Downhome August 2021 by Downhome Publishing Inc

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Vol 34 • No 03

$4.99

August 2021

Pan-Fried Cod 6 Ways

What Causes Brain Freeze?

DIY Style: Outdoor Kitchen Canada’s Tiniest Town

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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 Account Manager Barbara Young Marketing Director Tiffany Brett Finance and Administration Junior Accountant Marlena Grant Accounting Assistant Sandra Gosse

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

Operations Manager, Twillingate Nicole Mehaney

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

August 2021

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70 artful destination

Contents

AUGUST 2021

46 Star Search A beginner’s guide to the night sky with tips from astronomer Garry Dymond Nicola Ryan

70 Artful Excursion Around the Bay The Bonavista Biennale has the potential to draw large crowds (safely) to small towns this summer. Wendy Rose

102 Everyday Recipes Just in time for the annual food fishery: Pan-Fried Cod 6 Ways

116 days gone by

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116 The Toms of Tilt Cove A rare look at the heyday of Canada’s tiniest town Michael Keat August 2021

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Contents

AUGUST 2021

homefront 10 I Dare Say A note from the Editor 12 Letters From Our Readers 1,000 finger puppets, East Coast houses and Bob’s 90th birthday

20 Pandemic Pictures Young people share their COVID-19 experiences 26 Downhome Tours Readers explore Tennessee with Downhome

a crafty couple

28 Why is That? Why do we get ice cream headaches? Linda Browne

30 Life’s Funny The Trouble with Hear-Say Ernest Warren 31 Say What? A contest that puts words in someone else’s mouth 32 Lil Charmers Flower Power 34 Pets of the Month On the Go 36 Reviewed Denise Flint reviews My Indian by Mi’sel Joe and Sheila O’Neill

20 pandemic pictures

38 What Odds Paul Warford celebrates his dad

40 Fresh Tracks Wendy Rose chats with Kelly McMichael about her new album Waves 44 My Berry Pickin’ Gran Rita Kearley 4

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34 travelling critters

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64 old west down south

wild side of town

features 52 Taking a Stand A Peterview family is gearing up to help others living with diabetes. Nicola Ryan 56 A Born Entertainer Doug Sharpe is so much more than just a drummer in big brother Billy’s band. Ed Seaward

explore 64 Runnin’ Down a Dream How Smugglers Cove Roadhouse is helping bring tourists to the Burin Peninsula Linda Browne

76 Back to Nature The Corduroy Brook Nature Centre and Trail Connie Boland www.downhomelife.com

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Contents

AUGUST 2021

go with the flow

82 Chasing Waterfalls Stunning cascades found around the province

home and cabin 92 Stuff We Love Stargazing in Style Nicola Ryan

94 Summer Sizzle When it’s too hot in the kitchen, take the cooking outside! Marie Bishop

98 The Everyday Gourmet Condiments for Grilled Foods Andrea Maunder

108 Down to Earth You Asked: Common gardening questions answered Kim Thistle 6

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take it outside

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112

reliving a voyage

110 digging up memories

reminiscing 110 Flashbacks Classic photos of people and places About the cover This summer sunrise at Cape Bonavista was captured by Sheldon Hicks. This region will host many artists, including photographers, this month. Read all about it, beginning on p. 70.

Cover Index Pan-fried Cod 6 Ways • 102 Stargazing for Beginners • 46 Chasing Waterfalls • 82 Road Trip for Art Lovers • 70 What Causes Brain Freeze? • 28 DIY Style: Outdoor Kitchen • 94 Canada’s Tiniest Town • 116 www.downhomelife.com

111 This Month in History Regatta Day

112 The Captain and The Mate A couple’s “cruise of a lifetime” around NL Kim Ploughman

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

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Our youngest readers share their pandemic experiences p. 20

Like the Fish Recipes on p. 102? There’s plenty more where they came from at EverydayRecipes.ca.

August 2021

You will want this next time you go stargazing p. 92

? ? ?? ?

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

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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 Joan Pike of Placentia, NL who found Corky on page 89 of the June 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

August 2021

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i dare say

What would you do? We popped the million-dollar question on Facebook the other day: You get $1 million but you can never be in Newfoundland and Labrador again. Do you take the money? The responses were overwhelmingly on the no side, as one would expect. No amount of money could convince some people to move away from this province and/or never return. One person said absolutely not, and admitted they’re not even from here! Money could not buy them the happiness that this province, the lifestyle and the people here provide. Others were more practical in their answers: after all, a million dollars makes one a millionaire. If they can’t be in Newfoundland and Labrador, they can afford a reasonable substitute. Nova Scotia is beautiful, one person said. Another pointed out that Ireland is such a close cousin one could get their cultural fix there. And more than one advised that home is wherever you’ve built a family, a career and a successful life. When everyday folks have to work so hard to make a decent living for themselves and their families, when the cost of living keeps going up, when our economic future is uncertain, taking the million dollars seems like the easy choice. We spend our entire working lives trying to make money, chasing the financial dream. Who wouldn’t want the gift of leisure? Question is: like the dog that chases cars every day, what do you do when you finally get it? I don’t doubt that there are other places in the world where it would be easier to be successful than it often is in Newfoundland and Labrador. I don’t doubt that other places can bring joy and happiness and personal fulfillment. But if, as they say, hard work is its own reward, then there is nowhere more rewarding to live than Newfoundland and Labrador. Thanks for reading,

Janice Stuckless, Editor-in-chief janice@downhomelife.com 10

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Made with Love I am sending you a picture of my mother, Mercedes Young from Stephenville Crossing, NL. She is 88 years young, the mother of 12 children. Her energy is boundless. She has knitted 1,000 finger puppets for the Janeway children’s hospital in St. John’s, NL. There isn’t anything she can’t do. From cooking, taking care of her house, knitting and sewing for the community, to gardening, carpentry, fishing, world travelling and countless other things – she does them all. She has also been an avid reader of the Downhome magazine since the first issue. Angela Cormier (nee Young) Ontario

What an extraordinarily generous use of time and talent to make these toys. No doubt Mercedes’ finger puppets will provide those children with hours of entertainment, and much needed comfort and distraction from their ills. 12

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Bob’s 90th Birthday I was born on May 29, 1931, on Bell Island, Newfoundland. I left home when I was 18 in 1949, and came to Galt, now Cambridge, Ontario, to make a new life for myself. I met and married Jean Davidson in 1953. We have two daughters, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. We celebrated our 67th wedding anniversary on June 20, 2020. My mom and dad were Bob and Annie Norman (nee Mercer) and we had a large family of 17. My dad worked as an electrician in the #2 mines on Bell Island and was fire chief on the island in later years. We lived on Grammar Street, and our home is still there. We had many wonderful family times, especially at Christmas. Dad made sure we had schooling and enough to eat, but there were not many other luxuries. In 1942, when I was just 11 years old, I remember two German U-boats coming into Conception Bay, where several anchored boats were torpedoed. Scotia pier was also torpedoed where boats were loading. Many lives were lost. I now live in Port Dover, Ontario, and even though I don’t live near the ocean anymore, I am blessed to view beautiful Lake Erie every day. Bob Norman Port Dover, ON

Happy belated birthday, Bob! Here’s the photo you sent taken of you on your 90th birthday, holding your newest copy of Downhome.

That Monthly Magazine in the Mailbox One day we got a double surprise when we opened the mailbox. It was a gift membership to Downhome. It was sent by Berenice from Newfoundland. We met briefly a couple of times when she and her husband were living in Ontario. She was a kind person who loved our mutual grandson, but soon they returned to their loved island. Our relationship declined to occasional phone calls, especially for the yearly vacation of our grandson or Christmas-New Year emails. That is why it was a double surprise. It was a gift that we appreciate greatly as it has www.downhomelife.com

a meaning of kindness coming from far away in the East. Sadly, a few months later Berenice got gravely sick. In our last conversations, she was having problems to speak, and one day she did not answer the phone. A few days later we got notice of her death. So every month when we receive Downhome, it is a message of kindness from Berenice and her love for her grandson. Thanks, Berenice. Juan Rojo Ontario

We are sorry for your loss, Juan. Thank you for your letter, and we hope you continue enjoying your gift. August 2021

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Creative July Issue I always have a good time reading Downhome. This issue tickled my fancy more than ever. Why? I’ll limit my choices. The abundance of NL pics warmed my heart after more than 60 years of sameness where I reside. I blended “A Soldier’s Legacy” [p. 117] with a book I just finished reading, about two British airmen who parachuted to safety in enemy territory. The similarities and differences were moving. Then there are my own two-room school memories: potbelly stove, cocoa malt for recess. On one occasion I wiggled my spoon in my cup too hard and splintered my cup. [“Two-Room School Days,” p. 114] I am fascinated that some locals had the vision and the drive to originate a theatre at Cow Head. How creative! [“The Stage is Set,” p. 90] There’s more. I can’t close without telling you that Fred Hoskins [Flashback Photo submitter, p. 113] and I have been reunited after a lifetime apart. Yes, as a boy I picked up mail from the post office run by Fred’s dad at Badger’s Quay. Hello, Fred! Give credit to Valleyfield and Badger’s Quay’s boyhood clean air that we are still breathing. We are not “spring chickens”! Congratulations, Downhome team, for your creativity with the July issue. Aubrey Barfoot Via email

Thank you for the lovely letter, Aubrey. We take great care putting each issue together, and it feels really good when readers enjoy the result!

Found on Facebook Justin Fancy Wow, what a great write [up] from Wendy Rose at the Downhome Magazine. Thank you so much, I’m humbled you liked the album! Sheldon Hicks Nice to see another of my photos in the Downhome Magazine. (June 2021 Issue) Be sure to subscribe. It’s the most awesome magazine. Thanks Downhome!! #downhomemagazine #spillarscove #bonavista #newfoundlandandlabrador

Correction to 2021 Explore Guide

The date for the Labrador West Regatta is actually JULY 30, not June as printed in the guide. We regret the error. Continued on p. 16

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Sponsored Editorial

A Bonded Pair

Misty & Nora Nancy Clarke and her partner,

Philip Davidson, live in Braeshore, outside Pictou on Nova Scotia’s North Shore. Their stone house sits on 83 acres which they share with 3 dogs, 4 cats and several chickens. It was a fateful visit to Earth Arc Rescue in Scotsburn with their grandchildren that connected them to Newfoundland Ponies. “They had 5 ponies there and they told us about the endangered status. We fell in love with the breed and decided that we wanted to get involved,” said Nancy. She contacted NPS about adopting a pony and potentially starting a small breeding program. Nancy has three Newfoundland Ponies of her own now: Sea Mist of Braeshore #920, aka Misty, Greyhaired Hill Nora #896, and Vineland’s News Flash on Duff’s Bluff #275 aka Flash, a stallion. She adopted Flash and Nora in 2019. Flash had some training in his past but was in a bad way health wise. Nora had not been handled much and was visually impaired and could be dangerous to be around. Misty came along in 2020; she had spent most of her life outdoors. In fact, the first night she was kept inside on a freezing winter night, she kicked the barn door down to get outside! What happened next is amazing. Misty has stepped up to be Nora’s protector, somehow understanding that she is compromised. Initially, Nora would never stray very far from the barn due to her visual impairment and fear. But when Misty arrived, Nora started venturing farther from the barn into the pasture as she looked to Misty for security. Misty has trustingly guided Nora back to the paddock when she became disoriented and frantic. They have become a bonded pair.

Misty leading Nora

Flash

Nancy uses every opportunity to educate people about the Newfoundland Pony. “I emphasize the historical importance of the Pony in the settlement of Newfoundland and the fact they are critically endangered,” she added. Plans are underway after consultation with the vet to breed Misty and Flash with hopes for a foal in 2022. This is extremely important since Misty comes from a rare bloodline. Of working with rescue ponies, she says the most rewarding part is seeing their eyes go from sad, dull and sometimes dead, to having life and sparkling. But she says sometimes you can only bring a pony so far. Ponies that have no training, have not been handled or made any connection with humans and have not been looked after from a health perspective, can take a long time to rehabilitate. “With some rescued ponies it is necessary to accept the pony where they are, know how far you can bring them, and love them for who they are,” she added.

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East Coast Houses

I am writing you from Red Deer, Alberta. Wayne (pictured right) was born and raised in Bishop’s Falls and he came to Alberta for work in 1994. While in Red Deer, Wayne met me (Connie), an Albertan, and eventually we married and took up permanent residence in Red Deer. Wayne is a real handyman and I am a crafter, so I manage to keep him busy building the ideas that pop into my head! Several years ago I asked Wayne to put together a seven-house Jellybean Row style unit out of some old barn wood that we had – I was making a gift for a friend. Well, this gift was so popular that we have had many requests since and make all sizes, from 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 house units to “outport” houses on driftwood (always with a clothesline!). We have donated many of these items to fundraisers for a number of charities in our area that we support, and they are always a popular item. They are so much fun to make. Wayne builds and paints them, and I decorate them. There are never two units alike – all are unique. I thought your readers might get a kick out of the pictures that I have attached. And thank you for a great magazine; we’ve had a subscription for years. Connie & Wayne Wiseman Red Deer, AB

These are really neat! Such wonderful attention to detail. George Street might be our favourite! 16

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life is better Sunset at Oceanview Park, Leading Tickles Becky Wiseman, NL

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Entries have continued to flow in for our Pandemic

Pictures contest, a special invitation to youth under 20, to share their views on the COVID-19 pandemic through creative expression – drawings, writings etc. So far we’ve awarded one entrant a free 12-month membership to Downhome in a random draw from all the May entries. As of the deadline for this issue, we’re about to draw for another 12-month membership giveaway from all the June entries. And we’ll be drawing from all the entries received for the Grand Prize Pack of age-appropriate goodies worth about $300! Meantime here’s another selection of amazingly creative and insightful entries from our fabulous youth. We’ll continue printing their perspectives even after the contest is over, as they deserve the public recognition.

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Ryan Walsh, 5 St. John’s, NL

Jordyn Masters, 10

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August 2021

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“My piece of art reflects on how the last year of school has been cut short and how I will never be able to experience a normal Grade 12 grad. It also looks at the struggle of doing school at home and how hard it is to separate the two.” Julia Cole, 17 Logy Bay, NL

Ryder Burton, 9, and his new puppy want to remind everyone to stay safe.

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Delaney King, 9 Bishop’s Falls, NL

“This is me, my brother Donovan, Mom and Dad outside sitting under the blue sky. We love being outside together. COVID didn’t keep us from enjoying where we love to be.”

Brayden Oliver, 8

Gull Island, NL

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August 2021

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Kayla Klita, 12

Sherwood Park, AB

Jessica Neary, 8

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Lauren Zonderland, 6 Dresden, ON

Kailey McGregor Hayward, 7, of Owen Sound, ON, says that what stands out most for her about the pandemic is “staying at home and not being able to see people,” and what has affected her the most is “not being able to see and play with my friends.”

www.downhomelife.com

August 2021

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homefront Downhome tours...

Tennessee

Grand Ole Opry Maureen Smith of Sparwood, BC, and her sisters from Marystown, NL, pose in downtown Nashville on their first big trip together in 2018.

The Grand Ole Opry is the legendary stage that, for the past 95 years, has hosted performances by famous singers and rising stars of country, bluegrass, Americana, folk and gospel music, as well as comedic performances and skits. The Opry is never rehearsed and you’ll never see the same show twice. 26

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Country Music Hall of Fame Melanie Hann of St. John’s, NL, and her travelling companion pose in front of gold and platinum records lining the walls of the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated to presenting the evolving history, enduring beauty and cultural importance of American country music. The museum has an extensive collection of stage costumes, musical instruments, photos, recordings and objects from folk root pioneers to present day chart-topping stars.

Smoky Mountains Rosie Cairns visited with friends in Pigeon Forge in 2018, and toured the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Most years, around nine million people visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The protected area stretches across two southern states – Tennessee and North Carolina – and two mountain ranges: the Blue Ridge and the Appalachians. The park is known for its wildflowers, black bears and the blue mist that hangs above the mountain peaks. The Cherokee called the mountains shaconage, which means “place of the blue smoke.” www.downhomelife.com

August 2021

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Expert answers to common life questions. By Linda Browne

Why do we get ice cream headaches? There’s nothing quite like sitting outside on a hot summer’s day and chugging back an ice cold drink, or slurping up a soft serve, to help beat the heat. While chilled treats are a delicious way to keep cool, the piercing pain that often comes when you drink or eat them too fast is a real bummer. You’ve likely experienced ice cream headache – a.k.a. “brain freeze” or “cold stimulus headache,” or technically speaking, “sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia” (that’s quite a mouthful) – dozens of times. But have you ever wondered what goes on in your mouth and noggin when that slushie or ice cream makes first contact? Lucy Nakibuuka, a public health practitioner in St. John’s, NL, gives Downhome the scoop. While there’s some debate as to the exact cause of this phenomenon, she says, there does seem to be a general consensus. It all starts when the cold food or drink makes contact with the hard palate (the bony plate in the roof of your mouth) and triggers the trigeminal nerve (or fifth cranial nerve, which is responsible for providing 28

August 2021

sensations to the face), which carries the pain signal to the brain. “There’s a nerve that’s connected to the roof of your palate that conducts that cold temperature really fast, up to your scalp or forehead. So that nerve has three branches. One goes up to your forehead and scalp; the other is connected to your palate, what we call the maxillary branch; and then the last one is connected to your jaw line. So it’s thought that when the ice cold temperature hits the roof of your mouth, there’s a very fast conduction,” Nakibuuka explains. “So there’s a constriction of [blood] vessels, and whenever vessels constrict you get pain because there’s no supply of oxygen. So there’s a very quick constriction of vessels, or narrowing, and then there’s a rapid expansion.” 1-888-588-6353

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Thankfully, the pain (usually felt in the forehead or temples) that results from this rapid constriction and dilation of blood vessels is fleeting, typically lasting just a few seconds or minutes. (The pain that’s associated with brain freeze is known as referred pain, since the brain interprets the cold stimulus as coming from the head, rather than the mouth.) So instead of reaching for the aspirin, just wait it out. However, if you want to kick the pain to the curb faster, you can try drinking something warm or sticking your tongue to the roof of your mouth – “as long as your tongue isn’t still ice cold,” adds Nakibuuka – to help balance the temperature. Of course, the most obvious and easiest thing to do is eat your ice cream more slowly. But then you face another conundrum: How to eat your treat slow enough so you don’t get brain freeze, but fast enough so it doesn’t melt? Ice cream headaches are an interesting phenomenon; but as common as they are, we don’t really know much about them, Nakibuuka says, as there’s been relatively little research done in the area. That’s probably because, as unpleasant as they may be, ice cream headaches are not a serious affliction and generally nothing to worry about. While some researchers say brain freeze is more common in

those who experience migraines, the late Dr. Seymour Diamond, who cofounded the Chicago-based National Headache Foundation, noted that most studies have found no such link, according to a piece published on the foundation’s website. Another study suggests that ice cream headaches could be more common in people whose parents experience them. In a 1997 paper published in the British Medical Journal by Dr. Joseph Hulihan (who, at the time, was an assistant professor at the Department of Neurology at Temple University Health Sciences Center in Philadelphia), ice cream headaches occur “in one-third of a randomly selected population,” and they happen “regardless of whether someone suffers from other types of headache.” He also notes that since the back of the palate “is most likely to produce the referred pain of ice cream headache,” people can avoid it by simply keeping cold foods away from this area. “Most people arrive at such preventative measures without the advice of doctors,” he notes. “Ice cream abstinence is not indicated.” So the next time you’re enjoying a cool treat, slow down; hopefully, your ice cream screams will be due to pleasure and not pain.

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

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

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homefront life’s funny

The Trouble with Hear-Say When he was in Grade 3, my grandson Marshall told his friend Luke that he was lactose intolerant. Luke must have told his father, or tried to, as his father called Marshall’s parents later to say, while laughing, “Sorry to hear that Marshall is ‘black toast intolerant.’” Ernest Warren Norman’s Cove, NL

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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to stop t o n u o y “I told y s! Now look e at O’Reill es’ s we’re in!” at the m derson-Lessard n – Kelly A

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

Here are the runners-up: “Fluff ya wings, Mudder. NL is open July 1. Mudder, we’re going home.” – Gloria Edwards “I told you not to leave the water running!” – Steve Spracklin “Hey buddy, this is a private pool.” – Lee Menzies

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

www.downhomelife.com

August 2021

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homefront lil charmers

Cute Cousins This sweet snap of cousins Brent, Avery, Ruby and Kingston was taken on vacation in Port Rexton, Trinity East, in 2020. Melissa Parsons Paradise, NL

flower power Bright Blooms Picking lupin flowers in Topsail, NL. Jennifer Corcoran Conception Bay South, NL

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Wind and Wildflowers Malin, originally from Regina, SK, loved the seashore on a trip “home” to Bay L’Argent in 2018. Diane Reid Bay L’Argent, NL

Sensational Sunflower Andrew peeks through the giant leaves of a sunflower he grew himself! Rosalind Young Gander, NL

www.downhomelife.com

August 2021

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homefront pets of the month

on the go Bench Buddies

Zoey and Jasper take a well-deserved break on the Chance Cove trail. Kim Wareham Clarenville, NL

Two Paws Up Gilmour licks his chops outside this takeout at the Scott’s Cove Park waterfront. Brian Button Channel-Port aux Basques, NL

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Friendly Visit Chatman, the brewery mascot cat, greets guests on Pilley’s Island. Natalie Colbourne Pilley’s Island, NL

Sunday Fun Day Tucker and Bozie pretend to enjoy a beer in Port Rexton after hiking the Skerwink Trail. Melanie Traverse Port Rexton, NL

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August 2021

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homefront

reviewed by Denise Flint

My Indian By Mi’sel Joe and Sheila O’Neill Breakwater Books $16.95

Most Newfoundlanders are familiar with the story of William Cormack who, in 1822, became the first European to cross the island of Newfoundland. They also know (one hopes) that the feat wouldn’t have been possible without an indigenous guide, who Cormack referred to as “my Indian” in his account of their journey. That’s not much of an identifier. The guide’s name was Sylvester Joe. To add insult to injury, in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography the entry under his name is overwhelmingly about Cormack. The message is clear: without Cormack, Sylvester Joe would not have mattered at all. Chief Mi’sel Joe of Miawpukek First Nation and educator Sheila O’Neill have set out to change that narrative. The slyly titled My Indian tells the story of that journey and of the man himself from Sylvester Joe’s own perspective. Slyly titled? Throughout the book, Sylvester refers to Cormack as nei’n Aqalasie’w, or “my Englishman.” It’s a lovely inversion. The book begins with the birth of Suliewey, as Sylvester Joe was named by his family, and tells the story of his early years and of his family, especially his grandfather. The rest of the book is about the journey with Cormack. There is a lot of information about Mi’kmaw knowledge and traditions throughout. It’s impossible to know what someone thought and said 200 years ago when there’s no written record, even if a few factual details have been recorded, so in that sense My Indian is a work of fiction. It is, nonetheless, real. And though the book is written for a young audience, its appeal, and importance, is universal.

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Q&A with the Co-Author Denise Flint: How did the collaboration between you and Chief Mi’sel Joe come about? Sheila O’Neill: I was at the Powwow at Conne River in 2017, and the chief asked me if I’d be interested in talking to him about a project, and he told me he has wanted to tell the story about Sylvester Joe for years. We sat down and I started taking notes – I was a little intimidated by him – and when he was finished I said, “Oh my god, you’ve given me the whole outline!”

DF: How much is actually known about Sylvester Joe? SO: He is referenced in Cormack’s journal. The federal government recognized him as a person of national historic significance in July 2008. And he was recognized as being the first in a long line of Newfoundland Mi’kmaw hunters who were employed by geologists, surveyors and sportsmen during the 19th and early 20th century. There’s another reference to him in 1828, when Cormack asked him to take him to Red Indian Lake.

DF: Can you explain moving back and forth between calling the main character Sylvester and calling him Suliewey? SO: Suliewey was the name he was given at birth and his church name was Sylvester, and how we broke this up is in his early days we referred to him as Suliewey and when he began his journey with Cormack, to acknowledge the change, we called him Sylvester. Cormack named a mountain after Sylvester. We want the readers to ask why he had two names. www.downhomelife.com

DF: What do you want people to know about his story? SO: Basically, we want to counter the accepted historical narrative that was written by settlers. When I was in school, I was taught that the Mi’kmaq were brought over by the French to kill the Beothuk, and all of that is completely false. People believe that this isn’t Mi’kmaw territory and that’s false. And people believe that the Mi’kmaq hated the Beothuk and that’s false. It’s all false.

DF: Are there other stories that have only been seen through a European lens and should be revisited? SO: You know, there’s been a lot of fiction written about the Beothuk. I haven’t read all of it, or much of it, but I would say yes. I would challenge the reader to question the perspective every time they read something about Indigenous people.

DF: Do you think the kind of attitude Cormack displayed towards Sylvester Joe still exists and, if so, how can we overcome it? SO: Yes, it absolutely does. I’ve personally experienced racism, and I know many Indigenous people living in this city and in this province experience it, from in-your-face racism to systemic racism like the health care system. Education and leadership is key. The country, the province, the city has to lead. I’m encouraged that the city of St. John’s is going to celebrate National Indigenous Day this year instead of Discovery Day. It’s part of small changes and big changes. August 2021

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homefront what odds

be like Mike By Paul Warford

My father hauled us from the island through all of Atlantic Canada, to Ontario, even all the way to Florida one year. Twenty-seven feet long and Dad drove that thing through the streets of New York.

August 2021

Who’s your daddy, readers? For

perhaps the first time in the history of my Downhome tenure, my due date for submission happens to fall on Father’s Day. (To be fair, this is because I didn’t submit on Friday like I was supposed to, so admittedly this is a bit of a fluke, but we run with flukes at What Odds! You all know that by now.) Michael Victor Warford was born April 28, year of our Lord, 1943. He’s older than Confederation – just a little bit British, like having Jacob’s crackers with your tea. Sometimes, if the phone was for him, he’d answer by saying, “This is M.V. Warford speaking,” with a bit of a smile. He was a teacher, my dad. He joined the ranks of educators recruited when the province was desperate for them – so much so that teachers received a healthy signing bonus once they were placed in a school; a far cry from today. He saved the money and eventually bought a Ford Fairlane 500 Fastback, maroon with black interior. Dad liked to tell how he stopped to put gas in it for the first time, and a gentleman fuelling up his own vehicle commented on the car and asked Dad if it was his. Still in his 20s at the time, Dad would recount, “I don’t think he believed me when I told him it was mine.” He’s a handyman, my dad. If it needs repairing, he can repair it. If it needs adjusting, he can adjust it. If it needs to be cut at a very specific measurement, he might cut it too short and then say, “Oh Paul, I’ve got that cut too short,” but that’s okay! He’ll find another length of scrap and cut that instead. He’ll make it work, he’ll sort it out. Some of his snowbird buddies once put him up at their new Florida condo just so he could install their sliding glass patio door. He built his first dory at 17 and painted it green. My eldest brother moved into my grandmother’s 1-888-588-6353

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house after she passed, and my dad noticed the front door would “scrub” along the floor of the porch when you opened it. So, he and I removed the door, took it to his saw, which was precariously balanced on sawhorses in the driveway, and he trimmed an inch or so from the bottom – or so we thought. We huffed and grunted to get the damn door back on its hinges, took a step back, and Dad said, “Paul, I believe I’m after cutting off the top rather than the bottom. What do you think?” And I said, “Well, the keyhole’s upside-down…” He’s a family man, my dad. As a teacher household, we became a motorhome family in the summertime. My father hauled us from the island through all of Atlantic Canada, to Ontario, even all the way to Florida one year. Twenty-seven feet long and Dad drove that thing through the streets of New York. By the time we got to Orlando, he made a special stop to have air-conditioning installed in the Ford Glendale. At one campground, he felt puffed-up and pleased when he grabbed the black plastic bags my mother had laid at the bottom of the motorhome’s steps. The campground’s garbage truck had almost gotten away, but my dad ran to catch up to the vehicle and hand over the bags. He didn’t realize they contained all our clothing, which Mom was preparing to take to the laundromat. He’s a proud Newfoundlander, my dad. His absolute favourite thing to do www.downhomelife.com

is have a mug-up in the woods, or catch the scattered trout with his buddies. He’s played the accordion my whole life. He’ll tell you he’s not very good, but he’s kept at it and that’s what matters. When I was young, he had a smaller song selection, so sometimes I’d hear “Frosty the Snowman” in the summer heat. He’s a father, my dad. He has always taught me to take my time, be meticulous: do the job properly. He would drive any distance to give me a ride home – even now. He’s always marvelled at my outgoing personality and my humour, and encouraged it. “You’re not easy, Paul,” he’d say sometimes after I’d made a joke. Once, years ago, he and I were at the grocery store together fetching something for Mom. An elderly woman asked my father if he could reach something for her from a high shelf. Even though he was in his 60s at the time, he addressed her as if he were a 12-year-old stock boy: “Yes ma’am, absolutely,” and I brimmed with such pride then. So, to my father, and all the other dads out there, here’s to you on this day (albeit two months later when you’re reading this). Keep doing what you’re doing. 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 August 2021

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fresh tracks

new music talk with Wendy Rose

Waves

Kelly McMichael “GIMME THE REINS AND LET’S RIDE OUT THE STORM”

– this line from my interview with Kelly McMichael stands out, and not just because the cover of Waves features the musician rockin’ her best cowboy outfit on a horse. The year 2020 was hellish for musicians worldwide, but McMichael persevered and came out of interprovincial lockdown with a beautiful album that bridges decades of pop, rock, electronic and alternative music. Think maybe Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics, if she had been writing with riot grrrls Kathleen Hannah and PJ Harvey, while more current bands like Snail Mail and Waxahatchee took notes. Waves opens with “I Missed Out on Everything,” which feels like an extremely apt opener, given this past year. “Memories hit me, they’re flooding in, taking over, I’ve lost my mind,” McMichael sings in the opening lines. Written prepandemic, this song is a eulogy for 40

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time spent and time lost. With its catchy keyboard melodies, “Out the Window” feels like a lost ’80s pop song. This track lifts its listener up, inspiring them to “leave that weight behind” and get out there and have some fun, maybe get a little wild. We slow down a little on “Stepping Stone,” exploring some of the darker sides of working in the music industry, such as the effects of a working relationship on personal relationships. “Friends, they come and go, and I hear your song on the radio. Was I just a stepping stone for you?” McMichael asks. This line illustrates the delicate balance of artistic collaboration and exploiting someone’s talent for personal gain, and how to navigate personal/ business partnerships. 1-888-588-6353

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Jill Willcott photo

“She Makes Men” became a quick favourite for many, a memorable pop song with its witty lyrics detailing a humorous circumstance where an attractive man, who could have any woman, crushes on a lesbian – the one woman who doesn’t want him. By the second chorus, you’ll be singing along with it. The fifth track, “It Will Pass” is another incredible slow jam, with gorgeous violin. This track leans into the mayhem of a manic depressive episode, before enveloping the listener in a calming hug as the song fades out. “Good Friends” is a classic feel-good song about the power of friendship, with simplistic guitar strumming carrying us through this short, yet sweet, two-minute song. The speed picks back up on “I Won’t Stop,” a fun electronic/ pop/rock piece that examines the emotional turmoil associated with overcoming feelings of inadequacy or mistreatment. “Someone has to leave, but it’s not me. I won’t stop until www.downhomelife.com

I win,” McMichael sings, offering a middle finger on one hand and a high five on the other. The hit single “Montreal” is a personal favourite. A trip to Montreal is almost like a rite of passage for many young folks, especially musicians and arts enthusiasts, seeking something new or simply avoiding their current reality. In a time when travel is limited, the feeling of nostalgia this song evokes for lovers of the French city makes it an instant classic. “Love is on Now” is a dreamy pop song, with a melancholic yet confident mood that just makes you want to sing along with McMichael’s gorgeous vocal stylings. The album’s final track, “Can’t at All,” explores the important balance of work and play. Though it seems like Kelly McMichael, with her many musical projects, talents and skills, could teach a masterclass on riding out the waves. August 2021

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Jill Willcott photo

Q&A with the Artist Wendy Rose: Waves was officially released on May 20, 2021, after three singles got folks excited in advance for the full-length album… What was your favourite bit of feedback from that time, as your new baby made its way out into the world? Kelly McMichael: It is my baby! Describing what your own music is like is kinda brutal, so it’s been amazing to read some of the thoughtful takes from others. I was incredibly stoked to get compared to Elton John and Liz Phair, and as an overview, I loved Matt Williams from National Music Canada’s take: “a wild spectrum of popcentric sounds like lush psychedelia, laid-back alternative, soft soul and driving ’80s synth glam, yet still cohesive.” I’m recycling that one so I don’t have to describe it myself anymore with a lazy “alt/pop/rock.”

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WR: So much has changed for you and the world since you started recording material for Waves: you were in St. John’s, got drafted to tour with Sarah Harmer, dealt with the pandemic crushing that reality and ended up on lockdown in Ontario living with your parents… How do you feel when you reflect on that tumultuous time? KM: It’s heavy. It’s been a lot, hence the title Waves and the cover of me on a horse. And as magical as recording was, 2019 was the hardest year of my life, so I was ready for a great 2020… [sighs] I feel proud and relieved to have finally made it to this point, but I could have gone for a few less bumps along the way. Getting the Harmer gig [keyboard/vocals in Harmer’s band] was a dream, getting some grants to record my songs with my favourite musicians was a dream – the other circumstances were very challenging and the wait has been painful. But things are looking up! 1-888-588-6353

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WR: Thankfully here in Newfoundland, we’re able to see live music here in St. John’s. What are your plans for Waves throughout the rest of 2021? Perhaps an island tour? KM: I can’t wait to play rock shows with a band again, to serve the album’s purpose

of spreading rock and joy… I would love to play some island shows this summer and fall, and spend some time in some of those beautiful places around the bay. I’m planning some other East Coast shows and there are also whispers of a tour in Europe... I’d like to get as many of my own shows in before I hit the road with Sarah Harmer again in 2022.

WR: Releasing an album while in isolation must be a, well, isolating experience. Thank God for the internet! You mentioned there being “extremely wacky” circumstances surrounding your album release... Can you elaborate? KM: Wacky… Well, yes... I was in isolation at a hotel in Charlottetown, PEI, with a

crew of theatre people for the production Between Breaths. Though I am fortunate to have a gig, and get to tour, I never imagined this would be my world for the release of my first full-length album. The internet was patchy, which was stressful, and doing the computer work without the playing music part, without my band, without crowds... it’s a bit heartbreaking. But I’m also so happy to finally get it out. It was a mixed bag of feelings, and something about being in isolation just really drilled the strangeness of the last year and the challenges I’ve had in my life... but I feel hopeful and, like, that’s what I do – prevail through tough sh*t – so gimme the reins and let’s ride out the storm!

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August 2021

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homefront in your words

My BerryPickin’ Gran Rita Kearley • Terrenceville, NL

This story is about my grandmother, Frances McCarthy, who

was an avid berry picker. She was a lovely woman who influenced my life to this day, and taught me values and morals that I hold dear. Gran lived to pick berries. Every chance she got she was off to the barrens and marshes. Partridgeberries, blueberries, bakeapples, marshberries – any and all were her specialty. On her berry-picking trips she always carried her famous yellow berry bucket.

Annette Tatchell photo

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I often followed her on trips, and remember the squish-squish of her rubber boots on the soggy trail ahead of me. She always took care to remind me of branches that might snap my face as she went on. Her old yellow bucket was worn thin from so many berries, and she carried it with pride. Gran protected me from the flies by greasing me up with fatback pork, which I despised on my face. Her energy was limitless when she was berry picking. She always looked after me, made sure my bucket was filled and often carried it for me. We were sure to have a boil-up in the woods at lunchtime. Gran could always start a fire from damp wood, much to my amazement. I can still taste the tea and molasses bread from those lunches. Gran has passed on now, but in my memory she will always be my berry-pickin’ Gran.

Robert Carter photo

Lillian Patey photo

What do you remember most, or enjoy most, about berry picking? Submit your story this month and you could see it in an upcoming issue! Stories should be around 250-500 words, and any photos of your berry-picking adventures are welcome. Submit online at DownhomeLife.com/submit, email editorial@downhomelife.com, or write to Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3. www.downhomelife.com

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features

Jim Desautels photo

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YEARS AGO,

I really enjoyed a camping trip to a secluded spot in Terra Nova. One of the highlights was to be able to sit on the shore of a quiet pond on a gorgeous clear night and look at the stars. There were so many more to see without the bright lights of St. John’s intruding. I could see the familiar shape of the Big Dipper, but I was disappointed I couldn’t pick out more constellations, or remember any of the myths or legends about the stars. I bet my ancestors, like all kinds of fishers and farmers before them, knew the night sky. They watched the stars to navigate, track the changing seasons and make sense of their place in the world.

So I set out to learn more and I consulted with expert Garry Dymond for his best tips. Garry has been an amateur astronomer for more than 50 years and was awarded the Service Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) in 1991 for his work in bringing astronomy education to the public. From the moon to the Perseids, here’s an introduction to August’s night sky for absolute beginners. 3, 2, 1, liftoff! Garry Dymond photo

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LOOK UP, WAY UP First, have a look at an August star chart – a map of the night sky. Search for one online and print it out, or check out an astronomy magazine or library book. The centre of the chart will show you the stars that are directly overhead. The outer rim of the chart represents the horizon, and it will be labelled with the directions north, east, south and west. This will give you an idea of what to look for including constellations, stars and galaxies. Websites such as Google Sky, and apps including StarWalk and Garry’s favourite, SkyEye, can also help you orient yourself. Next, choose a dark, clear night (sometimes hard to come by around here), without too much moonlight. It takes about an hour for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark, so give yourself some time outside to get set up. You don’t need much: maybe a comfortable place to sit and a pair of ordinary binoculars. To find your way around in the dark after your eyes have adjusted, Garry recommends a flashlight with a red light – you can make your own by covering an ordinary flashlight with red cellophane or paper. Then look up, waaaay up.

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THE BIG DIPPER Let’s start with the most universally recognized star pattern out there: The Big Dipper. It’s actually an asterism, a familiar pattern of stars, and part of the constellation Ursa Major, or the Bear. The Greek myth tells of beautiful Callisto, who caught Zeus’ eye and was transformed into a bear by jealous Hera. In Mi’kmaq legend, the bowl of the Big Dipper forms a bear, and the stars in the handle represent hunters chasing it across the night sky. The seven stars of the Big Dipper are almost always visible in the northern hemisphere. Look for the outer edge of its bowl and follow about five stars upwards. There, you’ll find the North Star, the anchor of the sky.

THE MOON Next, have a look through your binoculars at the moon. “The best time to see the moon is when it’s at quarter,” says Garry, noting that the added contrast makes it easier to see the dozens of craters, seas and mountain ranges on the surface. We’re all familiar with the benevolent gaze of the “man in the moon,” but there are hundreds of stories. In Chinese folklore, beautiful warrior Chang’e is stranded on the moon with a white rabbit as her only companion. In Haida mythology, the figure there represents a banished boy gathering sticks. What do you see?

NORTH STAR

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Vega Lyra

Cygnus

Deneb

Aquila Sagitta Altair Delphinus

CONSTELLATIONS Look eastward for another star pattern – The Summer Triangle. It’s made up of three bright stars in three different constellations. First, look for the most brilliant star you can spot: that’s Vega, the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, or the Harp. Stretch out an arm’s length to the lower left of Vega to find Deneb, the brightest star of Cygnus, the Swan. Look to the lower right of Vega to find the third star of the Summer Triangle, Altair, the brightest star in the constellation Aquila, the Eagle. If you’re lucky and the sky is dark, you can even see the magnificent Milky Way between Vega and Altair. What seems like a delicate, misty band of light is actually millions of stars in our giant spiral galaxy.

EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS Where to learn more about the night sky Royal Astronomical Society of Canada www.rasc.ca Royal Astronomical Society of Canada St. John’s Centre www.facebook.com/rascNL The Fireball Planetarium www.fireballplanetarium.ca Terra Nova Night Sky Celebration www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/nl/terranova/nature/ciel-sky 50

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THE PLANETS

A handy tip from Garry: if a bright light in the sky sparkles or twinkles, it’s a star. If it doesn’t, it’s probably a planet. This August, Jupiter and Saturn will be optimally bright and big, and you’ll be able to see brilliant Venus, too. Jupiter appears in the sky as a bright, creamy white object and its four big moons are often pretty easy to see with binoculars. In order outward from Jupiter they are Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Glorious Saturn takes on a yellowish hue, and if you have a telescope you might be able to spot the rings! Try looking around the 2nd of August, when Saturn comes to opposition: the tiny ice particles that make up the rings will shine more light back towards us brightly.

PERSEIDS Finally, every August brings around a super treat for stargazers: the annual Perseid meteor shower. “Definitely look for the Perseids,” says Garry, “they’ll be at their best on the 11th and 12th of August.” Give yourself at least an hour of observing time, and be patient. You should eventually be able to see meteors streaking across the sky in all directions, but there’s no way to predict the spurts and lulls. The meteors seem to be coming from a point in the constellation Perseus – that’s how they got their name – but they are actually debris from the orbital path of Comet Swift-Tuttle blasting into our atmosphere! The night sky is wondrous and full of marvels. I hope this handy introduction inspires you to get out there and see for yourself. www.downhomelife.com

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features

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NINE-YEAR-OLD Brett Samson lives in Peterview, NL with his dad Corey and his mom Stephanie. He’s an active, fun-loving kid who enjoys playing hockey, cycling with his friends and helping out in his family’s garden, taking care of the chickens and selling vegetables in the fall at his custom-built farm stand. All photos courtesy Corey Samson

All of this, anyone can see. What you can’t see is that in October 2020, Brett was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It was a scary revelation. “Initially it felt like the end of the world,” says Corey. “Here was this healthy, outgoing kid and now – bam! – this is tossed at us.” Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that requires constant, careful monitoring of blood sugar levels. It can cause life-threatening complications. “We certainly had that stage of asking ‘Why? Why us?’ But we’ve moved on from there now.” Corey explains that in the months that followed, their family learned how to manage Brett’s diabetes and the associated costs that can add up to over $1,000 a month. Their insurance plan, thankfully, covers the cost

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of supplies such as test strips, needles and insulin. Brett has also recently begun using a game-changing Dexcom glucose monitoring sensor, which helps him monitor his sugar levels easily with his cellphone, and an insulin pump. “We can’t believe how blessed we are, and fortunate, to know that Brett’s getting the best of care and technology to help,” says Corey. “What we really became aware of in the early stages of this journey with him is the fact that there’s a lot of families and kids out there that can’t avail of these because their parents don’t have the proper insurance.” With that top of mind, Corey, Stephanie and Brett threw themselves into starting a fundraising effort for other families.

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Corey and his son, Brett, (shown right) plan to fundraise through local bike rides and selling fresh produce from their farm at Brett’s own roadside stand “We were trying to figure how we could help with creating awareness and trying to generate funds or start a foundation or a charity of some sort to help children and families,” Corey says. After careful consideration, they chose to partner with the Glenn’s Helping Hand Foundation. This local non-profit provides funding, supplies and opportunities to those in Newfoundland and Labrador living with diabetes. It was founded in 2005 by Roxanne Weinheber, in memory of her nephew, Glenn. With the help of many sponsors and a board of directors, it raises an average of $30,000 per year. “Their mandates and the families they help support is exactly, exactly what we had in mind to do. It just all 54

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fell together,” says Corey. “They like our ideas, so they’re going to let us kind of be an arm of Glenn’s Helping Hand, and the funding will go directly to their foundation.” When Downhome reached them in June, the family had plans to kick things off in July with a communityoriented bike ride. “We wanted to do things that Brett enjoys,” explains Corey. “We’re a cycling community, so next month we’re going to do a ride here in Peterview. We’re starting at our local park at the beginning of town, and we’re going to ride from there down to the end of town where there’s a big field and a sandy beach.” Corey says they plan to sell T-shirts and take pledges, and the response 1-888-588-6353

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so far has been amazing. “I made a post on social media, and I had a feeling that we would get support, [but] I don’t think we were ready for the response. It was overwhelming. I had people reach out to me from Alberta, Ontario; I’ve had people from Newfoundland and Labrador that I’ve never met before just tell me their story, saying they were moved by our post and that they wanted to be involved. I have this massive spreadsheet of people who want T-shirts! There’s people in Corner

Brook that want to host a bike event as well, and another one in Glovertown. It really blew up.” Corey has already joined the board of directors for the Glenn’s Helping Hand Foundation, spoken with his MHA about the importance of funding and services available to those www.downhomelife.com

living with type 1 diabetes, and has had businesses and individuals reach out with support and donations. The next event is set for the fall, when it comes time to harvest the veggies from the family garden. “We’re a family that’s pretty passionate about growing vegetables and raising animals. Every year we have a very large vegetable garden put in with a big variety of vegetables. Brett helps out with the planting and taking care of the chickens and coops,” Corey explains. “Two years ago I built him his own farm stand. He sells vegetables including carrots, potatoes, zucchini, cucumber, [plus] pickles, jam and eggs.” Family and friends come around, along with other supporters and folks passing by, and the stand usually sells out quickly. This modest endeavour is now the inspiration for a bigger fundraising effort. “I wanted to involve something for Brett to help with this foundation. He’s only nine. So we had a discussion with him and he was very happy to be involved. We’re going to call it Brett’s Stand (as in farm stand) for Diabetes. “We’re going to approach a couple of local farms in the area and do a vegetable sale, with all proceeds going to the foundation. It’s a great way to incorporate raising awareness for a good cause into something that Brett already loves doing. “When we go at something, we hit it head on,” adds Corey. Together with the Glenn’s Helping Hand Foundation and the support of friends and family from all over, Brett, Corey and Stephanie are set to make a difference in their stand against diabetes. August 2021

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features

DOUG SHARPE is so much more than just a drummer in big brother Billy’s band. BY ED SEAWARD

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THOSE WHO HAVE FOLLOWED Billy and

the Bruisers over the years know two things: 1) when they see the Bruisers they get full value for their entertainment dollar, and 2) Billy isn’t the only Sharpe in the band. Doug Sharpe, the second youngest in the family, has been an instrumental member (sorry for the pun) as the percussionist from the time they expanded to an 11-piece band.

Growing up, Doug’s bedroom, because of floor space, was where Bill kept his drum kit. Whenever big brother Bill wasn’t around, Doug started “screwing around,” snatching playing time here and there. One day Bill walked in and caught him at the drum set – Doug thought for sure he’d be in for it. Nothing could be further from the truth: Bill immediately started teaching Doug what he’d so far taught himself. www.downhomelife.com

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Doug says, “By 17, I played with guys much older than me at places like the Legion clubs, office Christmas parties, a lot of the rough and ready clubs including the 4 Aces, The Station Lounge across from the old train station, the Travellers Inn out on Kenmount Road, The Port Hole, The Stardust and other places around the Avalon.” At the time he was also a full-time student at Memorial University. “I supplemented my income by working most nights at the Breezeway Bar, which was the main campus bar, and did band gigs as they came up. The Breezeway is a story in itself: I met a pretty young blond bartender there who later became my soulmate and mother of my children.” That would be Dale, his wife of 40 years. “When I finished up at MUN,” Doug continues, “I helped start a band called Hot Shot, which lasted for 12 years.” The contemporary rock cover band had some impressive gigs, including the George Street Festival, and opening for rockers Jeff Healey on campus and Samantha Fox at the old Memorial Stadium. “We played a regular circuit mostly around the Southern Shore, Conception Bay and Placentia. We played all around the Irish Loop, from The Goulds to Salmonier Line, including The Hayloft in the Goulds, Darby’s in Witless Bay, Schnapps in Cape Broyle, The Southern Strand in Fermeuse, and clubs and roadhouses in Trepassey, Peter’s River, and, of course, the once famous Dick’s Riverview on Salmonier Line.” Doug likes to describe himself as a “short-ass townie” and has the wit to go along with it that reminds you of 58

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old St. John’s, whether you refer to it as “historic” or “downtown” or “east end” St. John’s. You know the place – the streets climbing up the hill from the harbour to where the city flattens, slightly, along Military Road and Harvey Road, where the Basilica and The Rooms look out over the harbour and to the slice of land between the harbour and the sea, The Brow. Aptly named Goodview Street, home of the Sharpe family, is one of the steeply rising streets. Growing up there in the 1960s and ’70s elicit memories of hard work and sense of community for Doug. He says, “We all had a similar experience on Goodview. It was a tight-knit community where the adults probably knew each other since childhood and didn’t mind keeping an eye on any of the neighbourhood kids and keeping us in check. My parents felt a great sense of responsibility and duty to 1-888-588-6353

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take care of the elderly family members and older people in general. Mom went above and beyond in helping out the neighbours,” he adds. “Although she never had much formal education, she had an uncommon amount of common sense and could see through anyone and figure them out immediately.” For all of his early successes with gigs, musician would not be Doug’s only vocation. “Although all I wanted

to do was play drums, nobody I knew was making a living,” he says. He would have various careers in his lifetime. Working with his hands came naturally to Doug, and he eagerly participated as a youngster in home renovations, whether involving plumbing, electrical or carpentry. After completing high school, he went to work with a paternal uncle in his plumbing business. At the time, in the mid’70s, he thought he’d work in the trades, but, as he explains to me, “then the arse fell outta the economy, b’y, and it was going to be a hard time getting jobs in town; the trades weren’t doing well.” He had no idea what to do, but with three older siblings already enrolled at Memorial University, he had an opportunity to attend. At the time, there was a policy where the fourth kid from a family could go to Memorial for the first year at no cost – Doug as Lawd T’underin, entertaining a the educational equivalent group at a Screech-in ceremony in the 1990s of buy three and get one

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couldn’t get on the helicopter to fly free. He chose to study economics him out to the Ocean Ranger for his and business, as that appeared most shift.” Life can simply be that ranlikely to help him find a job on graddom. One boy from your childhood uation (apparently, his mother’s dies in a disaster just doing his job, “uncommon amount of common while another one is spared the same sense” guided him). fate by a headache. Over the years, Doug earned a certificate in vocational education from MUN as well, which provided him the opportunity to teach business-related courses at the Gardiner Business School at MUN, College of the North Atlantic and Keyin Technical College in St. John’s. But, starting out, his first daytime job after his first MUN stint was in purchasing and logistics with an offshore drilling contractor. You can’t talk about offshore oil drilling in Newfoundland and Labrador and not think about the 1982 Ocean Ranger disaster. Like so many people, the death of all 84 men on board connects in personal Music isn’t Doug’s only remembrance. For Doug, talent - he’s also known for his great sense of that person was Derek humour, inspiring future Escott. “He walked me to comedy stars such as school in grade one. longtime friend Pete Derek was at my house Soucy of Snook fame. after Mom’s funeral on Business, teaching, music: the surFebruary 8 (1982). I hadn’t seen him prise to me is Doug didn’t venture for a while and we had a great chat into entertainment as a comic. While catching up, one week before the at MUN, he garnered great laughs by Ocean Ranger disaster.” Another old exploiting the “townie” attitude he’d friend from Goodview Street and his grown up around. He adopted an connection to the disaster underodd, nasally voice anad combined it scored the vagaries of fate. “Tony with a “don’t give a frig” attitude to Webber,” Doug says, “woke up with a create his comic persona. Among terrible migraine headache and 60

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Doug and his wife, Dale, have been together since their university days.

those in stitches over Doug’s act was a close friend of his then girlfriend, Dale, along with a young fellow from Gander who would become that friend’s husband, Pete Soucy. Doug’s tales of growing up in downtown St. John’s, in his nasally townie voice, inspired Pete to seek out his own voice. He created his own character, eventually unleashing one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most popular figures: Snook. (Doug always stresses that while he may have inspired his friend, Snook is every bit Pete’s creation.) My Seaward family witnessed cousin Doug’s comic talents when he played host to a Screech-in for the Ontario-born family members. It took place where our grandfathers were born in the 1880s: Gooseberry Cove, NL. Lawd T’underin, as he called himself, stood on a pier that extended into Trinity Bay, in an elaborate sou’wester costume designed by his sister Marie. Changing voice from townie to thicker-than-codstew bayman accent, he led us in various recitations and, of course, a shot of Screech. Doug performed that act 24 years ago, but there isn’t an Ontario Seaward then present who doesn’t remember his performance as if it were yesterday.

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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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.

Deadline August 31, 2021 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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along Church Street in scenic Burin, just beyond Bull’s Cove, visitors come upon a curious sight. First, a big sign flanked by rum barrels catches your attention (a nod to the area’s rum-running history). Then, as you turn and make your way down the winding asphalt drive, an incredible scene unfolds: an old-time mercantile store, cabaret, saddlery, blacksmith and more, with horse saddles and wagon wheels strewn throughout. These are just facades, but it makes you feel as though you’ve travelled through time and stepped out of rural Newfoundland and straight into the Wild West. (Indeed, you might expect a tumbleweed to blow by as you wander around.) While Smugglers Cove could be mistaken for a spaghetti western film set, it’s just one of the grand plans of a local visionary who wanted to entice others to spend time in a place he loved so dearly.

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Tom Hollett’s whimsical nature lives on around Burin, such as his windup VW Beetle and British phone box. Tom passed away in 2016.

SPIRIT OF THE WEST Walking around Burin’s beautiful heritage district, Tom Hollett’s spirit lingers everywhere. There’s the classic, British red phone box (placed there by Tom as an innovative way to tackle the area’s lack of cell service while attracting visitors); the 1974 Volkswagen Beetle (painted bright blue and with a windup key fixed to the end) perched atop a rocky hill overlooking the town – the same one that used to be parked alongside the TCH just outside St. John’s to promote Jiffy Cabs, the business that Tom owned and operated and his son 66

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Chris runs today; and the colourful wooden chairs and benches on Poor’s Poets Poetry Hill, where visitors can sit for a spell and soak in the breathtaking vistas. “And Poor’s – really, it was Power’s. My father-in-law told me when they were young boys, that was the place they went to light the bonfire because it could be seen all throughout Burin... He said they’d take days and days bringing material up to the top of the hill to get ready for the big bonfire,” says Mike Brennan, one of Tom’s many good friends in the area. 1-888-588-6353

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These are just a few of the many projects Tom was involved with, but Smugglers Cove may be his most ambitious. Inspired by his motorcycle trips throughout the United States, Tom got the wheels turning to bring his dream of a western-style roadhouse bar and grill to his

Participants of the 2019 Route 210 Run gather together at Smugglers Cove. beloved Burin. Unfortunately, that dream was cut short in 2016 when Tom, 60, died in a motorcycle accident on his way to the Route 210 Run to help raise money for the local autism society. “When Tom passed, we went about a year, basically, we were dumbstruck, numb from the loss of such a grand person. And me and Paddy [Kavanaugh], we were sat out here on the corner one day and we said, ‘What are we going to do?’” recalls Mike. www.downhomelife.com

Rather than let it fade away, Tom’s friends pulled together to help bring his whimsical vision to life. Smugglers Cove officially flung open the doors in 2018, and while it’s quiet on this particular day in mid-June, the place will soon come alive with music, motorcycles, good food, friends and fun – just how Tom would want it. Besides being home to the Heritage Riders Motorcycle Association and the Monkey’s Fist bar and restaurant, Smugglers Cove also hosts concerts and events like Live at Heart, a global music business conference and showcase where talent from around the province and beyond can strut their stuff in front of music industry professionals from around the world. (Another part of Tom’s dream was to promote the province’s vibrant music scene.) Sitting at a table at the Monkey’s Fist with Mike Brennan and Alison Kavanaugh (who own and operate Smugglers Cove along with Alison’s husband Paddy and chef Clint Brewer), this isn’t so much an interview as it is a time of remembrance. Laughs and smiles are shared, and a scattered tear is shed, as the two share stories about their dear friend – a dreamer with a generous spirit, a larger-thanlife personality and an even bigger heart who loved his family, his friends and, of course, The Boot (as the Burin Peninsula is affectionately known). In return, he was loved beyond measure. “When he walked in the room, you knew. Not by his size, but you just knew by his presence,” Alison says. “Every single person he met he had August 2021

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Mike Brennan and Alison Kavanaugh stand inside the Monkey’s Fist restaurant at Smugglers Cove with Tom Hollett’s first Jiffy Cab sign. an effect on.” Stories of Tom’s generosity are legendary. Alison recalls when she had tickets to see KISS in concert and was worried she wouldn’t be able to g0. “Tom called my boss and said, ‘She needs the time off, we’re going to the concert.’ And he rented a 50-foot RV and showed up at the house and picked us all up – me and Paddy and the two kids – and we all went on a holiday,” she says. Tom’s hometown pride shone in everything he did, and while he may not be here today, his spirit and memory are all around. For instance, there are the treasures that he picked up on his travels and other memorabilia, like the first Jiffy Cab sign that was on the roof of his car, holding a place of honour at the bar. “We wanted to make sure that everybody knew whose dream it was,” Mike says. “We’re basically the dream facilitators. We’re just making sure that it carries on.”

FROM DREAM TO REALITY A few years back, Tom had purchased a number of older properties in Burin that he began renovating for 68

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vacation homes, a concept he called the “Hotel of Homes.” Taking inspiration from this idea, Mike and crew decided to build 10 glamping pods (small huts) around the pond at Smugglers Cove, giving visitors another option for a place to stay. “At the time when Tom was dreaming his dream and building on it, glamping wasn’t even on the radar. But we thought it’d be a really cool way to incorporate, still, his ideas, but on a smaller scale,” Mike says. Smugglers Cove is just the beginning of great things planned for the area. Other items in the works include eco tours to the nearby resettled Great Burin Island (where Tom spent a lot of time). There visitors will be able to enjoy a hike and a boilup of fish and potatoes, or a picnic lunch from Burin’s Heritage Cafe. “We weren’t fully aware of his idea, but he used to keep telling us, ‘Well, it’d be nice if you could walk the whole road [of] Great Burin that was there 100 years ago.’ So he took on a gentleman, Mr. Darby, who was in his late 80s at the time or in his mid80s, and he walked and showed them exactly where the road was. So Tom 1-888-588-6353

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had the road completely redone that went up the island, 4.2 kilometres. It’s probably one of the most scenic and most stunning hiking trails in the province,” Mike says. They also hope to offer people the chance to catch and fillet their own cod during the food fishery, and have it cooked up for them. In addition, Mike says, they’re working with private investors to bring other things to the area. While he’s staying mum on

These glamping pods around the pond at Smugglers Cove (still under construction in June) will give visitors another option for a place to stay. details for now, he hints, “They will be exciting, and they will help fortify Burin as one of the No. 1 destination places in the province.” The idea is to add to the area’s existing offerings, which includes spectacular scenery and hiking trails like the 6-km Cook’s Lookout Trail (where British explorer Captain James Cook would look out for smugglers and privateers in the 18th century as he charted the coast). Working with researchers and the town, Mike and company also hope to bring more of Burin’s intriguing history to light – a story that includes www.downhomelife.com

not only pirates and privateers, but also persistence and perseverance. When all is said and done, this isn’t just about promoting Burin, but the entire peninsula – something Mike and Alison say will be achieved by everyone working together. “In Burin you got the hills and the rocks and the water, to Lamaline with its beautiful marshes and meadows and beaches, to Grand Bank’s history. There’s just so much to offer here,” Mike says. By all counts, Tom’s dream of putting Burin on the map is well underway and in good hands. And what would he think if he could see Smugglers Cove today? “Oh, he’d probably say, ‘You got it all wrong,’” Mike says with a laugh. But while some things may not look exactly like what Tom had in mind, his friends are working hard to stay as close to his vision as possible. And when they’re on the right track, they know. “I miss him every day. I think we talk about him every day... whatever we’re doing – and he’s always showing up. We feel that his spirit’s with us because certain things we go at, and we get into it and we’re so frustrated, and then all of a sudden a bell goes off, or something happens, and it goes directly back to him,” Mike says. “He’s not far from our shoulder… And other things we do, we’ll replicate and remember Tom. We have no interest in trying to make this ours. We’re trying to still keep that same dream alive that he had.” August 2021

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The Bonavista Biennale has the potential to draw large crowds (safely) to small towns this summer. BY WENDY ROSE

Wendy Rose photo

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Wendy Rose photo

THEBIANNUAL BONAVISTABIENNALE returns to the Bonavista Peninsula this summer, offering “contemporary art embedded in historic spaces and age-old landscape” from August 14 to September 12. The sites, which boast works of 26 artists as well as past Biennale artists, are scattered around Red Cliff, Duntara, King’s Cove, Knight’s Cove, Hodderville, Upper Amherst Cove, Bonavista, Elliston, Maberly, Catalina, Port Union, Champney’s West, Port Rexton and Trinity. In offering so many sights to see and so many sites to visit, the Biennale gives visitors the grand tour of the Bonavista Peninsula in a unique, interesting, informative and entertaining way.

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NUTSHIMITby Melissa Tremblett “Our mission is to make a positive social, economic and cultural impact on the peninsula,” says Biennale coexecutive director Sarah Agnew. “We do that by bringing art here that people wouldn’t necessarily have access to – you know, a curated collection or exhibition of national and international and provincial art.” In turn, the exhibits encourage tourism (and spending) in the area that Sarah, formerly a Toronto resident, now calls home. Sarah was still living in Ontario when the idea of the Biennale was born a few years ago, but got involved upon moving to the island. Canada’s 150th anniversary celebration – and ensuing funding – helped turn that idea into a reality in 2017. “A lot of Biennales somewhere around the world are motivated by what was called a social mission,” she explains, “so a mission like that – to bring some positive, measurable impact to the place where they are, including economic impact.” Many Biennales and festivals were heavily impacted this year (and last year) by the COVID-19 pandemic. As 72

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the Bonavista Biennale occurs every second year, the curators and committees had ample time to prepare for their 2021 event, ensuring the show would go on. “By January, we knew we could do it. We just needed to change the way we do some things,” Sarah explains, noting that many exhibitions are outdoors, while indoor exhibits are designed to encourage social distancing. Despite additional policies and protocols, morale is high and the excitement is growing, she says. “Artists are very excited that a) something is going on they can participate in, and b) to be able to mount an exhibition and have visitors and so on.” One of the many exhibitions that the 2021 Bonavista Biennale boasts is “Regeneration | Piguttaugiallavalliajuk | Ussanitauten: Seven Northern Labrador Photographers.” This exhibit, curated by Jessica Winters of Nunatsiavut, features work from Eldred Allen, Gary Andersen, Holly Andersen, Wayne Broomfield, Samantha Jacque, Melissa Tremblett 1-888-588-6353

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and Jennie Williams. Jessica says she reached out to as many photographers as she could, as well as knowledgeable friends and family members with more connections, to help facilitate the process of selecting artists for the Regeneration project. “We ended up with photos from seven photographers who both excelled in content and quality,” she says. “The hard part was narrowing down on the actual photos we would use… We wanted to include as wide of a diversity as we could. Each photographer had very unique work.” “I think they’re pretty excited. They’re glad to have the opportunity,” Sarah adds. “Some are fairly well-known, some have had more opportunity to exhibit or are sort of farther along, but for at least one or two, it’ll be their very first exhibition… Many of them are self-taught and it’s just a passion they have for

capturing the beauty of their land and their way of life.” “I first picked up the camera and fell in love with taking photos as a teenager, when we still used film cameras,” exhibiting artist Jennie Williams shares. “I knew then that for my career in life that I wanted to be a photographer. I always loved art from a young age and spent lots of time drawing and being creative – when I had the camera it always made me happy.” After 13 years as a professional photographer, Jennie still gets excited to share her photography from Labrador, and her culture. “My favourite thing to photograph is people in their everyday lives doing regular things they always do, and capturing the beauty in that,” she says. The Regeneration exhibit can be found at the Quinton Premises, a heritage site in Red Cliff.

MANAGEby Jennie Williams

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SCULLOFHARPSEALSby Eldred Allen EXCITEMENT FOR EVERYONE It’s not just Labrador photographers making their way to the island for the Bonavista Biennale. With news that Canada is opening to travel, the Biennale will be able to have some of the showcasing artists visit the province during the monthlong event. 74

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“That makes for a lot more fun for us, to have them here and for them to install their own work and be a part of it,” Sarah says. “It’s also part of the fun for our visitors… to meet the artists, which they can do over opening weekend,” she adds. “That’s also when some of them do workshops for us, so the public gets to interact with [the 1-888-588-6353

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artists] in that way. The more we can have here, the merrier, that’s for sure!” While the organizers are understandably excited to bring these artists to the Bonavista Peninsula, they’re also excited to work with the many local people who help make this event possible.

“We work very closely with a lot of community partners and organizations that allow us to use their buildings or their premises for our exhibition sites,” says Sarah. “We have people in the community that deal with the artists when they come out. We have all kinds of relationships out here.” However, the Biennale is most excited about bringing people out from other peninsulas, coasts, bays, www.downhomelife.com

towns and cities to take in the long list of exhibitions and installations. It’s definitely enough to fill up a weekend – or two! – and entertain the whole family. “You don’t have to do it all in two days. You probably need three days to do every single thing while doing some other things along the way,” Sarah notes, before adding that since the Biennale runs for a month, “you can also come out just for a night or for a day even... then go back, then come out again!” Multiple visits to the Bonavista Peninsula and the numerous Biennale sites actually lends itself well to this year’s theme: “The Tonic of Wildness.” Based on a quote from Henry Thoreau, this theme grew more and more suitable as the pandemic continued. “Never have we needed wildness as much as we need it now,” Sarah says. “This is a time of unprecedented crisis on the planet, and much, much, much of it is human caused… That’s what artists are exploring in their work. So a lot of [the art] will be quite environmentally focused – reflections on nature and drawn from nature.” An interactive map and full list of exhibition sites, artists and events can be found at BonavistaBiennale.com. August 2021

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in Grand Falls-Windsor is a busy spot on a warm summer morning. Residents are out for a jog. Tourists meander, savouring the natural beauty surrounding Corduroy Pond. A family poses for a photo at the stand-in board. Parents measure giggling children against a wooden growth chart. Teenagers take selfies with wetlands as their background.

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Joanne King photo

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Rest stops, picnic areas and fun photo ops like this stand-in board are part of the larger plan to make the trails more welcoming to everyone. Corduroy Brook Nature Centre and Trail photos

Barry Manuel can see the activity from his office in the Corduroy Brook Nature Centre. The facility and surrounding trail system are the result of hard work, volunteer efforts, forward thinkers and community support. “The centre has been identified as the most popular outdoor recreation facility in our town. We have hundreds of people using the trail daily,” says Manuel, executive director of Corduroy Brook Nature Centre and Trail. “When I started here 23 years ago, walking trails were still not 78

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popular and the environment was not in the forefront as it is now. It’s come a long way.” In 1994, Arthur King, former president of the Exploits Disability Association, wanted to do something in the town to provide an accessible venue for recreation and relaxation. At the same time, Scott James, past president of the Rotary Club, expressed an interest in preserving a section of birch trees along Corduroy Brook. They discovered the waterway was seriously degraded by encroaching commercial develop1-888-588-6353

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(Above) This wishing well invites walkers to stop for a moment of reflection. (Left) School children tour the trails to learn about nature and how to become better stewards of their environment. Corduroy Brook Nature Centre and Trail photo

ment. A major cleanup was needed, so an interest group, the Corduroy Brook Enhancement Association, was born. “It’s a wonderful project for the town,” says Manuel, who is also mayor of Grand Falls-Windsor. “Walking is a great activity, and people are looking for safe activities to do to stay healthy. The centre is also a way for the town to have all these amenities and opportunities available for residents without having to manage them.” The Corduroy Brook Nature Trail is www.downhomelife.com

primarily flat, making it accessible for people of all ages and abilities. The 15-kilometre system includes more than eight kilometres of fully accessible trails, and another seven kilometres of improved hiking trails. Loops along the route give users an option in terms of the distance they wish to travel. There are rest and picnic areas, campsites, playgrounds, shelters and other amenities. Interpretive signs provide information on various nature-related themes. The facility is owned by the town, which provides in-kind donations August 2021

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and an annual operating grant. It functions as an interpretation and visitor centre between May and October, and a rental facility for conferences, meetings and social events during the shoulder seasons. “It’s a bit of a struggle for a non-profit to find the funds required to sustain and grow operations, but we’ve managed,” Manuel says. Over the years, more than 400 people, including students, have found employment at the centre, working on various projects funded under different initiatives. Partnerships are one way to keep short- and long-term plans moving forward. The Enhancement Association taps the Conservation Corps for Green Team Projects. Ducks Unlimited, The Johnson Family Foundation and federal fisheries have also been important to the centre’s success. “We also partner with schools from all over the region,” Manuel says. “That allows us to raise awareness around environmental issues and educate our young people to be stewards of the environment.” Ongoing projects at the centre include installing cameras so visitors can view area wildlife. There’s a summer nature camp for children, and staff are improving mapping to better illustrate everything the nature trail has to offer. The centre factors into the town’s strategic plan, which is focused on community programming, business growth, events and riverfront development. “There are a lot of things to do here, and we expect in the future to become more of a destination for tourists travelling within the province as well as those coming from outside,” Manuel says. 80

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The Corduroy Brook Enhancement Association relies on donations to keep the trail maintained and accessible. As a non-profit organization, fundraising is essential to the sustainability of the Corduroy Brook Nature Centre and Trail. The Bench Sponsorship programs allow businesses and individuals to promote their organization or memorialize a loved one while supporting the trail. Intended as rest stops for trail users, benches are fitted with plaques detailing the donor’s information and situated at key points along the trail. Sponsored benches require a $100 annual donation. A related but separate program, the In Memoriam Bench gives individuals an opportunity to remember a loved one. Fitted with a plaque and located along the trail, In Memoriam Benches require a one-time donation of $500. For more information on Corduroy Brook Nature Centre and Trail, please visit CorduroyBrook.org.

Corduroy Brook Nature Centre and Trail photo

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He offers advice for any other municipalities looking to do something similar. “You need a vision, and you have to make sure you stay focused on that,” Manuel cautions. “Don’t allow anyone or anything to deter you from your vision. Nature trails are wonderful for physical health and mental well-being. Plan what you want your trail to look like and know who will be using it. “Seek advice from other trail developers,” he adds. “In many cases, municipalities don’t have the resources or the money to do this on their own. It’s important to have people, or even one person who is interested and like-minded, lead

the charge.” The busy father of four appreciates that his work takes him outside. The centre is located at a trailhead and looks over the scenic wetlands. “With my office next to the trail, I have an opportunity to get out there while working,” Manuel says. “I am extremely glad the vision shared by those gentleman came to fruition, and I look forward to continuing to tap the potential. “When you see people coming and going, you know your efforts are worthwhile. It’s fantastic, and something I am proud to be involved in. Everybody who had a part in this deserves a pat on the back.”

Allison Hunter-Frederick photo

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explore

Readers lead us over the hills and through the forests to stare in awe at these stunning cascades found around the province.

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CORNER BROOK STREAM

Found on the trail network in this west coast city Bailey Parsons photo

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HOPEALL FALLS The reward at the end of the trail in New Harbour Alisa Smith photo

RATTLE FALLS

Located in a former provincial park on the Bonavista Peninsula highway at Southern Bay. Barry Langdon photo

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MANUELS RIVER

Several small waterfalls create dipping pools in this Conception Bay South natural attraction. David Brophy photo

RED BROOK FALLS This enticing cascade is tucked away in Cape St. George. Erik Mclean photo

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HIDDEN OASIS

Fox Marsh Resource Road runs right across the top of this oasis at Ocean Pond on the Avalon Peninsula. Frank Bastow photo

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RENNIE’S RIVER

Tranquility found trailside in the heart of St. John’s Jim Desautels photo

HIDDEN FALLS

This stunner can been seen from the highway at Sheaves Cove on the Port au Port Peninsula. Laura Erickson photo

CABIN COUNTRY CASCADE This little falls is hidden in the woods in Spread Eagle. Sean Newhook photo

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FRANCOIS FALLS

Water runs from the mountaintop to the sea through the community of Francois on the southwest coast. Robert Carter photo

BAKER’S BROOK FALLS

Hiker’s reward at the end of Berry Hill campground trail in Gros Morne National Park Robert & Roberta Herr

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CATARACTS FALLS

One of two steep falls that drop into a gorge in Cataracts Provincial Park in Colinet Norman Purchase photo

TABLELANDS CASCADE

One of many astounding features of The Tablelands between Woody Point and Trout River Heather Goobie photo

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Iceberg Wines Blu Blueberry Our most popular wine, made with wild Newfoundland low-bush blueberries, bursting with ﬂavour and rich with vitamin C and antioxidants. The berries produce a beautiful violetcoloured wine. Semi-Sweet

Available in Blueberry, Raspberry and Bakeapple Our wild berries mature in their natural habitat until picked and blended with iceberg water – a product of snow compressed into ice 50,000 years ago. Medium

3 Sheets to the Wind • Red

3 Sheets to the Wind • White

Blueberry & Crowberry

Rhubarb

A full bodied wine that combines the Newfoundland blueberry with the wild blackberry. Pairs with cheese, steak, wild game, beef and chocolate. Medium

A name that brings to mind a sparkling sea whipped up by fresh, cool breezes. Pairs with traditional Newfoundland dishes, poultry and pork. Medium

Black Crow

Bottoms Up

Blackberry

Cherry & Crowberry

The Newfoundland and Labrador Blackberry (Crowberry) is a small, black ground berry that grows in clusters, usually in hilly areas near the ocean. It makes for a unique, almost grape-like, wine. It’s simply a taste of Newfoundland and Labrador at its best. Medium

Rich and dark, swirling with Newfoundland black crowberry and cherry ﬂavours, this mediumbodied wine likes to party. Raise a glass with your peers, "Cheers! Bottoms Up!" Medium

www.aukislandwinery.com 1-877-639-4637 AUK Shipping not available in Newfoundland and Labrador. Please visit your local NLC location.

ISLAND

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HOME and Cabin

stuff we love by Nicola Ryan

Stargazing in Style LAID BACK This Goldsun lounge chair is the perfect seat to relax in and look up at the stars. With a comfortable backrest and pillow, it can be adjusted to a slanted sitting position or reclined to almost vertical. It also features a detachable utility tray to hold your mug, flashlight and binoculars. Available at Wal-Mart and other retailers.

CONSTELLATION CUPPA Keep a warm drink on hand for sipping. We love this heat-change mug. Pour in a hot drink and watch the starry sky give way to six well-known constellations. Perfect for budding astronomers. Amazon.ca

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SHAGG OFF, NIPPERS! Keep pesky mosquitos from tormenting you as you enjoy the Perseids using this aptly named, all-natural mosquito repellant by St. John’s Soapworks. It also moisturizes your skin and is citronella and Deet free. Curbside pickups and deliveries are available. StJohnsSoapWorks.com

GET GLOWING Nighttime in Newfoundland and Labrador can get a bit cool, so cuddle up under this cosy fleece blanket. Expose it to a bright light source before you go outside, and the design of stars and planets will glow in the dark! Amazon.ca

SPACE RACE Take your stargazing to brave new worlds in this official NASA astronaut flight suit. Featuring the iconic NASA logo, a commander patch and a USA flag patch, you’ll be set to stun. Available in both kids and adults sizes, it comes with a matching hat! ShopNASA.com

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Summer Sizzle

When the days get too hot to be in the kitchen, take the cooking outside!

BY MARIE BISHOP

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The joyful sounds of summer:

music playing throughout the neighbourhood; kids being the loud, boisterous beings they are meant to be; and that unmistakeable sizzle, as choice cuts of meat, marinated ribs, or thick, juicy burgers hit the grill. Nothing is more intoxicating, invigorating or hunger-inducing on a hot, sunny day than the aroma of a BBQ. Grab a beverage, throw a salad together and relax. It’s the MOST wonderful time of the year! Whether it’s always been your thing, or the pandemic has incubated your inner foodie, it seems most of us are much more inclined to invest in, spend more prep time on and thoroughly enjoy what we eat than we ever did before. And, of course, because our summers are short, we are adamant about enjoying our food in the great outdoors. A BBQ, whether it’s charcoal or propane, is a given on most decks. Most homes have some type of grill, from the basic to the most elaborate with a built-in rotisserie, side burners, warming compartments and smokers – all depending on your

budget and love of everything barbecued. The ultimate in outdoor food prep, enjoyment and entertaining has seen a rise in recent years: outdoor kitchens are all the rage. As simple or substantial as your budget allows, your outdoor kitchen becomes an extension of your living space, fitted out with designated areas for prep, cooking, serving and eating. If you’re going for a simple, rustic look, repurposing pallets for your base cabinets can reduce the budget and showcase your creativity. These cabinets offer a prep and serving area, some food storage and room for a bar fridge, providing there is an

The ultimate in outdoor food prep, enjoyment and entertaining has seen a rise in recent years: outdoor kitchens are all the rage.

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Repurposing pallets for your base cabinets can reduce the budget and showcase your creativity. outlet nearby. A bar sink is a bonus if access to plumbing is an option. If not, a large cooler for water and ice is an easy workaround. For a more upscale look, you could incorporate wood stained the same colour as your house, concrete block, stonework – so many options to choose from. Keep in mind, whatever materials you use, they will have to face the elements, so the more durable the better. Of course, there are a few things to think about before you make the investment. Consider your space and the shape of your yard or deck. Which area would be the most efficient in terms of close proximity to the food storage, fridge and pantry? Also keep in mind your existing exterior: what type of materials would best suit what’s already there? Is there enough room to add a sitting area? Allow for as many seats as you would expect to have guests at any given time or that will fit comfortably into your space. For example, a sofa (three seats), a loveseat (two seats) and two chairs should be enough for an informal gathering. A few extra folding or stacking patio 96

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chairs ready to be put to use are always a good idea. If possible, keep cooking and seating areas together for more of a kitchen party feel. A firepit or wood-burning fireplace may already be part of your outdoor space. If you have the means to extend your space with some type of roof or protective enclosure, it will certainly increase your outdoor time even when it’s a little chilly or damp, especially if you add a patio heater. Of course, you can keep adding feature after feature. Such items as a wood-fired pizza oven make for a fabulous outdoor cooking experience, and it’s much easier than you may think to put together. My brother, Foodie Extraordinaire, recently created one (pictured next page) in his backyard for less than $200. Using regular building brick sourced on NL Classifieds, fire brick from Canadian Tire, a few concrete blocks from a garden centre, a thermometer from a discarded BBQ, and a custom metal sheet from Dominion Metals, he put together a pizza oven that produces a crispy, chewy, “done to perfection” pizza in under eight minutes. Pizza 1-888-588-6353

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A wood-fired pizza oven makes for a fabulous outdoor cooking experience, and it’s much easier than you may think to put together.

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parties are now a weekly event, and the bonus is the extra heating element it brings to the sitting area. Accessorize your outdoor space with the same attention you would your indoor space, keeping in mind the changing weather conditions that may arise. A wicker basket or patio storage box filled with comfy throws and cushions will help take the bite out of any chilly evenings. A string or two of patio lights, either solar powered or electric, will add a cosy ambiance. Add to that a few lanterns with remote-controlled candles and you’ve got a perfect oasis for summer entertaining. Make it cosy, make it inviting and make it yours. Best of all, when your space is complete, invite your friends, family and neighbours for an evening of great food, great fun and wonderful memories of summer.

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the everyday gourmet

Condiments for

Grilled Foods

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the everyday gourmet By Andrea Maunder

Andrea Maunder is the owner and creative force behind Saucy & Sweet – Homemade Specialty Foods & Catering.

www.downhomelife.com

Tired of barbecuing yet? (Nope, me neither!) But it might be time to take inspiration from world cuisines to add a little excitement to our plates. I tend to keep grilling pretty simple. For me, it’s a way to make a quick supper without loads of prep and clean up. Some evenings, I’m happy to throw on a nice sausage (with a touch of one of my Saucy & Sweet BBQ sauces), toast a bun, add a bit of freshly chopped tomato and sweet onion and call that dinner. In general, I’m not into long marinades or loads of pre-BBQ prep. But I always want intense and bright flavours, so I keep the grill seasonings simple but add bold and brightly flavoured condiments to my plate. Argentinian Chimichurri, traditionally used with grilled meats; Spanish Romesco, a condiment found with grilled and roasted fish, poultry, meats and vegetables; East Indian Coconut-Mint Chutney, typically served with a lentil-rice crepelike street food called dosa – all truly gorgeous sauces with flavour profiles quite different from each other. The best part is they are quick to whip together and keep for 10 days in the fridge – so you can easily turn any grilled food into gourmet fare. Each of these sauces is delicious on any grilled protein or vegetable, including tofu. I found “grilling shrimp” at the supermarket. They look like small lobster tails and weigh in at 8-12 count, which means there are 8-12 in a pound. I removed most of the shell and left on

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the little tip of the tail. I also BBQ’d a few eggplant slices and gave a good char to some thin asparagus, so the tips became almost crispy. (Yum!) I seasoned everything with only a little oil to keep them from sticking and a pinch of kosher salt. My plan was to let the condiments deliver the flavour. And indeed they did. I put a little of each sauce over a shrimp and added a little more Romesco for

dipping my veggies. I know these sauces well, but hadn’t had them in a while. It was pure bliss to be reminded how intensely delicious they are, and especially heavenly to experience them all in one meal. I sliced pieces of each sauce-anointed shrimp, going back and forth, savouring how each sauce uniquely complemented the shrimp.

Chimichurri Chimichurri has a nearly equal ratio of oil, vinegar and herbs. Don’t be tempted to use the food processor or blender – it would turn this gorgeous coarse pesto-like condiment into a purée and dull the flavours. Chop everything by hand; it’ll only take a few minutes and your taste buds will be amply rewarded. Traditionally, cilantro, parsley and oregano are used. I didn’t have fresh oregano, but I had a garden full of basil and lemon-thyme so I subbed those in. Also, traditionally, lemon zest would not be included. That’s my addition – and it adds a brilliant brightness. A red chili pepper, typically red jalapeño or fresno, is used to add colour and sweet floral heat. I had only red habaneros, so I used half a small one and finely minced 2 tbsp red bell pepper to make up the balance in colour and sweetness. 2 tbsp finely chopped shallot or sweet onion 1 tbsp finely minced garlic (about 3 cloves) 3 tbsp finely chopped cilantro 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley 1 tbsp finely chopped basil plus lemon-thyme (or oregano) 1 tsp lemon zest 1-2 tbsp finely minced red chili (more or less to taste, add bell pepper if you like) 6 tbsp red wine vinegar 1/2 tsp kosher salt 8 tbsp well-flavoured extra virgin olive oil Mix everything but olive oil to get the salt dissolved. Then stir in oil. Taste and adjust seasonings. Set aside until ready to use. Store, for later use, in a sealed container in the fridge. It livens up a grilled steak but is so bright it works perfectly on everything. 100

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Romesco Sauce

Coconut Mint Chutney

To make roasted red peppers, I blistered/blackened the skin of a fresh bell pepper under the broiler on a bit of foil, then sealed the pepper in the foil to let it steam a few minutes, so I could pull the skin off. It takes 10-15 minutes. (Or you can buy jars of roasted peppers.) Sundried tomatoes in oil are ready to use. Dried ones need to be rehydrated a bit in a bowl of boiled water.

In East Indian cuisine, the word “chutney” can refer to a quickly made sauce of raw ingredients or a cooked, fruit-based condiment such as wellknown Mango Chutney. This chutney is in the former style.

2/3 cup roasted red peppers 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes 1/4 cup sliced almonds 2-3 tbsp sherry vinegar 2 large cloves garlic 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 3/4 tsp salt Pinch cayenne pepper 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil In a small blender jar, combine all the ingredients (start with 2 tbsp vinegar and add a third if you need more acid). Blend at high speed until creamy. You can add a few tsp water if too thick to blend. Taste and adjust seasonings. Set aside until ready to use. Store, for later use, in a sealed container in the fridge. Good on grilled vegetables, fish and shellfish. www.downhomelife.com

1/2 cup tinned coconut milk (regular, unsweetened) 1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger (about a one-inch knob) 1 large clove garlic (or 2 small) 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp sugar Juice of half a lemon (about 2 tbsp) 3 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut (from the baking aisle) 1 cup fresh mint leaves (removed from stems, not tightly packed) 1/4 green habanero chile (or 1 small jalapeño, seeds removed) 3 tbsp unflavoured Greek or thick full-fat Balkan yogurt Blend all ingredients, except yogurt, together until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. Remove to a bowl and whisk in yogurt. Set aside until ready to use. Store, for later use, in a sealed container in the fridge. Use with samosas, pakoras, curried potatoes or lentils, or grilled lamb chops. August 2021

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everyday recipes

Pan-Fried Cod 6 Ways The NL food fishery sent us looking for more ways to enjoy the catch of the day.

Pan-Fried Cod with Pineapple and Tomato Salsa 4 pieces cod loin Flour, for dredging Canola oil, for frying 1 cup pineapple, minced 1 tomato, minced 1 tsp lemon grass paste

3/4 tsp cilantro, finely minced 3 basil leaves, minced 1 tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp black pepper 3/4 tsp chives, minced 1 tsp lime juice

Mix last 9 ingredients together to make the salsa. Marinate salsa in the fridge for at least an hour. Dredge fish in flour and fry in hot oil until fish flakes easily. Serve fish topped with salsa. Serves 4.

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Sweet and Sour Cod 4 1 2 2

cod fillets, about 5 oz each tbsp soya sauce tbsp lemon juice tbsp white wine vinegar

1 tbsp honey 2 tsp ketchup 1 garlic clove, minced 1/4 tsp paprika

Mix together soya sauce, lemon juice, vinegar, honey, ketchup, garlic and paprika. Pan fry fish and baste with the sauce. Bring to a light simmer and cook till tender. Serve with vegetables or side of choice. Serves 4.

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Pan-Fried Cod 8 small cod fillets 3/4 cup flour 1/4 cup cornmeal 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp celery salt

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

tsp cayenne tsp garlic powder tsp onion powder tsp pepper cup scruncheons (diced fat back pork)

Mix all the dry ingredients together and dredge the fish in it. Add the scruncheons to a cold frying pan and slowly heat them up over low-medium heat; you’ll want to render out as much fat as possible. When it seems no more fat will be released, increase heat to medium and allow the scruncheons to brown and become crunchy. Remove them from the pan and set aside, then use the fat for frying your fish. Place the fish in the hot fat and fry until golden brown on both sides, and the fish just starts to flake apart. Top your fish with the scruncheons and serve immediately. Serves 8.

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Flax-Battered Fish 10-12 (5 oz) cod portions 2 tbsp canola oil 1/2 cup flour 1/4 cup coarsely ground flax seeds 3/4 tsp celery salt

1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4

tsp tsp tsp tsp tsp

black pepper cumin garlic powder onion powder smoked paprika

Mix all ingredients, except fish and canola oil, together. Heat canola oil in a frying pan, over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, dredge fish in the mixture, shake off excess and fry in the hot oil until golden brown on both sides, turning only once. Serves 6.

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Cod Puttanesca 2 small cod fillets 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 cup shallots, sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced 12 capers

24 Kalamata olives, pitted and halved 2 tomatoes, cubed 1/2 cup white wine 6 large basil leaves, chiffonade

Heat olive oil in a large fry pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the shallots and garlic until shallots are softened. Add capers and olives. Turn the heat to “high” and allow the mixture to sizzle. Add tomatoes and toss to combine. Once the sizzling returns, add the wine to deglaze. Dig two holes in the mixture and place a cod fillet in each. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Allow it to gently simmer for about 10 minutes, carefully turning the fish over halfway. Once 10 minutes has passed, check that the fish is cooked through and remove it to a plate. Add the basil to the remaining stew-type mixture and stir to combine. Season to taste. Add a portion of fish to a plate and top with stew. Serves 2.

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Blackened Cod 2 cod fillets 1/2 cup butter, melted 1/2 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp chili powder 3/4 tsp cayenne 1/2 tsp black pepper

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

tsp tsp tsp tsp tsp

celery salt garlic powder onion powder cumin powder coriander powder

*Please note that you should do this in a well-ventilated kitchen, and try not to breathe in too much of the smoke. Preheat a cast iron pan over high heat for about 20 minutes (it should start to become a sort of grey colour where the heat is applied). Mix all spices together thoroughly. Coat fish in melted butter. Evenly coat one side of the fish in spice mixture. Place fish, spice side down, in the pan. Brush butter over exposed side of fish. Coat in spices. Cook fish for about 3-5 minutes and flip (spices should be blackened). Cook for another 3-5 minutes and remove from pan. If necessary, finish cooking fish in an oven so as not to scorch the spices. Serve with your favourite lemon or wine sauce. Serves 2.

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down to earth by Kim Thistle

You Asked

Common gardening questions answered

Why won’t my peony bloom? Peonies can be just a tad particular about their likes and dislikes. If I have a plant that is not behaving properly, the first thing I do is dig it up and move it. Before moving, though, check out the conditions and make sure you are choosing the correct placement. First of all, these princesses love full sun. If they can get sun for the half-day past noon they will be happy, but if they can get a full day of sun they will be ecstatic. Don’t plant too deep. Peonies have a hard, woody root that should be no deeper than two inches below the surface. Less than that is even better. If you are topping up your garden with compost or mulch every year, the root is eventually getting deeper and deeper. You can feel around to see how deep it is. Dig it up and put it closer to the surface if need be. It is a myth that you cannot dig these up once planted. It is no issue moving them as long as you pick late summer or fall to do it. You could do it in the spring, but they grow so quickly it is hard to catch them before the new growth is too high. Be sure to water well after replanting. 108

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Peonies are not fussy about soil type and will do fine in clay, but they do need adequate drainage. Peonies do not like to have wet feet (saturated soil). Fertilize your peony with a bit of fish emulsion or compost tea to ensure it is being fed. If your peony is budding but the buds shrivel and fall off, it may be a fungal disease such as botrytis. Good sanitation is the best control. Be sure to clean up debris at the end of the season by cutting off all growth to ground level. It is also possible that the flower buds were affected by a freeze. Peonies love the cold and do not need winter protection, but the buds are pretty fussy. 1-888-588-6353

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What is eating my cabbage and broccoli?

The cabbage looper or cabbageworm, of course! These green caterpillars are difficult to see due to their excellent camouflage. An indicator that you are about to have a problem with these insects is the presence of the adults. The looper is a medium-sized moth that is brownish grey. The worm is a white moth with two dark spots on its wings. Once you see either of these moths around your crops, you should spray the plants with BTK, an organic pesticide that is not harmful to humans. It can be used right up to the time of harvest. It is the larval stage, the caterpillar, that is being affected, so don’t try to spray the moths. (Although the chase would look pretty funny.) These pests will have a second or third wave throughout the summer. So watch for the adults and as soon as you see them, examine your plants for larvae and spray again. Rain will wash this product off, so keep an eye on the forecast. Also, spray early in the day before the temperature is too high. The spray magnifies the sunlight and may cause the leaves to burn.

Everything I plant under my pine tree dies. What is the problem?

There are three main problems with planting under a conifer (a tree with needles and cones that typically doesn’t shed its needles for winter): 1) The soil will be very acidic, so only certain plants will do well. 2) The bigger problem is that your tree is depleting the soil of nutrients and water. 3) The tree is casting a lot of shade. Plants that will tolerate these conditions are Hostas, Vinca, Sweet Woodruff, Lily of the Valley, Rhododendron, Cranesbill, Columbine and Hydrangeas. You will note that I said “tolerate,” not “thrive.” Be sure to fertilize and water regularly to get the best performance. If you are not a lover of gardening but like a pretty garden, perhaps you should reconsider where to place your flower beds. Everything needs space to thrive.

Do you have a gardening question for Kim? Email 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. www.downhomelife.com

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reminiscing flashbacks

Lending a Hand Brothers Kevin and Calvin Heffernan assist Premier Smallwood in turning the sod to start construction of the Ross Steers Fisheries Ltd. salt fish processing plant on the south side of St. John’s harbour in May 1966. Kevin Heffernan St. John’s, NL

Wedding Bells This mystery photo was found tucked into an old book. Do you recognize this happy couple? Let us know – see page 9 for the best ways to reach us. Daisy Brockerville Lawn, NL

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Opening Day “The official opening ceremony of the first bridge over Middle Barachois River in Bay St. George took place on Sunday, August 16, 1936,” writes the submitter. “The ceremony was conducted by Reverend E.A. Butler and was followed by an address by Hon. Thomas Lodge, commissioner of public utilities. Mrs. Lodge snipped the ribbon and was presented with a bouquet of flowers.” Muriel Chislett Stephenville, NL

This Month in History In an ordinary year, it would have been a go. Partly sunny,

hardly any wind: Wednesday, August 5, 2020, would have been an ideal Regatta Day in St. John’s, NL. Unfortunately, the beloved townie traditional event was cancelled last summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a difficult, but necessary, decision made by the Royal St. John’s Regatta Committee. “The writing’s on the wall,” sighed Health Minister John Haggie, as provincial guidelines and alert levels put all large public gatherings on hold. It was the first August in 80 years with no races, and the first cancellation due to disease. The first record of organized rowing races in St. John’s was in 1816, and 2020’s regatta would have officially been its 202nd year. Before the pandemic, the last cancellation was in 1940 during WWII. The First World War kept the boats off the pond from 1914-1918, and before that, the event was cancelled in 1892 after July’s Great Fire devastated most of the city.

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IT WAS THE SUMMER OF 1991, and a Newfoundland boat captain felt the urge to go to places he had often visited over the years – only this time, he would sail into these outports. Beside him at the helm, as his first mate, would be his life mate. A course was charted, maps were gathered and the sea dream began. As day broke on June 27, 1991, the captain and his hesitant first mate cruised out of Long Pond, Conception Bay aboard the 35-foot sailboat, La Reine Basque (The Basque Queen). Before their summer journey ended on August 9, Augustus (Gus) and Kay Etchegary would clock 1,172 nautical miles and sail into 25 outports in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as travel to another 15 by car. Kay kept a daily log of their 42-day voyage. Recently, the couple reflected upon that summer when they shared what they call “a cruise of a lifetime.”

province he knew inside and out, primarily from his longtime involvement in building the fishing industry through his work with Fisheries Products International and various boards and organizations. The death of his brother the year previous had played on his mind and inspired him to make the dream trip sooner rather than later. With her seasoned captain, the first and only mate on the journey figured the only way through such an uncertain voyage ahead was by taking it “one day at a time.” The first day on the water was less than inspirational

ONE DAY AT A TIME On the very first day of the expedition, Kay recorded her trepidation: “…I was very apprehensive about the whole idea,” she wrote. “I didn’t think I was capable of helping him and managing the boat, nor would I be able to sail offshore, period.” Gus, on the other hand, was full of excitement and prepared extensively for their six weeks at sea around a

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Kay on board the La Reine Basque at a port of call in 1991 for the seafaring souls. They battled fog, intense winds, and numerous icebergs and growlers as they sailed to Cape St. Francis and turned southeast towards Cape Spear. The next three days were spent in St. John’s seeking refuge from the rougher elements of the North Atlantic, especially the black, dense fog hanging over the coast. By Canada Day, it seemed they were finally on their way, but the fog, headwinds and sea ice continued to embattle their progress. They hunkered down in Fermeuse and then Trepassey before reaching St. Lawrence, with the help of the local Coast Guard and – finally – a clear night sky graced with a beautiful moon and stars. Kay noted on July 4: “One thing about this trip for sure – nothing is routine. We eat and sleep at very odd hours.” Over this summer they shared on the ocean and land (“surf and turf,” Kay quips), the couple entertained themselves with meeting locals and visiting friends, playing cards, eating 114

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fresh seafood (often donated by locals) and taking daily strolls through communities. Circumnavigating the island clockwise, a direction apparently favoured by knowledgeable yachtsmen, they sailed into quaint places like St. Pierre, Harbour Breton, Isle aux Morts, Ramea, Codroy, Norris Point, St. Barbe and Quirpon, and into larger towns like Port au Choix, St. Anthony and Catalina. Looking back at the 40 outports they experienced in 1991 (one year prior to the 1992 cod moratorium being declared), they were struck by the number of people walking around “idle,” they say. “That’s the part that kills me,” explains Gus, who never misses a chance to talk passionately about the fishery. “So many communities badly impacted by the loss of the fishery back then, and for many, remains so today. The fishery was their bread and butter!” On July 25, the couple steered their vessel towards Red Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the south 1-888-588-6353

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coast of Labrador, while once again dodging “overwhelming and nerveracking” icebergs in the Strait of Belle Isle. In her diary, Kay also recorded a memorable moment: “We were treated to a very special sight – one huge monster of a whale. I swear it was the biggest either of us has ever seen, at least 60-70 feet. It was so close to us that I was afraid it would tip the boat over if it came any closer.” For Gus, a Basque descendent, arriving at Red Bay was the highlight of his ocean excursion. “Entering the harbour with the feeling that my ancestors had carried on a whaling operation in the early 1500s [here] gave me a real emotional high. It’s almost incredible to think that 500 years ago, 2,000 Basques were operating the largest whaling factory in the world in Red Bay.” The couple would spend three interesting days exploring the Basque whaling station on Saddle Island and the museum guarding the tangible history of the long-ago whaling operation – ovens, piles of red tiles, shipwrecks and even graves. For Kay, she delighted in seeing places like St. Lawrence with all the white houses, and fell in love with the “peaceful” ports of Harbour Breton, Francois and Bonne Bay. On August 2, they witnessed a historical moment when the rebuilt Viking vessel, Gaie, sailed into L’Anse aux Meadows. In her diary, Kay wrote, “We waited and took photos of people crowding the small wharf and the hundreds of cars all over the place. It was truly a historic moment. Half an hour after their arrival, we attended 1-888-588-6353

the cake cutting by our premier, Mr. Wells, and Iceland’s president and officials from Norway.” From there, they continued to navigate the northeast coast. On August 9, they finally nosed La Reine Basque into home port at Long Pond.

Gus and Kay with a copy of her travel log from their “cruise of a lifetime” Reflecting back, Gus, now 97, describes “observing the most breathtaking scenery anyone can imagine,” adding, “Kay and I have had the opportunity to visit many places in all parts of the world and we have enjoyed ourselves, but we can honestly say that no travelling experience can match our 42 days around Newfoundland and Labrador.” August 2021

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reminiscing

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A few years ago, someone noticed an interesting statistic in the Census: a humble spot on the Baie Verte Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador was officially “the tiniest town in Canada.” Its town council of four people represented all six of its permanent residents. The quaintness of it made national news in 2016. While it may be tiny, Tilt Cove’s history is significant. In 1864, Newfoundland’s first major mining operation began at Tilt Cove. Between 1864 and 1917, and again from 1957 to 1967, “a total of 153,000 tons of copper and 43,000 ounces of gold were produced from nearly nine million tons of ore.” (source: Mindat.org) Tilt Cove was one of the world’s leading producers of copper at that time. Michael (Mike) Keat lives in the United Kingdom but is closely connected to Tilt Cove. His great-grandfather, W.R. Toms, was a miner and later the Tilt Cove mine manager, and his grandfather, John Toms, was working at Tilt Cove mine when he married a Newfoundlander. Many of the photos you’ll see in this story were taken by John, an avid photographer. Mike has done much research on the Toms of Tilt Cove. Here is what he’s written for us on his family history.

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Toms Family of Tilt Cove c. 1885- 1912 William Runnal Toms was born in St. Winnow, Cornwall, in 1835. In 1861, he married Catherine Whetter Rowe and was recorded in the census at this time as a miner. They went on to have six children: Richard, the eldest, who later emigrated to South Africa; Kate; William, who was killed by a horse on Christmas Day in 1889; Annie; Charles and John. In the 1871 census, when he was 36, W.R. was listed as an iron miner, and in 1881 was down as a “mining agent” in Lostwithiel, Cornwall. By 1889, he had moved to Newfoundland and was mentioned in Once upon a Mine (Wendy Martin, 1983) as being mine manager in Tilt Cove. On November 21 that year, the mine changed to being The Cape Copper Co., and W.R. Toms resumed 118

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as manager. He was stated to be a man of “great energy, sagacity and economy.” In 1891, he was appointed by the governor to the Board of Trade for Tilt Cove, and around then he became a Justice of the Peace. At some stage, W.R. was joined in Tilt Cove by his wife Catherine; his two daughters, Kate and Annie; and son Charles, an assayer at the mine. In 1893, daughter Annie married Fred Stammers Nicholls, a metallurgist at the mine. This was conducted by Rev. Pittman, and W.R. and son Charles were witnesses. In 1894, W.R. Toms resigned as manager due to ill health and intended to return to England at the end of June. He was presented with a beautifully engraved gold watch by The Continued on page 121 1-888-588-6353

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Cape Copper Co. and inhabitants, “as a token of sincere affection and respect.” This watch is still in our possession and highly valued. By this time, John Toms had joined his family in Tilt Cove, as an assayer in the mine. There was a celebration of his coming of age in the 1-888-588-6353

Evening Telegram of June 8, 1894: “Gala Day in Tilt Cove.” Around this date, the departure of Fred and Annie Nicholls, Kate and Charles Toms, and Catherine Toms must have taken place, as they all appear in the UK census for 1901. John Toms, my grandfather, August 2021

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married a Newfoundlander, Caroline Roberts, in 1897. The story goes that he spotted Caroline as he arrived by ship at Tilt Cove and said “That’s who I’m going to marry.” Love at first sight? Caroline was the daughter of Elias and Mary Ellen Roberts, and sister to Jack, Josiah, Mary and Juanita.

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My mother Annie, their firstborn, arrived in 1897, followed by Wilfred Roberts in 1899, who tragically died at age three of meningitis. His grave and tombstone I discovered on my visit to Tilt Cove in 2005, in the Anglican cemetery. William Henry (Harry) was born

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in 1900, followed by John Charles, who unfortunately lived for only a few months. Iris Kathleen was born in 1902, Vera Kathleen in 1905, Wilfred Roberts in 1907, and Florence Mildred in 1910. There was obviously not a lot to do in Tilt Cove on dark winter evenings! My mother Annie returned to Cornwall around 1910-11 to live with her grandparents, W.R. and Catherine, and to finish her education. The rest of the family returned to England in 1912 upon the collapse of mining in Tilt Cove, departing on the SS Kastalia from Botwood. John Toms purchased an ironmongers shop in Camborne where the family lived. This shop still exists to this day in the ownership of John 1-888-588-6353

Toms, son of Wilfred Roberts Toms. Upon returning to Camborne, they completed their family with the birth of Gerald Victor in 1913, and Betty Decima in 1921. The Toms family maintained close contact throughout their lives, and were much loved and respected by all. John and Caroline both died in Camborne, in 1948 and 1938 respectively. Since my visits to Newfoundland in 2005 and 2008, we have re-established contact with the Roberts family, and with Garfield and Claudene’s visit to us in the UK in 2009, we have remained in close contact. Just can’t wait for our next visit to your amazing country and its warm hospitality. Feels just like home. August 2021

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OVER $20s in saving ! by joining

Now more than ever a Downhome membership is a great value. Not only do you save over $20 off the cover price, you receive: 1 Year (12 issues) OF DOWNHOME

Free WALL CALENDAR Free EXPLORE TRAVEL GUIDE 2 Issues INSIDE LABRADOR †

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ORDER ONLINE TODAY! www.joindownhome.com

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puzzles

The Beaten Path

Patricia McGrath 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.

R H

A p Q

S G

L X B

G J L U X

A p

J X R

D A

G V B

B G

V X

J x V G R

A L

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

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Sudoku

from websudoku.com

Skill level: Medium Last month’s answers

Need Help

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

www.downhomelife.com

August 2021

127

Steve Spracklin 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: • Located on New World Island • One of the stops “all around the circle” • A namesake mine operated at Cross Cove c. 1900 • Hedley Knight’s former home is the community museum • Its neighbour was once known as Whales Gulch

Last Month’s Answer: Holyrood

Picturesque Place NameS of Newfoundland and Labrador

by Mel D’Souza Last Month’s Answer: Cape Freels 128

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

Last Month’s Clue: Cease pummelling all sides of the shrub In Other Words: Stop beating around the bush This Month’s Clue: A jester and his wealth are momentarily separated In Other Words: _ ___ __ __ _____ __ ___ ______

A Way With Words B E R MUDA

Last Month’s Answer: Bermuda triangle

Rhyme Time A rhyming word game by Ron Young

1. To enjoy a long walk is to _____ a ____ 2. A slack flower is a ____ _____

This Month’s Clue

APPRECIATED

FEELING

3. 60 strong minutes is a _____ ____ Last Month’s Answers

Answer: ______ ____________

Scrambled Sayings

1. chipper nipper, 2. funny money, 3. bored lord

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 B E O A A D H A A E D B E H A E A E T E B H P N T R F I R H O G H N I V H H N T P Y N O T Y U P P T O U W W W

’ E N E O H A H I N O S S V O R T U S W T Y U

Last month’s answer: In old age you must put up with the face, the friends, the health, and the children you have earned. www.downhomelife.com

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Rhymes 5 Times Each answer rhymes with the other four

1. gallop

____________

2. enjoyment

____________

3. offspring

____________

4. shock

____________

5. firearm

____________

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

Last Month’s Answers: 1. canteloupe, 2. antelope, 3. dope, 4. hope, 5. cope

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!

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

1. CUBNAHS 2. AGREDB

Plea Sack Chore Rage ______ ___ ____ ___

3. TWINERMOLL

Pay Burp Ax __________

5. RONSIR MRA

Last Month’s 1st Clue: Haste Robber Heap Hatch Answer: A strawberry patch Last Month’s 2nd Clue: Sod Amen Gum Aura Answer: Sodom and Gomorrah

4. SOBSHIP SLALF

Last Month’s Answers: 1. Stephenville, 2. Noels Pond, 3. Mattis Point, 4. Barachois Brook, 5. Black Duck Siding

A nalogical A nagrams Unscramble the capitalized words to get one word that matches the subtle clue. 1. HENS IN US ~ Clue: it can brighten anyone’s day 2. HACK MOM ~ Clue: it’s a stretch to call it a bed 3. SHEET EURO ~ Clue: you could call it a kiddie condo 4. TACO VAIN ~ Clue: it prevents you from getting work done 5. MICRO POEMS ~ Clue: when no one gets what they really want Last Month’s Answers: 1. carpenter, 2. bachelor, 3. manicurist, 4. journalists, 5. meteorologist 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.

1-3: stern 1-10: subsequently 1-91: shorten 2-22: levy 3-23: kid’s game 6-8: conflict 9-6: sketch 9-39: deceased 10-100: independent 11-14: ursine 12-16: soil 15-18: skinny 16-36: scorching 18-20: born 21-25: commenced 23-25: firearm 23-43: stomach 28-58: uncommon 30-25: amnesty 31-35: road 32-52: mine output 37-39: tablet 37-57: peg 39-79: postpone 42-22: fish eggs 44-49: look up to 44-50: adorer 45-15: gouge 45-25: lair 46-49: muck 48-98: make pure 51-21: action word 51-54: swerve 51-71: by way of 50-20: sexual assault 50-70: rodent 54-57: precipitation 57-77: snooze 59-79: repose 61-63: sick 63-43: lease www.downhomelife.com

100

65-62: jail room 66-46: edge 68-64: sham 68-70: obese 71-74: mother’s sister 75-77: mug 79-99: Yang’s pard 83-85: become sick 85-88: lend 90-70: recline 90-88: transgression 91-96: hire 91-100: work 92-62: manhandle 93-73: pot’s pard 93-96: gimmick 94-4: writer’s art

96-66: belonging to you 97-77: chart 97-99: crew Last Month’s Answer

S E P A R A T I S T

H T E S A B E T O E

O E A I E L N B B N

EMA L E D CHE A T A B I R E N T D E R E DA AGE D E R

K C A B T A F U L L

E A T O N E O N I O

August 2021

R S D A E R O T N I

S T A R V A T I O N

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The Bayman’s

Crossword Puzzle 1

by Ron Young

4 5

8 9 10

18 21

26 30

36 38

41 44

132

19 20

42 45

August 2021

28 33

40 43 46

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ACROSS 1. remote car starter 4. anger 5. Great Big ___ 6. beer 8. neither’s partner 9. fancy event 11. before noon (abbrev) 13. head of the fleet 18. sliding down snowy hills (colloq) 19. expert fighter pilot 20. typesetter’s measure 21. before nightfall 23. determination 24. take a seat 25. Grand __ Pierre 26. Whaddaya __? 29. tasted 32. gulch 35. old term for social assistance (colloq) 36. Roberts Arm (abbrev) 37. top notch (2 words) 38. Salvation Army (abbrev) 39. Father of Confederation 41. sailor 43. Nameless Cove (abbrev) 44. “I’ll __ bait for that” 45. dusk 46. that feller DOWN 1. NL traditional fish dish 2. Labrador West product 3. very young seal 7. British bathroom 10. Ted Russell’s most famous character 11. yes vote 12. 1/60th of an hour www.downhomelife.com

13. Rock of ____ 14. encounter 15. longer 16. teenage affliction 17. drumstick 22. Vancouver Island (abbrev) 26. brew 27. “I’ll load her down with a one-____ jigger” 28. spied 30. commercial 31. location 32. BC folksinger who recorded “Sonny’s Dream” 33. common NL lake bird 34. Methuselah’s father 36. “we’ll ____ and we’ll roar” 39. that missus 40. adult male 41. “What do you __ with a drunken sailor?” 42. kilovolt (abbrev) K I L L I C K S A L M O N I E R

E Y R A F F L L U E N G R E A R G M O O L L R B B I V

ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD A N A E N C D Y A Y I

D B R T I E N B S A N G A S I S E R L O

A N O A T E A B R B O A R D

K I N G C O R N

E R L A F L D A D O N N D W O I A 48 S S H A

August 2021

V C O U T P O R T 133

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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. __ 43

’

______ 428368

___ 968

_ __ _ ___ _ 2 69 8 446 4 _____ 22688 ___ 748

____ 6423

____ _ __ 2692 6 39 ____ 6398

___ 468

__ 86

___ 729

____ 2663

’

__ 63

__ 86

Last Month’s Answer: Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils.

CRACK THE CODE t

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

_ _ _

_ R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ \ t Q i Q W b Zb

Crb _ _ zk _ _

_ ;

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W Q kb C Q Q b

_ _ _ _ _

QB Z

_ _ _

xz D

_ _ _ 0rz

_ R _ ; tb

Last Month’s Answer: Nothing makes one feel so strong as a call for help. 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.”

vat =

occupant =

_ _ _

]a[

detergent =

ran =

silly =

_ _ _ _

Kf hn

mhkv z

vVxv _ _ _ _ _

z v h]t V]’K _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

xf fvVKt

agile =

_ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

mvKVz v}]

_ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _

]t v

nv v hKh}]

_ _

_ _ _ _ _ _

}Vo[v v

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

nv hkvxav

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

]mh}KV]V f}

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ’ ]t h]K ]mfa[ vvKfo v _ _ _ _

Last Month’s Answer: A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. www.downhomelife.com

August 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 MEET FRIENDS AT THE BUS STOP

Last Month’s Answers: 1. Roof, 2. Picnic table, 3. Car wheel. 4. Nose cone, 5. Aircraft number, 6. Plane’s wheel, 7. Air intake, 8. Ern’s arm, 9. Ern’s Cap, 10. Horizontal stabilizer, 11. Trouser, 12. Tree “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 PICNICS

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

ANTS BASKET BEACH BLANKET CHEESE CHIPS COLDPLATE COOKIES COOLER CRACKERS CUTLERY DATE FRUIT GRASS

U H S O F S K C S G U Q V Y J L F C

Z B F H L A B M D R R L K J Z L S U

E T R H J D A T E J E O Q I N S Z C

K N U A H C S K I B L M W C U L Z W

Z K I O E A X L X U O J M F S O F O

SANDWICHES SNACK SUMMER TAKEOUT WINE

LEMONADE LUNCH PACK PARK SALAD S J F I V V I D N H M I X P U D R K

Last Month’s Answers

R X T W X X N F V O O M Z U V W R Y

G G L U J Q C T H Q C D B A S F G S

www.downhomelife.com

P E N V Y N W T S F R B M D B B I T

H O N P W C D S M A P S P I H C O H

L X T W Y T E N L R K W S N B X E C

H M J E G I H C A E B S L A T S X N

Y X T G K E H L R J B D A R E L G U

D U C O I S B E G W H K E E C D M L

K G T G Y U P L R O A B Q K L R H G

K S H E L T E R A J U M J H Y U I Y

I A O J H N A R D Y C J H B U W B W

T V K J C B K G R Z H T M I L P X W

A E X Z U P N E I V O I H O I B I K

Z C L P Z P A B H A V C M S T A B T

T A G V U A L J G C K C O O C Y T E

T N E T R I O N Y S S Y Z O U K I C

P P D A H S F R P P N N L P L X A U

R X X N A S O T C W R H M Q Q S P O

N H V R C L T P A O O U F L U R E C

Q T P F S R T Y E Y Z O U I E J Y C

V F T S A V H U M L O L N G O A R Q

X U L L S O D N C X U M M I R J V N

A U I G F B G X P L D K E E F E I H

M T N R J O I D S A T S H U C B F I

G O A K L Y W E G S L I H E Y L I P

O I N U E U L W I M U T I O U P Q A

S K L Z U W T K T H O A L O U L X E

C A N O E T O J E S S K X W O S L S

L E T S W Y Q W Q A W D V J L Z A W

E J G B N I P O F R Z B W U P S E A

E K E L G E C R A C K E R S R S N K

R N W O O D S Z D A K I N D L I N G

C A A A X S R P Z M D E I O P M E I

P A R K Q T E K N A L B G H U Q L G

C O P P S X N R E T N A L S I F S K

A O O C O K Q Y W R L F F V C J W Y

F T S A N D W I C H E S N A C K B S

M Q U L I R J V I A M P U T N O V H

P C G K E G P K S W M I P T I B U A

T E Y M R Y U M G I C F Q D V W C F

August 2021

E R E S E R V A T I O N T W C H R Z

R T H G I L H S A L F R K Q F J C W

L W J F G X H O C G C U L Q S B P E

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St. Anthony

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

Panoramic View of Harbour 1924 Sq. Ft. • 4 bdrm, 2 bath Double Attached Garage with Wood Stove Large Driveway • $246,000 Call Tom: 709-454-6604 (c) or 709-237-3242 (h)

BUSINESS FOR SALE GROS MORNE

NATIONAL COTTAGES & MOTEL

Licensed to do Business in Ontario.

Business consists of 17 units. More photos upon request.

Mortgage Agent # M18002662 FSCO# 12728

Serious Inquires Only

CODROY VALLEY

info@baysidegrosmorne.com

Private 2 Acre Lot • View of Mountains • 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms • 12' x 16' Sunroom Workshop & Single Garage

jcs.skinner@gmail.com 709-955-3177

$215,000

Downhome Real Estate

Not intended to solicit properties currently under contract

For Sale • Stephenville, NL

Book your ad today 709-726-5113 1-888-588-6353 Home, separate garage and several outbuildings used for meat cutting business. Home: 1300 sq. ft. Shop: 16'x20' with 2 walk-in freezers (10'x15' & 15'x15') and additional 15' Long Cooler. $289,999

Residential Property with optional established business opportunity 709-643-4043 • Janicew@persona.ca 138

August 2021

1-888-588-6353

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Movers & Shippers

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

A Family Moving Families Professionally and economically Coast to Coast in Canada Fully Insured

Newfoundland Owned & Operated

35 Years in the Moving Industry

Contact: Gary or Sharon King

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

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

aandkmoving@gmail.com

Without The Five Star Price!

★ Packing

DOWNEAST CONNECTION 709-248-4089 905-965-4813

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

Announcements

FIVE STAR SERVICE ★ Local & Long Distance Moves

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

Voted CBS Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year

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

MOVING INC. 709-834-0070 866-834-0070 fivestarmoving@outlook.com www.fivestarmoving.ca

Over 25 Years Experience in the Moving Industry

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

Moving Ontario to Newfoundland and All Points in Between Return Loads from NL, NS, NB, QC, ON at a Discounted Price

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

www.downhomelife.com

905-424-1735

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

Book Your Announcement Today

1-888-588-6353 August 2021

139

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GREAT GIFT IDEAS!

Once Upon an Iceberg

Us, Now

My Father’s Son:

#80172 | $22.95

#80170 | $19.95

- Sheilah Lukins & Laurel Keating

- The Quilted Collective

Dildo, Newfoundland

Shrubs and Vines for Atlantic Canada

#80194 | $12.95

- K. Bruce Lane

#80171 | $29.95

- Todd Boland

#80132 | $29.95

Safe Harbour:

Four Way Crosswords -

#80209 | $19.95

#54058 | $6.99

Sgt Windflower Mystery

Ron Young

Tom Moore

Don't Be Talkin':

Recitations and Other Foolishness from NL - Harry Ingram

#80114 | $19.95

Differences By The Dozen - Mel D’Souza #49315 | $8.95

Prices listed do not include tax and shipping

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MORE SELECTION ONLINE www.shopdownhome.com

Sale! Downhome Reflections #36220 | $19.95 $10.48

Downhome Gallery Cookbook #38455 | $19.95 $9.88

Downhome: 25 Years Softcover #48748 | $19.95 $9.97 Hardcover #48747 | $29.95 $14.97

Sale!

East Coast Crafted:

Between the Boulevard and the Bay

Beers, Breweries, and Brewpubs of Atlantic Canada - Christoper Reynolds and Whitney Moran

- Ron Young

#51175 | $17.95 $2.50

The Long Haul: Tracing the Path of the Newfoundland Pony - Dennis Flynn

#73475 | $39.95 $19.88

#46739 | $19.95 $9.88

The Best of Land & Sea DVD - Vol. 4 #50493 | $19.99 $2.88

Signal Hill Fog Globe #72874 | $31.99 $10.00

Sale!

The Best of Land & Sea DVD - Vol. 3 #48675 | $19.99 $2.88

TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353

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GREAT GIFT IDEAS!

NL Rowhouses Apron #57118 | $13.99

NL Sayings Apron #78005 | $13.99

Got to Get Me Moose B’y Apron #55921 | $19.99

NL Rowhouses Tea Towels #79843 | $4.99

NL Rowhouse Oven Mitt #79841 | $4.99

NL Sayings Tea Towel #79844 | $4.99

NL Sayings Oven Mitt #79842 | $4.99

NL Tartan Pot Holder #79850 | $4.99

NL Tartan Tea Towels - 2 pack #79849 | $7.99

Prices listed do not include tax and shipping

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MORE SELECTION ONLINE www.shopdownhome.com

Sale! NL Camo Ball Cap #63811 | $19.99 $9.99

Checkered Flag Ball Cap #43452 | $19.99

NL Moose Plaid Ball Cap #75546 | $19.99

NL Flag Wrap Ball Cap #35896 | $19.99

NL Patch Ball Cap #79390 | $19.99

NL Two-tone Ball Cap #38872 | $19.99

NL Mesh Fitted Ball Cap #79414 | $19.99

NL Pink/Grey Ball Cap #60470 | $19.99

NL Swish Ball Cap #79346 | $19.99

TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353

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photo finish

Seashore

Snack

While beachcombing on Grand Beach on the Burin Peninsula, Lorne Hiscock and his brother Murdock gathered bright bakeapples, empty mussel shells, a sea urchin and driftwood to create this eye-catching foraged feast. Lorne Hiscock Lewisporte, NL

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

August 2021

1-888-588-6353

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1.800.563.2800 | palairlines.ca

@PALairlines

Downhome August 2021

Articles inside

Artful Excursion Around the Bay

Waves - Kelly McMichael