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$4.99 April 2023
Vol 35 • No 11
Tom Power Takes Our Qs Fresh Way to Cook Salt Cod Why do we “knock wood”?
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16 99
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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 Lisa Tiller Founding Editor Ron Young Chief Executive Officer/Publisher Grant Young
Operations Manager, Twillingate Nicole Mehaney
President & Associate Publisher Todd Goodyear General Manager/Assistant Publisher Tina Bromley
To subscribe, renew or change address use the contact information above. Subscriptions total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL, NS, NB, PE $45.99; ON $45.19; QC, SK, MB, AB, BC, NU, NT, YT $41.99. US and International mailing price for a 1-year term is $49.99.
Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement #40062919 The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred, whether such error is due to the negligence of the servants or otherwise, and there shall be no liability beyond the amount of such advertisement. The Letters to the Editor section is open to all letter writers providing the letters are in good taste, not libelous, and can be verified as true, correct and written by the person signing the letter. Pen names and anonymous letters will not be published. The publisher reserves the right to edit, revise, classify, or reject any advertisement or letter. © Downhome Publishing Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
Printed in Canada Official onboard magazine of
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trip to paradise
Contents
APRIL 2023
42 There’s Something About Mary Catch up with the comedian on the occasion of her 70th birthday Pam Pardy
54 Gift of the Gab How Tom Power of Cowan Heights became one of Canada’s top radio hosts. Nicola Ryan
68 Path to Paradise
42 going strong www.downhomelife.com
Dennis Flynn travels to the hauntingly beautiful resettled community of Great Paradise, Placentia Bay.
90 Everyday Gourmet A colourful, flavourful, new way to cook a traditional staple. Andrea Maunder April 2023
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Contents
APRIL 2023
homefront 8 I Dare Say A note from the Editor 10 Letters From Our Readers Musical talent, lighthouse memories, and a Ramea photo-op
16 Downhome Tours Our readers explore Europe
18 Why is That? Why do we “knock wood” to avoid back luck? Linda Browne
20 Life’s Funny Made to Order Orville Cole
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fit for a queen
21 Say What? A contest that puts words in someone else’s mouth
22 Lil Charmers Easter Buddies 24 Pets of the Month Hello Spring! 26 Reviewed Denise Flint reviews Violet Browne’s This Is the House That Luke Built
22 eggs-tra special
28 What Odds Paul Warford looks back at a momentous nine years.
30 Fresh Tracks Wendy Rose reviews Not To Be Outdone by Greta and the Goldfish 34 Adventures Outdoors Spring Trouting Ban: Any Need of It? Gord Follett
30 talking with fish
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76 classic NL
features 48 Baccalieu to Bodhrán A beautiful drum with layers of Newfoundland history. Nicola Ryan
60 No Lions in the Theatre! Strange laws that govern animals around the world. Todd Hollett
explore 74 What’s in a Name Cow Head
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Dale Jarvis
76 Classic Scenes Readersubmitted photos capturing quintessential Newfoundland and Labrador April 2023
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Contents
APRIL 2023
94 springtime flavour
home and cabin 84 Stuff We Love Pet Shop Nicola Ryan
86 Ask Marie Anything Interior designer Marie Bishop takes your questions.
94 Everyday Recipes Spring Things
100 Down to Earth Row Cover Magic Kim Thistle
84 pet perks!
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112
visiting the past
reminiscing 104 Flashbacks Classic photos of people and places.
106 This Month in Downhome History 108 A Tribute to Lucy Remembering former Downhome columnist Lucy Fitzpatrick McFarlane
112 Fulfilling a Father’s Dream An airman’s family returns to the scene of a harrowing wartime landing. Kim Ploughman About the cover Bailey Parsons got this awesome shot of an iceberg glistening in the rising sun off Great Brehat. Turn to p. 76 to browse more inspiring scenes from around NL.
Cover Index Hail Mary • 42 Classic Scenes of NL • 76 Tom Power Takes Our Qs • 54 Fresh Way to Cook Salt Cod • 90 Why Do We “Knock On Wood”? • 18 www.downhomelife.com
118 A Penny’s Worth of Wind A schooner captain learns to be careful what he wishes for. Dennis Flynn
124 Puzzles 136 Colouring Page 138 Classifieds 140 Mail Order 144 Photo Finish April 2023
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i dare say The arrival of spring means the return of the birds, rhubarb, crocuses – and this year, the Downhome Expo! After an unexpected hiatus, the Downhome Expo returns to the Mount Pearl Glacier April 21-23, bigger and better than ever. There really is nothing else like it for entertainment, shopping, networking and fun under one giant roof. It’s a real circus! We have live Newfoundland ponies; the world’s largest Plinko game (it’s 40 feet tall!); a brand new Air Expo challenge; a bustling marketplace of food, art, crafts and services; and an amazing array of businesses and groups from all over the province. It’s like if everything in Downhome magazine came to life and invited everyone for a time. Speaking of coming to life, you’ll get to meet me and all our staff – put some faces to the names you see in every issue. Get some retail therapy at our Downhome Shoppe booth, and come have a yarn with me and Nicola at the Downhome magazine booth. And get to know all the wonderful exhibitors who’ll be spending the weekend with us. Plus, you’ll be entered in the door prize draw for an adventurous trip for four to one of NL’s top destinations – Twillingate! If you can’t make it to the show, you can catch glimpses of the action on our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. As always, thanks for reading,
Janice Stuckless, Editor-in-chief janice@downhomelife.com
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Submission Guidelines and Prize Rules
You could WIN $100! Every reader whose PHOTO, STORY, JOKE or POEM appears next to this yellow “from our readers” stamp in a current issue receives $10 and a chance at being drawn for the monthly prize: $100 for one photo submission and $100 for one written submission. Prizes are awarded in Downhome Dollars certificates, which can be spent like cash in our retail stores and online at shopDownhome.com.*
Submit Today! Send your photo, story, joke or poem to
Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 or submit online at: www.downhomelife.com *Only 1 prize per submitter per month. To receive their prize, submitters must provide with their submission COMPLETE contact information: full name, mailing address, phone number and email address (if you have one). Mailed submissions will only be returned to those who include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Downhome Inc. reserves the right to publish submissions in future print and/or electronic media campaigns. Downhome Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material.
Hidden somewhere in this issue is Corky Sly Conner.
Can you find him? Look carefully at all the photographs and in the text of the stories. If you spot Corky, send us your name, address and phone number, along with a note telling us where he’s located. Your name will be entered in a draw and the winner will receive a coupon worth 25 Downhome Dollars redeemable at our store, or through our website.
Send your replies to: Corky Contest 43 James Lane St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3
mail@downhomelife.com www.downhomelife.com Deadline for replies is the 25th of each month.
Congratulations to Gordon White of Rothesay, NB, who found Corky on page 63 of the February issue!
*No Phone Calls Please. One entry per person
www.downhomelife.com
April 2023
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Cape Spear Photo Lit Up Memories The amazing photo by Mr. [Sheldon] Hicks of the Cape Spear lighthouse [p. 69, February 2023] took me back to 1954, when it was being built. After six weeks training to be a teacher at Prince of Wales College, I was there to teach the children for four months. The short term suited me as I was going to the SJGH [St. John’s Grace Hospital] school of nursing in 1955. I lived with the Cantwell family and had my classroom in the old lighthouse. It was a great four months, but I think the pupils taught the teacher. I went up the long staircase to see the big light turned on in the evening, and I heard the foghorn every night. I saw the wild storms on the Atlantic, the first morning sun, and loved it all. I wonder what Mr. Hicks saw at the new Cape Spear? Also where are the girls of the class of ’58 at the General? Love my Downhome every month. It takes me back home every time. Cheers to all. Rosemarie (Dalton) Sittler Waterloo, ON
Thank you for your letter, Rosemarie. What a unique career experience you had – one that, with the automation of lighthouses, couldn’t be had today. Wonder if any of your former Cape Spear lighthouse students are Downhome readers today? We’d love to hear from them about what they remember from their youth at Cape Spear. 10
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Manitoba Ugly Stick Our granddaughter, Daisy Allan, who lives at Steinbach, MB, was asked by her teacher (who is from NL) to make a musical instrument. Daisy, having NL roots, decided to make an ugly stick. Daisy then had to describe to her Grade 4 class what it is and how it is used/ played. Daisy’s mom (Amy) is from Nipper’s Harbour, NL. Boyce Noble Via DownhomeLife.com
Way to go, Daisy!
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NL Rock Art Here’s a rock I painted for Come Home Year 2022. This one was hidden in Renews during my husband’s family reunion for someone to find. I’d love to know if anyone found it and brought a little piece of “The Rock” back to their home with them. Kristin Brothers St. John’s, NL
If anyone has a picture of this rock “in the wild” in Renews, NL, or has the rock itself as a keepsake, let us know where and when you found it. Send us an email at editorial@downhomelife.com; or write to Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3. Include a photo of the rock, too, if you can.
Dear readers,
Would you like to comment on something you’ve read in Downhome? Do you have a question for the editors or for other readers? Submit your letter to the editor at DownhomeLife.com/letters or write to us at 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3.
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Queen’s Visit Was a Blur After reading “Where History Takes Flight” in January’s Downhome magazine – story and photos by Dennis Flynn – I went to my old photo album and dug out a few photos that I took in July 1959. My first cousin, Hugh Horwood, and his sister, Roberta (now Mercer), took a car full of us to Gander to see the Queen – that’s Queen Elizabeth II. Our uncle, Royal Cooper (who married our mother’s sister, Ella Adams of Milton, NL), was then the mayor of Gander. Of course, we thought that Uncle Royal and Aunt Ella were just as important as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. To us they were! Gander went all out to welcome the Queen. An archway of evergreen boughs was built to welcome the Queen on one side and, after her short view of the Gander area, to say “Bon Voyage” when she went back to the terminal to board her plane. Many central Newfoundland communities had banners erected along the route she took. Mind you, getting a picture of the Queen was very difficult, as you can see by the one photo I managed to snap [right].
Royal and Ella Cooper
Austin Greening Clarenville, NL
Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Austin. Wonder when the new King will pay us a visit?
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Big Fans This is my co-worker and his dad at home in Columbia. He works with me in Labrador City and is a big fan of soccer. The licence plate he is holding is from St. Lawrence Come Home Year 2022. Guy Tobin Via email
For those who don’t know, St. Lawrence is the Soccer Capital of Canada. Soccer has been a popular sport in this Burin Peninsula town since the early 1900s, and it’s home to the legendary Laurentians team. In 1977, the National Challenge Cup Competition was held here.
90 Years Apart The oldest resident of Ramea, Norman Kendall, who celebrated his 90th birthday February 12, holds the youngest resident, newborn Kailee Skinner. Kailee is the daughter of Ian and Kara Skinner. Gwen Giles formerly of Ramea, NL
What a beautiful picture and momentous occasion. Thank you for sharing.
Correction
In the article “Game for a Change” in the February 2023 magazine, Barry Fordham was incorrectly referred to as Boyd throughout the article. Downhome sincerely regrets the error. 14
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homefront Downhome tours...
Europe
London, England
Barbara Burrows of Orangeville, ON, took her copy of Downhome on a recent trip to London and posed with it in front of the Tower Bridge.
When many folks first see London’s striking Tower Bridge, they often think it was built in medieval times, but that’s not true. The bridge was designed and built to look in keeping with its much older neighbour, the 11th-century Tower of London. Construction of the Tower Bridge actually began on April 22, 1886, and its framework was covered in granite and stone to protect the underlying steel and make it more visually pleasing. It was officially opened in June 1894. 16
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Cahors, France While walking the Saint Jacques Camino, Nancy & Clarence Morency of Smith Falls, ON, stopped for a photo at the Valentré Bridge.
Cahors is a beautiful medieval village in southern France located along the well-known pilgrim routes to the shrine at Santiago de Compostela. Gracefully arching over the Lot River, the Valentré Bridge dates to the 14th century and was designed to serve as a fortress. It took more than 50 years to build – so much time that legend has it that the master builder wagered his soul with the devil for the bridge’s completion… and the devil lost.
Seville, Spain Kevin & Micheline Martindale from New Liskeard, ON, and their daughter Bianca pose in the Plaza de España.
The Plaza de España (Spain Square) is a magnificent plaza in Maria Luisa Park in Seville, Spain. It was designed by Aníbal González, one of Seville’s greatest and most talented architects, and built in 1928 to wow the visitors of a world’s fair. The 48 Alcoves of the Provinces are a favourite spot for tourists to pose for photos, and the four bridges that span the moat represent Aragon, Castille, Leon and Navarre – the ancient kingdoms of Spain. Submitted by Joan Connors
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Expert answers to common life questions. By Linda Browne
Why do we “knock wood” to avoid back luck? April is here, the month of pranks, hoaxes (which seem to get more elaborate every year) and all kinds of fun foolery. If you’re a superstitious type, you might be knocking on wood a bit more heartily this time of year to protect yourself from becoming prey to pranksters and to keep your good fortune flowing. Or maybe hitting your knuckles against the nearest table, chair or whatever wooden structure you can get your hands on is just something you do in your day-to-day to avoid bad luck. Ever wonder where this strange custom comes from? Charles Panati (writer, science editor and former physicist) gives the lowdown in his book, Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things. Kids who play tree tag, in which players touch a tree to ensure their safety, Panati explains, “are unwittingly enacting a 4,000-year-old custom” that started with the Indigenous peoples of North America. “In the modern game of tag, the base of any tree serves as a safe haven. Historically, though, the tree to touch was an oak, venerated for its strength, stately height and numinous powers. Furthermore, when a person today ventures a hopeful 18
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prediction and superstitiously knocks wood, that wood ought only to be, traditionally, oak,” he writes. Cults surrounding the oak tree, Panati continues, “are ancient,” starting with the Indigenous peoples around 2000 BC and later, the early Greeks. “Both cultures, observing that the oak was struck frequently by lightning, assumed it was the dwelling place of the sky god” (the former) and “the god of lightning” (the latter), he writes. The former also “held that boasting of a future personal accomplishment, battle victory or windfall harvest was bad luck, a virtual guarantee that the event would never occur. A boast, deliberate or inadvertent, could be neutralized from sinister retribution 1-888-588-6353
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by knocking on the base of an oak tree. In effect, the person was contacting the sky god, seeking forgiveness.” Once we roll into Europe in the Middle Ages, Christian scholars proposed another theory on the origins of this ritual, which they claimed “originated in the first century AD and stemmed from the fact that Christ was crucified on a wooden cross,” Panati writes. “To knock wood hopefully was supposedly synonymous with a prayer of supplication, such as: ‘Lord, let my wish come true.’ But modern scholars claim that there is no more truth to that belief than to the onetime boast that every Christian cathedral on the European continent possessed a piece of wood from the true cross. Thus, the Catholic veneration of wooden crucifix relics did not originate the custom of regarding wood with awe; rather, it mimicked, modified and reinforced a much older, pagan view.” Other cultures, Panati adds, held other trees in high regard. For the Egyptians, it was the sycamore; for ancient Germanic tribes, the ash. The Dutch, he says, “adhered to the knock-wood superstition, but for them the kind of wood was unimportant; what mattered was that the wood be unvarnished, unpainted, uncarved, in every way unadorned.” Tree cults, he says, were common
throughout history “and they are the point of origin of many modern superstitious practices, such as kissing beneath mistletoe.” The practice of knocking on wood, Panati explains, comes from the early Greeks and was passed on to the Romans and, eventually, the Britons. “In time, when oak was not conveniently at hand, a rap on any type of wood sufficed. And in today’s high-tech world of plastics and laminates, the knockwood superstition persists, even though real wood, of any kind, is not always in arm’s reach.” In his book Black Cats & Four-Leaf Clovers: The Origins of Old Wives’ Tales and Superstitions in Our Everyday Lives, writer and editor Harry Oliver offers another explanation. He writes that other sources “argue that the custom of knocking on wood is not ancient at all and is simply derived from a 19th-century children’s game called tig-touch-wood, in which children would be ‘safe’ during a game of tag when they were touching wood.” (However, as Panati posits, this game was inspired by the early practice of rapping an oak tree to summon the protection of the gods.) While in the past, one had to rap knuckles against an actual tree, these days “simply saying ‘knock on wood’ is considered enough,” Oliver says.
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
Made to Order Some 70 years ago my dad and his friend, Will, stopped for lunch at a diner in a small community. Will ordered chicken soup, and the waitress hollered to the cook, “One chicken soup!” Dad ordered pea soup, so she hollered, “One pea soup!” That sounded good to Will, so he decided to change his order. He said to the waitress, “I think I will have pea soup, too.” She hollered towards the kitchen, “Hold the chicken and make it pea!” Orville Cole Dartmouth, NS
Do you have any funny or embarrassing true stories? Share them with us. If your story is selected, you’ll win a prize! See page 9 for details.
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s house i s je e h t n i “Get e just s!” ’r u o y f i t i v outa g pictunrdey Bee n i k a t e b a – Ma gonn
Say WHAT? Downhome recently posted this photo (submitted by Elsie Lynn Burden) on our website and social media platforms and asked folks to imagine what this man might be saying. Mandy Bee’s response made us chuckle the most, so we’re awarding her 20 Downhome Dollars!
Here are the runners-up: “I knows she can’t throw it… luh!” – Corey Reynolds “I’m almost down to my roof!” – Glen L Pye “Some snow wha?” – Bev Stride Dawe
Play with us online! www.downhomelife.com/saywhat
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homefront lil charmers
Easter Buddies There for Ewe Cameron helps feed a sweet baby lamb at Searle’s Farm. Crystal Lahey Torbay, NL
Hoppy Easter Maria, Emily and Brody know the best Easter is one spent with your peeps. Amanda Barney L’Anse au Loup, NL
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Watch ’em Grow Archer gives a drink to the thirsty spring tulips. Judy King St. Philip’s, NL
Some-bunny Special Baby Luke wishes everyone an egg-stra special Easter! Taylor Harrington Glenwood, NL
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homefront pets of the month
Hello Spring! Roll in the Hay Lucy Goose is nipping spring in the bud. Kimberley Hudson Goulds, NL
Coming Up Roses Whiskey’s a dream in pink and green. Chris Stryde Springdale, NL
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Spring Fling Rio and Oakley take time to smell the daisies. Catherine Drake Burin, NL
Fair as Flowers Hazel the pug’s no shrinking violet. Rodney Ralph Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
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homefront
reviewed by Denise Flint
This Is the House That Luke Built By Violet Browne Goose Lane Editions $22.95
Luke Tremblett is the love of his wife Rose’s life. When his fishing boat goes down and he’s lost at sea, Rose is left to raise their three children alone and learn how to deal with a life without him. But then something odd happens. One day a year, on the anniversary of Luke’s death, Rose is able to spend time with him in the family home that he was building when he died. Rose lives for those meetings, but they come at a terrible cost – a price Rose is more than willing to pay. Consequently, she spends her life divided between her day-to-day existence and the sweet, brief reunions with Luke. How is one supposed to get on with one’s life under those circumstances? That’s the question I found myself asking as I was pulled deeper and deeper into Rose’s story. And the answer is that one doesn’t. Rose goes through all the motions – she gets a new career, moves to St. John’s and does the best she can for her children. She even dates other men. But she remains fundamentally detached from her “real” life, turning her back on the possibility of happiness with someone else. She keeps her true self hidden behind a wide smile she taught herself how to wear in front of the bathroom mirror. The magic realism at the heart of This Is the House That Luke Built sets it apart from other similar stories, and the terrifying decision Rose is forced to make at the end brings the book to a very satisfying conclusion. 26
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Q&A with the Author Denise Flint: This novel is partially based on your own experiences losing your husband. How difficult was that to write? Violet Browne: I had extremely difficult times with it, and sometimes it was put away for months on end or longer. My oldest daughter said to me, “Mom, the words will come in their time.” What was really interesting to me is that the first time I sat down and read it as a story was when it was ready to go to print. I had to lay it aside sometimes, and I was surprised at the amount of emotion it stirred. That was really interesting for me.
DF: This is your first novel. Have you always wanted to be a writer? VB: Never occurred to me in my life. It’s something that happened. The story that I’ve written is based on my own life and my family’s, and it was just something I did naturally after I lost my husband, and it went on for several years. I went back to school and did English courses, but it wasn’t anything I expected to do.
DF: How do your kids feel about Mom becoming a published author? VB: My kids are thrilled for me; very proud of me; delighted that it’s being received so well. But, I think justifiably, also feeling a little bit exposed. Some of the things in that book are very closely based on our lives.
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Obviously this is fictional account, but a lot of it hits close enough to home that there’s a certain element of that. I’ve told this story from my perspective, but there are other perspectives that could be told.
DF: What’s next on the agenda? VB: I remember Lisa Moore saying to me, “You need to get started on your next novel.” I said I thought I only had one book in me, but she said I would recognize when I had one. I have an idea for another novel, and I’ve just finished writing a poetry book for my mother. My mother passed away a year ago in March, and she lived a good, long, healthy life. She spent her last three months in hospital confined to a bed for the first time in her life. Afterwards I wrote a number of poems about Mom’s journey, from the day she went into hospital until the day she died, but then I decided there were 87 years that deserved to be told, too. So there are many more poems.
DF: Do you have any advice for people considering taking up writing? VB: Yes, I do. Look for a community. Maybe solitary works for some people, but the amount of support and advice that’s available is staggering compared to the size of our population. Take advantage of that. There’s a reason that you’re driven to write, so believe in that and just stick with it.
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homefront what odds
yours and nine By Paul Warford
I always Today, as I write, it is February 13. This date means different things to different people. looked up to For some, it’s a preset cellphone alert that this is last chance to buy roses, an engagement Brian, as you their ring, a dream weekend – whatever they had do your older planned for their special someone. This year, in this day will feature a subsidiary brothers particular, branch of individuals desperately trying to alter – from afar. and rectify dinner reservations sure to be can-
celled by the massive dump of snow which should land within the next… oh… four to 12 hours, give or take. It’s not going to be easy to find love for some of you this Valentine’s Day in Newfoundland, especially if you’re still on your summer tires. If you were hoping to show her a good time this year but instead the two of you will be shovelling, keep in mind that love is a person, not a place, and that no matter how mighty the power of love may be, the power of a Newfoundland forecast has the potential to be greater. (Heartwarming, I know.) In other ramblings, today is also the birthday of my middle brother, Brian Richard. I’ve mentioned him before, including last month when we discussed his newborn baby boy, the third niece or nephew for whom I now have to purchase Christmas presents. Just kidding, I love getting them presents. Anyway, today is dad’s day for gifts as Brian becomes a year older, a year wiser. I always looked up to Brian, as you do your older brothers – from afar. We shared a room during those formative years when a boy just wants everyone to leave him alone, so our living arrangement – particularly from his perspective – wasn’t ideal. There was a tension to our relationship, to be sure, but brothers are brothers
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no matter the accommodations. We got along well enough. For example, when I got my first GT Snowracer, Brian was kind enough to kick off the brakes before I took it on its first run. This might seem like an act of aggression or sabotage, but anyone who has spent some time on a STIGA GT Snowracer knows that the brakes only get in the way. Standing out in school was always important to me, but Brian made it look easy. He’d wear vintage leather overcoats previously owned by my grandfather, lighting cigarettes with a Zippo embossed with his nickname. He had earrings in both ears, unheard of in Bay Roberts in 1997. To this day, I believe he was the first male to go through Ascension Collegiate with this done. He got beaten up outside The Mariner in Spaniard’s Bay one night, and I think the earrings were the cause. Brian just didn’t care, and that’s what constituted coolness back then. I admire him for different reasons now, of course, but his principles haven’t changed much. He still has a fantastic knack for doing things his own way, unconcerned with the popular approach. He still wears the earrings. In other celebrations, if we’re to believe my Facebook memories, this is around the time I was first published in Downhome magazine some nine years ago. Ten is a more common anniversary number, but I www.downhomelife.com
thought I should mention it now in case I forget by this time next year. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve been enjoying the journey. I’ve managed to share so many of my insecurities and show dates with you. Just joking. But really though, you’ve all been here for so many moments of mine; moving home from Halifax; sailing on an oil tanker; the death of my closest friend; my marriage, and yeah, my separation, too. You’ve been here to watch the inception of GRIND MIND, the independent horror film collective that has grown from filming a six-minute short at a weekend party to winning several awards from the horror community at-large, filming a short starring Mary Walsh, the inception of FogFest – our horror film festival here in St. John’s, and now an upcoming documentary on the Old Hag to be aired on Bell Fibe. Life’s full of ups-and-downs, or so greater men have said, but not everyone is fortunate enough to have a readership to share those experiences with. I, on the other hand, have been lucky. Thank you for being here. Here’s to another nine years… unless you all start losing interest. 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 April 2023
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fresh tracks
new music talk with Wendy Rose
Not To Be Outdone
Greta and the Goldfish BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND – the addition of new band Greta and the Goldfish to the tight-knit musical community in St. John’s is making waves. Forming in a most logical, organic way (through the music program at the College of the North Atlantic), I can only anticipate this band’s works and presence growing stronger as their education continues and their already impressive musical talent continues to expand. Greta and the Goldfish comprises Greta Warner on vocals, guitars and synths; Aidan Langer on guitars, synths and mandolin; Christian Spencer on bass and Raine Miller on drums. Raine is a new addition to the band, with former drummer Nicolas Riou featured on the album. Greta is the principal composer and lyricist, while the others contribute additional arrangements. Though the self-described “baby band” is just over a year old, their debut album, Not to be Outdone, was years in the making. Greta wrote the first song at just 14 years old and finished the final track at 19. Not To Be Outdone begins with “The Following Day,” a short, fun pop/rock piece that contemplates the escapism of losing yourself in 30
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a bottle of wine, staying up late, writing bad poetry and the ensuing hangover, then finding yourself again the following day. “Make me better than this,” she sings. In “Frankie Asks the Big Questions,” the lyrics speak directly to the titular character. Another fun pop song that surely could get a dance floor movin’, the chorus edges into a punk rock sound before a beautiful melody brings us into the next verse. A minute-long instrumental outro leads into the next song, “White Noise/Car Crash.” With a hint of funky jazz and a catchy guitar riff, Greta presents the lyrics almost as a spoken word performance. This track immediately hooked into my brain, with its words telling a complex love story of sorts, exploring emotional stability, personality traits, memories and more. “Will this be the end of 1-888-588-6353
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listeners. Laika, a stray from Russia, was one of the first animals to go to space, hitching a ride on Sputnik 2 in 1957. A line in the first verse encapsulates the sadness of this space dog’s untimely death: “Oh, Laika, You didn’t have much choice in the matter.” The chorus continues the story: “Oh, Russia’s perfect sweetheart, how I wish your life were mine; Ooh, Laika, caught in orbit ’til the end of time.”
Jack Harrhy photos
me? No, I’m not finished, I refuse to be. I’ll be better this time around,” she sings defiantly. “Rebecca” immediately reminds me of fellow Canadian musician Mac DeMarco’s soft rock with a hint of psychedelic pop. The titular character also makes an appearance in this song, in the chorus: “Call me Rebecca and take me back to your place. I’d love to see the way the lamplight hits your lovely
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little face. Pour me some wine and let me fall asleep by your side.” Next up is “The Wild Walk Home,” another alternative pop song with pensive, poetic lyrics, detailing summery memories and “how the only thing I wanted was to be 18,” the stillyoung songwriter reminisces. Listening to the album’s sixth track on a sunny day in February, “The February Sun” felt wonderfully appropriate. Punchy guitar riffs lead us in, and as we approach the chorus, this song once again edges into punk rock territory – a genre Greta and the Goldfish would surely excel in, should they choose to explore it. A name in the next song, “A Laika of Our Very Own!” may stand out to www.downhomelife.com
Aidan Langer
“(I Will Not Let This) Pass Me By” is another personal favourite. Its romantic lyrics reveal the young band members’ wisdom and emotional depth, referencing famous poets like T.S. Eliot and James Wright. “On sticky summer evenings, keep me even, keep me breathing, hold me close and stare into fading sky. I will not let this pass me by,” Greta sings. “The Goldfish,” the longest song on the album, clocks in at just under four minutes. This song almost has a ska/punk rock kind of feel (minus the horns), until we switch gears into soft rock at the chorus. “My apologies, dear, I’m a burnout, a goldfish, sprawled out and I’m drowning in air,” the chorus begins. This struck April 2023
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me as particularly adorable, as the bandmates refer to themselves on social media as “the goldfish” or simply “the fish.” The album wraps up with the title track, “Not To Be Outdone,” yet another fun and catchy pop song that will get your toes tapping and your head bopping. After listening to Greta and the Goldfish’s debut studio album on repeat for a week, I’ll be looking out for their name on local show line-ups. I bet when it comes to fun and friendly energy while playing live, Greta and the Goldfish are likely “not to be outdone.”
Q&A with the Artist Wendy Rose: You officially launched your album at the Rockhouse in January 2023 – tell us a little about that recent show. Greta Warner: The launch show was a
wonderful experience. We had a fantastic turnout, with a mix of friends, family and new faces. We had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Lexi Hicks and El Toro, who were both fantastic. The Rockhouse is always a pleasure to play, and it felt like a full circle moment to launch our album at the venue where we played our first show.
WR: When did you start playing together, and what brought you all together musically? GW: Greta & The Goldfish was
formed in December 2021. I met our bassist, Christian Spencer, through the Applied Music program at CNA. He and I had instant musical chemistry. I immediately felt that his playing style complemented my songs perfectly, and the basslines he has written for the band have brought our material to life. I met Aidan Langer, our lead guitarist and synth player, through my partner – Aidan is his older brother. Aidan is great to work with. His influences differ from mine, which brings an interesting 32
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level of tension and energy to the sound. We were initially working with drummer Nick Riou, who is fantastic (and is the drummer on Not To Be Outdone). Unfortunately, Nick has since had to leave the band, and we are now working with drummer Raine Miller. We met Raine through playing shows with other bands he is in, and his unique style and technical proficiency have brought a ton to our sound. What brings us together, above all else, is our shared love of music, and our desire to have fun and make something good in the process. Working with these guys is always a pleasure.
WR: Can you detail the creative process behind writing and recording your first studio album? GW: Making Not To Be Outdone is
probably the coolest thing I’ve ever gotten to do. I wrote the oldest song at 14 years old, and the most recent at 19, just before we started tracking; so this record took me five years to write. It is a very emotional album for me, as it is really the story of my adolescence. I wanted to capture it all as best I could, from the funny, to the tragic, to the triumphant. The actual process of recording the album was incredibly joyful. In terms 1-888-588-6353
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of the arrangements and overall sound, we were aiming to strike a balance between our live sound as a band and the softer sound of my preband EPs (something I think we did successfully). It was fascinating for me to see those two things come together. Some arrangements were pre-written, and others were made up on the spot, with the help of our incredible recording and mixing engineer/producer, Michelle LaCour. This album would not be what it is without her talent, skill and nearinfinite patience for a baby band making their first record. We also had the pleasure of working with Sarah Shin, our Montreal-based mastering engineer. She was incredible at fine-tuning the album and bringing the finished product to life.
WR: Greta, you’ve been performing as a solo artist for a few years, with your first EP, Miscellaneous, uploaded in December 2017. You went on to release a number of solo works and performed as a solo artist at many shows. What made you want to expand into a more full sound with additional guitar, keys, bass and drums? www.downhomelife.com
GW: I think a fuller sound was always the goal, whether I realized it or not. I’ve been playing music since I was a kid and have always gravitated toward more lush arrangements. I love the arrangement and composition aspects of creating music as much as I love songwriting (and I love working with my bandmates to arrange my songs). I had been incorporating more and more complexity since my first RPM, 02/18. The decision to work with a band was born of a desire to bring my recorded sound to life. I feel we’ve accomplished that goal, and so much more. I feel spoiled working with these guys, and would not want to go back to being an exclusively solo performer.
WR: What does this new and exciting band have planned for 2023? GW: Right now, we are just focusing
on gigging as much as humanly possible. We all love doing it, so it seems like the best thing to focus on, postrelease! We have discussed touring or generally travelling at some point, but have no concrete plans to do so at this time. So, St. John’s folks, stay tuned for more live shows from the fish! April 2023
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homefront
adventures outdoors
Gord Follett with a couple of ouananiche from a mid-May 2017 fishing trip to Gambo Pond. No sign of ice here. John Dyke photo
Spring Trouting Ban: Any Need of It? By Gord Follett
The one-month closure of the trout fishing season in Newfoundland from mid-April to mid-May is never a completely dead issue, but every now and then something or somebody sparks a lengthy debate on the pros and cons of this federal regulation. This year, well-known angler and conservationist Paul Smith of Spaniard’s Bay was the “somebody” who lit the fuse with a simple social media post: “Anyone interested in starting a conversation about spring time trout fishing? I think it’s time to discontinue the 34
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Apr. 15 to May 15 closure. It was supposed to be a temporary measure and it’s been in place for several decades. I don’t see any reason for it. Opinions?” And opinions he did get, with the majority agreeing that it’s time for DFO to eliminate this annual closure and leave the trout season open “right on through,” from February 1 to September 7. Of course, we’re talking “resident” trout here, a fish that
plus way more people were fishing. Simply put, stocks are fine now and that month of fishing should be returned to us. Many would say it’s the best time for trouting – no flies, good chance to get out in the woods... And it’s such a great shoulder season to introduce kids to fishing... the list goes on.” Some people are under the impression that the regulation is still in place not only to protect stocks –
The ice was “long gone” when Paul Smith hit this pond in late May Photo courtesy Paul Smith
completes all stages of its life cycle within freshwater and, frequently, within a local area. This includes ouananiche, or land-locked salmon, which fall under trout regulations in the province. “The season has always been open at ice-out in spring since our ancestors came on ships from Europe,” Paul said. “In the 1990s, DFO closed spring trouting as a temporary measure for stock recovery. At that time, stocks were low for reasons I believe had nothing to do with April 15 to May 15. There was a lot of overfishing at the time and a two-dozen fish bag limit, www.downhomelife.com
particularly brook and brown trout – but also as a public safety measure because many frozen ponds were “opening up” and unsafe around that time of year. “That’s bull...,” Paul said, “and too foolish to talk about. Ice can be unsafe any time of the winter, and there’s no ice in ponds around Newfoundland come mid-April, anyway.” From my own experience, while there may be exceptions towards the tip of the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland, I cannot recall any ponds being frozen that time of year, either. Ice is usually long gone by then, and if the closure wasn’t in April 2023
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place we could be fishing with rod time break from the onslaught.” and reel from shore or a boat. Paul said he understands Jeff’s Labrador, of course, is a different concerns and suggested attitudes kettle of fish when it comes to the about overfishing need to change. cold. I’ve cut through 12 inches of ice “Fishing efforts are way down... and in April to fish western Labrador, there are more trout than I can ever and I’ve walked through snowremember here on the Avalon Penincovered barrens in mid-July to fly sula,” he added. fish for trout. I was on the fence with this regulaOK, so if the vast majority of us tion for quite some time because I agree with Paul when he says the saw merit in both arguments. In safety argument “is absolute nonsense,” that leaves us with just one real reason for the spring closure – trout stocks. And as he indicated earlier, this “temporary measure” has served its purpose; time to move on. The closure “was and still Trolling Gambo Pond in is the most senseless thing mid-May with Cliff Hong our government has ever Gord Follett photo done concerning our inland trout season,” Lee Peddle said in his response to the initial post. “One of the best times of the year to be wanrecent years, however, I’ve sided more dering around in the fresh air, with with those against the one-month the cooler temperatures and a genclosure, primarily and simply because eral lack of biting flies.” there’s no real need for it. If the stocks Jeff Piercey, an avid angler and in a particular part of the province are conservationist from Port Rexton, “taking a beating,” as Jeff put it – and supports the closure. “While I agree I have spoken to him many times on with your sentiment,” he said in reacthis and I firmly believe his assesstion to Paul’s Facebook post, “the ment – then perhaps dealing with beating that trout take on this closures regionally, as opposed to a [Bonavista] peninsula… I actually blanket, island-wide shutdown, is the like the fact that they get a springbest approach.
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 Sunset over the Port au Port Peninsula Glen Pye, Stephenville, NL
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Tell us about the pet that “changed my life.”
We’re looking for heartwarming stories of all kinds: heroic pets that saved a life, emotional support animals, and furry (or not furry, or feathery) friends that make your life better for whatever reason. The pet whose influence impresses us the most will be featured in an upcoming issue of Downhome and declared Pet of the Year. Your beloved buddy will have their life story told and become a magazine star.
How to Enter
Write a story (500 words max.) and include a photo (must be about a current, living pet). Submit one of these ways:
Email: editorial@downhomelife.com (Subject: Pet of the Year) Mail: Downhome Pet of the Year 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3
Deadline is June 30, 2023
www.downhomelife.com
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features
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something special about Mary Walsh. Her talent is undeniable, her comedy unparalleled; but there’s something else, too. Her particular devotion to her craft is evident in all that she does, from CODCO and This Hour Has 22 Minutes to Happy Place – a performance that earned the St. John’s-born star a Canadian Screen Award for best actress in a supporting role. But that alone is not what makes Mary so beloved. www.downhomelife.com
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Mary (fourth from left) in her early days with CODCO
Perhaps it’s how she’s remained so true to her charming – yet admittedly challenging – Newfoundland roots. Home-grown grit comes out in her alter-ego, Princess Warrior Marg Delahunty, and she channels the familiar outport busybody as Mildred in The Missus Downstairs. When you ask Mary what her “something” might be, she reflects on her 50-odd years in the business. Being an actor wasn’t something she aspired to, she admits. Her dream career was journalism. “I never asked myself, ‘Where am I going to be?’ I didn’t have a plan,” she says, though many in her circle did. “Tommy Sexton, from the time he was around six, was filled with the passion to dance and sing and be on stage. While I was enormously ambitious, I didn’t really know what to do with that ambition. I wanted to be something, but I didn’t know what.” By 27, Mary knew she would not be a journalist, but she was becoming a comedian – which is partly why coming up with the concept for This Hour Has 22 Minutes was a career high. “It was perfect for me because I could pretend to be a journalist on TV while being a sketch comedian,” 44
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she says with a laugh. Mary isn’t shy about sharing youthful fears. “It’s part of this terrible personality problem of youth – being afraid to have goals for fear an anvil will drop on your head. You know – the gall of you to have a goal. So, I’ve always pretended that I didn’t have them, in hopes that the fates would leave me alone,” she chuckles. When asked where she thought she’d be at 70, she pauses. “I have no idea where I thought I was going to be – or even if I thought I was going to be alive at 70. We were that generation that didn’t trust anybody over 30, and it was better to burn out than to rust out.” More laughter. But now that she’s hit that milestone, there’s very little visible rust. When pushed to describe how it feels to be a septuagenarian, Mary simply replies, “Happy.” There’s reasoning to it all, she explains. “I spent all my time with older women growing up, and they just seem to be so free. As a young woman, you are very constrained by wanting to be the object of somebody’s – anybody’s – desire. Now, at this stage, you become more the subject of your own life and desires.” 1-888-588-6353
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While Mary’s characters are often real and relatable, so is her life story. Her proudest moments are personal – not professional. “I got sober 30 years ago. Adopting my son and getting sober are the two best things I did after I grew up,” she says. Being raised in the shadow of alcoholism, coming from “generation after generation after generation of people who suffered because of the disease of alcoholism,” Mary knew she had to get better. Inevitably, she adds, the last 20 years have been the happiest of her life. It’s not just the lifestyle changes, but aging itself that has been a gift, she explains. “There’s been lots of scientific studies that show that older people are the happiest people. After you get out of that crunch time of feeling so much pressure, you really just start to live and enjoy the experience.” The Missus Downstairs has been a
gift, she says. “Two of my favourite things I’ve ever done were Hatching, Matching and Dispatching and now The Missus Downstairs. It’s just been such a joy working with Dave and so many other talented Newfoundlanders – from the production manager to the cinematographer. I think it’s a Newfoundland thing where if we don’t hang together we’ll surely hang alone, and everyone just pulls together in this industry.” Dave Sullivan, Mary’s co-star in The Missus Downstairs, says “there’s only one Mary,” and she is “the best,” and has been “kind, gracious and supportive,” through the two (soon to be three) seasons of the highly popular Bell Fibe series. “She doesn’t have to be that giving. She’s been at this racket a long time and she doesn’t have to prove anything, but the fact that she wants to spend her time telling jokes and shaggin’ around with
Mary at one time dreamed of being a journalist, which she did become, of sorts, when she created This Hour Has 22 Minutes (above). It was there she created one of her most well-known characters, Marg Delahunty, Princess Warrior (left). www.downhomelife.com
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Mary (centre) and the cast of Hatching, Matching and Dispatching me is pretty special,” he says. Friend and colleague, film and TV producer, Mary Sexton says Mary has “no equal” when it comes to comedy – or legs! “She’s the funniest lady in comedy and has the best set of gams in the world, and I love her dearly.”
The pandemic provided opportunity, she explains, because “there was nowhere I could go and nothing I could do, so I could actually do the things I wanted to do at home like Dad and the Fridge Box and The Missus Downstairs.”
Projects like JackTV and Dad and the Fridge Box, based on the poem by Agnes Walsh, have kept Mary busy, as has penning her follow up to Crying for the Moon (HarperCollins Canada). “I had always wanted to be a novelist, so I got time when I was 65,” Mary says. “But then I was informed that you can’t be a novelist if you write one novel – you have to write five or six – and the first one took me so long; but I’ve been working on another one and I’m really excited about that.”
While she never did pursue her childhood dream of journalism, Mary still counts her blessings. Acting and comedy have taught her so much and brought such wonderful people into her life, she shares. “What I’m finding as I get older is that people are so good. Mostly we run into people who are really good and amazing – and funny.” Ask Mary where her own humour and her zest for life come from and she’ll credit her mother and her feisty Aunt Mae (Mary Ellen Waddleton).
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These days Mary stays busy starring in the Bell Fibe series The Missus Downstairs (above) and directing projects such as Dad and the Fridge Box (left)
“It occurred to me the other day how they were just giving me a hard time growing up – not to be mean, but to be funny. You know, that sort of thing that Newfoundlanders do when something horrible happens to you and they keep bringing it up, trying to make light of it so it doesn’t fester? Like Mom saying, ‘Look at Mary Larose over there. She’s never been so happy since Larry died.’ You just have to laugh.” Looking back, if she could have a Back to the Future Marty McFly moment, what message would she deliver to her 35-year-old self? “I would say get off the booze, now. Don’t wait until you’re 40.” Mary would really like to get a message out to others more than going back in time to help herself. “I wish more people knew that it gets easier as you get older because you learn www.downhomelife.com
how to live with yourself. You don’t know yourself when you’re 15 and your hormones are going mad. There is a certain pressure, especially on women, but as you get older that goes. It isn’t all doom and gloom. Life isn’t a gloomy, glum walk towards the inevitable. It is actually quite good.” Mary shares her best advice for a happy life – no matter the age: Don’t take anything for granted. Think about the moratorium, she says. “Newfoundlanders, when we had a lot of fish... nobody thought anything of it and then suddenly, when we had no fish, we’re all mad for fish, and we treat cod with such respect now that there’s so little of it.” Each day we are given is like that, she says. “As we get closer to the end of it all, suddenly, like the cod, life is more valuable.” April 2023
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features
A beautiful drum with layers of Newfoundland history. By Nicola Ryan
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You might have seen one of Stephen Blundon’s handmade Irish bodhráns on display at O’Brien’s music shop in St. John’s, NL, or heard one played by a member of your favourite traditional band. Stephen’s been crafting and playing the traditional Irish drum for close to 20 years and has sold them all over the world. Bodhráns come and go. But there’s never been one quite like this. “I’ve probably been at woodworking since I’ve been old enough to do it,” Stephen says. “My father [professional artist Randy Blundon] was into it when he was younger, when I was a kid, so I used to be hanging out in the workshop with him. I grew up around music, too,” he continues, which is likely the reason why he loves making musical instruments in his workshop at home in Mount Pearl, NL. “Bodhráns are my favourite thing to make,” he says. “I just enjoy it so much.” Stephen sells his drums locally and to musicians all over the world. “I just finished one yesterday actually,” he says, “it’s going to Ireland.” Earlier this year, Stephen crafted a unique bodhrán. Made with reclaimed material and bearing a remarkable story, this one’s not for sale.
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Stephen Blundon
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Above: The SS Baccalieu was one of the historic coastal boats that connected the isolated communities of the province from 1940 to 1969. Stephen was gifted a piece of the teak decking to create his bodhrán. (right) Originally, the teak had an orange preservative paint on the back.
Repurpose with purpose It all began about 15 years ago, when Stephen was gifted some useful pieces of salvaged lumber. His uncle was moving and, knowing Stephen was into woodworking, passed along some planks of teak he had been storing. Teak is a beautiful wood, often used for carving and furniture making. It’s also ideal for shipbuilding. In fact, these particular planks had once been the deck of the SS Baccalieu. The Baccalieu was part of the fleet of coastal boats that were a vital link between the scattered communities along Newfoundland’s rugged shores. Sister ship to the SS Burgeo, the Baccalieu served the south coast, carrying freight and passengers from 1940 until it was decommissioned in 1969. 50
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“So I’ve been hanging onto this wood for years, wondering what I could do with it.” Stephen laughs, “That wood’s been in Mount Pearl longer than it was on the deck of the Baccalieu.” Late last year, he decided to repurpose the special wood. “I decided to make a bodhrán from the teak, just for the family connection and the history of where the wood itself came from.” Stephen relished the challenge. “Teak is a really hard wood to work with,” he explains. “I was looking around online about bending it and 1-888-588-6353
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talking to other drum builders, and most people said you’ll never bend it to a complete circle. They said you’ll never do it. And that was enough to make me do it.” So how do you turn a rough piece of lumber into a beautiful instrument? Stephen details the steps he took to make the frame. “Basically, the lumber was about six inches wide, two-and-a-half inches thick and maybe five feet long. I stand it up on its tall end and use a band saw to cut a thin strip. Then I use an industrial drum sander to sand it smooth. I had it probably like 1/8 of an inch thick by Above: After coming out of the steam box, the teak is bent around the mold. Once it is dry, it’s glued in layers around the form. Below: The teak after being milled to size and steam bent around the mold.
Above: The bodhrán fully glued together, trimmed, holes drilled for hardware and ready for a clear finish. www.downhomelife.com
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about five inches wide. I made two pieces like that.” The next step is to make the wood pliable. “I put it in a steam box and use a steam machine to make steam. I let it soak in there probably for an hour, an hour and a half, and then I take it out.” Stephen then uses a heavy-duty piece of plastic sewer pipe as a circular form to bend the wood around. “So I clamp it around that while it’s still steamed, and that way you can bend it to the form. The next day when it’s dry, you take the clamps off and trim it and glue it together in a round shape.” The bodhrán is made up of three layers of wood – two layers of teak with one layer of ash on the inside. “After the three layers are glued, you trim all the edges so they’re square and flush, then you sand it all.” You can tune a bodhrán by changing the tension, so Stephen drills holes and adds tuners before adding the finishing touch with a clear gloss or stain. “In this case, it’s just a clear finish so you can see the natural
beauty of the wood. Teak is a beautiful wood with a clear finish on it.” The skin used on the drum is a goatskin that came from a farmer in the Conception Bay North area who let the goat roam freely. “Soak the skin in water for a couple of hours and then just stretch it on over,” Stephen explains. “Thumbtacks going all the way around the sides, that’s what hold your skin on. And when it dries, it dries nice and tight. A local skin sounds so much deeper and better than anything from a factory can produce. And then you got a drum. That’s it.” The Cliffs of Baccalieu Stephen’s handcrafted Baccalieu drum is beautiful and produces a rich, deep sound. And interestingly, he points out, it has yet another family connection. The SS Baccalieu was named after Baccalieu Island in Conception Bay. The waters around Baccalieu Island have seen centuries of sailors. Cabot and his crew are presumed to be the first European explorers to catch a
Stephen has a personal connection with Baccalieu Island, the namesake for the vessel. Both his grandfathers, Albert Blundon (right) and Phonse Kehoe (far right), manned the lighthouses on the island.
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glimpse of it. It’s carefully etched onto a cartographer’s map dating to 1508. In the early 16th century, Portuguese fishermen used the island as a fishing station. That’s how it got its name – Baccalieu is derived either from the Portuguese, Spanish or Basque term meaning “codfish.” English and Irish settlers established themselves nearby in Bay de Verde and Red Head Cove in the 1700s, making their living from the prime fishing grounds of the Baccalieu Tickle. Historically, two lighthouses were operated on Baccalieu Island – and both of Stephen’s grandfathers manned the lights for periods of time. “My grandfather, Phonse Kehoe, took over when the last of the Ryan family left in the 1950s,” he says. “My mother lived the first five or six years of her life on Baccalieu Island in the lighthouse, until she was old enough to go to school.” Stephen’s paternal grandfather, Albert Blundon of Bay de Verde, kept watch on the southwest corner of the island for a number of years before leaving to serve in the Overseas Forestry Unit during the Second World War.
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“I think I’m the only person who can say that both my grandfathers were lightkeepers on that island,” he says. While Stephen has more teak left, he’s saving it for special projects. He’s currently in the process of using some of it to make a bouzouki – another traditional instrument, reminiscent of a mandolin. And though he’s had lots of offers, he’s not willing to part with the special drum. “That Baccalieu drum right there,” he says, “it’s not for sale.”
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features
How Tom Power of Cowan Heights became one of Canada’s top radio hosts. BY NICOLA RYAN
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ON THE PHONE from the CBC studio in
downtown Toronto, Tom Power sounds just as warm and funny as he does on the radio. Tom’s originally from St. John’s, NL, and he’s been charming CBC listeners over the airwaves for more than a decade. He’s best known as the host of Q, CBC Radio One’s daily arts and entertainment program, and right now we’re trying to remember landmarks from our childhoods growing up in “town.”
It’s been a few eventful years for the team at Q – adapting to the pandemic in 2020, winning a prestigious award in 2021, and launching a brand-new format earlier this year. Tom sounds happy and, for all his success at age 35, endearingly humble. “I get to work with the most amazing team in the world on Q,” he enthuses. “I love getting to talk to people, artists I never could have dreamed of when I was looking out my window in Cowan Heights. I’m really so lucky.” Tom started his radio career in St. John’s. At the age of 15, he fell in love with bluegrass music and begged his www.downhomelife.com
folks for a banjo. By the age of 20, he was pursuing a folklore degree at MUN and working at CHMR campus radio, and he was a fixture at trad sessions and folk nights playing with his band, the Dardanelles. Tom pitched an idea for a radio show highlighting traditional and current folk and roots music, and the CBC came calling. “On my 21st birthday I got hired and started the show, Deep Roots,” Tom says, adding, “They later told me they didn’t know how young I was.” Three years later, in 2011, Tom was chosen to helm Radio 2 Morning – a promotion that required him to permanently relocate to Toronto. April 2023
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Courtesy of CBC: Vivian Rashotte
“I didn’t love having to leave Newfoundland,” he sighs, mentioning how he misses his family, friends and playing with the traditional music community. “And I definitely didn’t love being in my mid-20s and going to bed at 10 p.m.,” he adds with a laugh, referring to the morning show’s early hours. “But it was really worth it. I’ve been in Toronto for 11 years now, and you know, this is also home to me now,” 56
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he continues. “I have a great community of friends and family and musicians up here, too.” Tom was named as the new host of Q, CBC’s lively arts and culture magazine program, in 2016. Since then he’s been chatting with musicians, actors, writers, directors and tastemakers of all kinds. Listeners have come to know Tom’s genuine enthusiasm and humour alongside his thoughtful, in-depth interviewing 1-888-588-6353
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style. The list of famous folks he’s talked to includes Canadian stars such Céline Dion, David Suzuki and Neil Young, and global celebs such as Dolly Parton, Bono and Jerry Seinfeld. Yet Tom’s usually not rattled. “The nerves go away over time and you gain confidence,” he says. “But I can still always tell I’m really nervous
back of the couch, banjo within easy reach – welcoming guests virtually and connecting with worried listeners across the country. “During the pandemic we started to spend a little bit more time with guests and talking about sort of different things,” he says. “We weren’t necessarily talking about the news of
What’s Tom’s secret to putting his guests at such ease? “I think I started to let myself talk to these people the way I talk to my buddies back home…” when I find myself uncontrollably laughing. I remember we had Paul Simon on, and we couldn’t start the interview because I was laughing too hard – he couldn’t hear me – just at the absurdity that I was about to talk to Paul Simon. I loved it.” PANDEMIC PIVOT When the pandemic hit and COVID lockdowns were put in place in March of 2020, Tom and the Q team had to adapt quickly. They put together Sound of Mind: Mental Health and the Arts, a week-long series of interviews with artists including Rupi Kaur, Shawn Mendes and Katy Perry. They also created a national TV catch-up show called What’re You At? With Tom Power. Tom hosted from his living room – granny square blanket folded on the www.downhomelife.com
the day, ’cause there wasn’t a lot! So we were talking about sort of, you know, richer, deeper, emotional things. And laughing more, and getting kinda real.” That realness was evident in Tom’s poignant and insightful conversation with iconic Canadian actor Michael J. Fox. The 2021 discussion focused on the actor’s battle with Parkinson’s disease and finding optimism in the face of adversity, and earned Tom and the Q team the Gold Medal for Best Interview by the prestigious New York Festivals Radio Awards. Tom soon followed up with other exceptional chats – superstar singer Adele opened up about love, divorce and her struggle with fame; and Friends star Matthew Perry shared his incredible story of surviving substance abuse. April 2023
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QUICK Qs Which end [of St. John’s] is better, west end or east end? It’s funny, I will always say the west end, if for no other reason than to upset my friends who are all from the east end.
Touton or fish cake? Fish cake! One hundred per cent! Someone once asked me about my ‘death row’ meal, and I said, it’s a cuppa tea, fish cakes, mustard pickles and a bun – a buttered bun. Tell me what’s better than that! Gorgeous!
Regatta Day, or Tibbs Eve? Oh, Regatta Day all the way! I love, love, love the Regatta. Whenever I try to explain it to people up on the Mainland, they never quite fully understand it. The entire community comes down to the lake. You’ll see everybody, ya know ya would. I try to make sure I’m home for Regatta Day. I think the Powers love the Regatta more than most.
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What’s Tom’s secret to putting his guests at such ease? “I think I started to let myself talk to these people the way I talk to my buddies back home. Like, I no longer felt that I was, like, having to interview-interview like a CBC journalist, but like I was just yakkin’ with them. I think it’s because I’m from Newfoundland, where Newfoundlanders can kind of talk to anybody, that allows me to do this job.” MORE TIME WITH TOM To build on the show’s recent success, in January 2023, Q was revamped and relaunched with a new hour-long, two-interview format to focus on the intimate conversations for which the show’s become known. It’s also the first flagship daily radio show to drop as a podcast first every morning.
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“I listen to podcasts mainly,” says Tom. “Well, I still listen to OZFM in Toronto – if I feel a bit homesick, I’ll put it on in the afternoon – but mainly I listen to podcasts. I’m just so excited that this is the way that people will be able to listen to my show.” The radio version of the show continues to air at its regular time and is now followed by a new show called Commotion, hosted by Elamin Abdelmahmoud. As for the future, it seems like Tom’s really hit his stride and the sky’s the limit. Who would he wish for, if he could choose anyone to interview? “Conan O’Brien is my dream interview,” he says wistfully. “I once spoke to his assistant and we were talking and I said, ‘Can you just let Conan know that I watched him every night on TV? And like, I just want to be clear about this one thing – I was an hour and a half ahead of the rest of the world, so I had to watch him at two in the morning.’ Conan means that much to me that I would experience severe, jet-lag level fatigue all through high school in order to watch him. But also, he’s sort of a guidepost for how I do my work and
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interviews, and I’ve never gotten the chance to talk to him. So he’s my number one.” And is there a Newfoundlander on the list? “My favourite singer in the world is from Newfoundland. My favourite singer ever is Anita Best. And Anita’s a friend of mine, so it’s not like I haven’t talked to her. I think she did such interesting work. When she was a young woman, she went out and collected and saved a bunch of traditional music that we still sing to this day. She’s an incredible performer and she’s just lived an incredibly rich life. One of these days! I’m always talking about it, but one of these days I’m going to bring a couple of microphones home and get her story.” Though he’s a seasoned pro and has talked to some of the world’s biggest stars, at the heart of things, Tom’s still the same down-to-earth guy from Cowan Heights. “I’m delighted about it all,” he says. “I’m so proud of what we do and I’m so grateful to the CBC for giving us a chance to go further with the work we’ve been doing. Are you kiddin’ me? It’s the greatest job in the world.”
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Strange laws that governments around the world have created about animals. BY TODD HOLLETT 60
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EVERYONE HAS TO ABIDE by the laws of their respective country. Some of those laws are designed to protect public safety, some to protect property and others to protect wildlife and our animal companions. In a world where pets are truly part of the family and wildlife is an important part of society, many laws have been developed to help protect these furry, feathery and scaly friends, and to help keep them in check. At the same time, a whole host of these laws are truly weird and refer to some pretty unrealistic scenarios. Here’s what I found in my recent journey through the strangest and most ridiculous animal laws in the world.
Australia
It’s illegal to drive through a public place with a dog or goat attached to your vehicle. Aussies are banned from naming any animal they intend to eat. You could face a $250 fine if you capture, injure or kill a homing pigeon.
New Zealand
In the town of Longbern, cats cannot leave the house unless they are wearing, not one, not two, but three bells around their neck.
China
In Beijing, households are permitted to have only one family dog, and it must be under 35.56 cm (14 in) tall.
Japan
It is illegal to publicly display your cat after 8:00 p.m.
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Saudi Arabia
It’s OK for a lady to walk a dog, but not a man. In fact, dogs are almost completely banned, with only hunting, guard or service dogs being permitted.
Germany
German pet owners are required to pay a pet tax, which has led people to acquire dogs that weigh less than 4.5 kg because they are taxed a third of the rate (the same as a rodent).
France
It’s OK to name your pig Porky, but not Napoleon.
Italy
In Reggio Emilia, an owner could be fined if a pet shares a meal and is not given equal portions.
Sweden
Doggy day care centres must ensure their “clients” can see out a window.
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In the United Kingdom it is illegal to handle salmon under suspicious circumstances. Switzerland
Pet owners must first pass written and oral tests before they are allowed to own a dog, and then they must ensure it has a companion.
Iceland
For many years, dogs were banned from Reykjavik due to failed poop-scooping laws; this has since been overturned.
United Kingdom
Common feline and canine pets are prohibited from mating with a pet from the royal family. Taxis on the Lancashire coast cannot carry rabid dogs. Police officers can order you not to make a dog bark.
United States of America
In Alaska, you cannot allow your dog to enter a hair salon to get a new do, and you cannot tie it to the roof of your car while driving there. While flying, you’re prohibited from looking at a moose from the aircraft and don’t push one out of a moving aircraft, but by all means try pushing one in (and please record that!). It is illegal to give alcoholic beverages to a moose. It’s illegal to disturb a snoozing bear to snap a photo (plus it’ll likely be the last photo you ever take!). The City of Little Rock, Arkansas, prohibits dogs from barking after 6 p.m.
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Don’t whistle to attract a lost bird in Berkley, California, before 7:00 a.m. or risk becoming a jail bird. Frogs used in frog jumping competitions (yes, that is a real thing) are not allowed to be eaten. Animals are prohibited from mating within 500 metres of a school or church. In Delaware you cannot sell your dog’s or cat’s excess hair. Indiana law states all black cats must wear bells on Friday 13th. In Wyoming you could be fined for taking a photo of a rabbit between January and May.
In Paulding County, Ohio, it is illegal to get a fish drunk, and a police officer there can bite a dog to calm it down (not sure why it would calm down, maybe from the shock of being bitten). Horse owners are not allowed to let their stallion mate with a mare in public (as this only applies to male equines, females can legally start the rendezvous without trouble). It is also state law that you cannot hunt whales on Sunday. In Baltimore, Maryland, you are banned from taking your pet lion to a movie, no matter how bad it wants to see The Lion King.
In Los Angeles, people using toads to get high off their toxins made licking toads illegal.
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Illinois frowns on giving your dog a swig of whiskey or a lighted cigar. In Oklahoma, dogs are not allowed to congregate in groups of three or more without a signed letter from the mayor. In Wisconsin cats cannot visit public cemeteries. In New York you can face a $500 fine if you take a selfie with a tiger (believe it or not, it was introduced to prevent maulings). Why did the chicken not cross the road in Quitman, Georgia? Because it’s illegal. You also cannot tie your giraffe to a telephone pole or lamppost. In Montana you could face a $50,000 fine if you lead an animal onto the tracks with intent on damaging the train.
In Virginia it is illegal to kill or capture wildlife anywhere near a forest fire (hardly the ideal hunting conditions anyway). It is also illegal to prepare meals using roadkill. Texas allows people to hunt bats inside or on the tops of buildings, but it’s illegal to hunt them anywhere else. In Reed City, Michigan, you cannot own both a cat and a bird. (Maybe this law was inspired by Sylvester and Tweety’s hijinks?) In Arizona, you cannot have a sleeping donkey in your bathtub past 7:00 p.m. Don’t go plowing your cotton fields in North Carolina with an elephant because that’s illegal.
In Washington State it is a felony to harass Bigfoot in any way.
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Is Canton, Mississippi, it is illegal to shoot a squirrel with a gun in a court room. (How did that ever become a problem?) In Florida, an elephant tied to a parking meter costs you the same as parking your car there.
Canada
In Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, owners can be fined if their cat digs up someone’s flower bed. The capital City of St. John’s makes it illegal to drive cattle through its streets after 8:00 a.m., and the province prohibits you from keeping a cow in your house. Alberta businesses must provide rails for tying up horses, and you cannot own a pet rat in this province (which is proudly rat-free).
In Nova Scotia, it is illegal to artificially colour a chick. (So are all natural dyes fine?) In Oak Bay, British Columbia, a noisy parrot could result in a fine. (Polly want a ticket?) No resident can own more than four rats, and provincial wildlife law prohibits you from shooting a Mowgli (Sasquatch). In Fredericton, New Brunswick, you cannot “wear” a snake or lizard on your body while in public within city limits. Hay River, Northwest Territories, prevents accidents by prohibiting the use of dog sleds on sidewalks. Toronto, Ontario, bylaws state that you cannot drag a dead horse down Yonge Street on a Sunday.
In Sterling, Colorado, housecats that want to go out at night are required to have a light on their tail (good luck attaching that).
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Available at NLC locations province wide
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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
www.aukislandwinery.com 1-877-639-4637
Shipping not available to Newfoundland and Labrador and Nunavut. Please visit your local NLC location.
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
AUK ISLAND
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Dennis Flynn travels to the hauntingly beautiful resettled community of Great Paradise, Placentia Bay.
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amid a rolling carpet of verdant grass that shrouds ivory-coloured marble stones. In places where the headstones have been lost to time and nature, some wooden crosses mark their place behind where All Saints Roman Catholic Church and the associated school once stood. This community was resettled circa 1968, but it hasn’t been entirely abandoned. Former residents and a few cabin owners erected
All photos by Dennis Flynn
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a community centre in 1999 on the old church foundations. As the evening fog burns off, I spy the reason for my visit: a large church bell prominently resting atop a hill overlooking the islet-laden waters of the hauntingly beautiful Great Paradise, Placentia Bay, NL. I’d been here (and to nearby Little Paradise) before, on a day hike in the winter of 2010. I’d promised myself to come back when both time and temperatures were more favourable to further exploration. So here I am on a weekend in August 2022, back to visit the bell of Paradise. I’m on a solo fat-bike ride and camping trip from the nearby village of South East Bight (population 169 in 2021). The locally known “Paradise Road” is a short pedal or hike of around five kilometres (one way) on an ATV trail following the old cart roads between communities. The real trick is getting to South East Bight to begin with. For that you travel by road to Petite Forte on the Burin Peninsula, then take the MV Marine Coaster III passenger ferry (no vehicles) for the nine kilometre or 25-minute trip (one way) to South East Bight.
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Both Petite Forte and South East Bight are incredibly well-kept locations that any photographer who enjoys seascapes, stages and small fishing boats will love on a calm day, so bring a camera. Everyone I spoke to was very friendly and offered great advice on things to see and do for the rest of my journey. Some regaled me with legends of famous pirate Peter Easton and his alleged connections to another resettled community, Oderin, and a treasure that he may Continued on page 72
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have hidden somewhere there or thereabouts. Others shared a tale made famous by the prolific writer, P.J. (Pius Joseph) Wakeham, who was born in 1910 at Petite Forte. This one involved a sea monster attack on a small fishing boat off Great Paradise in May 1900, from which four men were lucky to escape with their
industrious community for its time.” History runs deep here. It was one of the earliest fishing stations in this section of Placentia Bay, used by the French in the late 1600s. After the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, it was capitalized upon by English fishermen. Eventually Irish Catholics, many of whom were originally employed as
lives. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and suggestions, and wished I could have lingered longer, but after scooting around on bike for a few photographs it was off to Great Paradise with my tiny tent, to spend the night alone under the stars. I’d read in a 2001 Telegram article by Jeanette Browne how Great Paradise may have gotten its name: “The harbour is dotted with many shoals and islands, and tradition says the community took its name from the fact that, like the biblical Paradise, it was ‘difficult to get into,’” she wrote. “But once inside, it offered shelter for small boats, shore space for drying fish and close access to the fishing grounds. Because of these many advantages it was indeed a booming,
fishing servants, became the predominant residents of Great Paradise. According to the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, the community’s population peaked at 197 in 1921. It was around this time that a new church was erected with a landmark spire that could be seen for miles by those at sea to help guide them home. The local women (according to Browne there were approximately 51 women over the age of 18 at the time) commissioned the McShane Bell Foundry Co. in Baltimore, MD, in 1919 to make a bell for their beloved church. The women raised all the funds themselves in an era when cash was incredibly difficult to come by for the average resident of
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rural Newfoundland and Labrador. The inscription on the bell indicates its dedication in 1919, “in honour of St. Michael, the Prince of the Heavenly Court. Zealous hardworking women got me here.” That last line, “zealous hardworking women got me here” never ceases to make me smile. I know they meant specifically the ladies who raised the funds to buy this beautiful bell, but I think of the great debts all of us owe to our mothers, our grandmothers, our sisters, our aunts, our wives or partners, and any women who sacrificed to help us get an education, an advancement, or any opportunity in life. I think, in ways too numerous to count, particularly in this wonderful province, we can all say “zealous hardworking women got me here.” Incidentally, not only did the bell itself last, but the company that made it still exists (as of this writing). Their website proudly states, “Since the conception of the company in 1856, the McShane Bell Foundry has been producing America’s finest church bells, ring peals, chimes and carillons the world has ever heard.”
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As I’m about to call it a night on my solitary hilltop, a gentleman with the last name Ryan and his travelling companions invite me down to their cabin to join their small beachside bonfire. They offer me a hot coffee
and a meal of pan-fried cod tongues that are the freshest I’ve ever tasted. After an evening of food, companionship and a few good stories, I thank them and call it a night. Before I close, I should mention how they got my attention to come down and join them in the first place. They did the most appropriate thing possible: they came up and rang the great bell of Great Paradise.
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explore
what’s in a name?
By Dale Jarvis
The town of Cow Head, Great Northern Peninsula, is thought to be named after a nearby point of land, Cow Head, which in turn was named after a rock that is no longer there.
The headland was originally named Cap Pointu by Jacques Cartier on June 16, 1534. At some point, Cap Pointu was renamed Tête de Vache by French fishermen who thought a particular rock looked like a cow’s head when viewed from the sea. In 1875, it was reported that several remarkable boulders lay on the beach and the fishermen had nicknamed them “Cow and Bull.” By the 1950s, waves and coastal erosion had washed away the bovine boulders, but the name was too good to let go. Other places have similarly inspired names. About two kilometres offshore of Point Lance, St. Mary’s Bay, are three rocks of black slate known as the Bull, Cow and Calf. The community was once known as Bull Bay,
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Point Lance also has land formations nearby named for our barnyard friends Leila Brown photo
which was probably too similar to the town of Bay Bulls, up around the Southern Shore. Just to be contrary, Bay Bulls (also recorded as Bay of Bulls around 1592) has nothing to do with beef or cows or calves. The bulls of Bay Bulls might be a common winter resident, a small seabird known as the bull-bird, little auk or common dovekie (Plautus alle alle). That’s the story, no bull about it. 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.
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explore
The following reader-submitted photos really capture quintessential Newfoundland and Labrador. As we travel around the province this coming summer, looking for authentic experiences and bucket-list backdrops, these could be our inspiration.
Sunset over Francois Julie Baggs Burgeo, NL
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Horse in Torbay
Bernice Goudie St. John’s, NL
Capelin Rolling at Burnt Head, Cupids Kelsey Fifield Coley’s Point, NL
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Sunrise Over Great Brehat Berg Bailey Parsons Stephenville, NL
A Circus of Puffins Mark Gray
Bonavista, NL
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Feeding the Gulls off Argentia Tom Leonard NL
Beach Fire at Sound Island, Placentia Bay Kathleen Keating Clarenville, NL
Hanging out in Bonavista Jan Keats Conception Bay South, NL
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Coming Home Through the Ice at Carter’s Cove Angel Burt Virgin Arm, NL
Northern Lights Over the Ashuanipi River Lorilea Edwards Wabush, NL
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Morning Tranquility at Little Bay Islands
Michael Parsons Little Bay Islands, NL
Grandmother Chaulk’s Clothesline in Burnt Islands Sherry Chaulk Burnt Islands, NL
Trinity in Summer
Tanya Northcott Ottawa, NL
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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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HOME and Cabin
stuff we love by Nicola Ryan
Pet Shop DRIVER’S SIDE Give your canine co-pilot a boost. A Snoozer Lookout dog car seat gives your li’l buddy a safe, comfortable place to look out the car window. Made from firm foam and covered in fluffy sherpa fabric, it hooks easily into the seatbelt system. A storage tray tucks inside. PetSmart.com
CUDDLE UP Keep your pet cosy with a self-warming bed, like this lounger style from Aspen Pet. It uses a layer of material similar to the Mylar blankets worn by astronauts and marathon winners to reflect your pet’s body heat. It’s covered in faux lambswool plush for extra cuddly comfort. www.CrittersnThings.com 84
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POOCH PEEPERS Protect your pooch’s eyes from sun, wind and dust with a special pair of Doggles®! Comfy and adjustable, these doggie goggles offer shatterproof, anti-fog, UV protection lenses. Perfect for adventurous pups with an eye for fashion. Woof.doggles.com
TRAPPER KEEPER Scattered kitty litter has a way of finding its way into every single nook and cranny in your home. Tuck a Pieviev double-layer mat by your cat’s commode. Litter falls through the honeycomb design and collects underneath. To clean, just pick up the mat and toss the stray litter back in the box. Amazon.ca
UP A NOTCH Older dogs and cats sometimes need a leg up. Help them reach their favourite spot with a ramp or ladder stairs like these from Home Depot. Sturdy and non-skid, your pet will feel secure as they go up and down, and they fold up for easy transportation or storage. HomeDepot.ca www.downhomelife.com
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HOME and Cabin
Ask Marie Anything Interior designer Marie Bishop takes your questions
Complement or Clash? Question: How can I feel confident that the items in my room complement each other as opposed to clash with each other? Is there a formula for mixing patterns, textures and colours?
In truth, this is a large question, especially since we are slowly coming back to introducing patterns into our living space. For a number of years, the main furnishings have been solid neutrals. But as with everything in our style-conscious domain, it runs in a cycle. 86
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So, let’s say you want to give your main living area a facelift. Your sofa and loveseat are creamy beige and they are not being replaced, but everything else can change and you are really ready for some colour. The walls are the best and most cost effective place to introduce the colour palette. Using a soft version of a colour you love, or a more intense version of that colour on one accent wall, will set the pace. You might even consider wallpaper for one wall, another excellent way to set the colour scheme for your space. Once you’ve established your basic colour combinations, you can introduce patterns – floral, stripes or plaids – using those colours in varying degrees. For instance, if you let a floral pattern dominate, whether it’s in the wallpaper you’ve chosen, an area rug or an accent chair, you can use the colours in that floral to add other patterns. Stripes work easily with florals, as do plaids and ikat patterns (where areas of the fabric are protected with a dye-resistant compound). It’s best to stick with three or four repeating patterns. Light and dark versions of similar colours in these patterns offer interest and variety without becoming overwhelming. Patterns will add interest but also energy to your room – too much pattern will make for a very busy space. There is a 60-30-10 rule for combining colours. Let the dominant colour claim 60 per cent of the visual space, the secondary colour 30 per cent and the accent colour 10 per cent. Textures are another way to create visual interest in your space. They are a little easier to manage than www.downhomelife.com
Textures are another way to create visual interest in your space. They are a little easier to manage than combining patterns, but be mindful of the effect they create.
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Let’s not forget about the greenery. Nothing makes a room come to life like a variety of plants. combining patterns, but be mindful of the effect they create. Too many shiny, reflective textures and surfaces such as glass, marble, silk and satin, tend to create a more formal look that can feel cold and uninviting. Mixing a variety of finishes, such as wooden tables, a stone fireplace and velvet or textured draperies will create a warmer, more inviting room. Let’s not forget about the greenery. Nothing brings a room to life like a variety of plants. It adds another dimension of shape and texture, a natural infusion of colour and an element of the outdoors we long for until our gardens come to life. If you have the advantage of windows with good south or southeast exposure, your plants will do well. Make sure they aren’t too close to a heater and that the pot they are in has adequate drainage with a good tray beneath to protect your floor from overflow. If you claim to have no green thumb
whatsoever, there are some wonderful artificial plants, large and small, that still look great and add that sense of nature to your space. And finally, artwork and accents. These are the final touches that round out your space and bring a room to life. Be mindful of the colours and patterns in your space when choosing these pieces. I’m not saying that your artwork has to match everything in the room, but it shouldn’t scream at you either. Accents such as a floral arrangement, a collection of books, or pottery will be the pieces that are your personal touches: the things that make your space unique, the items that tell your story. Our decorating style and approach is unique to our personality. And while it helps to have a guideline as you create your room, you will know if it looks good to you. It will feel personal, interesting and comfortable. You will know because you will love your space!
Ask Marie Anything! Got a design question for Marie? Email editorial@downhomelife.com, and watch for your question and her answer to appear here! 88
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when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the age Matthew 24:3
This question was put to Jesus a few days before his crucifixion. The following includes some of the answers to that question as given by Jesus.
1. Nation shall rise against nations, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines and pestilences, (plagues) and earthquakes, in diverse places. Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:10-11 2. And this gospel (good news) of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:14, Mark 13:10 3. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand). Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14, Luke 21:20 (Also Daniel 12:1-4, 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-11, Revelation 13:5-8) 4. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved. Matthew 24:21-22, Mark 13:19, Luke 21:22, 1st Thessalonians 5:1-3 5. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light. Matthew 24:29-30, Mark 13:24, Luke 21:25-27 6. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:30, Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27, 1st Corinthians 15:20-28 7. And GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4, 1st Timothy 6:13-16 This page is sponsored by an anonymous reader
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the everyday gourmet
Salt Cod Inspiration 90
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love salt cod. But it’s not something I the everyday Ithink about cooking for myself too often. I like my gourmet fish and brewis in loads of butter and slivers of By Andrea Maunder
Andrea Maunder is the owner and creative force behind Saucy & Sweet – Homemade Specialty Foods & Catering.
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nicely browned onions; and my fish cakes, crispy and generously “coddy,” with mustard pickle. These dishes are by far the most popular way most Newfoundlanders and Labradorians enjoy salt cod, aren’t they? But salt cod is beloved in cuisines around the world. It pops up in Nordic countries, the Mediterranean, Caribbean and even Asia; and it is cooked in a myriad of styles and flavours. Shopping for groceries at Bidgoods recently, I spotted gorgeous, thick salt cod steaks. They made me think of the mesmerizing, seemingly endless, displays I’ve seen in markets of Europe – northern Spain and the Basque country, in particular – and the artful and traditional ways salt cod is prepared there. I was inspired. In the Basque country, they have a technique called Bacalao Pil Pil, whereby olive oil is warmed slowly with plenty of sliced garlic and some hot chili peppers (Espelette peppers preferred). Skinon premium cuts of salt cod are then poached in the infused oil. Finally comes the pil pil, which means the “shake shake” movement that emulsifies the warm oil with the collagen from the fish skin to form a beautiful sauce with a hollandaiselike texture. The toasted garlic is served on top. It’s hard to find skin-on, mostly-boneless thick cuts of fish here – mine were skinless. I was surprised by the appearance of fresh quinces (yellow-skinned, aromatic, tart fruit that must be cooked to eat) in the produce aisle at Dominion days later – and was again struck by inspiration. A traditional Italian dish, believed to have been inspired by Arabic/Moorish cuisine, is Baccala in the Saracen style. It’s a savoury and lightly sweet dish of salt cod flaked into a peppertomato ragout that includes golden raisins and quinces. It had been one of my favourite salt fish dishes, but I hadn’t thought of it in ages. So… the recipe I have for you this month is a sort of melding of those two dishes. I soaked the cod for three days in a glass container in the fridge,
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changing the water daily. It still had a fair bit of saltiness, so if you prefer less salt, go another day or change the water more frequently. My steaks had a small column of bones in them, which I left to keep them intact (just be aware when eating). I then dried it well and set it on a plate to air dry an hour or so before cooking it. The whole steaks were lightly floured, seared in garlic and chile-infused olive oil, served atop a Saracen-style ragout and topped with the browned garlic. A spritz of fresh lemon juice and scattering of fresh parsley added brightness at the end. I served it with crisp rounds of potato. It was everything I wanted – completely delicious. The crisp sear on the outside; the sweetness and acidity of the ragout; the saltiness of the fish, which retained its juiciness and picked up a little spiciness from the chile-infused oil. All it needs is a name!
Andrea’s Salt Cod Inspiration 2 (5-6 oz each) pieces of thick-cut salt cod
1/2 medium quince, peeled, cored and cut in julienne strips*
1/2 cup aromatic olive oil
12-14 grape or cherry tomatoes, halved (or 1 cup diced tinned tomatoes, drained)
3-4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 3-4 whole dried red chilies (less, or omit if you avoid spice) 2 large bay leaves (fresh or dried) 1/4 cup golden raisins, soaked in warm water to rehydrate a bit 1-2 tbsp white flour 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced in half-moon shapes 1 medium bell pepper, cut in julienne strips (green or equivalent in mixed colours)
Tiniest pinch of kosher salt (fish is salty) 1/4 cup dry vermouth or white wine 1/4 cup water – or more as needed Handful chopped fresh parsley to garnish Couple lemon wedges to garnish *If you can’t find a quince, choose any variety of underripe pear and add a touch of lemon zest to the ragout.
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium frypan, warm the oil, garlic, bay leaves and whole dried chilies. Allow everything to warm up together to infuse the oil with the flavours. If it sizzles at all, remove the pan from the heat, turn down the burner and then return the pan. This is a very gentle heat infusion. When the garlic turns pale golden, remove the garlic, bay leaves and chilies, and set aside. Turn up the heat to medium-high. Very lightly dredge the fish in flour, shaking off any excess. Sear fish on both sides, turning once it has browned. Since the fish is thick, it is not cooked through. Remove from pan and place on a parchment-lined sheet. Put it in the 350°F oven to finish cooking through while you make the ragout. Check after 5-6 minutes; it is done at 70°C if you have a meat thermometer. Remove fish when it reaches 70°C or is flaky-firm to the touch – don’t overcook. 92
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Meanwhile, return the bay leaves and chilies to the pan (reserve the garlic), and add onions. Fry a minute or two, then add peppers and quince (or pear and lemon zest) for a couple of minutes. Add a pinch of salt, drained soaked raisins and tomatoes. Add the vermouth/wine and let the alcohol burn off. Add water, stir again, and cover the pan to allow everything to soften and come together. Check a couple of times and add water if necessary. In 10-12 minutes the ragout should be cohesive, not watery. Lay the fish on top of the ragout to warm through (keep top side free of sauce to remain brown and crisp). Remove bay leaves and chiles. Spoon the ragout on heated plates and place a piece of cod on top. Sprinkle the reserved toasted garlic on top, and scatter on some parsley. Garnish with the potatoes, lightly sprinkled with kosher salt. Add a lemon wedge. To make crisp potatoes: Scrub a couple smallish potatoes, cut them into ¼ inch slices and toss them with olive oil. Cook them in the air fryer on 350°F for about 12 minutes, turning once. You could also toss potatoes with a touch of oil and oven roast them. Go easy on the salt either way, as there is plenty in the cod.
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HOME and Cabin
everyday recipes
Spring Things After a winter of eating out of the freezer, root cellar and preserves cupboard, it’s refreshing when the first crops of spring appear at the market. Rhubarb immediately comes to mind, but there are others that you’ll also find in the following recipes.
Rhubarb Crisp 4 1/2 cups rhubarb, chopped 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp ginger 2 tbsp water
1/2 cup butter, softened 2/3 cup brown sugar 2/3 cup flour 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine rhubarb, sugar, cinnamon, ginger and water in an 8"x8" baking dish. In a bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Stir in flour and rolled oats until well mixed and crumbly. Spread crumble over rhubarb. Bake for about 30-40 minutes, until top is golden brown. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Makes 8 servings.
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Rhubarb Cake 2/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 large egg, beaten 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 cup rhubarb, diced small 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (opt)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a loaf pan. In a large bowl, combine brown sugar and oil. Mix in egg, vanilla and buttermilk. In another bowl, combine flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda. Stir dry ingredients into wet; mix just until all is moistened. Fold in rhubarb and walnuts (if using). Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes; a tester poked in the centre of the loaf should come out clean. Remove from oven and let loaf cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely. Makes 1 loaf.
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Apricot-Rhubarb Jam 8 oz dried apricots, finely chopped 2 lbs rhubarb, finely chopped
2 1/2 cups sugar 1 pkg powdered pectin
Soak apricots in a bowl of boiling hot water for about 10 minutes to soften them. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain again. Put apricots, rhubarb and sugar in a heavy bottomed pot. Stir to combine, cover and leave overnight at room temperature to coax out the fruit juices. Next day, put pot of fruit on medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, covered, for a few minutes until rhubarb starts to fall apart. Stir in pectin and bring mixture to a rolling boil; boil for exactly 1 minute. Remove from heat and skim any foam off the top. Pour into sterilized jars and seal. Makes 6 (8 oz) jars.
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Pasta with Roasted Vegetables 2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced 1/2 inch thick 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces 3 tbsp olive oil, divided 1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 cups fusilli pasta 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Toss the zucchini and asparagus in 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil. Spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Roast for about 20 minutes, until veggies are tender. Remove from heat and set aside. Heat the other 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion in oil until softened. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, then turn up heat to medium high and add tomatoes. Let them simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes. Remove skillet from the heat and stir in cheese. Cook fusilli in boiling salted water. When done, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain off the rest. Stir pasta into the skillet sauce, then stir in reserved water and roasted vegetables. Combine well. Stir in basil last. Makes 4 servings.
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Cream of Asparagus Soup 1/4 cup butter 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 large onion, chopped 4 stalks celery, chopped 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
5 cups chicken broth 1 medium potato, peeled and diced 1 lb fresh asparagus, coarsely chopped 1 cup cream, warmed 1 tbsp soy sauce
Melt butter in heavy pot. Add garlic, onion and celery, and sauté until tender. Stir in flour, mixing well. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add broth and stir until smooth. Bring to a boil. Add potato and asparagus. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes. Purée soup in a food processor or blender and return to pot. Stir in cream and soy sauce. Bring soup just to a simmer and season to taste. Makes 4-6 servings.
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Slow Cooker Curried Lamb Chops 8-10 lamb chops 1 small can tomato paste 1/2 cup carrot, small dice 1/2 cup celery, small dice 1 cup onion, small dice 1 can coconut milk, cream portion only
Spice Mix 1 tbsp cumin 1 1/2 tsp coriander, ground 1 1/2 tsp cardamom, ground 1 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 tsp cinnamon, ground 1/2 tsp cloves, ground 1/2 tsp nutmeg, ground 1 tbsp turmeric
Blend all spices together and set aside. Place all the veggies, meat and tomato paste in a large bowl, sprinkle with 8 tsp of the spice mixture (save the rest for another time), and mix thoroughly. Add the meat and veggies mixture to the slow cooker with the coconut cream and set to low for 8 hours, or high for 4 hours. Meat will fall right off the bone. Serve over white or basmati rice. Makes 4-6 servings.
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HOME and Cabin
down to earth
Row Cover Magic BY KIM THISTLE
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Do you want to grow food without the use of chemical pesticides? Do you want to extend your growing season? If so, this article is for you. Row covers have been around for a long time, but they seem to have taken on a renewed popularity in recent years. These polypropylene or polyester blankets are inexpensive, translucent fabrics that allow light and water to pass through while protecting your plants from too much sun. They trap heat, protect your plants from wind damage and, for extra bonus points, they keep insects and birds out if installed properly. The heavier types will protect your crops from cold and frost, and add weeks to your growing season. These easy-to-use covers are reusable and very effective. Before rushing out to buy some of this product, it is important to arm yourself with knowledge about the different types and usages.
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Insect barriers and lightweight covers These are almost weightless and close to transparent. This product is not a frost blanket; it provides little protection from the cold. Insect barriers must be in place early in the season when crops are planted. Once you see the insect or the damage, it is too late to cover your crop – kind of like closing the gate once the horse is gone. You will possibly be trapping the insect pests inside the tunnel, where a salad bar awaits. The benefits of a lightweight cover include: • 80-95 per cent of light passes through this fabric. • It allows the passage of moisture. • It provides a few degrees of extra heat to warm the soil, thus speeding along seed germination. • It locks out flying insects and prevents them from laying eggs; it’s particularly effective against carrot rust fly and cabbage moths. The important thing to note here is that it protects against flying insects. Not all pests fly. Cutworms and slugs emerge from the soil, so your cover must be removed regularly to monitor for these vicious little crop destroyers. Some flying insects, such as carrot rust fly, overwinter as pupae in the soil or in stray carrots left behind. For this reason, it is important to practise crop rotation, so that when these nasties hatch, they don’t have a buffet waiting for them under your carefully placed row cover. If you have plants that need pollinating, such as cucumbers and squash, the fabric must be removed once the plants begin to flower or the pollinating insects will not be able to 102
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provide their essential service. By this time, plants are usually large and strong enough to survive an insect attack.
Hoops made of PVC or wood can protect plants from the weight of the cover.
Medium weight and heavyweight covers • Used for cold and frost protection. • Will extend the growing season by several weeks in spring and fall. • Protects down to -4°C. • May be used in winter as extra protection in an unheated greenhouse. If covering more tender plants, such as tomatoes, don’t rest the heavier covers on top of the plants. Instead, drive some stakes into the ground or use a support, such as a tomato cage, to rest it on. Once the danger of frost has passed, be sure to remove the cover, as very little light is getting through to your plants. 1-888-588-6353
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A floating row cover is the easiest method to protect plants.
How to install covers The easiest method for installing covers is the “floating row cover”: the fabric is laid on top of the plants or seeds and secured at the edges with rocks, pins or soil. Enough slack must be left so there’s room for the crop to grow. Carrots only need a little extra room, as most of their growth is underground; whereas, Brussels sprouts need ample give to accommodate their height. Don’t skimp. A few extra dollars spent is worth an entire summer’s crop. For the more adventurous out there, you can create hoops using lengths of PVC pipe or wooden frames to attach your row cover, but remember that you have to be able to easily open or remove it for monitoring, extra irrigation and harvesting. Take a peek every week or so to ensure that no pests have gotten inside and reproduced. There is nothing worse than having a beautiful crop of broccoli growing, only to learn that one cabbage moth found
Kim is a horticultural consultant, a retired garden centre owner and a dedicated garden enthusiast!
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its way inside the cover and started reproducing at supersonic speed. If you spot a tear in the fabric, it may be repaired with a bit of clear packing tape. (I find the Canada Post brand has the best “stick.”) For the environmentalist in all of us, row covers and frost blankets can be reused. At the end of the season inspect them for damage. Covers with numerous rips may not be worth recycling; otherwise, they can be gently washed in warm, soapy water and hung to dry. Store covers away from too much moisture. Label each with the name of the crop that was underneath it, and use it on a different crop the following year. There are few things in life more rewarding than growing your own food, but to successfully grow it without the use of harmful chemicals in a short growing season really ups the ante. Give it a try. Send in a few photos of your success to share with our readers.
Got a question for Kim? Email downtoearth@downhomelife.com.
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reminiscing flashbacks
Pretty as a Picture Stan Cross and Doris Herdman were married in Corner Brook on July 3, 1946. “Stan had many brothers, and I’m sure the four men on the right are Stan and his brothers,” writes the submitter. “My dad, Bob Herdman, is second from the left, and I think the man on the far left is Prowse Jarrett.” Susan Herdman Lincolnton, GA, USA
Happily Ever After The submitter found this photo in a book at a second hand store. Do you recognize this bride and groom? If so, see page 9 for ways to let us know who they are. Daisy Brockerville via DownhomeLife.com 104
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Codroy Couple John Alexander Carter and Mary Jane Samms of Codroy, NL, pose for a wedding picture in the late 1800s. Karen Simon Margaree, NL
Windy Wedding Day Henry (Harry) Uriah Gregory and Bride Hollender Butt were married in Winterton, Trinity Bay, NL, on a windy day in March 1938. Winston Gregory Elliot Lake, ON
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The Downhomer April 1989
Home Dubbing Killing Industry The Artists Coalition of Newfoundland and Labrador is concerned about the infringement of copyright by home cassette dubbing. The coalition said in a prepared statement that it wants to draw public attention to this serious threat to the recording industry. Local recording artists suffer greatly from the resulting loss of sales. It is feared that this will eventually cause the demise of the independent recording artist. Since the market in the province is small to begin with, the loss of any potential sales is detrimental. At best, most Newfoundland recording artists can only hope to recover their investment costs. Even this is becoming difficult with the rise in home cassette recording. In order to sustain a healthy recording industry, musicians need the help and support of the general public. The coalition urged people to please think twice before copying original recorded material.
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reminiscing
A Tribute to Lucy Just recently, we learned of the passing of Lucy Fitzpatrick McFarlane (August 10, 1948 – February 12, 2023). Longtime readers no doubt remember her Tickle & Bight column, which ran in Downhome for about 20 years. Lucy was a natural-born storyteller, with a quick wit and a delightful sense of humour. She was also very sweet, kind and true to her Lord’s Cove roots. She retired from writing a few years ago, and her passing had us rereading some of her columns. We were drawn particularly to this one, originally published in September 2005.
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Tell Me a Story By Lucy Fitzpatrick McFarlane
Storytelling is a wonderful art form, isn’t it? I can’t imagine how dull life would be without stories and tall tales to entertain us. For young children, listening to parents or grandparents tell a story or read to them can be a memorable experience. Not only does it form a strong bond between them, but it also stimulates their imagination and teaches them valuable listening skills. The more I think about it, the more I realize how powerful storytelling can be. Just the sheer pleasure of hearing someone relate a tale that makes the listener experience emotion is a gift in itself. As a parent, I discovered that there was nothing more satisfying than sitting in my rocking chair and having my young sons curl up in my lap 108
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while I read to them. Just seeing the delight on their faces was reward enough for me, for it was evident that not only were they listening to every word I read, but also they were enthralled with the tales of things they had yet to discover. Just the other day I came across a little story my oldest son had written when he was very young. Most of his 1-888-588-6353
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spelling was incorrect, but he had actually remembered things I’d told him about my childhood in Newfoundland. I smiled to myself when I read the beginning line, for it sounded very familiar. “Once ’pon a time there was a litle girl who lived bi the sea in lord’s cove. Her name wuz lucy but now it’s mommie.” Goodness, how my sons loved stories that started with “Once upon a time.” Every time I sat down for a cup of tea, one of them would be there begging for a story. No matter what mood they were in, I could always rely on reading to them or telling them a story to help them sleep, to soothe a scratch or a bruise, or just to comfort them. It was amazing how retelling an old story or inventing a new one just for them made my children forget what it was that ailed them. Like my sons, I was intrigued whenever someone told me a story, 1-888-588-6353
for the art of storytelling was very much alive when I was a child in Newfoundland. We didn’t have books of fairy tales or television to entertain us. We had something better. We had a whole community of natural storytellers in our midst, and with it came a heritage of traditions and folklore to be passed on to their children and great-grandchildren. Not only were their tales entertaining, but they also chronicled the lives of their ancestors by way of the spoken word in songs, recitations, poetry and drama. They didn’t just tell a story, they re-enacted the events to make it all the more interesting. They had a flare for drama and could bring even the most mundane event to life. Oh yes, Newfoundlanders are known for their flamboyant style of storytelling. They can bring a tear to your eye with a sad tale one minute, and the next they’ll have you writhing in laughter with their April 2023
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comical sayings. And that was an added gift, for theirs were stories of real people who had real life experiences. Elderly people were always interesting, for they had a wealth of information to impart to the younger generation. They told of hardship in raising large families, of midwives delivering babies and husbands and sons getting lost at sea. They talked of
the ice, did I? No? Well, sit down ’til I tells ya.” Most of the older people were superstitious and it rubbed off on us as well. How I loved a good ghost story! What better setting for an eerie story than on a pitch-black night with the wind howling and rattling the shingles and windows in an old house? My sisters and I loved listening to tales of the unknown, even
I suppose that’s why I liked being around adults, for I was always eager to hear them spin yarns. Every time a different person retold a story, it changed – some tales got bigger and others were embellished to please the listeners. disasters on the ocean, of being snowed in for weeks at a time, and about how they depended solely on the land and the sea to keep their families fed. When they told their stories, we listened and we remembered. I suppose that’s why I liked being around adults, for I was always eager to hear them spin yarns. Every time a different person retold a story, it changed – some tales got bigger and others were embellished to please the listeners. I remember how I’d sit quietly, just waiting for the one-liner that promised a good story. “Do you mind the time when that strange looking box from a German submarine washed up in Job’s Cove? Now that was the queerest t’ing I ever saw.” Now who wouldn’t be intrigued with that introduction? From there on, others would contribute and the storytelling could go on all evening. “I s’pose I told you about the time me and me grandfather nearly drowned when the horse and slide fell through 110
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though they scared the bejeepers out of us. We always dreaded All Souls Day, for we believed on that night the souls in Purgatory came back to Earth to ask for prayers so they could get into heaven. One night a neighbour dropped in and related a story I will never forget. It was late at night when he decided to go to the church to pray for the deceased. When he started to cross the bridge below the church, he suddenly felt the hair rise on the back of his neck. He swore that he saw a ghostly figure following him and when he tried to run, he felt something pulling him back, rooting him to the spot. Hard as he tried, his feet wouldn’t move, and when a sudden cold wind swept around him, he started to pray for the lost souls. “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,” he prayed. As soon as he made the sign of the cross, he heard a terrible shriek that made him fall to his knees and cover 1-888-588-6353
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his ears. “I knows it was the devil himself, trying to stop me from getting to the church and saving some poor soul,” he told us. It scared us so much that my sisters and I crawled into the same bed that night. And that was the perfect setting for our brother, Raphael, to play one of his pranks on us. He crept into our room and hid under the bed until we finally fell asleep. Then he got on his
Despite being a little afraid, he crept up to where the smoke was coming from and peered into a half-dug grave. To his surprise, he discovered Mr. Walsh, an elderly gentleman, stretched out full length in the dirt, smoking his pipe. Thinking he had fallen in, Raphael asked if he was hurt. “No, m’son. I’m alright,” he replied calmly. “I was just trying ’er out for size.”
Sometimes, I think back to those days when Mom would be sitting at the spinning wheel telling us stories, just like I did with my own sons, and it all makes sense. That’s what gives meaning to our lives. hands and knees and began slowly moving the bed. Then in one sudden movement, he lifted the bed right off the floor. Screeching and wailing, we nearly killed each other in the dark when we were thrown onto the floor. When Mom heard the ruckus, she came running into the room. “What in God’s name is wrong with ye youngsters d’night?” she shouted. “You’re making enough ruckus in here to wake the dead!” We weren’t the only ones who got a fright, for when Raphael heard Mom’s voice, he banged his head on the bed frame and nearly knocked himself senseless. And Mom showed no sympathy for him, either, when she saw the state we were in. Not only did he get his ears cuffed, but he had a headache for several days after. Raphael remembers a real incident from when he was a teenager that jangled his nerves a little. One evening as he walked past the graveyard, he noticed a thin line of smoke coming up from one of the graves. 1-888-588-6353
Apparently Mr. Walsh wanted to dig his own grave to make sure that his coffin would fit properly when his time came. As I recall, though, it took years before he actually was laid to rest in his personalized grave. I wish I could remember all the wonderful yarns I’d heard over the years of growing up in Newfoundland. It’s only now that I’m older I fully realize how important storytelling is to our heritage, for it helps us define who we are as individuals. Nobody wants to be forgotten, so it’s only natural that we reminisce about loved ones and days gone by. Sometimes, I think back to those days when Mom would be sitting at the spinning wheel telling us stories, just like I did with my own sons, and it all makes sense. That’s what gives meaning to our lives. Now whenever I hear the words “tell me a story,” it carries a lifetime of memories for me and, in my heart, I know they will be repeated again and again. I hope those wonderful words will last a lifetime. April 2023
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reminiscing
An airman’s family returns to the scene of a harrowing wartime landing. by kim ploughman
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Scattered across
a wild and remote patch of land near Port au Choix on the Great Northern Peninsula are pieces of a wrecked WWII bomber. In a town known for its history, the crash has been mostly overlooked – until recently. This past fall, two brothers came to town to commemorate the crash and remember their father. Kevin and Joe Galiè are the sons of a former crew member aboard The Bad Penny. Given the phrase can mean “an unwanted event,” the name perhaps foreshadowed the aircraft’s fate. Stella Mailman is a longtime resident of Port au Choix, and The Bad Penny story has always intrigued her. She’s spent more than 20 years researching it. In a recent phone call, she relays what she’s learned about the crash. The Bad Penny was an American war bomber that left Meeks Field in Iceland on May 22, 1945, heading to Labrador. On board were 10 passengers and 10 crew. “They were on their way home after the Second World War for R & R and had planned a stop at Goose Bay for refuelling,” she says. But the plane went way off course after flying over Greenland and ended up over the Port au Choix area. The gas gauge indicated low fuel and they had to find a place to land – fast. “They came in over Point Riche lighthouse, but decided to land on smoother ground and closer to the community, in case there were any injuries,” Stella explains. With the crew and passengers 1-888-588-6353
braced for impact, pilot Thomas C. Andersen brought the plane down two miles south of the small village of 134 people. “Unfortunately, they hit a crevice and the motor flew off the plane,” Stella says. The passengers quickly exited the plane and ran for cover, expecting an explosion that, fortunately, didn’t happen. A head count revealed the pilot was missing. They soon located him inside the wreckage. “The side of the cockpit was cut open to retrieve him. Fortunately, he had only a scratch on his face, and there were no deaths and very minor injuries,” says Stella. Meanwhile, the locals were quick to react to the unfolding emergency. Roy Gould and Kirk Diamond of River of Ponds dropped their fishing gear to head towards the plane they saw flying low overhead. Another frantic lady sped to the scene, leaving her young children behind with the Waterloo stove open, until she realized what she had done and returned. “My dear, there were people so scared it was an enemy plane, they were dropping to their knees – they had no idea the war was over at that point,” explains Stella. Only a toddler at the time, Stella shares her personal story of how her April 2023
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The Bad Penny was a consolidated B-24J Liberator like the one pictured here, flown by the United States Army Air Force adopted grandmother, in charge of her and her siblings, scurried them to the root cellar. “We stayed there until Dad came back and reassured us that all was good and we were safe to come out.” After the crew reported the incident to the Stephenville Harnum Air Force Base from the local telegraph office, Stella’s great-grandfather, Richard Atkins, as well as another local, Alexander Spence, used horse and oxen and carts to transport the crew’s gear back to the community. Within three hours, two large float planes landed in Port au Choix harbour to retrieve the crew. Stella says, “It was an amazing day because most people here had never ever seen a plane before, and here were three: two in the harbour and one down.” An official investigation determined that The Bad Penny actually had sufficient fuel to make it to Goose Bay, but a malfunctioning 114
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gauge indicated otherwise and led to the crash landing. Further, the report indicated the crew burned the fairly new plane that day for the safety of others, so as not to be mistaken for other wreckage someday. “They were afraid that in the event of another plane crash, The Bad Penny would hinder the search.” Not all of the aircraft was destroyed, though. Stella says that parts of the wings were first salvaged by locals, noting that Romeo Billiard used a piece for his fishing boat and another to create an aluminum roof on his tourist home. “People even used the parachutes to make pretty little dresses,” she says. As for the motor that was torn away on impact, Stella rescued it 60 years later from the mud bank, after Sam Spence (grandson of Alexander Spence) alerted her about its location. Stella, who was working at the French Heritage Centre at the time, hired students to clean it up to put on 1-888-588-6353
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Photos of the crash site show the aircraft stayed mostly intact, although it was not salvagable. All on board survived, including pilot Thomas Anderson and co-pilot Donald Angstadt (left). display. Unfortunately, after she left the centre, the motor was taken away. Stella retrieved it a mere week before the Galiè brothers’ visit. It’s now in the hands of Hunter Spence, a descendant of both Alexander Spence and Richard Atkins.
Special Visitors
For years, Stella tried to locate family members of The Bad Penny’s passengers and crew. Then last September she got an email from Kevin 1-888-588-6353
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Joseph Galiè, Stella Mailman and Kevin Galiè and Joe Galiè. Their father, Emidio Galiè, was a radio operator from Pennsylvania who’d crash landed in Port au Choix that day. “I was blown out of the water,” says Stella of receiving their note. They said it had been their father’s lifelong dream to return to Port au Choix; unfortunately, he’d passed away at the age of 60. But in October, 2022, 77 years after the event, the brothers arrived in Port au Choix to fulfill their father’s dream. Kevin, a music composer, flew in from Munich, Germany; Joe, a police officer, arrived from Philadelphia. When she officially met them as part of the welcoming committee, Stella says, the three embraced like old friends. “There are no words for what it meant. Before it was a story, and now with Kevin and Joe here, it was a reality. They put meaning to it.” For their visit, a meal was arranged at the Women’s Institute building, where Stella presented a review of
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the crash and an exhibit. “First, I recreated Port au Choix back in 1945, with antiques like an old-fashioned battery radio, chamber pots, spittoon [for tobacco chewers], an old gun and even knitted underwear – so they would get a feel for the times their father would have seen,” she explains, adding, “There were no roads, and animals were roaming around during this era.” Earlier that day, Stella escorted Kevin and Joe to the crash grounds, where they solemnly and silently walked the site. She says it was like “reliving the crash,” especially as they realized it was exactly 3:10 p.m. and on a Tuesday, the same time and day of the week that the plane crashed in 1945. “No words could describe it; you could see it in their faces and in their emotions,” Stella says. “It was quite special to them with this connection, as they were there to relive their father’s dream.” 1-888-588-6353
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reminiscing
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“Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean.” This is arguably the most famous line ever written describing a stalled sailing ship that is becalmed and has lost her ability to move due to a profound lack of wind. This memorable phrase from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s (1772-1834) poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” was first published in 1798, and has come to be associated with equatorial regions, the Sargasso Sea or the bands of the Horse Latitudes (subtropical latitudes between 30 and 35 degrees north and south of the Equator), where periods of calm winds occur on a fairly regular basis. The absence of wind is almost never a problem in Newfoundland and Labrador, yet there is at least one amazing story where this did happen, and the sudden return of the wind almost ended in tragedy. I learned about this from Maxine Bishop, who lives with her husband Bill in Bay Roberts, NL. “I grew up in Port de Grave and my mother was Greta Hussey [1921-2015], and she was a wonderful storyteller. She even wrote her own book about her experiences on the Labrador [Our Life on Lear’s Room, Labrador]. This was a true story she told us time and time again about Uncle Noah 1-888-588-6353
Bishop, who was from Burnt Head, Cupids,” Maxine begins. “He was down on the coast of Labrador with his own schooner, with no engine and just the sails and wind to move her along. When they came home in the fall of the year, he was stuck out at the mouth of Conception Bay for a week or more.” The water was too calm and there was no wind to push him home. “He got frustrated with it all, and stood up on the deck and pulled a penny from his pocket and threw it overboard, and he said, ‘In the name of the Lord, I want a penny’s worth of wind to get home!’ “And just like you clicked your April 2023
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fingers, the wind came up. It blew that hard when the wind struck, they barely got in home ashore without sinking. Uncle Noah often said himself, ‘I only asked for a penny’s worth, and if I had asked for a dollar’s worth I wonder what I would have got.’” Suffice it to say that Uncle Noah certainly got his money’s worth and didn’t tempt fate like that again.
was killed on the Harbour Hills up near where the cemeteries are now. They said the grass used to grow reddish-brown, almost the colour of blood, near the rock where he was killed. The road has changed a bit and there are new houses close by, so I don’t know if the rock is still there anymore, but in those days it was a bit of a scary place to go by in the dark.”
Anthony was walking back home along near the haunted rock, and he heard this thing scuttling up behind him. He stopped for a second and listened, and it stopped. Of course, the wind didn’t always blow ill fortune. Maxine adds, “My grandfather’s brother, Anthony Lear, when he was a young man he was courting a girl up in Bareneed [another small community near Port de Grave along a lonely dirt road in those days], and he used to go up in the evenings to see her. Of course, people were always a little afraid of the Ghost of Ringwood, a man who
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She continues, “Anyway, this one night, Anthony was walking back home along near the haunted rock, and he heard this thing scuttling up behind him. He stopped for a second and listened, and it stopped. Then he sped up and it came scuttling over the gravel behind him again, and he got frightened. This scurrying thing chasing him happened all the way down over the road, and by this time
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he was almost out of breath from trying to get away from it. Finally, when he got to a turn in the road partway down Happy Jack’s Hill in Port de Grave, he looked back as a big gust of wind came up. Then he saw what it was chasing him. It was only an old paper bag dancing over the stones, and not a ghost at all. He was relieved beyond words I’m sure, but I think it took him a long time to find
type of flags they could lay their hands on. Of course, any spectators who had a flag or a Union Jack or anything of their own would wave it, too, as the parade marched by, and all the men would be out and fire their shotguns in the air in salute. Of course, Aunt Mary was out on her porch and saw the parade coming and heard all the commotion, so she ran back in her house looking for one
She ran back in her house looking for one or another thing to use for a flag. She came back out with her nightdress up on a pole of some sort and was waving it like mad. it funny enough to have a laugh at.” One final story involves a community in Conception Bay North that will remain anonymous and a lady we’ll call “Aunt Mary.” Maxine says, “I won’t say exactly where it was at, but years ago the Orangemen would always have a wonderful parade in all the little communities around near Christmastime. Now they would come marching through with any
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or another thing to use for a flag. She came back out with her nightdress up on a pole of some sort and was waving it like mad. “All the children and the young boys started laughing at her and calling out things like, ‘What nationality is that one, Aunt Mary?’ She was having none of that, and she said, ‘Never you mind what nation it is – there’s been many a battle fought under it!’”
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puzzles
The Beaten Path
Geoffrey Strong 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.
C S Hm J R B H T p n F V U x N A B n m H R U p E K T S u A A E U E F B C A N J n S J R V T N N E R C B F O p H m R A D K B U x U V A N p n x T E V R F U D
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Last Month’s Community: Felix Cove 124
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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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Beatrice Lane 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: • Situated on the Eastport Peninsula • Early visitors named it Damnable Bay • Affected by a devastating forest fire in 1912 • Neighbours an archaeological dig site • Renamed in the late 1800s for a saint
Last Month’s Answer: Harbour le Cou
Picturesque Place NameS of Newfoundland and Labrador
by Mel D’Souza Last Month’s Answer: Thornlea 126
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In Other Words Guess the well-known expression written here in other words.
Last Month’s Clue: Walloping a deceased equine In Other Words: Beating a dead horse
This Month’s Clue: Blessed items occur to individuals who linger In Other Words: ____ ______ ____ __ _____ ___ ____
A Way With Words WALKING
AIR
Last Month’s Answer: Walking on air
1. A luggage sticker is a ____ ___ 2. A bad grade is a _____ _____
This Month’s Clue
once A TIME
Rhyme Time A rhyming word game by Ron Young
Answer: ____ ____ _ ____
3. A pudgy kitty is a ___ ___ Last Month’s Answers 1. Wrong song, 2. Overnight flight, 3. Stay away
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.
’
’
? D A A A H C A L C B E A A A C E A N C E B N C A N H H H P I E A N S H E F R D D M D S D I E O H E S W I N T S N A S T L O O U T O F T O H T E P E O N W T I
Last month’s answer: A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles. www.downhomelife.com
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Rhymes 5 Times Each answer rhymes with the other four
1. mix
____________
2. evergreen
____________
3. smear
____________
4. mumble
____________
5. she
____________
STUCK? Don’t get your knickers in a knot! Puzzle answers can be found online at DownhomeLife.com/puzzles
Last Month’s Answers: 1. bore, 2. tore, 3. wore, 4. four, 5. sore
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. ASWHUB
For best results sound the clue words out loud!
2. DOGEL YBA
Science Solve These Owed Yak _____ __ ___ ______
3. PANSTAC SANDIL
Eight He Muff Forses _ ____ __ ______
5. CUBSLEK NITOP
Last Month’s 1st Clue: Weak Hood You Sail Pier. Answer: We could use help here Last Month’s 2nd Clue: My Teepee Cue Leer. Answer: Mighty peculiar.
4. WINREAP
Last Month’s Answers: 1. Burgeo, 2. Ramea, 3. Grey River, 4. Francois, 5. Hermitage
A nalogical A nagrams Unscramble the capitalized words to get one word that matches the subtle clue. 1. COT REFORM ~ Clue: Job’s was the worst 2. READY NETS ~ Clue: still life in real life 3. PIG CAN ~ Clue: thinking on your feet 4. LACE DIET ~ Clue: a washer’s emotional state? 5. ACE ROILS ~ Clue: they are what you eat Last Month’s Answers: 1. imposter, 2. temperature, 3. dessert, 4. impulsive, 5. regrets 128
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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.
1-4: untamed 1-10: backcountry 1-41: H2O 1-91: leak resistant 3-63: taking water 4-44: Satan 6-36: revolve 7-10: G-man Eliot 7-57: typical 9-29: litigate 9-39: hard fat 10-100: individually 12-15: retain 15-18: destitute 14-44: wickedness 18-20: regret 24-21: huge 24-94: townsman 26-23: molten ash 30-26: jewel 30-28 pod product 32-12: question 41-44: banister 41-50: trainman 45-15: harvest 45-48: street 45-65: tear 47-49: fruit drink 48-18: darling 50-10: sexual asaults 50-80: merit 51-53: write 51-91: evidence 57-37: get away 59-39: wager 59-56: waist winder 59-99: donut 60-57: Cain’s brother 61-91: housetop www.downhomelife.com
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65-62: varlet 65-67: Edgar Allan 68-48: cot 68-98: disallows 69-67: Pres. Lincoln 72-74: carpet 74-80: junk 77-79: sack 79-59: chin-wag 81-85: different 82-52: Maple 83-63: embrace 83-85: she 85-88: precipitation 90-70: lease 91-94: dread
91-100: bravely 94-54: royal 95-98: fewer 98-100: foxy Last Month’s Answer
A BOR I G I NA L F A B E T NAR P O T I R G A A WO R C E TONO S EHOO R E K AMH C T AM WE E D O O H O G O ANDAOT A E R T ROAMR E P O P I D I B E E L E N I V S CANDA L I Z E April 2023
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The Bayman’s
Crossword Puzzle 1
2
by Ron Young
3
4
5
6
7
8
13 15
17 22 27
24 28
36
40
48
130
April 2023
19
20
30 33
37
44
12
25
29 32
39
11
18
23
31
43
10
14
16
21 26
9
34
35
38
41
42
45
46
47
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ACROSS 1. throng 3. your (colloq) 4. “____ la la” 5. “In a leaky punt with a ______ oar, ’tis always best to hug the shore.” 8. it wasn’t (colloq) 13. Hibernia sweet crude 14. pitchfork tine (colloq) 15. wharf tie-up post (colloq) 17. “As old as Buckley’s ____” 18. sour 21. Justice of the Peace (abbrev) 22. Parson’s Pond (abbrev) 24. “Oh __ nerves!” 25. skip 26. “I snared my first rabbit when I was 11, and after _ __ __ I cried” (3 words) 29. lever open 31. fresh layer of snow 33. “A great big ___ hove in Long Beach” 35. him (colloq) 36. cracky 37. talent (esp. music) 38. “Sure ’twould kill a man twice, after _____ a slice of this wonderful Trinity Cake” 39. registered nurse (abbrev) 41. hockey position 43. a showoff (colloq, 2 words) 46. ___ World Island 48. seine 49. landwash DOWN 1. “Long ___ ____ ___ ___ ____” (5 words) 2. “Like a _____ _____ in the fits” (2 words) 6. short, thin stick (colloq) 7. Eagle Lake (abbrev) www.downhomelife.com
8. traipse 9. placing an animal trap in fresh water (2 words) 10. Organ Island (abbrev) 11. “Go home and hang __ __ your mother’s petticoat” (2 words) 12. linnet 14. “__ on wit’ ya!” 16. Mainland Canada (colloq) 19. a friend in St. Pierre et Miquelon 20. Red Islands (abbrev) 23. Labrador freshwater fish 27. “___, you’re it!” 28. instruct 30. Come Home _____ 32. tuckamores 34. “We might have stole the sheep, boys, but the Mounties ___ the most” 35. door to a cod trap (colloq) 40. “summer” in St. Pierre et Miquelon 42. Norman’s Rock East (abbrev) 44. “I’d throw him __ anchor” 45. court (abbrev) 46. “The devil to pay and __ pitch hot” 47. us
B A Y A T A T F T T F Y L C U E A S T E R R A N O V A A P E E I O U F A R C R E W R D U T Y M E A L T E S E E N O S P A R B L E S 1 X D S I S N O R O H E M P S O N 37 38 U R A E T C G I N M U S G R A V E T O W N S E A T R E E A E E R U M K L I V Y E R
ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD
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DIAL-A-SMILE © 2023 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.
’
___ _ 366 8 _ 4
__ 26
_______ 3478872
_ _. 63
________ _ 34788723 3
______ 366844
_______ 2573239
Last Month’s Answer: My advice is to never listen to any advice, not even this one.
©2023 Ron Young
CRACK THE CODE O
Each symbol represents a letter of the alphabet, for instance =C Try to guess the smaller, more obvious words to come up with the letters for the longer ones. The code changes each month.
_ _
BQ
_ _ 1Q
_ _ _ _ _
BL l i ;
_
n
C _ _ _ _ _ OQ Z ZQ i
_ _ C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ z i OQ Z ZQ i k3
_ _ _ _
K m kk
_ _ _ _ _ _
xK l i ; b
_ _ C C _ _ _ bzO O m b b Last Month’s Answer: Seventy percent of success in life is showing up. 132
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Food For Thought
© 2023 Ron Young
Each food symbol represents a letter of the alphabet. Find the meanings to the words then match the letters with the food symbols below to get a little “food for thought.”
heaven = _ _ _ _ _ _
cashew = _ _ _ kd V
_ _
vq b qI e t l
identical = _ _ _ _ Jack O’ Lantern = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ tq[ l v d[ v`ek clean = _
_ _ _
chimp = _ _ _ _ _ _ [zk` l }
v qt p
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
pqv vekl t t _ _ _ _
_ _ _
}z d
vpqV _ _ _ _
vpqV _ _ _
qkI _ _ _
qb l
_ _ _
}z d
_ _ _ _
vpqV _ _
ek
_ _ _ _
_ _
et
vpl k
_ _ _ _ _
V pek`’ _ _ _
t q}’ _ _ _
}z d
_ _
Iz
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
pq b [ zk}
Last Month’s Answer: Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. www.downhomelife.com
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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 WATCH THE NBA PLAYOFFS
Last Month’s Answers: 1. Headland, 2. Lighthouse, 3. Church tower, 4. Chimney, 5. Horizon, 6. Window, 7. Tree, 8. Roof, 9. Coal Bin, 10. Cap, 11. Ski pole, 12, Backpack “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, 212 Pine St., Collingwood, ON, L9Y 2P2
134
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HIDE & SEEK EASTER
The words can be across, up, down, backward or at an angle, but always in a line.
BASKET BONNET BREAK BUNNY BUNS CARD CELEBRATION CHICK CHOCOLATE CHURCH CROSS DAFFODILS EGGS HOLIDAY HOLY HUNT
JESUS LENT LILY MIRACLE PARADE
Last Month’s Answers
PEEPS RELIGIOUS RESURRECTION SEASON SPRING
S T T H N R R M J J V X G D U E D A J Q A R Z X U O O S Z S P E M E R A L D S R C A M O U F L A G E D R H J Q E R H O H J I G D D X B M G G A P R G K F R W Y X V A S N A I T R A M G S L V C K T L W Q Z A A T M H B W G Z Y D X G R A S S H O P P E R I U P O X S Y D G E E E Z N Y I W K P R T L X U E N C F N D E E L P H E G O E J X C F S A Q D S C O Q C E Z Y Y H H C E E D N G Y J J O F M Z I U O F Z H L B M E G N E Z A O N B J H O B N K F T H N N W I T U U Q I D Y P M S U E L K C I P R T B O X F A N R P G R G F C X T D A R D M I I O E R S Z B B S I U H G L P E N Q L S H B R R U G L O T N K Y K A M T H A E H S W S Q R C O D K O K C O R M A H S B I M G U A C A M O L E E K E E R C I Y I O H C Y I N X Y S F R T G C C S R D K S O X D U G N P J K M T A L G A E U U D R A P H O L X A V G I E L Q O Y M P I V N N R F B W S E G I Y I R F B V P D S A M R P B P Z A F O F A J L F B O W E H M V Z S P Z Q
S A J D Q N B L E E V S E L U H U Q Z B A Y L O H Z J W H Y I K I S G K H L N S P R I N G I E P Y I A V Z G A X V U E I G G C E A P C A R D U U F D K K T X H O L I D A Y P S A G I T A T E N N O B N F A A O G X B L L U G A V R Z H C D R J Q T D X B S B Y E N N C K C I H C N I F A M T N A N U V T U D T R N R U E A V A M K R M E C E P H U D T I E N S M L O H B L C O B L F Z X J R R G H R I E R K N U S G I L D E V Q E C P Y A X Y Q D S L Y L I S Y S C Q T Y W B I N V S Q Y I N B K L H N U I O A J E J H C T P R T R R U Y E T A L O C O H C D T B N J R H E L L A P D L R E L I G I O U S L B D M E Q Q D N R J H T E D Y W V N U C H U R C H P R P J M G E T R O L I E A B F K A K S L I D O F F A D E E Y Z D U E M O P Q B U A S X R T T G S E A S O N N C D H S I E N S P G R N J W U I X M S E S S O R C X L V E H A P Y L I L W S W C X Q U P A C V L G H K M G R R P I T E J K H W E I G C J N E G S U U K X www.downhomelife.com
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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.” 136
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www.downhomelife.com
April 2023
137
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Not intended to solicit properties currently under contract
%$#"! $% $# $ %! $
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. 138
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Movers & Shippers
A&K Moving Covering all Eastern & Western Provinces and Returning Based from Toronto, Ontario Discount Prices Out of NL, NS & NB Newfoundland Owned & Operated 35 Years in the Moving Industry All Vehicles Transported
416-247-0639 aandkmoving@gmail.com Ontario to Newfoundland and All Points in Between
A Family Moving Families Professionally and economically Offering Household Moving and Auto Shipping Full Licensed and Insured
709-572-4133 Elaine 709-293-4696 Gerry newfoundhaulage@gmail.com
Movers & Shippers Rates start at $175 for a 1 col. x 2" ad.
Return Loads from NL, NS, NB, QC, ON at a Discounted Price
905-424-1735
arent58@hotmail.com www.ar-moving.ca Fully Insured
www.downhomelife.com
Call Today! 709-726-5113 Toll Free: 1-888-588-6353 Email: advertising@downhomelife.com
Coast to Coast in Canada Fully Insured
Newfoundland Owned & Operated
Contact: Gary or Sharon King
Toll Free: 1-866-586-2341 www.downhomemovers.com
DISCOUNT STORAGE 8' x 20' unheated storage units St. John's, NL
709-726-6800
April 2023
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GREAT GIFTS FOR MOM Newfoundland Map Cookie Cutter #75942 | $11.99
Puffin Cookie Cutter
#49565 | $10.99
Mom’s Kitchen Favourites Lighthouse Cookie Cutter
#49560 | $10.99
Lobster Cookie Cutter #49561 | $10.99
Chocolate Moose Cookie Cutter #52241 | $10.99
Downhome Pease Pudding Bag #35871 | $2.99
Downhome XLarge Pease Pudding Bag #75944 | $3.79
Downhome Fish ‘N’ Brewis Net #35876 | $3.29
Downhome Vegetable Bag #60592 | $5.80
ORDER ONLINE: www.shopdownhome.com
Prices subject to change without notice. Prices listed do not include taxes and shipping. While quantities last.
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MORE SELECTION ONLINE www.shopdownhome.com
Any Mummers ’lowd In Tea Towel
Lighthouse Tea Towel
Lobster Tea Towel
#77316 | $7.99
#48612 | $7.99
#48613 | $7.99
Sailboat Tea Towel
Kitchen Sayings Tea Towel
Moose Tea Towel
Anchor Tea Towel
Puffin Tea Towel
Cooking Up a Scoff
#48614 | $7.99
#65085 | $7.99
#65130 | $7.99
#65131 | $7.99
#65083 | $7.99
- Traditional Recipes of NL
#79297 | $14.95
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353
Prices subject to change without notice. Prices listed do not include taxes and shipping. While quantities last.
2304_Mailorder_Mail order.qxd 2/22/23 4:04 PM Page 142
GREAT GIFT IDEAS!
NL Recipes - Recipes From the Kitchens of NL
Our Best Seafood Recipes - From contributors
Our Best Berry Recipes
to Downhome magazine
- From contributors to Downhome magazine
#58362 | $10.99
#55888 | $10.99
The All New Purity Cookbook
Fatback & Molasses
#16361 | $19.95
#2313 | $9.95
The Treasury of NL Dishes - Jill Whitaker
Rock Recipes: The best
Rock Recipes 2: More Great
Rock Recipes 3: Even More
Food from My NL Kitchen Barry C. Parsons
Food and Photos From My NL Kitchen - Barry C. Parsons
Great Food and Photos From My NL Kitchen - Barry C. Parsons
#53803 | $26.95
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- Ivan Jesperson
#38322 | $19.95
ORDER ONLINE: www.shopdownhome.com
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2304_Mailorder_Mail order.qxd 2/23/23 1:43 PM Page 143
MORE SELECTION ONLINE www.shopdownhome.com
Labrador Flags 24" x 36" #39217 | $17.99 36" x 60" #39218 | $19.99
Newfoundland and Labrador Hip Tote #59818 | $13.99
Tales from a Labrador Pilot - Benny Powell #78492 | $18.95
Labrador Flag on Stick: 12" x 18" #39216 | $4.99
Newfoundland and Labrador Wristlet
Labrador Tea - Loose 10 g
#79376 | $9.99
Ode to Labrador - Geoff Butler
#60571 | $9.99
#61084 | $16.95
I Never Knowed It Was Hard - Louie Montague
The Diary of One Now Dead - The Crash of The Time’s
#48752 | $19.95
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a Wastin’ - Tom Drodge
#73590 | $17.95
Prices subject to change without notice. Prices listed do not include taxes and shipping. While quantities last.
2304_photo Finish_0609 Photo Finish 2/22/23 4:10 PM Page 144
photo finish
Break the
Ice
Ice packs Twillingate harbour on a beautiful day in early spring. Tara Hamlyn Twillingate, NL
Do you have an amazing or funny photo to share? Turn to page 9 to find out how to submit. 144
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