Downhome May 2023

Published monthly in St. John’s by Downhome Publishing Inc.

43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3

Tel: 709-726-5113 • Fax: 709-726-2135 • Toll Free: 1-888-588-6353

E-mail: mail@downhomelife.com Website: www.downhomelife.com

Editorial

Editor-in-Chief Janice Stuckless

Assistant Editor Nicola Ryan

Editor Lila Young

Art and Production

Art Director Vince Marsh

Illustrator Mel D’Souza

Illustrator Snowden Walters

Advertising Sales

Account Manager Barbara Young

Account Manager Ashley O’Keefe

Marketing Director Tiffany Brett

Finance and Administration

Accountant Marlena Grant

Accountant Sandra Gosse

Operations Manager, Twillingate Nicole Mehaney

Warehouse Operations

Warehouse / Inventory Manager Carol Howell

Warehouse Operator Josephine Collins

Shipping/Receiving Clerk Jacinta Squires

Retail Operations

Retail Floor Manager, St. John’s Jackie Rice

Retail Floor Manager, Twillingate Donna Keefe

Retail Sales Associates Crystal Rose, Jonathon

Organ, Erin McCarthy, Marissa Little, Kim Tucker, Heather Stuckless, Katrina Hynes, Destinee Rogers, Amy Young, Emily Snelgrove, Brandy Rideout, Alexandria Skinner, Emily Power, Colleen Giovannini

Subscriptions

Customer Service Associate Lisa Tiller

Founding Editor Ron Young

Chief Executive Officer/Publisher Grant Young

President & Associate Publisher Todd Goodyear

General Manager/Assistant Publisher Tina Bromley

To subscribe, renew or change address use the contact information above. Subscriptions 1-Year term total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL, NS, NB, PE $49.44; ON $48.58; QC, SK, MB, AB, BC, NU, NT, YT $45.14. US $54.99; International $59.99

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 Pen names and anonymous letters will not be published.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

76 May getaway

features

44 Celebrity Signings Dive into Maxwell Taylor’s collection of nearly 1,000 celebrity autographs. Dennis Flynn

44 a signature collection

50 Arscott’s Armada David Arscott has assembled a fleet of vessels that bring the province’s marine history to miniature life. Dennis Flynn

56 At the Heart of It A parishioner explains why it’s hard to put a price on a small town church. Kim Ploughman

explore

70 Twin Towns These NL towns have officially met their match.

74 What’s in a Name? Bread and Cheese Dale Jarvis

76 May 24 and More See how our readers like to get away, and learn a little trivia to share around a campfire.

100 pets in the posies?

home and cabin

84 Stuff We Love Iceberg

Watch Nicola Ryan

86 Ask Marie Anything

Interior designer Marie Bishop takes your questions.

90 Todd’s Table Oven Roasted Baby Back Ribs Todd Goodyear

100 Down to Earth Darn Dogs and Cunning Cats Kim Thistle

84 cold ones

114 life back then

reminiscing

106 Flashbacks Classic photos of people and places.

108 This Month in Downhome History

110 Visions and Vignettes Adventures of two young scallywags in an imaginary outport of days gone by. Harold N. Walters

114 Down Below A day on the stagehead in Little Heart’s Ease Lester Green

118 Scout’s Honour Mike Perkins recalls the night he almost perished, and his best friend who saved his life.

124 Puzzles

136 Colouring Page 138 Classifieds

140 Mail Order 144 Photo Finish

April showers bring May…mud.

While colourful blooms can brighten anyone’s day, a clear patch of damp dirt was a game pad for pre-internet kids. If you had a stick, some stones and a patch of soft earth, you and your friends had a game plan.

May was often the first month, at least in central Newfoundland where I grew up, when you could get your bike out and make new tire tracks on dirt roads. (Right now my memory is recalling the tacky sound of tires rolling over fresh mud.) And because we had few paved roads, driveways and parking lots for drawing on with chaulk, we marked out our games in the dirt using sticks. Compacted mud was excellent for drawing out a hopscotch grid, or creating a world and border countries for a game of War. I have so many fond memories of playing these games in the spring sunshine, feeling the lightness of my sneakers and my satin spring jacket (remember those, children of the ’80s?). By May, school studies were winding down and we were looking forward to sports days, end-of-year picnics and a summer vacation that was so close you could smell it.

I still get that way when May rolls around. I’m already making plans for summer excursions around the bay, getting my bike ready for its first spin and drawing out planting lines in the dirt. Some things just never get old.

What are your fondest memories of this time of year?

We’re always looking for readers’ Downhome Memories to share. Send me yours.

Thanks for reading,

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

OK, yes, flowers, but also mud. And I’m happy to see both.

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

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.

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.

*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. *No

Surprise Wedding

We surprised our family with a wedding in Dildo, Newfoundland, last year. And I had to go catch a cod with my dress on.

Nicole Oliver Alberta

Congratulations on your wedding, Nicole. Who was more surprised, your family or the cod you kissed? Any other readers have photos from a “very Newfoundland and Labrador” wedding? From cod kissing to rubber boot-wearing bridesmaids, to “Just Married” on a speedboat – we want to see it! Email your downhome wedding photos to editorial@downhomelife.com, upload them to DownhomeLife.com or mail them to Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3. We’ll use your photos to create a special feature in an upcoming issue.

Inspired by Corky

Here’s a little poem I wrote last night. Sadly it’s a true poem. Well almost… the tears may be exaggerated a little.

Corky Sly Conner

I can never find Corky, I guess I’m stun as a louse. I search for him every time, The Downhome is in my house.

I turn every single page, I’ve even shed a tear. I’ve looked high, I’ve looked low, But can’t find him anywhere.

Before I get too bloomin’ old, I have one simple wish, That when the next issue comes, I’ll finally find that fish.

Patsy Humby Morley’s Siding, NL

He’s called “Sly” for a reason! Want a hint about where he is this month? Somewhere between page 1 and page 144! Good luck, Patsy. When you find him, you’ll have to write a new poem.

An Acrostic Poem

The first letters of each line form a word to be read vertically. This word has something to do with the subject matter:

Delicious, mouth-watering recipes!

Ongoing, funny stories!

Word games: fun challenges!

News from active subscribers!

Home decoration, great ideas!

Outstanding photographs!

Monthly adorable pets featured!

Excellent, interesting magazine!

Nicole Foucault Gold River, BC

Thanks for making us feel special, Nicole. This makes us think of school concerts (M is for Mother…), when each of us would hold up one letter and have our part to say. And we’d have to memorize the part of the person next to us, like an understudy, in case they were sick on the day of the concert. Who else remembers those? Anyone still remember their part?

Faithful Reader

I have a subscription to your wonderful publication. As a captain with Air Canada, I flew into St. John’s many times and enjoyed every layover. I’ve been Screeched-in in Quidi Vidi and feel like an honorary Newfoundlander. I read the Downhome front to back. I hope to get to the “Rock” soon. Long may your big jib draw.

Don Daley Barrie, ON

Thanks for reading, Don. You’ve got the lingo down.

Winner

So yesterday I got a letter in the mail from [Downhome]. Turns out, one of my pictures was published in their March edition! Can’t wait to pick up a copy. I feel famous.

Jenna Oxford

Via Twitter.com

Want to be a winner like Jenna? Turn to page 9 to find out how your photo, story or poem could earn you Downhome shopping coupons!

Good for What Ails Ya

I’ve been in the hospital now for almost three weeks. But don’t worry, I have some good reading to keep my mind occupied!

Charlene Lynn Godfrey Spence

Via Facebook.com

Get well soon, Charlene!

Continued on page 14

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.

Meet Sir Kenneth of Cold Brook in Codroy Valley

If your idea of a summer vacation includes farm visits, trail rides and petting foals, head to the beautiful Codroy Valley and The Devoe Ranch. Sandra Piercey and her husband Cliff Devoe have been running the ranch for over ten years, which is home to 200 animals,including six purebred Newfoundland Ponies and 14 horses.

In addition to running a successful business that offers birthday parties and riding lessons, Sandra and Cliff also breed Newfoundland Ponies to ensure that this endangered breed is kept going for future generations to enjoy. When you visit, Sir Kenneth will be waiting to meet you. Driftwood’s “Sir Kenneth of Cold Brook” (#892) is the stunning Newfoundland Pony stallion who lives at the ranch; he was given to Sandra as a gift on a very special birthday. He lives a happy life there and true to the Newfoundland Pony breed, his temperament is friendly and he enjoys nuzzling visitors and getting patted. All from a distance from the mares of course!

Sandra grew up in Port aux Basques where she says they “had just cats and dogs.” Her husband had animals all his life, so when she moved to the Codroy Valley, they decided to get a few chickens and a horse –and she says everything just grew from there. Five years ago they turned the ranch into a business and they haven’t looked back.

“My first Pony was from St. John’s,” Piercey says. “They were trying to find him a good home; his name is Sunny. My next two Ponies were Midnight and Nellie. Then came Black Tickles and Dee from the Dwary herd. Sir Kenneth then made his appearance,” she added.

Her love of ponies means that she spends considerable resources rescuing them. But it is worth it she says. “The Newfoundland Pony worked hard back in the day when there was no heavy equipment and they are so much a part of our heritage, and they definitely didn’t deserve to become endangered in the cruel way that they did. I will continue to breed these precious animals to help increase the numbers and give them the love they deserve.”

“They are smart, gentle, and their personalities are amazing and each one is so different. I will do my part to help them grow the numbers here at The Devoe Ranch.”

Contact: Phone 709.955.2154 or through their Facebook page

Nellie and Dee

Northern Lights Delights

Probably something to put into your magazine or your calendar. All photos were taken in central Newfoundland, February 27, around 12:10 a.m. Also there is no filter on the photo – 100 per cent natural. I still can’t believe I captured these images so far south!

Andrew Sheppard

Via Twitter.com

Andrew’s photo, taken at Millertown on the shores of Beothuk Lake, has been entered in the 2024 Calendar Contest. You can see all the entries so far, and add your own, by going to our website: www.DownhomeLife.com/calendar.

The Lighthouse Keeper

Two friends combined their hobbies to create this. Peggy Snow of Botwood is a wonderful poem writer and I enjoy pencil art. After years of enjoying each other’s work, this one came together.

Mary Price Botwood, NL

You two make a talented pair. Thanks for sharing.

Correction

In the “Streetcar Memories” story in the March issue, there is an error in a photo caption on page 116. What is described as a “transfer punch” is actually a very old-fashioned stapler (shown here). The transfer punch is shown on the article’s opening photo, on page 113.

Downhome tours...

British Columbia

Crescent Beach

Una Walsh of Milltown, NL, poses with her grandchildren, Roseanna and Sam, at Crescent Beach in Surrey. (Callistus Walsh photo)

Crescent Beach is a beautiful beachside and residential area in South Surrey, one of the 21 municipalities of Metro Vancouver. It’s a popular place for families in the summer, with more than 6 km of shoreline for walking, cycling, kayaking and watching spectacular sunsets. Less crowded than nearby White Rock, it’s a perfect place to stroll along the water, treat yourself to an ice cream, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Pacific Ocean.

Osoyoos

Gerry and Anna March of St. John’s, NL, enjoy wine harvest season in the South Okanagan region.

Favoured for its sunny climate, the fertile and beautiful Okanagan Valley located in the southern interior of British Columbia is famous for amazing landscapes, wineries and fruit orchards. The town of Osoyoos, the only desert in Canada, has the lowest rainfall, highest temperatures and warmest lakes in the country. The hot, dry conditions are perfect for growing grapes that produce some of the finest wines in the world.

Oak Bay

Clifton Johnson, formerly of St. Jacques, NL, now living in Tillsonburg, ON, poses with his wife Mary in Oak Bay, Victoria, with Mount Rainier in the background.

Located on the southern end of Vancouver Island, genteel Oak Bay is one of Victoria’s oldest and most charming neighbourhoods. It’s named after the characteristic Garry Oak species of trees native to the Coastal Pacific Northwest – some of which are over 400 years old. From Uplands Park, you can look across the bay at the US state of Washington and the snowy tip of Mount Rainier, the tallest mountain in the Cascade Range.

Expert answers to common life questions.

By Linda Browne

Why do fingernails grow faster than toenails?

The evenings are getting longer, the weather is (slowly) getting warmer and soon enough, you’ll be stepping out in sandals. Speaking of the evenings getting longer, as you gaze down at your bare feet, you might notice that your toenails are getting longer, too – though, compared to your fingernails, they’re growing at a snail’s pace. So what gives?

According to podiatrist Dr. Wendy Janes, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Podiatric Medicine and owner of East Coast Podiatry in St. John’s, our fingernails actually grow about three times faster than our toenails.

“There are a number of theories that people have to explain why this is the case,” she says in an email to Downhome. “What we know for certain is that while things like nutrition, hormones (e.g. pregnancy hormones), medication/treatment (e.g. chemo), trauma and illness can have an effect on the rate of our nail growth as a whole, ultimately the difference between the rate of growth for our fingernails and toenails comes down to circulation. Our fingers receive more adequate blood flow than our toes and are therefore able to grow nails at a faster rate.”

You might notice that your nails grow more slowly as you get older. Janes says, “The adequacy of our circulation decreases as we age, with our lower legs and feet being the areas first affected. This leads to slower toenail growth.”

While some studies have suggested that nails grow faster in summer due to increased sun exposure, which helps our bodies create the vitamin D that is important for overall nail health, Janes says this seasonal explanation “is a debatable one.” But, she adds, “summer months provide more vitamin D and, more importantly, warmth. Colder temperatures will cause our blood vessels to constrict, leading to less blood flow and a slower rate of nail growth.”

Utilization, Janes says, also plays a factor in the difference in growth rates between toenails and fingernails.

Think of how much you use your fingers in the run of a day: typing, tapping etc. “Ultimately, we use our fingers more. This will provide more blood flow to our fingers, which stimulates our fingernails to grow at a faster rate,” she explains.

“Micro trauma received from using our fingers more has also been thought to stimulate increased nail growth, as it’s our body’s natural defence mechanism to stimulate healing/growth in areas of injury.”

Why do we say “the tables have turned”?

Have you ever found yourself the victim of a long losing streak, annoyed at someone else’s seemingly never-ending good fortune? And have you then been pleased when the tables have turned, thus reversing your fates and giving you the winning position?

“Turning the tables” is one of those phrases that seems to have been around forever. Some have even suggested that it goes as far back as ancient Rome. But according to the revised and expanded edition of The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins, compiled by Robert Hendrickson and published in 1997, this particular idiom is only about 400 years old.

Hendrickson explains the Roman theory, writing, “Collecting antique tables was a fad among wealthy men in ancient Rome, we’re told. When these collectors chided their wives about expensive purchases, the women turned them toward these antique tables and reminded their husbands of their own extravagances, ‘turning the tables on them.’ A good story, but there is no evidence that it is true.”

Rather, Hendrickson says, the popular expression likely comes from backgammon, which in England used to be called “tables.” In the game,

Hendrickson continues, “the board is usually divided into two ‘tables.’ One rule of the complicated game allows a player to double the stakes in certain situations and literally turn the tables.” (However, it appears that Hendrickson might have meant this figuratively, as there doesn’t seem to be a rule in backgammon that includes physically turning a table.)

Another possibility, he adds, “is that the phrase comes from the old custom of reversing the table or board in chess, which enabled a player at a disadvantage to shift the disadvantage to his opponent.”

An early example of this phrase in print, notes the Oxford English Dictionary, comes from a 1634 sermon by Bishop Robert Sanderson (basically a call for empathy), in which he stated: “Whosoever thou art that dost another wrong, do but turn the tables: imagine thy neighbour were now playing thy game, and thou his.” Advice which never goes out of style.

Do you have a burning life question for Linda to investigate? Turn to page 9 for ways to contact us.

Nailed It

My brother was helping a friend with some construction around his house. He was using a large framing nailer when he missed the stud and shot the nail about two inches into his wrist. He went to the emergency department at the hospital. After he registered he was told to take a seat. A couple of hours later a nurse came to get him. He was walking around the waiting room, and the nurse said to him, “Why are you out here walking around with that nail in your wrist?”

He said, “Well ma’am, it’s not in my foot.”

Wilson Harvey Via DownhomeLife.com

Say WHAT?

Downhome recently posted this photo (submitted by Kayla StricklandTremblay) on our website and social media platforms and asked folks to imagine what this cat might be saying. Yolanda Luesink’s response made us chuckle the most, so we’re awarding her 20 Downhome Dollars!

Here are the runners-up:

“Yes, I ate those flowers. You got a problem wit dat?!?” – Sherry Day

“You said there would be birds.” – Shirley Moyles

“They say spring is in the air… I’m holding my breath.” – Annette Pye Tatchell

Play with us online!

www.downhomelife.com/saywhat

“A little privacy please!”

– Yolanda Luesink

Trails & Tunes

Ryan and Caden have a sing-along at the trailer. Ellis Coles Carmanville, NL

Gone Fishin’

Carter spent his first May 24th weekend catching fish at Nanny and Poppy’s cabin.

Kendra Thorne Flatrock, NL

Get Your Motor Runnin’

This pupper’s ready to hit the road.

Kaitlyn Hope Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL

Climb so High

At the cabin, Mitzi keeps a close eye on a squirrel in the next tree.

Beatrice Lane

St. Chad’s, NL

reviewed by Denise Flint

Four For Fogo Island

Kevin Major Breakwater Books

$22.95

Four For Fogo Island is Kevin Major’s fourth foray into detective fiction featuring former schoolteacher and current PI/whiskey blogger/tour guide Sebastian Synard. This time around, Sebastian is on vacation with his new girlfriend when they stumble upon a dead body in a quilting shop, of all places. After the initial finding of the body, the story quickly develops into a kind of Keystone Kops adventure as Sebastian and Mae, soon joined by Sebastian’s son, dog, exwife, ex-wife’s cop boyfriend and various locals, tear around most of Fogo Island and Change Islands trying to figure out whodunit and why. Poor Sebastian. All he really wants to do is be alone with Mae and kindle a little romance. Instead he gets a philistine wannabe sidekick asking for ginger ale in his single malt scotch and an increasingly out-of-control killer with kitty cat knuckle dusters.

The book contains everything we’ve come to expect in a Sebastian Synard mystery. There’s an exotic (to many) Newfoundland location, a fortuitous murder, hostile cops, son Nick’s (and dog Gaffer’s) eagerness to get involved, and Sebastian’s rich inner narrative as he relays events and how he feels about them. But there’s also development. Sebastian’s becoming a better detective; and on the personal side, things are evolving in an interesting direction. Would dinner with the ex-wife have even seemed possible in book one?

Four For Fogo Island will appeal to all the fans of this successful series and quite possibly draw in some new ones along the way.

Q&A with the Author

Denise Flint: What would you do if you weren’t a writer? Have you always wanted to be one?

Kevin Major: I did from a very early age. I was encouraged in high school. There was a time when I seriously thought about going into photography. I entered a few contests and got positive responses. Then my cameras were stolen from my car. They were expensive and they weren’t insured, and at the same time I was writing. I thought that was an omen and I should get into writing more. The first novel wasn’t published – which is a good thing – but the second was Hold Fast, and the response was positive across the board and that encouraged me to continue writing.

DF: Are your books all plotted out before you start, or do some things come as a surprise?

KM: They’re not. I have a general direction. With the mystery series they’re set in different parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, and that’s my focal point and that determines some of the plot line. Also things are going on in the life of the central character. He’s recently divorced and taking care of his teenaged son; he has a new romance. So that determines what happens. I don’t know exactly how it’s going to end. I have a vague idea of the direction, but sometimes things happen which takes it in a direction I hadn’t counted on. That’s the joy of writing. If I knew everything, I don’t think it would be nearly as interesting.

DF:You snuck a new romantic interest in between the last story and this one. Is that fair?

KM: [Sebastian] explains it to a certain extent. But you don’t get the dayby-day details of their initial romance. His personal life has to be somewhat secondary at times because we want to focus on solving this crime that’s taken place. And we see their relationship develop. She may be more insightful than he is. He obviously wants to take the lead on the investigation, but occasionally she comes up with angles he hasn’t really thought of, which makes it interesting.

DF: This is book four. Are you worried about the series become formulaic and predictable? What do you do to keep it fresh?

KM: That’s a concern because this is four books in the space of four or five years, and there’s a new one coming out this fall. I think what keeps it fresh is developing Sebastian’s personal life as well as the storyline. He’s in and out of relationships; he’s dealing with Nick, his son, who’s finishing high school and will get progressively older. What works, as well, is the fact that he’s a tour guide and he’s bringing readers to different parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, and those places are fresh to his eyes and hopefully to the readers’ eyes. Some novelists will set their books in the same area. I like the idea of moving around. And I’m a history buff, so it gives me a chance to learn about Newfoundland history as the stories move around.

turn your head and cough

By Paul Warford

I couldn’t tell you who it was – a guidance counsellor, perhaps a guest speaker – but I remember being addressed as a high school class and told that our generation would likely see several career changes in our lifetimes. At that stage in my own trajectory – 15, full of pimples and very naïve – I assumed that’d be true for the others in my class, but not me. I’d just begin the occupation of “famous novelist” and keep doing that until I either died tragically or the village I eventually settled in chose to run me out of town.

My father is a jack-of-all-trades. He can install your stair railing, or put in a window, or operate a snow plow. I wouldn’t hire him to do my taxes or revise my resume, but for jobs involving your hands, my dad is a great guy to call. I never really saw myself in such a light – I mean, why would I? I was uncoordinated, small for my age and constantly afraid of injuring myself.

Of course, I’ve grown in stature and grey hairs since then, if only by small increments. And my father has passed along some crucial knowledge so I can now comfortably change a drill bit or pry stubborn boards with a flat bar. But I still wouldn’t hire me to renovate anything in your home, especially if Dad is available on the same day.

I will say, though, that this past season while heading to set on Hudson & Rex, I was often met with smiles and inquiries like, “Oh, what’re you in for today?” and “What’s the job today?” I slowly understood that I had indeed been there for a variety of jobs: craft services (food), acting, background acting, camera assistance… they even call me a jack-of-all-trades sometimes.

Sometimes my dad (Mr. Fix-It himself) will say, “Paul you’ve had some jobs.” In a way,

I’m not sure if you’ve spent much time in a male dressing room, and in this day and age I certainly don’t want to generalize, but it’s poor form to go up to a strange man and ask, “Hey buddy, would you mind tying me up?”

Dad’s right. I’ve worked as a car salesman, a steward on an oil tanker, an actor… I’m a writer, too, when I pay attention to my deadlines.

Now I have another notch to add to my resume. I’ve started working as a standardized patient – someone who goes to medical schools and acts as though they have a medical issue that the students must then uncover. I’m one of those guys now. And it’s pretty fun. I can’t give you too many details or MUN’s Faculty of Medicine might send me back to the unemployment line, but I’ll pass along what I can.

First of all, tying backless gowns is very difficult without assistance. While dressing in silence among strange men who match my age demographic, I’m awkwardly reaching behind myself, trying to tie the little strings at the nape of my neck. I’m not sure if you’ve spent much time in a male dressing room, and in this day and age I certainly don’t want to generalize, but it’s poor form to go up to a strange man and ask, “Hey buddy, would you mind tying me up?”

Anyway, with my smock on it was time for ultrasounds. This brings me to another point with this new job, and I’ll be the first to admit it’s a tad devious: as a single man, I can’t think of a better way to meet future doctors. I’ve never been much of a “gold digger,” but when in Rome, as they say. I’m recently back on the dating scene and here I am meeting one young medical student after another.

Perhaps “gold digger” is something else that’s meant to go on my resume. I don’t want to rule out any possibilities. In all seriousness, there’s not much room for flirtation, especially when you’re wearing a robe with old swim trunks underneath.

Regardless, I find myself with one woman after another, each taking turns performing an ultrasound on me. This is also not conducive to flirtation, what with the weird goo smeared over me while we both look at a monitor that’s literally displaying my internal organs. Anyway, I didn’t start this job to find a doctor wife, so please don’t find these words and shut me down, MUN Medicine. You have to admit, it’s a funny image.

One of them points to my heart and I watch it beat in fascination before feeling a bit dizzy and saying, “Okay, that’s enough, thanks.” There’s only so much of my own mortality I can handle.

Anyway, perhaps I am a jack-ofall-trades, but of a different sort and time than my father. Perhaps I’m just indecisive and rudderless, but on the bright side I’m keeping busy. And I was recently told my kidneys look great.

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

By Gord Follett

A fly

tying

program initiated last year by a new guidance counsellor is proving to be quite a hit at Lewisporte Academy and Intermediate in central Newfoundland. And if Paul White has his way, it will spread provincewide in the near future.

Of all the anglers I know, few have the fly fishing and fly tying passion of “Whitey,” as many of his friends call him, and there’s not much in life he enjoys more than sharing this passion. Over the years he’s taught similar tying programs at the college and public school levels, in Indigenous communities in Labrador and northern Alberta, and even at the prison in Goose Bay.

Students at the two Lewisporte schools learn the art of tying flies during lunch breaks and after school. As of mid-March, there were about 40 kids involved from Grades 6-9, and Whitey expects more towards June, as the end of the school year nears and the salmon fishing season begins. I ask him why the program caught on over such a short period of time in Lewisporte.

“Central Newfoundland is a phenomenal place, nature-based,” he says. “Out here there are many great salmon rivers and kids love fly fishing. It’s part of their culture growing up, plus parents tell me it helps keep them off their phones and social media while doing something constructive. One school administrator

mentioned a few years ago how it kept many teenagers from getting in trouble with the law.”

I’ve fished with Whitey a few times over the years and have seen how willing he is to share knowledge on the river, particularly with novice salmon anglers. I ask him if he realizes that what he’s actually doing at the schools in Lewisporte is passing on his passion.

“Passion is within a person,” he replies. “I just help wake it up and bring it forth... What kids need are teachers of the craft because they catch on quickly. I am self-taught. YouTube didn’t exist when I first started tying in the 1980s, so I made all the mistakes over the years. The students have shaved a few decades of mistakes off of their learning in this case. Experience is the best teacher, as my grandfather would say.”

In many cases, he says, the program “hits a certain population that are not interested in anything else but ODA – outdoor activities.”

One of the first students to jump right into the program was 13-year-old Cash Canning of nearby Porterville.

Besides having become an accomplished fly-tyer in a single year, he started the NL Student Fly Tying Facebook group, to which he regularly adds participants with an opening comment, “Let’s welcome our new members...” He’s already selling flies locally and to a fly shop in Innisfil, ON, 80 kilometres north of Toronto.

“I started the [Facebook] group to let people show off their flies and techniques, and to hopefully get other kids involved in the great outdoors,” Cash notes.

The outdoors is where this teen wants to spend as much of his time as possible. He started rabbit catching with his grandfather Porter when he was five years old and has been enjoying moose hunting with his dad in recent years. Cash is no stranger to small game hunting, either. But it’s tough to beat that feeling “when you bring the rod back to set the hook on a salmon,” he says.

Whitey says Cash is “an ambassador for fly tying, fly fishing and the great outdoors in general...”

He adds, “We have quite a few students [who are] pretty good at tying flies already, and it’s great to see how involved they get. And from what I’ve been hearing, the parents are quite happy to have their kids involved in this.”

Whitey, who is also experienced as a motivational speaker and mental health consultant, was quick to point out that the program would not be the success it is without local support. “There are so, so many who have helped out with expensive materials and donations over the years. Currently, we have the Fishery Guardians NL, via United Steel Workers (USW) Union, sponsoring one of our tying groups this year... So besides playing an important role in the salmon management plan, the guardians are helping local kids as well.”

Cash Canning and Paul White are about to check on the Fish Friends Program tank at Lewisporte Intermediate.

His goal for 2024 is to see a program similar to what’s happening in Lewisporte expanded across the entire province.

“Maybe start with a symposium next spring,” he says, “and schools can start up their own groups in the meantime. These days you can use Zoom to teach tying from anywhere in the province... Several teachers have wanted to pursue this for students.” On the very day I was interviewing Whitey and Cash, a similar program got underway for Grades 5 and 6 students at Memorial Academy in Botwood.

Fly tying, Whitey believes, “is the complete life educational experience, all in one: social emotional learning, mental health and wellness, physical health when students use their own handmade flies for fishing, patience,

even sales and business skills if they eventually sell the flies they tie... And nothing builds a kid’s self-esteem more than hooking a wild Atlantic salmon on a fly that they created.”

The end result: Cash Canning with his Atlantic salmon.

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.

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

“I’m heading back to Toronto after a week on a motorcycle in California. The desert was cool, literally and figuratively,” he shared recently – along with some cool pictures of himself on vacation – on his social media.

But downtime isn’t the norm for this 47-year-old. Jonny spends a fair share of his time in Ontario shooting Murdoch Mysteries and portraying police officer George Crabtree, which he’s done since the show’s launch in 2008. When he’s not on the Murdoch set, he’s on the road for another CBC series near and dear to his heart, Still Standing.

jonny harris seems to be always on the move.

On Still Standing, Jonny travels to small towns across the country, highlighting what makes each place unique and, perhaps even more importantly, resilient against stacked odds. The show premiered on June 23, 2015, with an episode set in Bamfield, British Columbia. Jonny has been just about everywhere since, finding something worthy of setting to comedic yet endearing prose at

and observations of growing up in Pouch Cove. It was about why I always sort of felt like a fish out of water anywhere I went,” he begins.

One thing that set him apart? His father, a philosophy professor who taught at Memorial University. “My dad being British, I always felt I was a bit different from the guys who were from the area and had grown up there,” Jonny says.

each and every stop. On one recent episode set in Wabush, NL, Jonny said:

Where the iron sparkles blue

And the sky’s been seen

To go from black to a heavenly green –

The “Iron-ore-aura Borealis”

Jonny knows what it means to be resilient, and to come from a resilient place. He could “talk at length” about growing up in Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, he says. In fact, he already has.

“When I first started out, I did a one-man show called Out of the Bog, where I addressed some experiences

He was also geographically separated from many of his peers. “We actually lived in Shoe Cove, which later amalgamated with Pouch Cove, but I didn’t hang out with friends I went to school with as a daily occurrence until I got a dirt bike and I could meet up with them on my own,” he explains.

Then in junior high, Jonny and his brother transferred to a school in St. John’s. And the more things changed, the more they stayed the same, Jonny jokes.

“In Pouch Cove, I never felt like one of the b’ys. I never felt like a bayman. At my new school, I was more bay-

man than anyone had ever seen,” he laughs. Suddenly, he’s hanging around with “preppy east end St. John’s kids wearing designer labels.”

He adds, “I found it so funny that you could change where your school is by about a 25-minute drive and things could be so different. Here I was, sticking out like a sore thumb in both my school and in my hometown for opposite reasons.”

“The Ennis Sisters, Damhnait Doyle and Mark Critch were all in the school plays, and even though I was sort of a skeet and a reprobate by the time I started high school, we all hung out and I couldn’t help but get interested in the arts a little bit.”

By the end of high school, he was hooked. “I was the kid with the mullet with a smoke hanging out of his mouth from Pouch Cove, but I was also in school plays and on the improv team, and I was in the school choir,” he says.

His parents “were delighted,” Jonny adds. “A couple of years earlier, I wasn’t showing much interest in anything besides tearing around Pouch Cove on a dirt bike scrounging up cigarettes, and suddenly I was interested in the arts. I’m probably the only kid in the history of the world whose parents suggested theatre school to their kid because they knew university was out.”

Still, Jonny has fond memories and is grateful. Changing schools helped set his comedic path, landing him among some highly talented company.

A friendship with fellow Newfoundlander, actress, writer and filmmaker Sherry White led to Jonny teaming up with another famed Newfoundlander,

Continued page 42

“the ennis sisters, damhnait doyle and mark critch were all in the school plays, and even though i was sort of a skeet and a reprobate by the time i started high school, we all hung out and i couldn’t help but get interested in the arts a little bit.”

QUESTIONS WITH JONNY HARRIS 20

When you get back to Newfoundland, what is something you make sure you fit in? Going for a walk down on the East Coast Trail. It passes through my mom’s backyard in Pouch Cove, and I like to go for a hike down there and down through Shoe Cove.

What about if you are feeling social while you are back home?

I’ll go see a band that I haven’t seen in a while. So The Once or Mark Bragg, or Sherman Downey maybe.

Are you a cat or dog person?

Oh, I’m fond of both, but dogs mostly because I have one.

One way another Newfoundlander could pick you out of a crowd. That’s easy. I don’t show up at a bar until after midnight. I remember playing in a band in St. John’s in my early twenties, and if your band went on before midnight it was awful because there was nobody there yet. Everybody started piling in around midnight and by three in the morning, it was really getting going. But up here in Toronto, you need to be there by 8 p.m.

Do you ever find that your Newfoundland accent or a certain turn of phrase confuses those you work with either on Still Standing or Murdoch Mysteries?

Sometimes I’ll ask if something “rings queer.” “Does that ring queer to you?” And they are like. “What?” What I mean is, is there something wrong or off in the wording that makes what I’m saying sound weird? Just meaning, does it need to be reworded? Makes perfect sense to me. (Laughs)

Name a favourite vacation spot. I have to give you three: Trinity Bay, Costa Rica and Vancouver Island

Name a food or drink you look forward to enjoying when you get back home. A can of Pineapple Crush.

What do you have to do to make your mother laugh? I got to make somebody else laugh, and then she’ll laugh, too.

What’s your favourite time killer? I’ll play guitar or a video game.

Name something few people know about you. I had to do an extra year of high school. I was failing Level 3 math and I had to do the year over again to get my marks up. I redid math and I also did woodworking, and I spent my free time hanging out in the music room trying to learn to play the piano.

Favourite place to perform? St. John’s.

Why?

I was in a sketch comedy troupe called The Dance Party of Newfoundland, and we toured around the country and performed in New York and Chicago – but always the favourite audience of all was the St. John’s crowd because they were so tuned in and they got all the jokes. Newfoundland audiences are smart, but also they like that cheeky, saucy stuff. I always found that if you could really get a St. John’s audience to laugh then that was the most thrilling thing. It still is really.

Toughest part about being funny for a living?

On the world stage, sauciness is not always appreciated. I think we’ve managed to keep a pretty good balance of material on Still Standing. It can be tough, but innuendo is one of the only ways you can still kind of be saucy. There are certain areas, like with social or gender or racial issues, where you can’t really be saucy. A little bit of sexual innuendo is one of the only safe ways you can be cheeky anymore.

Are Newfoundlanders naturally funny?

Yes! Ultimately, we are respectful, but also pretty saucy. Newfoundlanders come from a culture of sauciness. People always ask, “Why are so many funny people from Newfoundland?” It’s because we come from a culture of sauciness.

Name someone that left you a little starstruck. Andy Jones and Mary Walsh. No question. I was just such a fan of their stuff that it left me almost without words.

Name someone you worked with who made you nervous. Mark McKinney. He was in Kids in the Hall and Saturday Night Live, and I was just in awe.

Greatest career lesson?

That everybody, no matter how talented or famous, has some insecurities. Nobody, just because they sort of make it in the industry, suddenly relaxes into full and complete confidence.

Tell us one embarrassing moment. On the set of Hatching, Matching and Dispatching someone from production came around and asked my address because they had drivers to pick us up, and I was mortified and said, “My God, no! I’ll drive myself!” I didn’t realize that’s what they did for actors, and I was like, “No! I’m staying at my parents’ in Pouch Cove, that’s too far!”

What’s something that amazes you about your business?

How many people it takes behind the scenes. At any given time, there’s a bunch of people going around with walkietalkies and people with ladders. What you don’t see while watching something is as amazing as what you do see.

Greatest pressure as a performer?

To do things justice. Maybe I want to give a certain scene a bit of a subtle delivery, but how can I when 40 people have been going around rigging up lights and ladders and cameras? I almost feel the need to match the significance of it all. So much goes into each shoot. I’m still just blown away by it all.

Andy Jones. “I wrote Out of the Bog, which was about my life growing up in Pouch Cove as the philosophy professor’s son, and I was working with Andy [Jones], and that put me on Mary’s [Mary Walsh’s] radar, which led to my role on Hatching, Matching and Dispatching, and that was a big deal for me,” he says.

But the crown jewel in his career has to be Still Standing, he admits. “It’s interesting how you don’t realize a lot of things about yourself until you meet new people, and even though your experiences are different and you come from different places, we really are all so much alike.”

Sometimes someone will ponder why the towns he visits for the show are even still around. The question he always asks himself is: Why would anyone leave?

“Growing up in Newfoundland in the ’80s and ’90s, the economics were pretty bad; but in Pouch Cove, for example, you knew the community leaders. The people everybody had a great deal of respect for had nothing to do with economic status or wealth. It was about character. I think that was an invaluable lesson to learn at a young age,” he says.

Growing up, Jonny spent time in Venturer Scouts, for example. One of his leaders was a local man, Perry Langmead. “We’d hike and we’d camp out, and we learned things about the outdoors. But I also

learned that the respect somebody got in a community had more to do with that person’s character or how they engaged the community, and how selfless they were, and how they gave their time and how they dealt with other people. It wasn’t about money or education. Most people in town were not terribly well off, but like Perry, people who volunteered and gave of their time were the real community leaders,” he says.

Perry, who was also assistant fire chief with the Pouch Cove Volunteer Fire Department at the time, remembers Jonny well. “As Jonny says, he did stand out. But to me, he stood out because he was funny. He would show up for a hike and he wouldn’t have on the right gear, but he would crack jokes and not complain,” Perry says with a smile.

Jonny, who had a chance to reconnect with Perry while hosting the We Stand On Guard Again Hurricane Fiona relief concert in St. John’s in September 2022, says he learned so much from his hometown and its people. “You gauge people and places by practical, real things. If you work hard and are a good person, and if you love where you live, then that’s all that matters.”

All these life lessons helped frame Still Standing, he continues. During each episode, Jonny interviews residents about their town’s history and culture, uncovering how the

community has overcome challenges. Jonny concludes each visit with a live comedy show, incorporating inside jokes about the town and its people into his set.

“I’m looking for what I already know is there because I grew up in a place exactly like it. It may be on the other side of the country, and it may not have the same challenges, but on some level, it’s the same,” he says.

Besides highlighting some really interesting areas of the country, what Jonny says brings him joy about the show is showcasing what makes each spot – whether it’s Botwood, NL or Gibsons, BC – unique. “I grew up in a place where humour and resilience were a requirement, but that attitude exists everywhere in many smaller towns, and that’s what makes them worth knowing more about.”

peers out at me from the file folder containing a substantial dossier of press clippings and his authentic signature on an envelope. Hoover, arguably the most famous lawman of his era as original director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), was notorious in some circles for his amassing of secret files on individuals. I savour the small twist of unexpectedly encountering a file on him – even Hoover himself might laugh at the irony.

This particular file is all very public information and readily accessible to researchers who visit Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador Archives and Special Collections at the Queen Elizabeth II Library in St. John’s, NL. I’m here at the invitation of archivist Linda White, who rightly thought I’d be interested in the Maxwell Taylor Autograph Collection (Collection Number-119).

“Mr. Taylor was a retired mill worker in Grand Falls, and he collected almost 1,000 autographs for around 40 years or so from well-known people locally and all over the world, and kept an informal file on each person. So there is a little bit of information about them from newspapers or magazines in addition to their autograph, which is a nice touch,” Linda explains. “He did it as a hobby and graciously donated the collection to the university back in 1988, and it is really something to see how many celebrities of the day actually gave him their autograph.”

The first box we open contains the signature of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. There is also what appears to be his father Martin Luther King Sr.’s signature on a later envelope for good measure. He also had an autograph from American track and field legend Jesse Owens, another Black hero, who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany.

Maxwell had also managed to get

Maxwell collected letters and magazine clippings to accompany his signatures. Here we have some samples from Edward, Duke of Windsor (top left), Olympian Jesse Owens (above), and former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher (left).

the autographs of world leaders. Included in his files are notes from the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, and No. 41, George H.W. Bush. From across the ocean, Maxwell reached out to and heard back from British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He also received a letter with the signature of one of the most talked about Royals in the 20th century – Edward, Duke of Windsor. He was famously King

Edward VIII briefly in 1936, before abdicating the throne so he could marry American socialite Wallis Simpson.

So how about writers? The signature appears from Norman Vincent Peale, author of the 1952 best-selling book The Power of Positive Thinking. And I see the autograph of pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock, whose 1946 book Baby and Child Care is said to have sold 50 million copies by the time of Spock’s death in 1998. Movie stars? There are lots of them. I find signatures from Fred

Hollywood royalty is well represented in the collection, including screen legends Ingrid Bergman (right), Fred Astaire (below) and George Burns (bottom right).

Astaire, the famous American dancer and actor, as well as Swedish actress and three-time Academy Award winner Ingrid Bergman, who starred in the 1942 hit Casablanca . Also included in the Maxwell Taylor collection is an autograph from Oscarwinning actor and comedian George Burns, who played the divine being in the hit 1977 film, Oh, God! One actress who provided a signature was both theatrical royalty and a real life princess. American screen star Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco when she married Prince

Rainier III in 1956, responded favourably to Maxwell’s request for her autograph. There are more TV stars and sports heroes in this collection, and together they suggest proof of Maxwell’s broad range of interests.

What about artists and illustrators? Yes, they’re represented here, too. Maxwell collected the signature of Norman Rockwell, beloved American artist who illustrated the covers of The Saturday Evening Post magazine for almost 50 years. He also received one from Roger Tory Peterson, American naturalist and ornithologist who illustrated the popular The Birds of Newfoundland field guide in 1951. And perhaps everyone’s favourite cartoonist, Charles M. Schulz, provided a signed note to Maxwell from Charlie Brown and one from Schulz, in addition to a

The artist set were also included amongst the signatures, including Charlie Brown creator, Charles Schulz (below), and Norman Rockwell (right).

signed first day cover (FDC). (An FDC is an envelope affixed with a stamp or stamps on the first day they are made available for public sale. On the first day of issue, the envelope is stamped with a special postmark and cancellation indicating the date and location. FDCs are generally collectible.)

Maxwell’s collection also pays homage to his hometown heroes, notable people from Newfoundland and Labrador. They include business leader Harry Steele (airline, hotel, radio) and writer Ted Russell (“Smokeroom on the Kyle” and “Pigeon Inlet”). Also in this category is A.R. Scammell, who penned “The Squid Jiggin’ Ground.”

Digging deeper, I uncover an autograph file on Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken and one on

Some greats in the business world are also found in the signatures, including local business leader Harry Steele (right) and Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants (bottom right).

Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters. I could spend the rest of the week in this rabbit hole and maybe still never reach bottom. So I tear myself away, promising myself I can always return. I know from the finding aid document that waiting for me to discover next time are signatures by astronaut Neil Armstrong (first man on the moon), underwater explorer and scuba diving innovator Jacques Cousteau, and Sir Edmund Hillary (the first person to climb Mount Everest).

That so many luminaries of Maxwell Taylor’s day, in such wide fields of human endeavours and often at the peak of their fame, would take the time to mail back an autograph (or provide one in person, in some cases) to a gentleman on an island far away from mainstream routes speaks volumes about the character of those in the collection – and of Maxwell himself.

STORY & PHOTOS BY DENNIS FLYNN

David Arscott, 91, smiles in greeting and says, “I was glad I was able to fit you into my very busy appointment diary. You know I am in high demand these days.” Then he winks and adds, “Of course, I am joking. The truth really is at my age I have all kinds of free time nowadays, and I am quite happy to chat with you.”

A model boat builder brings the province’s marine history to miniature life.

You’d never know just by looking at him (and he would be certainly far too humble to say), but David is responsible for the construction of well over 100 painstakingly built-toscale models of ships. His replicas include fishing boats, freighters, tall ships, coastal boats, ferries and naval ships. Arscott’s Armada, as I like to call it, was amassed over his long lifetime, and he never made the same ship twice. Each vessel could take four to six months to complete by hand using the plank-on-frame technique. David did them in his spare time using balsa wood and similar materials, and having to sometimes construct specialized tools and parts to suit the purposes of a particular ship since ready-made components

were not available to purchase. Starting in the early 2000s and without fanfare, David has been donating his models to museums and communities where the vessels were originally built, served or had a particular historical affiliation. For instance, he donated his model of the brig Augustus and the famed coastal boat Bessie Marie, plus plans and line drawings for various Newfoundland boats, to the Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador. Around the time of the donations in 2010, the museum’s project administrator, Beverly King, had this to say about David’s gifts: “Donations such as these help museums such as ours to display tangible pieces of our Newfoundland culture.

David with his replica of the Lady Norman. On the shelves in the background you can see some of the boats he has made over the years.

Without the donations, many museums which operate on very limited budgets would never have the means to purchase such items – models at the museum quality that Mr. Arscott produces would cost thousands of dollars to purchase.”

Decades in the making

David was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1931. He moved to Newfoundland in 1957, to work as a surveyor with the Department of Public Works on the construction of the Trans-Canada Highway through Terra Nova National Park. In 1961, he married Pauline Pynn of Gambo. They have three children and several grandchildren.

He started building model ships in 1966, but only returned seriously to his hobby after retiring from the Small Craft Harbours Branch, Department of Fisheries and Oceans in 1992. He delights in telling me he’s made so many models he lost count and that he only gave up making them three or four years ago. A lifelong passion lives aboard these ships, yet David himself never went to sea.

“There is something about ships. People love them and it can’t really be explained. Maybe it is the idea of slower travel or going to new places or adventures. Maybe it is something we have lost in modern times where things are so fast. Whatever it is I don’t know for sure, but I guess I was just one of those folks who loved ships,” David muses. “There are lots of folks like that. My friend, who painted a sailing ship underway for me, is from the Prairies and probably never ever seen such a vessel in real life. Art is like that, though – people can create what they love.”

While some of his work is in the hands of private collectors, much of it now resides in community museums with connections to his ships. On display in South Dildo is David’s replica steam whaler, in keeping with the local whaling heritage. To Conception Harbour he donated his replica of the Southern Foam, one of a cohort of ships associated with

legendary Norwegian whaling figure Captain Johan C. Borgen; several of those vessels were sunk in Conception Harbour and now draw scuba divers. Cupids has David’s model of a schooner built there in 1824, and his replica of a 17th-century English merchant ship, similar to what colonizer John Guy might have used. At Ferryland, The Colony of Avalon has several of his models, including the Annie built for George Calvert. The Clarenville Heritage Society was given three models of locally built ships. In addition, Brigus, Burin, Marystown, Trinity (Trinity Bay) and Placentia have all been recipients of models from the Arscott collection.

One of David’s projects, a replica of the Lady Norman – a 72-foot,

“There is something about ships. People love them and it can’t really be explained. Maybe it is the idea of slower travel or going to new places or adventures.”

103-tonne schooner built c. 1844 in Colliers for James Norman of Brigus – has fond memories for me. I remember sitting around the woodstove in the home of the late Jack Whelan, during a Christmas visit in 1999, listening to him recount how the Lady Norman was one of several vessels built on what became his

down here from the big gate – and continued to work on her out on the harbour ice. Now some say they used big handsaws to cut a hole for her, while others say they just tied her off and waited for the spring thaw and she launched herself. Either way it was pretty bright, wasn’t it?”

While David claims not to have a

family homestead on the North Side Road in Colliers.

“She was built right here in this yard, I reckon between the brook and where the barn is,” he began. “She was a big schooner for her day, and the men cut the wood on the ridge here behind the house. They were Normans from Brigus that owned her. When they had her hull done, they took her down to Bull Cove, right near Turks Gut (present day Marysvale), to fit her out with her yards and other rigging.” He added, “Now boys, when they launched Lady Norman they were pretty smart about it. They hauled her hull out on the winter ice before she got too heavy to move – just in the beach

favourite model, one exquisite vessel currently in a private collection is especially notable. The Cupid was allegedly – as far as David has been able to determine – the very first ship built in Newfoundland for the British Royal Navy. It was built in 1777 (possibly in Trinity or Conception Bay) and classified as a three-masted sloop of war. The Cupid had 16 guns that were most likely nine-pounders (meaning they fired a nine-pound cannonball). She was approximately 91 feet on the deck with a beam of 27 feet and 290 tonnes displacement. The Cupid was lost in 1778, somewhere off the coast of Newfoundland. David’s scale replica is 39 inches in length and the deck is 27 inches. He

Many of David’s ships are on public display around the province. The Lady Norman can be found in the Town Hall in Colliers.

estimates this model took about half a year to complete because of the intricate rigging. I assume that after such prodigious and detailed labour, he’d be sad to see ships like this one leave. “Oh no,” he says. “I’m glad to see someone take them who has an appreciation for them and enjoys them.”

He adds, “They had been down in my workshop so long, I was glad to see them go to new homes and places where they could be displayed, so we can all share our rich nautical history. I was lucky there were lots of types of ships still around when I was growing up, but some people will never see them in person.

“It is hard to understand and visualize exactly what a ship looks like just based on words in a book, or a tiny photo, or a few seconds of film, unless you are familiar with reading plans and know the terminology they use in building ships. I hope the models of all the different types of ships I made help people to see and instantly be able to understand what they were like, and how beautiful they were in their own right. I’d like to see somewhere in the province have on display at least one scale model of every different type of ship that served in our waters, so that children in school or anyone interested could come see them all next to each other.”

For his part, David’s tremendous gift of decades worth of private volunteer craftsmanship has launched a legacy that will be enjoyed by the public of this province and beyond for generations to come. Long may they continue to sail.

The attention to detail can be seen in the work David completed on the model of the Cupid.

By Kim Ploughman

A parishioner explains why it’s hard to put a price on a small town church.

Jacinta McGrath photos

Welcometo the scenic community of Patrick’s Cove.

This property offers spectacular views with year-round access…” Sounds like an ideal home to purchase in outport Newfoundland and Labrador, but in this case, the real estate ad is pitching a more divine space – a quaint church on the Cape Shore in Placentia Bay.

The recent sale of Catholic churches to help pay court-ordered restitution has dramatically shifted the Catholic landscape across the island. In 2022, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador decided the fate of Catholic churches, halls and rectories on the Southern Avalon and the Burin Peninsula by approving their sale to help compensate survivors of sexual abuse at the former Mount Cashel orphanage. Forty-two properties in all, including 13 churches, went on the auction block.

The Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in the capital city is probably the most significant church to be sold, but it doesn’t mean as much as the little church in Patrick’s Cove to its longtime parishioner, Robert McGrath (right). The selling of his community church sears into his heart. For Robert, his church has been a part of his life since childhood. It was where he grew up, where he was married and where his children were baptized. “Poor mudder and fadder are buried there,” he says of the church cemetery.

Robert’s strong Irish-sounding accent is common among area residents. McGrath is the most common family name in Patrick’s Cove, and the

The church was built by local fishermen with materials brought in by boat and carried up from the beach, including two six-foot statues.

name goes right back to the original settler from Ireland in about 1804. St. Patrick’s church, built in 1926, is the oldest Catholic church on the Cape Shore. Robert’s own grandfather donated the land for it. Three brothers – Jack, Fran and Thomas McGrath – “took it upon themselves,” Robert says, to raise a place of worship for the small settlement. The McGrath brothers were fishermen who would dedicate their evenings at the church after a full day fishing. “Those men didn’t get a cent for all the work they did – it was all a labour of love for faith and community,” he says.

This being long before power tools, all the construction was painstakingly done by hand. The lumber and supplies were brought by boat and carried up from the beach. The sixfoot-tall holy statues inside the

church also arrived by boat, and a horse and cart brought them from the shore to the door.

As of press time the building remains unsold and Saturday evening services are still being held. Those services draw about two-thirds of the outport’s 40 residents, plus folks from other communities and, Robert says, even campers at nearby Gooseberry Cove. “We are afraid we are going to lose it,” he says of their beloved church.

The asking price has already dropped $24,000 to $45,000, to be sold “as is where is.” It’s not a high price for a piece of property these days. “There’s been no bid put on it. But who knows? Some stranger from the States might want to make a cat house out of it,” Robert jests. More seriously, the sale of the parish church is an affront to his ancestors who built the structure and attended mass there through the decades. The prospect of its sale evokes feelings of

anger, loss and sadness. “It’s a wonderful church,” Robert says. “Be a mortal sin to close it… and no one wants to see the church sold.”

Robert regards St. Patrick’s, with its 10-foot high windows, as a “lovely little church.” In his view, “it’s one of the nicest, oldest churches on the island.”

The Patrick Cove’s senior understands that the young people may not be as interested as his generation in attending church. “That’s their own business, but I still likes to go to church…” Although he freely admits that he does not “believe in everything spouted at the church… everyone has a right to make up their own mind.”

Robert’s sense of humour becomes a countervailing grace against the potential loss of his heritage and his place of worship. “Oh girl, I knows I am not going to heaven when I dies, but I still wants to go to church until I dies… I likes me church.”

The 10-foot high windows are a highlight of St. Patrick’s church

life is better

From cod liver oil to chloroform cures, the Newfoundland & Labrador Pharmacy Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the profession in days gone by.

BY LINDA BROWNE

All photos by Linda Browne unless otherwise noted

WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR

of Apothecary Hall in the west end of downtown St. John’s, NL, is like stepping into a time capsule filled to the brim with oddities, and other items of importance and intrigue, that help illuminate a vital, yet often overlooked, part of the province’s past.

The first thing that catches the eye is the ornate tin pressed ceiling, only to be matched in beauty by the gently weathered maple floors below (all original). Surrounding the room are tall, solid oak cabinets, handcrafted in England in 1879 and originally installed at Connors’ Pharmacy, which was also located at Water Street West. The cabinet shelves are lined with glass bottles of various shapes, sizes and colours that held liquids and powders for making medicines to treat all manner of ailments (many still contain the original ingredients).

Today, 488 Water Street is the home of the Newfoundland & Labrador Pharmacy Museum. But years ago, it was where pharmacist Peter O’Mara (born in Ferryland in 1881) proudly served his community, doling out equal parts medicine and treatments, compassion and, at times, entertainment for his loyal customers.

“WHAT DOES THAT SAY?”

According to the Newfoundland & Labrador Pharmacy Board, many of the province’s early druggists came from the British Isles, influencing how our early drug stores and system of pharmacy operated. Apprenticeship was at the core.

After completing an apprenticeship with his uncle and working with the firm of Thomas McMurdo & Company, Peter O’Mara purchased an existing business on Water Street in 1905. In 1922, he decided to build a bigger space next door (which later included a living space upstairs for Peter and his family). The new building was designed by local architect John E. Hoskins, who was also employed by the operators of the Newfoundland Railway, in the Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles.

Peter O’Mara’s Drug Store operated from 1924 until 1986 (after Peter died in 1964 at the age of 83, one of his sons took over the business). In 1988, after a restoration of the building was complete, the museum officially opened. It is dedicated to Peter’s distant cousin, pharmacist James J. O’Mara, the driving force behind the museum’s establishment.

The museum at Apothecary Hall (named in honour of Thomas McMurdo’s first drugstore) resembles a typical pharmacy from the early 1900s. Flanking the front windows are a pair of cast iron golden eagles, made in New York around 1907. Each holds a chain in its beak from which is suspended a glass orb containing brightly coloured water (blue in one, red in the other). These show globes were used to denote the

The museum is located in Apothecary Hall on Water Street in St. John’s. It was was built in 1922 by Peter O’Mara as an expansion to his pharmacy next door.

Courtesy NL Pharmacy Museum

Courtesy NL Pharmacy Museum

profession of pharmacy – much like a striped pole signified a barber shop. (It’s also said that for those who couldn’t read, the globes were an easily recognizable symbol.)

“These actually were part of Peter’s previous pharmacy and he moved them here. There was a lot of folklore around what the different colours would have meant… one of the stories is that if a certain colour was being displayed, it meant that there was an outbreak in the town, so to avoid it, kind of thing,” says Deanna Walter, museum manager and today’s tour guide.

Sitting on a shelf nearby is a coin-operated gas meter. While the building was piped for gas, the gas wasn’t used to produce light or electricity. It was used to make distilled water for certain medicines. Back then, pharmacists used an array

tools to measure and mix

of

(Above) Deanna Walter demonstrates one of the methods a 1920s chemist would use to prepare a prescription. (Left) These globes in the window once helped passersby identify the shop as a pharmacy. (Bottom left) This meter measured the amount of gas used to make distilled water.

ingredients to make whatever pills, ointments etc. that individual customers needed. Many of them are on display, including mortars and pestles; wooden and marble scales with brass weights; brass suppository moulds and a cachet machine, consisting of metal plates with holes from which rice paper pockets were filled with powdered medicine. There are also cork presses, old packaging from bygone downtown pharmacies and a label dispenser originally from Strapp’s Pharmacy in Harbour Grace.

Deanna points to one label in particular. “This one’s my favourite. It’s for olive oil. It says ‘Suitable for

(Above) A label dispenser from the Strapp’s Pharmacy in Harbour Grace. (Right) Some tools of the trade including brass moulds for shaping prescriptions.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Visitors can try their luck at deciphering a doctor’s handwriting on some of these vintage prescriptions.

medicinal purposes or for salad dressing etc.,’” she chuckles.

Walking past the swinging dispensary door (in front of which you can see the indent where Peter’s old counter was located), the old wooden floor creaks cosily underfoot and Deanna steps behind another counter to demonstrate the pill-rolling machine. Using a spatula, she forms a piece of play dough into a long, thin roll, which is placed in the teeth of the machine to be cut into individual pieces. Finally, she rolls a disc over the “pills” to smooth them out.

While pharmacy has changed a lot over the years, as Deanna holds up a copy of an old prescription (written in medical Latin) it’s clear that some things have stayed the same.

“As you can see, [the] writing is still terrible,” she laughs. Visitors can take a stab at deciphering some of these prescriptions and see some of the methods that were once used for storing them – for example, by tacking them onto a metal rod, forming a prescription “log”; or pasting them into a large book.

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

Among the most intriguing items is the pair of stools that once stood at the counter of Peter’s soda fountain, a common fixture of pharmacies in days gone by. In the 1880s, carbonated soda was marketed as a medicinal product.

“Pharmacists actually created Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, 7-Up, and soda fountains were a good money maker because as a pharmacist, you not only were providing healthcare to

people, but you were also running a business,” Deanna says. In a display case on the opposite side of the room are some of the flavourings that were used for making soda, including tutti fruitti, pineapple and butterscotch.

Opening what she calls the “Narnia cupboard,” Deanna points to one of her favourite items, the fancifully named “Skeeter Skatter” insect repellent. Much like nowadays, pharmacies back then sold a little bit of everything, including household,

The shelves are lined with old school treatments for a variety of ailments, from pertussis to burns to rheumatism and more.

haircare and beauty products. So there are displays of Brylcreem and tiny bottles of Jergens “Lily of the Valley” and “Sweet Pea” perfume.

And then there are those headscratching items that sound like they’d more likely kill than cure you. The ad posted alongside R. Schiffmann’s Asthmador Cigarettes with

exhibit on the infamous cod liver oil. If you can’t make it in person, you can visit a virtual exhibit on their website, where visitors are also invited to submit their own cod liver oil memories.

“There’s some really, really good ones, including one involving a horse. I’ll leave it at that,” Deanna laughs.

As fascinating as all of these items are, Deanna says, one of the things she enjoys most is “learning about Peter and not just how he built his business up, but the kind of person he was.” For instance, “he had a piano back there,” she gestures, “and if it wasn’t busy, he would often play the piano for his customers.”

There was also a fire station behind the building, she adds, “and so when the fire alarm would go off, if it wasn’t busy, Peter would take his bag and hop on the truck with them, for cuts and wounds and things like that, to help them out. And when the power company was across the way, he would often give the workers an advance on their pay if they were short and needed to make rent or something. So Peter was a great man.”

belladonna and stramonium leaves claims that they “Relieve gasping, wheezing symptoms – feel better with the first soothing puff!” Then there’s the full canister of Gibson’s linseed, liquorice and chloroform lozenges. “It has chloroform and ether. Because if you’re knocked out, you’re not coughing,” Deanna jokes.

And no trip to the museum is complete without checking out the

After bidding adieu to Deanna, and Belladonna and Hexamina (the show globes, which she has affectionately named), it rings clear just how much the profession of pharmacy has changed. But so have a lot of things. At least here, you can always go back and visit that simpler time.

To learn more about the Newfoundland & Labrador Pharmacy Museum, visit www.nlpharmacymuseum.com.

Do you remember having a pen pal from some faraway country when you were in school? Those correspondence matches were a way to connect with someone of a similar age with very different customs, history and geography. It was a way for both of you to learn about your differences while forging a long-distance friendship over your common interests. Did you know that municipalities have been doing something very similar since the Second World War?

The modern practice of aligning “twin towns” or “sister cities” grew from friendly correspondence between Coventry, England, and Stalingrad (now called Volgograd), Russia, in 1942. They bonded in solidarity as allies who’d suffered attacks on their towns during WWII (the Coventry Blitz and the Battle of Stalingrad). They made their twinning formal after the war ended in 1944.

These days, municipalities enter a twinning agreement to encourage trade and tourism on both sides. Here are several towns in Newfoundland and Labrador that have declared their twin.

RENEWS-CAPPAHAYDEN ATHENRY, IRELAND

It’s not a far leap to imagine a community on the Avalon’s Irish Loop formally aligning with a one in Ireland. Renews-Cappahayden is a traditional fishing community and tourism destination, particularly for the East Coast Trail, and the whales and icebergs off its shore. The community of about 300 twinned with Athenry, County Galway, in 2013. It was attended by then Canadian ambassador to Ireland Loyola Hearn, who is from Renews-Cappahayden. NL-Irish musicians are well versed in “The Fields of Athenry,” a ballad about an imprisoned man pining for his home. This medieval town, with its prominent castle and historic stone wall, is home to about 4,400 residents, and tourism is central to their economy.

ST. JOHN’S WATERFORD, IRELAND

You could say this partnership was “crystallized” in 2002, when the two were formally twinned. Waterford is known worldwide for its glassmaking under the name Waterford Crystal (the New Year’s Eve Ball in Times Square is made of it). Waterford is the main port city in the southeast of Ireland. St. John’s, the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador, has centuries-old ties with Ireland, and Irish names, pubs and organizations abound in the city today. According to a story about the 2002 twinning in The Irish Times, “Immigrants from Waterford city and its hinterland accounted for half the island’s [Newfoundland’s] population in 1836.”

STEPHENVILLE CASTLEGAR, BC

In 1998, the Town of Stephenville signed a partnership agreement with the City of Castlegar to strengthen relations around economic, social and cultural issues. Stephenville blossomed in the mid-20th century when it harboured an American air force base. The closure of the base was a significant blow to the community, but Stephenville remains the centre of employment, industry, recreation and education for the Port au Port Peninsula and entire Bay St. George region. Castlegar was originally a mining town, and grew to be a transportation, education and employment hub in the Kootenays. It, too, has struggled economically in recent decades. Both Castlegar and Stephenville are “mill towns.”

PLACENTIAPLENTZIA, SPAIN

Like Red Bay and Pasaia (outlined next), it’s the Basque whalers who forged the bond between Placentia and Plentzia that was officially recognized in 2017. There are headstones in Placentia, NL, marking the final resting place of sailors from Plentzia, Spain, who had begun crossing the ocean in search of their fortune off Newfoundland’s eastern shores in the 1500s. Placentia, a strategic New World location fought over by the French and the British, was a fortified outpost from the late 1600s to the early 1800s. Stone-walled Castle Hill is a National Historic Site today. Plentzia, in the province of Biscay in Basque Country, was founded in the 13th century on whaling. Today, it is a popular beach resort town.

RED BAY

PASAIA, SPAIN

The connection between Red Bay, Labrador, and Pasaia, Spain, is tangible and has endured for hundreds of years. At the bottom of Red Bay harbour lies the remains of a Basque whaling ship, the San Juan, that was built in Pasaia in the 16th century. In those days, Red Bay was the whaling capital of the world, and Basque whalers crossed the ocean to pursue these giants and process them at Red Bay for their oil, valued all over Europe for fuel. Red Bay and Pasaia became twin towns in 2017, around the time that Pasaia boat builders were constructing a replica of the San Juan.

By Dale Jarvis

Earlier settlers to Newfoundland seemed to have loved themselves a bit of bread and cheese. Originally, Bishop’s Cove was called Bread and Cheese Cove, and there is a Bread and Cheese Cove Pond not far from Bishop’s Cove; a Bread and Cheese Island (renamed Bread Island, someone must have made off with the cheese); a Bread and Cheese Point at Bay Bulls; and a Bread and Cheese Hill in Calvert.

Before you head off with your picnic basket, be warned: Bread and Cheese is a false friend and has nothing to do with gluten and dairy products.

“Bread and cheese” was a local name for the yellow toadflax plant brought from England. The plant is also referred to as “bread and butter” or “butter and eggs” in various parts of Newfoundland because of its yellow-and-orange flowers. It is still a common wildflower in many parts of the province.

Yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) blooms in late July and early August, and was valued for its medicinal properties. It could be used as a laxative and strong diuretic, to reduce fevers, and in different preparations could be used to treat jaundice and dropsy. Chopping up the whole plant and combining it with grease from an old hog was believed to cure hemorrhoids, ugly sores and other skin eruptions. It could also be used as a source of fabric dye. No wonder Bread and Cheese was popular with settlers!

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.

Yellow toadflax, known to locals as “Bread and cheese”.

The “Bread and Cheese” area in Bay Bulls is a popular tourist stop

Debi Griffin photo

Did You Know?

Dusk and dawn are the best times for trouting, when the fish are most active. (Unfortunately, so are the black flies and nippers!)

BY THE TIME MAY 24 rolls around we’re ready to get the “stink of the house” off us, hit the road and find ourselves in a nice patch of nature. Check out how our readers like to get away, and learn a little trivia about Newfoundland and Labrador and the outdoors that you can share around the campfire.

Last Flick of the Day

Evening trouting from the canoe.

Alana Cave Birchy Bay, NL

1-888-588-6353

Did You Know?

There are four species of trout in NL: brown (sea), brook (speckled), rainbow and lake (only in Labrador). The brook and lake trout are native species; the brown and rainbow trout were introduced.

It Doesn’t Get Any Fresher

Dinner is served at Kelly’s Angle after a successful May 24th trouting trip up Gambo, NL.

Karen Saunders Sandringham, NL

Sweet Dreams

Mia, four weeks old, enjoys some nap time on her first camping trip in Codroy Valley.

Nicolette Park Irishtown-Summerside, NL

Did You Know?

The first provincial park established in NL was Sir Richard Squires Memorial Park on the Humber River in 1954, named after a former prime minister of Newfoundland whose term in office ended in scandal.

Campfire Cookout

At the end of a busy day, roasting a wienie over an open fire – doesn’t get any better than this.

Rob Perry Corner Brook, NL

Did You Know?

The best natural firestarter in the NL woods is old man’s beard. Look for the light green, hairy fungus hanging off branches of coniferous trees.

A Beautiful Beginning

Morning breaks on the Spout Path, East Coast Trail.

Mary Crane Calvert, NL

Did You Know?

On average, NL sees about 175 hours of sunshine in May. The sunniest month is generally July, with 216 hours of sunshine on average.

Did You Know?

The daily bag limit for rainbow, brook and brown trout on the island of Newfoundland is 12 fish, or 2.25 kg total + 1 fish (whichever comes first).

Life Lessons

Family trouting trip to Second Pond. Judy Snook Conception Harbour, NL

Into the Woods We Go

A group hike to Goat Cove, near St. Philips beach.

Susan Greening Mount Pearl, NL

Did You Know?

Of all the territories and provinces, Newfoundland and Labrador is the only one with no resident snakes. (A few have been occasionally found in the wild, but not enough to say they are established.)

Way Off Grid

“This is my stepfather’s cabin at Cap Bay, somewhere between Hare Bay, Gambo and Glovertown. It’s on a little island all by itself,” writes the submitter.

Danielle Hunt Hare Bay, NL

Cabin Country

A log cabin at Gull Pond near Westport, NL.

Benson Jacobs Westport, NL

Did You Know?

Trees with needles, such as spruce and fir, burn faster and hotter than leafy trees, such as birch, in a forest fire. Also, the sap in coniferous trees is like fuel to the flame, cranking up the heat.

Did You Know?

There are thousands of islands within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Glover Island, located within Grand Lake in western Newfoundland, is ranked as the 18th largest lake island in the world.

Ready to Roll

Pondside trouting in Central Newfoundland. Lee Perkins Petawawa, ON

Did you know?

What we have always called gravel pit camping in NL is called boondocking in the United States. It comes from the Filipino word bundók for “mountain” and refers to a place off the beaten path where you camp with no amenities.

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.

HOME and Cabin

stuff we love by Nicola Ryan

ICEBERG WATCH

ICE COLD

Quidi Vidi Brewery’s smooth Iceberg beer is made with pure water from 20,000-year-old icebergs. The ancient compacted snow, whichis completely mineral-free and filled with lots of tiny bubbles, gives the brew a clean, light taste.

QuidiVidiBrewery.ca

BUNDLE UP

Morgaine Parnham is a textile artist based in Bonavista, NL. With chunks of ice collected on the beach, she uses the process of ice dyeing to create beautiful and unique watercolour effects on fabrics, including these cotton jersey infinity scarves.

TreeLineFineCraft.com

PICTURE PERFECT

Landscape photographer

Michael Winsor’s incredible images are collected in this beautiful little book, Lost in Newfoundland. The nighttime shot of an iceberg in Ferryland on the cover was selected to be on an international stamp as part of Canada Post’s Far and Wide series.

ShopDownhome.com

GLOW UP

East Coast Glow creates fresh, chic, plantbased skincare products. They use pure iceberg water and wild ingredients foraged and harvested by hand near their studio in Bonavista, NL. We love their Wild River Mint and Rosemary Iceberg Infused Hand and Body Lotion. EastCoastGlow.ca

ON THE ROCKS

Hard to believe, but it’s been 25 years since the movie Titanic had us sobbing in theatres. Raise a toast to the most (in)famous iceberg of all time and keep your drink cool withTitanic-themed ice cubes and matching shipsinking bergs, made using a silicone ice cube tray. Amazon.ca

Ask Marie Anything

Interior designer Marie Bishop takes your questions

Creating Space for Kids

Q: How do you make a fun, welcoming play/sleepover space in your home for the grandchildren to enjoy when they come to visit?

What a blessing to welcome grandchildren into your life. There is something truly wonderful and magical about that moment when your child brings a child into the world. Until then you have no idea how much love your heart can hold. And when these little ones are old enough to come for sleepovers, you’re reminded of just how many things they acquire and how much stuff comes with them. So it’s good to be prepared.

This question hits very close to home for me. My husband and I have been blessed with three wonderful grandchildren, currently six, nine and 11 years old. They live close by, and since the first one was a toddler we’ve decided to host a sleepover every second weekend.

We’ve discovered that through the different ages and stages, one thing remains constant: kids love to make a mess... who knew? Whether that means finger paint, acrylic paint, play dough or cookie dough, they are happiest when they are busy and creative. They get plenty of computer play time at home, so when they are at Nan and Pop’s, it’s usually time for hands-on fun.

Little ones gravitate to a space they can claim as their own, where all their play things can be kept and organized. We created a floor-to-ceiling shelving unit 24" wide. It holds story books, colouring books, sticker books, jars of markers, pencils, paint brushes, boxes of dinkies, baskets of Legos, board games, play dough, boxes of crayons, items for hand and finger puppets, among other things. We call it the play station. It doesn’t take up a lot of space, but offers so much capacity for creative play. If a shelving unit isn’t an option, you could use a cupboard, an armoire or a dresser.

You’ll need to add print paper, construction paper and cardstock to the station for all their art. And because you can’t hold onto or display every piece of art they ever create, it’s best to set up a file folder for each child. Choose the pieces that mean the most and keep them there. Once they learn to write, you’ll want to keep their stories, too.

The kitchen is another great place for creative fun. What child doesn’t love making cookies, cupcakes or muffins? My oldest grandchild can tackle a cookie recipe on her own, with very little

The kitchen is another great place for creative fun. What child doesn’t love making cookies, cupcakes or muffins?

guidance, while the younger two “patiently” wait for the spoils. I find it helpful to have a pantry section for “mom approved” snacks. Treats are a given at Nan’s, but if you want to keep them from bouncing off the ceiling, stock up on some fun foods that aren’t loaded with sugar.

The next phase of visits is the sleepover. Usually by the time you have grandchildren you have a spare bedroom or two in your house. The fun is making it “their” room; the challenge is keeping it as a spare room for adult friends and relatives.

The best way to tackle this challenge is to go with neutral main colours and add accents that can be easily switched out. For instance, the walls can be a warm white and the bedding a neutral ivory, cream or white. You can then add fluffy white or colourful toss cushions and stuffed animals for the kids. Depending on their age and TV viewing trend,

you could add character cushions and throws to make it personal for them (eg. Paw Patrol or Disney princesses). It also helps to create some closet or dresser space for their things. My grandkids bring their own pillows, so mine have to go in the closet. They each bring a backpack of clothes, books, stuffies, and soccer gear if there’s a game the next day. I’ve had to set rules on the size and number of stuffies – a limit of three small items per child – otherwise, I’d have to invest in an extension on the upper floor of the house!

The bottom line is the space doesn’t have to be big or extravagant. If you make the effort to create room in your life and your house for your grandbabies, they will feel welcome. They will look forward to spending time with you. They will mark the calendar for their next visit and they will be over the moon about sleeping over. For sure they 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!

A spare room can be made more kid cosy with a simple change of accents, such as pillows and toys.

Todd’s Table

By Todd Goodyear

When I was

old, I left the metropolis of my hometown Baie Verte, NL, and headed to my summer job in sunny Prince Edward Island. I found this job through a friend of mine who was doing the farm hand gig for a couple of years himself. Once the word was spread around Cherry Valley, a lovely family of third-generation farmers jumped at the chance of having a hard working, dependable Newfoundland young feller join them on the farm that summer. After a couple of exchanged handwritten letters in the fall, and a couple of phone calls in the spring, off I went. Coveralls and rubber boots packed, I headed to a land I’d never seen before and moved right in with this family, head and ears in a pork and beef farm.

The one distinct difference I immediately noticed between the start of the drive at the airport in Charlottetown and the final destination at the farm on China Point Road in Earnscliffe was the odour in the air. I thought I was going to die when I stepped out of the car and it hit me, right between the eyes. You know what’s between the eyes, right? The nose.

Funny enough, all these years later, the smell of pork cooking puts me right back on that farm. And yes, I still love to eat pork – especially baby back ribs.

Pork ribs are popular in Western and Asian cuisines. The ribcage of a domestic pig, meat and bones together, is cut into usable pieces, then prepared by smoking, grilling or, in this case, oven roasting. The ribs are made delicious with a sauce, often barbecue flavour.

The ultimate tip or trick to a successful baby back rib meal is low and slow. This method will produce the best fall-off-the-bone ribs and, like I always say, if I can do it so can you. It really is easy if you follow these steps. They take just 15 minutes to prepare and three hours to cook. Then sit down to enjoy this meal made for four.

just 14 years

When he’s not dreaming up or cooking up great food, Todd Goodyear is president and associate publisher

of Downhome. todd@downhomelife.com

Oven Roasted Baby Back Ribs

2 racks baby back pork ribs, 2 - 2 1/2 lbs per rack

1/4 cup yellow or Dijon mustard

1 tbsp kosher salt

1 tbsp fresh cracked black pepper

1 tbsp granulated garlic powder (optional)

1 tbsp smoked paprika (optional)

1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce, your choice of brand

Preheat oven to 275°F. Rinse the ribs with cold water and pat dry with paper towel. Remove the silver skin on the back of the ribs. The easiest way to do that is to use a sharp-tipped knife to get under the skin, then grab it with a paper towel and pull it all the way off. It’s that simple.

Cut each rack of the ribs in half by cutting between the bones through the meat. This will make them easier to handle and makes the 4 servings. Rub the mustard all over the ribs. This makes a binder for the spices to stick to when seasoning the ribs. Mix together the salt and pepper, and garlic and paprika if using (using just the salt and pepper is quite fine as well). Sprinkle the mixture all over the ribs and wrap each portion in aluminum foil, making individually sealed packets.

Place the ribs on a baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 2 1/2 hours.

Cut open the foil packets to expose the ribs and smother them with barbecue sauce. (I actually grabbed several different sauces from my fridge and mixed them together. “Secret sauce,” I call it.)

At this point, do not cover the ribs. Increase the temperature to 400°F, no need to preheat, and place the ribs back in the oven. Bake uncovered for another 30 minutes. If you have a quick-read meat thermometer, the internal temperature for perfect ribs should be 190°F-205°F.

Depending on how saucy you want your ribs, you can add another layer of sauce and place under the broiler for about 5 minutes. Choose your own sides and serve. You are going to love these ribs!

Todd’s Tips

Low and slow is the key to success. If you try and rush this dish, I promise you will be disappointed.

Don’t forget to remove that nasty silver skin.

Be creative with the sauce. Use what you love.

Mmmmm-May 24

If you haven’t already, May 24 long weekend is the time to bring the BBQ out of storage and fire it up. You could even throw a backyard party to celebrate, and the following recipes could be your menu.

Corn with Pesto Butter

6 ears of fresh corn

2 tbsp pesto

1 cup butter

1 tbsp parsley, chopped

1/2 tsp chili flakes

1 tsp lemon juice

Preheat the BBQ. Mix everything except the corn together. Wrap each ear of corn in a piece of aluminum foil and place it on the grill to cook, turning it over about every five minutes so that it cooks evenly. After about 15 minutes, check the corn. If it’s starting to get some colour, unwrap it and spread about a tablespoon of pesto butter on the ear. Wrap it back up and return it to the grill for another 5 minutes. Remove it from the foil and serve hot, with more pesto butter if desired. Yield: 6 servings.

Bacon-wrapped Asparagus

1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed

1 tbsp vegetable oil

6 slices bacon

Lightly grease the grill and preheat it to medium heat. Toss asparagus with oil, making sure each spear is evenly coated. Gathering 3-4 spears at a time, wrap each bundle in a strip of bacon. Grill asparagus 3-4 minutes per side, until bacon is crispy. Serve hot. Makes 6 servings.

Grilled Pizza

Dough (enough for 2 x 12" pizzas)

1 1/3 cups warm water

1 pkg instant yeast

1 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp salt

3 1/2 cups flour

Toppings

2 tbsp pizza sauce

Pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, chicken, spinach etc. – whatever toppings you like on pizza

Shredded cheese

Preheat grill with burners on high. Grease the bottom and sides of a cast iron skillet, and sprinkle the bottom with a dusting of flour. In a bowl, whisk together water, yeast and sugar. Cover and let rest for five minutes. Using a wooden spoon or a mixer with a paddle attachment, mix in the olive oil, salt and flour. When fully combined, transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Use floured hands to knead the dough a few times, just until it is soft and stretchy. Transfer dough to a greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm area for 60-90 minutes, until dough has doubled in size. Using half the dough, stretch it over the bottom of the prepared skillet and up the sides a bit. (Wrap the other half of dough in plastic wrap and freeze for another time.) Thinly spread the tomato sauce over the dough. Cover with your favourite toppings. Place pan on the grill and close the lid. Pizza should be done in about 10 minutes. (Cooking time will depend on BBQ heat, and if you cook it over indirect heat it will take longer. Use a spatula to lift the crust edge to test doneness – the bottom should be crispy.) When done, use a spatula to slide the pizza out of the pan and onto a board or plate. Let rest for a few minutes before slicing. Makes one 12" pizza.

Fruit Spears

6 cups of various fresh fruit cut into 1” chunks

Coconut oil spray

1 tbsp maple syrup

Vanilla Greek yogurt for dipping

Soak wooden skewers in water for 20 minutes. Preheat grill. Thread 5-6 pieces of fruit on each skewer. Coat with a light spritz of coconut oil and brush on a light coating of maple syrup. Sear the fruit spears on the hot grill for 2-3 minutes per side to get those nice grill marks and to caramelize the syrup and the fruit sugars. Serve hot with yogurt for dipping. (You could also turn this into a dessert bar, with extra toppings: granola, tiny M&Ms, ground nuts etc.) Makes about 6 skewers.

Honey Chicken Kebabs

Marinade

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

8 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1" cubes

6 skewers

Whisk together honey, soy sauce, oil and pepper. Set aside and refrigerate 1/4 cup of the marinade – you’ll use this to baste the chicken while grilling. Pour the rest of the marinade into a resealable plastic bag with the chicken. Move the chicken pieces around in the bag to make sure everything is coated well, then let it marinate in the fridge for two hours or overnight. Before grilling, soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes. Lightly oil the grill and preheat it on high. Thread chicken pieces onto the presoaked skewers. Discard the marinade the chicken was in. Place kebabs on the prepared grill. Turn chicken often as it cooks, and brush it with the reserved marinade (the portion that was not mixed with raw chicken). Grill it until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle and the juices run clear, about 15 minutes (internal temperature of the chicken must reach 165°F). Makes 6 kebabs.

Steak Tacos

1 1/2 lb boneless steak

(flank is good for this)

8 (7") corn tortillas

Marinade

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tbsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Toppings

chunky salsa

shredded cheese

sour cream

Place steak in a shallow dish. Combine marinade ingredients and pour over steak. Cover dish and let steak marinate in the fridge for 1-4 hours. Remove from fridge and let steak come back to room temperature before grilling. Preheat the grill to medium high. Grill steak to your liking. Remove and let rest a few minutes before slicing thinly. Lay tortillas on hot grill for a few seconds per side to warm them. Then fill each one with steak and toppings. Serve immediately. Makes 8 tacos.

When I am heading to my garden plot on a warm, sunny morning and I see a dog or one of my cats tunnelling toward the south pole, it drives me positively wild. I am sure it provides great entertainment for my neighbours when they see me wildly waving my arms and screaming like a banshee at the offending critters.

Dogs respectfully run from me. Cats, on the other hand, could care less. They see my newly tilled garden as a giant litter box that I have graciously provided for their enjoyment. I can yell and flail ’til I am blue in the face, but they just stare me down while nonchalantly flicking my newly planted seed over their offending feces before slowly meandering off. Cats and I have a love/hate relationship.

I love animals. Dogs and cats are some of my favourite people. Having said that, there are few things that get my ire up as much as the beasts digging in my garden.

There is no sure way of keeping dogs and cats out of your garden, but there are a few things that will deter them, at least until they get wise to your methods. Dogs are somewhat easier to keep at bay than cats. Felines make it their life’s mission to see what it will take to outsmart you – and if they can’t do that, they will just ignore you. Here are a few things that you can try that may or may not help.

Good fences make good neighbours. A sturdy fence around your garden will most often keep dogs out. They may discourage cats, but probably not. Cats will most likely see this as a new and interesting climbing post, a small hurdle to get over before leaping into the soft ground on the other side.

Some smells discourage our four-legged friends. Citrus peel gives off a pungent smell that most animals will steer away from. Cut them into small pieces (the citrus, not the animal) or grind them up with coffee grounds and sprinkle that around your garden. If it does not work, at least you’ve added some nutritious, delicious smelling compost to your garden.

Blood meal is another scent that discourages most animals, including rabbits and squirrels. Side bonus, it adds nitrogen to the soil. This is the major element for creating nice and green healthy leaves, so be sure to spread it near vegetables like lettuce. Bone meal, on the other hand, will encourage dogs, so if you have a canine pet, look for an alternative such as Glacial Rock Dust.

Some plants with aromatic foliage will discourage fourlegged trespassers. Try bergamot, lemon thyme, citronella, Russian sage, marigolds or calendula, or

strong herbs like rosemary and lavender. These plants will attract pollinators, so at least if it does not keep the animals out, your zucchinis will be pollinated and you will get to enjoy some beautiful, fragrant flowers.

There are repellent sprays that may be purchased, but I have never found them to be particularly effective. If using these, do your research. Some may be toxic to the environment.

Hook up a sprinkler with a motion sensor on it. Every time an animal triggers the sensor, the sprinkler will be activated and the culprit will be sprayed with water. It will scare off dogs and neighbours, but it’s only a matter of time before the cats figure out how far the water sprays and then perch themselves just past the drip line to do their damage. For this reason, be sure the sprinkler hits all sides of the garden, or keep moving it.

Thorny plants such as roses, teasel, hawthorn, sea holly, globe thistle, raspberries and blackberries planted around the perimeter of your garden will do the trick – but be sure to plant them far enough away from where you will be working, to keep them from grabbing at your clothes and skin. If you thought you were mad at the cats, just wait till you are hot and cranky and a blackberry cane attacks you! Some of these plants spread by suckers and may become a nuisance if left alone to spread into your garden, so be sure to keep them under control.

Most animals will avoid walking on prickly surfaces, so you can spread small twigs, cones, scrunched up eggshells (which will add calcium to your soil), or even upside down carpet runners, around your plants until they get established.

Try building a small, bottomless sandbox near your garden. If you keep it scooped, cats will prefer to use it over your garden. They like nice, clean facilities.

Repel them with sound. If you are already training your dog or cat to stay on your property, you may have purchased an ultrasonic device that emits a high frequency sound that animals hate. These work extremely well, but are probably not the most economical method to use.

Plant a distraction. For deterring my cats, I have had the best success planting catnip in various locations around my garden. Cats love that stuff. It is like a drug to them, and it’s as good as a concert to watch them with ear-to-ear smiles, smooshing their bodies into the plant. You will probably have to replant regularly because they destroy the plant trying to get enough of it. The point is, if they are rolling around in the catnip, they are not prancing through your garden. It is called living in harmony.

You will notice that I have made little reference to dogs in this article. That is because once you yell at them a few times, they get the message. Unless they are a beagle… good luck with that. Cats, on the other hand, are your real challenge. Consider spreading a few open books or computer keyboards around your garden – they always love to lie on those –and please send me the picture!

Kim is a horticultural consultant, a retired garden centre owner and a dedicated garden enthusiast!

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

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

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 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

Gal Pals

“This picture of my mother, Gertrude Mary Kelly (middle), with her neighbours, was taken in the 1930s,” writes the submitter. “She was a proud Newfoundlander, born in St. John’s on August 22, 1915.”

Joan Elliott Burnaby, BC

Mom and Me

“My mother and me circa 1959, in front of my grandfather Quigley’s house on Harvey Street in Harbour Grace,” writes the submitter. “That’s Jeff, the dog, also in this photo.”

Barbara Meadus Harbour Grace, NL

Gem of Grand Falls

“This picture of my mother, Anne McDonald (Etheridge), was taken in front of George McDonald’s house at 10 Circular Road in Grand Falls, NL,” writes the submitter. “She’s leaning on my Uncle Ray’s taxi.”

Sean Etheridge Grand Falls-Windsor, NL

Story Time

Olive (Smith)Cornick reads a story to her children, Ann and John, in their home on Merrymeeting Road in St. John’s back in 1939.

John Cornick Halifax, NS

The Downhomer May 1989

Celebrity Report

by Scott Rowsell

Dick Nolan Heads Back to Aunt Martha’s Hideaway

Just before column time I spoke to Dick Nolan, who had just returned from St. John’s, where he had firmed up the deal for his new club called “Aunt Martha’s Hideaway.” Yes folks, Dick and his wife are answering the call to go back home. He will be leaving Toronto on May 1 to go to St. John’s. May 26 is the date planned for the grand opening of the club, located on Water Street in the old city. Dick and Eddie Coffey will kick off the opening celebrations.

Bronco’s Turns Newfie on Wednesday Nights

I just recently had a call from Herb Appleby of the Gladstone Hotel in Parkdale, home of Bronco’s. I dropped in to see Herb, and he gave me the lowdown on what’s happening at the downtown country bar. Every Wednesday night, Gary Gale and Kevin Fitzgerald dish out that good ol’ down east music. Herb tells me that there are lots of Newfies and Maritimers in the Parkdale area, and feels that this should go over very well indeed. Check it out for yourself.

One of the Other Fellers Writes a Book

Ray Johnson, the accordion player from Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers, has been writing a book about Canadian entertainers. I had breakfast with Ray at the Constellation Hotel following the Confederation Gala. I learned that Ray has been researching traditional Canadian entertainers such as Don Messer, Harry Hibbs, Dick Nolan, Stompin’ Tom Connors and other original artists for his new book.

Completion date for the book has not yet been set due to problems in trying to find some of the required information. He plans to have the book published and distributed across Canada. I’m looking forward to a copy of this one.

Songs to Listen For

GRAM – written and recorded by Melvin Russell of Stephenville. This song was cut in the studio right in Stephenville and produced by former musician Neil Bishop. The song has been played on the Friends and Neighbours radio show on CIAO 790 AM and is receiving good response.

WIDOWMAKER – from an album cut by Kevin Cornect of Mainland, Port au Port. Kevin recorded this album in Corner Brook at Stillwater Studios, with Lee Shepard as producer. The song relates to the lives that have been taken by the sea around Newfoundland.

CAPLIN ARE ROLLIN’ – written and sung by Ed Smith and Pat on their latest cassette, Pat and Ed, Caught in a Song. This song was recorded at Sim’s Studio, Belleoram. The fine harmonies speak well for the vocal quality in their songs and teamwork they display in all three of their releases.

Gnat, do you mind…

Horse

Whoopsie?

By Harold N. Walters

Old Man Farley felt about his manure pile much the same as the ancient Egyptians felt about the pyramids – monuments all! For three years Old Man Farley built his manure pile and crowed about its splendour whenever he saw the opportunity.

For the three years since he’d bought a horse, Wellington, from a man in Horse Cove. For the three years since Harve Hinkey had sold him a meadow located down the back road at the far end of Brookwater.

“B’ys, oh b’ys,” Old Man Farley said to the men yarning in Uncle Pell’s Shop. “I’ll have the greenest, grassiest meadow in Brookwater when my manure pile is finished.”

“Finished?” said Wince Cody. “How do you know when a pile of horse… (well, let’s say, whoopsie) is finished?”

“When it reaches the eaves of the stable,” said Old Man Farley, “which should be this spring.”

“You’ll have the guts wore out of that young horse of yours if he got to eat enough, and produce enough, to pile dung up to the eaves,” said Wince.

“Don’t you worry your head about that,” said Old Man Farley.

Harry and Gnat sat on upended orange crates, listening to Wince trying to get Old Man Farley’s goat. Attempting to be inconspicuous, they picked at… well, nothing, on the knees of their pants. Eventually, his goat rampant, Old Man Farley yanked open the shop door and stomped off home.

“We better go have a gander at Old Man Farley’s manure pile,” said Harry.

“We better,” said Gnat.

Scallywag scouts with purpose, Harry and Gnat left Uncle Pell’s shop and trailed Old Man Farley home to his stable, to his self-proclaimed monumental manure pile huddled under the stable’s eave like a pungent haystack. The stable was empty. Wellington stood in the middle of the garden, munching scattered tufts of grass that the May sun had coaxed into growing. He’d obviously been finding plenty to eat and digest and deposit. The evidence was clumped randomly about the garden, wee pyramids of manure.

Leaning on the raised end of Old Man Farley’s box-cart, Harry and Gnat watched, attentive witnesses to Farley’s muttering and meandering.

“Can’t waste good manure on this garden,” he mumbled to himself. Old Man Farley grabbed a wheelbarrow and shovel and commenced flipping Wellington’s strewn offerings into the wheelbarrow, almost as deftly as Granny flipped eggs from skillet to plate. When Old Man Farley returned to the base of his magnificent manure pile, he dumped his wheelbarrow then proceeded to rescoop the load and, with all his

might, heave-ho manure to the peak of the pile. The fresh additions steamed in the strengthening spring sunshine like vapour venting from a volcano.

“He’s some proud of that pile of horse flops,” Harry said.

“He do be,” agreed Gnat.

Heedless of the boys, Old Man Farley gazed at the pyramid of horse whoopsie and pronounced it, “Good.”

“When are you going to spread that stuff on your meadow?” asked Harry.

“Probably next week,” said Old Man Farley. “’Tis handy about up to the eave now.”

“Haulin’ it down to the meadow in this cart?” Gnat kicked the cart’s wooden spokes for emphasis.

Old Man Farley nodded.

Harry considered Old Man Farley’s preening pride. And the box-cart. And the mile or so of gravel road between the manure pile and Farley’s undernourished meadow. Maybe Loki, the trickster god of Norsemen, nudged Harry’s noggin and planted a thought about the inherent dangers of human pride. Maybe Loki simply observed and allowed Harry to arrive at a fateful conclusion on his own. God-smote or not, Harry said, “I got an idea.”

“I ’low,” said Gnat.

Harry’s plan involved several days of waiting… and a couple of tools borrowed from Pa’s shed.

Every day, Harry and Gnat visited Old Man Farley’s stable yard, casually monitoring the state of the manure mountain. A day came when Old Man Farley stabbed a pitchfork into the pile and said, “If the weather holds fine for a couple of more days, I’m going load up the cart and haul

all this manure down to the meadow.”

“Spread it out and watch the grass grow, eh, Mr. Farley?” said Gnat.

“Grow the greenest grass in Brookwater,” added Harry.

Considering Harry’s plan, the likelihood of Old Man Farley’s meadow becoming Brookwater’s showcase grass-garden was next to naught. Me buck-oes grinned at each other like the Old Boy’s naughty sons.

you go, b’ys. I’m ready for business in the morning.”

Shortly after nightfall, the moon’s pancake face rose above the Crow Cliffs and, as it sometimes did willingly, provided light for Harry and Gnat’s nighttime shenanigans. The boys sneaked over Old Man Farley’s back fence, skulked from fence to stable wall to loaded box-cart, each toting a boring tool from Pa’s

Beneath the cart, side by side, flat on their backs, the devilskins jabbed their tools into the bottom boards and commenced to bore holes.

Two days later, when Harry and Gnat arrived at Old Man Farley’s stable, they found Farley perspiring in the late afternoon sunshine. The box-cart, painted a shade of green similar to Uncle Sim’s punt, had been moved close to the manure pile, its shafts propped on barrels to level the box and, when it was time, to make it easy to back Wellington between them and tackle him on. Old Man Farley, sweat soaking the brim of his cap, shovelled manure into the cart and squat it apart with the pitchfork, as if mashing spuds on a Sunday dinner plate.

“Loosens it up so it’ll be easy to spread,” Farley explained when he noticed his audience.

Caustic whoopsie aroma wafting on the breeze, Old Man Farley shovelled until the bulk of the manure was loaded into the box-cart, a mashed and mounded stack of… “God’s own fertilizer,” said Old Man Farley.

“With help from Wellington, eh?” said Harry.

Satisfied that his cart was fully loaded and ready to roll, Old Man Farley secured the tailgate. “There

shed. They crawled under the boxcart. Harry carried Pa’s brace and bit with the largest bit Harry could find – an inch and a half maybe –clamped in its rachet jaws. Gnat scoated a two-foot-long T-auger with a two-inch bore. Beneath the cart, side by side, flat on their backs, the devilskins jabbed their tools into the bottom boards and commenced to bore holes.

“Got to crank hard,” said Harry, as he and Gnat strained to twist the bits into the wood. Gnat grunted and turned his head aside to avoid the chips and shavings falling into his eyes. Harry closed his eyes for the same reason.

Gnat’s auger was the first to puncture the cart’s bottom. When he pulled it free, a dust of aromatic manure peppered his chops. He spat bits of – you know – from his lips like Wince Cody spitting flakes of ’baccy off his tongue.

“Frig,” Harry sputtered when his bit chewed into the byproduct of processed oats and hay.

Both boys shifted position and began their second holes. After more

than an hour of boring and spitting and shifting, the saboteurs had drilled dozens of holes in the boxcart. Its bottom was perforated with more holes than Granny’s kitchen sieve. Damage done, Harry and Gnat wormed their way out from beneath the cart and slithered off into the night.

Next morning, Harry and Gnat rose with the sun and booted ’er for Old Man Farley’s stable yard. They watched Farley back Wellington between the box-cart’s shafts and fasten the harness’s bits and bobs.

salt – or perhaps pepper – from a generous shaker. Bounce. Sift. Bump. Sift.

Harry and Gnat lagged way behind, tickled to death to see the fallen manure speckling the road like piquant flakes from a snow dwigh. They may have clapped their hands.

Arriving at his meadow’s gate, Old Man Farley climbed down from his shaky seat and reached for the latch. From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed the empty cart. Mystified, he examined the holes in the bottom. Then, like a tick swoll up with blood,

Mounting the rickety seat rigged up on the front of the cart, Old Man Farley sat back on to the load of manure, face-on to Wellington’s generously productive arse end. “Git up,” he said and flapped the reins.

The first rut the cart’s wheels bumped over caused crumbs of manure to sift through the auger holes and sprinkle the ground. Harry and Gnat nodded, pleased as punch.

Brookwater’s gravel road was a causeway of ruts and potholes and embedded stones, some the size of turnips. The cart’s wheels rolled roughly over nearly every single one. Bounce. Sift. Bump. Sift.

Old Man Farley, lost in dreams of a meadow lush with the tallest, greenest grass in Brookwater, was oblivious to the diminishing mound of manure trickling from his cart like

Old Man Farley swoll up with a rage. He scorched the air with sulphureous oaths that – if there were a contest –would guarantee him the cussing champion’s trophy.

Rotted, he unharnessed Wellington and set him free in the meadow. He left the cart shafts-down, abandoned.

Mind Old Man Farley’s manure pile, Gnat? Mind how dandelions claimed the meadow? How clover and daisies replaced the dandelions? How alders eventually choked every inch of space inside the meadow’s collapsing fence?

ghwalters663@gmail.com

Harold Walters lives in Dunville, NL, doing his damnedest to live Happily Ever After. Reach him at

A day on the stagehead in Little Heart’s Ease

BY LESTER GREEN

MY MIND DRIFTED INTO THE PAST

as I looked at this old snap of the stagehead belonging to the Pitcher family, at the now abandoned community of St. Jones Without, Trinity Bay. By the time I travelled by boat to St. Jones Without, my dad’s hometown, all the houses, stages and flakes had vapourized like the morning fog on a warm summer’s day. All that remained was an open field.

Martin Pitcher’s stage in St. Jones Without Courtesy of the Banton Family

The stages reminded me of my childhood days spent on my father’s stagehead at Little Heart’s Ease. We passed many hours catching tomcods and cunners using fish hearts for bait and a bamboo fishing pole. The more adventurous among us would try stabbing flatfish with the prong, often extended by attaching a stick. Sometimes I leaned too far out and fell into the saltwater surrounding the wharf!

A typical summer’s day would start with the early morning fog retreating from the hills and the smell of freshly cut homemade bread being toasted. The toaster was often a two-sided gadget on which both sides came down, and only one side of the bread was toasted. Some might even recall a coat hanger twisted, moulded and placed on the old wood stove. It made an inventive device for toasting bread but required constant supervision; the kitchen could quickly fill with smoke from burning toast. A cup of instant coffee or freshly steeped tea would help wash down the toast. Outside we’d listen for the familiar morning sounds: a mixture of seagulls, steering, crows and the puttputt of the old make-and-break engine echoing off the harbour cliffs as the first boats returned.

Down Below we’d run to the wharves, shouting. “They’re coming, by’s! They’re coming!” We were so excited that our feet would barely touch the landing as we leapt onto the wharf. Rushing to the head of the

wharf, we’d catch the rope as it was being slung ashore. The putt-putt engine would fall silent as the boat sliced through the water and pulled alongside.

“How much did you get?”

“Can we prong it up?”

jump onto the gangboards, and soon fish stabbed with the prong flew from the boat to the head of the wharf. Another person stabbed and dragged the fish over the wharf and into the stage, placing it in the fish box. After the cod was unloaded and taken out of the morning sun, we joined Dad and his crew, helping to finish their lunch.

Then the cleaning of the fish began. The fish was removed from the box by a person known as the “cutthroat.” He would slice the throat

Courtesy Olive Green

and slit the fish down the belly, then slide it to the person called the “gutter,” who removed the guts, skillfully separating the liver from the puddick and pushing both in separate directions. The liver landed in the blubber barrel, and the puddick fell through a hole in the floor. The water churned with the frenzied feeding of tomcods, cunners and flatfish.

Meanwhile, back inside the stage, the head was removed and allowed to

Being young, full of energy and unable to stay focused, we’d eventually lose interest in the work and wander off to catch tomcods, cunners and other fish off the wharf. We imagined ourselves to be great fishermen, on the waters searching for the big ones as we baited our hooks with hearts collected from underneath the splitting table. Tomcods were quickly caught and removed, but the prickly cunners required more skill to avoid stabbing the fingers. Often the poor cunner would be banged against the wharf or the side of the stage to remove it from the hook.

fall onto the floor, where one of us would quickly retrieve it and cut out the tongues and cheeks, or sometimes make it into cod heads. The remaining fish went to the “splitter,” the most highly valued man on the line. A good splitter could quickly remove the sound bone with a loud thud as the bone hit the side of the stage. The fish fell from the splitting table into a puncheon tub of water. This process repeated itself until all the fish was cleaned.

The work continued inside the stage, where Dad would remove the split fish from the puncheon tub using a dipnet, take it to the back part of the stage, lay the fish down flat and place salt on top. Extra salt would be placed on top of the fish to help with curing. The process would be repeated until all fish were salted in the back of the stage. It would be stored here until later in the summer, when it would be removed and placed on the flakes to dry.

The rest of the crew would clean the stage by drawing buckets of water and splashing them on the floor, table, wharf and boat. Sometimes an old wooden broom was used to scrub the boards clean.

After the fish was cleaned and salted, and the stage washed, Dad would shout, “Time to go. Put away the poles until tomorrow.”

Azariah King, Clarence King, and Ralph Drodge hauling a codtrap off Hatchet Cove. Courtesy Clarence King

Mike Perkins recalls the night he almost perished, and his best friend who saved his life.

My best friend was Robert Windsor. He was dark haired, with a contagious smile and he attracted girls because he was Hollywood handsome, so they said. Bob and I were scouts in the same troop.

The troop had a cabin at Sugarloaf Pond, about five miles northeast of the city and about seven miles from my house. I use the term cabin loosely. Constructed of scavenged and donated lumber, it resembled a cabin because it had a roof, walls, a floor, chairs, a big table and a pot belly stove. There was an attached bunk room that could hold up to a dozen scouts, two to a bunk. In summer there were always scouts at the pond fishing, canoeing, swimming and building rafts. In winter, scouts took to the frozen pond for skating, hockey, ice fishing and attempting ice soccer.

There was always an adult scout leader at the cabin, but usually he left us alone as long we followed the basic rules: clean up your own mess and do your assignments – chopping firewood, hauling pond water to the cabin, cooking and meal cleanup. If you failed to do your assignment or gave the leaders any problem, you were banned from the cabin for several weeks.

Bob and I got permission from our parents to spend the weekend before Christmas 1952 at the cabin. After school that Friday afternoon, I loaded my bike with my essentials, kissed Mother goodbye and rode down Lemarchant Road to Kings Bridge Road to link up with Bob. At Sugarloaf, the scouts’ bikes had compressed the snow trail around the pond to about 18 inches wide, with three feet of snow on one side and the frozen pond on the other. We spent the evening sitting around the stove, listening to stories, telling jokes and creating all the nonsense on which 11 and 12 year-old boys thrive.

The next day was full of fun on the pond and in the snowy woods. There were many trips to the cabin to dry out gloves and boots, and to fill up on hot cocoa. I wanted to stay another day, but as the shadows lengthened, I remembered that Mom said I must return by that evening. I had church in the morning. Bob intended to stay, but said he would go with me to the other side of the pond where the trail linked with the road. His decision saved my life.

About 200 yards from the cabin, the trail curved around a spring that fed into the pond. During the summer it was a

I was a Canadian Scout from 1952 to 1954, when I lived in St. John’s, NL. I belonged to the marvelous 6th St. John’s troop of about 60 scouts.

popular swimming spot. As I led the way on my bike, I skirted the spring along the rocks, but realized too late that the rocks were coated with ice. The bike tires slipped and I went onto the pond where the ice was thin because of the spring. The bike and I went through the ice and straight to the bottom.

When my feet hit bottom, I catapulted myself back to the surface. Bob’s face appeared at the top of the rocks and he reached for me. “I’m going back for my bike!” I yelled. The weight of my soaked clothes drew me

dried. I had to go home now or my mom wouldn’t let me come back to the cabin for a long time. My 11-year-old logic locked into one course of action: Get on my bike and head home.

Bob could see that my mind was made up, so he was going with me. We walked our bikes around the perilous spring, then rode the quarter-mile around the pond. Only seven miles to go.

Heavy snow began when we reached Logy Bay Road, and Bob led for a few miles until we reached the

quickly to the bottom and I grabbed a tire of my bike with both hands, shoved it above me and then I catapulted. I didn’t get far and I let go of my bike; it didn’t come back down with me. Once more I hit bottom, and with all my strength I pushed off. I came to the surface, but immediately began to sink. I looked up as my face was going under. I saw Bob holding onto a wheel of my bike. He yelled, “Grab the bike!” I don’t know where he found the strength, but soon I was out of the water and onto the snow. I was exhausted, but I rolled in the snow as we’d been taught. Snow acts as a sponge in getting the water off and out of your clothes after you fall through the ice.

It was quickly getting dark. Bob said we must return to the cabin, but I said if I returned to the cabin it would be morning before my clothes

hill at Kings Bridge Road. Then he pushed me until we reached the top at Military Road and Government House. By then my clothes had frozen stiff and it was difficult to pedal. My gloves were frozen to the handlebars, and the pain in my fingers and toes was excruciating. I begged him to let me just fall down and sleep in the snow. He alternated between yelling, threatening and pleading to keep me going as he pushed and pounded on me. I vaguely remember passing St. Bonny’s cathedral before we arrived at my house on Lemarchant Road. When we stopped, the bike and I fell over. I couldn’t stand without help, so he dragged me up the steps to the front porch. I was conscious, but so cold that I was no longer shivering.

He stood me at my front door, quietly opened it and pushed me in. I

Once more I hit bottom, and with all my strength I pushed off. I came to the surface, but immediately began to sink. I looked up as my face was going under.

tried to tell him to come in, but he interrupted me, stating he was not going to face my mother. He closed the door behind me and left.

I stood there for a long time trying to figure out what was going on. There was laughter and animated conversations just a few feet away in the dining and living rooms. People walked in and out the hall but didn’t notice me in the shadow of the front entrance. My parents were hosting a Christmas party. I quietly shuffled to the stairway and slowly made my way up the steps, the only way I could – backwards. I didn’t want my parents to see me in this condition. There’d be questions and I’d be banned from the scout cabin forever.

My five-year-old brother, Freddy, was watching the party from upstairs. I motioned for him to join me as I walked backward into the bathroom. I could barely speak as I told him to run the hot water in the bathtub. When it was full, he turned off the hot water and I told him to push me in, fully clothed. He did and it was hot! My fingers and toes began to respond immediately with excruciating pain. I came to the surface for air and then went back down to do the screaming. After a succession of breaths and underwater screams, my digits returned to some normalcy and the tub was becoming cold. I stood up and opened the window behind the tub. As the tub drained, I removed all my clothes and heaved them out the window into the backyard.

After getting dressed, I just wanted to go to bed. But Freddy had told Mother that I was home. So I went briefly downstairs to give her a hug and eat some treats, then I retreated to my room. I was asleep in minutes.

When school opened after the holidays, I thanked Bob for what he had done – and made him promise never to tell my mother. I had retrieved my boots and winter coat a couple of days after the incident, but most of the clothes were there in the spring after the snow melted.

My parents never learned of my harrowing experience. It was years before I fully realized the gravity of my situation: had it not been for Bob’s courage, loyalty and tenacity, I would have died that night at the edge of the pond or anywhere along those seven miles. He saved my life twice.

Robert Windsor has been my hero for nearly 70 years, and now he is gone. Such friends are so few in life.

(l-r) Carl Baggs, Mike Perkins, Bob Windsor

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Send to Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 or call 1-888-588-6353

Tony McGrath photo

The Beaten Path

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.

Last Month’s Community: Harbour Breton

Robert Carter photo

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.

Last Month’s Answer: St. Chad’s

Picturesque Place NameS of Newfoundland and Labrador

by Mel D’Souza

Use these 5 clues to identify where Ragged Rick is now:

• traditionally a fishing outport

• name makes you think of boats

• famous for the Devils Footprints

• part of the new Discovery Geopark

• Clark’s Chimney Hole is a sight to see

Last Month’s Answer: Snooks Arm

Mark Gray photo

In Other Words

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

Last Month’s Clue: Blessed items occur to individuals who linger In Other Words: Good things come to those who wait

This Month’s Clue: Thou constructed thy cot

In Other Words: ____ _____ _____ ____

A Way With Words

Last Month’s Answer: Once upon a time

Rhyme Time

A rhyming word game by Ron Young

1. The act of pointing fingers is a ____ ____

2. A funky smelling cloth is a ____ _____

3. A naked bruin is a ____ ____

Last Month’s Answers 1. bag tag, 2. poor score, 3. fat cat

Scrambled Sayings by Ron Young

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

’

E E N R

E Y M O T Y

A N O E I I N R S A E J M N T

D E H U

once A TIME Answer: ____ __ E H R V

I M S A B N T

E G L B R S W

A E O T Y H N N S

A I C S T T

E H M I I Y L O S T

Last month’s answer: What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?

E O U J

Rhymes 5 Times

Each answer rhymes with the other four

1. chair____________

2. femur____________

3. attitude____________

4. rock____________

5. possess____________

Last Month’s Answers: 1. stir, 2. fir,

3. blur, 4. murmur, 5. her

Don’t get your knickers in a knot!

Puzzle answers can be found online at

Tangled Towns

by Lolene Young Condon and Ron Young

Sound out the groups of words below to get a familiar expression.

For best results sound the clue words out loud!

High Moan Leak Hidden __ ____ ______

Dawn Judy Lame He ____ ___ _____ __

Last Month’s 1st Clue: Science Solve These Owed Yak. Answer: Signs of the Zodiac. Last Month’s 2nd Clue: Eight He Muff Forses. Answer: A team of horses.

A

nalogical A nagrams

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

1. SALESMEN VOCE

2. CHANOR TIPON

3. CLBAK CUDK VCOE

4. MALNOS CORK

5. ENGER SAILND ROBOK

Last Month’s Answers:

1. Wabush, 2. Lodge Bay, 3. Capstan Island, 4. Pinware, 5. Buckles Point

Unscramble the capitalized words to get one word that matches the subtle clue.

1. MONDAY ART ~ Clue: you just had to be there

2. TATER BY ~ Clue: everyone gets a charge out of it

3. SEED GRINS ~ Clue: their expressions are worn by other people

4. TEN HUMS NIP ~ Clue: it’s often a partner to crime

5. ROVE RUNT ~ Clue: apple lovers flip for it

Last Month’s Answers: 1. comforter, 2. sedentary, 3. pacing, 4. delicate, 5. calories

Four-Way Crossword

ForeWords • BackWords • UpWords • DownWords

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.

1-6: Mom or Dad

1-10: orphaned

1-31: overtake

1-91: ardent

3-6: lease

6-46: sample

6-96: elegantly

7-10: fewer

12-42: implored

15-12: harvest

18-15: rip

18-48: story

20-17: escort

21-24: slide

22-24: sass

24-4: urine

24-27: mail

26-29: male deer

27-29: kid’s game

29-49: doll

31-36: choose

32-36: vote in

33-3: deceiver

34-4: fencing sword

35-5: maize

42-45: sand hill

47-17: carry

47-44: adolescent

47-50: say

50-10: pitches

51-53: klutz

53-55: obese

55-95: rhythm

56-58: distant

56-60: charade

56-86: to the brim

58-8: pertain

58-98: pasture

59-89: penny

59-55: art

62-32: created

64-34: walkway 67-65: payable 70-67: cargo 71-91: devoured 75-45: dole

79-77: lodge

80-78: container

80-100: club

86-88: limb

90-86: holy being

91-96: use

91-100: work

92-62: injure

93-33: wretched

93-96: gimmick

94-64: letup

97-67: repair

100-10: plateaus

100-60: hold over

Last Month’s Answer

The Bayman’s Crossword Puzzle

by Ron Young

ACROSS

1. Phys. Ed. class

3. Fadder

5. short for sister

6. fish with baited hook

8. untidy person (colloq)

11. standing dead tree (colloq)

16. “He don’t know if he’s punched __ bored”

17. breezy

18. dinner time in NL

20. pancake (colloq)

23. reservoir maker

24. ship’s jail

25. Eagle River (abbrev)

26. each (abbrev)

27. Aquaforte River (abbrev)

28. extra

30. “Whaddaya __?”

31. foray after seals (colloq)

34. saltfish cart

36. soap making ingredient

37. Solomon’s Lane (abbrev)

38. Pa’s mate

39. how the caplin arrive

40. Little Heart’s ____

41. seal (colloq)

43. semicircle

45. Harry’s friend in “Visions and Vignettes”

46. putting down flooring (colloq)

DOWN

1. “Come day, go day, ___ ____

______” (3 words)

2. fish storage in the middle of a motorboat (colloq)

4. artificial intelligence (abbrev)

7. “What’re ye goin’ __ d’night?”

9. Coal Bin’s friend in “Different Strokes”

10. The Big Land

11. NL police offer pre-RCMP

12. community near Elliston

13. dock

14. in real life (abbrev)

15. “The Smokeroom on the ____”

19. paddle

21. open ___ service

22. armful (colloq)

24. Backside Pond (abbrev)

28. ______ of Belle Isle

29. “Snowing __ the reeves”

30. battery size

32. _____ Hawco, a.k.a. Jake Doyle

33. bloodsucker

34. beach used to dry fish (colloq)

35. sheep’s coat

37. steamship (abbrev)

38. common restaurant food additive

42. Osmonton Arm (abbrev)

44. Rodger’s Cove (abbrev)

CRACK THE CODE

© 2023 Ron Young

Food For Thought

Each food symbol represents a letter of the alphabet. Find the meanings to the words then match the letters with the food symbols below to get a little “food for thought.”

Last Month’s Answer: Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

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 VOLUNTEER AT A CAR WASH

Last Month’s Answers: 1. Ern’s arm, 2. Child, 3. Coke bottle, 4. Hair, 5. Collar, 6. Bannister, 7. Bottle, 8. Ornament on bookshelf, 9. Books, 10. Clock, 11. Player, 12. Picture frame

“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

HIDE & SEEK FRUIT

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

A N R F E Q M G T O O A C U P L X H G A P A S D F

N A N J Y A E E V T L Q R O J E Y O R L P I A D O

G N A Y Q P L C L P A F S H H M R J R P K C X R U

E A U N O R O C A P E M Y D Y O S I B X O D A Q Z

R O U W L I N K L P P V X I N N Y X T V V N P K Z

I E F X I C O H A G A A G D A T E G A E G R Y P S

N H C P M O O R H O Q F P H Z M S X Q E N M D Q O

E A F F E T G A E Y O S C A N T A L O U P E C V X

Z G U E P C H E R R Y O I V Z H K C H C A E P T X

V K B E F J Q D D I L V G

K F H T U N O C O C T

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.”

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.

GREAT GIFT IDEAS!

Newfoundland and Labrador - Brian C. BurseyHardcover #21213 | $26.99

Newfoundland and Labrador Guest BookBrian C. Bursey #2486 | $12.95

Lighthouses of Newfoundland & Labrador - Brian C. Bursey #36262 | $9.99

Newfoundland and Labrador - Picture BookBrian C. Bursey #77838 | $7.99

St. John’s, Newfoundland Booklet - Brian C. Bursey #16019 | $6.99

Discovering Newfoundland & Labrador - Brian C. Bursey #36263 | $14.99

The Two Lights - Luanne Langdon #83344 | $17.00

Born with the Sea in His Blood: Capt. John Hann Blackmore, MBE - H. Donald Blackmore #83617 | $22.95

Saving Maria LindseyJohn W. Goodland #83530 | $20.00

Purity Jam Jams #18709 | $6.99 Assorted Kisses #3997 | $4.99

Peanut Butter Kisses #4010 | $4.99

Rum & Butter Kisses #16805 | $4.99

Bull’s Eyes #1085 | $4.99

Spearmint Nobs #26990 | $4.99

Peppermint Nobs #4238 | $4.99

Purity Goodie Box #79290 | $59.95

Purity Gift Box #78550 | $23.95

Purity Hard Bread #78947 | $8.50

Tilting Quilts Canvas 11" x 14" #49805 | $42.99

Oars Canvas 10" x 16" #49757 | $42.99

Victoria Street Canvas 11" x 14" #49807 | $42.99

Lobster Pots in Witless Bay Canvas 11" x 14" #49806 | $42.99

Chunks of Ice Canvas 11" x 14" #49799 | $42.99

Mittens For Sale Canvas 11" x 14" #49801 | $42.99

Emma’s Clothesline Canvas 11" x 14" #51297 | $42.99

Sea Symphony Canvas 11" x 14" #51290 | $42.99

Tranquility Canvas 11" x 14" #49810 | $42.99