duck Pond 1-888-588-6353

while I think about it.” An eternity ago, where the Shot Hole lane met Brookwater’s beach, a brackish pond had formed. Locals called it the Duck Pond. It was so named not because flocks of wild ducks pitched there, but because Harve Hinker’s domestic ducks – and their ancestors back to the days of Harve Hinker’s great-grandfathers – waddled out the Shot Hole and took their daily swim on its surface.

Harry’s eyebrows knotted tighter than his fist. “I’ll get en for that.” He wished to reap reprisal for Sally’s tears, more so than Momma Robin’s ravaged nest. Mats of reeds and bog irises surrounded the shallow pond. Never more than knee deep, the Duck Pond was a perfect spot for Harve’s ducks to gather, paddle around and feast on the aquatic creatures – bugs and whatnot – that lived on the pond’s mucky bottom. The Duck Pond was so perfect that generations of ducks, enjoying themselves too much to waddle back home to their nests, often laid their eggs while floating on the pond. Eons of eggs had sunk below the surface and settled on the muddy bottom like chocolates in boxes. Harry knew that. When Harry and Gnat reached the Duck Pond, a sou’west breeze blowing across the cove from Neddy’s May 2021

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Sand Bar chased Harve’s ducks on cat’s-paw waves. They stood at the edge and watched the ducks swimming and feeding, and probably depositing eggs. The ducks sailed back and forth and steered random courses like the individual boats of a haphazard flotilla. Harry, his mind not as mellow as Gnat’s and his heart a bonfire of vengeance, imagined the pond beneath the duck’s paddling feet. He imagined the bottom where carelessly laid eggs lay nestled like chocolates in boxes. “I got an idea,” Harry said. “I ’low,” said Gnat.

sun as if trying to see inside its tainted shell. “I ’low he’s good and rotten,” he surmised. “They always are,” said Gnat, “after lyin’ in the muck for ages.” “They’ll rot even more if we leave ’em out in the sun for a spell,” Harry suggested. Gnat inspected an egg from his own bucket. “They’ll stink like maggots if they crack open.” Happy as clam harvesters with bumper crops, Harry and Gnat hiked the mile or so to the base of the Bald Knap. They lodged their buckets down directly beneath the abandoned fish hawk’s nest.

Happy as clam harvesters with bumper crops, Harry and Gnat hiked the mile or so to the base of the Bald Knap. They lodged their buckets down directly beneath the abandoned fish hawk’s nest. “You know the empty fish hawk’s nest up on the Bald Knap,” said Harry. “I do,” said Gnat. “I got a plan for it, but first we need a couple of buckets.” Right after dinner, Harry and Gnat returned to the Duck Pond wearing thigh rubbers. Both carried a galvanized water bucket and a dip net. The bucket swinging by its bail from Harry’s hand looked suspiciously like the spare bucket Granny stored behind her porch door. As focused as mussel pickers, the boys waded into the pond and commenced searching for duck eggs. Buckets filled, Harry and Gnat went ashore and admired their booty – eggs the size of horse mussels. Harry lifted a greenish, mottled egg from his bucket and held it up to the 114

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Then, using handholds and toeholds they’d known since birth, they scaled the Bald Knap’s face, managing – albeit awkwardly – to drag their loaded buckets with them. At the top, panting like pups, me buckoes transferred the duck eggs to the fish hawk’s nest, carefully piling the eggs – eggs already putrefying in the sunshine – until they were stacked like cannonballs. “Fish maggots’ll have nothin’ on them after they bake in the sun for a day or so,” said Harry, imagining the eggs’ intended destiny. Gnat took a coil of fishing line from his windbreaker pocket and, as skillfully as a sailor, fastened it to the nest’s intricately woven sticks. He tossed the line’s trailing end over the cliff where it dangled invisibly, grey as the cliff’s granite chops. 1-888-588-6353

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“Perfect,” Harry said once back at the Bald Knap’s base. “Now all we got to do is wait for that shaggin’ Slab Woodman to come down from Bun Town.” Two sunny days later, Slab and his sidekicks returned to Brookwater like banditos trotting into an already plundered village. Ever vigilant, Harry and Gnat spotted them before they reached the Rock Cut. “B’ys, come and see this,” said Gnat, signaling the Bun Town baddies to approach the Bald Knap. “What?” said Slab. “There’s a fish hawk’s nest up on the cliff.”

Harry’s mind. He reached for the loose end of fishing line hanging down from the nest and hitched it around his knuckles. Seeing Slab’s face turned up towards the nest and imagining himself clad in shining armour, Harry yanked on the line… …and upsot the fish hawk’s nest. A pyramid of cannonballs tumbled from its base. Duck eggs, swollen with sulfurous gas and putrid vitreous goop, pelted down into Slab’s fiendish – yes, fiendish, Harry thought – face. Slab’s tucking his chin against his chest only allowed eggs to splatter on his topknot and drool their viscous entrails onto his naked nape. Slab lost his grip and fell off the cliff.

Slab slewed off the road, imagining greater plunder than on his previous trip to Brookwater. Visions of Sally’s tear-stained cheeks still troubled Harry’s noggin and heart. He glowered at Slab. “Climb up and see the eggs.” Slab snickered like a villain in a silent movie, gripped the rock face and ascended. Harry watched and waited until Slab was half a dozen toeholds below the nest before he moved away from Gnat and Slab’s henchmen. Images of a smile blooming on Sally’s cheeks and sunlight glinting off her golden curls brightened the dark corners of

“Take that,” Harry said, his dragon slain. Mind how Harry avenged his distressed damsel, Gnat? Fortunately, Slab’s buddies dived under him and broke his fall. Then, draping his scratched and scrobbled arms across their shoulders, they lugged him home to Bun Town.

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Harold Walters lives in Dunville, Newfoundland, doing his damnedest to live Happily Ever After. Reach him at ghwalters663@gmail.com

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r e m m Su of ‘63 reminiscing

. French Victor A P.Geo.

Isle aux Morts was the place to be for this young university student on his first big adventure.

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On May 24th weekend in 1963,

I boarded the “ole Newfie Bullet” at Whitbourne, NL. Destination: end of the line in Port aux Basques. As a student majoring in geology at Memorial University, I had secured a summer job as an assistant with a field party of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC). At 19 years old, and having grown up in outport Newfoundland, I was embarking on a great adventure requiring “an overnighter” on the train to reach my destination the next day. I have vivid memories of the train ride: the back and forth swaying of the cars on the narrow gauge track; the conductor calling out the next station stop – Rantem, Alexander Bay, Black Duck; the clean, white linens on the sleeper berths, which together with the swaying of the cars, were tonics for a good night’s sleep. Also on this train were families travelling to Ontario searching out a new life, visibly distressed about leaving their home and their jobs at the Wabana iron ore mines on Bell Island, which would soon be closed. I recall their anxiety from not knowing where they were going and sadness for being forced to leave. At the train station in Port aux Basques, I was met by party chief and head geologist Dr. William (Bill) Gillis. (Dr. Gillis eventually entered politics in his native Nova Scotia and

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became a senior cabinet minister in the provincial government.) We set off to Isle aux Morts in a green, mid1950s Willys Jeep affectionately called the “tin box.” The gravel road was newly constructed from Port aux Basques to Harbour Le Cou, and the section of the 22-kilomtre drive to Isle aux Morts was dusty and bumpy, with the old Jeep not giving much protection against either. At Isle aux Morts, I met the rest of the summer crew: cook Ira Bartlett from Rattling Brook, Green Bay; geologist Al Hodgson from Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the other geology assistant, David Strong, who had grown up in several NL communities. (David would eventually become vice-president of Memorial and president of University of Victoria in BC.) Al, coming from Winnipeg, had never seen salt water and all summer

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The bunglaow in Isle aux Morts where the team summered often became a gathering place for local residents never ceased to be awed by the Atlantic Ocean. A bungalow rented from Fishery Products, the major employer in the community, served as our base camp for the summer. As with many Newfoundland outports, especially isolated ones, our crew caught the attention and curiosity of the locals. Eager to meet outsiders to form new friendships, and to find out what we were doing there, our bungalow became a gathering place. Two of our more frequent visitors and storytellers were Nat LeFrens, in his late 60s, and Lot Cosser, in his mid-80s, who shared many yarns of “the way it was.” Lot had a lifetime on the seas and had sailed on the old “four-masters” (schooners) in his very early seafaring years, beginning at age 14. As far as he knew, he was one of the last to sail the four-masters, and maybe the last “southcoaster,” as he would say. Our job that summer was to begin mapping the geology of the BurgeoLa Poile Map Sheet, extending along the coast from Cape Ray to Cinq Cerf 118

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and inland 25 miles to the north boundary, a very large area. The fieldwork was part of the federal program to map the geology of Canada, and with the province being a relatively recent entry into Confederation, it was one of the earlier mapping programs in Newfoundland and Labrador. The mapping required much shoreline work using small craft: a 20-foot cargo canoe and a 16foot rubber boat powered by outboard motor. Neither of these were considered to be suitable oceangoing craft, but they proved seaworthy and the summer shoreline work went without incident. Having grown up in the outports and used to the salt water, I ended up being the main boat operator for the summer, which I didn’t mind a bit. The harbour at Isle aux Morts was centrally located and suited for our shoreline mapping, allowing us to map the extensive rock exposures typical of our island coastline. It was a great adventure, not only to view the geology, but also to take in the 1-888-588-6353

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sights and sounds of the many bird species and aquatic life, such as whales and belugas, typical of this region. There were the unexpected sights, such as the morning that we came upon the grounded schooner Short Wave, owned by Earle Bros. of Carbonear, which had gone ashore on shoals during the night in thick fog! The Fishery Products wharf not only served as our boat dock, but also another meeting place to mingle with locals. We used it as our patio for outdoor lunches (during rare off days), often shared with Lot and Nat, plus others who might drop by. The trawler visits were frequent then, as Fishery Products operated the “Z fleet,” with vessel names such as Zulu and Zebra. We would sometimes go aboard the trawlers as they tied up with their catch of cod, turbot and halibut. Generous crews would give our cook Ira a meal of fresh seafood to “dish up” for us. Our Saturday evening ritual would begin with the party chief giving us $20 to go down to the fishing stages to buy its worth in lobster – in 1963, $20 got you 60 pounds of fresh lobsters. A great lobster boil at the camp would follow, accompanied by a good allotment of beer, necessary to wash down that much lobster. Our beer source was across the road at the general store owned by Gordon Ball. We did not have to worry about running out, especially when we insisted that Gord come over for the boil! There is an amusing anecdote involving Gord. On July 22, he invited us into his kitchen, to listen to the heavyweight championship 1-888-588-6353

fight between Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson on the radio. Just as the fight started, Gord went out to his beer cooler in his attached store for extra beverages to get us through the fight without interruption. But by the time he returned, the fight was over! Liston won by a knockout in the first round, and poor Gord missed the whole thing.

The team having a meal on the Fishery Products wharf For young fellas like myself, Dave and Al, we found plenty of fun things to do when we weren’t working. The snack bar was the place to mingle, especially with the local girls who had a fancy for the new boys in town. The juke box was stacked with many of the ’50 and early ’60s hits; Bobby Darrin’s newly recorded “Eighteen Yellow Roses” was popular in Isle aux Morts that summer. And there was the odd road trip when, with a few invited guests, we all piled into the Jeep to take in the night life in Port aux Basques. It was a superb summer, almost as enjoyable to remember it as it was to live it. May 2021

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reminiscing

downhome memories

RACE Against the Ice A field of ice pans could have spelled the end for this boy and his uncle.

By Aubrey Barfoot I was 11 years old, cod fishing for the season

at Fishot Islands with my grandfather, Aubrey Piccott, of Brookfield, NL. We had settled into our small summer residence in late May, after a calm trip on the Winnifred Lee, a Wesleyville schooner.

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Mid-afternoon one Saturday, my uncle Kenneth asked me to go cod fishing with him so we may have a fresh codfish for Sunday dinner. We could see drift ice floating north from St. Anthony and scraping along the shore of Fishot Islands. We were concentrating exclusively on our cod jigging, so we ignored the buildup of ice pans along the coastline. When my uncle decided it was time to return home, we noticed ice pans had blocked our way back to our harbour. Farther south there was another entrance to which we anxiously rowed our punt. But when we arrived there, this entrance was closed, too, with drift ice. Our only choice was to row around the south of the island and enter through an ice-free harbour on the west side of our island. We noticed that the tide was taking the ice around the south of the island. We had to force our way through ice pans. About halfway along we found our way blocked with ice pans closely touching each other; there was no open water for us to get through. We were drifting south, the ice taking us away from land. An ice pan could puncture a hole in our small boat, and then if a pan of ice were available we would have to spend the night on it, hoping to be rescued the next day. All these possibilities depended on good luck. We glimpsed one dangerous choice just ahead of us. A large ice pan, tossing up and down in the water with the wind and the tide, had a u-shaped hole in its centre. When the pan of ice dipped low in the tide, we guessed there was just enough depth and width for us to push our punt through if we could do it with enough 1-888-588-6353

speed. Otherwise we would be caught, and the punt would tip us into the icy cold, May salt water. With our oars we forced our way through the ice pans, directing our boat for this ray of hope. We watched carefully for the ice pan to dip low enough for us to push our boat over it to the safety of the opposite side. Holding our breath and whispering a fervent prayer, we pushed with our oars with all our strength as the ice pan dipped.

A photo of Aubrey taken around the time they were trapped by the ice Whee! We made it! We were saved. We were in open water on the other side of the ice pans. But we still had to row around the island. And we had a second rival: darkness was falling and we had a long distance to row our boat. Finally, we rowed through the harbour’s west entrance and, with aching arm muscles, made it home to the relief of my worried grandparents. May 2021

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reminiscing

downhome memories

By Rose Noel McIvers, NL

On a Friday morning, 6 a.m. on Labour Day

weekend 1968, our family of 12 set out on a road trip from Hampden to Grand Bank, to visit our sister there. My mom, dad, grandmother and nine children in a 1957 Pontiac (no seat belts then) started the journey on gravel roads. We went about five miles when the car battery died. Dad hitchhiked back to Hampden to his brother’s sawmill and got another battery. With that problem fixed, we were on our way again. When we got to Baie Verte Junction, the muffler fell off. We got it repaired in the local garage and set off

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again. We arrived at our destination, a cabin near Grand Bank, at 11:00 p.m. It was raining and very dark (no street lights) when we settled in for the night. Next morning Mom and Dad went shopping in Grand Bank. My dad saw Ozonal ointment that was advertised on TV for burns. 1-888-588-6353

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Some family photos

He bought two tubes. Later that night, we had planned to go into Grand Bank to visit my sister and friends that owned the cabin we were staying in. Dad put out the kerosene lantern and it exploded. My little brother, then two years old, got his face and hands burned. My dad got his arm burned. Out came the Ozonal ointment and Dad used the two tubes on his arm. My grandmother fainted and the nylons melted off her legs. My sister lost her quarter (a lot of money back then) in the dark. She fell and then cried out, “I found my money!” My brother, dad and grandmother were taken to hospital. They kept my grandmother in overnight. On Monday we made the journey back to Hampden. Dad stopped to buy us treats on the way. All of us wanted to go in the store with him, and he wouldn’t take one without the other. Dad brought out six glass bottles of pop in a cardboard carton with his good hand, and the storekeeper brought out the other six. We made it back to Hampden safe and sound with no other car troubles. That trip created lots of memories to last a lifetime.

Tell us about your favourite childhood memory or long-ago road trip. Send us your story and photos!

Email: editorial@downhomelife.com Online: www.downhomelife.com/submit Mail: Downhome Memories, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3. 1-888-588-6353

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OVER $20s in saving ! by joining

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2105_Puzzles_1701-puzzles 4/1/21 1:37 PM Page 126

puzzles The Beaten Path

Shawn Hodder 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, when unscrambled, will spell out the name of the above community.

T p

H V y E

L H w

V L

p J T w T

J L R Q

R y

w V

V L

Last Month’s Community: St. John’s 126

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2105_Puzzles_1701-puzzles 3/31/21 9:41 AM Page 127

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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Lloyd Foote photo

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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: • It’s an amalgamation of 9 communities • Favourite spot for sunsets • Ancient fossils are found here • Home of a famous soiree • Location of the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club

Last Month’s Answer: Pilleys Island

Picturesque Place NameS of Newfoundland and Labrador

by Mel D’Souza Last Month’s Answer: Great Codroy 128

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

Last Month’s Clue: Converse about the evil imp In Other Words: Speak of the devil This Month’s Clue: Turn a protracted tale into a condensed one In Other Words: _____ __ _____ ______ ______

A Way With Words

DEAL

Rhyme Time A rhyming word game by Ron Young

Last Month’s Answer: A big deal

1. A fabric miller is a _____ ______ 2. A silly hare is a _____ _____

This Month’s Clue

ANGLE LENS

3. To move with the waves is to ____ the ____

Answer: ____ ______ ____

1. thin within, 2. towers of sours, 3. try to buy

Scrambled Sayings

Last Month’s Answers

by Ron Young

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

’

’ ’ A N P W

B E H L

A E A A N D A C M I L E B E C M M D E N E A K E N P O E B E O M O R E O O O O P E T L I O L R T O U R T O T E Y U S R O U T N P Y Y P S U R U Y O T

Last month’s answer: You may not be able to change a situation, but with humour you can change your attitude about it. www.downhomelife.com

May 2021

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Rhymes 5 Times Each answer rhymes with the other four

1. vote 2. ricochet 3. ponder 4. choose 5. assume

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

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

Last Month’s Answers: 1. case, 2. chase. 3. pace, 4. vase, 5. race

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!

Know Whiff Sands Herb Huts ___ __ ____ __ ____ Bee Foreign Halved Her ______ ___ _____ Last Month’s 1st Clue: Theme Hid Love There Owed Answer: The middle of the road Last Month’s 2nd Clue: Ace Hacks Of Own Answer: A saxaphone

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

1. TAROSLY YBA 2. LANALS SADNIL 3. SLROD VCOE 4. ALEANMIL 5. NOPIT UA UGAL Last Month’s Answers: 1. Forteau, 2. Blanc Sablon, 3. L’Anse au Loup, 4. Pinware, 5. Capstan Island

A nalogical A nagrams Unscramble the capitalized words to get one word that matches the subtle clue. 1. AND I DO IT ~ Clue: when you put two and two together 2. A BUD CROP ~ Clue: good at keeping things inside 3. GAIT I RUST ~ Clue: their gift has strings attached 4. DETER SUN ~ Clue: they make false impressions 5. RAVINE ANT IRE ~ Clue: her patients can be wild Last Month’s Answers: 1. numbers, 2. tomorrow, 3. doorway, 4. tapestry, 5. maximize 130

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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. 1-10: cartoon 1-41: punctuation mark 1-61: order 1-91: hijack 4-34: thought 5-7: feline 5-95: contrast 9-7: furrow 9-29: raced 12-14: boy 12-42: crave 14-44: darling 16-20: goody 16-46: traversed 23-21: chewy treat 23-25: diamond 26-29: downpour 26-46: pole 33-35: space 35-37: Edgar Allan 35-75: French city 40-20: rodent 40-37: regulation 45-50: stick 46-43: challenge 47-7: core 47-17: listen 47-50: in this place 49-29: streak 49-69: knock 53-3: panhandler 53-33: implore 53-51: dumpster 53-56: drill 53-73: snake 55-51: bird 55-58: interpret 60-58: tablet 61-91: ungulate 64-67: wealthy 65-62: metal www.downhomelife.com

100

66-69: hack 67-69: jump 69-99: wan 74-72: vehicle 75-55: knight’s title 75-71: frighten 75-77: dine 78-38: example 80-77: tent 89-69: lick 96-56: beef broth 80-75: university grounds 84-81: blood 84-87: caprine 87-90: story 91-100: think over

92-72: make mistake 93-96: swindles 100-10: get better 100-98: crimson Last Month’s Answer

E A R T H Q U A K E

X G I P A U S E I L

T R A T S E R O D E

R A H R H E E L A C

A C C O U N T A N T

C E H T N O N E C O

T N A C A V E V E R

I E L A P I L E T A

May 2021

O P E R U C B R A T

N O T I C E A B L E

131

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The Bayman’s

Crossword Puzzle 1

by Ron Young

4 5

21 24

15 22

132

27 29

43 47

36 40

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ACROSS 1. “Did you get any?” (colloq) 4. ___ urchin 5. “every step that she did take was up to ___ knees in gravel” 6. United States Navy (abbrev) 8. not out 10. at sea – as in fishing or in the oil industry 15. sanctuary 20. Canada’s 10th province (abbrev) 21. flying prefix 23. makeover 24. ptarmigan (colloq) 27. either’s partner 28. “___ little turrs in the freezer is better than a hundred in the bay” 29. railroad (abbrev) 30. operating system (abbrev) 31. __ Joe 32. American Medical Association (abbrev) 33. a snooze in Mexico 37. “Old as Buckley’s _____” 39. clown of the sea 42. “__ the harbour, down the shore” 43. “as fine a man as ___ broke a cake of the world’s bread” 45. Irish Republican Army (abbrev) 46. plot 48. Canadian National Railway (abbrev) 49. famous clownfish from the movies 51. Bay Bulls is named for these dovekies 52. lair DOWN 1. cinder 2. jigs and ____ 3. none (colloq) 6. The ______ Jack – flag 7. __ odds – don’t care 9. Newfoundland (abbrev) 11. tree juice www.downhomelife.com

12. paddle 13. draw a pension 14. make a mistake 16. Toronto football team 17. alter course 18. Edward to his friends 19. Atlantic fulmar (colloq) 22. crude product 25. “Whaddaya __?” 26. common sea bird (2 words) 28. trademark (abbrev) 29. ritual 30. stupid lout 32. extinct Funk Island bird 33. Snooks Arm (abbrev) 34. splurge 35. murres (colloq) 36. exhausted 38. gem 40. flipper 41. moniker 44. video cassette recorder (abbrev) 46. Port Union (abbrev) 47. Northern Bay (abbrev) 50. “How’s ye gettin’ __?” A T O M

R E D S K D Y I L O L S S C C A U N T T R E R O

E N D

E B B S E C A U L P B D R I O S O C K

ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD T E R S A U S R I H P I N O L L A S T Y F I R C R O W T U B O T T O

B A R G Y E R E A D E P O E E A N S E S T A J I S H O R M Y

May 2021

E A R J I G G E R 133

2105_Puzzles_1701-puzzles 4/1/21 1:36 PM Page 134

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.

___ __ 943 53 __ 48

__ 86

___ 629

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. 8367828466

___ 668

__ _ 92 9

____ 7277

____ 9687

__ ___ 24 246

Last Month’s Answer: If at first you don't succeed... so much for skydiving.

CRACK THE CODE N

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

_ _ _ _ _ _ N _ W z zkXk N h _ _ _ _

hZ W Q

_ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ N _ \B W zBk Nh _ _ BZ

_ _ WB

_ N _ Z N

_ _ _ Bb L _ _ _ N _ f Zk N B

_ N _ _ _ _ _ W N Z Bb z L

Last Month’s Answer: Whenever I am sad I go to my favourite place - the fridge. 134

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Food For Thought

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.”

marshland =

truth =

pig =

knapsack =

_ _

svz

ke` Y

_ _

_ _ _

Vvv t

_ _ _ _ _

`ef f c

veVV]e c _ _ _ _

o f mh [ n

_ _

`e i

c vm

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

puritans =

_ _ _ _ _

n]x i [

c vm

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

se`toe`t

foyer =

_ _ _ _

_ _ _

_ _ _ _

]e i Y _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

e i c]v [ f[ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _

n[ f xv mn _

_ _ _

_ _

_ _ _

c vm _ _ _

eih _ _ _ _

` V x o svefh

Last Month’s Answer: The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. www.downhomelife.com

May 2021

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Different Strokes

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

ERN AND COAL BIN GO SCULLING IN THE HARBOUR

Last Month’s Answers: 1. Chimney, 2. Window, 3. Path, 4. Tail, 5. Cap, 6. Coal Bin’s leg, 7. Trouser, 8. Arm, 9. Boulder, 10. Roof, 11. Shed, 12. Ridge “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.

136

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HIDE & SEEK TECHNOLOGY

The words can be across, up, down, backward or at an angle, but always in a line.

ATTACHMENT BANDWIDTH BLUETOOTH BROWSER COMPUTER COOKIE DIGITAL DOMAIN DOWNLOAD EMAIL ETHERNET FACEBOOK FIREWALL HYPERLINK INTERNET MALWARE MEGABYTE

X B T M I C R O C H I P R E Y D P H

R Y U B B A N D W I D T H E M E I K

V P S A Z Y B U B X K D I L M A F Y

Z H V I A Z V C G C J K L X E T I J

S T A J U E N I L N O S V T D D W L

D W H B R Y D T Z O G L R F O D X J

SMARTPHONE SOFTWARE SYNC WEBSITE WIFI ZIP

MESSAGING MICROCHIP MODEM ONLINE PROGRAMMING REBOOT V J W L P Y L Q P F Z T E G B K L O

Last Month’s Answers

B O B Y S N O P C E U V I B M E P M

www.downhomelife.com

J G M L C O M P U T E R C D S N R X

V U D A B A H U T Y M Z E B T Q O S

D R W E I Z Z F C B O L W T E M G T

K J R E T N I U S A D A S Q N X R Q

I S V C B R H I N G A D L M R I A U

B K M D E S I B L E O B A M E N M F

A A G O M V G H Q C S L Y I O C N B

G B H A Z R C T H N V E G E Z O Z G

H N A W Y Y I S B M L B T S H T M N

A Q Z D C X G X J M Z Y Q H W P C T

Q Y B O Q P B A X S A V W I A S E Q

T I A U J X L T E Y N M I N T E I S

B R T G I X L D O U H M K C N E D J

S S L W S D S R C A E V H K R C A X

E L W A J A M S E I W M G S E R N E

Y T L O H O J I Y X M K B O J U R M

B Q X O I O Q I P Q L E M R K R A J

L R I A D M S B K B O P I Z P N G N

S R K D D W S H R C O A L Y A P R L

C E O U E A M X L Z D K D Z O E A F

Y E C M H D C W E D C T Z L L S X D

O D Q N E E N Y S Y K J K E C O I Q

H P S N G H Q U T N E M H C A T T A

Q L G U E R V E S P G N G E Y A F Q

B A I B O B M Y K R G A K H B K S F

I Y L I N I E Q I F A C E B O O K N

I O J U N I P E R X G A S Z M K N G

A W Y Z X Q A C T R I T N P L B G T

F H N M L T B R O W S E R Z Q C X K

E F A O N I M H N W M P I N E J I V

Q Q C S Q K I V W K C G J H V N V P

D G A R O H D T H W B I A N G F K T

G C R W C T W J R J B X E W K W R G

V R U T L Z G J Y S M S A S H C W C

I M U O A S O F T W A R E V Q G P Z

I B B P G X U C G J Q F A W C S N G

C I K M Y A N H Q I B K R S R V R V

T R T U H E N O H P T R A M S C Q K

May 2021

O R Z K A J O Y R A V I C J A D P D

Q C E X W A L G W R F W O L L I W J

C H E S T N U T H I P T H L L G I G

B H Q D G M B U E R A W L A M I N N 137

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FOR SALE

1.35 ACRE

64 JACKSON STREET

BUCHANS, NL

$70,000 Two Story, attached home with full basement. 2 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Newfoundland Classifieds #2728649

Contact: 709-634-5729

Your Chance to Own a Well Established Business!

Middle Brook Cottages & Chalets Glenburnie, Gros Morne National Park, NL

11 accommodation units including 3 twobedroom cottages, a deluxe cottage, honeymoon cottage, two chalets and 4 noneﬃciency suites.

FOXTRAP ACC ESS ROAD

FOR SALE

Foxtrap Access Rd, Civic #28 Conception Bay South, NL Level Land. Mature Trees. 5 min. from three saltwater marinas and shopping. 15 min. from St. John’s and Mount Pearl. Asking: $239,000 Contact Paul: 709-682-9142 paulbdawe@hotmail.com

LOG HOME Brigus Junction Only 35 min. from St. John’s.

709.453.2332 • www.middlebrookcottages.com

Side-by Side Included!

Over 4000 sq. ft. Not intended to solicit properties currently under contract

Cottage For Sale King’s Point All seasons, custom design log cottage sheltered setting at top of bay. 2 bedrooms,1 bathroom, wheelchair accessible. $249,000 www.propertyguys.com/listing/nl/king-s-point/104494 Contact: 709.632.7194 | 709.640.0070

Five bedrooms, three bathrooms, garage, heat pump, Pacific Energy woodstove, artesian well, developed basement and just 3 minutes from TCH.

$449,500

Call Dean 709.689.4228

Licensed to do Business in Ontario.

Mortgage Agent # M18002662 FSCO# 12728

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Marketplace

Building For Sale 5 Main Street, Deer Lake

Downhome Real Estate

Call: 709-636-1230

Book your ad today 709-726-5113 1-888-588-6353

4800 Sq. Ft. on Two Levels. Built in 1989. Zoned Commercial and Residential. Business Optional. $150,000

%$#"! $% $# $ %! $

Musicians Wanted

The Ulster Accordion Band have been playing accordion music in Toronto since 1954. We are looking for mature individuals who can play or are willing to learn how to play accordion or drums. To join us please contact Roy Emberley 416-759-0164

June 2021 Ad Booking Deadline April 23, 2021

Movers & Shippers 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

SAMSON’S MOVING Let our Family Move Your Family Home

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

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

www.downhomelife.com

Moving Ontario to Newfoundland and All Points in Between

A Family Moving Families Professionally and economically

Return Loads from NL, NS, NB, QC, ON at a Discounted Price

Coast to Coast in Canada Fully Insured

Fully Insured

905-424-1735

arent58@hotmail.com www.ar-moving.ca

Movers & Shippers Rates start at $175 for a 1 col. x 2" ad. Call Today! 709-726-5113 Toll Free: 1-888-588-6353

Newfoundland Owned & Operated

Contact: Gary or Sharon King

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

A&K Moving Covering all Eastern & Western Provinces and Returning Based from Toronto, Ontario Discount Prices Out of NL, NS & NB Newfoundland Owned & Operated 35 Years in the Moving Industry

Andy: 416-247-0639 Out West: 403-471-5313

aandkmoving@gmail.com May 2021

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GREAT GIFT IDEAS!

The Hanged Woman’s Daughter

Long Overdue: S.S. Beverly

#79775 | $21.00

#79777 | $19.95

- Nellie P. Strowbridge

- Suzanne Sexty

Rock Recipes 3

The Foresters’ Scribe: Remembering the NL Forestry Companies Through First World War Letters of Reg. QM Sgt. John A. Barrett - Ursula A. Kelly

#79651 | $27.95

Dictionary of Newfoundland & Labrador - Ron Young #34047 | $19.95

Even More Great Food and Photos From My Newfoundland Kitchen - Barry C. Parsons

Traditional Recipes of Newfoundland and Labrador

#79662 | $29.95

#79297 | $14.95

The Ice Shack

Rhymes from the Rock

Numbers in Newfoundland

#79672 | $12.95

#58304 | $9.95

#75941 | $9.95

- Christian Quesnel, Jocelyne Thomas, Katia Canciani

- Bonnie Jean Hicks & Leanna Carbage

Cooking Up a Scoff:

- Bonnie Jean Hicks & Leanna Carbage

Prices listed do not include tax and shipping

2105_MailOrder_Mail order.qxd 3/31/21 9:47 AM Page 141

MORE SELECTION ONLINE www.shopdownhome.com

NL Flag Towel #79656 | $17.99

Newfoundland and Labrador Canvas Tote #56079 | $24.99

Newfoundland and Labrador Hip Tote #59818 | $13.99

Newfoundland Moose Bottle Insulator with Bottle Opener #56639 | $9.99

Can Holder Canimal - Moose #53410 | $6.99

NL Flag Bottle Insulator with Bottle Opener #51209 | $9.99

Newfoundland Flag Neoprene Can Holder #52827 | $6.49

Camo Tall Boy Can Cover #77740 | $6.99

NL Hunter Camo Can Holder #77739 | $6.49

TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353

2105_MailOrder_Mail order.qxd 4/1/21 1:34 PM Page 142

GREAT GIFT IDEAS!

Hand Painted Row House Shot Glasses #59831 | $5.99 each

Hand Painted Wine Glass Assorted colours

#72979 | $16.99

Hand Painted Key Rack Row Houses

Hand Painted Coasters Row House

#59826 | $24.99

#59827 | $24.99

Assorted Colours, 10" x 3 1/3"

Set of 4, 4" x 4"

Row Houses of NL Ornament #76315 | $6.99

Hand Painted Row House Mailbox #47594 | $99.99

Raised Level

2D Wooden Magnet Row House

Magnetic Thermometer Row House

#60339 | $4.99

#60338 | $6.99

3" x 3"

3" x 3.5"

Coasters - Row House Set of 4, 4" x 4"

#60337 | $10.99

Prices listed do not include tax and shipping

2105_MailOrder_Mail order.qxd 3/31/21 9:47 AM Page 143

MORE SELECTION ONLINE www.shopdownhome.com

Purity Goodie Box #79290 | $49.99

Jam Jams Cookies #18709 | $6.99

Purity Hard Bread

Purity Syrup

#78947 | $7.99

Strawberry #79558 Raspberry #15358 | Pineapple #77660

625g

Purity Candy Barrels #49556 | $4.50

Jam Jams - 2 Pack #79557 | $1.60

Purity Bull’s Eyes #1085 | $4.50

$5.99 each

Purity Peppermint Candy

Purity Kisses

$4.50 each

Assorted #3997 | Peanut Butter #4010 Rum & Butter #16805

Nobs #4238 | Lumps #4239

TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353

$4.50 each

2105_photo Finish_0609 Photo Finish 4/1/21 1:38 PM Page 144

photo finish

Practice for May 24?

If you’re camping on the May 24th weekend in Newfoundland and Labrador, it could look something like this! “Camp Rainbow” was built and tested in March. Katelyn Burry Birchy Bay, NL

Do you have an amazing or funny photo to share? Turn to page 9 to find out how to submit. 144

May 2021

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