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Vol 34 • No 09
$4.99
February 2022
Memories of the Ocean Ranger, 40 Years On
Talking to Rick Mercer
Rabbit Hunting Adventures Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
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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 Manager 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, Destinee Rogers, Amy Young, Bobbi Jensen, Kate Flynn, Emily Snelgrove
Subscriptions Customer Service Associate Cathy Blundon Customer Service Associate Courtney Ralph
Operations Manager, Twillingate Nicole Mehaney Founding Editor Ron Young Chief Executive Officer/Publisher Grant Young President & Associate Publisher Todd Goodyear General Manager/Assistant Publisher Tina Bromley To subscribe, renew or change address use the contact information above. Subscriptions total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL, NS, NB, PE $45.99; ON $45.19; QC, SK, MB, AB, BC, NU, NT, YT $41.99. US and International mailing price for a 1-year term is $49.99.
Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement #40062919 The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred, whether such error is due to the negligence of the servants or otherwise, and there shall be no liability beyond the amount of such advertisement. The Letters to the Editor section is open to all letter writers providing the letters are in good taste, not libelous, and can be verified as true, correct and written by the person signing the letter. Pen names and anonymous letters will not be published. The publisher reserves the right to edit, revise, classify, or reject any advertisement or letter. © Downhome Publishing Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
Printed in Canada Official onboard magazine of
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96 indulge!
Contents
FEBRUARY 2022
52 Into the Woods Woodworker Edwin Bishop on the craft and art of making snowshoes. Nicola Ryan
56 Memories of the Ocean Ranger On the 40th anniversary of its sinking, Lloyd Major thinks about his days aboard the Ocean Ranger and the co-workers who were lost.
96 Everyday Recipes Decadent chocolate desserts
52 makin’ a racket
www.downhomelife.com
114 Tale of Two Stowaways In remarkably similar but unrelated instances, these two French boys faced perilous journeys in hope of a better life in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Contents
FEBRUARY 2022
homefront 8 I Dare Say A note from the Editor 10 Letters From Our Readers An unusual rescue, a mystery object and memory quilts
18 Downhome Tours Downhome readers explore Africa
20 Why is That? Does drinking warm milk really help you sleep? Linda Browne
22 Life’s Funny Tough Subject
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travelling chair
Gwen Williams
23 Say What? A contest that puts words in someone else’s mouth 24 Lil Charmers Go With the Snow 26 Pets of the Month Sweethearts 28 Reviewed Denise Flint interviews Rick Mercer about his new book Talking to Canadians: A Memoir
20 sleepy time
32 What Odds Paul Warford goes car shopping
34 Fresh Tracks Wendy Rose reviews Winter Island Tour by Sherman Downey & Matthew Byrne 38 What’s the Score Sports and active living for all ages Kevin Lane
40 Guest Column Pyjamas: Not Just for Pandemics Carla Rockwell 4
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mercer’s report 1-888-588-6353
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74
rollin’ through winter
42 Outdoor Adventures The love of rabbit hunting Gord Follett
features 48 Use Them or Lose Them Skills once essential to our survival are now at risk of being lost forever. Nicola Ryan 62 A Kindness Returned How fate brought these strangers together and showed them how deeply they were already connected. Phil Riggs 66 A Rescuer’s Tale The last surviving rescuer of the Truxtun-Pollux disaster recalls that fateful day. Linda Browne
explore
40 pj 411 www.downhomelife.com
74 Winter on Wheels Fat tire biking is a fun way to get out and enjoy winter. Dennis Flynn
80 Travel Diary What Once Was G. Tod Slone February 2022
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Contents
FEBRUARY 2022
88
quilts then and now
home and cabin 86 Stuff We Love Valentine’s Day Inspired Nicola Ryan
106 go forth and multiply
88 The Nature of Quilts The crafted quilts of today vs the traditional handiwork of our forebears. Hilda Chaulk Murray 92 The Everyday Gourmet Sexy, Simple Spaghetti Andrea Maunder 102 Old-Fashioned Treats An excerpt from Perry Benoit’s new book, Snippets of Outport Newfoundland Life from Various Perspectives. 106 Down to Earth Making Babies Kim Thistle 6
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112
back in the day
reminiscing 112 Flashbacks Classic photos of About the cover A chocolate mug cake is a simple, swift and satisfying treat anyone can make. So are the other chocolate recipes in this issue, presented for your mid-winter pleasure. Recipes begin on page 96.
Cover Index Memories of the Ocean Ranger • 56 Use ’Em or Lose ’Em • 48 Tale of Two Stowaways • 114 Indulge Yourself • 96 Talking to Rick Mercer • 28 Rabbit Hunting Adventures • 42 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas • 86 www.downhomelife.com
people and places
113 This Month in History The Churchill River
120 Sitting on Howard’s Bench Bruce Roberts
126 Puzzles 138 Marketplace 140 Mail Order 144 Photo Finish February 2022
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i dare say
My life flashes by when I touch one of Nan’s quilts. With each patch, a spotlight lands on a memory. The pink-checkered crimp knit piece was once a housecoat, one of two worn by my sister and me. I can see us, just little girls fresh from the bath and ready to be put to bed with a storybook. There’s a brown and orange silk swatch that I recognize from a blouse Nan wore in 1970s photos. The blue plaid crimp knit scrap, I’m fairly certain, came from pants once worn by Mom. Other pieces bring to mind images of Nan in the kitchen at the stove, on the hill picking berries, playing Scrabble at the dining room table, out in the driveway welcoming her crowd home. I recognize all the fabric clippings for what they once were – blouses, skirts, slacks, much of it handmade by Nan in the first place. Going over these swatches is like flipping through a photo album in my mind, the pictures are so clear. These patchwork quilts have given me such comfort – warmth for both body and soul – wherever I’ve lived since leaving home. I was compelled to pull them out and wrap myself in these memories by Hilda Chaulk Murray’s essay, “The Nature of Quilts” (p. 88). Quilting is more of a beautiful hobby today, whereas years ago it was a survival skill being able to turn something worn out and old into something new and lasting. A surprising number of traditional crafts and skills, once needed to survive here, are in danger of being lost to time. Read what Nicola Ryan learned about that in “Use Them or Lose Them” on p. 48. Do you have quilts or other family heirlooms that tell a story? I’d love to read your stories and see your photos. You know where to find me! Thanks for reading, Janice Stuckless, Editor-in-chief
janice@downhomelife.com
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Submission Guidelines and Prize Rules
You could WIN $100! Every reader whose PHOTO, STORY, JOKE or POEM appears next to this yellow “from our readers” stamp in a current issue receives $10 and a chance at being drawn for the monthly prize: $100 for one photo submission and $100 for one written submission. Prizes are awarded in Downhome Dollars certificates, which can be spent like cash in our retail stores and online at shopDownhome.com.*
Submit Today! Send your photo, story, joke or poem to
Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 or submit online at: www.downhomelife.com *Only 1 prize per submitter per month. To receive their prize, submitters must provide with their submission COMPLETE contact information: full name, mailing address, phone number and email address (if you have one). Mailed submissions will only be returned to those who include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Downhome Inc. reserves the right to publish submissions in future print and/or electronic media campaigns. Downhome Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material.
Hidden somewhere in this issue is Corky Sly Conner.
Can you find him? Look carefully at all the photographs and in the text of the stories. If you spot Corky, send us your name, address and phone number, along with a note telling us where he’s located. Your name will be entered in a draw and the winner will receive a coupon worth 25 Downhome Dollars redeemable at our store, or through our website.
Send your replies to: Corky Contest 43 James Lane St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3
mail@downhomelife.com www.downhomelife.com Deadline for replies is the end of each month.
Congratulations to Lena Sutton of Hamilton, ON, who found Corky on page 48 of the December issue!
*No Phone Calls Please. One entry per person
www.downhomelife.com
February 2022
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Memory Quilts
These eight quilts were made by me, in memory of my mother, Leah House. They’re made from pieces of her clothes and each has a family photo in the middle. I made these for her grandchildren, great-grandchild and myself. Cathy Penney Springdale, NL
Not only have you created beautiful tributes to your mother, Cathy, you’ve also created family heirlooms that will provide warmth and comfort for years to come. Quilting is a traditional craft of Newfoundland and Labrador, a necessary survival skill for many households, as Hilda Chaulk Murray explains in her essay, “The Nature of Quilts,” on page 88 of this issue. There are a number of traditional skills that are at risk of being lost forever, according to a new report by Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador. We profile five of these crafts beginning on page 48. 10
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Sponsored Editorial
Dreamin’ of Ponies There’s one very happy little girl
Sou’ Wes Nancy
in Bunyan’s Cove on the Bonavista Peninsula whose dream came true this Christmas. Ryia Hobbs’ family already had 2 Shetland ponies named Tiny and Sunny, plus a standardbred horse, Chance, but the 4-year-old had her heart set on a Newfoundland Pony. No parent wants to disappoint their child, especially at Christmas, but Ryia’s parents, Danielle and Chris, had no idea how they would find a Newfoundland Pony in less than a month! Enter Dr. Jessica Boyd, a veterinarian and breeder in western Newfoundland of Driftwood Acres Farm, who had a 22-year-old mare named “Sou’ Wes Nancy” (Registration #488) who was the perfect riding horse for a child. A few days later, Chris hit the road to pick her up. The weeks leading up to Christmas, Nancy’s hideaway was in Chris’ father’s shed. Ryia’s siblings, Jared, Taylen and Jenna are as excited as Ryia to have Nancy join their family. The Hobbses have a long ancestral link to Newfoundland Ponies. “Chris’ Proud Newfoundland grandparents and mine had ponies growing up. When we were Pony owner, Ryia Hobbs looking for a pony to add to our herd, we didn’t realize they were endangered,” said Danielle. “We knew immediately that we wanted to help save the Pony and started connecting with breeders, members of the Newfoundland Pony Society, horse lovers, and our MHA Craig Pardy, who was immediately on board to help,” she added. This summer, if you head to the coast of Bonavista, you might see Nancy and possibly other Newfoundland Ponies in a herd, running on pasture, like they did for hundreds of years when they had a habitat here. The Hobbses see tourism potential in showcasing the pony. “We have plans in the works to promote the Newfoundland pony. If everything goes as planned, it will become a terrific tourist attraction in the district of Bonavista,” said Danielle.
www.downhomelife.com
February 2022
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The Red Chairs Two red chairs were put on Hearts Ease Beach Trail in memory of my nephew and niece, Rodney and Kim Spurrell. It’s always a bit windy on the trail, so lots of times I would have to go down and put the chairs back in the woods, and sometimes someone would have noticed them in the wind and have done it for me. Karen Spurrell went down with her family one day last fall and Rodney’s chair was missing, so I put it on the hiking site [Hike NL Facebook group] to see if anyone knew how long it’s been missing. I knew no one would take it or destroy it. I figured it blew over a cliff. I went down and looked around for it, even looked down over the cliffs to see if there were any signs of red paint on the rocks. Nothing. A lady from New Harbour sent me a picture of her and her husband sitting in the chairs on October 3 [pictured above], so I knew it happened between then and the 10th because Brandon Seward wrote on the group page that he was there on the 10th and one chair was missing. I figured it was gone for sure with our high seas. 12
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On November 2, I got a call from Pamela Hefford of New Harbour (the same hiker who posed in the chair). She said the chair is on a little island just off New Harbour, close to where she lives. She said she saw something red there about two weeks ago and thought it might be a flag. Around the same time, Sharon Woodman kayaked out to the island, saw the chair and tipped it upright. She posted photos of it, which Pamela saw and asked Sharon if there was a name on it. She said, “Rodney Spurrell.” Well, weren’t we excited! On November 5, when the sea settled, Pamela and Gord and their two friends, Geneve and Ed Penney, brought the chair home. It’s on my lawn now, a little rough but in good condition. I’m going to paint it up this spring and reunite it with his sister’s chair. Donna Smith Via email
Wow, that chair had some trip across Trinity Bay! If that chair could talk, imagine the story it would tell.
www.downhomelife.com
February 2022
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Surprise Inside This potato was grown by Austin Hynes of Pollards Point, White Bay, NL. It grew in a bicycle inner tube that was in the ground where the potatoes were planted! Doreen Wells NL
What Is It? We had this item in our family for years, but have no clue what it is or what it was used for. I wonder if it can be posted in the magazine so that maybe one of your subscribers can help identify what this item is. Catrien Vis Eastern Passage, NS
We really had to look closely to see the tip of the potato inside the inner tube. It’s amazing where things will grow sometimes. Anyone else have photos of wild or surprising gardening results? We’d love to see them! Submit your photos to DownhomeLife.com, email them to editorial@downhomelife.com, or write to Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3.
Our readers love a good mystery. If anyone can identify this object, which is date stamped May 24, 1881, please help us out. Send us an email at editorial@downhomelife.com or write to Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3.
Dear readers, Would you like to comment on something you’ve read in Downhome? Do you have a question for the editors or for other readers? Submit your letter to the editor at DownhomeLife.com/letters or write to us at 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3.
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homefront 42_51_Homefront 2 11/29/21 1:52 PM Page 50
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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 2023 Downhome Calendar. These calendars are seen by tens of thousands of subscribers and displayed all year long.
What are you waiting for? Submit today, using one of these ways:
by mail: Downhome Calendar Contest 43 James Lane St. John’s, NL A1E 3H3 online: www.downhomelife.com/calendar Must be original photos or high quality copies. Digital photos must be at least 300 dpi, files sizes of about 1MB. We can’t accept photocopies or photos that are blurry, too dark or washed out. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want your photos returned.
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homefront Downhome tours...
Africa
Tanzania
Constance Moser of West Windsor, Vermont, USA, shares a snapshot from her visit to Tanzania.
Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is known for the massive annual migration of millions of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles seeking new pastures. The vast plains – over 25,000 square kilometres of grasslands peppered with rivers and woodlands – are also home to prides of lions, herds of elephants, crashes of rhinos, cackles of hyenas, leaps of leopards and more than 500 species of birds.
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Botswana
“My husband and I stayed at this lodge while travelling around Africa in September 2019,” writes Jocelyn Payment of Hinton, AB. “We met the San Bushmen tribe and were treated to their traditional singing and dancing.”
The harsh terrain of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve covers a large section of central Botswana and is home to animals such as giraffes, cheetahs and wild dogs. The reserve was originally established in 1961, with the intention of serving as a sanctuary for the San peoples – the Indigenous hunter-gatherer cultures of Southern Africa that are among the oldest on Earth.
Kenya Jennifer (Chambers) Banfield of Brighton, ON, visits with a nine-monthold elephant in Nairobi National Park.
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a pioneering conservation organization dedicated to the protection of wildlife and habitats in East Africa. It is well known for its Orphans’ Project, the first elephant orphan rescue and rehabilitation program in the world. To date, the Trust has successfully raised more than 160 baby elephants and reintroduced them to the wild. www.downhomelife.com
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Expert answers to common life questions. By Linda Browne
Why is a glass of warm milk before bed supposed to help you sleep, and does it really work? In a health report released by Statistics Canada in 2017 (looking at results from the 2007-2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey), 43 per cent of men and 55 per cent of women aged 18 to 64 reported trouble falling or staying asleep. Among seniors aged 65 to 79, 40 and 59 per cent of men and women, respectively, reported issues with sleep. Besides the possibility of waking up cranky, consistently not getting enough quality shut eye, the report adds, can have detrimental effects on your health, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and depression. You’ve likely tried a number of methods to entice Mr. Sandman to swing by and sprinkle some Zs your way. Perhaps you recall your parents giving you a glass of warm milk before bed to help ease you into slumber. Did it really work? Several studies have put it to the test. A clinical trial study, published in the journal Clinical Nutrition ESPEN in 2018, looked at how a milk-honey mixture affected the sleep of 68 patients in a coronary care unit located in Semnan, Iran. Those who received the milk-honey mixture twice a day, for three days, reported improved sleep quality. And a 2014 study published in the journal BMC Geriatrics, which 20
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looked at 421 people aged 65 and older living in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, found that those who consumed milk and dairy products, in addition to engaging in sufficient amounts of “leisure-time physical activity,” reported less difficulty falling asleep than those who did neither of those things. (However, as physical activity alone is enough to make most of us drowsy at the end of a long day, it seems likely that this, and not the milk, is responsible for the results.) So what is it about milk that supposedly helps us sleep? According to a review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2020, we can 1-888-588-6353
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thank tryptophan – the same amino acid found in turkey, which people tend to blame for their drowsiness after a big Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner (tryptophan is also found in tuna, oats, peanuts, bananas and chocolate). From tryptophan, other important hormones are made, including serotonin and melatonin, the latter of which your body produces as a response to darkness and helps regulate our circadian rhythms. The review looked at 14 studies published between 1972 and 2019, and concluded that “a wellbalanced diet that includes milk and dairy products is effective in improving sleep quality, despite mixed results across studies attributable to differences in study populations and methods.” (However, since the review was funded by the Japan Dairy Association, you might want to take that with a grain of salt.) So is tryptophan in milk enough to make you sleepy? We asked Dr. Sheila Garland, director of the Sleep, Health, & Wellness Lab at Memorial University in St. John’s, NL, to find out. “There is little good evidence that warm milk actually does very much itself to help you sleep. Some theories suggest that warm milk might impact your sleep because it has the amino acid tryptophan, which is used in the production of melatonin, but the
amount in milk is not likely sufficient enough to have that large of an effect,” she says. “The more probable explanation is that people might feel relaxed while drinking warm milk, which may facilitate sleep, but this is due to the relaxation and not the milk properties itself. As such, anything that helps you relax before bed, such as a cup of herbal tea, some deep breathing, a warm bath or a pleasant book would have the same result.” And if you’re one of those people who usually has a screen in front of your face, Dr. Diane Boivin has some additional advice for you. In her book, Sleep and You: Sleep Better, Live Better, she echoes the importance of giving yourself time to unwind at the end of the day. “During this period, you must stop working or playing on the internet right up to the last minute, avoid intense sports late in the evening, and not watch TV or answer emails in bed.” Advice we can all use in this digital age!
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
Tough Subject I was born in Petty Harbour, NL, and lived most of my life in Forest Pond, Goulds. School was challenging, especially the high school examinations administered by the Department of Education. The week of exams was an anxiety-driven process for me. I knew the work well enough – at least I thought so. After the exam for Art, we were required to do a number of exercises. One of the tasks was “draw a seaman’s chest.” I could handle that! I drew a man’s chest, modelled after my father and brothers, I suppose, and then I drew a nice large tattoo of two flags crisscrossed over a sailboat. I was pretty pleased with the final result. That is, until after class and my friends were asking, “What did you draw? Was it in perspective? Was it wooden or metal?” It was then I realized what I had drawn, when what they wanted was a box! Gwen Williams Campbellford, ON
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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“Lunch is on me.” – Glen Benson
Say WHAT? Downhome recently posted this photo (submitted by Jessica Gillingham) on our website and social media platforms and asked folks to imagine what this snowman might be saying. Glen Benson’s response made us chuckle the most, so we’re awarding him 20 Downhome Dollars!
Here are the runners-up: “You two settle down, I’m trying to chill here.” – Janet Locke “Look at me. I’m ‘Frosty the birdman’!” – Trina Fitzgerald-Maddox “Spring is coming and I must be going.” – Nora Elson
Play with us online! www.downhomelife.com/saywhat
www.downhomelife.com
February 2022
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homefront lil charmers
Into the Woods
Melody and Kiersten enjoy a day in the great outdoors. Roy Rogers Dover, NL
go with the snow What’s the Catch?
Two-year-old Skylar tries ice fishing in Howley. Barbara Lovell McIvers, NL
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Ramping up the Fun
One-year-old Kaleb does “tricks” on his winter ride. Kendra Yarn Churchill Falls, NL
Ice Time
Playing hockey on Martindale Pond in St. Catharines. Brian Baranoski St. Catharines, ON
www.downhomelife.com
February 2022
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homefront pets of the month
sweethearts My Funny Valentine Airedale Terrier Fisher is dressed to impress. Samantha Burke Clarenville, NL
Be Mine
One-year-old Marley Skipper will steal your heart. Maria Pynn St. Anthony, NL
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Cutie Pie
Sparkle knows the clothes make the cat. Chastity Butt Forteau, NL
Pucker Up
Cute Chloe is all ready for Valentine’s Day. Laurie Ann & Doug Penney St. John’s, NL
www.downhomelife.com
February 2022
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homefront
reviewed by Denise Flint
Talking to Canadians: A Memoir Rick Mercer Doubleday Canada $32.95 (hardcover)
Ever wonder how the original cast of “This Hour Has 22 Minutes”
really got along? Well, Rick Mercer’s new memoir, Talking to Canadians, won’t tell you. But it may drop plenty of hints. Mercer’s wit has always had a sting in its tail, and he has an oblique way of letting it loose. This book proves to be no exception. For example, it’s hard to imagine that over 30 years ago, a whip smart kid who also happens to be gay wouldn’t be bullied in school. Mercer never says he was, but he manages to ridicule those schoolmates who probably would have participated in such behaviour, leaving the readers to draw their own conclusions. Beyond that, the book is filled with behind-the-scenes stories that stretch from his formative days in a St. John’s high school drama group, to his string of successful comedy shows on CBC. He has no hesitation in heaping praise on the heads of those he worked with and giving credit where credit is due. If he didn’t always get along with someone, he never comes out and says so, even while admitting his own culpability. Rick Mercer is probably the most brilliant satirist in Canada today, and this book is a great look at how his childhood formed him and how he managed to achieve that status. It’s pretty darned funny, but it also has several tender moments, too – nobody can sound that cynical without being a bit of a softie underneath the skin. All in all, Talking to Canadians is a treat for Mercer fans and anyone who appreciates a good memoir well told.
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Q&A with the Author Denise Flint: You’re not at the end of your career by any means. What made you decide that now would be a good time to write a memoir? Rick Mercer: I think things decided it for me when the pandemic started. Everything stopped. I had transitioned into doing stand-up and every project went away, and I always need a project and my publishers said they wanted a memoir, and suddenly I had time. I always need a project.
DF: Was it difficult compared to what you usually write, or was it a walk in the park? RM: Well, it was very, very different. Almost everything I’ve written except the sitcom has been about “Keep it shorter! Keep it shorter!” and then to have the luxury to tell a story in long form was a very different experience. Parts of it were a slog, but parts of it came very easily. Parts of it were stories I’ve told for many years, and that’s easy to get down on the page.
DF: What do you think your greatest success has been? RM: I think personally it has been consistently employed and working. Anyone in show biz in this country who can pull that off is very lucky – to consistently spend my time, and making a living, in creative endeavours. The only thing I worked hard in, in school was creative. It’s a real privilege to be able to do that.
www.downhomelife.com
DF: What has been your biggest disappointment? RM: I’m not a reflective guy – I’ve always been working and had another show to move onto. But when you’re writing a memoir you have to be. There are some things that some people would consider a disappointment, things that went wrong, but that didn’t have a big impact on my life. I haven’t had such a disappointment I would consider memoir worthy.
DF: After immersing yourself in world events for so many years, do you find yourself getting more or less cynical? RM: I stopped being cynical a long time ago, and it came as a real surprise to me because I was such a cynical person as a young person. But I’m an optimist by nature. Being optimistic is my religion. The alternative is too awful to consider, and sometimes it’s hard in this day and age, and there’s so much unrest and unhappiness and everything looks like the beginning of a disaster movie. I have to be an optimist.
DF: One of the themes running through the book is how much of a part luck plays in success. If you hadn’t struck it lucky and weren’t in the entertainment business, what would you be doing now? RM: I honestly don’t know, but things didn’t bode well if you looked at me as a student. Hopefully, I would have
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Being optimistic is my religion. The alternative is too awful to consider…
gone back to school and I would have applied the lessons I learned in entertainment. With “The Mercer Report” I visited so many people and workplaces and thought maybe this is something I could do, but I never found it. I wasn’t on a great path until I discovered the theatre. I don’t mean to say I was on the road to delinquency; I was such a poor student, I had very few options.
I’ve led so far is that, and there’s a lot that people of my vintage will relate to: it’s not just about “22 Minutes,” but [also] Canada Fitness Tests in school.
DF: What do you want people to know about you after they’ve finished the book? RM: I’m filled with gratitude; I’m
that was such a large part of my career, and a big part of “The Mercer Report” was just that. It didn’t rely on politicians and rock stars; it relied on regular Canadians in regular communities. I don’t have a lot of skills, but I do like to talk with people, and that’s why I went with that title.
more grateful since I’ve written this book. I’m mostly proud of the memoir because I like memoirs that are funny and tell a story, and I think the life 30
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DF: Talking to Americans was all about how dumb Americans are. What are you saying about Canadians when you call your book Talking to Canadians? RM: Well, it’s just a play on the title
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homefront what odds
car shopping with dad By Paul Warford
I didn’t realize My wife and I went splits on a Mazda 2 50,000 kms, spirited green), and now that then what I (2011, we are sadly parting, we must divide the assets. know now: And so, she’s buying the vehicle from me so she can begin her driving journey; it’s never too late Dad is a car to start, as they say, and the car still has lots of salesman’s chutzpah, despite its spotty undercarriage and the fact that the damned exhaust blew just one worst month after sticking the bill of sale to our fridge a Yuk Yuk’s magnet. We replaced the nightmare. with exhaust and now the 2 rips through town with more gusto than ever. I’ll miss the wife; I’ll miss the dog; I’ll miss the car – but we all must move on, as they say, and no one wants to do so on the bus if they can avoid it. That’s where Dad comes in. Dad has always adamantly offered his services as a car browsing consultant. He’s a connoisseur, and to this I can attest. After all, I have early memories of riding in the family’s gunmetal grey K-car to browse the modest dealership lots dotting Bay Roberts in the infancy of the ’90s, and who can argue with that kind of evidence? I remember him putting the car in park, saying, “We’ll get out and have a little look around now.” As a kid, I didn’t understand. Were we buying a new vehicle right now? Did I get to pick the colour? I didn’t realize then what I know now: Dad is a car salesman’s worst nightmare. I sold cars for a while. Mazdas, sure enough. Did I ever mention that? I was slingin’ 2s and 3s and CX-5s for Steve Scarff and his family at City Mazda on Robie Street in Halifax. Coincidentally, I began that job right around the time I began this job, slinging stories for you folks. Anyway, after a few months of closing deals and “holding gross,” I began to understand Dad is the last person I’d want to see wandering 32
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across my lot. Why is that? Well, because in the world of car sales, when you’re keeping your eyes peeled for the next live one to hook, Dad is an old rubber boot in a sea of sparkly fish. And I love my Dad, but that’s a very accurate description. As I mentioned in my boyhood memory, Dad enjoyed visiting the lots to browse, not to buy. Car salesmen get up in the morning to sell cars, not to have casual discussions about them with outgoing retirees. My father represented the deceptive customer base that isn’t a customer base at all. However, he’s a great conversationalist, so his visits were never without merit – they were just without commission. The time has come to browse new vehicles (Mazdas) to find the next plucky sedan with my name on it, and you can bet Dad wants to help. And so he shall. Who else would I want in my corner, kicking tires and asking the salesperson what part of the island they’re from? Buying a car is a big step – a huge investment you have to place your trust in, hoping for the best possible relationship between car and beast. Like the 2’s crapped-out exhaust, cars can have skeletons in their closet. You want someone you trust at your side; a confidant to calm the turmoil of the decision. My dad is the best accomplice I can imagine. That said, I’ll be keeping him on a bit of a short leash. We’re not starting a
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conversation with any employee in a suit unless I’ve already seen a Mazda 3 with the right stance and kilometre count. No chatting, no “how are ya today” openers. We’re going to be all business. After all, we’re talking about a guy who can spend 45 minutes in Canadian Tire when all he went in for was duct tape. I remember this experience at the location in Carbonear. I was a child then, tugging at Dad’s sleeve, impatient to leave while he spoke at length with one strange grownup or another. “One second, we’re going now,” he’d say as placation, but we wouldn’t go; he’d just talk some more. However, it’s another matter when you’re on the lot in Carbonear, cycling through radio stations for something good, fishing through the glove compartment for something to read – one of Mom’s misplaced Danielle Steeles, or a pamphlet of some kind – all the while thinking to yourself, “I’m gonna have to go in and get him.” Anyone can understand a child interrupting their conversation, but it’s a bit more awkward when you’re in your mid-twenties. 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
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fresh tracks
new music talk with Wendy Rose
Winter Island Tour Sherman Downey & Matthew Byrne
RELEASED JUST IN TIME for Christmas 2021, the Winter Island Tour album brings major local musicians Sherman Downey and Matthew Byrne to a new small, intimate venue – your living room.
The album opens with a warm round of applause welcoming Sherman and Matthew to the stage during a live recording at the Citadel House in Lewisporte, NL, in 2018. Introducing each other to the crowd, they discuss their musical styles, coming from the east coast and the west coast, and meeting in the middle – both geographically and musically. Spinning tales about their time on the road, the pair has the audience immediately laughing at their on-stage antics. Sherman and Matthew riff off each other as they recount snippets of their hilarious adventures and offer history about their material. After the witty intro, Sherman and Matthew launch into “The Sun in Your Eyes,” off the 2013 album of the same name by Sherman Downey and his longtime 34
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band, the Ambiguous Case. This new rendition of an older tune feels like you’re hearing a secret outtake or a long-lost acoustic B-side, so we’re off to a great start. Those familiar with these musicians’ respective solo careers will recognize many of the featured songs on Winter Island Tour. The double-disc album features 28 tracks – 14 songs, with a little banter and background in between. We hear selections from Matthew’s 2017 Horizon Lines and 2015’s Sing Through the Earth & Skies albums, and choice cuts from Sherman’s 2020 album, New Beautiful, and 2009’s Honey for Bees, as well as the previously mentioned The Sun in Your Eyes album. While quantity or quality wasn’t an issue for either artist, building a set list for their Winter Island Tour was no small task – with so much musical material to choose 1-888-588-6353
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from, deciding which songs would make the cut must have been quite an undertaking. In addition to material from their own lengthy discographies, the pair cover a number of songs on this album by other artists, including The Irish
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Descendants’ “Go to Sea No More,” and the “Dalai Lama Candle” written by Scottish folk singer-songwriter Eric Bogle (they have a funny anecdote about that one in the following Q&A). One particularly interesting cover is the duet of “I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon” – made famous by Ernie of “Sesame Street.” This version, with guitar, harmonicas and gorgeous harmonies, improves on a classic while delivering poetic justice to the www.downhomelife.com
original Jeff Moss song. “Come Fare Away” is another intriguing selection. It was written by late Appalachian singer, songwriter and folklorist Jean Ritchie, who had never been to Newfoundland but name-drops the island in the lyrics. While the beautiful performances of Matthew and Sherman make this album an appealing choice for fans of local music, it’s truly the back-and-forth stage banter that makes it a must-have, especially for those who love the intimacy of small venue shows. “There’s a reciprocal relationship between the artist and the audience that’s very give and take,” Sherman noted in our interview. “Having a little laugh together in a smaller venue where everyone enjoys hearing a song’s history or what inspired it creates a pretty special atmosphere,” as confirmed on this album. The pair chat candidly about everything – musical influences, childhood memories and hometown pride, with Newfoundland history and folklore peppered throughout. They bemoan the trials and tribulations of life on the road (like breaking a teapot), applaud each other’s recent accolades, and poke fun at each other over absolutely everything – snoring, organizing receipts, old jobs, cat ownership, social media presence, lyrical fumbles, boil-up blunders… the list goes on and on. To those snagging a copy of this December 2021 release, be forewarned: Your cheeks may hurt from laughter after making your stop on Sherman Downey and Matthew Byrne’s Winter Island Tour. February 2022
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Q&A with the Artists Wendy Rose: Can you recall the first time you two ever played together? Sherman Downey: I’d shared stages
with Matthew and seen him play at a few different industry functions around Newfoundland and Labrador, and we would cross paths at conferences and festivals outside the province on occasion as well, but I remember the very first Winter Island Tour show vividly… Our first show was coming up on the calendar, and I was anxious about it because up to that point I’d had the comfort of a full band around me; and here I was now, about to be exposed and alone on stage with one of the province’s best solo performers. Before we hit the road, however, we got a call from Raymond’s Restaurant… it was a good opportunity to try the show out in front of a small crowd before heading out on the official tour – and we knew there’d be a good meal 36
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in it, so naturally, we were tickled to play. Matthew played guitar and bouzouki, and I played guitar and piano, and the show went beautifully despite my worry. It’s a thrilling thing to push yourself in directions that are new, and I fully encourage anyone to make the effort.
WR: Knowing both your solo projects, my brain catalogues Sherman as rock & roll-tinged folk-pop, with Matthew in traditional Irish/NL folk. What should a first-time listener expect from these duets? Matthew Byrne: It’s definitely a blend-
ing of our genres and musical styles. Very folky, of course... guitar, bouzouki, harmonica, piano, organ, harmonies and a tiny child-size keyboard. Right from the first tour, we wanted to reimagine songs from our respective repertoires. I’d play bouzouki on some of Sherman’s tunes; 1-888-588-6353
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he’d play piano on some of mine etc… But one of my favourite parts of the duo is dipping into our record collections and doing some covers that we probably wouldn’t do in our solo shows. That became an important part of the setlist – talking about our influences and giving a nod to a couple of musical heroes.
WR: Many folks have seen you as part of something not often attempted in Newfoundland: a Winter Island Tour. How was this zany idea born in 2015? SD: One of the things that Matthew
and I have in common is our sense of humour, and I can assure you the idea sprung from a laugh… He stopped into the house for a night on the way home from the Port aux Basques ferry and we got to catching up over a cup of tea. The conversation rolled around to how our recent tours were going and how much we really loved playing rooms that allow for more storytelling and interacting with the audience… We also talked about how important a building’s history is and how the look of a room can set the tone for a show before a note is struck. It wasn’t long after that, we were looking at all of the nooks and crannies in the province for potential rooms to play, half-serious. We both happened to have late February and March free, and all of a sudden it felt like it could be something special; like the zaniness you mention was an endearing thing. So, now we’re imagining local people coming together in their community hall, kicking the snow off their boots and sitting around with friends to watch a show – and from there the planning began… and by that, I mean Matthew began planning and I said yes to everything in blind trust. www.downhomelife.com
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WR: As your fans enjoy their 2021 Winter Island Tour date with this double CD, can you share a favourite moment from a previous winter show... maybe one that warmed your heart in the cold of winter? SD: The shows we’re most unsure
about always seem to be the best, strangely. I remember driving into Isle aux Morts wondering how many people we were going to have and how they’d receive the show. I was trying out a song I’d heard Matthew’s mom, Linda, sing at the March Hare one year – Eric Bogle’s “Dalai Lama’s Candle.” I just mangled the words as people wondered whether or not I was having some sort of medical emergency at the microphone. Afterwards, Matthew joked around about how I thought the song was actually about a Dollarama candle, and by the end of the night, we’d had a great show and an open invite to play a hockey game at the Winter Carnival the following day. Ed. Note: This interview has been edited for length. February 2022
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homefront what’s the score
active living for everyone By Kevin Lane
As a senior who’s lived my life in Newfoundland and Labrador, I have seen changes throughout the decades in how we participate in sport and leisure activities.
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As a new contributor to Downhome specifically focusing on sport, I thought I would start my first article on active living for all of us. As a senior who’s lived my life in Newfoundland and Labrador, I have seen changes throughout the decades in how we participate in sport and leisure activities. Growing up in Central Newfoundland during the late 1950s and ’60s, life was pretty simple – you went to school, you did your chores and you played games, mostly outdoors. There were some organised sports like hockey and baseball, but most of our games were made up with our friends. I can remember playing hockey for hours on the closest pond during the winter, or on the street under a lamp post in summer. These games and doing our chores – woodcutting, snow shovelling etc. – kept us naturally physically fit. However, buck saws have since been replaced by chainsaws, splitters have replaced axes and ATVs bring the wood right to your door. Nowadays, games are usually of a more organised nature, but that is not really a bad thing. There are more recreational opportunities now than there were then; indoor and outdoor leisure and sport facilities have been developed all over the province. From Nain to Port aux Basques and all points in between, community facilities have been increased significantly. For example, there are presently 48 arenas in Newfoundland and Labrador, used not only for hockey, figure skating, broomball and curling, but also for non-ice sports such as soccer, floor hockey and summer recreation programs. In most communities, schools have gyms that are probably underutilized; these facilities could be used for evening and weekend recreation, 1-888-588-6353
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especially in smaller communities with less sporting infrastructure. Structures aside, for recreational pursuits we are graced with the great outdoors. For example, walking is very popular and one of the most inexpensive sports you could pursue – and we are blessed with some of the best walking trails in the country and beyond. Where else would you find a trail to compare in beauty with the walking trails in Twillingate that skirt the Atlantic Ocean? Have you experienced Gros Morne National Park’s 19 trails that increase in difficulty and are accessible to people of varying abilities? And there’s the boardwalk trail in Port Rexton with a view; the longest boardwalk in North America in Rigolet; the East Coast Trail system on the Avalon Peninsula; the enjoyable walk around Quidi Vidi and very challenging trek around Signal Hill. In addition to walking and hiking, there are other outdoor pursuits: biking, sports fishing, canoeing and camping. All of these recreational and sporting activities are on our doorstep. My point is that everybody should be able to enjoy and partake in exercise and leisure activities. Unfortunately, there remain challenges for people and communities, and not all opportunities are equal. But with creativity, that could be overcome. A great example of community action at work is in the Clarenville-Random Island area. They have created a fantastic model of engagement. The Clarenville Region Extended Seniors’ Transportation (CREST) is a community-run organi-
zation that provides for seniors who want to exercise and need transportation to attend community organized activities, of which there are many. Such innovation is needed in order to improve access to leisure and sport opportunities within the province. Below are a few ideas that we may want to consider: • We need to think outside the box on how we support activities for all those who want to access them. To combat a declining interest for traditional sports amongst the younger generation, skilled adults with experience in sports like rugby, lacrosse, and track and field could step forward. • School gyms should be used by outside sporting groups, free of charge. • Some level of government should take responsibility to provide a reasonable tax rebate to families for sports equipment and registrations. • It’s been reinforced, especially during the pandemic, that seniors are a very vulnerable group in our society. Provision at some level should be made to provide exercise and leisure activities to help their physical and mental health. Please remember, active living and engaging in sports and leisure activities are for everyone. Regular exercise and social connections are vital at all ages. We need to continue to review and offer services to ensure no group within the community is disadvantaged, and that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy what this beautiful province has to offer.
Kevin Lane is from Buchans, and has lived and worked in several NL communities. A lifelong participant in local sports as a player and coach, with a passion for hockey, he represented his province in fastpitch softball at the 1969 Canada Games. www.downhomelife.com
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homefront guest column
Long before “pandemic PJs”
became a thing, I embraced the wearing of this historically comfortable clothing item. Since 2007, after my husband passed away, Mr. Jake the Cairn terrier and I were home alone. Since I don’t drive, I didn’t have the ability nor the desire to go out and about on a regular basis. Aging in place with cerebral palsy and living with the implications of fibromyalgia and a cardiac defect, I had little energy to “dress to impress.” The daily going out to work grind had long passed and my labour was done from home, so why not be comfortable doing it, and fashionable, too? I have an assortment of what I call stylin’ jammies – in plaids, in prints, with bears, with rabbits, with teddy bears, oh my! The PJ pants lack one thing - pockets! The English word pyjama comes from the Hindi pae jama or pai jama, meaning leg clothing, and its usage dates back to the Ottoman Empire. Middle Ages PJs were shapeless with simple trimmings. Only royalty and those of noble birth wore pyjamas that were more than a simple long dress. Fabrics chosen were in keeping with the climate: so, often silk. Being a frugal Scot and all about comfort, I prefer flannel PJ pants with a loose cotton top. Velcro is a popular closing instead of buttons, if custom designing clothing items for the elderly or bedridden. 40
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In the 1800s, many people started wearing pyjamas as a matter of practicality; the poor couldn’t afford to heat their homes, so layering with long tops and close fitting bottoms allowed them some measure of warmth, which contributed to health and wellness. The rich, on the other hand, were more inclined to wear pyjamas fashioned from exotic material. Historically, pyjamas were tight the full length of the leg, or wide at the waist and tight at the ankles. People with orthopaedic challenges that involved limited movement of the legs, such as I experience, benefit from drawstring PJs with a bit of elastic waist, as we’re often quite thin. I came across a clothing line for those living with dementia; they were designed in such a way that the wearer couldn’t disrobe. Escape-proof PJs would be ideally suited in care homes where some patients are able to move about freely but may have mental lapses and disrobe inappropriately. In the early 1900s, PJs were becoming more decorative, with the introduction of bows and lace moving pyjamas into the realm of style, going beyond function. Glamour was taking centre stage with the Roaring Twenties; were I living in those times, I would have preferred the manly smoking jacket with coordinating pyjama pants. Instead of an ascot, perhaps pearls, for that touch of class. Pandemic PJs are here to stay for some time to come, I think, so it’s important that folks be comfortable as they make their way through these challenging days ahead. Working from home, though isolating from the routine of the day-to-day we previously enjoyed, can be made more palatable when we embrace our inner child and wear those bright green PJs with ducks. Fuzzy socks are a must. Make sure to get a few pairs to mix-n-match to really make a statement, even if only the cat or dog sees it. It’s surprising how liberating it is to bring out your inner child to dress you. Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB, with Miss Lexie, a rambunctious Maltese, and Mr. Malcolm, the boisterous Havanese. She can be reached via email at carmacrockwell@xplornet.ca www.downhomelife.com
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homefront
outdoor adventures
Rabbit hunting with Tony Vinnicombe’s grandson, Carter. Tony Vinnicombe photo
the love of rabbit hunting By Gord Follett
So what is it about rabbit hunting that makes it different than most other hunts? Action. Lots of action.
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Before salmon fishing took a firm
grip on my heart and soul some six or seven years back, rabbit hunting with beagles was my favourite outdoor activity for more than two decades. I simply couldn’t get enough of it. Mind you, partridge hunting with setters was my first hunting love back in the ’80s, but that gradually wore off when the bird population on the Avalon Peninsula dropped (at least where I used to hunt) and I grew tired, more mentally than physically, of walking over marsh and barrens 10 hours a day with maybe a couple birds in the bag to show for my efforts. 1-888-588-6353
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This snowshoe hare let me get quite close for a photo. Gord Follett photo Rabbit hunting – now that’s a different story! Granted, there have been scattered years when numbers were down as part of their natural cycle in our preferred hunting areas and we’d harvest only three or four rabbits for the day. But those instances were far outnumbered by the times we had to call the dogs off after bagging 10-12, with plenty of hunting light still remaining. Tony Vinnicombe and I, and usually one other buddy, were satisfied with a few apiece, plus there was never a shortage of friends and family members wanting a brace to make a delicious rabbit stew. So what is it about rabbit hunting that makes it different than most other hunts? Action. Lots of action. There were numerous eight-hour days when we never went more than five consecutive minutes without hearing the hounds howl on a hare. Back then I had my two male beagles and Tony had a pair of females, all in their prime. I can almost hear them now as www.downhomelife.com
I write; a few squeaks from one of them to let us know there’s a rabbit close by, followed 10-20 seconds later by an all-out “Aurrough! Aurrough!” to inform us it was time to load the shotguns and get into position. Once one of the beagles jumped a rabbit, the other three would join in and together they created the most beautiful song a beagler would want to hear. Once they temporarily lost scent of the hare and went quiet – which wasn’t very long with these fine hounds – one of them would pick it up again in short order and the chorus would resume until they drove the hare to the gun. I vividly recall one mid-November hunt in particular, near Blaketown, when Tony’s dogs, Pepper and Jenny, along with my hounds, Cassius and Clay, were firing on all cylinders in perfect scenting conditions. Thirty seconds out of their kennels off the Old Track, Jenny started to squeal. “Rabbit out already!” Tony exclaimed. That one and three others were bagged before we got to our intended destination above the pole line, where the Blaketown area was alive with the howls of our beagles for another three solid hours. “Atta boy! Atta girl!” I said as they jumped to chomp on a harvested hare I was holding up. “Aurrough, aurrough!” “That Cassius?” Tony asked. “Yup,” was my reply. “Sure, he was just sniffing your rabbit a few seconds ago. I’ve never known him to bark on old scent.” “He doesn’t. That’s another rab…” “Look, look, there he goes!” Tony shouted, pointing to the still-brown hare flying through a small cutover February 2022
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Tony Vinnicombe with his beagles and a morning’s harvest of hares from Northwest Gander Gord Follett photo nearby before we had a chance to reload. (Even when not within sight of each other, one of us usually shouts “shells out” once a rabbit has been shot, to ensure there isn’t a live round in the chamber as we move on and wait for another bark.) I stayed at the edge of the cutover while Tony pushed inside the trees. Two or three minutes later, with the four beagles in hot pursuit and howling like crazy, I saw a brown blur at the far end of the cutover, 90-100 metres away. “Coming your way, Tony!” I shouted. I heard the shot 15-20 seconds later. “Got ’im!” my buddy yelled. “Shells out!”
We managed to leash the dogs around 3:00 that afternoon and walked back to the truck with a total of 13 rabbits in our backpacks. We were tempted to let them loose for one more chase, rather than finish with a baker’s dozen, but experience had taught us that “one more rabbit” towards the end of the day could take another three hours. I’ve lost count of the number of inquiries I’ve received over the years about this sport, the majority of them pertaining to training a beagle. I’m no expert and the professionals may have a more technical approach, but from my experience – much of which I’ve learned through Tony – training a rabbit dog is not rocket science. Hunting is what they’ve been bred to do for hundreds of years. It’s already “in” them. Basically, ensure you bring them where you know there are rabbits. Maybe take them with an experienced hound on occasion, though not always once they start to catch on, or else they may only follow the older dog(s). When you see a rabbit cross a trail or take off through the woods, call your pup and act excited as you touch the ground where it just came through: “There he goes, there he goes! Go get ’im, go get ’im!” You’d be surprised how quickly these incredible hounds catch on. Best of luck with your hare hunting. And if you’re new at it, I’m willing to bet you’re gonna love it. Gord Follett was editor of the Newfoundland Sportsman magazine for more than 30 years and co-hosted the Newfoundland Sportsman TV show for 15 years. Email gordfollett@gordfollettoutdoors.com.
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life is better Wintery morning in Burgeo Julie Baggs, Burgeo, NL
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features
A set of skills once essential to our survival are now at risk of being lost forever.
By Nicola Ryan
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If you woke up
tomorrow, and found yourself in 18th-century Newfoundland and Labrador, do you think you’d have what it takes to survive? Would you know how to keep warm or build a lasting shelter? Could you find ways to feed your family and take care of your animals? If you had the bare necessities, could you craft something beautiful to mark special days?
We’ve been making do and making a living in this marvelous, terrible place for many years. It took a lot of hard work, knowledge and cooperation to carve out a home and create a flourishing culture here, and those skills were practised, perfected and passed down over the years, from generation to generation. Recently, the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, along with the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, created a list of traditional skills and crafts that were once essential know-how and are now at risk of being lost to time. The Craft at Risk List 2021 features 55 crafts, 10 of which are considered to be critically endangered – at risk of no longer being practised in Newfoundland and Labrador. Heritage NL and the Craft Council are working to document these crafts to safeguard what’s known about them, and are actively supporting the teaching and sharing of endangered crafts and skills. We were curious at some of the items on the list and decided to take a closer look. Here are five traditional crafts that are now in danger of fading away.
Bark Tanning
Barking or bark tanning is the process of preserving and waterproofing leather, fishing nets, cod traps and sails. To prevent rot, they are soaked in a mixture of tree bark and saltwater. Indigenous peoples used the process to treat and colour sealskin, and when large groups of migrant fishermen arrived in Newfoundland and Labrador in the later 18th century, they brought their own traditions. Communal barking pots would have been found in every fishing community, and the contents could include seawater, cold oil, tar, red ochre and bark from the surrounding trees to make a sappy solution. “Barking days” were in late April and early May, before the fishing season began. This tradition lasted until sturdier, pre-treated gear became available in the 1940s. www.downhomelife.com
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Dickie Making Dickies, also known as cossacks or amutiks, are the traditional pullover parkas of Labrador. Usually they were made from caribou or sealskin, or a type of versatile woven cotton canvas fabric called “cotton duck.” Amutiks are warm and wind-tight, and the fur-trimmed hoods provide cosy protection from cold, snowy weather. Many feature decorative beaded designs stitched with thread. The white colour of the cotton duck was good camouflage in winter; and traditionally, bark dying was used to colour dickies in other seasons. Both men and women of Labrador would have been handy at sewing – men to keep warm on the trapline, and women to clothe their children and households.
Norma Mesher Knight photo
Drystone Walling Drystone walling is a stone building method that doesn’t use any mortar to bind the stones. The skill was brought to Newfoundland in the 18th and 19th centuries from England and the British Isles, following the enclosure acts that transformed the landscape there. Stones are typically collected from the surrounding fields and wedged together. Knowledgeable builders know the secrets to drystone construction: create a wall that’s wider at the bottom than it is at the top to stabilize it, join the stones by getting them to support each other, and place large stones so that they span the width of the wall. Structures built this way are remarkably resistant, flexible and durable.
Vicky Martin photo
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Shuttle Tatting
Robert Carter photo
Shuttle tatting is an early technique for crafting a particularly durable lace from a series of knots and loops. The shuttle makes the delicate work easier by holding and guiding a length of wound thread. The right hand is used to maneuver the shuttle around the thread on the left hand, and the left hand is used to maneuver the thread that forms the stitches into decorative rings and chains. The trick to tatting is to perform the movements made by the right and left hands in a continuous motion as you form the loops and tie the knots. Lace made in this way was used ornamentally to trim note cards, hankies, christening dresses and collars, or to make doilies and tablecloths.
Wriggle Fence Making The wriggle fence goes by many names, including riggle or riddle, but basically it’s a sturdy type of woven, wooden fencing. According to Heritage NL, there are five main traditional fence types in Newfoundland and Labrador: paling, longer, picket, wattle and wriggle. The knowledge of how to construct them was brought over as fishers and farmers arrived from Ireland, England and Scotland. Wriggle fences feature long, slender branches woven between horizontal longers to create an over-and-under effect. The branches were pushed close together and usually left untrimmed at the top, and when they dried they formed a very strong barrier around pastures or gardens. Wriggle fences were also very practical and economical because they were built without the need for nails. For more of the 55 traditional skills at risk, and efforts to preserve them, visit HeritageNL.ca/programs/craft-at-risk. www.downhomelife.com
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Woodworker Edwin Bishop on the craft and art of making snowshoes BY NICOLA RYAN
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WHETHER IT WAS TRAMPING
in and out to cut firewood, or hiking through serene trails on Sunday afternoons, Edwin Bishop has always loved stopping by a snowy woods.
Background photo Connie Boland
“I’ve been active in the woods all my life, ever since I was a kid,” he says. Originally from Heart’s Delight, NL, on the south side of Trinity Bay, Edwin later relocated to Whitbourne to pursue a teaching career. An avid woodworker, he set up a small sawmill on his property in Whitbourne, fashioning lumber from the trees he’d cut in the woods for his projects. His frequent trips into the woods got him thinking about the snowshoes he used to get there. “I never had a whole lot of experience with snowshoes up to that time,” he explains. “I collected some ol’ pair somewhere, and it seemed like every time I put them on my feet they were breaking, or the hide was busting out of them. So I started to think, ‘I’m either going to have to go get a good pair of snowshoes, or I’m going to have to start learning how to fix mine.’” Luckily, Edwin had a nephew nearby who was already crafting and selling snowshoes. With his help and plenty of practice, Edwin became a skilled snowshoe craftsman himself. Creating a pair of snowshoes is a long process and usually takes several days from start to finish – over 20 hours in total, by Edwin’s estimate. Every snowshoe frame comes from a single strip of hard wood, with juniper usually being Edwin’s first choice. “Snowshoes, to me, they got to be made of wood,” he says emphatically.
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All photos courtesy Edwin Bishop
Edwin in his workshop with some of his snowshoe creations Those strips of wood – the bows – are steamed to soften them so they can bend without breaking. The bows are then wrapped around a steel form to shape them. There are different snowshoe shapes, including Bearpaw, Beavertail and Ojibwe. Bearpaw snowshoes are lightweight and ideal in densely wooded areas. Beavertail are good in woodlands, as they’re wide around the foot with an upturned toe and narrow tail. Ojibwe style snowshoes, one of the oldest type of traditional snowshoes, have a unique narrow shape and are great for gliding downhill or on hard snow. After a first coat of varnish, the shoes are laced with traditional rawhide or hardy polytwine in a careful, durable series of knots inside the toe piece and middle. “In my experience, if the North 54
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American Indians had twine when they were making snowshoes, there wouldn’t have been any made out of rawhide,” Edwin laughs, pointing out that the twine is durable and less vulnerable to rot. The next step is adding a leather harness to attach the shoe to your boot, and the result is a custom pair of beautiful, reliable snowshoes ready to make tracks. “Years ago, people were going in the woods setting traps and catching rabbits and hunting; they were sometimes 20 and 30 miles away from home. If they had a pair of snowshoes on their feet that was no good, I mean, jeez they might never get home! They had to be reliable,” Edwin says. “And they had to be in a 1-888-588-6353
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A Bearpaw snowshoe
The snowshoe is shaped in a frame after the wood is steamed. shape and design that they were going to keep you on top of the snow. See, there’s the difference in the functions of the snowshoes. “Bearpaws are more or less a working snowshoe,” he summarizes. “You might take them just into your local wood droke when you’re cutting your firewood, or they’re great for emergencies on the back of the Ski-doo or www.downhomelife.com
something like that. But if you’re going to be hiking or travelling, you really want on your feet a snowshoe that was turned up a little bit on the toe and had a nice narrow body with a long tail on it, like a beavertail or an Ojibwe. “My most favourite ones are the Ojibwe. Some of mine, the real good ones, are just a few inches short of five feet long and they’re only 11 inches wide,” he says, beaming with pride. “They’ll keep you afloat on the snow almost like walking over the top of a cloud.” With the proper care, wooden snowshoes can last a very long time. “You got to keep lots of varnish on the wood and rawhide,” Edwin advises. “With polytwine, it’s not so much odds, but wood needs to be varnished every spring and every fall.” Rawhide would need to be cleaned and varnished as well, and snowshoes should be hung to dry after every use. And Edwin’s snowshoes got plenty of use, though he’s mostly retired from woodworking now. He explains that as he learned more about snowshoes and crafting them, he grew to really savour the hours he spent on them, exploring and appreciating the beauty and freedom of the woods in winter. “If it was fit anytime Sunday afternoon, I was usually gone off with my wife, or by myself, off in the country on my snowshoes. We kind of made it a habit that Sunday afternoon we’d go off in the woods, take the kids with their skates or their skis. So I got to use them a lot,” he says, adding, “and every time I made a new set, of course, I’d have to go try them out, right?” February 2022
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On the 40th anniversary of its sinking on a stormy February night, Lloyd Major thinks about his days aboard the Ocean Ranger and the co-workers who were lost.
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IT WAS THE PIONEER DAYS
of oil exploration in Newfoundland and offshore drilling that created a new employment opportunity for me. The Ocean Ranger came to our waters to join the rigs Zapata Ugland and Sedco 706 that were also hired by Mobil Oil to drill oil exploration wells on the Grand Banks. To my knowledge, a certain quota of Newfoundlanders had to be hired by the half-dozen companies whose employees worked in rotation. The Ocean Ranger was the first rig in the area to have a woman as staff onboard. She was a geologist from Mobil Oil in Calgary. I was hired as a medic and radio operator/timekeeper in November 1980. In a few days, I was off to the Ocean Ranger with no helicopter safety training, nor any other rig training. Most of the new hires had no experience working on an offshore oil rig, so training was essential and was completed on the rig. We usually had 80-90 workers on board and we tried to maintain a comfortable work environment. We worked 21 twelve-hour days on the rig and 21 days off, so our co-workers were like a second family in our lives. Left and above: Lloyd Major onboard the Ocean Ranger www.downhomelife.com
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Scenes of everyday life on the Ocean Ranger
The first few trips resulted in many Newfoundlanders – first-time rig workers – finding themselves unwilling to take on the mental stress of the isolation in this new environment, particularly the married men. Stress contributed to more than one accident. However, most people became comfortable with their new jobs after a few rotations. The living quarters were excellent, as was the food. Everything on the rig was kept scrupulously clean. Our 21-day hitch started in St. John’s, staying the night before at the Fort Motel. I picked up the men who were flying in – mostly from the US – in time to helicopter out with us to the rig the following day. That night most of us would go out on the town for a few refreshments. The rig itself was a dry rig – no alcohol or 58
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drugs permitted. If an employee was found to be in possession of either, he was immediately dismissed. We wore orange suits in the helicopter, but I would not call them survival suits. The two-hour flight was the most dangerous part of the shift – or so I thought. Once we landed on the rig, most of us went to work at 6 p.m. that very day. I worked 42 days straight on my first trip until my relief medic, Ken Blackmore, was hired and sent to the rig. This allowed enough time for me to set up the hospital and order the proper supplies. My hours of work were from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the radio room as radio operator. I also recorded all work times for employees of ODECO, the subcontractor overseeing operations. I was the liaison between the 1-888-588-6353
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Newfoundland employees and the company. As a medic, I was on call 24 hours a day and had telephone access to a doctor in St. John’s. In case of emergency, a stand-by supply boat was available to assist with transport. The six-bed hospital on the Ocean Ranger had an ample supply of medications, mainly to treat the common cold and flu, and there was lots of room to treat accident victims. We had a few cases that remained in the rig hospital. One man had galvanize poisoning while welding; another had a very bad arm infection. We had an eye injury that had to be medevaced to St John’s; I escorted that case on the helicopter. One of the
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worst was an accident where a man lost three fingers off one hand – only his forefinger and thumb remained. The helicopter could not get through for a couple of days due to the frequent fog, so I escorted him to St John’s on the standby supply boat for the more than 12-hour trip. It was a rough trip for him. There was also the case of an employee who jumped off the rig. My friend from Florida, Warren Abadie, was the safety officer involved in the search along with the RCMP, but the man’s body was never found. On the lighter side, one morning at about 2 a.m., crane operator Martin Blackmore brought a seagull with a broken leg to the hospital. The bird
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had hit the tag line of his crane. I fixed the leg and released the bird at daybreak. Next day I was awakened and summoned to the radio room for a call from head office in New Orleans. They wanted to know if I was running an animal hospital on the rig. They got an earful from me; I got an apology and went back to bed. What a joke. We had safety meetings every Sunday, and I attended to help the safety officer. Mike Watkins was the last safety officer on board and would be among those who went down with the rig on that fateful night in February 1982. I remember one safety meeting where an employee was causing a disturbance in the back of the room. Randall Ferguson stood up and pointed the only finger he had on his right hand and said, “If it floats, it can sink, so don’t be an idiot!” The ballast control room was in 60
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column three. This is where the porthole was located that was smashed that awful night. Sea water got on the controls and was a major cause of the sinking of the rig, in my opinion. On the Christmas before the tragedy, the control room operator and I wrote a poem to Kent Thompson, the tool pusher. Verse 11, I’ll never forget: “And don’t forget those lonely souls in starboard column three. They keep y’all from waking up in the cold Atlantic sea.” On February 15, 1982, I woke early at home in Dunville and heard on the radio that the Ocean Ranger was in trouble. At that moment, I had a bad feeling that the rig was not only in trouble, but was going down. I was summoned by the company to St. John’s immediately. Upon arrival I found panic in the office. The phones were ringing non-stop with calls from families scared for their loved 1-888-588-6353
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ones. As the news spread that the rig had sunk, people rushed to the office desperate for news. The horrific and gruesome ordeal began. I spent the next few days on the waterfront with other company representatives doing the preliminary identification of the bodies that were brought ashore by the supply boats. That night, another ship sank in the 100-foot waves. Their bodies were brought to the wharf as well, so we had to separate those bodies from ours. There were 84 persons on the Ocean Ranger that night; all were drowned, but only 23 victims were ever found. Of those, 18 were Newfoundlanders, three were American citizens and two were from Alberta. My relief, Ken Blackmore, was one of the first victims found, and I did the positive identification of him. Jim Coutts and I went to Norris Arm for the funeral. This was the first www.downhomelife.com
time I met his wife and introduced myself. Not a good feeling. After the funeral, Jim and I returned to the office and continued the muchneeded communications with other families. In October of that year, I was summoned to the inquiry by the provincial government commission under chairman Alex Hickman. I was questioned by a huge panel of lawyers representing many companies and by the commissioners. Being questioned at any inquiry can be stressful and, believe me, it was. After 40 years, I still remember the good days working on the Ocean Ranger. But I will never forget the faces of the men who lost their lives in that cold Atlantic sea. February 2022
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had been good for Kay and Gordon Little. They had spent most of their years working in Wabush, Labrador, raising their two children there. Later, retirement on the island seemed wonderful, too, until a horrific motorcycle accident in Edmonton, AB, nearly took the life of their son, Chad, in 1999. His initial prognosis was very bleak and he was a while fully recovering from his injuries. As if one setback was not enough, their daughter Donna fought a lifethreatening illness for eight years. Her liver became infected and started to shut down, and she was put on a wait list for a new liver. Many times, her parents thought she’d never survive long enough to get the surgery; at one point, Donna was a mere skeleton of herself, weighing just 57 pounds. Everyone was there to offer prayers with the family that her wait would not be in vain. Finally, her day arrived. On October 12, 2009, a liver match was found and the transplant operation was a success. While prayers for Donna were answered, Gordon didn’t live to see it. He passed away from cancer almost a year before, on November 30, 2008. Kay remained in Glovertown, in a home that felt so empty and lonely without her husband. Her son and his family were in Alberta, and Donna lived in Ontario. Time, though, seems to have a way of healing most sorrows and she was managing as best she could on her own. There was a lady in town, Ada, who was well known for her homemade bread and operated a small enterprise. Kay was one of her regular customers, and Ada would call Kay whenever she had fresh bread ready. And so it was on this day in late July 2010 that Kay was informed of the loaf awaiting her at Ada’s. It just so happened that a young lad on his bicycle came upon Ada’s roadside sign that day and went up to her house looking for a loaf to buy. Adam Harte was cycling across Canada trying to raise money for The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto and had dropped down to Glovertown looking for a restaurant for an evening meal. At the time, unfortunately for him, there was no restaurant in town. When Ada heard of his plight, she invited him in to have supper with her family.
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While Adam was at Ada’s, Kay arrived to buy her loaf of bread. She was introduced to Adam, and she learned he was looking for a suitable place to set up his tent for the night. It was pouring down rain outside, so Kay offered him the spare room at her house. Adam gladly accepted. Some people have asked her why she never feared having a stranger spend the night in her house. She explained she had no fear of him, but felt a certain premonition – as if he were meant to spend the night with her at her home. After his bike was stowed in the shed for the night, Kay offered Adam a beer, as she still had some of Gordon’s left in the fridge. She then poured herself a rum and Coke and they started off an innocent conversation. He strolled around the living room looking at all her family pictures and commented on how nice they were. Then she casually mentioned that her daughter, Donna, had received a liver transplant in Toronto some time ago. He asked if her name was Donna Chute. Kay said yes, and was surprised when she saw tears welling up in his eyes. He gave her a big hug and quietly told her that he had transported the organ to the hospital so Donna could receive her new liver. It turned out to be a long night of conversation for both of them. Adam explained that his job was transporting organs to the hospitals where they are needed, delivering 64
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Kay Little (top) and her daughter, Donna Chute
them right to the doctors in the operating rooms. He remembered well the occasion he delivered the liver for Donna’s transplant. It was Thanksgiving weekend and he was just about to sit down with his family for a wonderful meal when he received the call. The aroma of the crisp browned turkey and all its trimmings was so enticing that he received the phone call with reluctance. But his mother encouraged him to go; he was taking an organ to save someone’s life. Turned out, he was helping save Kay Little’s daughter’s life. Kay’s step was a little lighter the next morning when she and Adam made breakfast together. She readied the toast, and he cooked the bacon 1-888-588-6353
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and eggs. Afterwards, Kay made up a bunch of lunches for him to take on his journey to his final destination – dipping his bike in St. John’s harbour. However, there was certainly a reluctance for both to part. Fortunately, the story doesn’t end there. Adam told Kay that he and his fiancé would be making a room, called Kay’s Room, in their Toronto home for her to come and stay with them sometime. Furthermore, he had a cottage on Lake Ontario that she was welcome to visit. Later Kay received a photo from Adam of him with his bike at St. John’s harbour. They kept in touch the following months, and Adam kept asking her to come visit. His parents and his fiancé wanted to meet her. It was nearly 10 years later when Kay saw Adam again. During a visit with her daughter in Toronto in July 2018, Adam invited her out with him and his fiancé for a meal. He showed up with a beautiful bouquet of flowers for her. When they delivered Kay back to her daughter’s condo, she invited them inside and Adam finally met Donna. It was an emotional experience for everyone. Oftentimes it’s a sacrifice for Adam to leave his comfortable home at a moment’s notice, when he may be enjoying a meal or spending quality time with family or friends. Then it can involve tiring drives or flights to obtain and deliver the donor organ. But it’s a sacrifice he is more than willing to make each time he has to set out on that journey. Imagine his thoughts as he carries this lifesaving gift, how fortunate for the recipient who will have a second chance at life when he arrives at the operating room. But while there is www.downhomelife.com
joy in the hospital of the recipient, he also thinks of the complete sadness at the side of the recently deceased donor. He has an attitude of gratitude for that person who took the time to fill out a donor’s card when their driver’s licence was renewed. And often he thinks how those recipients fared in life. One can only imagine the thoughts tumbling through his mind when he knew he would finally meet Donna.
Adam Harte in St. John’s at the end of his cross-Canada bike ride
Kay has since returned home from such a monumental joyous experience, grateful that she took the time to show a little kindness to a complete stranger. Adam keeps asking her to come for another visit, which she says will happen in the near future, when Donna’s daughter gets married. Sadly, Donna passed away on October 15, 2020. But the liver transplant that Adam helped facilitate gave her 11 more years with her family. February 2022
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A Rescuer’s Tale The last surviving rescuer of the Truxtun-Pollux disaster shares his recollections of that fateful day.
BY LINDA BROWNE
IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED 80 YEARS AGO,
but it’s a day forever etched in 97-year-old Gus Etchegary’s mind. It was the morning of February 18, 1942, and Gus, then 17, was sitting safely at home in St. Lawrence, on Newfoundland’s Burin Peninsula, as a fierce winter storm raged outside. That’s when he received a frantic phone call from his father. While locals were sleeping, three American naval ships (destroyers USS Truxtun and USS Wilkes, and the supply ship USS Pollux) had run aground between St. Lawrence and nearby Lawn. It was in the midst of the Second World War, and they were travelling from Casco Bay, Maine, to the American naval base at Argentia in Placentia Bay. While the Wilkes was refloated some hours later, the Truxtun and Pollux (wrecked at Chamber Cove and Lawn Point respectively) would not be so lucky, leaving the sailors aboard to make an impossible decision: cling to the icy vessels being battered mercilessly by the pounding surf (and which, eventually, would be smashed to pieces), or jump into the freezing North Atlantic and attempt to swim to shore. Left: The Truxtun-Pollux memorial at Chamber Cove.
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Linda Browne Photo
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One of those who did manage to reach shore was 18-year-old Edward Bergeron. Using a knife to scale the icy cliff face at Chamber Cove, and fighting against blinding snow and gale-force winds, he followed a fence along the coastline until he reached Iron Springs Mine, where Gus’s father (the mill manager) and the mine manager were starting to plan the day’s activities. “They had three or four or five men around them… and out of the snowstorm came this guy,” says Gus over the phone from his St. John’s apartment. (It’s December 2021 the day of this interview, and it’s the first snowstorm of the season, with the howling winds and rapidly growing snowdrifts mirroring the weather of that fateful day eight decades ago.) As soon as Bergeron explained what had happened, the decision was made to shut down the mining operations and start a rescue mission, with Gus’s father and others alerting people throughout town. (They wouldn’t learn the fate of the Pollux and her sailors until later that day.) “I was home, of course, and he called and said, ‘Get your friend,’ who had a pickup, ‘and gather as many ropes as you possibly can and get down here.’ So I guess it was an hour after he called that we were down there. And the rescue operation went on for, I guess [until] 4:30 or 5:00 in the afternoon,” Gus recalls. The Truxtun grounded on the rocks in the middle of Chamber Cove in 1942. The beach is visible where most of the sailors were rescued and hoisted up by ropes to the top of the bluff.
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CHAOS AT THE COVE
When he reached the site, Gus was greeted by a horrific, chaotic scene. Below, the bodies of several sailors bobbed in the frigid, oily water; while others, fighting against the wind and huge waves, clawed at the slippery beach rocks in a desperate attempt to reach the shore before the undertow sucked them back in. Several rescuers made their way down the approximately 250-foot cliff to the beach with ropes tied around their waists, and someone holding fast to the other end, in an effort to pull the sailors to safety.
Gus Etchegary shares his story while unveiling a painting by Nancy Molloy commemorating the disaster. Cynthia Farrell photo
“My father, who was at the rescue site along with these other men that were salvaging the survivors, he ordered me to start a fire. And that’s what I was involved in for the whole day, as the rescue operations were going on about 50 feet away. A lot of those sailors came in, and the fire certainly wasn’t any great help, but at least it was inviting to these guys who had been in the water for probably www.downhomelife.com
close to an hour or more,” Gus says. “These sailors, who could not be reached, they really had to make their own initiative and try to swim ashore under the very worst conditions. Many of them, incidentally, didn’t drown – a number of them were thrown up on the cliff and... were killed. So it was a terrible sight… Up on the hill, there were many, many, many miners with ropes that were pulling up the sailors, which was a very difficult job,” he adds. “These guys, they were drenched, of course, because they were in the water, and they were covered with oil and they were in a pretty miserable state. You know, there was lots of heroism displayed on the beach by these young sailors.” One who stands out in particular, Gus recalls, was a signalman who was rescued and brought near his fire before someone attempted to bring him up the hill to the first aid centre that had been set up by the local women at the mine site. “But he refused to go because there was only himself who could signal on the shore, and there was only one signalman left on board the ship, which was a couple of hundred yards away… that man died on the beach signalling to his friends who were still left on the vessel trying to decide whether they’ll jump into the North Atlantic water in February and try to February 2022
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his friends, that... they were actually save themselves, or stay on the ship. grounded in Iceland, not NewfoundSo, there was a lot of that happening land. They had no idea where they because all these sailors, of course, were,” Gus says. And because Iceland most of them knew each other and wasn’t permitting Black sailors to go they tried their best to save each ashore at the time, “he was kind other, as well as the rescuers on the of scared of that,” Gus adds. So shore.” Phillips jumped onto a raft and Even though he’s edging closer to hoped for the best. his 100th year, the images from that day are still crystal clear for Gus. “Many of my friends and relatives, and lots of those miners that risked their own lives... I can see them wading out in the roughest kind of waves lashing up on the shore to reach these young sailors,” he says. “It would have an impact, a lasting impact, on anyone – even the seasoned individual who had been around for quite a long time. But to a 17Lanier Phillips and Gus Etchegary in Charleston, year-old who never [had] South Carolina, during the commissioning much suffering in his life, it of the newly constructed Truxtun in 2009. had an impact for a long, long time.” Once the local women attending to Phillips realized he was a Black man ENDURING FRIENDSHIPS (after trying, in vain, to scrub what Out of the 389 men on board the two they thought was oil from his dark ships, 186 survived. Perhaps the skin), they treated him no differmost well-known survivor is Lanier ently than the white sailors. This Phillips, a Black mess attendant triggered an awakening in Phillips aboard the Truxtun who was just a and encouraged him to rise above year older than Gus was at the time. racism and reach his full potential. Growing up in Lithonia, Georgia, He later went on to become the where schools were segregated and Navy’s first Black sonar technician the Ku Klux Klan paraded in the and became active in the civil rights streets and beat Black men in front of movement, joining Martin Luther their families, he carried that fear of King’s historic marches. In 2008, persecution with him the day of Memorial University bestowed upon the disaster. Phillips an honorary Doctor of Laws “He thought, along with some of degree (the same year that Gus 70
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received the same honour), for his capacity to rise above repression. “It had quite an effect on him, for the rest of his life, and I can attest to this... he became a very popular speaker in various communities all over the United States actually, talking about the treatment and the change in his whole outlook toward life, as a result of the experience he had,” says Gus, who enjoyed many visits and conversations with Phillips over the years. “We were close friends, right up until he died just a few years ago,” Gus says. (Phillips died on March 12, 2012, two days before his 89th birthday and one month after visiting St. Lawrence for the last time for the 70th anniversary of the TruxtunPollux disaster.) Today, that spirit of friendship lives on between Gus and Phillips’ son, Terry. Over the years, Gus has kept in touch with other survivors and their families, exchanging Christmas cards and visits. This past summer, he and his wife received a very special visit from the six nieces of Lovira Wright Leggett Jr., one of the Truxtun sailors whom Gus warmed by his fire. They travelled from South Carolina to meet the man who helped save their uncle all those years ago and to view the site of the disaster. “As a matter of fact, we had a Christmas card from them yesterday. They’re very nice people and we enjoyed having them,” Gus says. While he may be a hero in their eyes, as the last living rescuer from the Truxtun-Pollux disaster, Gus remains humble about the role he played that day. “My role in it was not all that great, and I still have visions of men risking www.downhomelife.com
their lives. Many of them have passed on and their names were never published in any way other than the fact that they were generally included,” he says.
Gus Etchegary and Lanier Phillips’ son, Terry Phillips, in 2017, at a play in St. Lawrence commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Truxtun-Pollux disaster. Terry’s father passed away in 2012. Cynthia Farrell photo
“But the whole thing was a major undertaking in a small community, where something like that was just unbelievable in many ways. But I’ve always felt that... if the same event occurred in any coastal area around Newfoundland, you’d get the same sort of reaction from the people. It just so happened that it was in St. Lawrence and the people reacted as they were expected, as was their nature. But it also applied to many others over the years and centuries around this province.” February 2022
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life is better Quidi Vidi village in winter Jim Desautels, St. John’s, NL
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explore
Fat tire biking is a fun way to get out and enjoy the cold days and long evenings of winter – provided you have the right gear. Story & photos by Dennis Flynn
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THE FROZEN CARPET of snow crunches softly beneath studded tires of bikes ridden by figures clad in cold weather gear, insulated helmets, goggles and balaclavas. A crescent waxing moon hangs overhead in the pitch-black sky. The path ahead is illuminated by headlights. In silent procession, the riders follow the blinking crimson rear lights of the bike ahead. After 35 kilometres, the convoy stops and the riders dismount. They shed their riding gear and gather around a welcoming campfire to consume gourmet hot chocolate and delicious home-baked treats over stories and laughter of the evening’s adventure. Like other group winter pursuits such as skiing and snowshoeing on lit trails, fat biking is gaining popularity as a fun nighttime activity in Newfoundland and Labrador. The previous scene is from a ride I took a couple winters ago along a section of the former Newfoundland Railway branch line that once ran roughly 150 kilometres from Brigus Junction to Bay de Verde on the Avalon Peninsula. As with any cold-weather sport, gear that keeps you warm, comfortable and safe is key. As I’m fairly new to the sport, I’ve asked a few local fat biking enthusiasts for advice. www.downhomelife.com
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“HotHands [hand warmer packets] for the fingers and the insulated winter helmet were game changers for me!” says Lisa Hawco of Blaketown. “For night riding, having a bicycle headlight that is really bright is essential and a good investment. In particular, I love winter biking on trails beat down by Ski-doos and froze up, as opposed to the fresh, fluffy snow.” Jillian Curry of Bay Roberts agrees about the headlamp. “A headlight with great lumens and excellent batteries. Cold drains things quickly and can kill the batteries on lights, which I learned on my first night ride, right out of the gate. So having a backup light source, some spare batteries, and a few folks in the group with cellphones [stored in as warm/dry locations as possible while riding] is always a good idea.” For personal comfort, Jillian likes to wear buffs that keep her neck and face protected from wind and snow. “I would also suggest a good quality and proper fitting boot or shoe with 76
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great treads [for traction when stepping on and off the bike]. Also, as the trail conditions can vary a great deal and you are bound to encounter water at some point, Gore-Tex footwear and clothes works wonders. Finally, although many folks don’t use them, I really like fenders to keep snow, slush, water and debris from flicking over you as you ride.” Doug Harrison of Bay Roberts adds even more about headlight selection, cementing it as key equipment to have. “I can’t say enough about getting a good headlight. Even if you don’t plan on intentionally going out at night, the winter evenings start earlier, so you really should have one with your bike at all times in the winter. For a decent modern headlight, I find around 1,000 lumens or so is good.” About clothing, he adds, “I also recommend riders dress in light, warm layers that can be added or removed as needed. Other things that will add to your safety and comfort are an appropriate winter bike helmet, a good pair of sturdy hiking boots that 1-888-588-6353
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are Gore-Tex and/or some type of waterproof material. Even a set of hiking gators [which go over the top of boots and lower legs up to the knees] will help out. I prefer to wear good quality mitts over gloves, and like ski goggles over sunglasses in the winter. Best advice is watch the terrain and take your time when riding.” Anne Gill of Cupids reminds riders to pack fuel for the trip. “Snacks. You need great snacks to share, packed away to keep them dry. If you have room for a thermos of hot water for tea or hot chocolate, then nothing tastes better at the midway point or end of a ride on a cold night around a campfire.” Other items to pack, Anne says, include “a small waterproof camera [or your smart phone in a dry box or weatherized case] to capture a few images… a small repair kit for minor
breakdowns, a pump to fix a flat, a chain repair tool, and the special lowvolume tire gauge for fat bikes [so you can quickly adjust your tire pressure for the type of terrain/conditions]…” When it comes to choosing a fat bike, Wayne Burke of Victoria notes that it’s a very personal thing based on ability, height, size, weight, construction materials, brand preference and a lot of other characteristics. Generally, the better the bike, the better the ride, and the better the overall experience. All the riders I spoke to suggested doing your research and visiting local bike shops to test ride a few models before you buy. One thing Wayne doesn’t compromise on is the tires. “I believe on the trails and where terrain changes frequently, studded tires on the fat bike are a must in the winter. Having studded tires keeps you stable on ice
Fat-Biking Gear Tips from Jon and Don of Outfitters
Invest in studded tires for winter fat biking. Choose bike pedals to match your footwear: “Riding with a winter boot, or a hiking boot, or a flat cycling shoe, a pedal that has metal points on the platform for confidence in grip and a more efficient ride.” Wear a helmet, always. Wear insulated, breathable, moisture wicking layers: “Consider avoiding fully waterproof apparel, often they reduce breathability.” Add good lights front and back (600-880 lumens minimum): “There are helmet mounted lights and handle bar mounted lights and most people opt for both.” www.downhomelife.com
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and it is more comfortable riding knowing the bike is stable underneath you. I have a summer set of tires and the winter studded set, which I change over myself... You can take the bike to a local bike shop as well and get this done, but after you do it once or twice yourself it is not that hard of a task and you get used to it quickly.”
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Don Clarke and Jon Earle of Outfitters in St. John’s have been advising customers on fat tire biking for a decade. Jon, co-founder and owner, has been riding his own fat bike for five years now. “The most enjoyable thing about fat biking in this province is that with the groomed snow, the trails are so well laid out and the riding is smooth with
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nice features,” they respond by email to my query. “The activity is low impact, easy to do, and totally different than when you are riding in the fall, spring and summer. Plus, as conditions vary it is a new experience every time. If you are just getting into the sport (or even if you are a more established rider) watch out for Bicycle Newfoundland’s annual Fat Bike Festival, held in Pippy Park in February every year (also Global Fat Bike Day happens annually in December with group rides celebrated here and around the world).” They add that one of the surprising and pleasant aspects of the sport is how seamlessly easy it is to get started. “If you can ride a regular bike, you can ride a fat bike. Although times are challenging with the pandemic, your local bike shops will have everything you need and staff who are enthusiastic to show you your options. Connecting with the fat
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biking and biking community is a great way to find more support and people to enjoy the sport with. The people in this province and these groups are quite welcoming and the trails are developed, groomed and maintained by volunteers within the community.” They add, “Supporting your local trails is also important. Find the Avalon Mountain Biking Association and the TPB Groomers on Facebook to follow snow conditions, as well as opportunities to donate or volunteer.” Simply get out, with proper gear and good friends, and give fat biking a try – that’s the common piece of advice from everyone I spoke to about it. They all agree that the snowy season can be avoided and endured, or it can be embraced and enjoyed. May you get to experience the best of the season on winter wheels, however you roll.
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explore travel diary
Story and photos by By G. Tod Slone
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where human infrastructure still stands, but no humans live there anymore. The isolation of such places mesmerizes me, leaves me awe-stricken. Once again, I found myself on the hunt for that beauty, driving all over the Baie Verte Peninsula, from Westport to Fleur de Lys and La Scie. My favourite area was by Snook’s Arm, where I spent the evening walking in resettled Round Harbour. Two cars were parked there and two houses had been spruced up since my last visit several years before. No matter. A wondrous full moon appeared as the clouds cleared and full peace still reigned.
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Lloyd mans the tiller during our trip to Indian Burying Place. In the morning, I drove over to Snook’s Arm. Over the years, I’d been there a number of times. This time, I wanted to walk up to the old school, which I’d never seen. First, I walked around a bit by the harbour, then as I stood by my car, a man suddenly popped out of his house. It was Lloyd! He invited me in for a cup of coffee. His wife, Barbara, was there and brought out some delicious pumpkin bread. We talked. Lloyd told me the school roof had caved in the year before. Then I mentioned Indian Burying Place. Lloyd had taken me there about five years ago. It was also Lloyd who’d showed me the trail to it a year before that (and yes, I’d gotten lost trying to find that resettled outport). Barbara noted that the weather and water were quite calm this day. Next thing I knew, Lloyd had his gear ready, we hopped on his 82
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quad for the ride down to the wharf, got into his boat and off we went! Was I dreaming? I really did not think I’d be visiting “Burying Place,” as Lloyd called it. So, I was more than happy! We sped past such beautiful high cliffs. It was hard to believe that once I’d gotten lost in the thick forest topping them. Lloyd said I was damn lucky because if I’d hiked the other way, I never would have gotten out… and nobody would have found me. It took about 20 minutes to arrive by boat. Lloyd slowly brought the boat to the shore. With my boots on, I hopped off into the water and walked with camera in hand. Lloyd stayed in the boat and moved out a bit. The beauty of Burying Place was awesome. So many structures were still standing. I walked all over, up and down hills, through tall grass and marsh, taking photos. I stepped 1-888-588-6353
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into a couple of the old homes. Outside, there were piles of greying wood here and there: flattened houses. In full solitude, I stood by the graveyard admiring it all. An hour or so later, I got back on the boat and we zoomed over to resettled Bobby’s Cove, just around the corner. For the first time, I stepped onto the beach at Bobby’s Cove and walked around. I climbed up the hill where there were the ruins of three houses, two of them still partly standing. The remains of an old store were on the other side of the cove. Soon, off we went. On the boat ride back into Snook’s Arm, Lloyd slowed down and pointed to all the places on the cliffside that were no longer there: his house, the church, the
salmon plant, the old school, and even the bridge that he used as a kid to walk over to the harbour and new school. (Lloyd said they used to walk from Snook’s Arm to Burying Place to square dance. They’d even walk over to Round Harbour and Tilt Cove. Quite amazing.) Even the crumbling old store I’d admired last time, had now been swallowed up into oblivion. Everyone had moved to the harbour when they’d put the road in. Lloyd again invited me in for tea, and I ended up having lunch there, too: cod tongues and cod britches, bread, black currant jelly, pickled beets and potato salad. What a morning! Barbara handed me a jar of her homemade black currant jelly, and
Many structures in Indian Burying Place are still standing.
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off I walked up to the old school to my car and drove up the steep hill, leaving it all behind again. It’s difficult for me to explain why I’m so attracted to such rare places. In an effort to do so, I wrote this poem: Of Tempus Fugit The feeling – like no other feeling – when I visit a resettled outport in Newfoundland or Labrador – ’tis one of absolute wonderment. Walking alone down a pathway past boarded-up dwellings in Petites, peering inside a dilapidated home in Round Harbour, examining the crumbling stages and stores in Indian Burying Place, picking raspberries in the graveyard at Little Brehat, or hiking six long kilometres on a rubbly quad pathway through magnificent primeval vistas to suddenly arrive at an old cement foundation and a lone tricycle in Little Paradise, or driving carefully on and on into the vast limestone barrens on my way to Big Brook, past a lone fox and moose hunter, or wandering endlessly on Great Caribou Island, contemplating what once was a schoolhouse in Trap Cove, and seven kilometres later, finally sitting at Indian Cove, eating the sandwich prepared for me by a Battle Harbour cook, or standing on the old flake taking photos of several decaying punts there in Grandois, not yet resettled, though, with an abandoned fish plant. These places, for me, incarnate the very beauty of where once people used to live, of where once they went to school, of where once they fished, danced and toiled – of their total obnubilation, as if never were they and yet once truly they were…
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life is better This snowy owl is keeping a close eye on the photographer Bailey Parsons, Stephenville, NL
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HOME and Cabin
stuff we love by Nicola Ryan
Valentine’s Day Inspired ROMANCE READS Treat yourself or your bookloving babe to some romance with these steamy novels by bestselling NL author Victoria Barbour. Sparks fly in the dreamy Heart’s Ease series – contemporary romances set in a fictional Newfoundland town with its share of dashing rakes, hockey superstars and very able-bodied seamen. Flanker Press.com, Chapters.Indigo.ca and Kobo.com (ebooks).
GOODIES TO GRAZE ON These snack boxes from Graze n’ Thyme might just be as gorgeous as they are delicious. Choose from boxes artfully packed with tasty artisan cheeses, breads, charcuterie, specialty dips, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate and more, and snack your way to true love with a smorgasbord! (Pickup or delivery in the Northeast Avalon region of Newfoundland.) GrazeNThyme.ca.
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SWEET SCENTS Create a cosy atmosphere and set the mood with Yorabode candles, made with all natural ingredients, lovingly blended and poured by hand in St. John’s, NL. Try Brackish – a fresh scent of river mint, wild rose and Labrador tea; or Tuckamore for a warming and sophisticated scent with notes of black spruce, juniper and clove. Yorabode.ca.
FRESH FLAVOURS Spoil your sweetheart with a selection of bars, bonbons, moulded or hand-dipped chocolate treats from Forest Road Chocolates. Made in small batches and hand painted in St. John’s, NL, the bright fresh flavours – some of which are made from locally foraged ingredients like marshberry, maple syrup or damsons – are sure to impress. ForestRoadChocolates.com.
BOYFRIEND PILLOW Single this February 14th? Celebrate your solo status and cuddle up with a Boyfriend Pillow! The soft pillows are shaped like a welcoming arm ready to offer a feeling of cuddly closeness to the lonely. Drift off to sleep in a warm embrace – without any of the tossing, turning and snoring of a real man. Amazon.ca.
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Bernice Goudie photo
30 years ago I went to see some Nova Scotian quilts on display at the Arts and Culture Centre. These truly were works of art and I admired them greatly, but I couldn’t help thinking: these are not representative of the quilts of yesterday, made and used by most Nova Scotian families whose breadwinner was engaged in fishing, farming or mining. Knowing several quilters, I’m aware that it requires a great deal of skill and time to produce one of these beautiful quilts. I imagine spare time was a scarce commodity in most households years ago. Simply put, today’s quilts would have taken far too long to make and would not have been practical for everyday use. I was born during the Depression in Elliston, NL. My father was a fisherman; my mother, a teacher (a profession she had to give up once she married). Even though ours was a relatively small family – three children – she could not have spared the hours needed to piece together the many tiny pieces of fabric used in some of today’s quilt patterns. I was told that before marriage she did lots of crocheting, tatting and embroidery. I don’t recall her doing these crafts when I was a child. I recall her knitting, mending and darning, but I never saw her use a crochet hook. www.downhomelife.com
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During the winter, when there was a lull in outside work, quilt-making and mat-hooking took place in Elliston. During the 1930s and ’40s, many fisherman husbands worked away in the lumberwoods in Central Newfoundland during the winter. Back in 1995, my friend Mary Jane Porter, then 85, told me that when their husbands were away, she and her sisterin-law would live in the same house. They worked on quilts together. They’d baste the quilt pieces onto the backing laid on the kitchen floor. Then they’d sew them in place with the sewing machine.
the pound; another source was doorto-door peddlers. Some of the quilts in our house were very thick; others were lightweight. The latter, summer quilts, had a cotton or flour-sack backing and patches were sewn on just one side. The heavier ones had patches sewn to both sides of the backing (often a worn-out flannelette sheet) and some had patches sewn on patches! If they had big pieces of material to work with, they used big pieces; they did not have time to indulge in a make-work program and would not cut their material into tiny pieces on
Bernice Goudie photo
For the backing they used flour sacking, old flannelette sheets or brin (burlap). Mary Jane, when she was first married, made one using brin. An older woman told her to cover it on both sides with patches. She said for her patches she used any old piece of clothing around: cotton dresses, blouses, shirts, ties and “burny” cotton. The local shops sometimes brought in cotton goods and sold it by 90
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purpose. They made use of everything available. Mary Jane once made a quilt using discarded drapes on the top side! Washing such a quilt was very difficult and wringing it out required two sets of hands. It was too heavy to hang on the clothesline, so it had to be hung on the backyard fence to dry. 1-888-588-6353
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I don’t remember my mother making a quilt, but I remember her using pieces of material from old family clothing to repair the ones we had. And she used bleached flour sacks in other ways – for pillow slips, tablecloths, pudding cloths etc. If flour sacks were used for the backing or lining, homemakers made sure that all the lettering was removed. I recall how Mother bleached them. She put a big iron pot of water on the kitchen stove. Added to the water was Gillett’s Lye, which was very caustic. The sacks were boiled in this, for how long I’ve forgotten. The pot was taken from the stove and laid on the ground in the backyard. I remember Mother hooking each piece out of the pot with a long stick, dumping the lye solution into the drain and refilling the pot with fresh water from the well, then rinsing the sacks over and over in fresh water until all traces of lye had been soaked from the sacks. They were then hung to dry, white as the driven snow. I have a number of old quilts, dating
from the early 1900s, before my two aunts (both talented seamstresses) went away to the States. One wellused quilt features a beautiful purple section with the portraits of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria; I recall one of the beautiful Nova Scotian quilts had the same patch. What was the source of that special piece? Was it bought at the same time as the Nova Scotian piece? Another quilt was a wedding gift (in 1960) from my Aunt Helen in West Allis, Wisconsin; it is still being used in Maberly, although the cotton used in the lovely design did not stand up to repeated washes. I do have one new-fangled quilt – a beautiful one in shades of blue that graces the bed in our guestroom. It was a gift from my dear friend, Myrtle Baird Dunham, a skilful quilter, weaver and knitter. Of one thing I’m certain. Skillful women in Newfoundland and Labrador, who had the inclination and the time to devote to sewing, must have produced quilts to rival those from Nova Scotia. We just don’t know about them. Correction: I don’t!
Jim Costello photo
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the everyday gourmet
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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
As I sit down
to write up this month’s recipe, I just finished devouring my bowl. My goal was to use available, but slightly exotic, colourful ingredients and create a lightly sauced pasta dish, full of bright and complex flavours. I was catering to my own tastes, admittedly, but this turned out to be the most delicious pasta dish I have ever had. Though simple, it’s sexy and impressive – perfect for you to make for your Valentine. It has the perfect balance – umami and complexity from the squid ink pasta; sweetness of the wild caught shrimp; bright tang and perfume from the lemon; fabulous meaty texture from the artichoke hearts; heat, fruitiness and brininess from the oil-pack pickled chilies; savoury-sweet undercurrent of leek and garlic; and bright finish of the herbs. I found all the ingredients at my local supermarket. If you can’t find squid ink pasta, another coloured pasta will be just as impressive. And if you can’t find the oil-pack brined chilies, substitute chile flakes and add a couple of finely-chopped black olives to contribute the briny quality. The dish comes together really quickly – so once you have everything chopped and prepped, warm your pasta bowls, set the table and open some wine (I recommend a crisp white with some minerality and a touch of citrus). Pasta Cooking Tips: Cook pasta in well-salted water, salty as the sea. This is your only opportunity to season the noodles; otherwise, they will render the sauce bland. Never add oil to the pasta cooking water: it will keep your sauce from sticking to the noodles. Always retain some pasta-cooking water to add to the sauce: it brings everything together and helps sauce cling to the noodles. Do not rinse cooked noodles. Take the noodles directly from the boiling water just before they are cooked “al dente” (retaining some firmness), and add them to the pan of sauce to finish cooking. This allows them to soak up a little flavour, and the starch from the noodles helps thicken the sauce a bit. Add a little pasta water to maintain fluidity of the sauce. Serve immediately. February 2022
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Spaghetti with Shrimp 1/2 lb squid ink pasta 4 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced Zest of 1 large lemon Juice of 1 large lemon 8-10 oil-packed pickled red chile peppers (plus a little of the oil for cooking and a couple extra peppers for garnish) 4 tbsp nicely flavoured olive oil (more if needed)
1/2 (384 ml) can artichoke hearts, halved 20 large shrimp* (21-30 size, 21-30 shrimp per pound), most of shell removed, tail portion left on for presentation, if desired. Large handful fresh parsley – roughly chopped Large handful fresh basil – roughly chopped
2 tbsp butter
Lemon wedges and herb sprigs for garnish
1/2 cup sliced leeks
Salt to taste
1 small red pepper, julienned
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*I used wild-caught Argentinian shrimp – sweet and delicious.
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Set a pot of well-salted water to boil. Add pasta when at the boiling point and stir a couple times during cooking so it doesn’t stick together. Cook for 8-10 minutes (or follow directions on your package). Meanwhile, in a large non-stick frypan with high sides, warm 4 tbsp olive oil and 1-2 tbsp butter over med-high heat. Add 1 tsp of the oil from the chilies (or a pinch of chile flakes if you don’t have the jar of chilies). Add leeks, bell pepper, chopped chilies, garlic and half the lemon zest. Stir a few minutes until vegetables begin to soften (you are not looking to brown anything). Add artichokes and a pinch of salt; stir. Move vegetables to one side of the pan, season shrimp with a little salt and place them in the cleared spot of the pan to sear one side – only takes a minute – then with tongs, flip them to sear the other side. Toss everything together, add the lemon juice and a touch more olive oil if needed. Taste and add salt or lemon zest as needed. Add some pasta water. When pasta is almost cooked, use tongs to transfer it to the frypan. Toss it with the shrimp and vegetables. Add pasta water as needed to retain 3-4 tbsp moisture in the pan. Keep a sprig or two of herbs to garnish the plate and toss the chopped remainder in the pan. Transfer to two warm pasta bowls, mounding the shrimp in the middle, if you like. Garnish with the herbs, a wedge of lemon and a pickled chili. Serve your valentine. Dig in and get ready to graciously receive compliments. www.downhomelife.com
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HOME and Cabin
everyday recipes
Mid-Winter Indulgence Mid-winter, and especially around Valentine’s Day, most of us like a little indulgence. What’s more indulgent than chocolate? These decadent recipes can be a treat for two, or just for you!
Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes 6 oz bittersweet (or semisweet) chocolate, chopped 1/2 cup butter 2 eggs
2 egg yolks 1/4 cup sugar 2 tbsp flour
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour four ramekins. Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler, stirring until it’s smooth and glossy. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, yolks and sugar until pale and frothy. Quickly fold in the melted chocolate and flour. Divide batter equally among the prepared ramekins. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, until sides are set but the middle is still bubbly. Remove from oven and let cool for a couple of minutes. Slide a thin sharp knife around the cake edges to loosen them in the ramekins, then invert them onto individual plates and serve with a dollop of ice cream or whipped cream.
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Chocolate Coated Fruit Fresh strawberries, honeydew melon chunks, blueberries and/or raspberries, all washed and completely dried
1 (300g) pkg dark chocolate chips 2 tbsp butter
Melt chocolate and butter over a double boiler. Heat only until just melted. Use a fork or skewer to dip strawberries and melon pieces into chocolate and allow excess to drip back into the pot before laying fruit on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Do blueberries and raspberries last. Add the blueberries or raspberries to the chocolate and stir to coat. Spoon out clusters of chocolate-coated berries and lay them on parchment-lined sheet to set. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
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Chocolate Dream Trifle 1 (19.8 oz) family-size box brownie mix 1/2 cup Kahlúa coffee liqueur 2 (3.5 oz) boxes chocolate mousse mix
8 Skor bars 1 (12 oz) container whipped topping
Bake brownies according to directions. Let cool. Poke holes throughout brownies using a fork, then pour Kahlúa over cake, allowing it to seep into the holes. Set aside. Whip chocolate mousse mix according to package directions. Break up candy bars into small pieces. Break up half the brownies and place them in the bottom of a trifle dish. Next, cover brownies with half the candy bar pieces, followed by half the chocolate mousse. Layer half the whipped topping over the mousse. Continue layering with remaining ingredients. Serve chilled. (Follow the same layering order to fill individual dessert dishes or flute glasses for a more personal presentation.)
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Chocolate Mug Cake 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp flour 2 tbsp dark cocoa powder 1/4 tsp baking powder 3 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup milk 2 tbsp whipping cream Pinch salt
Sift all dry ingredients together in a large mug. Add milk and cream. Stir well and place in the microwave for 70 seconds (time may vary by microwave; cook until cake is set). If serving for 2, repeat ingredients and instructions for the second mug. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
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White Chocolate Mousse 20 oz white chocolate 2 tsp vegetable oil 4 eggs, separated 1/4 cup very warm water 1/4 cup of your favourite liqueur or brandy
Pinch of salt 1 1/2 cups whipping cream (35%) Extra whipped cream for garnish (optional)
To make the mousse: Toss the chocolate with the oil in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for one-minute intervals, stirring in between, until melted. Depending on the power of your microwave, this may take up to 4 minutes total. Set aside. Place egg yolks in a large bowl and whisk to break them up. Whisk in warm water, then liqueur. Whisk in melted chocolate until smooth. Place the egg whites in a clean, medium-sized bowl; add a pinch of salt. Use a mixer to whip whites until they hold peaks, but don’t overbeat to the point that they are dry. Set aside. In another bowl, whip the cream to soft peaks. Assemble: Fold one dollop of egg whites into the chocolate-egg yolk mixture until it pretty well disappears into the chocolate. Then gently fold in the rest of the egg whites, trying not to lose the air. Add the whipped cream the same way. Spoon mousse evenly into champagne, martini or parfait glasses and chill. (Using a piping bag can make it easier and neater to fill glasses.) Serve, garnished with a dollop of whipped cream and fresh berries or a sprig of mint. Makes 8-12 servings (depending on dish size). 100
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Liqueur Truffles 4 oz (1/2 pkg) cream cheese, softened 1 cup icing sugar 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, melted
3 tsp liqueur (if you divide mixture into 3 portions before adding chocolate, you can use 1 tsp each of 3 different flavours)
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in icing sugar until well blended. (At this point you can make all one flavour, or divide the mixture into 3 equal portions.) Stir in melted chocolate and liqueur until no streaks remain. Refrigerate for about 1 hour, until chocolate is firm enough to work with. Shape into 1 inch balls. Roll truffles in whatever coating you like: ground nuts, cocoa, coconut, icing sugar, sprinkles etc. If you’d like to chocolate coat them, freeze truffles first, then dip them in melted chocolate and lay on parchment paper to set. To make them extra fancy, sprinkle the coated truffles with crushed nuts, sprinkles etc. while chocolate is still wet. (If you don’t want liqueur truffles, replace liqueur with 3/4 tsp vanilla extract.) Makes 2 1/2 dozen
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The following is an excerpt from Perry Benoit’s new book, “Snippets of Outport Newfoundland Life from Various Perspectives,” a collection of short stories that he hopes will evoke fond memories. He also hopes to benefit a special cause with his work: a good portion of his book sales will be donated to the Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Molasses Candy and Ice Cream
Treats are much different now than they were years ago.
They are so common that you probably consider them everyday food items. A treat is something out of the ordinary that gives you great pleasure. Nowadays, it is a treat in name only because one can get what you want pretty much whenever you want it…
In simpler times, only one store operated within walking distance that closed suppertime. It had a minimal selection of treats, mainly candy in big glass jars. Kids had no disposable income and maybe got a piece once a week. It didn’t matter which kind because you appreciated them all. Though scarce and sometimes barely attainable, they were available. However, during winter storms, power outages or nighttime, stores were not open if a sweet tooth attacked. Sweet tea or molasses bread didn’t seem to satisfy the desire, so you either improvised or did without. If nothing was available, you made your own treats. Molasses candy and ice cream are tasty and easily made from ingredients on hand. You make them in winter, during the long nights and the cold temperature requirement. Molasses candy is most common and only requires three ingredients: molasses, butter and sugar. They are www.downhomelife.com
staples in any house and always available when suddenly getting a craving for something sweet. A large cast-iron frying pan works best because it holds the heat better and distributes it evenly. That is important when cooking on a woodstove that can have variations in temperature between fillings. You melt a goodly bit of butter (margarine) in the pan, then pour in about a quarterinch of molasses. When the molasses starts to heat up, you stir. No one said the recipe was hard! You have to stir continuously as the molasses starts to bubble, and be very careful not to burn it or boil over the pan. This step requires your full attention because either can happen in seconds. Burning it, although unfortunate, only means throwing it out and starting over. Letting it boil over onto the stove is much worse because you have to endure the wrath of your mother! Stirring is crucial because molasses requires a boiling point, which February 2022
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evaporates water and makes the mixture thicker. If the heat from the woodstove is not constant, you might have to move the pan around. Electric stoves work better for providing constant temperature. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes of stirring to get the mixture to the right consistency. If you wait any longer, the molasses will have a “burny” taste when you’re finished. You then pour the molasses into a greased deep plate or shallow pan and let it cool. If using a glass plate, let it cool gradually to avoid breaking and again feeling your mother’s ire. When it cools to room temperature, you can put it in the freezer or in the
You form it into bite-sized pieces and roll it in sugar so the lumps don’t stick together. Put it back in the freezer until it hardens, and the molasses candy is ready to eat. Making ice cream is equally easy. You just need milk, sugar and one other ingredient. Fresh whole milk works best, but canned is okay. You need a large bowl and a big spoon, that’s it. Preferably, the dish should be very thin and made from aluminum or steel. A wooden spoon with a long handle works best. Before starting, you get a large pan or something like a galvanized washing tub. Fill it half with snow and tamp down hard. If ice candles are
Once the candy has cooled, it can be rolled, stretched and cut into any size you like
snow to let it harden. It is ready when it cools to a point where it comes out of the pan and you can handle it easily. Depending on how much you made, roll it into a few pieces, then start stretching. You keep pulling the mixture repeatedly until it starts to lighten. When you think you’re finished, stretch it some more. When done, it should be almost caramel-coloured. 104
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available from the house’s eaves, break off what you can and add to the snow. They are harder to melt and last longer. Next, you add pickle. Any pickle will suffice, but any type of meat pickle is preferred. Fish pickle obviously has a fishy smell, which doesn’t seem to go with making ice cream. Aroma has a significant influence on the food you eat, and the odour of pickled fish 1-888-588-6353
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Sugar will thicken the milk as you stir, but be careful not to add too much at a time.
while making ice cream doesn’t mix well. Meat pickle is far less aromatic. You get about a gallon of pickle and slowly add it to the snow and icicle mixture. The salt in the brine supercools the snow and makes it much colder. Avoid touching the mix unless you intentionally want to lose a finger! Nestle the thin bowl in the middle of the large pan and pack snow tightly around until it’s about three-quarters from the top. Add more pickle to that, and you’re good to go. Pour the milk into the bowl, a little at a time, and add the sugar. Stir so that the sugar dissolves completely, then add more milk and repeat the process. The sugar helps thicken the liquid, but be careful not to add too much. Don’t worry about exact measurements because everyone likes different levels of sweetness. The amount of sugar to add is more of a touchy-feely thing that comes with practice. When your mother is not looking, swipe a bit of vanilla from her supply and add to the mixture. It’s just a matter of stirring then until ice www.downhomelife.com
crystals start forming. If the snow melts around the bowl, add more, along with the pickle, because it is vital to keep the temperature as low as possible. You keep stirring until the mixture has a thick and smooth consistency. You can eat the vanilla ice cream as is or flavour it. If you want to make strawberry ice cream, add a few spoonfuls of homemade strawberry jam and stir well. If you mix it only a few times, you have strawberry-swirl. You can do the same with blueberry or partridgeberry jam. You can eat it then, or freeze it for a while to harden. Dish up and enjoy. In outport Newfoundland, when you couldn’t afford an item or it was unavailable, then you made it. You used the simple things around you to adapt, invent and improvise. The same is true with sweet treats. Reprinted with the author’s permission. This book and others by Perry Benoit (of Lourdes, NL) are available to buy only on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com. February 2022
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Making Babies by Kim Thistle
Who among us has never tried to take a slip (cutting) off a friend’s or relative’s plant? I do it. Not so much because I am wanting to deprive the green plant industry of their share, but more because I like having a little reminder of a friend growing in my house or garden. Some people have great success with plant reproduction and others have miserable failures. My mother could take a leaf off just about anything and end up with a beautiful houseplant to add to her collection. She was always trying to pawn off a Clivia or an African violet, and I dare say there are a number of friends and relatives reading this now who were a recipient of one of her little babies.
There are many ways to take a cutting from a plant. Here are a few tips for success: Use a sharp, sterilized knife or clippers; if using your fingernails, wash your hands well first. Disease pathogens can easily be transmitted at this stage. If using the water method of placing your cutting in a glass of water, be sure to keep the water topped up and change it once per week. If using soil, make sure it is a sterilized mix such as Pro Mix, and be sure not to let it dry out. A mixture of sand and vermiculite or perlite also works well as a rooting media. www.downhomelife.com
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Always choose a strong healthy shoot with no flowers.
Here are a few of the common houseplants that are easy peasy to clone:
Cuttings should be about 4" – 5" long. Don’t start with a large piece or your leaves will be thinking more about getting enough water to drink than putting out new roots. Always snip just below the leaf joint as this is where the new roots develop. These two leaves should be removed, but the stem should remain intact. Rooting hormone is not a necessity but it certainly helps, especially with difficult-to-root plants. It will hasten the process, reduce shock and increase the number of roots. Always check the best-before date on the package. These have a shelf life – although, like yogurt, they are often good for much longer than the expiry date. A heat mat will certainly increase your chances of success as it keeps the water or soil warm. If you are a gardener and start your own seed, a mat is a great investment. Placing your cutting in a plastic bag, cloche or dome will create a warm, humid environment that plants love. Watch it closely and be sure to open your container regularly to let excess moisture out. You don’t want to encourage mildew. When rooting in water, be sure to have lots of healthy roots before planting. There is nothing worse than waiting for a month to get that first root, only to plant it too early before enough roots have developed to feed your plant.
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Spider Plant True to their name, these plants send out long shoots with small spidery plants at the ends of the stem. Snip off one of these spiders and place the roots that are growing at the base of the “spider” in a pot of sterilized soil such as Pro Mix and, voilà, you have started your houseplant collection. It is as easy as that. This is a great project for children and may lead to a future career in botany.
Christmas Cactus This is another easy plant to propagate. It can be done in water or soil. I managed to claim a cutting from my friend, Heather, this past summer. The plant was previously her mom’s, so now I have a little memory of them both on my kitchen window. I opted for the “water in a glass” method. I took a piece with about 1-888-588-6353
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four segments, wrapped it in a wet paper towel, as I was travelling, and then a day later placed it in a glass of water with the bottom segment barely touching the water. I kept topping up the glass as the water evaporated. Within a month I had a glass full of fresh, white roots that I transplanted into a pot of sterilized soil. It is now producing lots of new, shiny leaves and perhaps by next Christmas, I’ll have blooms. Alternatively, I could have plopped the cutting in the pot of soil and skipped the water glass, but I love watching the roots begin. It feels like I am assisting Mother Nature with a miracle.
African Violet This is a great choice for children as one leaf produces many tiny, tiny leaves; children are fascinated by anything that is miniature. All you need is one healthy leaf with a 1" – 1.5" piece of stem. Fill a small pot with sterilized soil or a 50:50 mixture of sand and vermiculite or perlite, dip your stem into a jar of rooting hormone, shake off the excess and insert the stem into the medium. You will have faster results if the pot is placed under a dome or in a plastic bag. Within a month or two, you will notice the tiny leaves at the base of your original leaf, indicating that it is time to remove the plant www.downhomelife.com
from its enclosure. Once you feel that the plant is well rooted you can remove the original leaf.
String of Pearls This plant has certainly made a resurgence in the past couple of years; Pinterest has put it on the map once again. This one is about as easy as it gets. Fill a pot with soil and place one of the hanging strings from your mother plant on top of the soil in the new pot without detaching it. In about four weeks, the pearls that are in contact with the soil will root and the string from the mother plant can be snipped off. A bit like snipping an umbilical cord; time to kick the bird out of the nest. All four of these plants are simple to propagate. It is nice to start with something easy to encourage future experimentation. If you have children or grandchildren, teaching them to propagate plants is a lesson in patience and responsibility, and they will most certainly get results. Happy planting! 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. February 2022
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life is better Tucked away for winter in Rose Blanche Kathy Savoury, Rose Blanche, NL
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reminiscing flashbacks
Successful Voyage Seal pelts being unloaded from SS Imogene alongside Bowring’s wharf in St. John’s, NL: in the 1930s, many sealers made the hazardous journey to the icefields aboard the Imogene. John Williamson Halifax, NS
Winter Beauties
“I believe the lady on the left is my mom, Joan Evelyn Tipping. Born in Howley in 1927, she was 17 [in this photo] and attended the Ladies Ontario College,” writes the submitter. “Can anyone identify the lady on the right? This photo was taken in 1945 in Corner Brook.” Susan Herdman Lincolnton, GA, USA 112
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Snowy Scene The old school is still visible in this undated winter snap of Brighton in Green Bay, NL. Karen Pinsent Brighton, NL
This Month in History The original Innu name of what we now call the Churchill River in southeast Labrador was Mishtaship, or “Grand River.” In 1821, it was renamed the Hamilton River after Labrador’s colonial governor, Sir Charles Hamilton. In 1839, John McLean, one of the chief traders of the Hudson Bay Company, and his team became the first Europeans to reach a series of cataracts and rapids on the river while seeking a route between Fort Chimo and Fort Smith. As the river was still usually referred to as the Grand River, McLean dubbed the “stupendous” cascades the “Grand Falls.” On February 1, 1965, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Joey Smallwood renamed the river and the John McLean falls after former British prime minister Winston Churchill, ahead of approving the major hydroelectric project there. 1-888-588-6353
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By incredible coincidence, Downhome recently received
two unrelated reader submissions with remarkably similar stories. Both of the following men stowed away on ships departing Saint-Malo, France, on perilous journeys to a new world in search of a better life. They both landed in Saint-Pierre as teenagers in the late 1800s, and with the help of kind locals in evading capture, they eventually made their way to Newfoundland where they would leave their mark and a long line of descendants.
9 The Journey of Joseph Dunne 9
By Alfred Crews 9
At the young age of 17, in the year 1889, Joseph Dunne secretly boarded a ship in Saint-Malo, France, as a stowaway. The ship set sail for Saint-Pierre. After arriving in Saint-Pierre, though, Joseph came to realize that he was not allowed to stay there and the Gendarmes (police) would deport him back to France, where he would be severely dealt with by the law. He then made a decision that would change the direction of his life forever. With the help of some Saint-Pierre locals, he secured food, water and a row boat, and rowed off in the North Atlantic – all alone in the dark in unknown waters, never to return to his homeland again. As daylight broke and the sea became rough, Green Island rocks came into his view and he managed to land his boat upon the shore. While waiting for the ocean to calm, he found shelter underneath his overturned boat. Three days later when the storm abated, he headed out into the North Atlantic again, hoping to find a place to call home.
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He eventually landed in Point Crewe, 12 miles from Saint-Pierre. My grandfather, John Crews, was surprised to see this little dory off in the distance. He boarded his motor boat and went to meet this stranger. He towed Joseph’s rowboat to land – a land that would become his new home forever. In a twist of fate, my grandfather’s son, Kenneth Crews (my father), eventually married Joseph’s daughter, Charlotte Dunne. This was a new beginning for Joseph Dunne, a 17-year-old in a foreign country unable to speak the English language. Good fortune came his way when he was connected with a man from Saint-Pierre who was living in Point Crewe at the time. He helped Joseph learn English. In time, Joseph met and married Mary
Belinda Thornhill, and they settled in Dantzic Cove, where he built a house and lived there for about 50 years. They raised three sons and eight daughters. Joseph became a British subject in 1904, at which time Newfoundland was a British colony. Joseph made a living by fishing, farming and caulking the decks of banking schooners in Grand Bank and Fortune. While his sons enjoyed the luxury of using gasoline engines, he chose to continue rowing to the fishing grounds. He was never one to use a motor boat. In 1952, Joseph and his son, Benjamin Dunne, moved to Point Crewe and built a house. Joseph lived in Point Crewe until the year of his death. Having lived a long, healthy life, he died suddenly in 1960 at age 88.
Top: A certificate presented to Joseph Dunne when he was granted British citizenship in 1904. Right: Joseph Dunne and granddaughter, 1960.
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The Runaway 9
By Wayne LeRoux 9
A “moose-boy” was a regular crew member on the old French vessels. He was a cook, galley-slave, errand boy and general lackey combined, and often bullied and beaten by the tough, ruthless, older crew members. Many managed to escape when the boats reached new lands; little did they know that their quick dash across these beaches marked a special chapter in Newfoundland history. The French fleet to the Grand Banks were small schooners with crews of about 30 men, often operating out of Saint-Pierre. Many French firms had permanent headquarters there, but transported their fishermen to and from France seasonally on passenger liners. Thousands of men would arrive in the spring to man the schooners. Before going to the Banks they’d sail to Newfoundland’s west coast for bait. One of their main bait depots was Bay St. George, and it was there that many youngsters ran away. In the spring of 1880, one of those boys was 12-yearold Peter LeRoux. Peter was born in Bourges, France, in 1876. Bourges was a little country
village surrounded by large, isolated dairy farms. It was at Bourges that hundreds of men gathered every February to sign on for Saint-Pierre and the Grand Banks. On the eve of their departure to the main port of SaintMalo, their town declared a holiday. Peter’s father, Jean Marie LeRoux, was a Saint-Pierre fisherman. In his absence one year, his wife died and his three sons were separated. On his return, Jean found his five-year-old, Peter, working on a nearby farm for a cent a day. When Peter was 10, his father decided to take Peter with him to Saint-Pierre. They planned to leave from Saint-Malo on the liner Propatrie – the father as a passenger, the son as a stowaway.
The town of Saint-Malo in France has a long seafaring history. At low tide its harbour is a dry beach that stretches for kilometres. 1-888-588-6353
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Saint-Malo was one of the great harbours of France that for centuries had built and outfitted ships for the high seas. At low tide, the harbour is a dry beach stretching for kilometres, and the hulls of ships are sucked into the mud. The tide rises in the form of a bore about 20 feet high. The movement of those millions of tons of water creates a thunderous roar, a danger signal to everyone in the harbour to get to higher ground. The mountainous wave strikes with lightning speed and gigantic force.
At high tide it was every man for himself… Once Peter had made his way on board the Propatrie, he searched for his father – but he searched in vain. His father had missed the boat. At high tide it was every man for himself. Peter’s father barely had time to point out their ship. From there on, the lad was on his own. Once Peter had made his way on board the Propatrie, he searched for his father – but he searched in vain. His father had missed the boat. The 1,700 passengers who answered roll call were ordered to use their trunks for berths and make the best of it. The second meal out, nine hungry stowaways, including Peter, were rounded up and brought before the captain. After a stern lecture and threats of imprisonment, they were given food in a pan. Onboard ship, the food-pan was a precious item: no pan, no food. It took 10 days to cross the Atlantic. 118
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One hundred miles off Saint-Pierre, the Propatrie butted heavy ice in a raging storm. It was early March when the steamship reached the harbour. The passengers were taken ashore in schooners, and in the blowing gale and mountainous waves, ships were wrecked and men were drowned. That day, Peter got his first lashing from an angry sea. Beaten and bruised, he crawled ashore at a place called Dog Island. There were 60 fishing families living on Dog Island. They befriended Peter and kept him busy and out of prison. For a year, the lad delivered bread to homes and ships. The next spring when the crews again returned from France, Peter found his father. That brief visit was equally happy and heartbreaking; both by then were serving hard masters and both were going separate ways. It was the last time Peter ever saw his father. Peter held onto the last bit of advice his father gave him: “Go to Newfoundland if you can get there.” After two years of beating around, Peter got his chance. He sailed on the Josephine to Bay St. George, where he planned to make his escape. As moose-boy he wasn’t allowed ashore. When all hands left for the nets, he was given strict orders: have meals and coffee ready at a moment’s notice. The French seamen drank their coffee mixed with brandy. So Peter made a special brew with extra sugar and all the brandy he could find. When the men added their own ration to their cups, they had a very potent drink. In no time, the whole crew was drunk and never noticed Peter with his cloth bag quietly sneaking over the side and into a dory, and rowing ashore. 1-888-588-6353
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The night was damp, cold and still, and so dark that Peter had to feel his way along the beach with his hands and feet. He didn’t know where to go or what to expect, and was so terrified that a harmless flock of sheep sent him scurrying up a tree. That’s where he spent his first night in Newfoundland. Next morning he came upon a man by the name of Gouldie, who took care of his belongings for him. He signalled Peter of approaching crew members and indicated where he should hide. Peter ran on and on. Finally, exhausted, he fell and crawled to the entrance of what he took to be a root cellar. He lost his balance and dropped into a deep hole. In there, his only company was a small ray of light. When that deserted him, he attempted to climb out. The top was just beyond his reach. Peter took off his boots, filled them with dirt and used them as stepping stones. Once out of the hole, he stood and gazed around. Though barefoot, cold and hungry, what he saw filled him with warmth: his ship was gone. He was free. In the distance he saw several large buildings. Cautiously, he approached one and peeked through the open doorway. Inside, a man and a woman sat at a small table. They couldn’t speak French, but she recognized it when Peter spoke and found a neighbour to translate. He was to follow this lady to a big house on the hill. Inside the big house, everything was newly papered and painted, and spotlessly clean. The boy’s bare, 1-888-588-6353
muddy feet made klick-kluck sounds and dirty marks on the floor with every step he took. The lady was extremely kind. She washed his face, hands and feet, and attended to his scratches and bruises. She prepared him a hot meal and gave him a bed. Young Peter marvelled at his good fortune as he went off to sleep. The lady, he’d discover, was Mrs. Butt, and this was her home with Mr. Edward Butt. The Butts were wellknown business people of St. Georges. They had no children, so they adopted Peter.
Bay St. George was a frequent stop of the French fishing fleet, and many young men jumped ship to seek refuge in the communities there.
Peter was not one to take something for nothing. There was little time to sit behind a school desk. He mastered English and the three Rs at a kitchen table. From there, he graduated to a shop desk, and he worked as a trader, fisherman, lobster packer and much, much more. In time, he paid a debt to his foster parents and gave a gift to his adopted country. On March 14, 1963, Peter LeRoux passed away and was buried March 17, 1963, at Deer Lake, NL. February 2022
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By Bruce Roberts
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It is a beautiful, calm evening for a walk around the Cove,
soaking in the visuals of the orange and red sun that will soon be sinking out of sight in the western sky. After a stroll around the Cove, I dodge over to the top of the hill where Grandfather and crew had built large fish flakes years ago, where they would dry the split and salted codfish under the summer sun. “Now here’s the way you do it, my son. Spread them heads and tails now, heads and tails,” Grandfather would say. Everyone helped out when it came to drying the fish in preparation for shipment to the merchants. Just below where I’m standing, I see the driftwood bench that Howard White’s family erected in his memory. It overlooks the Cove, with an unobstructed view of Twillingate harbour. The inscription reads “Have a Spell & Stay a While.” So, I sit for a while and think about him. When I was a boy, Howard White lived in the house behind me and just across the road from what is now the Captain’s Legacy B&B. Back then, the B&B was the family home of Captain Peter and Hilda Troake. They had one son, Jack, and two daughters named 1-888-588-6353
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Elizabeth and Doreen. The water is top high and calm. I feel a great sense of contentment as the setting sun reflects off the water between Stockley’s Point and Wild Cove. It would be a great evening for jigging tom cods off the stagehead, if there were any tom cods or any stageheads in the Cove now. But there were indeed lots of each when my brothers and I were growing up here with our many friends, which, of course, included Howard.
that I have ever witnessed. Adults and children alike just had to drop in to watch it. I remember Howard invited my brothers and me over to his house one Saturday night to watch the hockey game. The great Rocket Richard and teammates were playing the Toronto Maple Leafs. The White family home had a rather large porch, and it was filled with boots that night. It seemed like half the Cove had dropped by.
Some guys might say “How ye getting on?” or reach out their hand for a shake, but not Howard. He motioned for me to come out from behind the counter and he gave me a big hug. The White family consisted of Captain Fred and Julia White and their children: Betty, Ruth, Jean, Nina, Norma, Dave and Howard. Captain Fred was well-known in Twillingate as he operated a passenger boat between Twillingate and Lewisporte several times a week. There was no causeway to Twillingate then. About halfway between where I am sitting and the White’s house, there is a tiny dip in the landscape, like a mini meadow. During some winters, rainwater would pool up there and freeze. We had lots of fun on that piece of ice learning to skate. Later we’d skate on Pardy’s Meadow, which sometimes contained a much larger sheet of ice. I’m guessing that Fred White was a bit of a progressive man because I think his family had the first telephone in the Cove, the first car and the first television. That TV had the biggest impact on life in the Cove 122
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When I was a teenager, Dad bought a beautiful white Mercury Meteor with a red interior and green dash lights. Our first car! Eventually I got my driver’s licence. One night my brother Wally, Howard and I took some girls from Crow Head to a teenage dance at the high school. At the end of the night, I managed to drive the car off the road and into a ditch. The car wasn’t damaged, but Dad had to get it back on the road the next day. I didn’t get into trouble, but I think he believed that I wasn’t paying proper attention to what I was doing. “I saw young Howard White backing his father’s car out on the road the other day,” he told me, “and his head was twisting around like a turr’s.” Anyone who has ever approached a turr (seabird) in a boat would know exactly what he was talking about. That comment still crosses my mind when I’m driving my own car today. 1-888-588-6353
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It was a most effective lesson. In 1967, I left the Cove and moved to Toronto. I never saw Howard in Twillingate again. He moved to Toronto about the same time, and in the early years he would occasionally drop by our apartment in Downsview for a yarn and a laugh. I think he lived in Scarborough. Later he would introduce me to his new girlfriend, Bonnie. Many years would pass before I would see Howard again. It was sometime in the 1990s. I was alone in the Newfoundland General Store one day when I noticed this huge tractor-trailer pull into the parking lot. The door opened and who should come in but Howard, grinning from ear to ear. We hadn’t seen each other in about 30 years. Some guys might say “How ye getting on?” or reach out their hand for a shake, but not Howard. He motioned for me to come out from
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behind the counter and he gave me a big hug. We enjoyed catching up. By now Howard had his own trucking outfit and was hauling freight all over North America. He was married to Bonnie, and they were raising their children in Peterborough. That was the last time I saw him. Howard passed away in 2016, a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. We lost a beautiful friend. As I now sit on Howard’s bench, in my mind’s eye I can see several punts out near Harts Island. There’s a bunch of boys out there playing. I can hear the din of their highpitched voices all the way in here. One of those voices belongs to Howard White. If you ever sit on Howard’s bench and wonder who Howard was – well, he was just another kid from the Cove that everyone loved!
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2202_Puzzles_1701-puzzles 12/22/21 4:45 PM Page 126
puzzles
The Beaten Path
Aiden Mahoney 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.
M
M
K
E
S
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T
m
J L R
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T p
n
H V
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H T R R K x M S
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R J
Last Month’s Community: Frenchman’s Cove 126
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Sudoku
from websudoku.com
Last month’s answers
?
Need Help
Puzzle answers can be found online at DownhomeLife.com/puzzles
www.downhomelife.com
February 2022
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Harold Feiertag 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: • Largest fishing community on the Baie Verte Peninsula • Name is French for “the saw” • Great iceberg watching spot • Home of the Outport Tea Room and Museum • Hosts an annual Crab Festival
Last Month’s Answer: Pouch Cove
Picturesque Place NameS of Newfoundland and Labrador
by Mel D’Souza Last Month’s Answer: Howley 128
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In Other Words Guess the well-known expression written here in other words.
Last Month’s Clue: You are unable to determine a tome by its wrapping In Other Words: You can’t judge a book by its cover
This Month’s Clue: You achieve a handful, you misplace a handful In Other Words: ___ ___ ____ ___ ____ ____
A Way With Words UNIVERSE UNIVERSE
Last Month’s Answer: Parallel Universes
This Month’s Clue
MAN BOARD Answer: ___ ________
Scrambled Sayings
Rhyme Time A rhyming word game by Ron Young
1. A fortuitous look is a ______ ______ 2. An improved note is a ______ ______ 3. To perch and crochet is to ____ and ____ Last Month’s Answers 1. fun is done, 2. gabby cabbie, 3. night fight
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.
’
.
’
I D A C E E C C D I D F E C A B A N A B H K N D S T C E R S E L E O S O U L R E E U E R I O T O W U H T S T S L S Y S U O U M O V T W O T N U S N Y T U
Last month’s answer: I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an ass of yourself. www.downhomelife.com
February 2022
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Rhymes 5 Times Each answer rhymes with the other four
1. fragment
____________
2. excursion
____________
3. turnover
____________
4. boat
____________
5. lash
____________
STUCK? Don’t get your knickers in a knot! Puzzle answers can be found online at DownhomeLife.com/puzzles
Last Month’s Answers: 1. alley, 2. galley, 3. valley, 4. tally, 5. rally
Tangled Towns by Lolene Young Condon and Ron Young
Unscramble each of the five groups of letters below to get 5 Newfoundland and Labrador place names.
Sound out the groups of words below to get a familiar expression.
1. WESNIL VCOE
For best results sound the clue words out loud!
2. WANSTORMY
Heap Laid Thief Healed __ ______ ___ _____
3. TANNERWILD 4. NDRAG CABEH
Two Noah Vale __ __ ______ Last Month’s 1st Clue: May Jerk Hunts Earn Answer: Major concern Last Month’s 2nd Clue: Urine Owe Wit Hall Answer: You’re a know it all
5. SONOHUR Last Month’s Answers: 1. Brig Bay, 2. Eddies Cove East, 3. Pigeon Cove, 4. Rocky Harbour, 5. Straitsview
A nalogical A nagrams Unscramble the capitalized words to get one word that matches the subtle clue. 1. MERCY GENE ~ Clue: no time to wait 2. FAIR MAIL ~ Clue: been down this road before 3. CRAMPON REEF ~ Clue: it often takes centre stage 4. EAT TAT TELL ~ Clue: your secrets are not safe with me 5. LOSER WOLF ~ Clue: they’ll make a leader out of you Last Month’s Answers: 1. turntable, 2. alphabet, 3. minimalism, 4. inconsistent, 5. magnets 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.
1-91: unmanlike 2-32: require 4-1: sharpen 5-45: inclined 7-5: swab 7-57: centre of road 9-7: male sheep 10-1: record player 10-7: grandmother 10-100: decoration 11-14: surcharges 14-12: observe 15-17: regret 16-46: on top of 17-20: Napoleon isle 19-59: big pigs 21-23: gave food to 26-56: body of water 30-10: tabloid 30-27: street 34-4: desire 34-31: broad 34-94: water erosion 37-35: charged item 38-40: cure hide 38-58: foot digit 40-31: cross country 40-35: sovereign state 43-13: neap or spring 43-41: male cat 45-65: devour 46-43: tidy 49-46: horse 52-22: manner 53-83: excavation 54-34: observed 54-60: sorrow 56-53: sprint 57-60: G-man Eliot 57-77: old horse 59-56: mail www.downhomelife.com
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60-40: transgression 60-90: leg bone 64-61: trumpet 65-61: thistle part 65-68: not this 65-70: straw roof 66-96: in this place 71-91: dined 72-76: by oneself 77-79: chat 81-61: beige 81-83: golf start 90-87: proboscis 92-62: closeby 94-91: voice pitch 95-65: dispatched 95-91: rock
97-57: vegetarian 99-79: steal 99-96: rant 100-91: monument Last Month’s Answer
F A V O U R A B L E
I S H B E E I MA T A T E LO I F L P OO ARG I C E L E C
I N C O H E R E N T
NGR ONA E I L P S U A S L D I L UME S UC T S A ORA
February 2022
O R O P E T A C O T
D E B I L I T A T E
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The Bayman’s
Crossword Puzzle by Ron Young
132
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ACROSS 1. offshore oil platform 4. estimated time of arrival (abbrev) 5. electric or moray 6. not out 8. aurora borealis 18. test 19. ark builder 20. “What ____?” – makes no difference (colloq) 23. type of medical scan (abbrev) 24. “As far __ ever a puffin flew” 25. born 27. ____ Islands – former home of the Great Auk 28. we 29. Snooks Harbour (abbrev) 30. precious stone 31. cost 32. public relations (abbrev) 33. knockout (abbrev) 34. riser 37. male teacher (colloq) 39. care of (abbrev) 41. “__ your wife is run down, give her cod liver oil” 42. “Where fishermen used to __” 43. Old ___ – sleep paralysis (colloq) 44. leather cap (colloq) 46. Hag ____ – suffered sleep paralysis 47. road (abbrev) 48. offspring 49. smells 50. encountered 51. “I’ll load her down with a ___ claw jigger” 52. opposite of SW DOWN 1. pre-Confederation social workers 2. “Get down out of __!” www.downhomelife.com
3. seize hold of (colloq) 7. “__ b’y” – negative reply (colloq) 9. small rowboat (colloq) 10. him 11. “I wish I’d never taken this _________ around the bay” 12. rodents 13. nevermind (abbrev) 14. local fishery (colloq) 15. leave 16. lazy person (colloq) 17. “God guard ____, Newfoundland” 21. payable 22. Saskatchewan (abbrev) 24. question 26. surface 32. Ma’s mate 35. delete 36. Territorial Force Reserve (abbrev) 38. International Association of Dental Students (abbrev) 40. ___ Christmas Day 42. stay (colloq) 45. “You’ll never pull the wool over my eyes, ’cause I’m ___ as stun as I looks” 46. Dildo ___ 49. not off M AY A S A I R D AY I A R M S E B O G G I M G O R E E V D N E I T E R N A R N G O G A Y R I S S K I V
ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD A R E A
N E S T H U L E
N O R T I N G O P E W E I M S N T D R B U L U E A N D S O N R A P V E R A S T
H A Y P O O K S
E R A E W T N Y P E Y A R E R N
February 2022
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DIAL-A-SMILE © 2022 Ron Young
Pick the right letters from the old style phone to match the numbers grouped below and uncover a quote which will bring a smile to your face. _ _ __ _____ 7 3 77 46478
_ 2
______ 737766 ___ 423 ___ 866
__ 86
__ 47
___ 946
___ 427
______ 547836
____ 6269
_ 2
__ 86
___ _ _____ 678 4 64787
Last Month’s Answer: I don’t have a bank account because I don’t know my mother’s maiden name.
©2022 Ron Young
CRACK THE CODE \
Each symbol represents a letter of the alphabet, for instance =H Try to guess the smaller, more obvious words to come up with the letters for the longer ones. The code changes each month.
_ H _ m \w
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ zO w Q m w 3 m
H _ _ _ _ _ _ \ w QCD i z _ _ D3
_ H _ _ _ _ _ m \ w OQ nh
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ H _ _ BO D w i K 3 \ D n _ _ _ K
Qi
_ _ _ _ C0 ; w
Last Month’s Answer: I quote others only in order the better to express myself. 134
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© 2022 Ron Young
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.”
canine =
departed =
kid =
disaster =
_ _ _
_ _ _ _
tdKw
nonsense =
_ _ _
_ _ _
_ _
bd
txK
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
t}wo]Iw _ _ _
b xY]Kd p
_ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _
mI m b Y d
_ _ _ _ _
p]IKv _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _
m]Kd p ’_
txK w
p]I
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
mutter =
_ _ _ _ _
to}YV
p]I
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
tx Yxm}wp
V]v
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
t}wo]Iw
_ _
bd
b Iw _ _ _
]YV
_ _
}w
Last Month’s Answer: You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. www.downhomelife.com
February 2022
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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 SPOT CARIBOU ON HIGHWAY
Last Month’s Answers: 1. Cannon, 2. Buttress, 3. Flag, 4. Boulder, 5. Window, 6. Person missing, 7. Cloud, 8. Man moved, 9. Cape, 10. Scarf, 11. Ern’s arm, 12. Ern’s leg “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 TREATS
The words can be across, up, down, backward or at an angle, but always in a line.
MILKSHAKE NACHOS PASTRY PIZZA
BROWNIES BUBBLEGUM BURGER CAKE CANDY CHEESECAKE CHEEZIES CHIPS CHURRO DONUTS FRAPPUCCINO FRIES FUDGE GELATO
M M R A V X X H E D J M L D S S D N
D D Q B J Z E O S W X D S P F G G B
Y Y X S T V P U B A S A I O E J D N
D N D V F Y O P C F O H Z R H R C X
O I N N O Z P X G F C M E A D C Q H
M G U F A W C S O L G I X A H X A H
K V H K S A B G U H G C O Z O C P Q
Last Month’s Answers
W M M N U C O J P E P L F E D A Z N
www.downhomelife.com
R K S S N C R D U C W K E H G N I Q
E O T E B G N B K O B S L P D P U P
G N U I G K L D L F E H R V J D I S
R I K R M A P Y V C H A D M A J C C
U C O F Z U C A A Q K K A O E C A W
V V T D R I U Q M F M B K T E I L U
B C O Y O P G K S F M E J J N K V P
E R A H G B W V Q D E U M H I Y Y L
POPCORN PRETZEL SUNDAE WAFFLE L Z R A Z B E M Z O A E F B N M L B
R U U Y I T E E J T Z Q N R E U N G
Y L K B C L Q L X F R J F X Q M R C
M T S D W V E J F P H W X S R U H O
D P I Z K N A A L K R L L Y G F T F
P Z U K X S W O O D C H U C K I S B
Z L M Z A Q M Z F M T M K F P Y M W
W P Z G Z L T L P B Q Y I F B I M S
G U K E L U M E F W Z C R M S R I T
B P W T R I W C O Y D E U D I E N N
T A W W B H Q D E R B X G D W W V G
J W Y E P R I E T N C N Z Y G V K M
P M N G E R Q Y W P K J E W F A B K
W R K F U D G E C G E U C M L T N B
R J O D B E D R A I C E A T H E E Z
S U B P K L E N Y I B N Z T R B J F
B F V Q K U W X J N D T B Z R R L R
O T T E R H F H U X E I X W T A X M
D E Q N S R P N T L A P S I E M M D
B S E I Z E E H C W Q G Z O Q R F O
D O V I U N N G C Z R U N Y H R R A
A O F R P Z B N E Y M C G E Z S U W
S M F R I T W G L O R C X B U S H N
K C L E C V E N H F Y R K V O S P S
T B L E T D B W X G I F X C L Y U N
W Z T V Z S F G O V G O U O B A Y R
L H O L O L Y X F M R P T L I J V N
Q U Y I P R X H Y L H T W N S K V I
I D W O O J E J C K V W X E R A J I
L V M W R D H S W R D K Y V A R T G
G P D A C H U R R O V X M A F U W E
February 2022
Q B W A A L E X O B V I O W C D X F
H Y Y P I V F J R O C L A O N B P P
C T U V N V G K D D L J A M B D U S 137
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Mortgage Agent # M18002662 FSCO# 12728
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Book your ad in Marketplace Rates start at $50
Not intended to solicit properties currently under contract
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February 2022
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February 2022
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GREAT GIFT IDEAS!
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Memoir - Rick Mercer
Recipes From the Kitchens of Newfoundland
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On Poppy’s Beach - Susan Pynn Taylor
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#80753 | $16.95
#43105 | $10.95
#47033 | $10.95
Downhome Four-Way Crosswords - Ron Young #54058 | $6.95
Downhome Laughing Matters - Ron Young #46852 | $14.95
Differences by the Dozen
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353
- Mel D’Souza
#49315 | $8.95
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GREAT GIFT IDEAS! Sherpa Blankets 50" x 60"
Newfoundland Map #75516 | $39.95
Newfoundland Tartan #75517 | $39.95
Newfoundland Sayings #77814 | $39.95
NL Flag Placenames #75516 | $39.95
Tea Towel: Newfoundland Kitchen Sayings - Waffle Cotton #65130 | $6.95
Tea Towel: Moose - Waffle Cotton #65083 | $6.95
Musical Mummers #75515 | $39.95
Tea Towel: Lighhouse - Waffle Cotton #48612 | $6.95
ORDER ONLINE: www.shopdownhome.com
Prices subject to change without notice. Prices listed do not include taxes and shipping. While quantities last.
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MORE SELECTION ONLINE www.shopdownhome.com
Purity Kisses
Purity Candy Barrels #49556 | $4.95
Peanut Butter #4010 • Assorted #13997 • Rum and Butter #16805
$4.99 each
Purity Climax Mixture Candy Nobs #79610 | $4.95
Purity Peppermint Nobs #4238 | $4.95
Newfoundland Seasonings Ragin' Bayman Spicy BBQ #79465 • Moose Spice #77375 Steak & Burger #77377
Purity Gift Box #78550 | $21.99
Purity Assorted Goodie Box #79290 | $52.99
$7.99 each
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353
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photo finish
Winter
Wonder
Bud marvels at the snowy weather of his first winter. Dominique Andrews Labrador City, NL
Do you have an amazing or funny photo to share? Turn to page 9 to find out how to submit. 144
February 2022
1-888-588-6353
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