Vol 35 • No 07
$4.99
December 2022
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Sit Down with Santa & the Grinch Readers’ Christmas Memories
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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
Warehouse Operations Warehouse / Inventory Manager Carol Howell Warehouse Operator Josephine Collins Shipping/Receiving Clerk Jacinta Squires
Art and Production Art Director Vince Marsh Illustrator Mel D’Souza Illustrator Snowden Walters
Retail Operations Retail Floor Manager, St. John’s Jackie Rice Retail Floor Manager, Twillingate Donna Keefe Retail Sales Associates Crystal Rose, Jonathon
Advertising Sales Account Manager Barbara Young Account Manager Ashley O’Keefe Marketing Director Tiffany Brett Finance and Administration Accountant Marlena Grant Accountant Sandra Gosse
Organ, Erin McCarthy, Marissa Little, Kim Tucker, Heather Stuckless, Katrina Hynes, Destinee Rogers, Amy Young, Emily Snelgrove, Brandy Rideout, Alexandria Skinner, Emily Power, Ella Coggins, Colleen Giovannini
Subscriptions Customer Service Associate Cathy Blundon Customer Service Associate Lisa Tiller Founding Editor Ron Young
Operations Manager, Twillingate Nicole Mehaney 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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crazy for cookies
Contents
DECEMBER 2022
42 Forever Changed by Fiona
42 NL spirit
Amid the wreckage from an historic storm, survivors find gratitude, grace, even good humour to help them carry on. Pam Pardy
72 All the Days of December A multicultural look at the festive season Nicola Ryan
98 Everyday Recipes 15 kinds of Christmas cookies!
114 Readers’ Christmas Memories Fondest recollections of holidays past www.downhomelife.com
December 2022
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Contents
DECEMBER 2022
homefront 8 I Dare Say A note from the Editor 10 Letters From Our Readers Kitchen party, wriggle fences and getting creative with your mail
16 Downhome Tours Downhome readers explore Nordic countries
18 Why is That? What’s the origin of the Christmas tree? Linda Browne
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what a time
20 Life’s Funny ’eart of Gold Trevor C.
21 Say What? A contest that puts words in someone else’s mouth
22 Lil Charmers Merry Li’l Christmas 24 Pets of the Month ’Tis the Season 26 Reviewed Denise Flint reviews Precious Little by Camille Fouillard.
20 do no ’arm
30 What Odds Paul Warford falls victim to the groggy perils of insomnia.
32 Fresh Tracks Wendy Rose reviews Split Down the Middle, the latest album from singer-songwriter Chris Picco. 36 Adventures Outdoors Young Hunters Gord Follett
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model citizen
features 52 In Character for Christmas The Newfie Grinch and Santa’s helpers add joy and good cheer to the holidays. Pam Pardy
58 Building on Memories St. John’s
52 “you’re not a mean one, Mr. Grinch” www.downhomelife.com
retiree’s incredible models of landmark businesses and homes of yesteryear. Dennis Flynn
66 Call Me Canoe This new short form mockumentary highlights Indigenous experience in NL. Henny Buffinga December 2022
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Contents
DECEMBER 2022
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new stage for an old stage
explore 78 What’s in a Name Fit for a Queen? Dale Jarvis
80 Welcome to Art’s Landing An old fishing property gets a beautiful makeover. Gloria Brown-Juvonen
home and cabin 88 Stuff We Love Christmas Cheer Nicola Ryan
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be merry & bright 6
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tiny tannenbaum
90 Winter Wonderland Rather than cut down another large Christmas tree, interior designer Marie Bishop is keeping the spirit alive in a whole new way.
94 The Everyday Gourmet Newfoundland Wedding Soup Andrea Maunder
reminiscing About the cover This beautifully illustrated outport Christmas scene is the work of Dale Ryan, a self-taught artist from Southern Harbour, Placentia Bay, NL. This artwork is featured as a design on tea towels, pot holders and oven mitts. Check them out on p. 138 of our mail order section.
Cover Index 15 Kinds of Cookies • 98 Holidays for All • 72 Sit Down with Santa & the Grinch • 52 Readers’ Christmas Memories • 114
110 Flashbacks Classic photos of people and places.
112 This Month in Downhome History 122 Puzzles 134 Colouring Page 136 Classifieds 138 Mail Order 144 Photo Finish
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i dare say
I wish you comfort and joy. As I begin to anticipate the family gatherings, the pretty lights, the music and the food that fill the holidays, my thoughts go to the residents of Channel-Port aux Basques who won’t be in their homes this Christmas, the newcomers spending their first festive season far from the land and culture they know, and the many people who are struggling with the soaring cost of living. So many could benefit from a little comfort and joy. These blessings don’t have to cost a lot and aren’t out of reach. In fact, if you know where to look, you’ll find them all around you. Comfort can come in the form of a home-cooked meal, a cosy blanket, a kind smile or a warm hug. Joy can be found in a toboggan racing down a snow-covered hill (at any age!), in dancing to your favourite song, in a surprise visit from a loved one. The most beautiful thing about offering comfort and giving joy? The very act of giving them brings them back to you in equal measure. That certainly seems to be the case for the people who act as Santa’s helpers – and even the Grinch! – according to their story on page 52. It’s definitely my experience when I make Christmas cookies and share them with friends and family. It may not be what drives people to volunteer for worthy causes, but they are rewarded in kind nonetheless. These are gifts that carry forward, ripple out, bounce back and have no end. Whatever your holiday season brings, I hope it brings you comfort and joy. Merry Christmas,
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 25th of each month.
Congratulations to Marilyn Stanley of Beaver Bank, NS, who found Corky on page 113 of the October issue!
*No Phone Calls Please. One entry per person
www.downhomelife.com
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Newfoundland Kitchen Party I had contacted Downhome and told you guys that we were planning a NL kitchen party at our trailer park/campground near Hamilton, ON. Myself and my husband, Kenneth Brace, planned it and it went great! We had the Mainland Kitchen Band from Cambridge, ON, play. It was one of the best seasonal parties we had at the park, Cedars Campground. Thanks so much for sending us some back issues for people to see what I always talk about! Thanks, too, for such a great magazine. I look forward to it each month. Todd Lamswood Toronto, ON
Knows you never had a time! Thanks for sharing these awesome photos.
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Aunt Leonie I must congratulate Lester Green for such a reminiscence of “Aunt Leonie” [“Growing up Railside,” September 2022 issue]. Of course, she isn’t my aunt; however, before she moved to Gander she lived here in Clarenville. What an active “young” lady she was! She attended our Senior Gather groups, where we met twice a week at the Bill Davis chalet in Elizabeth Swan Park. She dearly loved her card game 120s. I transported her many times from her apartment to the chalet and home again. There wasn’t a hair out of place; I doubt if she curled it with the curling iron before she came. Happy birthday to Aunt Leonie from all her friends in Clarenville. Long may your big jib draw! Austin Greening Clarenville, NL
Leonie (Stoyles) Hollett turned 100 years old on October 5, 2022. She was living at Oram’s Bethesda Manor in Gander, NL, when that story ran in Downhome. We wish her all the best! The story of her brother, Lester Stoyles, who served with the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit in the Second World War, and his Scottish war bride was in last month’s issue (“Lumberjack Love Story,” also by Lester Green).
Connecting with the Past Come Home Year in Newfoundland and Labrador allowed me to connect with my past in the most wonderful way. I have discovered distant cousins who I would love to meet in person going forward. This is all thanks to www.downhomelife.com
Downhome magazine, which published my letter requesting contacts who might be interested in obtaining my grandfather Archibald Cooper’s birth certificate (1882) along with a photograph of his family. My letter was published in the January 2022 Downhome. In February, Warren Cooper, a resident of Old Perlican, NL, telephoned me. His great-grandfather, Roland Cooper, and my grandfather, Archibald Cooper, were brothers who resided in Old Perlican. This led to my connecting with Mrs. Alfreda Hopkins, also a resident of Old Perlican, who was born in the Beckett Heritage House. Frieda’s father and Roland Cooper were cousins. In 2000, Frieda donated the Beckett Heritage House to the Town of Old Perlican and continues to help the Heritage Committee with its summer operations. With the assistance of Warren and Frieda, the Cooper documents are now displayed in the Beckett Heritage House. I personally feel that not only did precious reminders of the history of my grandfather return home to his beautiful island, but also I received the treasured gift of friendship. Thanks to the kindness of Warren Cooper, Frieda Hopkins and Downhome magazine, who all played a role in achieving this happy outcome. With gratitude, Esther Grant Waterloo, ON
Thank you for that follow up, Esther. We’re pleased to know you found a good home for your family records. December 2022
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Wriggle Fences I would like to thank your magazine for the story of wriggle fences in your February 2022 edition [“Use Them or Lose Them”]. It inspired me to build a version of it on the road to my lake property. I will be building more along the road next year, as everyone that sees it comments on the uniqueness of it. Thank you for all your great stories and recipes as well. Jane Berry
Ontario Nice job on the fence! It seems you weren’t the only one inspired by that article about traditional skills in danger of being lost to history. You and at least one other reader, who lives in Florida, are helping keep wriggle fences in the present. See his letter below.
Wriggle Fence Heads South Having been impressed with the creative use of available materials in Newfoundland in the construction of wriggle (or riddle) fences, we brought the idea to Florida. Here’s our new trash can enclosure made in the wriggle style with bamboo. Mike Spino
Fernandina Beach, FL, USA That’s a well-done display of your Newfoundland and Labrador heritage (specifically rooted, as you noted, in Victoria, Brownsdale, St. John’s and Rose Blanche). Wonder if it’s the first ever bamboo wriggle fence?
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Honorary Newfie Along with my mail order, here’s a fun Christmas poem I wrote in 1988. Cynthia Gullage Toronto, ON
Your highly decorated envelope reminded us of a contest we ran some years ago, so we’re doing it again! We challenge readers to get really creative with your envelopes when you send us your poems, photos, stories or Corky entries. Use paints, pencils, pens, crayons, stickers – whatever, as long as our address and the sender’s address are clearly visible by Canada Post, to be sure we actually get it. We’ll collect them until the end of January 2023, and we’ll award the best envelope decorator with a copy of Downhome 25 Years: The Highlights of Our Journey So Far. And Cynthia, we love your poem, too. Here it is for all to enjoy. Merry Christmas to all!
Honorary Newfie Look! There, in the night-time sky It’s Santa on his sleigh. He’s just left St. Anthony And heading for Torbay. One time I asked old Santa Claus How he could find St. John’s, For what if Rudolph missed a turn And took him to Le Mans? The answer that he gave to me Was music to my ears:
“It’s right near Petty Harbour, b’y Just minutes from Cape Spear. I touch down there on Christmas Eve, Not only for the snacks, But once I had a drop of Screech I knew that I’d be back. Sometimes they leave out fish n’ brewis Or partridgeberry pie Bakeapple tarts and figgy duff I love that food, me b’y. Continued p.14
CENTRAL NL JUST WEST OF GFW
OUTDOOR HOT TUBS • ROMANCE • DINING • SNOWMOBILING • RAFTING • ATV TRAILS
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December 2022
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“Around the bay there’s mummers Who go from door to door. The likes of their disguises I’d never seen before. There’s b’ys dressed up as women While girls sport male gear With pillow-padded bottoms And curtains on their hair.
“Don’t seem like Christmas if…”
“The rafters ring with laughter As they sing their merry tunes There’s Willie on the squeezebox While Sarah plays the spoons. Give ’em a drop of homebrew And they’ll jig a lively dance. To guess their true identities Takes more than just a glance.
Don’t seem like Christmas if…
“I’ve travelled this world over From Paris to L.A. Seen the Great Wall of China Looked down on Galway Bay. But there’s no place I love more Than this place – Newfoundland! I think that I’ll retire here From my cold Arctic land. Then I’ll go a-mummering And b’y, I’ll act so goofy That the folks will designate me ‘Honorary Newfie.’”
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.
We asked our Facebook friends to finish this famous lyric from “The Mummer’s Song” by Simani, by putting their own spin on it. Here are some of our favourite replies. See them all at www.facebook.com/downhomelife.
“…there is no fight over the turkey stuffing.” – Sher Alexander “…you don’t have a glass of slush that came out of a beef bucket.” – Curt Budden “…we’re not up the shed having a time on da Lambs!” – Travis Canning “…your cat don’t tear up your tree.” – Yvonne Jones “…the husband doesn’t complain about how many decorations I have out.” – Peg May Hutchings “…you’re not up till 3:00 a.m. Christmas Eve wrapping or putting together Christmas toys for old Saint Nick.” – Ashley May “…everyone is not gone for a nap after turkey dinner.” – Glenda Hefford Piller “…we don’t have an argument about the Christmas tree that hubby cut!” – Tammy Cable “…we can’t look at Sears Wish Book ever again.” – Sherwin Phil Giles “…Mama hasn’t had a mental breakdown, cursed out the Elf on a Shelf and lost the Scotch tape for the 1,000th time.” – Ashley Harris
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Sponsored Editorial
3-year-old Maggie Hunt with Dream Boy
2022: The Year in Review 2022 was a good year for the Newfoundland Pony thanks to support from many. Here are some highlights: We worked hard to open the Newfoundland Pony Heritage Park in Hopeall using proceeds from Phase 1 of our fundraising campaign. Dream Boy and Singapore took up residence for the summer and greeted over 800 visitors. Plans are underway to make it even better in 2023. Please consider donating to help us build a permanent home for Newfoundland Ponies here. We are running the seasonal pasture at Swansea with the help of 2 awesome horsemen and were pleased to have over 30 equines on pasture. Securing pastureland for horses and ponies is an important part of the work we do. We also congratulate NL Pony Pals on their new trail in Cupids and a successful season! A record 27 foals were born this year in Newfoundland, across Canada and the US. The NPS Registry also reached a milestone this year, with over 1,000 Newfoundland Ponies registered. Sadly, 2022 was not without sadness. People ignoring “Do Not Feed the Ponies” signage resulted in the tragic death of a sweet mare, Little Catalina, who died from colic from visitors overfeeding her apples in Stephenville. A young stallion, Duke, also died in a highway accident by Tilton which broke our hearts at the start of the summer season. We commend the efforts of owners and breeders who do so much to help the Newfoundland Pony survive. They do it at their own personal expense and face many challenges. We hope the new year will be one of greater cooperation. There is a bigger role for the municipal, provincial and federal government to play to take up the cause of the Newfoundland Pony. The pony helped build this province: now it’s our turn to help them. Volunteers at the Heritage Pasture. Thank you for all your work!
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homefront Downhome tours...
Nordic Countries
Denmark In this photo submitted by Elaine Neil-Smith, Charles Smith of Coley’s Point, NL, poses by the iconic bronze statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen’s bustling harbour.
There are lots of fun Danish Christmas traditions, and one that might sound familiar is the old custom of giving animals a treat on Christmas Eve. Legend says that on this night, at the stroke of midnight, animals gain the magical ability to speak. Many families will go for a morning walk in the park or woods and bring along special snacks for the animals and birds.
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Norway Dave and Ann Martin of Bedford, NS, toured Scandinavia in a camper with their daughter, Jennifer, in 2012. Here they pose by Langfjordbotn, one of the many beautiful fjords in northern Norway.
Norwegians have their own version of Tibb’s Eve on December 23. It’s known as Lille Julaften, or Little Christmas Eve, a time when the family comes together to tidy and decorate, put up the Christmas tree and make gingerbread houses. Then they gather round the TV to watch the annual broadcast of a beloved black-and-white comedy sketch, Grevinnen og Hovmesteren (Dinner for One).
Iceland “Being from Newfoundland, I just had to make sure I got a picture with the Leif Erikson statue outside the Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik,” writes Robin Falkowski of Springside, SK.
Icelanders love a good feed and celebrate Christmas Eve by sharing a splendid home-cooked meal of roast lamb, ham, potatoes, cabbage, gravy and all the trimmings before opening presents. A special tradition is Jolabokaflod – giving and receiving new books for Christmas, then curling up in front of the fire to spend the night reading.
www.downhomelife.com
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Expert answers to common life questions. By Linda Browne
What’s the origin of the Christmas tree? Christmastime is filled with many interesting rituals, including trekking into the woods and hacking down a perfectly good evergreen to haul home and adorn with shiny garland, lights and an assortment of baubles, bells and other decorations. Or perhaps you visit a Christmas tree lot in an effort to save time (and perhaps your fingers, if you’re not particularly handy with an axe or saw). Either way, perhaps you’ve wondered where this particular tradition comes from. According to his essay published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Arts in 1910, George Birdwood writes that the Christmas tree “is probably a survival of some observance connected with the pagan Saturnalia of the Winter Solstice, in supersession whereof the Church, about the fifth century of our era, instituted Christmas Day.” He also notes that ancient Egyptians decorated their homes with branches of the date palm “as the symbol of life triumphant over death…” In his book Christmas: A Candid History, Bruce David Forbes mentions several legends about the origin of the Christmas tree, including one about St. Boniface, who is said to have angrily chopped down an oak tree dedicated to Thor after discovering winter sacrifices being made in front 18
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of it. It’s said that a fir tree grew in its place, “with its branches pointing to heaven,” which he called a holy tree. Forbes mentions a couple of other possible precursors to the Christmas tree, including the medieval “mystery plays,” which the church used to teach people “about biblical stories and Christian doctrine, since most lay Christians could not read.” Some were called “paradise plays,” which revolved around a “paradise tree” decorated with apples and communion wafers and encircled by candles, and that corresponded with the feast day of Adam and Eve on December 24. “The transition is unclear,” Forbes writes, “but apparently this tree shifted from being a prop in a play to a household symbol or decoration.” He also makes mention of the 1-888-588-6353
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“Christmas pyramid” or Lichstock from Germany: “a wooden frame upon which a family could place evergreen branches, nativity figures, candy, fruit, small gifts and a star.” While its origins are unclear, he adds, “it may have predated the modern Christmas tree, or it may have developed at approximately the same time…” Riga, Latvia, Forbes says, claims to be the site of the first Christmas tree in 1510, “and France also exhibits early evidence,” he adds, mentioning a 1561 ordinance in Alsace that limited citizens to one small tree. “This ordinance seems to be an indication that, at least in one area, Christmas trees were so popular that the supply of trees was threatened,” he writes. In her book, Christmas: A Biography, Judith Flanders says that by 1531, markets in Strasbourg, France, were selling trees for people to place inside their homes, “although these were apparently not yet decorated… The first decorated indoor tree we know of was in 1605, again in Strasbourg. Adorned with paper roses, apples, wafers, gilded sweets and sugar ornaments, it was what, a few years later, would be given a new name – a Weihnachtsbaum, or Christmas tree,” she writes. Christmas trees were rooted in the holiday season in Germany by the 1770s and 1780s, Flanders says. It’s a tradition, she adds, that made its way to England with the help of the novel The Sorrows of Young Werther by German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, which was translated into
English in the 1780s. The book, Flanders says, included a “description of a candle-lit Christmas tree decorated with sweets and apples.” At Windsor in 1800, “Queen Charlotte erected the first tree that can be firmly dated in Britain,” Flanders says, though this took the simple form of a branch “fixed on a board.” Both Forbes and Flanders credit Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, with helping Christmas trees take off in Britain. In 1848, they say, the Illustrated London News published an engraving of the couple and their children gathered around a tabletop tree adorned with gifts. “This single image cemented the Christmas tree in the popular consciousness, so much so that by 1861, the year of Albert’s death, it was firmly believed that this German prince had transplanted the custom to England with him when he married,” Flanders writes. An edited version of this image, simply titled “The Christmas Tree,” was reprinted in 1850 in the bestselling US magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book. “The image was reprinted in 1860, and again in the following decade. By then, Christmas trees had taken root in American culture in a way they would not do in Britain for a century,” Flanders says. However, she adds, “Christmas trees may have arrived in North America as early as 1786.” So before you go ripping into your gifts this year, take a moment to admire your tree and appreciate its long and storied history.
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
’eart of Gold My boyfriend completed the Licensed Practical Nursing Program in the Bay St. George area some months back. During his clinical training at the hospital, one patient was a larger man who had a loud cough that could be heard throughout the hallway. One of these coughs happened while the students were doing their final rounds of the day with an RN. Seeing some students jump at the loud sound, she smiled reassuringly. “Oh, sure, that’s just the gentleman over in room 206. He’s loud, but harmless.” Next morning, my boyfriend noticed one student, who was from outside the province, come in with a large basket filled with gift cards and all sorts of other goodies. Their instructor asked what it was for. She smiled, “Oh, this is for the man in room 206 with no arms, poor guy.” My boyfriend couldn’t help but laugh as he told her, “The nurse yesterday had an accent. She told us that man was harmless, not armless!” We do tend to drop that H a lot, don’t we? Trevor C. Western Newfoundland
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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x for “Pretty big bo g bag.” a pease puddin g – @vahmun
Say WHAT? Downhome recently posted this photo (submitted by Mandy Lynn Mercer) on our website and social media platforms and asked folks to imagine what this child might be saying. @vahmung’s response (via Instagram) made us chuckle the most, so we’re awarding them 20 Downhome Dollars!
Here are the runners-up: “Mom, call the Downhomer ’cause Santa found Corky Sly Conner and he’s in the bag!” – Kimberly Martin “I told you if I didn’t get the Downhome subscription that I didn’t want anything.” – Gloria Bailey “SALT FISH! Really, Santa? That wasn’t on my list.” – Renee Hogarth
Play with us online! www.downhomelife.com/saywhat
www.downhomelife.com
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homefront lil charmers
Merry and Bright Nine-month-old Kaitlyn gets tangled up in the pretty lights. Linda Giles Bishop’s Falls, NL
Merry Li’l Christmas Christmas Cheer Grayson, the cutest reindeer, is ready to jingle all the way! Carla Harris Clarenville, NL
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Feeling Frosty Benjamin is chillin’ in his sweet snowman suit. Mandy Cooper via DownhomeLife.com
Santa Baby Little Leela meets jolly old Saint Nicholas for the first time. Colin Lane Paradise, NL
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homefront pets of the month
’Tis the Season Any Puppers ’Lowed In?
Steeler is all ready to be a mummer’s best friend. Alyssa O’Neill via DownhomeLife.com
Pearl on the Shelf
Pearl keeps a watchful eye on the Christmas celebrations. Hannah Boyd Fairbank, NL
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A Good Boy Oliver sports his best bow tie while he waits for Santa Paws. Lee Bennett Clarenville, NL
That’s a Wrap! Touton sends wishes for a happy new year! Bernard Noel Isle aux Morts, NL
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homefront
reviewed by Denise Flint
Precious Little Camille Fouillard Vagrant Press $22.95
It’s 1992 and Anna, a white woman, has been invited by
an Innu contact to come to Labrador to organize a people’s inquiry into the death of six children in a house fire. She agrees and heads off to Davis Inlet without knowing what she’s getting into, in Camille Fouillard’s debut novel, Precious Little. After she arrives, she spends weeks trying to facilitate the inquiry while being as careful as possible not to take it over. Fouillard has been working with the Innu in Labrador for 40 years, so she knows what she’s writing about. She may be the only person in the world who has the experience and the writing chops to carry off this kind of story. It’s important to note that Fouillard is not writing about the Innu. She’s not trying to explain them to the dominant culture. She’s writing about Anna and her interactions with them. That’s a crucial distinction. This isn’t a white person’s guide to another race and culture. This is a white person’s guide to a white person’s interaction with another race and culture. Along the way you learn a lot about the Innu, but Fouillard never presumes to talk for them. The book isn’t perfect – Anna’s personal life is a little muddy, for example – but it is extremely eloquent. The reader comes away with a deeper understanding of where we’ve gone wrong in our dealings with Indigenous people in this country. Parts can make you cringe. But good writing is the spoonful of sugar that helps that medicine go down.
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Q&A with the Author Denise Flint: This is a very intimate story. How biographical is it? Camille Fouillard: Obviously it draws on my experience significantly, but the characters are all made up. They’re based on people; a lot of them would be composites. I might be thinking of someone, but I’m thinking of several others as well. I might be thinking of one meeting, but I’ve been to hundreds. I did work on an inquiry. I had a couple of publishers asking if I would rewrite it as a memoir, but that would be a completely different book. I don’t know if I could because that would involve other people and I’d have to change names anyway. I also played with time and place, so it was a mix of experience in both communities I worked in...
DF: What made you decide to write a novel at this point in your life? CF: I always wanted to write a novel since I was very young. I went back to school in my late 50s to do a masters in education, and I wanted to do a thesis. I was able to write a novel as my thesis. Often you’re doing research and you’re meant to come up with new knowledge, and the more I work with the Innu the more I realize how little I know. I was way more of an expert 40 years ago than I am now. I wanted to explore the range of experience and dreams and the somatic experience, and the personal, social, professional – I wanted to explore the breadth of that. I wanted people to witness with me. It’s my most significant role and I wanted to www.downhomelife.com
share that. I think Canada is a country of apartheid, and those reservations we set up create a big divide. I wanted to share a story that didn’t romanticize. I didn’t want to gloss over the real challenges and tragedies, but I want to show the beauty and humour. I wanted flesh and blood characters, not poverty porn. We’re all treaty people – it takes two people.
DF: How sensitive did you have to be to issues of cultural appropriation? CF: I was tortured about appropriation. I thought about it very seriously. I was a couple of months into writing it when I really felt I had to check in with the parents of the children who died in the real event. They were hardly mentioned, but I felt it was their story and I had to get their blessing. I sent them a message and waited two weeks and thought I’d have to write a different story, and I got a ping on the morning of my birthday and they said they were behind it. I was humbled and it did kind of give me permission. I wrote a draft and sent it to a number of Innu people who said they’d read it; and I really felt like it was my Innu readers who were my examiners, and if they had said no I wouldn’t have published it. They helped me to think more deeply and reach further to try and find ways to write about experiences that were really true. One of my readers said ‘it was all so real, but it was so surreal because I realize I was being there from a white person’s point of view.’ …Not many people have the December 2022
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I no doubt have made mistakes and trespassed, but if we’re going to have a conversation we need to take risks and be prepared to make mistakes. We do have to revisit the past and tell a truer story about it, and we need to reckon with it and tell the truth if there’s going to be any reconciliation. opportunity to develop those relationships and share their life the way I have. I have been so privileged. I no doubt have made mistakes and trespassed, but if we’re going to have a conversation we need to take risks and be prepared to make mistakes. We do have to revisit the past and tell a truer story about it, and we need to reckon with it and tell the truth if there’s going to be any reconciliation.
DF: Have things improved since when this book was set? In what way? CF: You’d have to ask them. I’ve seen a lot of changes, and I’ve seen so many families address their addiction issues and turn their lives around, and there’s a real evolving leadership that I find really exciting. I think there’s more of a real conversation. I’ve been working with the Innu on cultural round tables, and people are listening very closely as the Innu tell their story. There’s always civil servants who really try and serve, and there are bureaucrats who see their role as serving the bureaucracy... There’s still a lot of serious contentious issues around child welfare and education and land claim issues. Since I’ve been involved with the Innu, the Innu have been quite effective in lobbying and forcing the government to pay attention. That doesn’t mean that the land isn’t being taken from them right under 28
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their feet, but maybe not so cavalierly. When they first discovered Voisey’s Bay, the Innu had only just started land claims. There were 280,000 claims across Labrador, and all you had to do was fill out a form. That’s so unbelievable. Land continues to be a big issue. Eightynine percent of Canada is crown land. That’s the biggest issue.
DF: How do you balance truth and fiction when writing about an actual historical event? CF: It’s a very hazy line. Whether I had written a novel or a memoir, I would be straddling that line anyway… This was an event that happened 30 years ago. What would I remember about that event? If I’d tried to stay true to the facts – whose facts? In creative non-fiction people will often create dialogue. Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, you still need to get at the truth… You’re reaching for the truth no matter what you’re writing. There are some instances where an Innu reader would say ‘that would never happen,’ but it did. I think people would be surprised about what did and did not happen…What actually happened and what is fabrication people would be surprised by. I had to keep reminding myself that if I could write it with love, it would be okay. I’m not providing answers. 1-888-588-6353
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homefront what odds
bed riddance By Paul Warford
Are any of you I’m sitting in the hushed grey of morning while you’re maybe getting ready for work. It’s victims to the quarter-to-eight and I can hear the rumble of a groggy perils of large truck as it huffs its way along Elizabeth Avenue. No wait, nevermind. I think it’s a plane. insomnia? I am. Crows caw suggestions for breakfast to one another, but I’m just having tea. Are you rested this morning, dear readers? Raise your hands if you’re bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I wish I could say the same. Unfortunately, I can’t sleep. Haven’t slept. After hours of tossing and turning, I finally decided that if I’m anxious to rest before my Downhome deadline, I may as well get up, finish it and sleep afterwards. I was working on something about New Year’s Eve for this month, since we are in the December issue. (Merry Christmas, one and all! Best of luck with your shopping and slush this year.) But we’re switching gears to a more immediate topic. Are any of you victims to the groggy perils of insomnia? I am. I’ve had nights where I’ve not slept a single minute, left with no choice but to get up and go about my day in a bumbling fog, with bruises beneath my eyes that make me look as though I’ve been beaten by a prize fighter. I suppose it runs in the family. My mother has always had trouble sleeping. I have often found her awake at bizarre times doing bizarre things, like puttering about in her navy housecoat at 3:00 a.m. unloading the dishwasher or writing a to-do list. “This is an interesting time to be doing that,” I might say, standing beside her and stroking her hair. “Yes, I know. Your father was snoring and woke me up, and now I can’t get back to sleep.” I never bother stating the obvious: it’s 30
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impossible to fall asleep while putting side plates in cupboards. After years of duelling with my own brain to keep quiet and get some rest, I now understand. If you’re just gonna be lying there, you may as well get up and do something. And so here we are. My insomnia has made a fierce return to my life with a gusto I haven’t experienced since I was substitute teaching. To be fair, if you had to do battle with Mr. Warren’s 7-B class you’d have trouble nodding off yourselves, I promise you. The very first time I went a whole night without sleeping a wink was during my final year at Acadia. I was abed with my girlfriend of the time, awake and fretting because I had a metaphysics exam the next morning and I hadn’t prepared for it. I never did drift off, so instead I got up, brushed my teeth, went into the exam and failed it spectacularly. I didn’t flunk many midterms during my time there, but I really bombed that one. I guess a whiff of that anxiety has stayed with me ever since, a noxious gas that floats about my skull and sounds off the hours as they pass while my bedroom slowly gets brighter, and brighter, and brighter… The metaphysics exam may seem like a pretty open-and-shut case of self-inflicted demise, but other times I’m more of an innocent bystander. I had the same experience the night before I was to host my brother Brian’s wedding in Toronto. I routed and kicked through hours and hours of frustration, but it was no use. Before I knew it, alarms were sounding throughout the unfamiliar home I was staying in, and it was time to get up and put on our suits. I didn’t get to enjoy my brother’s wedding as I www.downhomelife.com
would have with eight hours sleep. Brian doesn’t get afflicted by this like my mother and I do. And Colin? Colin could fall asleep in the bed of your pickup truck while you fishtail it at top-speed over a dirt road. I feel a bit silly, offering insomnia as an excuse. “I need an extra day on this, I just couldn’t sleep.” The words sound plausible, even relatable, but that’s the thing; everybody has trouble sleeping sometimes. Past bosses were probably thinking to themselves, “Oh you didn’t sleep too good? Boo hoo. Me neither.” But there’s a difference between an off-night and an evening of knowing you’ve been awake the entire time. There’s an awful dampness to it, a sluggishness you have no choice but to wear and accept. I always tell myself that, either way, I’m pretty fortunate, medically speaking. The affliction has definitely ruined some days for me that would have otherwise been more fun or more productive, but I’ve never had suffocating asthma like Brian, nor do I need to inject myself with insulin like a cousin of mine. We all have our challenges, but that’s a dismal way to end a humour column, so let’s instead conclude with a New Year’s resolution. Ahem, let’s see… Okay, I got it: I resolve to appreciate my waking hours as much as my unconscious ones. How about you? Alright, I’m gonna turn in. Happy holidays and sweet dreams, everybody! See you next year. Paul Warford began writing for Downhome to impress his mom and her friends. He writes and performs comedy in Eastern Canada. Follow him on Twitter @paulwarford December 2022
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fresh tracks
new music talk with Wendy Rose
Split Down the Middle Chris Picco
THE LATEST ALBUM from singer-songwriter Chris Picco has been a
long time comin’. Built slowly and quietly in his DIY home studio, Split Down the Middle was finally released in November 2022. They say good things come to those who wait, and for fans of Chris’ folkrock band The Long Distance Runners, and his earlier solo works, the wait is over. This album sees Chris step into the spotlight as lead guitarist, as well as demonstrate his skills as a multi-instrumentalist. Early coverage hails this record as “pure power pop bliss,” while Chris’ dog, Pepper, who chewed up an early copy of the CD, described it simply as “tasty.” The album begins with “Woman Understand,” a classic indie pop love song. Fifteen seconds in, I’m hooked and mentally adding it to my playlists. “I love you, woman, understand, all that you bring to me is enough for any man,” Chris sings in the opening lyrics. “Make it up to You” is more on the rock side of rock/pop, reminiscent of fellow Canadian rockers Sloan, Sam Roberts Band or even early Hey Rosetta! With its
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catchy chorus, I find myself singing along on the first listen – a sign of a solidly built song ready to burrow deep into the aural cavities. The next track, “The Last Great Entertainer,” is dedicated to Ron Hynes, a prolific NL singer-songwriter who passed away in 2015. In this song, Chris speaks directly to “the man of a thousand songs,” as he was known. “…You were the last great entertainer,” he sings repeatedly. “And now they’re parking their cars and packing the bars. Now get ’em out on the floor, leave ’em crying for more,” he sings, detailing the scene in downtown St. John’s on so many nights when Ron was on the bill at a local watering hole. The title track is the fourth song on the album, and Chris really shows off his impressive vocal range in “Split 1-888-588-6353
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Down the Middle,” hitting high notes with ease. I’m reminded of the mysterious power-pop powerhouse Emitt Rhodes, but with a melodic psychedelic twist. Fans got a taste of the next song last summer, with the release of a music video for “Summer’s Here,” which looks almost like a followup to 2014’s “The Beach” music video, but with the kids all grown up and behind the camera as well as in front of it. “I went and bought the kids a camera during the first big COVID lockdown.
know you, I’m gonna show you some things before they pass,” Chris sings in the opening lines. The pensive lyrics would stand alone as beautiful poetry – a sign of a well-written song. Chris speeds things up again on “Time Changes Everything,” with heavy drums chugging us through this rock song. The same hard rock drumming comes in on “The Guest List.” Again, Radiohead comes to mind – a high compliment, as Radiohead are multi-award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and purveyors
We needed to keep them busy, so I thought, ‘here’s a camera, go mad and shoot me a music video,’” Chris explains. Locally renowned producer Brad Gover created an adorable music video while giving Chris’ kids their first film credits. The tempo slows a little on “The Only One,” a softer piece with gorgeous floating vocal harmonies – an energy that spills over into “Lover Come Back,” with synthesizers that draw comparisons to indie all-stars Radiohead, Spoon, Parquet Courts and even the late David Bowie. Acoustic guitar leads us into “Faces,” perhaps the most tender love song on the record. “I can see myself in the faces looking back. I wanna
of the alternative rock genre. The synth-heavy intro of “The Coming Down” has an ’80s energy. A slow build brings us into the song’s midsection before a layered, groovy outro with abstract vocalisations fades us out as the chorus repeats. “Three Sisters” – no relation to the Placentia pub or St. John’s bánh mì spot – is the album’s 12th and final track. Instead of thinking of Emitt Rhodes this time, I think of pop legends Paul McCartney and Harry Nilsson. Throughout Split Down the Middle, every parallel or comparison made is to the works of a musical icon, and the associations are highly positive and impressive.
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Q&A with the Artist Wendy Rose: From what I’ve read or seen, it’s been somewhat of a do-ityourself by yourself kind of project – writing and recording at home. Where and when did you start? Chris Picco: The writing and demoing
for the record must have begun in early 2018. It began with me sketching out the bare bones of the songs late at night on the piano or guitar, when the house was quiet and everyone was sleeping, and I’d demo them on my laptop. From there I would start tracking them in my home studio. Now, calling it a studio is probably a bit of a stretch. It was just basically my little cosy corner of the living room, a primitive set-up made up of a few mics, a collection of musical instruments and my computer perched on top of the piano. From there I would just start layering things up. It was a lot of late nights spent fleshing out the arrangements, tweaking the lyrics and so on. This probably went on for over two years! And although most of the recording was done at home, I have to mention that the drums, mixing and crucial editing work was done at a proper studio, the Lab of Chaos, with the multi-talented Krisjan Leslie leading the charge and making magic from what I gave him.
WR: At the time of writing, you just released the single, “Woman Understand.” What kind of feedback have you heard so far? CP: It’s been awesome! The track has
been getting a lot of local and national play and has been added to radio and online playlists overseas. It’s still 34
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pretty fresh, so let’s see where it goes. There’s also an accompanying video I’ve recently released that has been getting a lot of positive feedback. It’s a really cool animated video made up of paper cut-outs and collages that capture the vibe of the song perfectly. Something like those Terry Gilliam animated shorts you’d see in the Monty Python films, but not as twisted! A talented young artist by the name of Shan Pomeroy took the reins on this and made a beautiful companion piece to the song.
WR: On a solo RPM project in 2020, you shared a cut of “The Last Great Entertainer,” and dedicated it to the late local legend Ron Hynes. Can you tell us a little more about that song, the inspiration behind it, and maybe your favourite Ron Hynes story, if you have one? CP: As many Newfoundlanders know,
Ron Hynes was arguably the greatest songwriter and performer to ever come from this place. He’s been gone now over seven years, and I still find myself pining for those nights when I could walk myself down to The Ship or The Rose or The Black Sheep and listen to all those amazing songs being performed by a master just six feet away. You really don’t know what you got ’til you lose it. To be honest I’m actually a little weary of the whole “tribute” song thing, so it’s kind of ironic that I would go and write one... I guess I just felt I had to say my little piece about what the man meant to me, what I think he meant to all of us. 1-888-588-6353
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A favourite Ron story? There’s definitely no shortage of those! I’d have to say that one of the sweetest memories I have of Ron is of him and I sitting in his kitchen late one night when he hands me an acoustic guitar. Not the jumbo Gibson Sunburst he was playing at The Rose earlier, but one that was sitting in a stand in the corner of the living room. He comes over and hands it to me and says, “This is the guitar I wrote ‘Sonny’s Dream’ on.” I just sat there with a big goofy grin on my face and plucked away at it for a few minutes, and then he snatched it back out of my hands and put it back in the stand. I could never actually say if it was really the “Sonny” guitar, but it doesn’t really matter – I felt the magic either way.
WR: What are your plans for the new album in 2023? Where can Newfoundland and Labrador audiences hear Split Down the Middle? CP: I feel I made this record for the
music fan out there who still appreciates listening to a record in one sitting from start to finish. You know, slipping the record out of the sleeve, setting it down on your turntable and hunkering down on the couch for the
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full experience, reading the lyrics and all! I know that’s probably not how most folks listen to music these days, but that’s how I think this record should be enjoyed. Of course, it’s also available online through Spotify and Apple Music and all the other streaming sites. And for the real dinosaurs out there, I also have it available on CD. No offence to the dinosaurs out there, of course. As they say, it takes one to know one. The LP and CD and other merch like T-shirts and hats can be bought directly from me through my website, Chrispicco.ca, and can be shipped anywhere around the world. Locally here in St. John’s, you can also take a jaunt down to the irreplaceable Fred’s Records... As for future plans for the record, I guess I’ll have to wait and see how its momentum continues to build. I’ll be rolling out several new videos over the coming months, and I‘ll be performing locally and outside the province with and without my band throughout the year. I’m also really excited to continue working on new material and collaborating with other artists in both the music and film industries. Upward and onward!
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adventures outdoors
Cody Mallard of St. John’s with his first big game animal, a Cape Shore bull.
Young Hunters By Gord Follett
I’ve seen quite a surge in social media posts this fall featuring young hunters harvesting their first big game animal. Part of the reason for the increase, no doubt, is the popularity of social media. Couple this with the fact that youths completing their firearms safety/hunter education courses can hunt big game two years earlier than in the past, and you have a lot more teenagers eager to hit the woods... under supervision, of course. It’s been six years since the provincial government lowered the legal hunting age from 18 to 16 for big game and from 16 to 12 for small game. But I don’t recall seeing nearly as many of these posts – Facebook primarily – in those years as I have in 36
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2022. I love seeing them and the obvious pride and excitement in the kids’ expressions. As I’ve told anybody who wanted to listen – and some who didn’t – over the years, there are a lot worse things the kids could be doing than hunting 1-888-588-6353
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Another post I noticed was from a friend on the west coast of the province, whose 17-year-old son had just harvested his first moose. The caption read something along the lines of, “Tyler’s first big game animal, a young bull. Proud of you, buddy. Another positive result from government dropping the age limit a few years ago.” I got Tyler’s phone number and made arrangements to call him on a Sunday evening “for a brief chat.” Fifty-five minutes later, we finally finished the conversation when I politely interrupted to say, “Well, bud, this is great stuff. I got plenty of info here; nice chatting with you. Stay safe out there.” I had a list of Tyra Tulk of Grand Bank showed the patience of a questions prepared veteran hunter when she harvested this bull moose. but only had to ask a few, as this kid filled in all the I can’t wait for my next big game blanks as he went. His enthusiasm licence and I’m gonna continue hunthad me smiling throughout the ing as long as I possibly can.” entire interview. Tyra Tulk, 16, of Grand Bank “I had an either sex licence for Area enjoyed the entire hunting experi8, St. George’s,” he began. “We knew ence, but noted, “when I fired and there were lots of moose in that area. knocked the moose down... realizing I My grandfather lives there, and him actually did it was the biggest thrill.” and my uncles – his sons – hunt Sixteen-year-old Cody Mallard of there all the time... St. John’s said he was amazed by the “I got Dad to go two days before the size of his 14-point bull when he first season started, just to scout around. looked through the scope, “and all I We stayed with Nan and Pop, but was saying to myself was, ‘please had to drive about an hour from their don’t move.’ When I fired and it went place – so much on the highway and down, I was in shock... shaking, it all more on dirt roads – to get to the happened so fast. I love the adrenaarea we wanted to hunt. First day, line rush, especially when it’s a sucwe spotted a cow and calf off in the cessful hunt.” and generally experiencing the great outdoors of Newfoundland and Labrador. Through their parents, I reached out to a few young hunters who’d posted about their success, to find out what it meant to them. “Shooting my 32-point caribou was the best feeling ever!” said 16-yearold Marcus Lane of Glovertown. “I couldn’t get the smile off my face.
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distance, then we saw three bulls and a cow the second morning of scouting... “They told me I should go to bed around 10:30 or 11 the night before my hunt because I had an early rise. I did go around 11, but hardly got any sleep thinking about my first big game hunt. I remember looking at my phone, 3:05, still awake, but I must have fallen asleep shortly after ’cause next thing I knew, Dad was shaking me to wake me up around 4:30... “We parked the truck around 5:45 and walked about half an hour to this knob of land where we could see for miles around. Dad wasn’t sure if they were in the rut yet, but he said sometimes you can fool the younger bulls, so he made a couple cow calls every five minutes. Sure enough, 20 minutes later, he hit me on the shoulder and pointed to the moose coming out of the timber to our left. I couldn’t believe it! I mean, I was looking right at the animal, but it was like, this is too good to be true! “When it got about 180-200 yards away, I put the gun across a tree branch, but Dad told me to hold on; the bull was slowly coming straight for us and within a minute he’d be within 100 yards...
An impressive stag caribou will go in the books as the first big game animal for Marcus Lane of Glovertown. “When he got to where Dad felt I’d be comfortable shooting, Dad grunted. The bull stopped and turned a little bit to the side: not quite broadside, but enough for me to aim at the vital area. It only took me five or six seconds to steady and fire – which frightened the crap outta Dad, heh, heh – but the bull never went more than 25-30 yards before he fell. And what a feeling that was, for both of us! Unreal! I’ll never, ever forget that day.”
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 Winter sunset over St. John’s harbour Bailey Parsons, Stephenville, NL
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features
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caused by post-tropical storm Fiona on Newfoundland and Labrador’s southwest coast this fall was numbing. In Port aux Basques, the hardest hit community, more than 20 homes were completely destroyed and others suffered catastrophic damage. Even more tragically, one woman lost her life. While this is the story of two of the residents who had their lives forever changed by Fiona, it is also a story of courage, kindness and a love of home more powerful than any storm.
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Hurricane turned post-tropical storm Fiona struck Newfoundland’s southwest coast on September 24, 2022. While it raged, Fiona brought drenching rains, huge waves and a powerful storm surge that washed wharves, stages, sheds and houses into the sea. Fiona’s strong winds gusted to 134 km/h in Port aux Basques. Roofs were ripped off and power was knocked out for many in the region. Even as angry waves began to pound the shoreline, many Port aux Basques residents remained calm, including 62-year-old Jocelyn Gillam. “We knew the storm was coming. It was on the news all week long,” she says. While not overly concerned, she and her husband David made necessary preparations. The evening before the storm, the town’s residents were advised to be ready for a possible evacuation. “We were told to take some personal things, so we took our wedding rings,
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David and Jocelyn Gillam
and I took a bracelet my husband gave me when we got married. We brought our rubber gear and rubber boots, and put that by the door so we were ready if we had to leave in a hurry,” she says. The couple went to bed and in the morning, things seemed fine. “There was a lot of debris on the roads, but
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nothing bad. The sea was coming up, but it wasn’t raging or nothing.” The couple decided to have breakfast and prepare for the day ahead. “I planned to make some soup and do some buns up for my husband, ’cause he’s a bun person, and I looked up and saw my brother-in-law out sitting in his car there,” she says. She donned her rubber gear and went outside to see what was up. The
over the high winds and raging sea. In a moment of clarity, she adjusted her grip to the undercarriage of the vehicle, raised her free hand in the air and motioned wildly for help. “The water subsided a bit and my brother-in-law was able to see my hand, so then he knew where I was. He came and he yelled and he tried to hold me up over the water, but there was so much force. But he said to me,
“I never had one more step took and she [the ocean] had me down on my rear and washed me up under a Jeep. Well, I held onto the bottom of that Jeep and I said, ‘Oh, my God. Somebody help me.’” two chatted briefly, then Jocelyn headed back towards the house. “I looked out over the sea and I could see the water come in. It was all a wild mixture of colours. It was browns, whites, beiges and blacks, and it was angry – very, very angry looking.” While the sight of an angry-looking sea held her interest briefly, that was it, she explains. “I said, ‘That’s never going to come up this far,’ so while the sea was rolling it never crossed my mind that it would reach where I was to.” Jocelyn was about to find out how wrong she was. “I never had one more step took and she [the ocean] had me down on my rear and washed me up under a Jeep. Well, I held onto the bottom of that Jeep and I said, ‘Oh, my God. Somebody help me.’” At times, Jocelyn was totally submerged under the rushing water. When she was able, she fought for a breath while screaming for help, though she could hardly be heard www.downhomelife.com
‘I’m here. You’re going to be okay. You’re going to be okay.’” It was “by the grace of God” that others came to check on their property at that very moment, she adds. “One man wouldn’t be able to hold me with the force of the water, but Newfoundlanders, like we are, we stop and help anybody do anything, and thank God they stopped.” Jocelyn was stuck. Even with multiple hands pulling, she couldn’t break free. “They tried to lift the Jeep up, but they couldn’t get me out. Then they realized that my coat – my rubber gear – was hooked up in under the Jeep. My brother-in-law tore my jacket off, and then they got me out and took me body and bones, and put me in the back of a car and took me to the hospital.” By then, Jocelyn’s blood pressure had dropped, she was icy cold and there were concerns about how much water she had taken into her lungs. She was also badly battered and bruised. Jocelyn says, “There was a December 2022
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nurse at the hospital there that I knew, and being from a small town she knew me, of course. Well, she couldn’t recognize me.” In the meantime, she said, her husband was still calmly sitting at home waiting for his buns. She laughs now as she thinks about it. “He was just waiting in the house saying, ‘Now where did she go to, at all?’” Fiona may have taken the feet out from under her, but it won’t keep her down. “I banged my leg up pretty bad, but I’m going to heal eventually,” she says. “But the people that lost their homes and lost everything they worked so hard for, those are the people we need to help out and keep checking on.”
STRONGER THAN FIONA The Colliers are among those who Jocelyn keeps in her thoughts and prayers. Krystle Collier, her husband James, their eight-year-old daughter Kate and James’ mother Barb are now temporarily living apart, staying with various family and friends since Fiona. While we’re speaking over the phone, Krystle pauses to answer the door. “The military are here because 46
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everybody’s been displaced everywhere. They’re checking to see if we need any food or water and they are doing wellness checks,” she explains. “It’s like living in a horror movie; all this is so surreal.” Before Fiona, the Colliers resided in the home her husband was born in, and it had survived high tides and storm surges in the past. All the homes in the area had. The evening Fiona struck, Krystle and her husband felt they were prepared. But when the call came to get ready to evacuate, they were stunned. “That was a hard pill to swallow. Packing and then knowing you had to leave is not something you’d expect,” she says. At first, they went to a neighbour’s house on higher ground. “When we came outside it was very scary. It was still dark and there were things blowing around – big pieces of wood and siding from people’s homes.” As daylight broke, they looked out and couldn’t believe their eyes, she says. “There were literally homes washing into my neighbour’s backyard. They were starting to pile in on top of each other, just like cardboard 1-888-588-6353
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Barb, Krystle, Kate and James Collier now stay with family and friends since Fiona damaged their home beyond repair.
boxes. We went outside and there were propane tanks everywhere, and there were logs the size of telephone poles just thrown around in my driveway.” Right away she saw that the lower part of their garage was completely gone. As their home and their Port aux Basques neighbourhood filled with water and debris, they planned their escape from the area. “We had to get out driving on a road that was completely flooded,” she says. When they were finally able to return the next day, they discovered that their home was unsafe. “We were able to get in and get a few things. But the house? That needs to be demolished,” she says, adding that it could have been worse. “But some www.downhomelife.com
people didn’t even get an item of clothing when they returned, so we’re blessed.” Like Jocelyn, Krystle has kept her sense of humour. On the evening Fiona was set to make landfall, Krystle says she headed out for her storm chips and White Claw – her beverage of choice. “I said, ‘Oh, I’m just going to sit back and let her [Fiona] do her thing, and I’m just going to enjoy myself.’ So I went and got my six-pack, and I tucked it in the fridge for safekeeping. I was hoping to sit back and have that on Saturday while she was still blowing.” Hours later, just before they evacuated, her husband saw their refrigerator wash out of their damaged garage and float away. December 2022
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“The next day after we went back, I was just kind of looking around at the rubble, and there were maybe 10 refrigerators tossed around. But then I saw something, like a little white box, and I went over and I climbed in through all the debris – and here was this little pack of White Claw and it was like it was meant for me. I held them up and my neighbour took the picture that has gotten so much attention,” she says with a laugh. That photo of her holding her White Claw triumphantly over the wreckage went viral on social media and even got her a response from the beverage maker. How are Krystle and Jocelyn doing weeks after the worst storm to ever hit their hometown? Both say they feel a whole lot of gratitude. “I’ve cried just as much over the heartwarming amount of support that I’ve had from family, friends and strangers as I have over the loss of a
home,” Krystle says. “I never, ever expected to feel any of this in my lifetime. This is all things you see on the news. Things you watch in the movies. But the amount of support is definitely what’s keeping myself and my family going right now.” Jocelyn thanks those who’ve reached out, but especially her brotherin-law Brian Farrell and neighbours Dave Clarke, Dave Mauger, Grant Rodgers, Joan Rodgers and Noah King – whom she credits with saving her life. “It’s hard. I close my eyes and I can see the waves coming to get me, but I also know that there’s good people out there and that’s what I focus on,” she says. Krystle agrees. “Our province is tough. Newfoundland is like no other place and our people are special, and even though we went through what we did, I’m still forever grateful that I live here. I still wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world.”
Krystle discovering a few cans of White Claw in the wreckage went viral and has become a demonstration of the Newfoundland spirit. 48
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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 2024 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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wanders the streets of downtown St. John’s chanting: “Hate, hate, hate,” the response he receives from passersby might seem surprising. Rather than jeers, he gets cheers. “When you’re the Grinch, you get away with so much,” Mitch explains, turning up the edges of his green, furry maskedmouth into a perfect Grinch grin. Mitch, known on social media as the Newfie Grinch, doesn’t just haul on a costume and a mask. If he’s going green, he’s all in – from coloured contact lenses to his light-up Christmas sweater. Thanks to Mitch’s passion for the holiday horrorturned-heartwarming tale, Dr. Seuss’s iconic character comes to life as the holiday season rolls around. Like many, Mitch grew up watching the classic cartoon, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, each and every holiday season. “I can remember my favourite time of year was when The Grinch would come on, and my dad would sit me down and we’d watch it together, and you knew Christmas was almost here when it came on. It was a holiday tradition,” he says. Grown-up Mitch never lost his love for the Grinch, and it’s still a large part of his Christmas tradition and getting into the spirit of the season. “I created a really good costume and became a realistic Grinch so I could spread that same kind of joy I felt back then with charities and with kids,” he says.
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Gary Nichols has been helping Santa every Christmas for 40 years.
Santa’s Helpers
Someone else who loves to climb into a colourful costume come Christmas – one that’s red and white instead of green – is Gary Nichols of Pouch Cove, NL, who’s been helping Santa for the past 40 years. As everyone knows, those working at the North Pole in Santa’s workshop require many helping hands.
Before Santa Claus can deliver magic to the children of the world on Christmas Eve, many items on his personal to-do list require delegation. Gary and his wife, Rose, began helping Santa as a way to bring joy to their own children, and he’s stepped into the jolly ol’ elf’s boots at various events over the years. “We’ll host breakfast with Santa
Gary’s wife, Rose, also gets into the spirit, playing Mrs. Claus.
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Scott Parsons also loves helping Santa Claus when he can.
and help at Christmas parades. It’s a way to give back to the community I grew up in. Just to see the look on the little faces means the world. It’s why I keep doing it year after year,” Gary says.
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The grandkids know that Poppy and Nanny help Santa, the Nichols say, as do their many nieces and nephews. “I’m from a family of 10, so it’s busy, but I have the best role of all at Christmas and it’s been a whole lot of fun,” he says with a wide smile. Scott Parsons also loves helping out Santa Claus whenever he can. His company, Santa’s Helper Services, is always ready to lend a hand to the jolly ol’ feller. “Oh, all the children are very excited for this year, but I think I’m the most excited,” he says with a chuckle. Why does he help Santa? Because he loves Christmas, and he loves to see “little faces light up,” Scott says. “I love the look and the smiles on the children’s faces. I love bringing the Christmas spirit to everyone. I look forward to getting my picture taken with many children and adults of all ages. It’s a very pleasant time of year and everyone is usually so happy – and if they are not, Santa or Santa’s helper can help,” he says.
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Different messengers, same message
Writer, producer, comedy performer and longtime CBC broadcaster, Russell Bowers loves all the Christmas classics, from ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas to A Charlie Brown Christmas to the tale of a grumpy hermit’s dastardly plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville. They all have a similar message, he suggests during a recent chat. “What these traditional classics get at is the heart of the season. While the Grinch rejects a lot of the things about Christmas – like the presents and the pageantry of it all – what eventually wins him over is the spirit of giving, which we’ve all associated mostly with Santa over the decades,” Russell says. “You can probably count on one hand the number of shows that have ever celebrated the world of merchandise. Every Christmas that has mattered to me had a moment of family and togetherness – whether that was with the family I was born into on Bell Island or, when I lived away from home, the family I created around me.” No one knows how being together gets to the real magic of the Christmas season more than someone who helps Santa year 56
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Producer and performer Russell Bowers has a soft spot for the Christmas TV classics.
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Mitch Marsh (as the Grinch) and Gary Nichols (as Santa) have a little fun together.
after year. “For too long it was hard to do things to help Santa because of COVID-19, but this year I’m really looking forward to meeting the children with their families and hearing what messages they want me to deliver back to the North Pole,” says Gary. Scott agrees. “Wherever Santa is, it’s about family togetherness. If it’s a parade or a picture with Santa day, it’s often multiple generations gathering to bring the little ones out to get a message back to Santa. That’s the real joy. Being together
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and creating those memories are what matter,” he says. The Newfie Grinch gets the last word. Mitch – in full Grinch gear – offers a miserable message to anyone within earshot. “Have a terrible day!” he hollers out as people rush by performing their daily downtown chores. In return, Mitch is rewarded with smiles and giggles and waves. “That’s why I do this,” he says. “As miserable as that old Grinch pretends to be, he brings so much joy and laughter to everyone.”
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The Paramount Theatre, once located at 34 Harvey Road in St. John’s, NL, looms large behind Derek Roberts and his charming wife, Marie. The famous building opened way back on September 1, 1944, and could, according to the website CinemaTreasures.org, seat 1,195 patrons to see a movie at the single screen venue. www.downhomelife.com
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Derek uses old photos as a guide to create his replicas, including this one of the Paramount Theatre in St. John’s. Derek even created tiny movie posters for the front, giving a fun realism to the model. The Paramount Theatre closed for good in 1973, when its roof caved in shortly after the theatre was evacuated during a showing of Mary, Queen of Scots. The site was empty for a number of years before it was extensively renovated into the Paramount Building of office suites in the 1980s. “My wife Marie and I loved the old Paramount so much that I had to make this diorama-style model of it,” says Derek. “There is nothing like it around today and almost everybody in town of a certain age can tell you a 60
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great story about their time at the Paramount. Don’t mind the little movie marquee signs,” he says, explaining what look like typos on the model. “They started off with all the letters, but a few dropped off over the years and have gone astray, just like the real Paramount itself, I guess.” Derek, now 80, picked up this entirely new hobby in retirement. The former accountant makes beautiful hand-crafted replicas of homes and businesses from around his beloved city that had some special 1-888-588-6353
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connection to him or his family. Marie says, “We both worked and raised our three children, so for the longest time we were both very busy and there was not much time for anything else. But when they were adults and Derek retired in 1997, he started in on this more seriously. I really enjoy the detail of his work. He makes these things seem to come alive, and they mean something to people. He is a very quiet, modest man, so it is nice to see his work is appreciated and enjoyed.” Asked why the passion for model buildings, Derek says thoughtfully, “Well, I know in modern times we are focused on making plans and are told
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we always have to look to the future. I do that as well, of course, but I really love old structures and things from the past. If we go for a drive around the bay and see an old barn, I have to stop and take a photograph of it. I always think maybe I will make something based on that someday, if the good Lord is on my side.” He continues, “Old salt box buildings, and the long gone businesses of town and their history have always fascinated me. I used to go to Lars and Kenny’s Fruit Store down around New Gower Street as a boy, and there was always a real sense of community to those places. People knew each other and chatted, and the
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Fine details, such as a wooden door, are created in this model of 143 Pleasant Street in St. John’s, Marie’s childhood home. produce and goods were always fresh and you picked out what you wanted. They were just special places. So that is kind of what I wanted to capture in my models. I don’t use any particular plans or scale and rely on whatever I feel to be the right proportions to look at based on my collection of older photos and news clippings. I will use some plywood and other materials, but mostly pine, as it is easy to work with and make little small windows and the like.” 62
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Derek finds inspiration in both classic and modern buildings. Derek doesn’t keep a count of how many models he’s made or how many hours he’s spent at them. “I only work a little at a time on them for fun,” he says. But some of them stand out in his mind, like the “twostorey butcher shop with a residence on the top floor that took me the longest time to do. That one is kind of unique, since my great-grandfather Mayo had a shop down there around the War Memorial on Duckworth Street in the late 1800s or early 1900s. I can’t say for sure what the civic house number was or if it
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was more of a general goods and tobacco-type store or not. In any case, I wanted to make it a butcher shop, so that is what it ended up being and I put his name on it as a bit of tribute to him.” Derek used to also have a substantial outdoor village of his models on display – complete with homes, churches, businesses and lights – for the Christmas season. And there was one iconic American building he made for Halloween. “If you remember the 1979 movie The Amityville Horror, I had that
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Derek brought his great-grandfather’s store back to life with details added both inside and out. Through the windows can be seen artwork, the day’s cuts of meats and even a cash register.
one done as well, as part of a mildly scary display with lights and the like for good fun for the neighbour children, and it always got lots of people stopping to take pictures and [got] positive comments,” he says. Derek retired all his outdoor models after many years of seasonal use in the harsh St. John’s fall and winter weather. He keeps a select collection on display indoors in his workshop. As we move along he points out a feature here or there in the models: a once-common religious painting glimpsed through a second floor window; a chalkboard sign advertis64
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ing a breakfast special for $7.49 at Zachary’s Restaurant at 71 Duckworth Street; the brickwork on a Tim Horton’s location; an Italianate decorative cornice and a wooden storm door on 143 Pleasant Street; and the slate-shingled roof and central chimney of an outport, loosely Georgianstyle home. I am struck by an overriding since of familiarity and more than a little nostalgia. While I do not personally know many of the specific buildings, there are enough details for even a casual viewer such as myself to immediately recognize a long-gone house or a business I know 1-888-588-6353
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Derek’s daughter once lived in the building that is Zachary’s Restaurant.
from elsewhere in the province that shared similar characteristics, and so the conversation flowed easily and effortlessly for an hour until it was time to go. Before we parted I wondered at the choices for two particular buildings out of so many iconic landmarks to possibly do in St. John’s. Derek smiles and says, “Oh those two have family connections, and I wanted to make them for people who are very important to me. My daughter had her very first apartment in the building that is Zachary’s, so that was a gift for her. Of course, 143 Pleasant
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Street has changed hands a number of times and been remodeled a bit since, but that was the childhood home of my wife and her parents. They were all lovely people, and she has been so sweet and put up with me and my model building for so long, I made that one for her.” Overhearing this, Marie adds with a huge smile, “He has no worries. I think I will keep him now.” With that, I leave Derek and Marie as I found them – building on memories and making all who see his wonderful collection a little happier in the process.
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This new short-form mockumentary highlights Indigenous experience in Newfoundland and Labrador BY HENNY BUFFINGA
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WITH A NAME LIKE CANOE, you know right away Mark Harnett is a man who is not afraid to poke fun at himself. When he started his career in comedy, he took on the name Canoe to embrace his Indigenous heritage. “I was adopted, and when I found my [birth] mother, she informed me that my father was Innu or Inuit, but she didn’t know which, but I always thought it was Innu,” Mark explains. “So when I started comedy in 2011, my stage name became Canoe because I was half Caucasian, half Innu. However, three years ago I found my [birth] father and he’s actually Inuit, but I stuck with Canoe because Canuit just didn’t sound right.”
MARK HARNETT (LEFT) AND JIMMY MACKINLEY STAR IN “THE CANOE PROJECT” All photos by Laura Ellen Photography
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Mark created and co-wrote “The Canoe Project,” a new short-form mockumentary-style show that premiered this fall on Bell Fibe TV Channel 1. The show follows Richard (played by Jimmy MacKinley), a prejudiced NL government official, as he blackmails the titular character Canoe (played by Mark), an Inuit man from Labrador. Canoe is coerced to move to the “big city” (the city is never named, but understood to be St. John’s) so that Richard can
also recognize that the first step in solving a problem is realizing that there is one,” Jimmy says in the clip. The creators go on to say that while Jimmy might play a racist in the show, he is not himself one and “please don’t cancel us.” The show premiered this fall on Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and aims to create a space for discussion about reconciliation and the Indigenous experience in Canada.
AS THE CREATORS STATE, THE PREMISE OF THE SHOW IS MEANT TO BE RACIST. “IT’S A SATIRICAL COMEDY,” MARK SAYS. “IT’S NOT MEANT TO OFFEND ANYONE. WE WANTED TO DEAL WITH ISSUES OF RACISM AND ADDICTION HEAD-ON.” document his indoctrination to the “modern world” and score himself a big promotion in the process. As the creators state, the premise of the show is meant to be racist. “It’s a satirical comedy,” Mark says. “It’s not meant to offend anyone. We wanted to deal with issues of racism and addiction head-on.” At the beginning of the first episode, the stars of the show, Mark and Jimmy, provide some context. “We thought it was vital and very important to talk about issues, such as systemic racism and stereotyping, that exist with Indigenous people and other visible minorities, and to 68
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Mark co-wrote the show with Gaelen Patrick Condon, who also directed. Although the show is loosely based on Mark’s experience moving from a small town in Labrador to a big city, there are a lot of experiences that were pulled from the lives of Mark, Gaelen and Jimmy – with some changes. “My character Canoe was caught making and selling homebrew,” says Mark. “I did, too, when I was younger, but I was never caught!” There were also scenes in the show where Canoe and the slimy government official, Richard, have to share a bed. This was based on Mark and 1-888-588-6353
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Jimmy’s real-life experiences doing stand-up together. “We were doing a comedy festival in New Brunswick one time and they had booked us a hotel room with only one bed, and we ended up having to share,” Mark says. “Jimmy said to me, ‘Man, you’ve got a really bad snoring problem.’” Mark’s comedy career began as a hobby a bit later in life, but he eventually began to book more and more gigs at comedy clubs. He and Jimmy started booking sets together as they discovered they had great chemistry on stage and could play off each other well. Mark had the idea for “The Canoe Project” for years, but between work and raising his kids, it always seemed to get put off. It was when he was participating in a screenwriting boot camp that he was put in touch with the right people and finally able to pitch “The Canoe Project” to get the ball rolling. Although Mark had the chance to apprentice on the NL-based show “Hudson and Rex” last year, this is his first experience writing and producing his own TV show. “It’s not as easy as I thought it was going to be,” Mark says. “It was a lot of work!”
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Once the show had secured the greenlight from Bell, there was still work to be done to get everything set up. They had to apply for grants and hire the rest of the cast and crew, and they went through at least five rounds of writing and rewriting their scripts before they were able to shoot. There was a lot of local talent involved in making the show, including fellow comedian and actress Lisa Baker, who is well-known on TikTok and played Lise in the show, and Kerri Oakey, the producer and showrunner. “I credit everybody who was on that set,” says Mark. “They were all professionals, and they were all just so excited to do it.” Mark is currently working on a screenwriting program through George Brown College in Toronto and says after working for many years, he has finally found where he should have been all along. Already Mark is off to work on another season of “The Canoe Project,” which will begin filming in March next year. Meantime, season one of “The Canoe Project” is available to watch now on Fibe TV Channel 1 On Demand.
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Three Sheets to the Wind Red Blueberry-Blackberry This full-bodied dry red wine combines the Newfoundland wild blueberry with the grape-like qualities of the Newfoundland wild blackberry in a delightful table wine that pairs well with cheese, steak, wild game, beef and chocolate. Medium
Three Sheets to the Wind White Rhubarb
Dandy Rhubarb-Dandelion With its delicious blend of local rhubarb and wild dandelion, this medium white wine is, well, just Dandy, especially when paired with chicken or fish. Semi-Sweet
Funky Puffin Blueberry-Rhubarb
A name that brings to mind a sparkling sea whipped up by fresh, cool breezes. This subtle wine is crafted from locally grown rhubarb, lending it a refreshing, crisp flavour with a hint of tartness. Pairs finely with traditional Newfoundland dishes, poultry and pork. Medium
Moose Joose Blueberry-Partridgeberry A blend of blueberry and partridgeberry, two of Newfoundland's most popular berries. Full of antioxidants and flavonoids, this wine could be called a health juice - but it contains alcohol, so we'll just say it's berry good for you! Medium-Sweet
A blend of Newfoundland and Labrador blueberries and rhubarb creates a wine that is fun, delightful and well balanced. It is a great sipping wine and goes well with cheese and crackers. Semi-Sweet
Frig-Off Strawberry-Raspberry A refreshing strawberryraspberry wine is just what you need. And it makes a delicious way to tell someone else to chill out, or even Frig-Off! Semi-Sweet
www.aukislandwinery.com 1-877-639-4637 AUK ISLAND Shipping not available to Newfoundland and Labrador and Nunavut. Please visit your local NLC location.
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explore
By Nicola Ryan While here in Newfoundland and Labrador, Christmas is the main draw in December, we got curious about how our friends and neighbours of other cultural backgrounds celebrate the Yuletide season. We checked out five other holidays happening this month and, lo and behold, they’re all about spending time with family and friends, wishing for peace on earth and eating delicious snacks.
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Las Posadas December 16-24
Folks from Latin America, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Cuba and the Philippines celebrate Las Posadas. During the nine nights of celebration, processions of actors playing Mary and Joseph, angels, shepherds and attendants recreate that night in Bethlehem when there was no room at the inn. The nine nights mark the nine months Mary carried Jesus in her womb, leading up to Noche Buena, Christmas Eve. The group travels to one house a night performing the posada litany and singing songs. Each of the nine hosts, or “innkeepers,” welcomes the pilgrims into their home and serves up hot Ponche Navideno, Mexican Christmas fruit punch sometimes served with a drop of tequila or rum; and snacks like steamed corn dough tamales filled with veggies, meats and cheeses. There’s music and dancing, and children break open piñatas designed as seven-pointed stars full of candy Posada is th and toys. On the final night of the festivities, all e S panish word hands head over to midnight mass, Misa de Gallo, for lodging and gather together afterwards for dinner. or accommod ation.
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Hanukkah December 18-26
Around late November or December comes the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. The date varies since the Hebrew calendar, based on the lunar cycle, differs from the Gregorian one. This year it’s the evening of December 18 to the evening of the 26th. Hanukkah commemorates an event that took place way back in the 2nd century, when a small group of Jews in Jerusalem rebelled against the ruling Greeks and religious persecution. After the Jews regained control of their best Temple and tossed out the Greek’s blasphemous idols and altars, legend has it that there was only enough oil to keep the Menorah – the gold candelabrum whose seven branches represented knowledge and creation – burning for one day. Miraculously the flame stayed alight for eight days – hence the eight days of the “festival of lights.” Families celebrate by lighting the candles on the menorah, playing games with the dreidel and During cooking or baking delicious foods in oil, especially Hanukkah , sufganiyot (deep-fried jelly donuts) and fried children re ceive potato pancakes called latkes. Happy Hanukkah! gifts of mo ney called gelt .
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Dongzhi Festival December 21
For those from China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Vietnam, the winter solstice brings the Dongzhi Festival. Originating in China during the Han Dynasty some 2,000 years ago, the festival is rooted in the ancient philosophy of yin and yang. On the dark winter solstice, negative yin energy is at its peak, but as spring approaches, positive yang energy will grow. Chinese folks believe it’s an auspicious day, when the unhappiness of the past has gone and a new life begins. On this day, families put their ancestors’ statues and memorial tablets in the hall, set up altars with incense and offerings, and say prayers for good weather and harmony in the coming year. It’s a time for bonding with your family while Dongzhi is a sipping mellow wine and eating dumplings, wonton Chinese wo rd that can m soup and tangyuan – specially cooked balls of rice ean with a filling of bean paste or meat and fragrant “winter’s herbs that symbolize family unity and prosperity. extreme.”
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Pancha Ganapati December 21- 25
Hindu families have their own December holiday, the modern festival of Pancha Ganapati, where the focus is on sadhana – spiritual practice focusing on new beginnings and mending past mistakes. A shrine to Lord Pancha Ganapati, the five-elephant-faced form of Ganesha, is set up in the living room and decked with boughs, flowers and other ornaments, and each day a tray of sweets, fruits and incense is offered to inspire blessings. Each of the festival’s five days has its own colour and meaning related to Ganesha’s powers or shaktis: golden yellow, royal blue, ruby red, emerald green and brilliant orange. Children dress and decorate the statue each day while singing songs and saving up small gifts to open on the last day, when love and harmony are in abundance Pancha and everyone’s ready for a fresh start to the Ganapati w as new year. Lord Ganesha loves sweets and created in 1985 by his favourite treat is modak – festive Satguru Siv aya dumplings made with dough and sweet coconut Subramun iyaswami. and sugar filling.
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Kwanzaa
December 26 – January 1 Finally, another modern December holiday is Kwanzaa – a weeklong celebration honouring African heritage and culture. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 with the spirit of traditional African harvest festivals in mind. Homes are beautifully decorated with mkeka, woven straw mats; ears of corn representing fertility and hope for the future; fruits to symbolize joy and hard work; and a candleholder called a kinara adorned with red, black and green candles. Red is said to represent ancestry and unity; black, the people; and green, the fertile land. A candle is lit for each day and on the sixth day, family members sip from the unity cup to symbolize community and togetherness. Kwanzaa focuses on seven essential principles for folks of African descent, known as the Nguza Saba. The principles are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Each is represented by one day of the seven-day festival. And no festival is Kwanzaa is complete without a heaping plateful of tasty tradiuniquely N orth tional food: jerk chicken seasoned with spicy Scotch American, bonnet chilies and aromatic spices; black-eyed celebrated mainly peas; and steaming bowls of jollof rice – long-grain in the USA , rice simmered with tomatoes, onions, meat and Canada an d the spices. Joyous Kwanzaa! Habari Gani! Caribbean . There are lots of ways to celebrate the spirit of the season. December really is a month of happy holidays!
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explore
what’s in a name?
By Dale Jarvis
Princess Sophia Charlotte was born into the royal family of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a small duchy in northern Germany, in 1744. In some ways, she was a minor princess, with no interest in politics or court intrigues. However, soon after assuming the throne of Great Britain, 22-year-old King George III decided, despite not having met the princess, that he would marry her. A delegation was sent to Germany, and the 17-year-old princess was shipped off to England. She met the new king at his garden gate and was married to him less
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than six hours later. As the British Empire spread, colonists took her name around the world. Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia was named after her, as were places in the Falkland Islands, New Zealand, St. Vincent, Virginia, Florida and Vermont. In 1768, a new community on Prince
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Edward Island was named after her as well. In 1949, Ben Powell and his brother-in-law, Clarence Perry, started a lumbering operation at Old Cove, located in St. Michael’s Bay, Labrador. As other families started to settle there, Uncle Ben, as he was known, decided that if the growing town was going to be the capital of the bay, the same as Charlottetown was the capital of Prince Edward Island, it needed a better name than Old Cove. He got a can of paint and a brush and spelled out “Charlottetown” on a piece of board, which is how we ended up with a town in Labrador named after Queen Victoria’s grandmother.
Charlottetown, Labrador
Ronald O’Toole photo
[Ed. note: Charlottetown in Clode Sound, Bonavista Bay, NL, was named Brown’s Cove until the late 1800s, when it was renamed after the PEI capital, or after the first female settler, Charlotte (Hussey) Spracklin, according to Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador.]
Do you know a story or local legend explaining your favourite Newfoundland and Labrador place name? Send it to dale@dalejarvis.ca. Dale Jarvis is the author of Place Names of Newfoundland and Labrador, published by Flanker Press.
Charlottetown, Bonavista Bay Lorraine Winsor photo
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we are quite familiar with the traditional bright red ochre fishing stages that cling to the tortuous shorelines of our coastal communities. If we think of a “stage” as a “raised platform where entertainers perform,” then the fishing stage is indeed the setting and backdrop where the fine art of processing cod has been performed for hundreds of years by hardworking fishermen, where the codfish itself took centre stage. My Uncle Art (Arthur) Brown was one of those fishermen who was born, lived and died in the outport community of Joe Batt’s Arm, Fogo Island.
Uncle Art owned one of those stages where he performed this daily ritual of landing and processing cod fish for over 40 years before he passed away in 2005, at the age of 77. Like many of the traditional fishing stages, his clung stubbornly to the shoreline for another 17 years after his passing, unused and left to the mercy of the harsh ocean winds. Until this summer. This same fishing stage has been lovingly and creatively reimagined into a stunningly bright and charming family guest house by my cousin, Rex Brown, and his wife, Pauline. As you drive along the shoreline of Joe Batt’s Arm, you can’t miss this vibrant red structure, now more securely and happily perched on the ocean’s edge. When you open the brightly painted red door, splashed with luminous yellow inside, and step onto the original plank flooring, you immediately feel the sense of stepping back into time as your memories awaken, albeit amid vivid new colours and delightful shapes and forms.
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Every inch of this space and all its contents are part of a story that weaves its original function into a new and unique purpose. It’s a comfortable and modern guest house where you are invited to enjoy a cup of tea with a stunning view of the ocean. But, more importantly, it is a place that honours the life of the man who spent countless long days doing hours of strenuous work in this stage to provide for his family of 10. The sturdy wooden table takes centre stage in the main room, ready to gather family and friends as they recount stories of Uncle Art and his life as a well-respected fisherman. The tabletop is made of meticulously refurbished “window leaves” of the stage head, and the thick legs are crafted from the original ceiling beams. A wood stove sits to the side, ready to offer warmth and ambiance to chilly nights ahead. 82
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Rex and Pauline Brown have converted Art Brown’s stage into a charming guest home, with Rex doing much of the work himself using traditional techniques.
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The new windows were constructed by Rex himself, using traditional techniques that were passed down from his father. The hand-bar, once used for carrying salted fish, now finds its purpose in displaying traditional, colouful handmade quilts. Coats and jackets are hung on dowels ingeniously added to punt oars, and a wooden barrel now makes for a perfect end table. The gaff that was once used to push the boat away from the stage has had the hook removed and now serves as the edging of a floating wall shelf that holds tableware and glassware above a refurbished chest of drawers. Additional spaces include a quaint bedroom with a bright yellow sliding barn door, a functional bathroom, and an outdoor deck with traditional picket fence railing. The scene from the deck is truly breathtaking and defines the term “million-dollar view”! The entire place reflects the colours of the water and sky in various shades of blue, green and turquoise mixed with pops of reds and yellows. Colours abound in the hand-crafted rope lampshades, knot-shaped candles (called “a monkey’s fist”), wooden chairs, sea glass, wall lantern, window
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shades and so much more. It is a delight to the eyes everywhere you gaze, and a story is attached to each element of this space. Uncle Art was from a generation and time when materials were scarce and everything was kept so they could be reused, repurposed and recycled, long before this was an environmentally friendly way to live. It was simply a way of life when you worked hard for everything you had. Knowing Uncle Art as we all did, he would be “gob-smacked” by the modern transformation of his fishing stage. And like many old-timers, he might have a few choice words to say about why anyone would want to spend that kind of time fixing up an old stage. “Yer all
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foolish,” might be his chosen words. But ultimately, I think he would be delighted and proud to see how Rex and Pauline have upcycled the things he depended on every day for
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his livelihood in the cod fishery. Now it’s his family’s turn to enjoy the same magnificent ocean views he did for many years from the same stage head.
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life is better Blow Me Down Mountains on a crisp winter day. Gail Rideout, Corner Brook, NL
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HOME and Cabin
stuff we love by Nicola Ryan
Christmas Cheer
EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY Gather ‘round! Turkey being the star of the Christmas dinner table, a festive platter is a must-have. We love the traditional Christmas Tree design – introduced in 1938 – on this sturdy oval tray by the Spode Company. Collectors look forward to new pieces of the hand-decorated porcelain each holiday season. You can find a selection at Home on Water in St. John’s, NL. Homeonwaterst.com
COMFORT AND JOY The spicy and sweet scents of mulberry, cranberry, nutmeg and clove mingle together in these artisan candles by Labrador’s Yellow Heart Co. Hand-poured in small batches using all natural soy wax, wooden wicks and fine fragrance oils, they’re sure to create a cosy holiday atmosphere. Yellowheartco.ca 88
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SUGAR AND SPICE Add a beautiful flourish to holiday baking with the help of an embossing rolling pin. One easy roll will add a raised snowflake pattern to sugar cookies, shortbreads, and pie dough that bakes to a crisp, decorative finish. The perfect gift for the baker in your life! We saw this one at Hillhead House boutique in St. John’s, NL. Hillhead-house.com
THE HOLLY AND THE IVY Deck the halls or the table with a fresh floral arrangement. Mix fragrant winter greenery of pine or cedar and holly or magnolia leaves with roses, carnations, hydrangea, red berries and pinecones into a centrepiece or creative display. We love the selection from Teresa James, the florist section of Urban Market 1919 in St. John’s, NL. Urbanmarket1919shop.com
A WHITE CHRISTMAS Everyone has a special holiday album. Whether it’s Kenny and Dolly, Simani’s Christmas Fancy or our favourite, Bing Crosby’s 1945 album Merry Christmas, there’s bound to be familiar tunes playing when Santa’s on his way. Browse the festive favourites at O’Brien’s Music or Fred’s Records in St. John’s, NL, or at your local music store. Fredsrecords.com www.downhomelife.com
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Winter Wonderland Rather than cut down another large Christmas tree, interior designer Marie Bishop is keeping the spirit alive in a whole new way.
It seems that every year
we get ready earlier and earlier for the festive season. And why not? We enjoy it, so we like to stretch it out as much as we can. I’m pretty sure on a psychological level it distracts us from thinking of the long winter months ahead – that’s how it is for me anyway. Also, the secret to not getting stressed out about this very busy season is to be ready early, so there’s no last minute panic or pressure. 90
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There are so many wonderful traditions that we honour and celebrate during this season, but I like to add in some unconventional festivities. Like the year of the Wonky Tree. We’ve always had a real tree, and that year my quest was to find the least perfect tree and show how perfectly imperfect it was. It was a hit! In fact, it became a trend among our friends, and for years after they kept the tradition of the Wonky Tree. Then there was the year I covered everything with blue, white and silver ornaments – that was back in the ’90s, before blue was popular. It was a challenge to even find anything blue, but I persevered. This year, I’m promoting the Tiny Tree. In fact, I’m creating a small gathering of natural, living tiny trees. I’ve been talking about replacing the regular eight-foot tree with a small (36" high) tabletop Christmas tree for a few years now, but always got push back from the clan. This year, I’m doing it anyway. No big tree in the centre of the living room window, just a miniature winter wonderland. I’ve been planning this since August, when Mr. B and I carefully scouted a few wooded areas near the house for small, bushy, open grown white spruce and balsam fir. We delicately lifted them from their homes and transplanted them into some fat-bottom pots and other suitable containers. It’s always a gamble when you transplant trees: the secret is to keep as much of the root ball intact as possible, then mimic their original growing conditions. The alternative would be to cut some small, bushy trees and place them in waterproof www.downhomelife.com
One year I celebrated the Wonky Tree. My quest was to find the least perfect tree and let everyone see how perfectly imperfect it was. And it was a hit!
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containers, keeping the water topped up as you would for a regular Christmas tree. I also trimmed some dead branches from deciduous trees like birch, maple and alder. I chose the ones that looked most like a small version of the big tree, spray painted them white and stored them until needed. My vision was to create a miniature winter scene with fir, spruce, bare birch, snow, tiny lights, small houses – simple, yet enchanting. The simplicity part became more of a challenge than I expected, however. Part of the appeal in this type of arrangement is to create different levels for display. In the space where my traditional Christmas tree would normally stand, next to a comfy blue and white chair, I set up my existing black metal tables, glass nesting tables and black metal baker’s rack. I arranged the tiny potted trees on different shelves along with the painted birch branches, to create a forest scene. I’ve been collecting small houses for a few years now, so I added those along with reindeer, a few Santas and small artificial trees. I threaded warm white mini lights through the bare branches, the evergreens and the little houses for a really magical look. Then I sprayed the whole works with a light dusting of artificial snow. Yes, it’s a little messy – but it looks fabulous. And you can worry about the cleanup in January. I initially thought this would be less work than a traditional tree – 92
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I’m not really sure how I figured that. Although it’s true we didn’t have to hunt for a tree, wait for the ice and snow to fall off, position it securely in its container and string the lights so the wires didn’t show. And I didn’t unpack all my ornaments – hardly any, actually. So, I guess from that perspective it was less work.
I totally understand why most people go with the prelit artificial tree, by the way, as it’s so much easier. But if you decide to do something a little different and start early, it’s actually
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quite fun. It might require a little creative muscle, and you have to give yourself lots of time to carry it out. Otherwise frustration takes over, you run out of time and you’re cursing yourself for being so darn creative. That would be a good time to break out the eggnog! Here’s a little add-on for anyone who has a small shed, gazebo or tea house that they enjoy all year round: why not pour a little Christmas cheer in that direction? I dearly love my little tea house, so instead of putting my woodland creatures and fairies to bed in the basement for the winter, I kept them out a little longer and made the area festive with a few trees, some lights and a cosy blanket (see photo at left). Not only does it brighten up my morning and the backwoods area, but it’s also become a great Christmas photo booth for the little ones. Whether you have a tiny tree, a giant tree, an outside tree or no tree at all, this season is really about coming together to embrace all the wonderful things in our lives. It’s a time to enjoy good food, spend time with family and friends, and check in on your neighbours. It’s the very best time to love your space. Merry Christmas, everyone!
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the everyday gourmet
Newfoundland Wedding Soup 94
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month’s recipe is a funny little riff the everyday This on Italian Wedding Soup – you know the one in a gourmet tasty broth with little meatballs, some sort of By Andrea Maunder
Andrea Maunder is the owner and creative force behind Saucy & Sweet – Homemade Specialty Foods & Catering.
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pasta and chopped greens such as chard or kale. The name comes from the Italian phrase minestra maritata (“married soup”), which refers to how the flavours combine or “marry” to be more than the sum of their parts. You might think me strange to offer a turkey soup recipe that includes ground turkey this time of year (when we are all likely to have leftover turkey meat), but my motive is to make sure you make use of your turkey bones to make stock – and future soup is delicious! When you think of good stock, think flavour and low-waste. A really great tip is to freeze scraps of aromatics to use later for stock: leafy bits of celery, fibrous green tips of leeks, ferny bits of fennel. And you can add fresh peelings from washed carrots, onions, garlic etc. to stock along with leftover bones (carcass, wing tips etc.), or a package of turkey necks, wings or legs (you can pick the meat for sandwiches, salads or soup). An important tip – don’t salt your stock. You will season it when making soup, sauce or gravy – and run the risk of it ending up too salty if you reduce the liquid or add salty ingredients like ham or bacon. I was craving turkey soup a few weeks ago and had some turkey stock in my freezer. I had gorgeous local vegetables, too, but I needed a small amount of turkey meat, such as a thigh, legs or necks. They only had whole turkeys at the supermarket, so I picked up ground turkey meat – and the inspiration for Newfoundland Wedding Soup was born. For the greens, I needed to use up fresh arugula and loved its peppery, nutty flavour. I often have a package of frozen kale or spinach on hand, so would happily use a few handfuls of that. A note on soup pasta. First thing, don’t add too much pasta to soup – it absorbs broth. I love tiny noodles in a soup like this: achini de pepe (which means peppercorns, referring to their size), stellini (little stars), ditalini (tiny, short tubes) or orzo (rice shape) would all be great choices. Couscous or Israeli couscous (bigger) would work well, too.
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Newfoundland Wedding Soup 1-2 tbsp olive oil (or veg oil) 2 small yellow cooking onions (or half a large sweet or Spanish onion), finely diced 2-3 ribs celery, finely diced Sprig or two of fresh thyme 2-3 bay leaves 1/2 tsp dried savoury 1-2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp flour 2 tsp tomato paste 2 L homemade turkey stock Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste 2-3 carrots, peeled, medium dice (1/2-inch cubes) 1 small turnip, peeled, medium dice
1-2 parsnips, peeled, medium dice 1 lb ground turkey 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp onion powder 1/2 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp ground fennel (optional) Pinch cayenne (optional) 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced 2 cups greens of choice, fresh or frozen, chopped finely (kale, chard, spinach, arugula etc.) 1/4 cup tiny pasta (e.g. achini de pepe, ditalini, stellini or orzo)
Heat oil in a 3-4 quart pot over med-high heat. Add onions, celery, thyme, bay leaves and savoury; sauté a few minutes until they begin to soften. Add butter. Add flour and stir a couple minutes to coat vegetables. Add tomato paste and cook out for a moment or two. Add stock and stir. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in root vegetables and let simmer. Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix kosher salt, pepper and spices into ground turkey. Shape tiny meatballs (dime or nickel sized) and drop into simmering soup. When meatballs are nearly cooked, add bell pepper and greens. Stir and allow to cook a moment or two. When you are sure meatballs are cooked, taste soup and adjust seasonings. Add pasta, stir and let simmer a few minutes to cook through. Serve. 96
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Poultry Stock Recipe 2 tbsp vegetable oil 2-3 lbs turkey necks or other fresh poultry parts – or leftover cooked carcass/bones 1 small yellow onion, quartered, skin left on (or clean peelings) 1 carrot, cut into 3-inch lengths (or clean peelings) Couple handfuls of celery leaves or 1-2 ribs celery, in 3-inch lengths
6 bay leaves 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme 1 tbsp savoury 1/2 cup white wine (or water) 1 tsp whole black peppercorns Optional: 4 allspice berries, 1/2 tsp celery seed, 1/2 tsp mustard seed 2-3 quarts water – to cover, more or less as needed
You’ll be searing the aromatics (and fresh poultry, if using) first, so you need a large, deep frypan before transferring to the slow cooker. If you are making this in a stock pot, you can start right in the pot. Heat oil over med-high heat. Brown all sides of fresh poultry parts, then transfer to the slow cooker set on low (or set them aside in a bowl if using stock pot). Add the rest of the ingredients to the frypan, adding a little more oil if needed, and stir to brown a little (3-5 minutes). Add wine (or water) to deglaze the pan and let it bubble off. Add a little more water and stir the bottom of the pan to get all the brown bits up. Scrape everything into the slow cooker. If using bones, add now. (If using stock pot, add back the poultry.) Add remaining water (to the slow cooker or stock pot). Make sure everything is submerged. Add more water if needed. For slow cooker, cover and leave 8-10 hours on low. For stock pot, bring to a boil; loosely cover and reduce heat to simmer for 3-4 hours, stirring and checking periodically to be sure the liquid doesn’t evaporate or the stock burn on. Strain stock through a fine sieve. Skim and discard any fat. Discard
solids except for any meat. Pull meat from bones and enjoy with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, or reserve to add to soup or to make sandwiches. If you have time to refrigerate stock overnight, any fat will form a white skin on top, which you can easily remove (and discard or keep for cooking). A collagen-rich stock made with lots of bones or skin will become jelly-like in the fridge, but will melt back to liquid with heat. When freezing, leave a half-inch of head space to keep lids from popping off – liquids expand when freezing.
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everyday recipes
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We turned to staff and readers for their favourite homemade treats they like to put out when company comes. Now they can be yours!
Rice Krispies Trees Downhome test kitchen
1/4 cup margarine or butter 1 (250 g) pkg white marshmallows (or 5 cups mini-marshmallows) 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal Grease a 9"x13" pan. In large, heavy bottomed saucepan over low heat, melt margarine. Add marshmallows and stir until melted and smooth. (Or melt butter in a large microwave-safe bowl, on high for 30-60 seconds, just until butter is melted. Stir in marshmallows to coat, microwave on high for 45 seconds, stir and cook another 3045 seconds. Repeat steps until marshmallows are melted and smooth.) Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Add cereal, stirring until evenly mixed. Use a lightly greased spatula or spoon to press mixture evenly into greased pan. Let cool completely at room temperature. Lightly grease a tree-shaped cookie cutter and press it firmly down through the Rice Krispies. Gently peel out the forms. (A sharp knife is helpful for cutting through the marshmallow around the forms.) Use icing to outline the tree and garland, then use sprinkles or mini-M&Ms for decorations. The icing holds them in place. Yield: 10-12 trees (depending on the size of the cutter).
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Santa’s Favourite Cookies Downhome test kitchen
1 1/3 cups butter 1 cup white sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 2 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 2 cups mini M&Ms
Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, soda and salt. Blend flour mixture into creamed butter mix. Fold in M&Ms. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls 2" apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 min. on top rack of oven until cookies are light brown. Cool slightly on sheet before transferring to cooling rack. Makes about four dozen cookies.
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Basic Drop Cookies Elizabeth DeFreitas-Michelin
“Please excuse the messy page, it has been in use since 1981. These were my husband’s favourite, but I didn’t make them as tiny as the recipe calls for. He always said he didn’t want to have to take a handful of cookies to get one!”
3 1/2 cups flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp cinnamon 2 cups brown sugar, packed 1 cup butter or margarine 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup sour milk* 1 cup raisins 1/2 cup walnuts *To make sour milk (like buttermilk), stir together 1/2 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1/2 cup total, let stand 5 min. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon. In a larger bowl, cream together sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with sour milk. Mix well. Fold in raisins and walnuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375°F for 12-15 minutes. Makes 6-8 dozen cookies.
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Mom’s Chocolate Snowballs By Thelma Rideout Stuckey
“This is my favourite Christmas cookie recipe. It is one that my mom only made at Christmas time. As a young girl in the late ’60s, she would let me roll them in the coconut. As a teenager, she would let me help her make them. They would be so dark and moist, and looked so pretty in her white and pink-flowered cookie can. From my early years as a mom, I made these with my son, and to this day, I still make them only at Christmas. I do that because it brings back such wonderful memories of my childhood and my time with my son.”
1 1/2 cups sugar 5 heaping tbsp cocoa 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup shortening
3 cups rolled oats 2 cups coconut 1 tsp vanilla 1/4 tsp salt
In a large pot or saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, milk and shortening. Stir slowly over medium heat until sugar has dissolved and shortening has melted. Bring to a slow boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Add rolled oats, vanilla and 1 cup coconut, as well as the salt. Mix well. Let cool. Once cool to the touch, form mixture into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in remaining 1 cup coconut. Freeze in an airtight container until ready to serve. Makes about 40 balls. 102
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Roman Nougat Bars By Beulah Brake
2 pkgs white mini marshmallows 2 pkgs white chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter 2 cups gumdrops
Line a 9"x13" baking dish with parchment paper, enough to extend an inch or two over the sides. Put marshmallows, white chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe dish. Cook on high for 30-second intervals, stirring in between until fully melted and combined. (Or melt over low heat in a heavy bottomed pot on the stove.) Stir in gumdrops, then transfer mixture to the baking dish, spreading it evenly. Let it chill in the fridge for a few hours. When fully chilled, grasp the ends of the parchment paper to take the whole bar out of the dish and lay it on a cutting surface. Use a very sharp knife to cut out squares, running the knife under hot water before each cut. Makes 48 small 1 ½" square bars.
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Grace’s Submitted FivebyStar Cookies Grace Ryan Downhome Household Almanac and Cookbook Vol. 1
2 cups shredded coconut 1 1/2 cups graham wafer crumbs 1/2 cup butter, melted
1 can sweetened condensed milk 4 Aero bars
Line a 9"x9" baking dish with parchment, allowing an inch or two to overlap the edges. Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine first four ingredients. Press into the bottom of the baking dish and bake for 7-8 minutes. Meanwhile break up Aero bars and melt them in a pot over low heat (or in a microwave-safe dish and microwaved on high for 45 seconds at a time, stirring in between) until chocolate is all melted and smooth. Pour melted chocolate over cookie base. Set in the refrigerator for a few hours, until the chocolate is firm. Use the parchment to lift the entire bar out of the pan and place it on a cutting board. Use a very sharp knife to cut into bars. Store in an airtight container in fridge or freezer. Makes 25 squares.
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Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies By Yuvadee Feltham
1 cup smooth peanut butter 1/2 cup white sugar 1 large egg Preheat the oven to 325°F. Mix together peanut butter, sugar and egg in a large bowl until well blended. Roll dough into 24 balls (by hand or using a meatball scoop) and place them 4" apart on ungreased and/or parchment-lined baking sheets. Flatten each ball with the back of a fork. Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 20 minutes; do not overbake. Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Winter White Bars by Paula Burry “These are delicious and easy to make. I do them every Christmas. I usually end up making two lots.”
1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla 2 eggs
2 cups mini marshmallows 1 1/2 cups coconut 2 cups graham wafer crumbs 1 pkg Dream Whip
Melt butter and dissolve sugar in a large pot on the stove. Add vanilla. Whip in eggs. Add marshmallows and cook until the marshmallows are smaller and soft, but not totally melted. Remove from heat and stir in graham wafer crumbs and coconut. Press mixture into a square dish and place in fridge to cool completely. Make Dream Whip according to package directions, then spread over cooled squares. (Optional, dust the top with more coconut.) Cut into squares and store in freezer. Makes 30-36 squares. www.downhomelife.com
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Molasses Cookies By Sylvia O’Brien Carter
“Love these cookies.”
Bermuda Ann’s Chocolate Cookies By Irene Snow
“These are so easy to make and so delicious!”
1 (12 oz) pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 (11 oz) pkg butterscotch chips 1 cup smooth peanut butter 1 (10.5 oz) bag minimarshmallows 1 cup M&Ms candies
1 cup molasses 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup butter 1 egg 4 cups flour 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp cloves 1 tsp ginger 3 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1/4 cup hot water Combine molasses, sugar, butter and egg; mix well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, spices, baking soda and salt. Add to molasses mixture alternately with hot water until all is well mixed. Form batter into balls, place on an ungreased and/or parchment-lined baking sheet and press down with the back of a fork. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool completely. Makes 3-4 dozen cookies.
Line a 9"x13" baking dish with parchment paper. Combine first three ingredients in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until chips are fully melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in marshmallows until fully coated. Spread mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with M&Ms and press them down slightly. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. Makes about 54 squares.
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Molasses Bun By Tryphena Anderson Clothier
“My Aunt Hazel Walters Spencer’s Molasses Bun recipe. Yum! Cheers, Aunt Hazel, a little tribute to you!”
4 cups flour 3/4 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp allspice 2 eggs 1/3 cup butter 1/3 cup shortening 2 tbsp brown sugar 1 cup molasses 1 cup raisins, dusted in 2 tbsp flour 1 cup warm water Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and allspice. Melt butter and shortening. Mix brown sugar and molasses together; add butter and shortening, and mix well. Add floured raisins. Add water, then flour mixture. Transfer dough to greased metal pan. Bake at 350°F for about 40 minutes (until tester in the centre comes out clean).
Magic Bars By Violet Schnarr, Downhome Household Almanac and Cookbook Vol. 2
1/2 cup butter 1 1/2 cups graham wafer crumbs 1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut 1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place butter in a 9"x13" baking dish in the oven and let butter melt as oven preheats. Watch carefully and remove dish as soon as butter melts (don’t let it burn). Let butter settle evenly over bottom of pan and sprinkle wafer crumbs evenly over butter. Carefully spread milk evenly over crumbs. Sprinkle with chocolate chips, then coconut, then nuts. Press down firmly with your hand. Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes or until brown. Let cool completely before cutting out squares. Makes about 48 bars.
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Shortbread By Marilyn Crotty “My family loves this recipe.”
1 cup butter 1/2 cup fruit sugar (or combine 1/4 cup granulated and 1/4 cup icing sugar) 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional) 2 cups flour Preheat oven to 250°F. Cream butter until light. Add sugar and cream until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, if using, and beat well. Work in flour, beating until a soft dough is formed. Knead well to blend in the last of the flour. Chill dough for 10 minutes. Roll out dough 1/4-inch thick on a lightly floured surface, and cut into fancy shapes. Bake on ungreased baking sheet for 25-30 minutes, or until set but not browned. Allow cookies to cool before removing them from the sheet. They will become crisp as they cool. (Marilyn’s notes: Keep the oven on 250°F and watch closely. As soon as you see a little bit of browning on the edges, take them out. They are very delicate until they cool off. I decorate them with coloured sugar, sprinkled on before they’re baked.) Makes 30-36 cookies.
Snickerdoodles
By Floss LeDrew, Tonic for the Woman’s Soul: Downhome Household Almanac and Cookbook Vol. 3
1 cup butter 1 1/3 cups light brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla 3 cups flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cream of tartar 1/4 tsp salt 2 tsp cinnamon 3 tbsp white sugar Beat butter and brown sugar together until creamy. Beat in eggs and vanilla until smooth. In a small bowl, stir together flour, soda, cream of tartar and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture; blend thoroughly. Combine cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Form dough into about 1” balls, then roll in cinnamon sugar. Place about 2” apart on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 325°F for 12-15 minutes, until bottom edges are lightly browned. Makes 24 cookies. 108
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Newfoundland Squares By Crystal Wall Tonic for the Woman’s Soul: Downhome Household Almanac and Cookbook Vol. 3
1 cup flour 1 1/2 cups + 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs 1 cup shredded coconut 1 cup walnuts, chopped
Combine flour, 1/3 cup brown sugar and butter; press into the bottom of a greased 9"x9" pan (or line it with parchment paper, allowing an inch or two up over the sides for easy removal later). Bake at 325°F for about 10 minutes, until lightly browned. In a large bowl, beat eggs until light coloured. Gradually beat in 1 1/2 cups brown sugar. Stir in coconut and walnuts. Spread over the baked bottom layer, then bake at 325°F for 40 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting out squares. Makes 36 squares.
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reminiscing flashbacks
Downhome Staff Back in the Day
Oh Tannenbaum Marketing director Tiffany Brett trims the tree in this adorable snap from 1992.
Wonderful Christmastime
Back in 1985, assistant editor Nicola Ryan’s handknit Christmas stocking was almost bigger than her!
A Christmas Carol
Inventory manager Carol Howell celebrates her Christmas birthday some years ago with a beautiful Barbie cake.
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Babes in Toyland Retail floor manager Jackie Rice writes, “This is Christmas morning 1974. We are all dressed up to go to Nan’s for dinner. I got a new Sweet Cookie Doll and my brother got G.I. Joe!”
Holly Jolly Christmas Accountant Sandra Gosse, in the red shirt, laughs with her brother Kevin, nephew Gregory, and sisters Darlene and Elaine in 1986. 1-888-588-6353
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The Downhomer • December 1988
The Best of Both Worlds By Daphne Burt
Do you believe in Santa Claus?
I can remember a time when I still believed. That kind old man with the white hair and beard who dressed in the red suit. He remembered everyone at Christmas and visited everywhere with presents for all hands. He even found the time to visit the local Orange Lodge in Rattling Brook, Newfoundland, every year on the night that the school kids held their concert. It was a time, I’ll tell you! The preparation took weeks. There was always some new clothes for the concert – ready weeks beforehand! White tights were popular then, and the concert always brought a new pair. I recall one Christmas concert. At the very beginning, when all the students were done singing their rendition of “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” (practised for weeks after school), I was to step out in front of the others and do a recitation: “My Wish to Santa.” Now, I was born with, and still have, straight-as-a-whip hair. My wish to Santa was for him to 112
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So you can just imagine my elation when I actually “saw” Santa Claus getting ready for the concert festivities. Yes! My very own father was Santa Claus and I was the only one who knew it. bring me curly hair for Christmas. And lo and behold! (With a little help from Mom), I DID have curly hair for the evening. It was such a fun-filled night. All the folks from the town came out to see the performances – songs, recitations and plays that included all the kids. After the concert was finished, everyone crowded around the huge, decorated tree, and it wouldn’t be long before you could hear the ringing of a bell and a loud “HO! HO! HO!” Santa was here! We would stand at the bottom of the tree and, one by one, he would call out the names of every kid there, and he would have a present for each of them. Oh boy! Some lucky kids got two, and sometimes three, presents. They were the envy of the other kids. I remember another year, when on the night of the concert I was sick in bed and I couldn’t take part in the evening’s activities. I felt so sorry for myself. It was the worst thing that could have happened to me – or so I thought. So you can just imagine my elation when I actually “saw” Santa Claus getting ready for the concert festivities. Yes! My very own father was Santa Claus and I was the only one who knew it. I never let on, even when Santa “visited” me later and brought me a present – a set of dishes, 1-888-588-6353
complete with knives and spoons. I kept that secret for years! I worked with a gentleman who acted as Santa Claus at a local mall one year. He told me about some of his experiences. One in particular I found to be cute. He told me about a little girl who sat on his knee, and when he asked her what she wanted him to bring her for Christmas she replied, “But Santa, don’t you remember? I told you last week at Shopper’s World!” I still believe in Santa Claus. I saw him last year at the Eaton Centre in Toronto. I stood for the longest time, watching and listening as the excited and sometimes nervous little kids climbed upon his knee and told him what they wanted him to bring them for Christmas. Some of them were so at ease with him that they whispered secrets in his ear. At one point, he glanced over at me. I was so captivated that all I could say was, “Hello Santa!” He smiled his merry smile and replied, “Merry Christmas!” I carried the warmth of that smile around in my heart for days. He truly instilled the spirit in everyone around him. I look forward to hopefully seeing him again this year. It is such a good feeling to believe again. Merry Christmas everyone! December 2022
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reminiscing
downhome memories
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A Gift to Remember By Beulah Gruchy • St. John’s, NL
There was no electricity on the little island of Exploits where I was born. Christmas decorations consisted of tinsel, glass, crepe paper and candles. Twisted red and green crepe streamers ran from corner to corner of our kitchen ceiling, with a large, red, honeycombed paper bell hanging in the centre. A wreath hung in the window, and a small fir tree stood in a corner of the living room (it always waited to be decorated with glass balls and tinsel on Christmas Eve). Candles were kept for New Year’s Eve, to welcome the new year at midnight. Since no brightly coloured lights decorated our homes, imagine the excitement when one of the storekeepers obtained a generator. For the first time we could see fascinating colours and hear music in one or two lucky houses! The weeks before Christmas were full of excitement and preparation. I could hardly contain the thrilling thought that the colder it got, the sooner Santa would arrive! Then one day just before Christmas, I heard 1-888-588-6353
the older folk talking about the huge Santa face that lit up the front window of Sceviour’s store, and the small, white, plastic church that sat on the counter and continuously played Christmas carols. I longed to see those wonders! On Christmas Eve my wish came true. Mom, very tired from cooking, cleaning and generally preparing for the holidays, decided that she wasn’t too tired to walk all the way around the harbour to Sceviour’s store. December 2022
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Surprisingly, Dad said he’d come, too. Dressed in our warm winter boots and heavy clothes, we walked the narrow road around the shoreline. It was a perfect night. A light snowfall earlier in the day had transformed the rocky landscape and sparkled on the wooded hillside. A small flashlight and thousands of stars lit the path ahead. Although I was only six at the time, that half-
heartbeat race like the face of that jolly Santa shining out on the snow. To my young ears, the little white church chimed out the carols of Christmas with a sweeter sound than I’d ever heard before. After a sleepy walk home, I hung my stocking and went to bed while Mom and Dad finished decorating the tree. On Christmas morning, among my gifts was a beautiful little
When we got to the store, I was not disappointed. The dazzling displays in downtown New York and glittering glamour of Disney have never impressed me as much or made my heartbeat race like the face of that jolly Santa shining out on the snow. hour walk to the store with my parents still glows in my memory. I would not have been surprised to see Santa’s sleigh flying by or to hear choirs of herald angels singing their joyful songs. Anything could happen on this wondrous night! When we got to the store, I was not disappointed. The dazzling displays in downtown New York and glittering glamour of Disney have never impressed me as much or made my
doll that, in later years, Mom told me had been purchased the night before. But it’s not the material gifts that make the memory of Christmas so outstanding in my mind. The gift that I will always remember most clearly, of all the gifts of childhood, is the gift of time – a special hour that was given to me by my parents on a busy Christmas Eve when I was six.
The doll Beulah received that memorable Christmas
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Mummering with Mom By Rita Kearley • Terrenceville, NL
Years ago, on cold winter nights in Newfoundland, I remember mummering with Mom. My mother was Janet McCarthy, and mummering with Mom was an experience. When we were planning to go mummering, we had a predicament. We didn’t want Mom to go with us because we had to be responsible for her, you know, being our mother and all, and not be able to enjoy ourselves as we would if we were on our own. We could not go without her finding out, though, because we had to go to her house for the dress-up clothes. She had the best dress-up clothes – it might have something to do with the fact that she never threw anything away, ever. Long johns, bras, old coats, dresses and lots of face-covering material – you name it, she had it at her house. It was a treasure chest for mummers. As the night approached for mummering, we would visit Mom’s house to pick out the best clothes to wear so it would be hard for anyone to guess who we were. And there was Mom, also picking out what she was going to wear. You see, Mom liked a good time. I won’t 1-888-588-6353
lie, she loved to be the centre of attention. Mummering was just another opportunity for her to stand out in a crowd and do a little showing off along with it (forgive me, Mom). One annoying thing that Mom would do when mummering was to tell on you as soon as you got inside the door! She was always the first to be identified, of course, making herself known in her usual way of carrying on. We knew we were not far behind. Once while mummering, not long after I was married, Mom made a remark that gave away who I was: “I’ll give you a clue, she just got married not long ago.” All I could say was
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thank you, Mom. She really knew how to give subtle clues. She would get warm from all the clothes she had on and would want to be out of there in a hurry and out in the cold again. After a little syrup and cake, she was on her merry way. I remember how cold the night was as we trudged through the snow going from house to house. Mom didn’t care even as she got tired; she could still find lots of energy to visit, have a laugh with her friends and kick up her heels. They were always glad to see her; she knew this, of course, and she wasn’t going to miss it. All good things must come to an end, and eventually we had to return
home. By this time Mom would be exhausted. The climb to her house, which was on a steep hill, was a little too much for her. We ended up one on each arm, literally dragging her up the hill. After she died I thought of all the titles she had held in her lifetime. I had to smile when another one came to mind: “Queen of the Mummers.” Will always miss you, Mom.
The Christmas Doll By Bernadette Carew • Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL
This doll has been in our family for a long time now. When we were little, our father had tuberculosis and was in the Sanitorium (San) for long periods of time. It was hard times for my family, and money was very slim. One Christmas our parish priest, Father Kennedy, brought a lot of things to our house, and this doll was among them. Us girls spent many hours playing with her. She had beautiful red hair and eyes just like marbles. My mother cherished the doll and tried to take care of it. She passed away a while ago, so my sister Mary took it and took care of it. When she passed away, I took it and still have it today. I had this crib made for her, and it is beautiful. The doll brings a lot of happy memories to me of a time when our family was so less fortunate and of a kind-hearted priest who helped us. 118
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The Christmas Concert By Marie Dalton • Clarenville, NL The Christmas concert many years ago The big event of the year. There were moms and dads, nans and pops Everyone was there. Getting ready for the concert Took about a month or more. Each student had a part or two Some had three or four.
Each one was dressed in their very best On each face was a smile. After all the work that was involved This made it all worthwhile. At the end there was a Christmas tree With gifts for everyone. And a visit from old Santa Claus Was always lots of fun.
There were songs and recitations Exercises with a letter. If some were in the wrong position This made it all go better.
There was so much excitement When Santa called the names. There were dolls and toys and even sleighs Sometimes there were games.
Some kids knew most all the parts So if some friend got the flu, Just before concert time They knew just what to do.
There were no tickets at the door Everything was free. Everybody came along And brought their family.
They would step in and substitute So things would go just right. And everyone would be so proud On this their special night.
Today the Christmas concerts Are so different we all know. But I believe we had more fun At those concerts long ago.
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OVER $20s in saving ! by joining
Now more than ever a Downhome membership is a great value. Not only do you save over $20 off the cover price, you receive: 1 Year (12 issues) OF DOWNHOME
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2212_Puzzles_1701-puzzles 10/26/22 12:00 PM Page 122
puzzles
The Beaten Path
Cal Samson 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 V H
K
E
T p n
S S
A
M
J
V
U
x
Q
H
L
A
N
S
p R S H J E S A A K H L n T T M H K J R E H S U x p A Q L K V M V n V A U R R A V n p T G H T J
E
S
V
M
W
S
O
L
U
S S
U
H
S V E
x
V
Last Month’s Community: Gillams 122
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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
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Becky Wiseman 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: • name sounds like historic fishing grounds • home of the Seamen’s Museum • a ship actually struck its lighthouse once • home of a moving Mariner’s Memorial • town sits on the toe of the “boot”
Last Month’s Answer: Winterton
Picturesque Place NameS of Newfoundland and Labrador
by Mel D’Souza Last Month’s Answer: Bauline 124
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In Other Words Guess the well-known expression written here in other words.
Last Month’s Clue: Cease pummelling your noggin in contact with a partition In Other Words: Stop beating your head against a wall
This Month’s Clue: Happy holidays to the masses and to the masses a pleasant evening In Other Words: ____ _________ __ ___ ___ __ ___ _ ____ _____
A Way With Words P
S I
A
C
A N
Last Month’s Answer: Caspian Sea
This Month’s Clue
Rhyme Time A rhyming word game by Ron Young
1. A sullen treat is a _____ ______ 2. To cover a toque is to ____ a ___
SNOW THE TREES
3. A solitary bell shake is a ____ _____
Answer: ____ __ ___ _____
Last Month’s Answers 1. right height, 2. small fall, 3. big rig
Scrambled Sayings by Ron Young Place each of the letters in the rectangular box below into one of the white square boxes above them to discover a quotation. Incomplete words that begin on the right side of the diagram continue one line down on the left. The letters may or may not go in the box in the same order that they are in the column. Once a letter is used, cross it off and do not use it again.
E D L C A H E N N R I O A I F E C A B A I D E E C E E R U I R T I O T T L S E L H G S O N F L I T H I N G W I S T O O U O S S L M O T O I N Y T N M P O O T Y U T N Y U R T Y T
Last month’s answer: A true measure of your worth includes all the benefits others have gained from your success. www.downhomelife.com
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Rhymes 5 Times Each answer rhymes with the other four
1. cable
____________
2. loftier
____________
3. dreadful
____________
4. father
____________
5. flame
____________
STUCK? Don’t get your knickers in a knot! Puzzle answers can be found online at DownhomeLife.com/puzzles
Last Month’s Answers: 1. blue, 2. flew, 3. crew, 4. cue, 5. chew
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. ODOBTWO
For best results sound the clue words out loud!
2. LUBYELS VOCE
You Shore New Dull ___ ____ ______
3. WAIVESPLANET
Beep Hack Kin Amen Hit ___ ____ __ _ ______
5. LUFEYR THBIG
Last Month’s 1st Clue: Hike Ann Tell Pit. Answer: I can’t help it. Last Month’s 2nd Clue: Abe Each Dwell. Answer: A beached whale.
4. REVERTIPOLL
Last Month’s Answers: 1. Square Islands, 2. Chimney Tickle, 3. Muddy Bay, 4. Henley Harbour, 5. White Bear River
A nalogical A nagrams Unscramble the capitalized words to get one word that matches the subtle clue. 1. STICK SONG ~ Clue: they have two legs and can run but not walk 2. MY NICHE ~ Clue: it works, but you have to light a fire under it 3. ANT OR MEN ~ Clue: does nothing but hang around all Christmas 4. CRANE TRUCK ~ Clue: this festive soldier’s job is never done 5. STOLE TIME ~ Clue: Cupid’s Christmastime cousin Last Month’s Answers: 1. bathtub, 2. cinnamon, 3. cosmetics, 4. maximum, 5. helmet 126
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Four-Way Crossword F o re Wo rd s • B a c k Wo rd s • U p Wo rd s • D o w n Wo rd s By Ron Young
Unlike regular crosswords, in Four-Way Crossword each letter is not necessarily related to the letter in the adjacent row or column, but is part of one or more words in some direction.
1-10: delicious 1-91: distributing 2-22: conclusion 3-1: guided 3-7: lamp 5-25: fuel 8-38: unbiased 10-60: runny 10-100: murderer 12-14: pinch 14-17: bucket 14-44: two 15-35: donkey 19-17: chum 19-39: place 23-3: zero 24-26: question 25-22: beach soil 27-57: concern 27-97: slaphappy 30-21: sinkholes 30-26: swift 31-36: compliment 31-61: writes 32-36: elevate 35-37: ocean 35-38: scorch 35-65: rescue 37-39: Mr. Linkletter 47-44: behind 49-46: flame 51-54: appendage 52-32: paddle 53-51: offspring 58-53: waits on 58-38: knight’s title 58-88: knife 60-53: is worthy 61-91: croon 61-81: transgression www.downhomelife.com
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62-32: big pig 64-67: tree part 66-68: astern 66-86: contribute 72-75: spoiled child 75-73: pitch 76-46: challenge 76-80: blueprint 79-59: surcharge 79-99: enemy 80-60: small amount 81-84: tidy 82-62: tide outflow 84-87: spring or neap 88-58: clubs 88-86: cot 91-94: sport
91-100: warden 93-23: sharpshooter 95-98: retain 100-80: decay Last Month’s Answer
U L T I MA T E L Y NA P S ADAA L L A E RU T ANG I S S HAME L T O P S S U E U LGA B L E I T WR I T MA O L S A T DONOROD T UOR THUGE E E TONU B N I L E D E F I N I T I ON December 2022
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The Bayman’s
Crossword Puzzle 1
2
3
by Ron Young
4
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8 9
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32
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39
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ACROSS 1. “Mind __” – I don’t think so! 4. opposite WSW 5. ___ back pork 6. corn portion 8. forbid 9. shoreline ice barricades (colloq) 19. common lake bird 20. in other words (abbrev) 21. prepared (colloq) 22. “Whaddaya __?” 23. small mongrel (colloq) 25. Eastern Daylight Time (abbrev) 27. all right 28. missus 29. Grand Falls Station (abbrev) 31. a noggin__ scrape – a difficult task 33. record type 35. “He’s __ skinny you can see the sins on his soul” 36. European Association for Institiutional Research (abbrev) 38. yes (Sp.) 39. steamship (abbrev) 40. “Get any?” (colloq) 41. hobo 42. maker of jeans? 43. the Mainland 45. mug __ – woods lunch 46. ____ party 48. chemical symbol for tellurium 49. Windmill _____ Park 50. ant DOWN 1. Newfoundland train nickname (2 words) 2. “How’s ye gettin’ ___?” 3. “Take me back to my _______ ____, let me fish off Cape St. Mary’s” (2 words) www.downhomelife.com
7. battery size 10. picnic pest 11. kittiwake (colloq) 12. “How’s ___ fadder?” 13. killick 14. snatch 15. attempt 16. Edward to his friends 17. sunker 18. senior (abbrev) 24. “Cold __ a turr on a battycatter” 26. drench with water 29. “__ away wit’ ya!” – I don’t believe you! 30. older gentleman (colloq) 32. crooked (colloq) 34. marching celebration 35. ______ of Belle Isle 37. Holiday ___ 38. soot 39. large piece 41. Canadian bank 44. purpose 47. height (abbrev)
F O G L L A S I N E T K I T E N E R E R S S A L M O N I E R I D 19 S T R A I T N O O N E 26 R O O M S P H A G D O W N S 31 33 E R R S H E O S E P 35 36 38 H E A R M Y E R A N T 39 41 35 M Y B A R A T E F O R 44 S S T R A P L O N A 48 S U F I M A S W E E T S T R A I N S H O E S E 58 A S R I G T E N T T
ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD
December 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. __________ 7384736368 ____ 9436 __ 28
__ 47
___ 968
____ 7867
______ 548464
____ 9675
___ 263
___ __ 782 78
’
__ 28
_______ 9675464
______ 548464
Last Month’s Answer: If you can’t laugh at your own problems, call me and I’ll laugh at them.
©2022 Ron Young
CRACK THE CODE W
Each symbol represents a letter of the alphabet, for instance =T Try to guess the smaller, more obvious words to come up with the letters for the longer ones. The code changes each month.
_ _
0b
_ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ Qb l n WR m hO
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
f bh0 n pxH _ _ _ _ _ _ kn b k n
_ _ _
L
L
_ _ _ T _ T _
m l m WC W n
Ch0
_ _ _
l Cz _ T
m W
Last Month’s Answer: Raising a teenager is like nailing Jello to the wall. 130
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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.”
wage = _ _ _ ` mV
proved = _ _ _ _ _ _ _
departed = _ _ _ _
adulturer = _ _ _ _ _ _ _
x c [IqI c a
b cez
equine = _ _
]w c mz c [
_ _ _
ws[ k c
_ _ _ _ _
_
_ _ _ _
t
_ _
_ _
zs
_ _
Ik
bm
V
_ _
zs
q[I c eakwI`
m
z wmz
_ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_
_ _ _ _
t
zw c
c c` Ik
damaged = _ _ _ _ _ _ K[ s c e
_ _ _
z wIet
I
_
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
[ c k` c]z
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _
c x c[ VKsaV _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
aIqq c[ c ez
Last Month’s Answer: Don’t worry if plan A fails, there are twenty-five more letters in the alphabet. www.downhomelife.com
December 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 TAKE A BREAK WITH SANTA
Last Month’s Answers: 1. Tree, 2, Jar, 3. Propane tank, 4. Flap on tent, 5. Spare wheel, 6. Jacket, 7. Boot, 8. Flame, 9. Hand, 10. Branch, 11. Quarter, 12. Quad “Differences by the Dozen”- A compilation of Different Strokes from 2002 to 2014 (autographed by Mel) can be ordered by sending $9.95 (postage incl.; $13.98 for U.S. mailing) to Mel D’Souza, 21 Brentwood Dr., Brampton, ON, L6T 1P8.
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HIDE & SEEK
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS The words can be across, up, down, backward or at an angle, but always in a line.
ANGEL BELLS BOWS BULB CANDLE CARDS CAROLLERS CHURCH ELVES EVERGREENS GARLAND HOLLY ICICLES LIGHTS LOGS
NATIVITY ORNAMENT PRESENTS RIBBON SANTA
Last Month’s Answers
SLEIGH SNOWFLAKE STAR TINSEL WREATH
F T E Z B P G F X C X D D D R F Y J B M G H N A E D I F H C N U L E G U F Z Y S B O Z P S R V R X U Y R X B T R Z N W L G J M Z A N N P N I V E W K W S E H T I M V B H O P U Y L Q Y Y K N E T L Z O G P D W H U R J E O P K Y L U E J E B N R O U E O L E D X G C M R D L E W U I Y A N G D O X W F G B S C L Y I Z L N S I L L L K M K A I F P S D R Q Y M U D T L F I S P F H T K A N P B M T G R B U P R L D R P T G W H R D V V S L R S O N Y U S O C H O S D V Y H E S M E H U L V A N C B Z X P O T D A T J L E T G R S W A O B Y Y I E W J V N E E R L A S V E B K I U H C D D U E A N X U Y V U R J E S P R I Q K S N U W Y B D R T C E F R K G P E X A L E R K A N W A Y O F E S R E B M D H X E G W F E J S D A P B G D E L U Q U M A A X T N W O G T H G I N Y W J H J J Q L G C L W V B M G S A P O R R D K O S D C S E A H I E I G J W R A S W X X N P T W R R A N Y W E E B P M A L G M U O F X T U F M P U W Q I T
J M D Y G I G X S T N E S E R P M X K U P T R I M N E H O J F F G V F V L E L D N A C M K A V M N O F V R V S S O K D J E K E B E D Z X M H G A J K S B E M Q N L K Z L I A S O R N A M E N T A E I L C E R H B E S G Q G L B W Z L W N O M A F R E K J V B G Z I B Q L H F R S Q H G N G Y Y S Z L L Y S L U R E W E S C W S O W Q W K O E D B D W A V L W D L E R A L E O C Q I R X S L U L O U C Q N E R H Q B E W W L N C X Q N S H C R U H C W O C D S I J A S N O Q S N L U P Q A M O E K F A U M D Y C G V V A S S I T K Z N P Q S T P N A P R G B O E D L X P N F T O H H T A E R W E I A L F D E I M A K G H O T C T N G S Z O X Z T C L V C F S L W I Z H B L L A J Q M I S R E L L O R A C I Y R I B B O N E E J W E P R L T B W I H M N X L I T O B D L L K S R T O Q W A C M G V I M X A U O A C Y O L M S N D U O V N I T X A W C I P K E Q V N K I Y C H I F X E T G K S T A R A V S X K U M P G O A A B T N D U F E www.downhomelife.com
December 2022
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Colourful Culture
The drawing on the opposite page
is the work of Newfoundland Mi’kmaq artist Marcus Gosse, a member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band. His grandmother, Alice Maude Gosse (nee Benoit) is a Mi’kmaq Elder from Red Brook (Welbooktoojech) on the Port au Port Peninsula. Marcus’ work has been exhibited in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax; The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery in St. John’s, NL; and the Canada 150 Art Show at the Macaya Gallery in Miami, FL; and his work is in private collections around the world. He has generously offered a series of colouring pages that run monthly in Downhome. Each image depicts a NL nature scene and teaches us a little about Mi’kmaq culture and language. Each colouring page includes the Mi’kmaq word for the subject, the phonetic pronunciation of the word, and the English translation. And you’ll notice a design that Marcus incorporates into most of his pieces – the eight-point Mi’kmaq Star. This symbol dates back hundreds of years and is very important in Mi’kmaq culture. Marcus’ Mi’kmaq Stars are often seen painted with four colours: red, black, white and yellow, which together represent unity and harmony between all peoples. Many Mi’kmaq artists use the star, and various Mi’kmaq double curve designs, to decorate their blankets, baskets, drums, clothing and paintings. To download and print this colouring page at home, visit DownhomeLife.com. To learn more about Marcus and find more of his colouring pages, look him up on Facebook at “Mi’kmaq Art by Marcus Gosse.” 134
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www.downhomelife.com
December 2022
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Not intended to solicit properties currently under contract
FOR SALE • GRAND FALLS-WINSOR, NL 4 Bedroom 2 Bathroom 1800 sq ft. House sold with one acre land, with 4 additional acres available. Call Donna for details 709-393-0955
709-726-5113 1-888-588-6353 advertising@downhomelife.com
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY • GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR
HOTEL ROBIN HOOD Owners are retiring. Sale features an opportunity for revenue from the 18 room hotel, plus the added bonus of 3 self-contained apartments.
Hot spot location for local tourism adventures! Close to shopping, playgrounds, splash pad, stadium, Salmon Interpretation Centre, Grand Falls House, river rafting, Demasduit Regional Museum, Gorge Park with boat launches, zip-line adventures and the upcoming suspension bridge across the Exploits River.
Serious inquiries only.
Please contact: Graham at 709-486-1368
Real Estate Rates Prices start at $50 for a 1 column x 1 inch colour advertisement. This size fits approx. 20 words. 136
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6(59,1* :(67(51 1(:)281'/ $1' 6,1&(
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Book Today 709-726-5113 1-888-588-6353 advertising@downhomelife.com
Land for Sale LARK HARBOUR Two parcels of land for sale; 3/4 acre & 3 1/2 acre. Short walk to beautiful Bottle Cove Beach.
Contact: Helen Darrigan 905-849-8442
Movers & Shippers Ontario to Newfoundland and All Points in Between
A&K Moving Covering all Eastern & Western Provinces and Returning Based from Toronto, Ontario Discount Prices Out of NL, NS & NB Newfoundland Owned & Operated
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Toll Free: 1-866-586-2341 www.downhomemovers.com December 2022
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GREAT GIFT IDEAS!
Snowmers by Dale Ryan
Pot Holder
Oven Mitts - 2 pc #82914 | $8.99
#82915 | $2.99
Hand Towel #82913 | $4.99
Kitchen Set - 4 pc
Hand towel, 2 oven mitts and pot holder
#82916 | $14.99
Tie Towel #82951 | $7.99
Dark Tickle Traditional Jam 250 ml Bakeapple Partridgeberry Wild Blueberry
#1005 | $21.99 #1015 | $13.99 #1009 | $13.99
125 ml Bakeapple Partridgeberry
#1007 | $15.99 #45625 | $9.99
57 ml Bakeapple Partridgeberry Wild Blueberry
#49907 | $11.49 #49908 | $8.49 #49909 | $8.49
ORDER ONLINE: www.shopdownhome.com Prices subject to change without notice.While quantities last.
2212Mailorder_Layout 1 10/27/22 3:50 PM Page 139
MORE SELECTION ONLINE www.shopdownhome.com Downhome Cookie Cutter Newfoundland Map
Moose Head Cookie Cutter
Moose Cookie Cutter
with sugar cookie recipe
with sugar cookie recipe
#49564 | $10.99
#49563 | $10.99
Traditional Newfoundland Mesh Vegetable Bag
Downhome Fish ’n’ Brewis Net
#35876 | $3.29
11" x 15"
#60592 | $5.80
Downhome Pease Pudding Bag Regular Size Bag w/Recipe
with sugar cookie recipe
#35871 | $2.99
#75942 | $11.99
XL Size Bag w/Recipe
#75944 | $3.79
Tea Towels $7.99 each
Puffin
#65131 Lobster
#48613
Kitchen Sayings
#65130
Moose
#65083
Lighthouse
#48612
Any Mummers ‘lowd In?
#77316
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353 Prices subject to change without notice.While quantities last.
2212Mailorder_Layout 1 10/26/22 4:38 PM Page 140
GREAT GIFT IDEAS! Screech Coffee
Summer Savoury
454g Bag
60g Bottle
225g Bag
28g Package
#39365 $22.99
#39005 $11.99
#34177 $8.49
Loose Blueberry Tea with Filters 30g
#34176 $3.99
#37514 $4.95
Newfoundland Seasonings Ragin' Bayman Spicy BBQ #79465 | $7.99 • Moose Spice #77375 | $7.99 • Steak & Burger #77377 | $7.99 Cod Spice #77379 | $8.99 • Atlantic Ocean Salt #79802 | $7.99
Downhome Candy $2.99 each Puffin Poop 100g #46793 Caribou Poo 100g #46794
Moose Droppings 100g #46795 Bunny Buttons 100g #46796 Cod Tongues 80g #78020
NL Sayings Chocolate Bars | 50g $6.99 each
God Love Your Cotton Socks #75256 | Yes B’y #60027 Oh Me Nerves #60023 | Whadda Ya At? #60026
Newfoundland Chocolate Bars | 42g
# $
$5.99 each
Blueberry #50684 | Coffee Hazelnut #75356 | Dark Orange #75359 | Dark Wildberry #50687 Fruit and Nut #75358 | Hazelnut #50688 | Dark - Low Sugar #47303 | Dark Mint #50686
ORDER ONLINE: www.shopdownhome.com Prices subject to change without notice.While quantities last.
P a 2 2
#
2212Mailorder_Layout 1 10/26/22 4:40 PM Page 141
MORE SELECTION ONLINE www.shopdownhome.com Dark Tickle Spread with Newman’s Port | 212ml
Dark Tickle Tin Teas | 40g $15.99 ea.
Blueberry #79371 | $15.99 Partridgeberry #79372 | $15.99
Bakeapple
#11874
Partridgeberry
#11875
Blueberry
#11876
Dark Tickle Spreadable Berries Bakeapple 150ml Partridgeberry 150ml
#79360 | $21.99 #79369 | $12.99
Dark Tickle Salad Dressings | 250ml Dark Tickle Traditional Sauce | 250ml
Bakeapple
#79380 | $19.99
Bakeapple
#59717 | $15.99
Partridgeberry
#79378 | $14.99
Partridgeberry
#59716 | $11.99
Blueberry
#79379 | $14.99
Wild Blueberry
#59718 | $11.99
Dark Tickle Gift Boxes Partridgeberry and Bakeapple 2 x 57ml Jam 2 x 135ml Sauce
#50223 $44.99
Bakeapple & Partridgeberry 2 x 125ml #50225 | $28.99 2 x 57ml #47529 | $22.99
Dark Tickle 100% Fruit Spread | 150ml
Bakeapple
#45620 | $15.99
Partridgeberry
#45622 | $9.99
Blueberry
#45623 | $9.99
#50224 $56.99
Dark Tickle Old Fashioned Spread | 250ml
Wild Blueberry Partridgeberry Bakeapple
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353 Prices subject to change without notice.While quantities last.
Wild Blueberry, Crowberry, Bakeapple, Squashberry Jam, and Rhubarb Pickles 6 x 57ml
#59715 | $11.99 #59714 | $11.99 #59713 | $17.99
2212Mailorder_Layout 1 10/27/22 3:55 PM Page 142
GREAT GIFT IDEAS! Oh My Cod! Too Cute To Throw Back! Infant T-Shirt (Sizes 6m, 12m, 18m) Pink #78809 | $13.99 Blue #76700 | $13.99
Infant Onesie
Ocean Green #78805 | $14.99
Ladies’ Home Newfoundland
Ladies’ NL Lifestyle Sherbet Swirl
#74396 $19.99
#82833 $30.99
Size S-XL
Size S-XXL
Moose Armour T-Shirt
Ladies’ Long Sleeve NL Plaid
#77733 $24.99 Size S-XL
Hard Case T-Shirt No Friggin Way T-Shirt
Black
Black
#60375 $19.99 Size S-XXL
NL Sayings NL Map
#59135 $19.99
#63132 $19.99
Size S-XXL
Size S-XXL
Yes B’y Says it All
#63026 $14.99 Size S-XXXL
Downhomer Est. 1988 T-Shirt
Black
#81509 $14.99 Size S-XXL
Distressed NL Flag
Black
#80202 $19.99 Size S-XXXL
Yes B’y
Black
#59138 $19.99 Size S-XXL
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353 Prices subject to change without notice.While quantities last.
Black
#80195 $19.99 Size S-XXXL
Newfoundland Map with Sayings
Black
#74855 $19.99 Size S-XXL
2212Mailorder_Layout 1 10/27/22 3:52 PM Page 143
MORE SELECTION ONLINE www.shopdownhome.com
Purity Goodie Box #79290 $59.99
3 9 XL
Syrup
Jam Jams Cookies
750ml
in
$6.99 each
Hard Bread 625g
#78947 $8.50 L
350g #18709 | $6.99
Strawberry #79558 Raspberry #15358 Pineapple #77660
Jam Jams - 2 Pack
k
95 99 XXXL
Bull’s Eyes Candy
Candy Barrel
#1085 $4.99
#49556 $4.99
#79557 | $1.65
ap
Peppermint Candy $4.99 each
5 9
Nobs #4238 Lumps #4239
XL
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353 Prices subject to change without notice.While quantities last.
Kisses
$4.99 each Assorted #3997 Peanut Butter #4010 Rum & Butter #16805
2212_photo Finish_0609 Photo Finish 10/26/22 4:45 PM Page 144
photo finish
It’s a
Winter-ful Life
Frosty the snowman brings a little Christmas magic to Port Harmon, NL Bailey Parsons Stephenville, NL
Do you have an amazing or funny photo to share? Turn to page 9 to find out how to submit.
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