Downhome April 2019

1904-Cover-NL_0609-Cover-NFLD 3/22/19 8:47 AM Page 1

300,000

Reasons To Get Travel Insurance

$4.99 April 2019

Vol 31 • No 11

Make Your Own “Peeps” Tips for Budding Gardeners Surprisingly Good Tofu Recipes

1904-Cover-NL_0609-Cover-NFLD 3/22/19 8:47 AM Page 2

Have adventure in your heart?

Start with the ocean beneath your feet.

Your perfect summer vacation begins on our ferries.

Book your crossing today.

marineatlantic.ca

1904_Index_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:24 PM Page 1

1904_Index_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 9:10 AM Page 2

life is better Published monthly in St. John’s by Downhome Publishing Inc. 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 Tel: 709-726-5113 • Fax: 709-726-2135 • Toll Free: 1-888-588-6353 E-mail: mail@downhomelife.com Website: www.downhomelife.com Editorial Editor-in-Chief Janice Stuckless Assistant Editor Elizabeth Whitten Special Publications Editor Tobias Romaniuk Art and Production Art Director Vince Marsh Graphic and Web Designer Cory Way Illustrator Mel D’Souza Illustrator Snowden Walters Advertising Sales Senior Account Manager Robert Saunders Account Manager Barbara Young Marketing Director Tiffany Brett Finance and Administration Senior Accountant Karen Critch Junior Accountant Marlena Grant Operations Manager Alicia Brennan Operations Manager, Twillingate Nicole Mehaney

Warehouse Operations Warehouse Operator Josephine Collins Distribution Sales & Merchandising Joseph Reddy Sr. Customer Service Associate Sharon Muise Inventory Control Clerk Heather Lane Warehouse Associate Anthony Sparrow Retail Operations Retail Floor Manager, Water Street Jackie Rice Retail Floor Manager, Avalon Mall Carol Howell Retail Floor Manager, Twillingate Donna Keefe Retail Sales Associates Crystal Rose, Emma Goodyear, Jonathon Organ, Nicole French, Elizabeth Gleason, Janet Watkins, Melissa Wheeler, Rebecca Ford, Darlene Burton, Erin McCarthy, Chantel Boone

Subscriptions Sr. Administrative Assistant Amanda Ricks Customer Service Associate Ciara Hodge Founding Editor Ron Young Chief Executive Officer / Publisher Grant Young President Todd Goodyear Chief Financial Officer Tina Bromley

To subscribe, renew or change address use the contact information above.

Subscriptions total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL $39; AB, BC, MB, NU, NT, QC, SK, YT $40.95; ON $44.07; NB, NS, PE $44.85. US and International mailing price for a 1-year term is $49.00.

Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement #40062919 The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred, whether such error is due to the negligence of the servants or otherwise, and there shall be no liability beyond the amount of such advertisement. The Letters to the Editor section is open to all letter writers providing the letters are in good taste, not libelous, and can be verified as true, correct and written by the person signing the letter. Pen names and anonymous letters will not be published. The publisher reserves the right to edit, revise, classify, or reject any advertisement or letter. © Downhome Publishing Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission of the publisher.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

Printed in Canada Official onboard magazine of

1904_Index_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:24 PM Page 3

40

70 years young!

Contents

APRIL 2019

40 A Senior in Confederation On March 31, Newfoundland and Labrador marked the 70th anniversary of joining Canada. Writer Edward Riche gets inside the psyche of the youngest province now living the senior life.

54 Double Disaster Two eerily similar tragedies in the same family, generations apart. Did the Ryan family have a date with fate?

Kim Ploughman

78 Vacation Gone Overboard

78

300,000 reasons

For this couple, having travel insurance saved them $300,000 in unexpected medical costs.

Elizabeth Whitten

122 10 Historic Newfoundlanders and Labradorians You Should Know (but probably don’t) Elizabeth Whitten

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

3

1904_Index_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 9:17 AM Page 4

Contents

APRIL 2019

homefront 10 I Dare Say A note from the editor 11 Contributors Meet the people behind the magazine

12

way back when

12 Letters From Our Readers Remembering slate pencils, enchanting Newfoundland skies and a possible Titanic artifact.

20 Downhome Tours Explore Greece with Downhome

22 Why is That? Why do cats rub up against us and why does cutting onions make us cry? Linda Browne 24 That’s Amazing Wild news from around the world

26 Life’s Funny Social Media Savvy Joan MacArthur

27 Say What A contest that puts words in someone else’s mouth 28 Lil Charmers Future Farmhands

24 measure up

30 Pets of the Month Secret Life of Pets

32 Blast from the Past Remember CODCO?

34 Poetic Licence Spring in Newfoundland Wayne Taylor 36 Reviewed Denise Flint interviews Larry Mathews and reviews his latest book, An Exile’s Perfect Letter.

4

April 2019

32

a NL classic 1-888-588-6353

1904_Index_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 9:17 AM Page 5

64

bird’s eye view

38 What Odds Paul Warford cannot take your call right now.

features 44 Happy Campers How the Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp helps people of all ages and abilities make memories to last a lifetime Linda Browne

50

50 Sounds Like Home This unique

singing praises

man’s emotional search for his birth parents Ashley Miller

Ottawa choir sings the praises of the East Coast. Janice Stuckless

58 A Family Lost & Found One

64 Sure Shots Featuring photographer Bailey Parsons

explore

74 summer soundtrack www.downhomelife.com

72 What’s on the Go Exciting events happening around Atlantic Canada 74 Seven Summer Music Events Worth Travelling For April 2019

5

1904_Index_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 9:18 AM Page 6

Contents

APRIL 2019

82

barren and beautiful

82 Exquisite Life on the Barrens The limestone barrens in Newfoundland and Labrador is a complex, beautiful and precious ecosystem. Todd Hollett

90 My Celebrity Debut An unexpected evening at Woody Island Resort with some famous Doyles.

Ed Power

92 Stuff About What do the world’s

94

easter treats

largest squid, Mr. Dressup and Elvis Presley have in common?

food and leisure 94 Everyday Gourmet Make Your Own Peeps This Easter Andrea Maunder

98 Everyday Recipes 8 tofu recipes for every occasion

108 Down to Earth Tips for new vegetable gardeners Ross Traverse 6

April 2019

108 get your veggies

1-888-588-6353

1904_Index_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 12:02 PM Page 7

116

old time shopping

reminiscing 116 Flashbacks Classic photos of people and places

117 This Month in History Thomas Foley arrives in NL to set up the new police force in St. John’s

118 Visions and Vignettes Gnat, do you mind … Easter Fools?

Harold N. Walters About the cover This quintessential outport sunset photo by Julian Earle of Twillingate, NL, creates the perfect imagery to mark Newfoundland and Labrador’s 70th birthday as a Canadian province. Read award-winning writer Edward Riche’s take on the province's milestone on p. 40.

Cover Index 300,000 Reasons • 78 The Lonely Plants • 82 10 Historic NLers You Should Know • 122 Look Who’s 70 • 40 Make Your Own “Peeps” • 94 Tips for Budding Gardeners • 108 Suprisingly Good Tofu Recipes • 98 www.downhomelife.com

130 Powerless Against Nature The remarkable story of two men and a boy adrift in their small boat, at the mercy of a stormy sea for several days and nights Dennis Flynn 136 Between the Boulevard and the Bay A Sacred Trust Ron Young 140 Mail Order 143 Real Estate 144 Marketplace 148 Puzzles 160 Photo Finish April 2019

7

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 3:52 PM Page 8

8

Tickle Me Elvis – it’s not what you think. p. 92.

You’ve never seen NL like this before. p. 64

Get the story behind the story with our Downhome podcast DownhomeLife.com/podcast

Child’s Play: Easter Egg Decorating Search “easter” on DownhomeLife.com for design ideas.

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 3:54 PM Page 9

Submission Guidelines and Prize Rules

You could WIN $100!

Every reader whose PHOTO, STORY, JOKE or POEM appears next to this yellow “from our readers” stamp in a current issue receives $10 and a chance at being drawn for the monthly prize: $100 for one photo submission and $100 for one written submission. Prizes are awarded in Downhome Dollars certificates, which can be spent like cash in our retail stores and online at shopDownhome.com.*

Submit Today!

Send your photo, story, joke or poem to

Downhome 43 James Lane St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 or submit online at:

www.downhomelife.com *Only 1 prize per submitter per month. To receive their prize, submitters must provide with their submission COMPLETE contact information: full name, mailing address, phone number and email address (if you have one). Mailed submissions will only be returned to those who include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Downhome Inc. reserves the right to publish submissions in future print and/or electronic media campaigns. Downhome Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material. www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

9

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 3/1/19 9:29 AM Page 10

i dare say If I ever make records, it won’t be for singing.

For speed talking maybe, or finding the most ways to add chocolate to a diet – but not for making beautiful music. I love to sing and do it all the time, but, sorry folks, it’s just for my enjoyment. I’m not into inflicting pain on others.

The joke around Newfoundland and Labrador is that everyone here is born with a tune on their lips and a musical instrument in their hands. I must have skipped the line when those skills were handed out (I was probably over at the chocolate fountain). Fortunately, there are plenty of people in this province who can carry you away on their melodies. We have a rich musical culture here that exists naturally (“surely someone at this shed party can sing us a tune”) and is produced for mass consumption and even export – Sean McCann, Shanneyganock, Fortunate Ones, Kelly Loder and countless more are singing live somewhere in the world at any given time. So it’s no wonder we put off some of the best live musical performances you’ll find anywhere, from massive concert stages to small kitchen parties.

Generations of songwriters have also contributed to a massive canon of Newfoundland and Labrador music, creating our own distinct sound and lyrics that tell our story. Wherever we are in the world, when we hear the notes of a ballad or a jig sung by the likes of Ron Hynes or The Fables, we are transported home.

In this issue, you’ll find out where to catch some of those live performances, in Newfoundland and Labrador (p. 74) and in Ontario (p. 50). What you will not find is a link to my latest album.

Thanks for reading,

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

10

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 9:50 AM Page 11

Contributors

Meet the people behind the magazine

Kim Ploughman Becoming a writer was never a goal Kim Ploughman set out to achieve, it just sort of happened. “Writing fulfills a part of my creative side, and is therapeutic and inspiring. As the saying goes, one writes not so much to be understood, but to understand. Sharing a tale or a slice-of-life moment inspires hope that a story shared is never forgotten,” she explains.

In this issue, she tells the tragic story of the Ryan brothers lost at sea in 2004, and how 158 years before, an eerily similar tragedy occurred in the same family (see p. 54).

“Given its heartbreaking impact, it was hard not to be aware and get emotionally invested in the Ryan’s Commander tragedy, and the efforts

by Johanna Ryan Guy to affect safety changes in the industry,” Kim says.

“I was fascinated by the twin family tragedies, as it spoke to my spiritual curiosity about the whole mystery of life, the concept of synchronicity, and all the meanings and connections in life we never truly understand as humans.” www.downhomelife.com

Wayne Taylor Born and bred in Bonavista, NL, Wayne Taylor never saw much of a reason to stray too far from home. It’s a “beautiful place,” he says, “but a little drafty and cold this winter.”

Wayne is a lifelong lover of poetry.

There are poems he had to memorize in grade school that he can still recite to this day! The first poem he ever wrote was featured in a school publication, The Vista Star, in the 1950s.

In this issue, you can turn to p. 34 and read Wayne’s poem “Spring in Newfoundland.”

“The thing about poetry is that it can be read over and over and still provide entertainment. I currently have a file of more than 1,500 of my own compositions. I write what I write because it is about things that are important to me and the memories I have of growing up in a different Newfoundland from now,” he says.

“I find there is a joy in writing things in verse, for one is trying to say in a condensed form of language something that is entertaining, meaningful and insightful.”

April 2019

11

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 9:50 AM Page 12

Eastport Beach Our first winter trip home to Newfoundland from Red Deer, Alberta, wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Eastport beach!

Jocelyn Tucker, Via Downhomelife.com

Thanks for the laugh, Jocelyn. Eastport beach never disappoints, even in the dead of winter.

Interesting Reading I was reading through the Downhome and saw where the Blue Wave got lost on February 9, 1959 [Feb. 2019 issue].

I can feel what they must have went through because my husband was on a dragger coming up the same time. I think they were almost alongside of 12

April 2019

her when she iced up and sank. He was on the Penny Luck, owned by John Penny and Sons, but they went to Mijulin [sic] Head until the storm calmed down some. That was on February 9 and I had a son born on February 13. I am now 91 years old and lost my husband 23 years ago.

1-888-588-6353

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 9:50 AM Page 13

Then I read a bit more and came across the slate. I went to school with a slate and a slate pencil, a bottle of water and a piece of rag to clean it with. I got my first scribbler when we ran a race at a Sunday school picnic we used to have in those days. There were about five or six of us, and the man who was giving them out gave all of us one each. Those were books with rough pages, not like the exercise books we got later. We used a pen and ink and a lead pencil.

I grew up in the ’30s and times were not like they are now. But we survived it. After the Second World War started, things began to improve. I went to work as a clerk in a grocery store before I was 16 years old.

People who worked there didn’t get cash; they got what we called a “labour bill,” which they would bring to the store to buy things until was used up. That is pretty much the story of my early life.

started school in 1943. I started with a slate. Your article states that chalk was used to write on the slate. That is 100 per cent wrong. The teacher was the only one who used chalk and used it to write on the blackboard. No kid in our school used chalk. There was no need to because slates came with a slate pencil. It was about six inches long and as big around as a soda straw. It was made out of similar material as the slate, but a much softer rock that could be sharpened with a pocketknife. When you wrote on the slate, it made a white mark. The pencil was grey in colour.

Jack R. Budden Stephenville, NL

C. Keeping Ramea, NL

Thanks for sharing your memories with us. You must have seen so much change in your lifetime.

Anyone else have stories from your childhood long ago, or memories of people or events long forgotten or not talked about today? Write to us at Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3. Or send us an email at editorial@downhomelife.com. We are also always interested in sharing your flashback photos of people and places from long ago.

Remember Slate Pencils?

Re: Your article “Blast from the Past: Remember Slates” (March 2019). I www.downhomelife.com

Here is a photo Jack included with his letter. It is the slate that he used in 1943, passed down from his uncle who was seven years older than him. Jack says that six months after he started school, they got scribblers.

Newfoundland on Canvas Ancient, rustic, enchanting! A land that offers so much natural beauty and endless views for photographers, artists, sportsmen, and those seeking the peace and tranquility of lush April 2019

13

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 9:50 AM Page 14

find corky sly conner Hidden somewhere in this issue is Corky Sly Conner.

Can you find him?

Look carefully at all the photographs and in the text of the stories. If you spot Corky, send us your name, address and phone number, along with a note telling us where he’s located. Your name will be entered in a draw and the winner will receive a coupon worth 25 Downhome Dollars redeemable at our store, or through our website.

Send your replies to: Corky Contest

Congratulations to Wallace Greening of Gander, NL, who found Corky on page 89 of the February issue.

forests or rocky shores! During my two years in this magnificent province of natural beauty and wonderful people, I travelled around during the good weather, taking photos that I would paint onto canvas during the winter months. This painting is titled “The Arm.” It is a view looking northeast from Jerseyside towards Dunville.

Before I left my post in NL, I painted this scene on the wall behind the main desk of the Enlisted barracks high rise on the Argentia base. It was three feet by five feet in size. It was my gift before I had to leave Newfoundland.

This is the only painting I have left, as I gave away all of what I painted when there. I am hoping to return, and when I do, I will definitely bring my oils with me! Thank you Newfoundland, land of ancient songs that echoed through her creation from dense forests to crashing waves and 14

April 2019

43 James Lane St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3

mail@downhomelife.com www.downhomelife.com *No Phone Calls Please One entry per person

Deadline for replies is the end of each month.

rocky shores! To know her is to feel her heartbeat. You will be forever more captured by her enchantment!

Daniel Delancey Via email

By the evidence of this painting and your exuberant description of Newfoundland and Labrador in your letter, it seems your time here was nothing short of inspirational.

1-888-588-6353

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 9:50 AM Page 15

Newfoundland Skies Reading Janice Stuckless’s editorial in December’s Downhome, one line (about the stars) made us recall one of our favourite family stories.

It was summer 1992. We were visiting NL from London, ON. I and my wife Joanne, son Clint (10) and daughter Cally (7) had the occasion to be staying by ourselves at my brotherin-law’s cabin on Little Bonne Bay Pond. The kids were long in bed and my wife had just tucked in, so I went out to the generator hut to shut it down for the night. I paused, then looked around a bit.

When I returned inside, I went to my wife, who was snuggled in bed, and said, “Come here; you got to see this.”

“What? I’m already in bed,” she protested. But I insisted until she eventually came out onto the deck that faced the pond.

Grumbling a bit, she stood at the edge of the deck looking left and right and again asked, “What?”

I said, “Look up,” and she did. She stood for a moment looking up at the stars in stunned silence, then said simply: “Get the kids.”

Five minutes later we were all standing with necks stretched, heads back, looking at the magnificent cosmos more clearly than we had ever seen it before. The stars are also bright in the summer in Newfoundland.

Found on Facebook

Colin Cramm The Horwood Lumber Company Ltd. mill that was located in Campbellton, NDB. Back when it opened in 1914, the local mill had tokens to be used for in trade. There were only seven aluminum and brass tokens in this rare set (5 cent, 10 cent, 25 cent, 50 cent, $1, $2 and $5). I acquired this set of tokens from Nova Scotia the first part of January 2019, after years of searching.

My mother is from Campbellton and her grandfather, John Sibley, pictured above, was superintendent of the Campbellton mill for a long time, and his wife Rosanna worked as a cook in the cook house. This set of tokens means a lot to our family.

Bruce Manning London, ON

Day has turned to night since the dawn of time, but the sight of a starfilled night sky never gets old. It will stop us in our tracks every time. www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

15

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 3/1/19 1:07 PM Page 16

RECENT TWEETS Chris Donovan @chris_pj1991 Dandy day for a mug up

Piece of the Titanic?

I’m the son of Gug Giovannini and Emily (nee Turpin), both born and raised in St. Lawrence, NL. I have in my possession my grandfather’s (Joe Turpin, 1900-1960) homemade crib board. The story is that it was made from the flotsam of the Titanic. My mom said he never left home without it. When he passed, my grandmother, Caroline Turpin (nee Pike), gave it to my mom.

I wonder if any of your readers might have any information about this crib board. Maybe someone knows of a relative who might have given the wood to my grandfather, or maybe someone has a similar board.

I had the wood checked out and learned it is teak, which the Titanic was loaded with.

Rick Giovannini Weston, ON

Does anyone own a similar piece of the Titanic, or otherwise have any information about the origins of this crib board? Write to Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3; or email editorial@downhomelife.com.

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.

16

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 10:05 AM Page 17

Newfoundland Pony News Spring has sprung, so what better time to update you on Newfoundland Pony Society news: Land Granted in Hopeall, Trinity Bay We are excited about the 25 acres of land at Hopeall, Trinity Bay where we will create an exposition space for Newfoundland Ponies. Fences need to be built and the old buildings need repair before we can move ponies there. If you have labour or materials to offer, please contact us at president@newfoundlandpony.com. If you want to donate, you can find us on Canada Helps: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-newfoundlandpony-society/

Registrations are up!

The number of Newfoundland Pony registrations are up to 861.

We are engaged in a major campaign to track down and register as many as possible. You can help by encouraging the registration of any known Newfoundland Ponies. Our free DNA testing program is being extended, which is funded by NPS membership fees.

Get up Close with a Pony Come meet our gorgeous Newfoundland Ponies at the Downhome Expo at the Glacier arena in Mount Pearl from April 5-7, 2019.

Re-homing Committee We have a re-homing committee who find new homes for ponies.

Ontario-based NPS council member Korrine Affleck chairs the committee with dedicated volunteers in several provinces. If you can provide a good home for a pony, please contact: atlarge1@newfoundlandpony.com.

Webstore Coming Soon We are launching a webstore with NL pony-inspired products. Visit www.newfoundlandpony.com for more information.

Top: Shalloway’s Wind in the Willows owned by Wayne Jordan of Perth, Ontario

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 3/1/19 12:56 PM Page 18

Ongoing Mystery In a previous edition I mentioned the article in question is a scribe used by surveyors, forestry personnel and, one presumes, others to make, for example, numbers and letters on corner posts of land boundaries in the forest. I have used an instrument as shown in the photo on a great many occasions for marking on survey corner posts.

For example: To make the letter C, one sets the point (top left on the photo) on the flat spot on the wooden post or board and, by angling and turning the instrument, cuts a top portion of a circle with the cutting piece on the top right side (shown on the photo). Then with the angled (45 degree) piece on the long side (left in the photo), pull the cutting edge to a desired length and repeat step #1 to

complete the bottom of the letter C. To make an O instead, repeat step #1 to make the complete rotation of the instrument.

The cutting edges must be sharp in order to make clear, lasting cuts. The posts were normally painted and the scoring would last for extended periods.

John Sinclair Pictou, NS

Thanks for that written demonstration of this tool, John.

Barrel Carver My grandfather, Henry Simms, and my dad, William Simms, used these tools. They were both master coopers (barrel makers) and gaugers. The tool was used when gauging rum or molasses that was shipped in wooden barrels or drums from Jamaica back in those days.

The barrels were placed on the wharf in St. John’s harbour. As a kid, I would help them by knocking the bungs out of the barrels, and Grandfather and Dad would then use a gauging stick to measure the quantity of rum or molasses in each barrel.

18

April 2019

Once the amount was determined, they would use the mystery tool to carve it into the side of the barrel.

They would also carve the code name of the company that the barrel was destined for.

I still have that particular tool and the gauging sticks that were used to measure the volume in each barrel.

Ray Simms Ottawa, ON

Thanks for this information, Ray, and insight into how some things were done years ago.

1-888-588-6353

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 3:03 PM Page 19

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

19

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 9:50 AM Page 20

homefront Downhome Tours...

Greece

Athens Adventure

During a Mediterranean cruise there was a stop in Athens, Greece, where Anthony Strong of Sarnia, ON visited these ruins.

Submitted by Doug and Elsie Strong

One of the oldest cities in the world, Athens was an independent city-state centuries ago. Considered to be the birthplace of democracy, it celebrated the arts and was home to different philosophical schools, including Plato’s Academy and Aristotle’s Lyceum.

20

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 9:50 AM Page 21

Santorini Sunshine

Ron Doucet and his wife Wilma of Labrador City, NL, were visiting Santorini when they snapped this photo.

Known for its blue-domed churches, Santorini is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, approximately 200 km southeast from the mainland. It also happens to be the centre in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc. One of the largest recorded volcanic eruptions happened here 3,600 years ago.

By the Seashore

While on a Mediterranean cruise, Stephanie visited Mykonos, which reminded her of home. Submitted by Karen Simon of Margaree, NL Mykonos is a Greek island that’s part of a group of islands called the Cyclades. Known as the “Island of the Winds,” it gets its name from the grandson of the Greek god Apollo. It’s a popular tourist destination, where the sun shines up to 300 days a year! www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

21

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 3/1/19 1:09 PM Page 22

Expert answers to common life questions.

By Linda Browne

Why do cats rub up against us?

Cats are indeed curious creatures. At one moment they look like they’re about ready to pounce, hissing and claws out in full force; the next, they’re purring and contentedly rubbing up against your pant leg like you possess the world’s last remaining supply of catnip. While the latter behaviour might make you go running for the lint brush, it’s also a seemingly sweet gesture that makes us question if our feline friends perhaps don’t really hate us after all.

But why do they do this? We turned to the experts at the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) for answers and learned that when a cat rubs up against you, they are communicating, leaving their scent and showing acceptance.

“The rub may be a full-body rub or they may just use a flank, tail, cheek or other body part. This rubbing may be affiliative in nature, which means they are being friendly, or they may be trying to deposit scent,” says Dr. Terri Chotowetz, president of the CVMA. Sebaceous glands that deposit the cat’s scent, Dr. Chotowetz says, are located around the lips and chin, between the digits, and around the anal area. When cats rub up against us or other cats or inanimate objects, usually with their face, she adds, they leave olfactory signals. “It has been suggested that this rubbing behaviour 22

April 2019

leaves a group scent, which cats use to identify their social group,” she says.

While this can be viewed as a friendly gesture, Dr. Chotowetz says, “anything a cat does is always open to interpretation!”

She adds, “There are some cats that will rub against a new person, then when that person goes to pet them, they will bite or hiss. Physical contact is important to cats as a way of building social bonds, but there is much variability between individual animals.”

Cats are territorial by nature, and while they may sometimes rub up against anything from couches to computers as a way to “claim” them, usually, Dr. Chotowetz says, “territories are marked by scratching, which allows them to deposit scent on the object from interdigital glands. Cats will also mark their territory with urine, feces or both.”

1-888-588-6353

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 3/1/19 1:09 PM Page 23

Why does cutting onions make us cry?

If you’ve ever prepared food, you’ve likely at some point fallen victim to the common culinary catastrophe of cutting into a strong onion. Perhaps that’s a dramatic overstatement, but nobody can deny that the stinging, tear-inducing effect of this seemingly innocent root vegetable is less than pleasant.

When we chop into an onion, we are setting off a chain reaction, which is part of the onion’s defence system. Dr. Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society (OSS) – which aims to separate fact from fiction through critical thinking and science communication – digs deeper into this phenomenon on the OSS website.

“The smell produced by a cut onion is actually a form of chemical warfare the plant has evolved to ward off pests.

When an insect attacks the bulb, tissue damage unleashes a sequence of chemical reactions resulting in the release of propanethial oxide, an irritating substance designed to repel the attacker,” he writes.

“The substance contains a compound called 1-propenyl-L-cysteine sulphoxide, which reacts with enzymes to form a gaseous sulphurcontaining chemical known as the lachrymatory factor (propanethialS-oxide).”

The vapour permeates the air and reaches our eyes, where it mixes with moisture to form sulphuric acid,

which makes our eyes water, Schwarcz writes. Eventually, the tear glands are activated and voilà: the waterworks start flowing to flush out the irritant.

For eons, folks have been devising ways to put an end to the crying game.

In 2008, researchers at the Institute for Crop and Food Research in New Zealand used genetic engineering to produce a tear-free onion without the enzyme lachrymatory-factor synthase (which makes us cry).

We could easily make do with a meal without onions, but for many, swearing off this pungent powerhouse of a vegetable is simply a no-go. So what do we do to eliminate the tears?

Some suggest letting your onions chill out in the refrigerator or freezer beforehand, or cutting them under running water. The US-based National Onion Association also recommends cutting into the root end of the veggie last (since it has the highest concentration of tear-inducing sulphuric compounds).

Of course, you can always wear goggles. You may look silly, but it’s cooking, not haute couture!

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

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

?

April 2019

23

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 9:50 AM Page 24

homefront

That’s

AMAZING Wild news from around the world

Robowaiter

IT company E-Szoftverfejlesztö has opened up a café in Hungary called Enjoy Budapest Café, where many of the staff are robots. They can take orders, deliver food and drinks, and even dance for your entertainment!

Knitt-nacks

More than 1,000 people from 32 countries sent in their contributions to secure the Guinness World Record for largest hand-knitted blanket (non-crochet). It was all assembled at an arena in Ennis, Ireland and measured 1,994.81 m² in total. Afterwards, it was divided into smaller blankets and given to the Irish Red Cross.

Runaway Nun

Medieval historians at the University of York have come across a tale in an Archbishop’s register of a 14th-century nun faking her death to escape a convent. Joan of Leeds is said to have created a dummy that was buried in her stead.

She then went on to live the high life, and it’s uncertain if she ever returned to the convent.

24

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

homefront 08-25_Homefront - Letters 2/28/19 9:50 AM Page 25

Moose Madness

For 31 years, Mac the Moose was the largest moose statue in the world. At 10 metres, it presided over the fittingly named town of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. However, the title was recently awarded to Norway’s Storelgen, a statue that’s 30 centimetres taller than Mac. While Storelgen was built in 2015, the debate only heated up recently and resulted in current discussions on how to make Mac taller to reclaim the title.

Cat Attack

A British art historian recently announced that a 17th-century British painting he was restoring had been damaged.

The culprit: Padme the cat.

The man had paid C$9,000 for the painting and had already spent about C$8,500 to restore it before Padme got its paws on it.

Cave Dweller

Scientists have discovered an insect that might date all the way back to the last Ice Age. Named Haplocampa wagnelli, it was found living in a cave near Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The white, translucent bug is about three millimetres long, has no eyes and walks on six legs.

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

25

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 9:53 AM Page 26

homefront life’s funny

Social Media Savvy While visiting my daughter and her family over the Christmas holidays, my daughter Kelly was giving my grandson Nathan, who’s five, a bath. She opened a new bar of Dove soap and gave it to him. He looked at it and said, “Mommy, this soap has the Twitter bird on it!”

Joan MacArthur Doyles, NL

Do you have any funny or embarrassing true stories?

Share them with us. If your story is selected, you’ll win a prize! See page 9 for details.

26

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 9:53 AM Page 27

“Do I have grass in my teeth?”

- Robin Cuff

Say WHAT? Downhome recently posted this photo (sent in by Denise Lima) on our website and Facebook page and asked our members to imagine what the horse might be saying. Robin Cuff’s response made us chuckle the most, so we’re awarding her 20 Downhome Dollars!

Here are the runners-up: “Are you kidding me, a recall on my hay?!” – Paula Romaniuk “Myrtle! I don’t think that was the weeds we were supposed to eat!” – Melissa Butt “Who wants to see duckface selfies when you can do horseface?” – Fran Coursolle

Want to get in on the action?

Go to www.downhomelife.com/saywhat

www.downhomelife.com

“Like” us on Facebook www.facebook.com/downhomelife

April 2019

27

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 9:53 AM Page 28

homefront lil charmers

future farmhands

Out Like a Lamb Heidi loves to play with the lambs on her poppy’s farm.

Sara Mang Branch, NL

Goat Milk?

Jack tries his hand at bottlefeeding Maybelle the baby goat.

Pam Whitten Goulds, NL

28

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 9:53 AM Page 29

Fun at the Farm While Ella poses for a quick picture, this pony takes a playful munch on her hair!

Krista Nippard Portugal Cove, NL

Sweetness Everywhere Five-month-old Christian Downey’s first trip to the berry farm was a great day for picking!

Sandra Mitchell Lewisporte, NL www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

29

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 9:54 AM Page 30

homefront pets of the month

secret life of pets Big Ambitions Three-month-old Jack is trying to keep up with his older and bigger brother, Rocky.

Andrew Ralph Mount Pearl, NL

Tea Time Teddy the teacup yorkie enjoys his morning cuppa.

Betty Elliott Grand Falls-Windsor, NL

30

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 9:54 AM Page 31

Waitin’ on a Breeze Tommy Ford finds it awfully hot at the cabin and tries the human approach to cooling down.

Claudette Russell St. John’s, NL

Free Kisses Bubbles loves giving kisses – it even says so on her bandana!

Mahalia Hillier Gander, NL www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

31

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 11:08 AM Page 32

homefront

Remember CODCO? It was 31 years ago when this group of young, funny, enthusiastic Newfoundlanders first lit up CBC-TV with their unique brand of sketch comedy. CODCO was a half-hour show starring Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones, Andy Jones, Greg Malone and Tommy Sexton, plus guest appearances by other local actors.

Much beloved, charmingly flawed, recurring characters included Mr. Budgell (Malone), Dickie (Sexton) and the Friday Night Girls (Walsh and Jones).

CODCO the theatrical troupe was actually founded by Sexton and Diane Olson in 1973, when they wrote a satirical play called “Cod on a Stick,” which was performed in Ontario and back home in Newfoundland and Labrador. (Among the performers was Robert Joy, who grew up in St. John’s, 32

April 2019

NL, and went on to have a successful career in American television and movies.)

In 1978, Sexton and Malone were part of another hit, Wonderful Grand Band, a musical comedy act. In addition to successful albums, WGB had its own CBC-TV show with more than 40 episodes aired in the early 1980s.

CODCO ran on CBC from 1988 to 1993, after which several of the actors continued on TV with “This Hour Has 22 Minutes.”

1-888-588-6353

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 11:08 AM Page 33

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 9:54 AM Page 34

homefront poetic licence

34

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 9:54 AM Page 35

Spring in Newfoundland

by Wayne Taylor, Bonavista, NL

It’s spring in Newfoundland again the equinox has come But we don’t have spring weather yet for winter time still runs The woods are still in winter garb there’s lots of ice and snow And winter clothes are still required for temperatures are cold The equinox don’t always mean spring is reality It’s just the textbook date that we learned in geography The sun may be on its way back towards the northern line But that provides no guarantee that weather will be fine For likely past the equinox pack ice will come to shore And with the gales of northern wind cold weather is in store The skies will be more grey than blue no tender shoots of green Upon the alders and the birch until May will be seen But once the date of equinox comes by, to us it seems That winter sometime will pass by and spring is not a dream A time when nature warms a bit a time with softer wind A time to look to summertime before autumn starts again.

Daniel Rumbolt photo

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

35

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 9:54 AM Page 36

homefront

reviewed by Denise Flint

An Exile’s Perfect Letter Larry Mathews Breakwater Books $19.95

An Exile’s Perfect Letter is a follow up to author Larry Mathews’ first novel, The Artificial Newfoundlander. It continues the adventures (which may be too strong a word) of that book’s protagonist, Memorial University English professor Hugh Norman.

Now in his early 60s, Hugh is suddenly encountering death everywhere he turns, whether it be that of an old friend, a stranger in the woods or the scholarly magnum opus he’s lost interest in. Through itall he stays somewhat bemused, both by events and by his own reaction to them.

Hugh is an English professor and Mathews depicts him accordingly.

Without being pretentious, his thoughts and words are naturally and automatically peppered with reference to literary works and people who would be familiar to someone in that position. If Robert Creeley, Hayden White or Don DeLillo aren’t names that trip off the tongue, well, the reader can look them up – or ignore them. None of these references are critical to the plot. Mathews doesn’t talk down to the audience. But he doesn’t coddle them either. It’s no less authentic than a skeet talking some street patois in a different kind of novel.

An Exile’s Perfect Letter is full of gentle mockery. Mathews doesn’t pick on any one group to skewer. CFAs, both resident and visiting, and native Newfoundlanders are all ridiculed in turn, and it’s done beautifully with subtle wit and elegant prose.

Unfortunately, there’s not enough plot for my taste. The book begins, goes on for a while and then ends, almost at random. I would have liked a more defined story arc.

36

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 9:54 AM Page 37

Q&A with the Author Denise Flint: Do you feel that as an English professor you’re held to a higher standard when it comes to writing a book yourself?

Larry Mathews: Not at all! When you

look at some of the writing that’s being produced today, you’ll find most of the people are not English profs. I’m in a writing group and much of the novel was read out to the group, and my main goal was to keep people entertained and interested from paragraph to paragraph and that’s as lofty as my goal is – to keep people focused and enjoying it.

DF: Why did you decide to revisit the characters from The Artificial Newfoundlander rather than do something different?

LM: It was the course of least resist-

ance. I wanted to write another novel, and I thought why not just pick up the story of the same guy a few years later? As the writing went on, it started to look like a novel. It was the easiest alternative at the time. I am working on another novel now that will be completely different from the other two.

DF: Do you feel like an outsider, like you’ll never really be a Newfoundlander yourself? Would that be true everywhere?

LM: Oh yes, I think that’s inevitable.

I’ve been here since 1984, and I’ll always be a mainlander and there’s always going to be a sense that I’m not from here. I think maybe not in other parts of the country. There’s such a strong sense of identity here. In Alberta www.downhomelife.com

or British Columbia, there’s a strong sense of being from somewhere else.

DF: Can you explain the title of the story?

LM: The title came last. I was sort of

scrambling… for a title. It’s a line from a Leonard Cohen poem for E.J. Pratt.

It was quite well anthologized at one point. I guess my narrator is looking back at his life. He’s been in Newfoundland for over 20 years and still thinks of himself as from elsewhere; and in that sense, the Cohen line seemed to resonate with me and the tone of the book. I thought it was a nice thing to have at the beginning as an epigraph.

DF: People are going to wonder – how autobiographical is this book?

LM: Well it’s very autobiographical in

the sense that Hugh’s perception of the world is similar to mine, but all the plot and actions are invented. It’s autobiographical in the sense that here is a representative consciousness from the mainland who has lived here for a very long time. I did have a friend who died after not seeing him for 20 years, which may have been the well spring for the novel.

DF: Now that you have a couple of novels under your belt, do you wish you’d started sooner?

LM: I wish I’d had the energy or talent

to start sooner. I never thought I’d get this far. I never thought I’d get one published. It would have been nice if I’d started sooner, but I’m happy where I am now, to have achieved this much.

April 2019

37

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 9:54 AM Page 38

homefront what odds

hold the phone

By Paul Warford

The first When I hit Grade 11, my parents put in second phone line. I got my very own phone cellphone I the number and a sleek black cordless phone to go bought was with it! A great gift, but I recognized it as a neceselectric pink sity as well; even with my older brothers no longer calls just weren’t getting through. because pink’s atIhome, spent my adolescence on the phone, planning a “girly colour” weekend activities or talking video games with my and I wanted buddies. My mother has a photo of me, pimply and grinning, holding a phone to each ear while I’m my phone to chatting with two separate friends. make people With the added mobility of the cordless, I could in the den and look at my neighbour Sarah uncomfortable talk through the window while she talked back. She’d because it stand at her kitchen’s hexagonal porthole and made me make fun of my glasses while we discussed the crushes we had and just what we were to do uncomfortable. about them.

These days are different. Right now you can’t call me. I don’t have a phone. I haven’t been in possession of a phone since December 23, 2018, when some mischievous elf stole my charging iPhone from my car while I trundled gifts for the drive around the bay to Mom and Dad’s for the holidays.

My wife Andie doesn’t have a cell phone at any time because she prefers to communicate through smoke signals and email. We also don’t have a landline, so for the past two months we’ve only been accessible through Facebook messenger and delivered telegrams.

I never wanted a cellphone in the first place, y’know. As the flip phone gained popularity and texting caught on, I felt strongly opposed to this new communication where you hunched and thumbed your way through a conversation that could easily be spoken in a couple of breaths. I didn’t understand it then and I don’t get it now.

My parents were insistent I join the masses when 38

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 9:54 AM Page 39

I was living off the island, and they’re a bit paranoid – what if I fell into a ravine or got stranded in an elevator?

What would become of me?

The first cellphone I bought was electric pink because pink’s a “girly colour” and I wanted my phone to make people uncomfortable because it made me uncomfortable. Once I’d moved back home, I learned the new numbers of all my old friends, and we still called to let each other know when to meet at the coffee shop. I guess it wasn’t so bad.

But now? Well, what can I say?

Nothing that will change our culture’s current trajectory, but I think we’ve been driven off-course by these devices, leaving decency and humility as specks in the rear-view. Sometimes I’m blown away by what can become normal and how quickly it can happen. If I’m with a circle of friends and our chatting is interrupted by dings and buzzes, or someone suddenly bends their neck like a feeding bird to read the illumination they’ve unholstered, I’m supposed to accept this as socializing. Fifteen years ago, there weren’t enough of us saying, “Hey, can you put that away while we’re talking?

You’re being rude as hell right now.”

The result is a society where completely disregarding your immediate company is okay as long as it’s with good reason. Of course, what constitutes “good reason” is a tad skewed as well. When I was teaching, if I caught a student on their phone during class, the most common person they were www.downhomelife.com

communicating with was their parent.

As for my parents, they’re no less obsessive over my safety, and now I’m hearing familiar pleas to “get a phone,” and once more I’m the lone reed breaking in the wind. Why fight it? Technology never goes backwards, and this is the reality I live in.

To be fair, living without any phone has been a bit like the Middle Ages.

You can order pizza online from select pizzerias, but if you’re peckish for something different, snowbound on a Sunday, you’re going to want a phone for placing orders. I tried to get a pizza a few weeks ago, but the places taking online orders were closed. I tried logging on to Skip The Dishes for the first time. I browsed and selected the flavour of chicken wings I wanted, plus a drink. I could even specify the driver’s tip ahead of time. Pretty convenient. To finalize my order, I just had to verify my phone number via a text message… I was left hungry and a tad embarrassed.

When I got my own phone line in 1999, I never imagined that in a few short years everyone would have their own phone in their pocket at all times. And I certainly wouldn’t have guessed that no one would be speaking into them.

Paul Warford began writing for Downhome to impress his mom and her friends. He writes and performs comedy in Eastern Canada.

Follow him on Twitter @paulwarford

April 2019

39

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 10:07 AM Page 40

homefront

On March 31, Newfoundland and Labrador marked the 70th anniversary of joining Canada. Writer Edward Riche gets inside the psyche of the youngest province now living the senior life.

40

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 10:08 AM Page 41

Happy 70th birthday

to Canada’s “Happy Province.” You’ve been a “senior” for five years.

There is no denying it: you are officially getting long in the tooth. “Elderly” sounds like an affliction, so let’s go with calling you an “elder,” which has a ring of prestige, connotes respect.

You have to go to the doctor more often than you’d like to now. You went to see her about Burnt Head. But she says that it was nothing to worry about, and the good news is that you’re Heart’s Content. She thinks your latitude is a little high for someone your age. You know it – you really feel the damp and cold these days, your isthmuses ache and you think you might be developing Bull Arm. No wonder. You have worked long and hard: in the fishery for a time, as a nurse on the South Coast, in St. John’s chained to a desk, and with the cousin, Alberta, for a patch.

The doctor is on about your diet. Admit it; you weren’t completely honest about the quantity of salt meat you are still eating. Or salt pork or salt fish. You are going to have to watch the salt. You were skin and bones before Confederation, half starved on the dole during Commission of Government. Have to admit you are a little big now. You’re going to have to limit Mary Brown’s to special occasions. But 70 years old or not, there is no way you are denying yourself a fi and chi with dr and gr from Leo’s when you are in town on business. What would be the point of living?

You never go on a tear like you used to (there was many a time!); you can’t take the punishment the next morning and you don’t sleep well at the best of times. But you still enjoy the occasional nip and cannot resist singing songs long into the night. For whatever reason, the one thing you never forget, even as you get more forgetful, are the words to all the old tunes. The younger crowd are always impressed when you belt out the “When blinding storm gusts fret thy shore / And wild waves lash thy strand / Thro’ spindrift swirl and tempest roar” verse of the Ode, or sing to them that “Jim Brine, Din Ryan, Flipper Smith and Caroline” were also at The Kelligrews Soiree.

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

41

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 3/1/19 9:31 AM Page 42

Couples like Newfoundland and Labrador always have their troubles, but you’ve managed to work through them. There’s been the occasional row, but you each have to admit that there is no one who would understand either of you better than the other. Face it: you are both a little weird.

In a moment of youthful exuberance, you did the Upper Churchill project and overlooked some of the contractual details; never thought of the long-term consequences. But in 1969 you were just 20, and what 20year-old thinks about their future?

The Sprung Greenhouse, that was a mid-life crisis; you see that now. You were flush with oil money, so you spent too much on Muskrat Falls. Live and learn.

Couples like Newfoundland and Labrador always have their troubles, but you’ve managed to work through them. There’s been the occasional row, but you each have to admit that there is no one who would understand either of you better than the other.

Face it: you are both a little weird.

And what a brood you two produced! Hundreds and hundreds of thousands of them, most of them gone off on their own now. Cousin Ontario needed the extra hands and imagination, so you didn’t try to stop the youngsters from going upalong to lend assistance. Your kids have done well there. That’s the problem with having children: you raise them to be interesting, independent people, capable of fending for themselves, and they go off and have their own interesting lives.

And the grandchildren, alas, they are more Canadians than Newfoundlanders. That’s the way it goes.

42

April 2019

The place seems so big and empty with them gone that you’re wise to be taking people in. And the crowd from the Philippines and Syria have turned out to be best kind, so you hope they will stick around to have their own families, the next generation of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

With age comes wisdom, the greatest of which is gratitude for all you have. You finally see that. All along, you were looking for something you already had. You tried being like other Canadian provinces, you carried on like Florida for a brief interval, but now, at 70, you know who you are and all your blessings. You can stand on a mountain up north, black spruce in an eternity of white, and hear not a sound, nothing, pure silence. You know the bliss of a boil-up in the country after a day picking berries. Another day you’re up early to go out for a few fish and the sun is rising over the water of the bay and you can smell the sea. Until you’ve seen enough of them, you don’t realize that every dawn breaks anew, that every sunrise is unique.

You are 70 and there’s nothing you want. You realize you have it all.

A writer for the page, stage and screen, Edward Riche was born in Botwood, on the beautiful Bay of Exploits. He now resides in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. 1-888-588-6353

homefront 26-43 _Homefront 2 2/28/19 10:08 AM Page 43

* Some conditions apply. See dealer for details. **Offer based on value of RV sold. Offer does not apply to past units purchased.

Collector Card must be provided within 30 days of purchase to get Miles. See Dealer for details. ®™ Trademarks of AM Royalties Limited Partnership used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. and Lakewood Development Corporation o/a Parkside RV.

44_LionMaxSimms_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:24 AM Page 44

features

44

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

44_LionMaxSimms_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:24 AM Page 45

the smile on Evan Alexander’s face speaks volumes. It’s hard not to feel his excitement and pure happiness as the bright­eyed boy looks into the camera.

For the past six years, Evan, 14, (pictured right) has been attending Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp with his grandparents, Junior and Josephine Humphries of Labrador City.

Spread across 25 acres of land along the banks of the Exploits River, just outside of Bishop’s Falls, the fully accessible facility gives Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with varying physical and mental abilities a true camp experience. Whether it’s the occasional horseback ride, roasting marshmallows and singing songs by the campfire, or just www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

45

44_LionMaxSimms_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:25 AM Page 46

playing games with friends, Junior says it’s an experience that Evan, who was born with cerebral palsy, very much looks forward to. “When we turn off the Bay D’Espoir Highway there, he gets all excited, he starts squealing. He’s like that until we get to camp,” Junior says.

“And they all know each other… the camaraderie there is unreal.

They’re so friendly, they’ve always got a smile, nothing upsets them.

It’s so great.”

A Fitting Tribute

Officially opened in 1981, the Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp gives people of all ages and abilities the chance to unwind, experience the great outdoors, meet up with old friends and make new ones. It is named after the late Max Simms, a member of the Corner Brook Lions Club and the last International Councillor of Lions International, who embodied the very spirit of volunteerism, charity and community that the organization embraces.

46

April 2019

Campers enjoy a ride on the pontoon boat.

1-888-588-6353

44_LionMaxSimms_Features 0609 3/1/19 1:12 PM Page 47

Photo courtesy of CNIB NL

Left: Campers make a splash at the Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp.

Right: The Lion Len Small Memorial Trailway is a wheelchair accessible trail system that encompasses the full 25 acres of land.

Simms (who passed away in 1977) had diabetes and heart trouble, but even after losing both of his legs and his vision later in life, he remained an active member, attending meetings in his wheelchair.

“He was determined to continue on living his life as he had always lived it, and he didn’t let his disability hinder him from doing the things he wanted to do,” says Corinna Burton, camp manager.

The first campers to break in the grounds 38 years ago were 55 members of the CNIB. Since then, Corinna says, they have regularly hosted camps for a number of groups throughout the summer months, including the provincial chapters of the Autism Society, the Canadian Council of the Blind, the Canadian Hemophilia Society and Special Olympics. This year, she says, they hope to host their first paediatric cancer camp. They also host four www.downhomelife.com

open camps each summer for any individual or group with special needs.

The camp is open year-round and is a truly inclusive and welcoming space, consisting of 38 rooms (which can accommodate 96 people), a staffed commercial kitchen and dining room, three common rooms, a gymnasium and a games room. The facility, nestled among spruce, fir and pine trees, is housed under one roof with wide corridors to accommodate those with mobility issues.

There are also accessible showers, as well as lifts and a small number of medical beds for those who might need them. Outside, campers can enjoy a swimming pool, wheelchair accessible hiking trails, campfires, fishing and rides in a pontoon boat on the Exploits River, just to name a few of the summer amenities.

“Everything’s wheelchair accessible, so we take their chairs right April 2019

47

44_LionMaxSimms_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:25 AM Page 48

onto the boat. And when you look at something so simple as going for a boat ride, some of these campers... have never ever been on a boat. We take them out onto the Exploits River and we go out and we have a little ride with them,” Corinna says.

“And that’s what the camp is all about, is being able to give them an experience that they wouldn’t normally have in their own community.”

It Takes a Village

Running a facility like the Lion Max Simms Memorial Camp (the only camp of its kind in Atlantic Canada) is no small feat, and without the support of the provincial Lions Clubs and the wider community, Corinna says, it wouldn’t exist.

ground (which was matched by an ACOA Canada 150 grant), as well as the wheelchair accessible trail that was recently developed around the camp’s perimeter.

The public also helps support the facility by renting it for private events (from September to midJune), with all the rental money going back into the operations side of the camp.

In addition to raising money for the facility, the Lions also sponsor campers and cover their fees and sometimes, if they’re able, their transportation costs.

“Every year since we’ve been going now, the Lions Club of Labrador City has been paying our registration, which is fantastic,” says Junior,

“And that’s what the camp is all about, is being able to give them an experience that they wouldn’t normally have in their own community.”

The camp is governed by a board of directors consisting of 10 Lions members from around the province; the camp manager, program director and summer students run the programs. Since it receives no government assistance (aside from the Canada Summer Jobs program to hire staff), most of the funding for the camp and its activities comes from the volunteer fundraising efforts of the Lions Clubs of Newfoundland and Labrador.

“They put thousands of dollars into the camp each year, just for upkeep.

And they fundraise for any bigger purchases that the camp might need,” Corinna says, like the new $200,000 fully accessible play48

April 2019

who’s been a member of the Lions Club for almost 40 years.

“And the people there that are running it... they’re fantastic. They go out of their way. They’re above and beyond what they do. Even the cooks that provide the meals, they know just about every person there by first name and they’re always out talking to them. It’s wonderful.”

One for All

During a typical summer season, the facility hosts anywhere from 1,000 to 1,200 campers, who range in age from several months to 90 years.

People attend from all over the province (and as far away as Nova Scotia), and the friendships and 1-888-588-6353

44_LionMaxSimms_Features 0609 3/1/19 1:12 PM Page 49

Campers in 2012 had fun with a Hawaiian theme. bonds that form are unbreakable.

One couple that met at camp even ended up getting married.

“We’ve got a group from the Goulds who have been coming for years upon years to our open camp, and they only get to see their friends from Burgeo at that camp every year. So it brings them together from across the province,” Corinna says.

It’s not just the campers who benefit from the facility, she adds, but the parents, chaperones and summer students as well.

“We’ll take the campers and work alongside them for crafts and activities during the afternoons. And that kind of gives the parents and the escorts a little bit of a break and gives them a little bit of social time to be able to interact… it’s a big network that gets created,” Corinna says.

“Our student staff, when they leave here after the summer, they come to www.downhomelife.com

appreciate things in their own lives that probably they just took for granted and [it] gives them a clear insight. We’ve had so many students who have come through our programs here that have become nurses and social workers and that kind of thing.”

Aside from the fun and games and friendships, perhaps the camp’s greatest power lies in its ability to be an equalizer. There’s no judging or staring or pointing fingers, just freedom, support and a strong sense of community.

“I always mention the young man that came to camp. He stood up when he was getting ready to leave and he said, ‘I just love this camp... I don’t ever want to leave. It makes me feel like a real person,’” Corinna recalls. “And that stuck with me right from that day, because that’s what it’s all about.”

April 2019

49

50_Choir_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 9:23 AM Page 50

features

50

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

50_Choir_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 9:23 AM Page 51

It’s Sunday afternoon

and the audience of 300 or so are settled into the pews of Centretown United Church in Ottawa.

There’s rustling and murmuring through the crowd as the choir they’ve come to hear file to the front, close to 80 of them in their white shirts, and black pants and skirts. As they take their places, facing the audience, familiar patterns come into view: tartans displayed on neckties and scarves, specific to the province each member chose to represent: Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Taking her place with them is Margaree, a Newfoundland dog. The choir begins the first notes and for the next while, the singers fill the room with the sometimes haunting, sometimes joyful sounds that evoke the spirit of the East Coast. They are, after all, Atlantic Voices: The Newfoundland and Labrador Choir of Ottawa.

Founded in 2002 by soprano Kristina Curren, who was looking for a musical way to connect to her Newfoundland and Labrador roots, Atlantic Voices has enjoyed 17 years of success in the nation’s capital.

“There were people from the Maritimes and Newfoundland and Labrador who are just away from home, and they wanted to get back to that. And one way to do it was to start singing that type of music,” explains Atlantic Voices president Winston Babin, who’s been with the choir since 2007. He and his wife are both www.downhomelife.com

from New Brunswick and moved to Ottawa in 1988.

“I’m not a trained singer, and a lot of our members are the same. We are not trained singers, but everyone loves to sing,” Winston says. “I always enjoyed singing and when I was asked to join this choir by a former Newfoundlander, who was a friend, I was really not too sure about it. So I joined in September and I told the director, well, we’ll see how this is going because I had no idea about music, I couldn’t read music. Since then, I’ve learned so much. And it’s April 2019

51

50_Choir_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 9:23 AM Page 52

Atlantic Voices at a memorial ceremony for the Battle of BeaumontHamel held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, July 1, 2015.

Richard Lawrence Photography

such a joy to be able to get up there and sing and see all these people really enjoying it. It really makes all the work of preparing for it really worthwhile. And I would expect you would get that same reaction from most of our members.”

There is no audition process for this community choir. Anyone can apply, though currently the choir’s ranks are full and there is a waiting list of about a dozen people. “They just don’t leave. They keep coming back. And we were really, really surprised by that,” Winston says of the current members. “There’s usually a turnover. In the last three years or so, they all come back. So I think they’re all enjoying it very much.”

Once in, choir members pay dues to help with costs, which include the tartan neckties for the men and scarves for the women. They meet 52

April 2019

every Tuesday night at the Riverside Churches of Ottawa (a muti-denominational facility) for practice, led by choir director Scott Richardson (a Nova Scotian) and accompanist Theresa Clarke. “They are just the most fantastic people; we call them our dynamic duo,” Winston says.

“And we have so much fun. Our rehearsals are so much fun. It’s so great to be able to learn something in an atmosphere like that.”

Their “matriarch” is Hannie Fitzgerald, a “very proud Labradorian,” Winston says. She’s involved in every aspect of the choir. “Without her I’m not sure what we’d do.”

She’s also a longstanding member of the choir’s house band, the Fumblin’ Fingers. “They play before each one of our concerts. They basically warm the crowd up for us,” Winston explains.

1-888-588-6353

50_Choir_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 9:23 AM Page 53

Another crowd pleaser at their shows, and a regular at their rehearsals, is a Newfoundland dog.

In their 17 years, there have been three Newf mascots: Tiika, who passed away in 2015; Splash who recently passed; and now Margaree – a fitting outport name for a Newfoundland dog. “Margaree is at every rehearsal with her handler, sits there and enjoys the music,” Winston says.

And the audiences are thrilled to see her at the concerts. “She steals the show every time.”

Atlantic Voices puts off two big concerts a year, on the last Sunday in January and the last Sunday in May. They also perform at special events, such as July 1 Beaumont-Hamel memorial services. They’ve produced 29 albums of their music to date, which they sell during their concerts.

It’s one way they raise a bit of money; another is an annual yard sale. They also have a silent auction, which is held after each concert in combination with another very downhome thing they do – a scoff.

“It’s quite something, We get 300 people and they come down[stairs] and have a look at all the stuff and bid on them, and then we have a lunch served to them – sandwiches, sweets, that sort of thing, tea. It’s quite large,” Winston says. “We try to make each show more like a kitchen party idea. It almost feels like family instead of just the choir doing something. That’s a big part of it.”

Atlantic Voices attracts not only East Coast expat singers, but also anyone with a love of choral music and the Atlantic provinces. Same goes for the audience, which Winston says includes a large contingent from www.downhomelife.com

Atlantic Canada, but also folks from all over. The choir is also a hit at local seniors homes, where they often perform between concerts.

They have an extensive library of music, Winston says, and the director draws upon that to create a theme for each concert. “Like our last show [January 2019] was ‘Music from the Big Land,’ which is Labrador. So it was all Labrador music, which was really interesting because we’ve gone for so long that we didn’t have enough music for a show strictly on Labrador. But it turns out that some very interesting people – like Kathleen Allen, for instance, who is a Newfoundlander – they… arrange music so that it can be sung by a four part choir,” Winston explains.

Their next concert is coming up on May 26. Its theme is “Wakes, Weddings and Whiskey: A Downhome Kitchen Party.” Says Winston, “The idea is celebration and the things that go along with celebrations... We usually have about 14 selections that we do.” (And while it may not be in this year’s lineup, Winston says, yes, they have performed “The Night That Paddy Murphy Died.”)

There is a healthy choral community in Ottawa, with plenty of choirs, but there are none like Atlantic Voices. As far as Winston knows, theirs is the only choir that concentrates on one geographical region.

“The other concerts, of course, have the choice of doing any kind of music they want, but we don’t because we’re restricted to what our repertoire is, which is Atlantic and Celtic music,” Winston says.

And that niche, it seems, has been hitting all the right notes.

April 2019

53

54_RyanTragedy_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:27 AM Page 54

features

DID THE RYAN FAMILY HAVE A DATE WITH FATE?

By Kim Ploughman

54

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

54_RyanTragedy_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:27 AM Page 55

SOMETIMES

two tragic family events, alienated by a multiple of years, can have an eerie connection to one another.

Johanna Ryan Guy knows all too well that spine-chilling feeling when highly improbable events show up in the family tree.

While immersed in researching the Ryan family surname, information from her cousin, Mike Ryan, in Halifax, NS, caused her to catch her breath. “When I opened the email, I was shocked at the news that there was another tragedy at sea in the Ryan family line,” she says.

Johanna, an author and business woman from Bonavista, NL, is well-known across the province in association with a vessel tragedy 15 years ago that claimed two of her family members. As she recently found out, that was the second such tragedy to befall her family. The first one happened 158 years earlier – to the day.

Johanna Ryan Guy

The Tragedy of the Ryan’s Commander In 2004, Johanna’s two brothers, David (Dave) and Joseph (June) died off Cape Bonavista after their four-month-old ship, the Ryan’s Commander, capsized in heavy seas. The $1.8-million, 65-foot longliner wrecked off Spillars Cove after offloading shrimp at Bay de Verde. While four other crewmembers survived, Dave and June, aged 47 and 42 respectively, perished.

The tragedy devastated the close-knit family. Their hometown of St. Brendan’s, a small fishing island in Bonavista Bay, as well as the whole province helped bear the Ryan family’s unspeakable sorrow. Their heart-wrenching story and their mourning also made national and international headlines.

A few years later, a federal report concluded that the vessel design and lack of a full stability assessment were factors contributing to the fatal sinking of the fishing boat. In part to spur changes in the industry and to pay tribute to her brothers, Johanna www.downhomelife.com

Johanna’s brothers, Dave and June, who perished when their vessel "The Ryan's Commander" capsized off Cape Bonavista in 2004 Courtesy Johanna Ryan Guy

April 2019

55

54_RyanTragedy_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:27 AM Page 56

The Ancestral Ryans

Johanna wrote her book to honour her two brothers and spur industry safety changes.

published a best-selling book about her intimate loss in 2008. Ryan’s Commander: The Boat That Should Not Have Sailed has been described as a gripping and essential read for anyone interested in the shipping industry and fishing safety culture.

“Other than burying my brothers, writing this book was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life,” Johanna confesses. The project helped her face the painful reality that the men were not coming back, and it gave her a mission as an advocate going forward. “I couldn’t stop trying to make others understand how it all happened, how it should not have happened, and how it should never happen again. It was as if I had to ensure their deaths made a difference; if not, it would all be for nothing.”

56

April 2019

It was last year that Johanna first received information that her Ryan ancestors were also involved in a boating disaster. She was naturally awestruck by this new thread in her ancestral fabric, especially as a more bone-chilling connection would be revealed.

Historical data shows that in September 1846, a great gale swept up the US seaboard and ravaged eastern Newfoundland. According to another cousin Michael (who has since passed away), Johanna’s greatgreat-great grandfather Patrick’s two sons, William James and John, were caught in its grip. Returning from a fishing trip, the crewmembers of what is believed to be the Lavinia were making a hasty retreat towards land.

The massive storm, causing high tides, descended upon the region before the crew was able to reach port in St. John’s. Their fish-filled schooner wrestled against the hurricane-strength winds, but apparently capsized outside the Narrows. All hands drowned.

“I understand that, under siege by the storm, the schooner cut towards the boat basin. Then when she cut back towards Chain Rock, they lost her; and she went ashore on the head, right under Cabot Tower,” Johanna says.

The “Great Gale of 1846” also struck the Grand Banks of Newfoundland with horrendous force, causing widespread damage and a great loss of life. Before the storm finally passed, 65 men and 11 boats were lost.

Onshore, multiple fishing stages 1-888-588-6353

54_RyanTragedy_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:27 AM Page 57

Headstone of Patrick Ryan - father of William James and John, who perished in a marine tragedy on September 19, 1846

and wharves were destroyed by the high winds and heavy rainfall. (As it was, St. John’s was still recovering from the Great Fire of 1846, which ravaged the city three months earlier, on June 9. In fact, a brother and sister were killed instantly when a spacious unfinished building affording shelter to some displaced by the fire was flattened by the gale.)

The Grand Banks Genealogy website, a popular resource for tracing family trees in this province, contains a photo of the headstone of the original Patrick Ryan from Ireland in the King Cove Catholic cemetery.

Below his date of death (February 25, 1856) it reads, “Also his sons, William James and John, who drowned at St. John’s Narrows.” The date of their deaths is listed as September 19, 1846. The same day in September that their descendants, brothers Dave and June Ryan, drowned in a fishing vessel sinking, in a storm, in 2004. www.downhomelife.com

Johanna recalls her reaction to this shocking revelation. “The drowning tragedy linkage was one thing, but when I got to the part about the date, I was floored.”

On the same date, but 158 years apart, two fishing boats went to sea seeking its riches. Both tried to outrace a storm back to port. The two vessels capsized and two sets of brothers in a family line drowned.

Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung pointed such coincidences toward unus mundus – the idea of one world connecting everything and everyone.

Jung coined the word “synchronicity,” a causal connecting principle, to describe the unexplainable.

For Johanna, this real life twin tragedy in her family across time and space will forever haunt her thoughts. “This possible date with fate of the two family drownings 158 years apart still leaves me bewildered,” she says. “I mean, what are the chances?”

April 2019

57

58_A Family Lost and Found_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:29 AM Page 58

features

58

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

58_A Family Lost and Found_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:29 AM Page 59

It started out

as a typical outport childhood for Wallace (Wally) Collett. Growing up in the isolated (now abandoned) community of Harbour Buffett on Long Island in Placentia Bay in the 1940s, he recalls hours spent as a young lad spreading fish on flakes to dry, digging into Sunday dinners of corned beef and cabbage, and playing by the ocean.

For him and others, excitement in the remote harbour was triggered by the arrival of the coastal boat. “Half the community would gather on the wharf that night, usually it was after supper, dark in the evenings, when the boat would come in,� remembers Wally, now 81, speaking over the phone from his home in New Brunswick. The coastal boat delivered vital supplies, mail and passengers. On one unforgettable occasion, the vessel brought with it a mystery that would confound Wally for much of his young life.

Once a year, a trunk arrived for his family. It contained clothing of all styles and sizes, plus toys for the children. His Aunt [left] Ted Baker (left) travelled to New Brunswick to meet his son, Wally (right), in 1963. Though they lived miles apart, the men were shocked to learn they had good friends in common.

All photos Courtesy Wally Collett

[above] Handwritten letters sent to Wally (pictured) by his birth father in the early 1960s remain cherished possessions to this day.

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

59

58_A Family Lost and Found_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:29 AM Page 60

Gladys Collett – beloved by Wally and his siblings – sent the gently used items from Montreal, where she worked for a wealthy family.

“It was kind of like Christmas in the middle of the summer,” Wally fondly recalls. The most memorable of all the gifts he received from his aunt in this manner, he says, was his first teddy bear, which he proudly showed off around the tiny cove.

“An old lady down there was always hanging out her kitchen window in the summer to see and hear what she could…I show her the teddy bear and she asks who gave it to me. ‘Oh, my Aunt Glad,’ I told her, whereupon she tells me, ‘Oh my dear, that is not your Aunt Glad. That is your mother.’”

For young Wally, the brash admission was understandably jarring, but not far-fetched. From a young age, he’d wondered why his parents and siblings (Holletts) didn’t share his last name (Collett) – a point that got him taunted at school. But could his cherished aunt really be his mother?

Finding out wouldn’t be easy.

“In those days it seemed that it was an accepted thing that a child is not told about his or her background,” says Wally. “No matter how many questions I asked, no answers were forthcoming.” As Wally got older, he grew more desperate to know the truth about his past. His own sleuthing eventually uncovered his biological father’s name (Ted Baker), which he found as a teenager on documents hidden in his family’s home.

“I decided to keep it all inside me and somewhere, somehow, someday I would get to the bottom of it all,” says Wally. Years later, he finally did – and not a moment too soon.

60

April 2019

The Search for the Truth Wally left Newfoundland as a young man in the mid-1950s for a career with the RCMP. Training took him to Ottawa, near where his Aunt Gladys still lived in Montreal. During his many visits to see her, Gladys confirmed she was, in fact, his birth mother. Wally revelled in those opportunities to bond with her and learn all he could about his past. “[Those visits] were beautiful, they were emotional, because we really went back to the day I was born and talked about the whole thing,” says Wally.

Upon his birth in 1937, Gladys was a young, unwed woman living in St. John’s, where his father, Ted, worked as a policeman, she told him.

The couple parted for religious reasons (an all too familiar tale in those days in Newfoundland). Told by a priest that she must renounce her Protestant family before marrying Ted, a Catholic, she refused; the pair split before Wally was born.

Gladys initially had a friend babysit her newborn son while she worked.

When that was no longer an option, Gladys asked the hospital where Wally was born to care for him until she could make other arrangements.

“She would go in and visit me all the time, and this one particular day she went in and I wasn’t there… she was totally devastated,” says Wally, retelling the sad story as Gladys (who’s since passed away) told it to him years ago. Without her knowledge, hospital staff had arranged to transfer the care of Wally to her 1-888-588-6353

58_A Family Lost and Found_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:29 AM Page 61

Wally and his birth mother, Gladys

family in Harbour Buffett. Gladys’ newlywed sister, Susan Hollett, offered to raise him (though he was never formally adopted). With few options, and comforted that her son would be reared by family, Gladys agreed to keep his origins a secret.

“I think she was always haunted by it,” says Wally. “One thing she told me, she said she had several opportunities to marry, and she said she promised herself she would never marry until I was settled down, I was married and had a home of my own,” says Wally.

True to her word, six months after Wally was wed, Gladys finally tied the knot as well. Wally would remain her only natural-born son.

Putting the Past to Rest Having finally established a relationship with his birth mother, Wally set his sights on finding his biological father.

“I really got obsessed with it. I www.downhomelife.com

would spend nights on patrol in the police car and I would be thinking about it,” remembers Wally. Eventually he wrote the Chief of Police in St. John’s, hoping for any lead on Ted Baker, a former member of the Newfoundland Constabulary.

“A short while later I got a reply, and in it was all the information I could ever have hoped for,” says Wally. The response included a current address for Ted in Philadelphia, USA. Wally nervously mailed a letter.

He received a reply from his birth father within days.

“The letter was very pleasant. He said, ‘I know who you are and I want to see you.’ I cried,” remembers Wally. Months later, Ted travelled to visit Wally in New Brunswick.

“Even when I talk about it now I get all choked up,” says Wally, recalling the 10 days in 1963 that he spent getting to know the man who had fathered him.

“We just talked and shared about everything under the sun.”

April 2019

61

58_A Family Lost and Found_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:36 AM Page 62

Wally and his birth mother, Gladys, who he referred to as Aunt Glad as a child

Sadly, within a year of their meeting, Ted passed away. Wally attended his funeral in Philadelphia, where he met Ted’s siblings and children. Suddenly, Wally’s already large family became even larger, with the addition of several aunts, an uncle and siblings. Shortly after Ted passed, Wally and his wife had their third son, whom they named Christopher Baker Collett in honour of his birth father.

Wally keeps in contact with that branch of his family, and in recent years he paid a visit to Ted’s birthplace, Conception Harbour, NL. “I found the old family homestead, where he was brought up. The house is not there; it was left abandoned and fell down. I walked through the area and I found the remnants of an old wood and coal stove. I picked up one of those round cast-iron covers off the stove, and I brought it back to New Brunswick with me,” says Wally. He’s since painted a scene on the piece, which he displays in his home in a nod to his roots.

62

April 2019

Fortunately, Wally had more time to bond with his birth mother, who lived to be 88. He eventually made arrangements for Gladys to live near him in New Brunswick, where he could care for her in her final years.

“I was so very, very blessed to have had the chance to do that for her, especially since she was not able to really care for me in my growing up years,” says Wally. She passed away in 2003, and Wally – who eventually retired from policing and became an ordained minister – gave the sermon at her funeral.

As he looks back on the long and interesting life he’s led so far, Wally holds no grudges for the secrets that were kept. He is, however, full of gratitude for having had the chance to connect with each of his birth parents in a meaningful way, and for the Holletts, who took him in and raised him as one of their own.

“If I hadn’t been able to find my roots I think I would still be a very frustrated person,” says Wally. “It made me feel that much more whole.”

1-888-588-6353

58_A Family Lost and Found_Features 0609 2/28/19 9:37 AM Page 63

64_Sure_Features 0609 2/28/19 11:22 AM Page 64

features

sureSHOTS Featuring photographer Bailey Parsons

The art of photography has always been about the unique view a photographer takes on a subject. Drones have taken that to a whole new level, offering angles and perspectives never seen before.

“Flying drones in itself is quite the entertaining hobby, but pair it with photography and the only time you’ll get me away from the remote controller is when the batteries need to be charged,” jokes Bailey Parsons, a 64

April 2019

part-time photographer from Stephenville, NL, who is currently studying for a Bachelor of Science degree at Athabasca University in Alberta. Bailey’s images of overhead views of the Humber River, water1-888-588-6353

64_Sure_Features 0609 2/28/19 11:22 AM Page 65

falls, coastal Newfoundland, Alberta farmland and more are visually stunning, if not dizzying.

Drone photography, Bailey explains, has the same basic foundations as traditional camera work, but with some technological challenges.

“A camera is a camera, whether it’s in your hand or attached to a drone 100 feet in the air. That being said, for drone photography you still need www.downhomelife.com

a basic understanding of camera settings, and having a creative eye doesn’t hurt either. The major difference is that you can’t directly see what you’re taking a photo of; you can only see it on a small screen on your remote controller as it looks through the drone camera. Another difference is that the cameras on drones are not yet advanced enough to truly compete with the quality of a April 2019

65

64_Sure_Features 0609 2/28/19 11:22 AM Page 66

good handheld camera, due to their smaller sensor size. The big advantage of drone photography, though, is that it allows you to view and capture the world in unique ways that wouldn’t be possible with a handheld camera.”

Drone photography also requires extra planning, as weather and battery life are influencing factors.

Because drone batteries typically last 15-25 minutes versus a full day with a hand-held digital camera, Bailey has to know exactly where and what to shoot before putting the drone in the air, and will often scope out the area beforehand using Google Earth.

Checking the forecast is also critical 66

April 2019

because drones don’t fly very well in winds over 35 km/h or in rain or snow.

The other things drone photographers have to be respectful of are the very strict federal government regulations around where you can and cannot fly drones. Says Bailey, “Drone regulations are the same across Canada; however, it’s much easier to fly in Newfoundland because the population density is sparse and there is a vast amount of wilderness to fly in without disturbing others or breaking laws. Sometimes when I go on a trip to a more built-up or populated area I won’t even take my drone out of the case 1-888-588-6353

64_Sure_Features 0609 3/1/19 1:17 PM Page 67

because it’ll be impossible to avoid breaking laws, such as flying close to an airport, people or buildings, or interfering with emergency services.”

Since Bailey’s first camera, a Fujifilm Finepix bought on vacation in PEI in 2011, he’s been continually looking at the world through a lens and spent about seven years practising photography before buying the first drone, a DJI Phantom 4 pro in 2018. Bailey invested in a second, more compact drone, the DJI Mavic Air, for travelling light, when hiking, for example. For anyone thinking of getting into drone photography, Bailey advises getting skilled with a traditional camera first.

“You don’t want to be flying your drone while also looking down at your controller, fumbling with camera settings.

That’s a huge safety hazard. Even though most drones are equipped with obstacle avoidance sensors, they don’t work in all circumstances or you may have forgot to turn them on at all,” Bailey cautions. “You should go to an open field and practise flying your drone before you attempt any complex aerial photography. Have an idea where you want to fly as well, or check out the no-fly zones on DJI’s website, because you may have to travel a ways from your house or even town to be able to fly legally. And have fun!”

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

67

64_Sure_Features 0609 2/28/19 11:22 AM Page 68

68

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

64_Sure_Features 0609 2/28/19 11:22 AM Page 69

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

69

64_Sure_Features 0609 2/28/19 11:22 AM Page 70

70

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

64_Sure_Features 0609 2/28/19 11:22 AM Page 71

Are you an amateur photographer with a great portfolio?

Would you like to be featured in an edition of Sure Shots?

Tell us a bit about yourself and send us a few sample photos by emailing editorial@downhomelife.com (subject: sure shots). www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

71

072_whatsonthego_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:30 PM Page 72

explore

what’s on the

Go

March 28 – May 3

Cobourg, ON "Newfoundland, the Damnedest Hullabaloo" is a 12-part celebration in Cobourg and Port Hope, an hour east of Toronto, featuring Greg Malone, Russell Wangersky, The Door You Came In, and a Kitchen Party with Dave Paddon, Christina Smith and Jean Hewson. For details on dates and locations visit www.connectnlc.ca Greg Malone

April 6

Django Malone photo

Corner Brook, NL The music of Merle Haggard lives on, held dear by musicians and music fans, but, sadly, the man himself no longer lives. Locally, several musicians have come together to create a tribute act, with a show at the Rotary Arts Centre.

April 6, 12 and 13

Corner Brook & St. John’s, NL April 5-7

Mount Pearl, NL Where can you find a Newfoundland pony, delicious curry food, the solution to your heating problems, ideas for your next staycation adventure, and handmade jewelry, all in one place? The Downhome Expo at the Mount Pearl Glacier, that’s where! With more than 100 exhibitors, games and prizes for the whole family, and a special kidoriented Fun Zone, there really is something for everyone.

72

April 2019

The Newfoundland Craft Beer Festival is part social event and part beer exploration. The festival brings in off-island breweries that you may not otherwise get an opportunity to enjoy, and there’s a good chance that local favourites will also be available.

The festival takes place April 6 at the Corner Brook Civic Centre and April 12-13 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Quidi Vidi, St. John’s.

1-888-588-6353

072_whatsonthego_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 1:19 PM Page 73

April 8-19

April 23

Various Locations, NL

St. John’s, NL

Comedian and actor Shaun Majumder – “This Hour has 22 Minutes” alum and founder of Burlington’s The Gathering festival – is bringing his stand-up comedy show to Arts and Culture Centres across Newfoundland and Labrador.

Along for Majumder’s Hate Tour ride is fellow NL comedian, Matt Wright.

The Fluvarium, that round building in Pippy Park with an underwater window, is hosting an Easter Family Fun Day. There’s crafts, face painting, egg games, a visit from the Easter Bunny, plus salmon egg viewing with the chance to adopt an egg and release the fish once the eggs hatch.

April 26

Halifax, NS

April 11

Clarenville, NL Check yourself out of that “Heartbreak Hotel” and prepare yourself for a visit from the king because Elvis has entered the building. Thane Dunn’s Elvis Rock and Country Experience is at the Eastlink Events Centre for one night only.

Canada is home to some of the world’s best figure skaters, including Patrick Chan, Kaetlyn Osmond, Meagan Duhamel, Eric Radford, Elvis Stojko, Jeff Buttle, Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje – and they’re all going to be skating in the Stars On Ice show at Scotiabank Centre.

April 18

Charlottetown, PEI Colin James is one of Canada’s top blues musicians, but he plays more than just the blues, having released a jazz album and some rock-tinged albums, too. He’s playing the Confederation Centre of the Arts this month, along with singer/songwriter Roxanne Potvin.

www.downhomelife.com

April 29

Moncton, NB The music of Mozart provides the soundtrack for the romantic comedy ballet Figaro, performed by Atlantic Ballet Canada at the Capitol Theatre.

This performance has received critical acclaim and is sure to please fans of dance.

April 2019

73

74_Concerts_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:32 PM Page 74

explore

Every good memory has a soundtrack.

A certain song can evoke a specific point in our lives so vividly that we can see, hear, taste and feel the moment as if we’re right back in it. In Newfoundland and Labrador, nothing gets the blood pumping like music. It’s a part of almost every get together around the fire, inside the shed or at the kitchen table, with professionals or in the company of friends. There are ample opportunities to listen to, or partake in, memorable music sessions in Newfoundland and Labrador – so much so that you’re likely to just stumble upon them. But if you’re a planner, or you’re only visiting a particular area for a short time, here are seven music events this coming summer worth travelling for.

74

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

74_Concerts_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:32 PM Page 75

Angela Sullivan photo

Sullivan’s Songhouse

Did you see the viral video of an impromptu Newfoundland kitchen party in the departure lounge of Pearson International Airport a couple years ago? Did you wish you could have a time like that? Well, you can. The passengers performing for stranded travellers were Sheldon Thornhill and Sean Sullivan, and you can catch them all summer long at Sullivan’s Songhouse in Calvert on the Southern Shore of the Avalon Peninsula. Every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon from June 1 to October 26, the house band and guest performers put off an honest-to-goodness kitchen party (minus the alcohol for this family friendly affair). The shows are for small groups of 8-25 people, and tend to sell out. Visit their website, SullivansSonghouse.com, for details.

Roy Babstock Beaches Accordion Festival

You’d be hard pressed to find more accordion players in one place than at the annual Roy Babstock Beaches Accordion Festival in Eastport and Salvage. This July weekend is organized by The Beaches Arts & Heritage Centre and gets toes tapping to traditional tunes. If accordions, fine folks, and kitchen and shed parties are your thing, check out BeachesHeritageCentre.ca or follow them on Facebook for the latest information on this July’s event.

George Street Festival

It’s the biggest week of the year for outdoor concerts at Prince Edward Plaza in the middle of this famous bar strip. Thousands fill the street and the clubs and dance into the wee hours to all genres of music. While the headline acts were still under wraps at press time, this is the 35th annual George Street Festival, so you know it’s going to be special. The festival takes place August 1-7.

Stay tuned to GeorgeStreetLive.ca for updates. www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

75

74_Concerts_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:32 PM Page 76

We asked on Facebook

What’s the best Newfoundland and Labrador musical act you’ve ever seen in concert?

We really struck a chord with this question and were flooded with responses. Here are some fond musical memories made with Newfoundland and Labrador performers.

Were you at any of these events?

Alan Doyle in his Come Out With Me tour in Kitchener, Ontario, in 2017. Raymond P. Murphy Harry Hibbs at the Caribou Club, Toronto.

Mick Brown Great Big Sea, Salmon Festival. Edith Tobin Mercer The Idlers at The Ship. Lori Billard Split Peas in Twillingate. Brian William Hey Rosetta! at Writers Festival, Woody Point. Marie Hickey Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers in Alberta. Cynthia Scott A Fine Crowd at the Blarney Stone. Dolores Ivany-Fagan The Once, NL Folk Festival. Cathy Murphy Corey Tetford at The Rooms. Joy Barfoot The Derina Harvey Band, George Street Festival. Alaina Carolyn Hawes Wonderful Grand Band, Burin back in the late ’70s or early ’80s – I think they played at Burin Cinema. Melissa Darby McArthur Shanneyganock on George Street. Gerri Gullage

Mussel Bed Soiree

Every August, the Town of Lewisporte puts off the Mussel Bed Soiree. A weeklong community festival with activities for the whole family, a highlight is the big Concert in the Park. Past performers have included Alan Doyle, Sass Jordan, Shanneyganock, Johnny Reid, Glass Tiger, The Fables, just to list a sampling.

It’s always a good mix of local and national talent, something for everyone.

This year’s lineup is yet to be revealed.

For updates, visit MusselBedSoiree.com.

The Gathering

Founded and led by Canadian comic and hometown boy Shaun Majumder, this Burlington festival is a smorgasbord of food, comedy and music. Past Gathering goers have been treated to performances by The Once, Rachel Cousins, Sherman Downey and George Canyon.

Dates and performances weren’t available at press time, but if you’re going to be in the Baie Verte area in August, check online at TheGatheringBurlington.com for updates on this oneof-a-kind event.

A. Frank Willis, Newfie Pub, Ottawa, ON. Shawn C Piercey Great Big Sea and Crush at the Millennium Centre in Antigonish around 2002-03…

Hey Rosetta! at the Backlot… and The Navigators at Whelans Gate in Corner Brook…

Renee Catherine Benoit 76

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

74_Concerts_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:32 PM Page 77

Alick Tsui photo

Annual Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival

Spread out over three exciting days, this festival is the coming together of community and culture. Presented by The Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Arts Society with a host of volunteers, sponsors and partners, the festival is a summertime tradition shared by thousands. It is the premier event for soaking up the very best and most loved of Newfoundland and Labrador performers, as well as interactive workshops, local art and crafts, and food and drink. This year’s event runs August 9-11 on the grounds of beautiful Bannerman Park, St. John’s.

All the latest news, including the lineup when announced, is at NLFolk.com.

Iceberg Alley Performance Tent

Launched in 2017, this has become the annual music event to top all others in Newfoundland and Labrador. Inside a giant 36,000 sq. ft. tent erected in Pleasantville alongside Quidi Vidi Lake, thousands gather over 11 days for powerful performances by local, national and international musicians. This year’s event is slated for September 12-21. Not all performers were made public by press time, but those released so far have fans super excited. Metric kicks things off Sept. 12. Alan Doyle is headlining a NL traditional night on Sept. 14, joined by Shanneyganock and Celtic Connection. Loverboy, Kim Mitchell and David Wilcox take the stage on Sept. 21. Get the latest lineup details as they are announced at IcebergAlleyConcerts.com. www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

77

78_travelinsrance_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:34 PM Page 78

explore

VACATION GONE

OVERBOARD For this couple, having travel insurance saved them $300,000 in unexpected medical costs.

By Elizabeth Whitten 78

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

78_travelinsrance_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:34 PM Page 79

THE PLANNING ALL DONE AND BAGS PACKED,

Bill Jenkins and his wife Shirley Lucci were really looking forward to their vacation last December. After an eight-day stay in New Orleans, they’d sail away on the Norwegian Breakaway for a 10-day Caribbean cruise.

But what was imagined as a dream vacation turned into a medical nightmare.

They’d had a great time in New Orleans, but things took a bad turn during their cruise. While at port in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Bill started to feel a bit ill. Shirley offered to go to the cafeteria to get them something to eat. When she got back to the room, she found Bill collapsed on the floor after suffering what seemed like a seizure. Shirley had to call the ship’s stewards to help him up and get him to the infirmary.

Initially, they’d thought Bill had suffered a massive stroke because he couldn’t move his left side. Bill spent two days and a night in the infirmary as the ship made its way back to port in New Orleans. As soon as they docked, an ambulance rushed Bill and Shirley to Twolane Medical Hospital.

“Once I was there they started CT scans and, at first, they did think it

www.downhomelife.com

was a massive stroke. But then they did another CT scan with dye in it, and [with] that one they determined there was a massive brain tumor that was pushing on the right side of my brain,” Bill says. “And from there I spent another day there while they did an MRI.” The doctors had Bill on steroids to keep the brain swelling down, as well as medication to prevent any more seizures. It took him a three-day stay to get him stable enough to fly back to Canada for treatment, where it was affordable. As soon as they arrived in Canada, Bill went to St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, then an ambulance brought him to the London Health Sciences Centre in London, Ontario. “Within 24 hours they had me in for a brain surgery,” Bill says.

April 2019

79

78_travelinsrance_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:34 PM Page 80

Illness Out of the Blue

Travel Insurance FYI Your Canadian health insurance is not valid outside of the country and without travel insurance, you could be on the hook to pay for any treatment.

Even if you’re only travelling outside of Canada for a day, it’s best to get travel insurance.

You can buy travel insurance from a travel agent, your employer’s insurance provider or an insurance broker.

You might also be able to get it through your credit card provider.

When buying travel insurance, make sure it covers health, life and disability coverage.

Ask the insurance provider about preexisting conditions and any possible limitations that could impact their coverage.

When getting travel insurance, read the fine print and note any exemptions. As well, check for any travel advisories before you leave on your trip because some advisories can affect your travel insurance. Your coverage may be nullified if you go to a country with an advisory warning from the Canadian government.

Source: Government of Canada 80

April 2019

Bill and Shirley are both from central Labrador, but had met and married while living in Ontario. When Bill retired in 2017 from a job in a finance department for a large GM dealership in Barrie, he and his wife moved and bought a house in the much smaller city of St. Thomas. Since then they’ve been travelling a lot, taking advantage of their time off together, heading to places like Hawaii and Europe. They’d never had a serious incident abroad.

“Then unexpectedly, this hit me without any indication there was any problem that I had with any type of cancer,” Bill recalls from home in St. Thomas, where he’s currently recovering, taking chemotherapy pills and getting radiation treatment.

Luckily, when Bill retired he’d taken out a Benefit Sun Life insurance package, which included travel insurance. Its worth quickly became apparent on this trip. While staying in the ship’s infirmary, he’d wracked up $23,000 in expenses, plus there was the $2,000 ambulance ride from the cruise port to Twolane Medical Hospital. As well, they had to pay for another hotel, meals and taxis during their additional stay in New Orleans.

Twolane’s medical care cost them an additional $250,000, not counting the medication he was given while there.

By Bill’s calculations, if he hadn’t had travel insurance, he’d be stuck with a bill for more than $300,000.

He advocates that anyone travelling outside of Canada get travel insurance before they go. “If you are travelling out of the country, this can happen,” he cautions.

He’d learned of another couple on 1-888-588-6353

78_travelinsrance_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 9:32 AM Page 81

Bill and Shirley had a great time in New Orleans, but fate had a different plan for the rest of their holiday.

their cruise who had their own medical emergency. The husband was dehydrated and sought treatment at the ship’s infirmary. He was charged $4,000-$5,000 for an IV bag, He had to pay out of pocket because he didn’t have travel insurance.

In Bill’s case, he had to pay for the expenses as they happened and then submit forms to his insurance provider to be reimbursed. For instance, the cruise company had his credit card and automatically charged him, which meant he had to wait for the company to send him the bill before he could pass it along to his insurance company to get his money back.

Now, as Bill recovers at their home in St. Thomas, all the travel plans he www.downhomelife.com

and Shirley had made have been temporarily put on hold. But, he acknowledges, it could have been worse. Their financial future could have been in doubt.

“Being on a holiday, you’d never think that something like a brain tumor would occur when you’re out of country,” Bill says. While most people think they might slip and break a leg, Bill had felt perfectly healthy up until that day on the cruise. “Until I fell down, I was feeling fine,” he says.

“If I hadn’t taken that Sun Life benefit package out, you can see how that would kill your retirement.

A lot of people would be forced to sell their house to cover the cost of the medical.”

April 2019

81

82_LimestoneBarrens_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 1:37 PM Page 82

explore

Todd Hollett photos

82

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

82_LimestoneBarrens_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 1:37 PM Page 83

Newfoundland and Labrador

has one of the most unique environments on the planet.

Rugged coastlines, mixed species forests, bogs and barrens – all influenced by climatic extremes created by the cold North Atlantic Ocean. The province is often cloaked in pea soup thick fog in summer, and battered by winds and freezing salt spray in winter. Despite these sometimes deplorable conditions, some of the most unique landscapes known to man have developed here, including the limestone barren ecosystem prevalent on the Island’s west coast and Northern Peninsula, and in Southern Labrador.

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

83

82_LimestoneBarrens_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 1:37 PM Page 84

Todd Hollett photo

Every person who resides in or visits Newfoundland and Labrador should make an effort to take in the amazing sight of the expanse of coastal limestone barrens at least once in their lifetime.

These barrens are not like any other place in North America.

Limestone barrens may be rock and gravel covered in a peat layer that sustains a scrubby heathland, or they may be massive, unbroken sheets that resemble a natural pavement that cannot be penetrated by water or fractured by ice and refuses to be colonized by plants, other than a few lichens. The harsh climate and thin soil layer seem to conspire against life, but some plants and animals have evolved to thrive here. In fact, exuberant wildflowers defy the harsh conditions, creating some of the most striking and colourful plant communities in the province.

Considered a rare habitat type, limestone barrens are ecologically 84

April 2019

significant, both provincially and internationally. As of 2016, four provincial ecological reserves have been designated on the Great Northern Peninsula to protect rare barren plants and their habitat. They are at Burnt Cape, Watts Point, Sandy Cove and Table Point.

Geological Wonders

As hard as it may be to believe, about 500 million years ago the west coast of Newfoundland was a tropical seabed and part of a tectonic plate south of the equator. During the late Cambrian to early Ordovician period, the tropical waters teemed with animals and plants, and limy sediments 1-888-588-6353

82_LimestoneBarrens_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 1:37 PM Page 85

Fossilized evidence of ancient life is visible in the province’s limestone barrens. Todd Hollett photos

settled to the seafloor. These sediments accumulated and hardened into limestone and dolomite. During this time, the tectonic plate began its migration northward and the seafloor was thrust upward and became dry land. Recent glaciations, 1.5 million to 12,000 years ago, scoured the landscape. Rain, frost and ice caused the transformation of the bedrock into the boulder and gravel barrens we see today.

Life in the once tropical ecosystem was much different than what we see now, but remains of that life can be found. If you explore along the limestone coasts, you can find the fossilized remains of algal mounds, shells, mud burrows created by marine worms, and the bodies and tracks of trilobites.

The barrens of today were shaped by water that ate away the surface over time, creating unique patterns www.downhomelife.com

of tiny ridges and hollows. The water trickles into tiny crevices, freezes and expands, wedging off limestone chips that accumulate into gravelly expanses. In some places the bedrock forms massive unbroken sheets, while other areas have a thin covering of soil that supports life.

Other amazing features of this ecosystem worth visiting are sea caves that have developed in the coastal cliffs. These caves, though shallow, usually have impressively April 2019

85

82_LimestoneBarrens_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 1:37 PM Page 86

Tidal action and waves have eroded the limestone to create this impressive formation at The Arches Provincial Park.

Long’s Braya Braya longii STATUS Endangered HABITAT AND RANGE Endemic to the limestone barrens of the Great Northern Peninsula in the Flower’s Cove and Sandy Cove areas.

ID FEATURES Fleshy, linear leaves; clusters of white, four-petalled flowers.

SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE Found nowhere else in the world. In 2008, about 5,500 were counted in six populations, a decline from about 7,000 counted between 1998 and 2000.

Diane Pelley/NL Gov. photo

Fernald’s Braya Braya fernaldii STATUS Endangered HABITAT AND RANGE From Anchor Point to the Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve on the Great Northern Peninsula, with an outlying population in Port au Choix.

ID FEATURES Fleshy, linear to spatulate leaves, and clusters of white, pink or purple four-petalled flowers.

SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE Found nowhere else in the world. In 2008, about 3,300 were counted in 16 populations, a decline from about 3,400 counted in 14 populations between 1998 and 2000.

86

April 2019

wide mouths. The Big Oven at Whale Cove, inside the Burnt Cape Ecological Reserve, is one of the most impressive sea caves in the province.

At Port au Choix National Historic Site, it was discovered that the shallow caves in the cliffs there were used thousands of years ago as burial chambers by Dorset Palaeo-Eskimo people, making this a significant international archeological site.

A popular roadside attraction on the highway north of Gros Morne National Park is The Arches Provincial Park. It’s a must-see for anyone interested in geology or landscape photography. The wave and tidal action has hollowed out a coastal outcrop of limestone rock, creating an impressive natural archway.

Living on Limestone

As the climate began to warm up about 12,500 years ago, the first species to colonize the land were adapted to survive on sand, rock and gravel. Only a tiny portion of these 1-888-588-6353

82_LimestoneBarrens_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 1:38 PM Page 87

Todd Boland photo

Barrens Willow Salix jejuna STATUS Endangered HABITAT AND RANGE Restricted to the area from Watts Point Ecological Reserve to Cape Norman on the Great Northern Peninsula.

Todd Hollett photo

open limestone barrens can be seen today on the windiest, coldest coastal and mountainous sites.

As you peer out over the vast open bedrock and gravelly barrens they seem lifeless, and you may wonder how anything could possibly survive here. Then as you venture out into the bleakness you will see subtle signs of life here and there, as plants grow alone or huddle in small groups, forming vibrant islands on the otherwise dull landscape. The plants growing here face many challenges, including low soil nutrients, excess calcium, shifting soils, strong winds, flooding and droughts, lack of winter snow insulation and low summer temperatures.

Nostoc and other cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) form crusts and clumps on the soil, acting as photosynthetic partners in some lichens.

Junipers, avens, saxifrage, campion and willows are the dominant species that thrive, often growing outward over time to form low, rounded or www.downhomelife.com

ID FEATURES Dwarf shrub with reddish brown stems and hairless branchlets.

SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE Found nowhere else in the world. Surveys indicate that there are currently several thousand individuals.

Todd Hollett photo

Large Yellow Ladies-Slipper Cypripedium parviflorum pubescens STATUS Uncommon in Newfoundland, rare in Labrador.

HABITAT AND RANGE Western Labrador and western Newfoundland on calcium-rich soils.

ID FEATURES Slow-growing and forming dense clumps, can number more than 20, but usually 3-5. Pouch-shaped lower petal is up to 4 cm long and often has a reddish rim.

April 2019

87

82_LimestoneBarrens_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 1:38 PM Page 88

Todd Hollett photo

Common Juniper

Juniper communis depressa STATUS Common HABITAT AND RANGE Throughout Newfoundland and Labrador on gravel, sand, meadows, barrens, poor soils and coastal areas.

ID FEATURES Sharp pointed needles are curved or straight, dark green above and light underneath.

SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE May live for hundreds of years – one piece of dead stem had 234 growth rings.

Elegant Sunburst Lichen Xanthoria elegans

STATUS Common HABITAT AND RANGE Found on calcareous and siliceous rock often near seabird roosts, coastal cliffs and headlands, boulders, limestone barrens, bones; may over grow litter; adapted to grow on man-made surfaces; found from the sea spray zone to the boreal forest and grasslands.

ID FEATURE Deep orange colour.

SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE One of the first used for lichenometry, a technique used to estimate the age of rocks by measuring the size of the lichen growing on them.

88

April 2019

spreading clumps. Trees and shrubs are stunted by high winds and lack of nutrients, forming dense, tangled masses locally called tuckamore, some exceeding 300 years in age.

Ants, spiders and a few snail species call the vegetative patches home, and introduced earthworms have spread to some areas. Most of the larger wild animals seen on the barrens are, like most people, just visitors.

Conservation and Protection

In 1991, the Canadian Museum of Nature published a report on the rare vascular plants found on the island of Newfoundland, confirming that 271 species are considered rare. To protect the endemic species of the barrens, the province created the Braya Recovery Team in 1998, now called the Limestone Recovery Team, which specializes in species at risk.

The Wildlife Division initiated the rare plant project in 1999 to update and augment information on the occurrence, distribution and threats to rare plants on the island. The results continue to be used for the conservation of rare plant habitat.

Three plant species are found only in the limestone barrens ecosystem of the Northern Peninsula: the Fernald’s Braya (Braya fernaldii), Long’s Braya (Braya longii) and Barrens Willow (Salix jujuna). These three are found nowhere else on the planet. They are protected under both federal Species at Risk and provincial Endangered Species legislation. It is an offence to harm, possess or trade them and to alter or damage their habitat, and doing so could lead to steep fines.

1-888-588-6353

82_LimestoneBarrens_0609 index.qxd 3/1/19 9:33 AM Page 89

life is better An icy visitor looms through the fog in Grates Cove.

James Broderick, Grates Cove, NL

90_TravelDiary_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:43 PM Page 90

explore travel diary

My Celebrity Debut

An unexpected evening at Woody Island with some famous Doyles

By Ed Power

Although my career as a teacher at St. Michael’s high school in Grand Falls-Windsor, NL lasted 30 years, I was also a local entertainer. I attributed that to the fact that I grew up in a family of 14 siblings, all of whom treasured music and laughter.

Most of them loved to sing a song, and one of my older brothers was a wonderful country singer who also played guitar, accordion and harmonica. My father, Edward (Ned) Power, never played any instruments but could entertain for hours with songs, recitations and jokes (many not printable). Mom, Clara, was an accomplished singer in the traditional Newfoundland way and, to the delight of our guests, often joined in.

After my career as a teacher came to an end, I decided to try my hand at entertaining tourists and was hired

by Woody Island Resort. What an interesting experience and pleasant surprise it turned out to be, as the

90

April 2019

Woody Island boil-up was in the same location where my mother (nee Bollard) was born in 1917: Bollards Town, Sound Island.

This one occasion, a wedding party was coming to the island to continue their celebration. As part of the entertainment, I usually went down to the dock to meet the guests, unload their luggage from the boat and, using the resort vehicle, help bring it up to the resort along with guests in need of assistance. To my surprise, the first people to get off the boat that day were Alan Doyle; his mother and father, Tom and Regina; followed by the bride (Alan’s sisterin-law) and groom, as well as other

1-888-588-6353

90_TravelDiary_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:43 PM Page 91

invited guests. I had mixed feelings about entertaining Alan, the frontman for our most popular and worldwide-respected band, Great Big Sea. I had heard that Tom and Regina were also well-known entertainers in their own right, and that added to my trepidation.

Throughout the day, I mingled with the guests and became more relaxed as I found they were a typical friendly and fun-loving Newfoundland group.

I was still nervous about my show that evening. In preparation, I listed my favourite Newfoundland and Labrador stories and jokes that I knew would not be offensive in any way.

The singing aspect would have to fall in place, and I chose a list of songs from several genres of music, including Newfoundland and Labrador, Irish, country, and the ’50s and ’60s.

At the beginning of the show I welcomed Alan, the wedding party, his parents and others to the clapping of a group of guests who were not involved with the wedding. I remember that my stories were well received and my opening song was “Sonny’s Dream” by Ron Hynes, another local music legend. I con-

tinued on with the show for an hour before taking a short break, during which time I casually asked Alan if he would do a set. Not only did he quickly oblige, but he also suggested that his parents, Tom and Regina, would do a set, too. We had a great night and the show went on past its usual time. Thanks to Alan and his parents, I was kept on for a couple more years and also sold more of my CDs than usual.

I remember what my grandfather Bollard told me when I was a young lad: One should not fear the unknown and we should face challenges head on.

How true.

Ed Power (left) and Alan Doyle on Woody Island

Did you meet a Newfoundland and Labrador celebrity in your travels?

Tell us about it – and we’ll make YOU famous! Send your story (and selfies with the celebrity if you have them) to us by email at editorial@downhomelife.com, or write to us at Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3.

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

91

092_stuff about_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:44 PM Page 92

explore stuff about

Tickles At Glover’s Harbour, NL, there’s a statue of the giant squid that local fishermen caught in 1878. The 16.7-metre creature, which holds the Guinness World Record for largest squid, was brought ashore at Thimble Tickle Bay.

The Tickle Trunk on CBC’s “Mr. Dressup,” which held all the fun costumes for dressing up, was so named because sometimes to get the lock to open, it needed to be tickled.

The Tickle Trunk, along with Casey and Finnigan and their treehouse, are on display at CBC headquarters in Toronto, Ontario.

Before Tickle Me Elmo, the company that created it made Tickles the Chimp. They also made Tickle Me Tasmanian Devil, Tickle Me Bugs Bunny and Tickle Me Tweety before getting the licence for Elmo and other Sesame Street characters.

92

April 2019

Tickle Me was a 1965 musical comedy featuring Elvis Presley as an out-of-work rodeo cowboy. It didn’t do well at the box office, but it earned Elvis his only acting industry award – the 1966 Golden Laurel for best male performance in a musical.

1-888-588-6353

092_stuff about_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 12:44 PM Page 93

“Tickle Cove Pond,” the folksong written by Mark Walker about trying to rescue a horse named Kit that had fallen through the ice, was first recorded in 1953 by Alan Mills. It has since been included on various albums by such NL favourites as Great Big Sea and Ron Hynes.

In a nod to her rural NL roots and her sense of fun, Lucy Fitzpatrick McFarlane – an expat from Lord’s Cove – wrote a light-hearted lifestyle column in Downhome magazine for more than 25 years called “Tickle & Bight.” She’s retired now and living in Grand Bank.

In 1999, the year Newfoundland and Labrador marked 50 years in Confederation, a local company published a trivia board game about the province’s placenames called “Tickles, Sounds & Bights.”

Did you know there are two types of tickling? Knismesis is the way a light breeze or faint touch of an insect on your skin makes you itch.

Gargalesis is the rougher tickle that makes you laugh, and you can’t do this to yourself. Hypergargalesthesia describes a person who is extremely sensitive to tickling.

Launched

by St. John’s councillor Sheilagh O’Leary in 2013, the annual 5K Tickle Swim from Portugal Cove to Bell Island has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association. www.downhomelife.com

The tickle me plant (Mimosa pudica) responds to touch by defensively closing up its leaves, making it a delightful houseplant in a home with inquisitive children.

This Brazilian tropical plant goes by several other names, including humble plant and touchme-not.

-30April 2019

93

94_EG2_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:10 AM Page 94

food & leisure the everyday gourmet

Make

Your Own

Peeps This Easter 94

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

94_EG2_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:10 AM Page 95

the everyday gourmet

By Andrea Maunder

Andrea Maunder is the owner and creative force behind Bacalao Restaurant in St. John’s, NL, and Saucy & Sweet – Homemade Specialty Foods & Catering.

www.downhomelife.com

Did you ever have a great idea and

been surprised that it’s only just come to you now? That’s this month’s recipe for me. Why it never occurred to me to use such a classic Easter dessert as carrot cake as inspiration for marshmallows, I’ll never know. If I do say so myself, it feels like a stroke of genius.

If you’re a regular reader of my column, you might recall my obsession with marshmallows. Fresh, stale, store-bought, homemade, chocolate-covered, naked, flavoured and plain, I adore them all. But I have to confess, my adult palate doesn’t appreciate the brightly coloured marshmallow Easter “Peeps” the way my younger taste buds did.

So, I am thrilled with the way these marshmallows turned out.

The aroma of these treats is spectacular and the texture divine. It really gives the carrot cake sensation in a mallowy soft bite.

There’s real carrot, health-giving spices such as cinnamon, a walnut garnish… and when you think of it, the rest of a marshmallow is air. So I allow myself to imagine them as a health food.

The beauty of marshmallows is that you can let them set up in nearly any vessel – as long as you spray it well with non-stick cooking spray. If you use an 8"x8" square baking pan, you’ll get marshmallows that are about 2 inches high, and you can cut them into 16 pieces (four columns up and

April 2019

95

94_EG2_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:10 AM Page 96

four rows across) or smaller, such as five columns and five rows. I have silicone mini-muffin type moulds, which quicken setting time and make popping out individual marshmallows easier. But as long as you remember to use non-stick spray, you can pretty well use whatever you like.

If you are using small moulds like mini-muffin pans, it helps to transfer the marshmallow mixture into a piping bag and just pipe it into each mould. Spray the interior of the bag with non-stick spray. And when using a rubber or silicone spatula to scoop the marshmallow mixture, it helps to spray the spatula, too. If you’re like me, you’ll enjoy the process of transferring the mixture into the moulds or pans because 96

April 2019

there’s plenty opportunity to devour what’s left on the spatula, the beater or inside the mixing bowl. (YUM!) A sharp knife wiped clean with a hot, wet cloth and sprayed between cuts will make the portioning process, a naturally sticky job, a little easier. Sides (especially cut edges) of marshmallows are sticky, so you’ll need to dust them in an icing sugarcornstarch mixture after unmoulding. Alternately, you could roll them in coconut, chopped nuts or even cookie crumbs.

You’ll need electric beaters for this – a stand-mixer with whisk attachment is ideal because you’ll be beating for 12 minutes or more. And you’ll need a candy thermometer because the temperature of the sugar syrup is important.

1-888-588-6353

94_EG2_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:10 AM Page 97

Carrot Cake Marshmallows

(makes 36 one-inch round minis or 16, 2"x2" squares)

1 medium carrot, peeled & chopped 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1/4 tsp pure almond extract 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp each: ground allspice, ginger 1/4 tsp ground cloves Pinch salt 5 tsp unflavoured, unsweetened gelatine powder (such as Knox) 1/2 cup cold water 1/4 cup water

1/4 cup white corn syrup (usually labelled “light” corn syrup, NOT reduced sugar or “lite” varieties) 3/4 cup white sugar Another 1/4 cup white corn syrup Walnut halves or quarters (depending on size of finished marshmallows), if desired 1/2 cup icing sugar 1/3 cup cornstarch 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Boil carrot in a small pot of water until soft. Drain and shake in the hot pot to remove as much moisture as possible. Mash finely, then press through a mesh sieve. Measure 1/3 cup of carrots. Stir in extracts, spices and salt. Let cool.

In a small microwave-safe bowl, sprinkle gelatine powder over cold water. Whisk to blend and set aside 5 min. It will cloud and thicken.

Microwave until gelatine is completely dissolved (30-60 sec.) and clear. To check, stir with a spoon and pick up a bit of liquid. Rub it between your fingers. If you feel any grains or grit, microwave a little longer. Place the first 1/4 cup corn syrup in mixer bowl; add dissolved gelatine. Keep whisk moving at low speed to keep gelatine from setting. If using a hand-held mixer, do this step just before adding the following cooked syrup.

In a small pot, combine the other 1/4 cup corn syrup with water and sugar; bring to a boil. Attach candy thermometer and cook until syrup reaches 240°F. Remove from heat and pour syrup slowly down the side of the

mixing bowl while whisking on low.

Increase speed to medium and mix for 5 min. Increase speed to high and beat for another 5 min. Add carrot purée and beat for another minute or two, stirring to the bottom of the bowl to ensure it is fully incorporated.

Transfer whipped marshmallow into non-stick sprayed setting container. Add walnut garnishes if desired. Allow to set in a cool, dry area 4-6 hours (fridge moisture will make it sticky).

Combine icing sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon for dusting. If you used a baking tin, use an offset spatula or butter knife to loosen the marshmallow slab from the sides and transfer to a cutting board dusted with sugar mixture. Spray a sharp knife with non-stick coating and cut into desired sizes, wiping knife and re-spraying between cuts. If using mini-muffin forms, ease marshmallows out. Toss all marshmallows in coating mixture and transfer each piece to a paper muffin liner. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot until ready to serve.

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

97

98_ER_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:13 AM Page 98

everyday recipes.ca

Among the recommendations in the newly released Canada’s Food Guide is adding more plant-based protein to our diets. Tofu, a curd made from soybeans, is low in calories and high in protein. It is widely available and, as these recipes show, can be prepared in many creative and delicious ways.

Tofu Pancakes 1/2 lb tofu, soft 1 3/4 cups milk 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted 3 tbsp maple syrup 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, pure

1 1/4 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 3/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg

In a blender, liquefy the first five ingredients. In a large bowl, sift together all the dry ingredients. Add the wet to the dry and stir until just combined (don’t over mix, a few lumps are OK).

Spray a large frying pan with non-stick coating and warm the pan over medium heat. Drop 1/4 cup batter for each pancake and fry them over medium heat until the surface starts to bubble and the edges are beginning to dry. Flip and cook until the pancakes puff up and spring back when lightly poked. Yield: 10-12 pancakes

All of our recipes are brought to you by the fantastic foodies in Academy Canada’s Culinary Arts program, led by instructor Bernie-Ann Ezekiel.

98

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

98_ER_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:13 AM Page 99

Mapo Tofu 1 1 1 3 2

lb tofu, firm, cut in 1" cubes 1/2 lb ground beef 1/2 cups onion, chopped cups vegetable stock green onions, chopped

Marinade 3 1 1 2 3 1

tbsp black bean sauce tbsp sambal tbsp garlic chili sauce tbsp sugar tbsp soy sauce lime, juiced

Mix all marinade ingredients together, add tofu pieces and marinate at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

Add ground beef to a frying pan (no oil) and sautĂŠ until cooked through but not browned. Add onions and let them cook while the meat browns. Once meat is brown and onions are starting to become translucent, add the tofu and all the marinade. Stir to combine and add the vegetable stock. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for about 10 minutes. Add green onions just before serving. Serve with a side of your favourite rice. Yield: 4 servings

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

99

98_ER_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:13 AM Page 100

Breakfast Burrito 1 lb firm tofu, crumbled 3 tbsp nutritional yeast 1/4 tsp turmeric 2 tbsp parsley 1 tsp celery salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided

2 tsp fresh garlic, minced 3/4 cup red onion, small dice 1/2 cup red pepper, small dice 1/2 jalapeño, minced (seeds removed) 1/2 cup mushrooms, small dice 4 flour tortillas (12")

Toss the tofu with the nutritional yeast and dry spices.

Using half the oil, fry all the veggies and garlic over medium-high heat until onions are translucent. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Using the other half of the oil, sauté the tofu until it’s warmed through and just starting to look like it’s drying on the edges. Toss the veggies back in and continue to cook/stir for the next 3-5 minutes.

Divide the scramble between the four tortilla wraps and roll up tightly. Serve with your favourite breakfast sides or hot sauce. Yield: 4 servings

100

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

98_ER_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:13 AM Page 101

Breaded Tofu 1 lb firm tofu, sliced 1/2" thick 2 cups panko breadcrumbs (or fine crumbs) 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Marinade 5 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp whole grain Dijon mustard 4 tsp maple syrup 2 tbsp tomato paste 3/4 tsp chili flakes 1/2 tsp celery salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp onion powder

Mix all the marinade ingredients together and dip the tofu slices in it such that it’s fully coated. Then dip the slices in the breadcrumbs.

Set aside.

Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat and fry the breaded slices until they are golden brown on both sides. Serve with your favourite dip. Yield: 2-4 servings

table For prin rds a c recipe visit

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

101

98_ER_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:13 AM Page 102

Chocolate Cheesecakes 6 ready-made graham mini pie crusts (or 1 large) 1 lb soft tofu 1/2 cup milk 4 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp almond extract 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, pure 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 1 tbsp cornstarch 3 tbsp dark cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 325°F. In a blender, add milk, maple syrup and extracts. Add dry ingredients, then tofu broken into small pieces. Blend at high speed until the mixture is smooth and becomes a thick liquid. Pour/scoop the mixture into the pie crusts, smooth it out, and bake for 20-30 minutes (centre should jiggle like set jelly). Allow to fully cool at room temperature. Yield: 6-8 servings

102

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

98_ER_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:13 AM Page 103

Stir-fry 1/2 lb firm tofu, sliced 2" x 1/4" 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2/3 cup carrot, sliced thinly 1 cup onion, sliced thinly 1/2 cup bell pepper, sliced thinly 1/3 cup celery, sliced thinly 1" ginger, peeled & minced 1 tbsp fresh garlic, minced

Sauce 2 tbsp honey 1 1/2 tsp sambal 1 tbsp + 1 tsp cornstarch 1/4 cup soy sauce 1 cup vegetable stock Salt & pepper to taste

Over medium-high heat, sauté tofu in a small amount of the oil until it starts to crisp. Remove from heat and set aside. Add carrots and rest of the oil to the hot pan, and sauté until carrots just start to soften. Add onion and cook until it is translucent. Add bell pepper, celery, ginger and garlic, and sauté until they just start to soften. Return tofu to the pan and turn heat to high. Stir the sauce ingredients together and add sauce to the pan. Stir continuously until the sauce is thickened. Serve immediately with your favourite rice. Yield: 2-4 servings

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

103

98_ER_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:13 AM Page 104

Tofu Vindaloo 1/2 lb firm tofu, cubed 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided 1 1/2 cups red onion, blended 10 garlic cloves, crushed 1” of peeled ginger, minced 2 red chilies, minced 2 cups tomatoes, diced

Vindaloo Paste 1 tsp ground cumin 1 1/2 tsp ground turmeric 2 tsp garam masala 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tsp mustard powder 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp cayenne pepper 3 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 tsp sugar 3 tbsp tomato paste 2 tsp chili powder

Pat tofu dry, and sauté it in 2 tbsp oil over medium-high heat until it has a slight crust. Remove from heat. Mix together the ingredients for the vindaloo paste and stir it into the cooked tofu. Set aside.

Use the rest of the oil to sauté the onions, garlic, ginger and chilies over medium-high heat until the onions become translucent and the chilies are soft. Turn the heat to high and add the tofu/paste mixture.

When the pan starts to sizzle and bubble, add the tomatoes and stir to combine. Turn the heat to low-medium such that it simmers for about 5-10 minutes (sauce should be slightly reduced and not runny).

Serve over your favourite rice. Yield: 4 servings

104

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

98_ER_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:14 AM Page 105

“Feta Cheese” 1 lb tofu, firm, pressed

Marinade 5 tbsp lemon juice 1/2 cup water 7 tbsp apple cider vinegar

4 tsp oregano flakes 1 tsp kosher salt/coarse sea salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 2 sundried tomatoes, sliced thinly 1 tsp fresh garlic, minced

Drain your tofu and wrap it in several layers of paper towels. Lay it in a pan, place another pan on top of the tofu and weigh it down with a few cans of soup. Leave it to drain and get more firm from the press for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix all the other ingredients together and whisk them thoroughly to make a marinade.

Unwrap the tofu and cut into 3/4” cubes. Place tofu in the marinade such that it’s fully submerged. Cover and leave overnight in the fridge to allow the flavours to develop. Serve in any of your favourite dishes that call for feta. It will keep for a week or so covered in the fridge.

Yield: 1 lb “feta” For printa recipe ca ble rds visit

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

105

98_ER_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:14 AM Page 106

98_ER_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:14 AM Page 107

108_Down_to_Earth_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:16 AM Page 108

food & leisure down to earth

Tips for New Vegetable Gardeners

By Ross Traverse

108

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

108_Down_to_Earth_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:16 AM Page 109

The new Canada’s Food Guide emphasizes the importance of eating fruits and vegetables every day. A vegetable garden in your backyard or elsewhere can supply you with fresh vegetables during the growing season and contribute to healthy, outdoor exercise. The satisfaction of growing your own food is good for your mind as well. Here are some tips to help you get started with a new vegetable garden.

Educate Yourself First, seek out reliable information about growing vegetables in your area. Experienced local gardeners love to share information, such as suitable seed varieties and growing techniques. Local garden clubs, including the Newfoundland Horticultural Society, have regular meetings and welcome new members. They also lead organized garden visits during the summer.

The internet is a wealth of gardening information, with thousands of gardening sites established by commercial interests, individuals and institutions. But you have to be careful about relying on information from many of these sites because they may not apply to your area. You have to keep in mind that the climate and growing conditions referred to online are likely not the same as here in Newfoundland and Labrador, unless the site specifies this province.

And, unfortunately, many of these gardening sites repeat the same information, some of which might be incorrect. Some of the most reliable information comes from university horticultural websites (again, consider the growing region where the site is based).

It is a good idea to study some of the basic science involved in growing vegetables. Correspondence courses are available from institutions like the Nova Scotia Agriculture College. There are many reference publications that can be borrowed from libraries or

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

109

108_Down_to_Earth_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:16 AM Page 110

purchased online or elsewhere. The important thing is to get recommendations from reliable sources.

A basic understanding of such topics as the science of plant nutrition, soil and its improvement, plant physiology and plant propagation will help you separate fact from fiction when someone is trying to sell you garden supplies. The bottom line is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to start a vegetable garden.

The Basics As a new vegetable gardener you should not bite off more than you can chew. Start small with vegetables that you like to eat and are easy to grow: leaf lettuce, beets, peas or greens like Swiss chard or kale, for example. Potatoes are among the easiest vegetables to grow, but you need lots of space, whereas window boxes can be used to grow beets and leaf lettuce because they don’t need a lot of room. Raised beds filled with improved soil are easy to take care of

110

April 2019

during the summer. Even a plastic bucket can be used to grow a few carrots, but remember that containers have to be watered every day or so when there is no rain.

Vegetables grow best in full sun.

Choose a site that is south facing; north sides of the house or fence will be shaded most of the day. A steep south-facing slope can be turned into a very productive vegetable garden.

The slope can be terraced like stairs with a walking space between each step and stone, wood or cement blocks for retaining walls. New soil may have to be added to make the steps. You need to plan a watering system because the soil will dry out quickly on the slope if there is no rain. One efficient method is using a soaker hose snaked between the steps, which conserves water compared to a sprinkler system.

If you have to buy soil for your new vegetable garden, it is best to buy natural screened topsoil and improve it yourself, rather than buying soil

1-888-588-6353

108_Down_to_Earth_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:16 AM Page 111

that is mixed with questionable materials. Avoid soil that is premixed with manure because you may be buying a big problem with weeds. If possible, have a sample of the soil checked by an expert before it is delivered.

You need three basic ingredients to improve soil for a vegetable garden: organic matter, nutrients (fertilizer) and agricultural limestone. Organic matter is available in the form of peat moss, seaweed and/or compost. Organic matter is essential for improving soil structure, increasing the moisture-holding capacity and improving nutrient retention. If the soil is deficient in organic matter, plant growth will be stunted.

The three major nutrients essential for plant growth are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They can be supplied by fertilizer from an organic or inorganic source. Before planting, the fertilizer should be mixed completely with the soil. During the summer the vegetables can be side dressed with a soluble fertilizer.

Most natural soils in Newfoundland and Labrador are too acidic to grow vegetables successfully. You need to neutralize the acidity by mixing agricultural limestone in the soil before planting. Lime (as it is commonly called) is slow to react, so complete mixing is essential for fast results.

Weeds can discourage new vegetable gardeners, so it is important to remove any annual and perennial weeds before planting. Annual weeds can be effectively controlled by practising shallow cultivation: turn over www.downhomelife.com

the top layer of soil to uproot the weeds so they dry up quickly on a dry, sunny day. Some hand weeding may be necessary. Mulching with peat on the surface of the soil during the summer not only controls the weeds, but also supplies organic matter for improving the soil next year.

A new gardener should get into the habit of keeping a journal to record the important gardening activities during the growing season. By keeping a list of the different varieties of vegetables and the planting dates, you will be able to plan your garden better for next year. A map of your vegetable garden will help you with your planting. Tall vegetables should be planted on the north side so that they do not shade the lower growing vegetables. Remember, in our climate, all vegetables need as much direct sunlight as they can get!

Ross Traverse has been a horticultural consultant to gardeners and farmers for more than 50 years. downtoearth @downhomelife.com April 2019

111

108_Down_to_Earth_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:16 AM Page 112

with Ross Carrot Care

Q: For the past few years I have been struggling with a carrot worm. I have tried coffee grinds but I’m still having issues. I really don’t want to use pesticides. What do you recommend?

What is the best fertilizer for carrot?

– Derm Snook, Sunnyside, NL A: Derm, if you cover the newly planted carrot seed with a floating row cover (which is available from Veseys.com) this will prevent the carrot rust fly from laying its eggs around the carrots. You want to make sure that you plant your carrot seed away from the area where you had a problem last year. You can also buy yellow sticky traps that can trap the flies.

By the way, the floating row cover is also used to prevent insect damage

on cabbage and other vegetables. It also speeds up growth early in the season. In windy areas, it is probably best to fasten the floating row cover to a frame.

A general-purpose fertilizer like 6–12–12 should be mixed with the soil before planting. The carrots and other vegetables can be side-dressed with a soluble 20–20–20 fertilizer once or twice during the growing season. Make sure you have lime mixed with the soil for planting.

Rose of Sharon

Q: I am trying to grow Rose of Sharon seeds inside. They are up about an inch, but have stopped growing. I did have the pot on my windowsill, but I just moved it to my coffee table. I am wondering if the cold has stopped it from growing? I live in an apartment, where it is very warm, so I don’t turn on my heat. I would really appreciate it if you could give me some advice.

– Henry Coates A: Henry, you need a soil temperature of around 20-25°C to grow the Rose of Sharon plant. If there is a drop in the temperature, the plant may stop growing. I think it would be best to start over again. The soil should be kept constantly moist and avoid cold drafts.

112

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

108_Down_to_Earth_0609 index.qxd 2/28/19 11:16 AM Page 113

Mock Orange Bushes

Q: I live in Mount Pearl. I have two Mock Orange bushes in my backyard, about 10 feet apart. We have had them for about 12 years and they have never flowered. They do get lots of green leaves and seem otherwise healthy. Any suggestions? – Terry A: Terry, your mock orange bushes need full sun in order to produce the very fragrant white flowers. If it is fertilized with high nitrogen lawn fertilizer then it will produce leafy growth without setting flower buds.

Flower buds are set one year to bloom the next. The bushes should be pruned every year to remove some of the older branches. This is done after bloom time in early summer.

Picking Onions

Rape Seed

Q: I was wondering what would be the best type of onions to grow in northern NL? Best in regards to the yield and keeping qualities. – Jeff A: Jeff, in a short season area like the Northern Peninsula, it is best to plant onion sets. These are small onion bulbs that will develop into mature, storable cooking onions.

You could also try planting an early variety of onion seed like Norstar, which is available from Veseys seed in PEI (www.veseys.com). Onions need to be grown in soil that is improved with organic matter, lime and fertilizer. They should be sidedressed with a liquid fertilizer in early summer.

Q: When is it a good time to plant rape seed, and how? – William A: William, early spring is one of the best times to plant rape seed for greens. It is very similar to turnip greens. The soil should be prepared with organic matter (peat, manure or compost), a complete fertilizer and lime. All this should be mixed with the soil before planting. The seed can be sown in rows or broadcast in a bed.

You can cut the rape greens above the growing point and it will produce a second and sometimes even a third crop during the early summer. Rape seed can also be sown in early September for a fall crop.

Got a gardening question for Ross? email him anytime at downtoearth@downhomelife.com www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

113

70_RiggsBoatTrip_Features 0609 11/29/18 11:31 AM Page 72

70_RiggsBoatTrip_Features 0609 11/29/18 11:31 AM Page 73

We’re wasting no time preparing for the next

Downhome Calendar, . . . and neither should you!

Submit your best photos of scenery, activities and icons that illustrate the down-home lifestyle. We’re looking for a variety of colourful subjects – outports, heritage animals, laundry lines, historic sites, seascapes, hilltop views and so much more – and photos from all four seasons.

In addition to free calendars and a one-year subscription to Downhome for all those chosen for the calendar, one lucky winner will receive a free trip for four aboard O’Brien’s famous whale and bird boat tours!

Here’s how to submit: Online: www.downhomelife.com/calendar By mail: Downhome Calendar Contest 43 James Lane St. John’s, NL A1E 3H3

Digital photos must be at least 300 dpi, files sizes of about 1MB Must be original photos or high quality copies. 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.

118_flashbacks_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:54 AM Page 116

reminiscing flashbacks

Read All About It

An inside look at The Evening Telegram in 1929. The paper got its start in 1879 and became one of the major newspapers in the capital city. It continues to publish daily, now as The Telegram.

Photo courtesy of the Centre for Newfoundland Studies’ Geography Collection of Historical Photographs of Newfoundland and Labrador (Collection number 02.01.045)

Fish for Thought

Originally published in “Newfoundland Scenery: Presented to Joseph Laurence, Esq. By The Members of the Newfoundland Conference,” this photo is of a group of fishermen in Labrador. It’s possible the photographer was Simeon H. Parsons, a carpenter born in Harbour Grace, NL, who taught himself how to use a camera and eventually opened his own studio.

Photo courtesy of the Centre for Newfoundland Studies’ Rev. Joseph Laurence Collection (Collection Number 199 1.021)

116

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

118_flashbacks_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:54 AM Page 117

Shop Talk

This is a photo, taken sometime after 1892, of the interior of the W.J. Murphy Grocery Store, which was located on Rawlins Cross in St. John’s, NL. The Murphy family operated the store for almost 100 years.

Photo courtesy of the Centre for Newfoundland Studies’ Geography Collection of Historical Photographs of Newfoundland and Labrador (Collection number: 01.08.006)

This Month in History According to the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, Thomas Foley was born in Ireland and served with the Royal Irish Constabulary for 22 years, the last five of which he served as First Class Head Constable in Belfast. On April 15, 1871, he arrived in St. John’s to organize and head the city’s new police force. He put out a notice in the Royal Gazette advertising for recruits. They had to be men aged 19-27, single or widowed, childless and at least 5 ft. 8 in. tall. They also had to be able to read and write, and have good character. The Constabulary Force of Newfoundland was created in 1872 with Foley as Inspector. He died suddenly on April 18, 1873 – two years and a day after he first arrived on the island.

1-888-588-6353

April 2019

117

120_VV_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:55 AM Page 118

reminiscing visions & vignettes

Gnat, do you mind…

Easter Fools?

By Harold N. Walters

An easterly gale rattled

sleet against the kitchen window.

Trapped indoors, Harry sat on the daybed looking at the calendar for 1956 on the wall beside him. Growing tired of admiring the palomino picture, he began flicking through the tabs showing the months.

Although Christmas Past was still closer than Christmas Yet-To-Come, Harry flipped to December to check which day Santa Claus would next come down the chimney. He flipped to November to see the day of the week he’d get his birthday presents – a pocketknife from Granny, guaranteed. He leafed through summer, where every day was a holiday. He returned to March – to the sleet storm – and tapped a finger on Good Friday. He sighed at the thought of Ma towing him down the road for

118

April 2019

endless hours of church, and of the repeated boredom on Easter Sunday.

Then, as if stung in the arse, Harry bolted upright, unable to believe his eyes. Easter Sunday fell on the first of April. April Fool’s Day! “Ma!” he cried. “Is this allowed?”

“Is what allowed, my son?”

“Easter on April Fool’s Day. Can we still play April Fool’s tricks?”

Wiping her hands on her apron,

1-888-588-6353

120_VV_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:55 AM Page 119

Ma examined the calendar. “It is unusual,” she said to Harry, “but it has happened before. Once during The War, I remember… and no, you can’t play tricks this year. It would be sacrilegious.”

Ma returned to her mixing bowl and Harry slumped against the wall, his shoulders weighed down under a heavy load – trapped indoors, summer and his birthday and Christmas months away, and, to top it off, no April Fool’s tricks.

Harry booted the woodbox.

“There’s nothin’ to look forward to,” he said.

“Harry!” Ma admonished, as she emptied a cup of figs into her buns.

Before ending, the sleet storm coated every east-facing window in Brookwater with a rime of ice. Next day, however, the spring sun rose over the Crow Cliffs and the windows wept with joy.

On Thursday, after some consideration, Miss Britt closed The Great Big Book of Rites and Celebrations and spoke to her students. “It’s a fine day. Instead of lessons, let’s go outside and pick some evergreen to decorate the church for Easter.”

His heart like a lumpfish, Harry wasn’t in the mood to hunt for greenery. He slouched on the Big Rock, his hands idle.

Gnat approached, lugging a yaffle of small boughs, the bright, broken tips of firs. “What’s you at?” he asked.

“Nothin’,” said Harry. “I feels browned-off ’cause we won’t be able to April Fool anyone this year.”

“Don’t be so foolish,” said Gnat and dodged off towards the church.

While his classmates plucked fresh, green sprouts and carried them to 1-888-588-6353

the altar, Harry nodded off and dreamed a bay-boy’s wicked dream – or perhaps he didn’t sleep. Perhaps the Old Boy’s pet imp truly appeared on Harry’s shoulder, stuck its talons into Harry’s earlobe and hissed blasphemy, like an unholy wind, straight to Harry’s eardrum.

Whichever the case, Harry bolted upright just as he had done a week earlier on the daybed. He leaped to his feet and ran among the trees looking for Gnat. Finding him crawling on the ground searching for ferns, Harry thumped him on the back and said, “I got an idea.”

“I ’low,” said Gnat, standing up and brushing off his knees.

Harry outlined the imp’s scheme.

“I idden doin’ that with you,” said Gnat and stepped back, fearing lightning bolts.

“I’ll do it myself, then,” said Harry and huffed away.

During the Good Friday service, while Reverend Bottle preached about God’s promise of resurrection, Gnat sat on the opposite side of the church from Harry and kept his eyes glued to the pulpit. His humble head offered suitable lodging for a halo.

Harry sat deep in his pew. In fact, Ma pinned him against the wall, preventing her darling boy from misbehaving. She sometimes felt Harry’s noggin housed entities other than the Holy Spirit.

Like Gnat’s, Harry’s eyes seemed to be fastened to the pulpit. If so, they didn’t see Reverend Bottle, nor did his ears hear the minister’s sermon.

Harry harkened to a malevolent whisper scratching inside his ear canal and thought not of Good Friday, but of Easter Sunday morning… …and the breakfast to follow the April 2019

119

120_VV_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:55 AM Page 120

Before the sun rose over the Crow Cliffs Easter Sunday morning, Harry – led by the ear, so to speak – sneaked from his house without waking a soul. Staying on the tree-lined side of the road where the shadows were deeper than the darkness before dawn, he furtively scurried through Brookwater.

Sunrise Service… … and April Fool’s Day. The flies buzzing awake on the window sill, the flies that amused Harry during regular Sunday services, may have noticed that while he stared into space Harry occasionally smiled.

And, if flies have ears, they may have heard Harry’s muffled chuckle.

Before the sun rose over the Crow Cliffs Easter Sunday morning, Harry – led by the ear, so to speak – sneaked from his house without waking a soul. Staying on the tree-lined side of the road where the shadows were deeper than the darkness before dawn, he furtively scurried through Brookwater. Shortly, he reached the schoolhouse where, on Saturday, the women of the Ladies’ Aid had set the tables for Easter Sunday breakfast.

In duckish, pre-dawn light, Harry slipped into the schoolhouse through the easily opened kitchen window.

He crept from the kitchen into the school’s single classroom where desks were shuffed against the walls and a three-sided breakfast table was arranged in courtly fashion.

Orienting himself, Harry glided along the table, touching chair backs, smoothing the tablecloth, tapping teacups and eggcups, and shifting silverware. He nudged butter dishes and milk jugs. He shifted salt and pepper shakers like chess pieces. He stuck his finger in each of a half120

April 2019

dozen sugar bowls. Repeatedly, without regard for etiquette, he licked his fingertip, the sweetness confirming he’d located sugar.

Scravelling back to the kitchen, Harry picked up a tray, returned to the table and loaded aboard the sugar bowls. Minding his step, Harry carted the tray back to the kitchen cupboards, chuckling as he’d done in church on Good Friday.

Finally, it was Easter Sunday morning. It was April Fool’s Day. At the Sunrise Service, sunbeams sprayed through the stained-glass windows and sprinkled pulpit, pews and people with jewels of light, with colours as various as splinters of saltwater glass. Finally, thought Harry, Reverend Bottle offered benediction and entreated his congregation to rejoice.

“We’ll gather in a few moments over in the school at the breakfast table,” he added.

“I done it,” Harry said when he bumped against Gnat outside the church.

Without comment, Gnat fell back, joined Sally and Ugly Maude, and admired their Easter bonnets.

The breakfast table filled with families. Patiently waiting for the ladies to serve eggs and toast, bacon or baloney, fathers straightened misaligned teacup handles and adjusted cutlery mysteriously gone askew.

Mothers restrained youngsters from 1-888-588-6353

120_VV_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:55 AM Page 121

grabbing grub before Reverend Bottle said grace.

Harry sat in the middle of his family with his hands clasped in his lap, but with his head cocked on his left shoulder as if an invisible anchor dragged on his ear.

“Straighten up,” said Ma. At the head of the table, Reverend Bottle stood and folded his hands.

“Our Heavenly Father,” he said. All around the table, heads automatically bowed – Harry’s halfway. He cut his eyes left and right, not wanting to miss the start of his April Fool’s prank. “Amen,” Reverend Bottle finished.

As politely as royalty, everyone leaned aside as the ladies poured tea.

No one touched a teaspoon until every cup was filled.

Once the teapots were back on the stove, spoons as synchronized as galley oars dipped into the sugar bowls Harry had replaced on the table.

Wince Cody was the first one to dump double scoops into his cup and “scull across the cove” as village wags 1-888-588-6353

described his vigorous stirring. In chain reaction, folks scooped and stirred … and sipped… and spewed tea across the tablecloth.

“Friggin’ salt!” cried Wince Cody.

Spitting, and scrubbing their mouths, all hands slewed their heads towards Harry, who was, historically, a sleeveen. His teaspoon lay untouched beside his cup and saucer.

Realizing he was the target of angry eyes and reproachful salty tongues, Harry toppled his chair and fled. Pa’s grasping hand missed his coattail by a hair.

Mind that Easter breakfast, Gnat?

Pa tanned my arse and Ma prayed over me. Ma even threatened to lead me to the altar and have Reverend Bottle utter exhortations to cast out demons.

Harold Walters lives in Dunville, Newfoundland, doing his damnedest to live Happily Ever After.

Reach him at ghwalters663@gmail.com April 2019

121

122_10HistoricNLers_0609 Home Front.qxd 3/1/19 1:29 PM Page 122

reminiscing

LANCE-CPL. JOHN SHIWAK John Shiwak was an Inuk man born in Rigolet, Labrador in 1889. He spent his early years in the Labrador interior, where he became a skilled shooter and hunter, while also developing an interest in drawing and writing. As a young man, Shiwak was also a member of the Legion of Frontiersmen, a British paramilitary organization. Journalist William Lacey described Shiwak as “a natural poet, a natural artist, a natural narrator. In a thumbnail dash of words, he carried one straight into the clutch of the soundless Arctic.”

In 1915, he travelled to St. John’s and enlisted with the Newfoundland Regiment and was placed in C Company. It’s possible he was encouraged 122

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

122_10HistoricNLers_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:56 AM Page 123

ed rack c u yo ng ince e amazi s e hil look at th uring The w a en took at ome. Sco ell as the e b it’s ook and place h rador as w undlane b y Ma a history bcalled thiasnd and Lablist of Newfaol for you i l open who’ve ewfound nhome’s e essent s, social r N le ar ow peop opedia of , this is D we think o invento t o te cl Ency e Websi rians wh essionals g of do ta Heri d Labra dical pr n e a ders w, from m diers. o ol to kn rs and s ge chan to enlist by Dr. Harry L. Paddon, a doctor with the Royal Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen who also acted as a sort of unofficial recruiter for the army.

After a period of training in Scotland, by the time Shiwak was deployed to the battlefields of Europe in July 1916, the regiment had already felt the devastating losses from Beaumont-Hamel. He soon made a reputation for himself as a skilled sniper and was considered to be the best in the British forces at the time. Lance-Cpl. John Shiwak died on November 20, 1917, near Masnières, France, when an exploding shell killed him and six others.

CAPTAIN ROBERT ABRAM BARTLETT Hailing from Brigus, Robert (Bob) Abram Bartlett’s life at sea was almost guaranteed with a father as a captain, and he did go on to lead an illustrious career as a sealing captain, 1-888-588-6353

explorer and mariner. At the age of 17, Bartlett became captain of his own fishing ship and soon after got his master’s papers and became first mate of Windward, the principal ship of American explorer Robert E. Peary’s first attempt to reach the North Pole. It gave Bartlett a taste of the life he’d lead as he accompanied Peary on his next two expeditions.

In 1913, Bartlett was hired to command a ship for a scientific expedition to Herschel Island. However, April 2019

123

122_10HistoricNLers_0609 Home Front.qxd 3/1/19 9:34 AM Page 124

they became stuck in ice for 40 days and eventually had to abandon ship. He led the passengers to a nearby island, and then he and an Inuit guide made their way on foot across the Bering Strait to seek help. They walked 1,280 km before meeting up with a ship. The people on the island were rescued and Bartlett received an award from the Royal Geographical Society, but he also faced an inquiry over the disaster.

Bartlett later applied for US citizenship and eventually got a vessel of his own, using it to explore and collect marine samples while working with institutes like the Smithsonian and the Chicago Zoological Society. In the Second World War, he helped establish weather stations for the US military in the Canadian Arctic and Greenland. Bartlett was 71 years old and planning his next Arctic excursion when he died from pneumonia on April 28, 1946.

DR. CLUNY MACPHERSON After earning his medical degree from McGill University, Dr. Cluny Macpherson volunteered with the Royal Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen and took over the hospital in Battle Harbour, Labrador. He later returned to his hometown of St. John’s to set up his own private medical practice. When the First World War broke out, Dr. Macpherson enlisted as a captain and went over124

April 2019

seas in March 1915 as the Principal Medical Officer for the 1st Newfoundland Regiment. After the Germans used poison gas on April 22, 1915, he had an idea for the world’s first gas mask. Later, he gave lectures to soldiers on how to properly protect themselves against chemical weapons. Injured in 1916, he returned to St. John’s and, in 1919, was awarded the rank of LieutenantColonel.

A dedicated volunteer, he served as the president of the St. John’s Clinical Society and Newfoundland Medical Association, was chairman of the Commission on Lunacy, and from 1954-55 he was the president of the Medical Council of Canada. In his lifetime, Dr. Macpherson was awarded numerous distinctions, including being made a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, Fellow of the British Royal College of Surgeons, and a Knight of Justice of the Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

1-888-588-6353

122_10HistoricNLers_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:56 AM Page 125

During this time, Coaker became acquainted with the problems in the fishery and how the fishermen were subservient to the merchants. Coaker decided they needed to form a union for fishermen to better their lives, and created the Fishermen’s Protective Union in 1908. It spread across the island and would eventually run political candidates in elections.

Coaker also formed Port Union, a community that would be the home base of the FPU. Through the years, Coaker rose in prominence to become one of the most powerful men in the country, holding various cabinet positions in government.

SIR WILLIAM FORD COAKER A businessman, reformer and politician, William Coaker was just 13 years old when he led a twoday strike at one of the largest exporting firms in Newfoundland. The strikers won, getting higher wages for boy employees. When he was 14, he left school to become a clerk and then took a manager position in Pike’s Arm, Notre Dame Bay. He then started a farm called Coakerville on Dildo Run, Notre Dame Bay. Meanwhile, he took on the role of telegraph operator and helped get a union started. In 1903, he launched a small union periodical.

1-888-588-6353

GEORGINA STIRLING Known as the “Nightingale of the North,” Georgina Stirling was a star, performing in Europe and America as an opera singer. Born in Twillingate, she was the church organist by the time she was 15 and went to Toronto to continue her musical studies. When she returned home, she helped form a branch of the charitable Dorcas Society, and in 1888 she left for Paris to study with Madame Mathilde Marchesi, one of the great musical

April 2019

125

122_10HistoricNLers_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:56 AM Page 126

teachers of the day. Stirling become a star pupil and would perform on the stages in Paris and Milan as a prima donna soprano and toured the US, adopting the stage name Marie Toulinguet (the French name for her hometown).

For two years she worked with the New Imperial Opera Company in New York City and then the Boston Harmony Orchestra, and in 1897-98 she was attached to the Scalchi Opera Company.

However, at the height of Stirling’s career she developed a throat ailment.

Unable to sing, she became depressed and turned to alcohol. After recovering, Stirling returned to Twillingate to live with her sister Rose until her death from cancer in 1935. In the last years of her life, she took to gardening and charity work with the Dorcas Society.

FANNIE MCNEIL (NEE KNOWLING) The struggle to get women the vote took decades of work, and Fannie (Knowling) McNeil was at the forefront of Newfoundland’s battle for gender equality. From 1920 to 1925, she was active in campaigning to get enfranchisement for women in municipal and parliamentary elections.

The suffragettes worked on a multitude of levels, and McNeil was the first secretary for the Women’s 126

April 2019

Franchise League, taking on the tasks of interviewing politicians, writing articles to various newspapers, distributing pamphlets, public speaking and holding public meetings. She also helped present a petition to the House of Assembly that had been signed by 20,000 people in favour of giving women the vote.

The suffragettes faced plenty of opposition and ridicule during their campaign and they weren’t supported by the government of the day, led by Prime Minister Richard Squires. But in 1925, the Women’s Enfranchisement Bill passed under Walter S. Monroe’s government, allowing women over the age of 25 to vote and run for office. In fact, McNeil was one of the first women in Newfoundland to run for office at the municipal level in St. John’s (she did not win).

A gifted artist, McNeil was also cofounder of Newfoundland Society of Art, which organized art shows. In 1942, Memorial University created the Hector and Fanny McNeil Memorial Trust Fund Scholarship to honour her and her supportive husband.

1-888-588-6353

122_10HistoricNLers_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:56 AM Page 127

Nurse Myra Bennett (nee Grimsley) Born in London, England in 1890, Myra (Bennett) Grimsley made a career in nursing – first in England, then in Newfoundland. Her training included a six-month course in maternity work and three months of trial case work, plus operative midwifery and anesthesia.

Originally she’d planned to go to Saskatchewan with the Overseas Nursing Association. But in a chance meeting with Lady Harris, wife of

then governor of Newfoundland, Bennett became aware of the medical issues facing rural Newfoundland and Labrador and the need for skilled nurses. Bennett came to the province in 1921, through the Outport Nursing program, and headed to Daniel’s Harbour. There she married and settled into her life’s work.

The tasks she had to perform ranged from delivering newborns to pulling teeth. As the region’s sole health care provider, her patients were spread over several hundred kilometres on the Great Northern Peninsula and she travelled by every means necessary in all kinds of weather to tend to them.

Bennett received many awards for her work, including the King George V Jubilee award and King George VI Coronation Medal, and she was made a Member of the Order of Canada.

Memorial University awarded her an honorary doctorate, the biography Don’t Have Your Baby in the Dory! by H. Gordon Green was written about her life, and she was the subject of the CBC documentary, Lady of the Lonely Places.

Cassie Eileen Brown Growing up in Rose Blanche, Cassie Brown spent her teenage years writing and she eventually translated that into a full-fledged writing career. According to the Heritage Website, her family moved to St. John’s in the 1930s. While she’s remembered as a novelist, Brown wrote radio plays and educational telecasts for CBC and was a journalist with The Daily News from ’59 to ’66, as well as publisher and editor of Newfoundland Women magazine.

1-888-588-6353

April 2019

127

122_10HistoricNLers_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:56 AM Page 128

From 1954 to 1957, she won awards in the Government of Newfoundland Arts and Letters Competition.

After leaving journalism, she gained much acclaim with her novel, Death on the Ice. Published in 1972, it tells the tale of how 78 sealers from the SS Newfoundland died after being stranded on the ice in a blizzard in March 1914.

Originally, Death on the Ice listed Harold Horwood as the co-author at the insistence of the publisher, believing it would sell more books. Cassie would also go on to write A Winter’s Tale and Standing into Danger. She was also the executive of the Newfoundland Drama Society and the president of Karwood Limited, a real-estate development company. She passed away in 1986.

GRACE MARGARET SPARKES (NEE PATTEN) Grace (Patten) Sparkes was born in Grand Bank in 1908, into a family that prioritized education. According to the Heritage Website, she was the youngest child of 10 and she got a degree in biology from Mount Allison University. She then enrolled in the University of Toronto’s medical school with the goal of becoming a doctor. However, she had to leave after a year due to financial reasons.

Returning home, she attended 128

April 2019

Memorial University College for teacher training. She married Gerry Sparkes and taught in Twillingate in the early 1930s.

Sparkes was also active in the political scene. She supported Newfoundland returning to responsible government and strongly opposed Confederation with Canada. Between 1949 and 1953, she was a Progressive Conservative candidate in provincial and federal elections. In fact, she even lost her teaching job as a result of her campaigning, so as a widower with a small child, she became a journalist to support her family. She later returned to teaching and retired from that profession in 1972.

Sparkes helped form the MUN Alumni Association and was on the Board of Regents. She actively volunteered with the YWCA and Canadian Red Cross Society. In her late 70s, she got into acting, playing the role of Grandma Walcott in Ted Russell’s “Tales from Pigeon Inlet” series on CBC-TV. Various universities awarded her honorary degrees, including a Doctor of Laws from Mount Allison University. Grace Sparkes died in 2003. A provincial ferry and a women’s shelter in Marystown both carry her name.

1-888-588-6353

122_10HistoricNLers_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:56 AM Page 129

TOMMY RICKETTS Born in Middle Arm, White Bay in 1901, Tommy Ricketts decided to enlist as a private with the Newfoundland Regiment in 1916, to fight in the First World War, and likely lied about his age to do so. On October 14, 1918, Ricketts and Lance-Cpl. Matthew Brazil volunteered to attack a German battery in Belgium. How1-888-588-6353

ever, just when they had almost reached their target, they ran out of ammunition. While under heavy fire from the Germans, Ricketts raced back to get more ammunition and returned unharmed. His bravery allowed the platoon to advance and capture four German guns, four machine guns and eight prisoners.

For his deeds that day, Ricketts was awarded the Victoria Cross by King George V, at a ceremony held in January 1919.

Soon after, he received France’s Croix de Guerre with Golden Star. The Victoria Cross is the highest award for gallantry when facing the enemy and is only given to British and Commonwealth forces.

Ricketts is the youngest recipient in a combat role, though not the youngest ever, to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

When the war was over, Ricketts returned home and enrolled at Memorial University College to study pharmacy, opened his own business and married Edna Edwards. Known as an unassuming man who avoided publicity, Ricketts received a state funeral when he died in 1967. This year, MUN announced the creation of the Thomas (Tommy) Ricketts Award in Pharmacy Education, honouring dedication and lifelong learning.

April 2019

129

134_PowerlessAgainstNature2_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:57 AM Page 130

reminiscing

130

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

134_PowerlessAgainstNature2_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:57 AM Page 131

The late Ron Hynes’ haunting commissioned work “Ship of Dreams” (commemorating the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic off the coast of Newfoundland on April 1415, 1912) echoes an Old Breton Fisherman’s Prayer, popularized by a Winfred Ernest Garrison poem, which in part reads: “O, God, Thy sea is so great and my boat is so small.”

It is a sentiment that Doug McDonald, 53, of Colliers, NL, can relate to firsthand, as he recalls a scary time in his youth when he and two others where blown out to sea, where they drifted for several days and nights.

“It is a funny thing there was no real big press coverage of it in the newspapers,” he says today, but then surmises that’s how it was back in those days. “It was just something that happened, people dealt with it as best they could, and, after awhile went on about day-to-day life again. The only thing I have is a little undated piece my mother clipped from the paper saying three St. John’s fishermen are overdue from a fishing trip the day before and that a search was mounted when they failed to return. Of course, to us there was a lot more to it than that.”

Doug was just 12 that summer in 1977. He and his father, James McDonald, and James’ brother Bill set out just after dawn from Shoe Cove (near Pouch Cove) in their 12-foot open boat, a white fiberglass vessel with green trim, to jig a few cod.

“We’d jig a few fish, spend the morning on the water, go in, clean the fish, and head on home,” Doug says of the way these trips usually went. “It was a beautiful Sunday morning, and all I had on was a pair of jeans and T-shirt – it was that nice of a day.”

As was routine, his father steered their boat close to shore, motoring from cove to cove. They jigged their fish, had a lunch and prepared to head home. The flat calm waters of the cove soon changed as they rounded the first headland. The wind had come up, making it a little rough, and James decided to move a little farther out, away from the waves breaking on the rocky shore. Very soon after, disaster struck. The shaft from the motor to the propeller broke. James calmly told his young son to get in the back of the boat while he took up position at the oars.

1-888-588-6353

April 2019

131

134_PowerlessAgainstNature2_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:57 AM Page 132

“Now he was a big brute of a man, used to construction work and farming, and with the weight of the boat with us, the fish, and the wind and sea against us, he took three or four pulls on the oars and he suddenly ripped the oarlocks right out of the sides of the boat,” Doug recalls.

With no means of propulsion or way to signal for help, they sat for awhile and took stock of their situation.

James used their jigging line and the dead motor to create a sea anchor, hoping to slow their drift. “It seemed to work and we stayed in the one place for a long time, but we could tell by taking a few marks from the land that the wind was moving us out.”

Next, they tried increasing the drag in the water using opened garbage bags tied at the corners with rope, but the bags tore. So they tossed out a five-gallon bucket on a rope for another sea anchor, but it did little.

“Father said we were carrying a lot of weight for the rough water and was afraid we would swamp, so he had us throw out all the load of fish,”

Doug says. But they were told to keep one fish each to eat later, not knowing how long they might be at sea.

The boat drifted all day and through that night, while the sea tossed them and rain poured over them. The farther out to sea they went, the bigger the waves became.

At one point, James ordered Doug to crouch in the middle of the boat under the seat.

“We would go down the valley in one wave and look almost straight up as we rode up the wall of the next one,” Doug recalls. Later they learned from other sailors that waves were 30-50 feet high at times. “The odd wave would break at the top as we reached it, and we would all be going with the gallon jugs with the ends cut out of them to bail out the boat as quick as we could before the next wave came.”

They heard one large ship pass by in the dark but couldn’t get anyone’s attention. The next morning dawned in a bank of thick fog.

Meantime, back home a search had

Above (left to right): A young Doug McDonald with a younger relative; James McDonald; Bill McDonald 132

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

134_PowerlessAgainstNature2_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:57 AM Page 133

“So Bill says, ‘Jimmy can’t drown because of the caul, Dougie can’t drown because he is too young, and I am doing all the praying to God so you two can help save me.

Between all of that we are getting out of this.’”

been launched. In addition to official channels, Doug’s grandfather, a successful merchant, rented planes and helicopters from as far away as Nova Scotia to aid in the search. Doug says they heard the aircraft overhead but couldn’t see anything through the fog.

That night, their fortunes took another misstep as Bill fell in the boat and sliced his knees with a

1-888-588-6353

filleting knife. “It wasn’t too bad of a cut in one way,” Doug says, “but because of where it was it bled a nice bit, and now we had blood in the boat and the water around us, so Father was worried about sharks being attracted in addition to everything else.”

While James was thinking worstcase scenarios, Bill was leaning on his faith and trying to keep all their spirits up. On the bright side, he said, James can’t drown because he was born with a caul on his face.

The caul is a flap of the amniotic sack that is sometimes on a baby’s face at birth and is supposed to be a sign of good luck.

Often the caul is kept as a token against drowning.

“So Bill says, ‘Jimmy can’t drown because of the caul, Dougie can’t drown because he is too young, and I am doing all the praying to God so you two can help save me. Between all of that we are getting out of this.’”

Tuesday morning, their salvation arrived when Captain Petten from Port au Grave spotted the small boat and came alongside to pick them up.

If memory serves him, Doug says, April 2019

133

134_PowerlessAgainstNature2_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:57 AM Page 134

trip, to Doug’s knowledge, and they used to joke that Bill was so scared of the water that he never even got a shower after. Doug did eventually get back in a boat – he even owned one for a number of years – and continued to love being on the water. He takes part in the recreational fishery every summer – using all the proper safety equipment, he stresses.

“Father and Bill passed away a number of years back, and I never saw Captain Petten or his crew again,” Doug says, “but I often wondered about them... I can’t thank them enough for saving us. It was quite a miracle when I look back on it now.”

A RESCUER RECALLS A recent photo of Doug McDonald, at his home in Colliers. Dennis Flynn photo they were told they were some 88 miles from where they had started.

With a meal of canned ham and potatoes in his belly, Doug slept until the ship returned to Shoe Cove.

“I’ll never forget when we were almost in, there was a big gang waiting for us, and my aunt Dolly – who had a heart of gold normally – was so mad with the shock at Father, since we were all given up for dead, that she ran out along the edge of the cliff cursing on him for taking a young boy out to sea and flicking rocks at him for a few minutes until she calmed down,” Doug recalls. “Father looked over at us with a grin and said, ‘What do you think, boys?

Should we row back out rather than face her?’”

That was James’ last cod-jigging 134

April 2019

In researching this story, I stumbled upon one of those crewmembers.

When I asked the harbour master in Port de Grave, Darren Kennedy, about any records of this incident, he said he believed his older brother Wade was among those rescuers.

Wade Kennedy was working for the summer on the 65-foot longliner Sandra & Diane II, owned by his uncles, brothers Raymond and Gordon Petten. Raymond was the captain, and Gordon was a crewmember alongside relatives Harold Stokes, David Andrews and Wade, who was 15 at the time.

They were returning from a crabfishing trip 25-30 nautical miles east of Cape St. Francis, when they heard about a missing boat. “Shortly after leaving the fishing grounds we received a message on our VHF radio from the Canadian Coast Guard to all boats in the Cape St. Francis vicinity and eastward – being the wind was from the west – to keep watch for a 1-888-588-6353

134_PowerlessAgainstNature2_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:57 AM Page 135

“We immediately secured the little boat to ours and proceeded to get the men on board. One man and the little boy was helped aboard, and the other man who had not fared so well needed some extra persuasion and help to crawl up over the side of our boat, which was quite a lot higher than theirs.“ missing/overdue boat with three people on board,” Wade recalls.

“Not long after starting our search, we spotted a tiny speck on the horizon and changed course to investigate further. As we gradually got closer, we could see that the people in the small boat were waving a coat atop a rowing oar as a means of attracting our attention. I distinctly remember that they continued to do so until we were literally right alongside them. They were making sure we saw them.”

When their boat pulled alongside, Wade says they got their first good look at the small crew. “One of the men and the young boy seemed to be in relatively good condition and very relieved to see us. The other man seemed to be not in such good shape, as the ordeal seemed to have taken its toll on him. He appeared to be mentally and physically exhausted.

He was lying in the back of the boat wearing a T-shirt and shorts and had a plastic bag on his head. His legs had some bruising, assumingly from the sea conditions of the previous night’s ordeal.

“We immediately secured the little boat to ours and proceeded to get the 1-888-588-6353

men on board. One man and the little boy was helped aboard, and the other man who had not fared so well needed some extra persuasion and help to crawl up over the side of our boat, which was quite a lot higher than theirs. I remember well that I and one of our crewmembers took hold of an arm on either side of the man and literally dragged him in over the side of the boat. His legs just flopped in on the deck from exhaustion. He crawled across the deck and put his back to the rim around the fish hole entrance and laid his head back on the hatch cover.”

With the Coast Guard notified of the rescue and the little boat secured to the longliner, they headed towards Shoe Cove. When they arrived, the dock was too small and the water too shallow for the longliner to approach. “The three then had to get into their little boat, with a little bit of apprehension, and row the rest of the way to the dock – however, only after making us promise that we would stand by until they reached the dock.”

Wade concludes, “All in all, a happy ending for what must have been a harrowing experience for them.”

April 2019

135

136_BVB_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:58 AM Page 136

reminiscing

between the boulevard and the bay

The Sacred Trust

By Ron Young

With the Muskrat Falls inquiry underway, We some- revisiting, among other things, all the environtimes forget mental concerns around the project raised by Land Protectors and their allies, it that along indigenous reminded me of something I wrote 18 years ago with that (boy, that time flew by fast!). This was published May 2001, when the protection of an endanright-of-use ingered boreal forest on the island of Newfoundcomes the land was in the news: responsibility Ecology has been a subject of concern for to care for many people in recent years. And that’s a good It’s about time we started taking responsithat land. thing. bility for our actions. One of the arenas where ecology came into play recently is the clear-cutting in the Main River area of the province. I have received many letters on the subject, some in favour of the project and many against.

This is my take: we don’t really own the land we enjoy, not even the parcels to which we have deeds. We are only given the right to use it while we are here – the use is then given over to our descendants. We sometimes forget that along with that right-of-use comes the responsibility to care for that land. For if we don’t do our part in preserving the land, what will be left for our children and their children?

I think Chief Sealth (Seattle) said it best in December 1854, in a letter to President Franklin Pierce. Pierce had made an offer to the Chief to buy two million acres of Indian land in the Northwest. Here’s the reply the president received from the chief: Chief Sealth (Seattle)

136

April 2019

The Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. The Great Chief also sends us words of friendship and good will. This is kind of him, since we know he has little need of 1-888-588-6353

136_BVB_0609 Home Front.qxd 2/28/19 10:58 AM Page 137

our friendship in return. But we will consider your offer.

How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?

Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing, and every humming insect is holy in the memory and experience of my people. The sap which courses through the trees carries the memories of the red man. So, when the Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land, he asks much of us.

This we know: All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. But we will consider your offer to go to the reservation you have for my people. We will live apart, and in peace.

One thing we know, which the white man may one day discover – our God is the same God. You may think that you own Him as you wish to own our land: but you cannot.

He is the God of man; and his compassion is equal for the red man and the white. The earth is precious to Him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its Creator. The whites too shall pass; perhaps sooner than all other tribes. Continue to contaminate your bed, and you will one night suffocate in your own waste.

But in your perishing you will shine brightly, fired by the strength 1-888-588-6353

of the God who brought you to this land and for some special purpose gave you dominion over this land and over the red man. That destiny is a mystery to us, for we do not understand when the buffalo are all slaughtered, the wild horses are tamed, and the view of the ripe hills blotted by talking wires. Where is the thicket? Gone. Where is the eagle?

Gone. And what is it to say good-bye to the swift pony and the hunt? The end of living and the beginning of survival. So we will consider your offer to buy the land.

If we agree, it will be to secure the reservation you have promised.

There, perhaps, we may live out our brief days as we wish. When the last red man has vanished from the earth, and his memory is only the shadow of a cloud moving across the prairie, these shores and forests will still hold the spirits of my people. For they love this earth as a newborn loves its mother’s heartbeat.

So, if we sell our land, love it as we’ve loved it. Care for it as we’ve cared for it. Hold in your mind the memory of the land as it is when you take it. And preserve it for your children, and love it...as God loves us all.

One thing we know. Our God is the same God. This earth is precious to Him. Even the white man cannot be exempt from the common destiny.

We may be brothers after all.

We shall see.

Ron Young is a retired policeman, published poet and founding editor of Downhome. ron@downhomelife.com

April 2019

137

DH_subAdDPS-3_0609 Home Front.qxd 11/2/18 3:13 PM Page 138

OVER $25s in saving ! by joining

Now more than ever a Downhome membership is a great value. Not only do you save over $25 off the cover price, you receive: 1 Year (12 issues) OF DOWNHOME

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

††

*

}

All for just

$39*

12 issues for $39* or 36 issues for $99**

Save up to $104** – 51% when you sign up for 3 years!

Delivered with December’s issue. ††Delivered with June’s issue. Canadian mailing only. *Delivered February and August issues. **$104 off cover price.

†

Tony McGrath photo

DH_subAdDPS-3_0609 Home Front.qxd 11/2/18 3:13 PM Page 139

Sign me up for a Downhome membership for just $39.00* Name:____________________________________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________________________________ City:__________________________________________ Prov/State: ____ Country: _______________ Postal Code: ____________________

Phone: (

) _________________________________

E-mail: __________________________________________________________________________ ❏ Cheque Enclosed*

❏ Credit Card

❏ Invoice Me

❏ I would like to send a membership as a gift.

❏ Moving?

Update address below.

Please send Downhome magazine to who I have listed below.

Card#:_______________________________________________________ Expires: ______ /______ Name:____________________________________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________________________________ City:______________________________________ Prov/State:_________ Country: _______________ Postal Code: ____________________

Phone: (

) _________________________________

SIGN GIFT CARD FROM: _______________________________________

* Valid in Canada on a 1-year term. Total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL $39; AB, BC, MB, NU, NT, QC, SK, YT $40.95; ON $44.07; NB, NS, PE $44.85. US and International mailing price for a 1-year term is $49.00. ** Valid in Canada on a 3-year term. Total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL $99; AB, BC, MB, NU, NT, QC, SK, YT $103.95; ON $111.87; NB, NS, PE $113.85. US and International mailing price for a 3-year term is $140.00.

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

ORDER ONLINE TODAY!

visit www.downhomelife.com/membership

1904 mail order4_Mail order.qxd 2/28/19 2:11 PM Page 140

SPRING IS AROUND THE CORNER

Final Report: The Greatest Rants From All 15 Seasons - Rick Mercer (Hard Cover) #76348 | $32.00

Grandpa Pike’s Number Two - Laurie Blackwood Pike #76644 | $19.95

Small Game Hunting: At the Local Coward Gun Club - Megan Gail Coles #76592 | $22.95

About Face: Essays on Addiction, Recovery, Therapies, and Controversies - Douglas Gosse #76630 | $19.95

Downhome Household Almanac and Cookbook #2739 | $19.95

18 Souls: The Loss and Legacy of Cougar Flight 491 - Rod Etheridge #76854 | $24.95

Reviewed

pg. 36

Flesh-Eating Plants of Newfoundland & Labrador and the Maritime Provinces - Henry Mann, Michael Burzynski #76704 | $29.95

An Exile’s Perfect Letter: A Novel - Larry Mathews #76057 | $19.95

PRICES IN EFFECT FOR APRIL 2019

• For larger images visit www.shopdownhome.com • While supplies last

The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott Carolyn R. Parsons #76747 | $19.95

1904 mail order4_Mail order.qxd 2/28/19 2:11 PM Page 141

FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com

Newfoundland Canada with Moose Cap - Tan #76641 | $19.99

Two Tone with Vinyl Trim Map of Newfoundland Cap - Black #38872 | $19.99

Two Tone with Vinyl Trim Moose Cap - Black #50299 | $19.99

Plush Moose with attached Baby Moose - 14" #59174 | $19.99

Newfoundland Tartan Fleece Blanket - map of Newfoundland and Labrador (handmade) 150 cm x 140 cm #48489 | $51.99

The Perfect Foldable Picnic Blanket #49969 | $19.99

X-Large Tartan Mug #74148 | $9.99

Gift Boxed Newfoundland Watercolour Scenic Mug #55665 | $11.99

Mini Boxing Gloves Newfoundland #58729 | $5.99

TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353

1904 mail order4_Mail order.qxd 2/28/19 2:12 PM Page 142

SPRING IS AROUND THE CORNER

Dark Tickle Coffee - 225g Wild Blueberry #45640 | Partridgeberry #45639 Bakeapple #45637

Downhome Loose Tea With Filters - 30g Bakeapple #37728 | Blueberry #37514

$4.95 each

$13.99 each

Republic Flag Hoodie Adult (S-XXL) #59323 | $39.99

Newfoundland Flag Lettering Hoodie - Adult Black (L-XXL) #59326 | $39.99

Glacier Pearle Puffin Stud Earrings #58967 | $14.99

Ladies’ Sweatshirt Ladies’ Sweatshirt Vintage Apparel NL Vintage Apparel NL Authentic Sparkle - Authentic Sparkle Purple Heather Pink Heather (S-XL) (S-XL) #74800 | $19.99 #74799 | $19.95

Glacier Pearle Puffin Necklace #58984 | $12.99

PRICES IN EFFECT FOR APRIL 2019

• For larger images visit www.shopdownhome.com • While supplies last

Necklace w Chain Labradorite - Silvertone 10.5" #75728 | $24.99

Item #

Description

Central and Western Canada. 2-3 weeks USA. Guidelines set by Canada Post.

Delivery Time 3-5 days NL, NS & NB. 7-10 days

isfied, please let us know. We will exchange any item in resaleable condition. Sorry, no returns on earrings, books, CDs or DVDs. If you do not receive your order or it is damaged upon delivery, please let us know within 3 business days. Overnight delivery available: please call for details. Product prices and shipping costs may be subject to change without notice.

Service Guarantee If you are not completely sat-

Qty.

Colour

TOTAL

*

Tax (your provincial sales tax )

USA add 15% (+ Shipping)

Shipping & Handling

SUB TOTAL

Size

$15.00

Price

*

NL, NS, PE, NB 15%; ON, 13%; BC, AB, NT, YK, NU, SK, QC, MB, 5%

Please make cheques payable to Downhome Incorporated and send to Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL A1E 3H3 Toll Free: 1-888-588-6353 • Fax: 709-726-2135 mailorder@downhomelife.com • www.shopDownhome.com

*

Card #: ___________________________________ Expiry Date: _____ /_____

Payment Info : ❒ Visa ❒ Amex ❒ MasterCard ❒ Cheque/Money Order

Gift Card to read: _________________________________________________

City: __________________________ Province: _____ Postal Code: ________

Address: ________________________________________________________

Send Gift to:_____________________________________________________

Gift Service Information

Telephone: _____________________ E-mail: __________________________

City: __________________________ Province: _____ Postal Code: ________

Address: ________________________________________________________

Send to: _______________________________________________________

Please complete your order form carefully. Please send this form along with payment to the address at bottom, or fax to 709-726-2135.

Shop online for more selection Visit: shopdownhome.com

1904 mail order4_Mail order.qxd 2/28/19 2:12 PM Page 143

1904Mktplace_0609 Marketplace.qxd 2/28/19 11:02 AM Page 144

LOG HOME

FOR SALE • GULL ISLAND, NL

Only 35 min. from St. John’s.

4 Bedroom • 2 Bath • Large Country Kitchen Open Concept • Fully Furnished • Tax Free Area

Brigus Junction

Ocean View Backyard!

$155,000 • Glabwils@gmail.com

Come Home, B’y!

Over 4000 sq. ft.

Five bedrooms, three bathrooms, two car garage, heat pump, electric heat and a Pacific Energy woodstove, artesian well, developed basement all on a serviced roadway.

$485,000

Fully furnished two-storey house in beautiful Lower Lance Cove, Random Island, NL. $89,500.

Additional photos on request.

709-726-1060

Deadman’s Bay, Bonavista North, NL Exceptionally well maintained 5 yr old home sitting on approx. 1 acre of cleared land. 2 Bed, 1 Bath, double Jacuzzi bath, hardwood throughout, interlock stone driveway, two sheds. $119,900

Call or text: 709-424-4654

Downhome Real Estate Start at $50 for a 1 col. x 1" 709-726-5113 1-888-588-6353

144

April 2019

TRINITY BAY

Call Dean 709.689.4228

Beautiful Ocean Side Log Home Cathedral Ceilings, 3 Bed 2 full bath.

Over 1 acre of landscaped property with shed. Close to hospital, restaurants, schools and all amenities! $199,000 MLS# 1182863

Contact Vicki • 709-682-3902 vchalker@hotmail.com

1-888-588-6353

1904Mktplace_0609 Marketplace.qxd 2/28/19 11:02 AM Page 145

Looking for a home near Memorial University, Health Sciences & Avalon Mall?

26 Weymouth awaits your viewing. Many upgrades, 2 full baths, in house garage and MORE! Asking $249,900.00 with quick possession - will consider leasing.

HomeLife Experts Realty Inc.

Eric Butler 709-685-2721 or 709-746-7978 ebutler@nl.rogers.com

PRIVATE SALE BY OWNER

Town Square, Gander Building, Both Levels 3400 Sq. Ft. Total 709-221-8757 or 709-424-0757

f.tizzard@nl.rogers.com

MLS# 1190818

Discount Storage St. John's, NL 709-726-6800

For Sale Beautiful Waterfront Property Deer Lake, NL Price Reduced to $449,900!

Listing ID: 1154568

Tel: 709-636-2904 • regberry10@gmail.com • www.rivermountainrealty.ca

Marketplace

709-726-5113 1-888-588-6353

advertising@downhomelife.com

www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

145

1904Mktplace_0609 Marketplace.qxd 2/28/19 11:02 AM Page 146

Marketplace Movers & Shippers Rates start at $175 for a 1 col. x 2" ad.

Call Today!

709-726-5113 Toll Free 1-888-588-6353

Movers & Shippers FIVE STAR SERVICE Without The Five Star Price! ★ Local & Long Distance Moves ★ Packing

Voted CBS Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year

A Family Moving Families Professionally and economically

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

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

Coast to Coast in Canada Fully Insured Newfoundland Owned & Operated

Contact: Gary or Sharon King

Over 25 Years Experience in the Moving Industry

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

SAMSON’S MOVING

A&K Moving

Clarenville Movers Local & Long Distance Service Your Newfoundland & Alberta Connection Over 30 years Experience Toll Free: 1-855-545-2582 Tel: Cell:

709-545-2582 709-884-9880

clarenvillemover@eastlink.ca www.clarenvillemovers.com

146

April 2019

Let our Family Move Your Family Home

Newfoundland, Ontario, Alberta and All Points In Between Newfoundland Owned & Operated Fully Insured, Free Estimates Sales Reps. in Ontario and Alberta

Covering all Eastern & Western Provinces and Returning Based from Toronto, Ontario Discount Prices Out of NL, NS & NB Newfoundland Owned & Operated 35 Years in the Moving Industry

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

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

aandkmoving@gmail.com 1-888-588-6353

1904Mktplace_0609 Marketplace.qxd 2/28/19 11:02 AM Page 147

1904_Puzzles2_1701-puzzles 2/28/19 12:46 PM Page 148

puzzles

The Beaten Path

Caroline Latham photo

By Ron Young

Block out all the letters that are like other letters in every way, including shape and size. The letters that are left over will spell out the name of the above place name in letters that get smaller in size.

S M K E A

P T

m

T

K

E

S

M

M

S

T

M V X J L R J

H

m U

J L R Q

R L

H

S

m

T

M

T

M

E

M T

U

P

H

X

S

M H

A

K T

S

I

N

J A S

K

A

V

P M

X

m

L

Q

M

H

N S Q

A

M S

U

V

S

T R

B M

S M

S

I

A

H

Last Month’s Community: Ming’s Bight 148

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

1904_Puzzles2_1701-puzzles 2/28/19 12:46 PM Page 149

Sudoku

from websudoku.com

1

7 8 6

3 9

9

8

9 6 4 2 8 4 2 5 1 3 1 4 3 6 2 6 3 5 1 6 3 6 7 Skill level: Medium

Last month’s answers

?

Need Help

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

www.downhomelife.com

2 5 8 4 9 6 1 7 3

1 6 4 7 5 3 2 9 8

9 7 3 2 8 1 6 5 4

3 4 2 1 7 8 5 6 9

5 8 7 9 6 2 4 3 1

6 1 9 3 4 5 8 2 7

7 3 6 5 1 4 9 8 2

April 2019

4 2 5 8 3 9 7 1 6

8 9 1 6 2 7 3 4 5 149

1904_Puzzles2_1701-puzzles 3/1/19 1:27 PM Page 150

Downhomer Detective Needs You

A

fter more than two decades on the Urban City Police Force, Downhomer Detective has come home to rid Newfoundland and Labrador of a new threat – cunning thief Ragged Rick. A real braggart, the slimy criminal sends DD a blurry photo of his surroundings plus clues to his whereabouts just to prove he’s always a step ahead. DD needs your help to identify where in Newfoundland and Labrador Ragged Rick is hiding out this month.

Use these 5 clues to identify where Ragged Rick is now: • situated in the Bay of Islands • traditionally a fishing outport • borders on Blow-Me-Down Provincial Park • close ties to York Harbour • named after a Royal Navy ship, not a bird

Last Month’s Answer: Lewisporte

Picturesque Place NameS of Newfoundland and Labrador

by Mel D’Souza Last Month’s Answer: Bay L’Argent 150

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

1904_Puzzles2_1701-puzzles 2/28/19 12:46 PM Page 151

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

Last Month’s Clue: What expense to acquire that canine in the porthole.

In Other Words: How much is that doggy in the window.

This Month’s Clue: It is akin to thieving a bairn of its confectionery In Other Words: ____ _____ _________ ______ _____ __ _____.

A Way With Words KEEP

Last Month’s Answer: Keep to the right

This Month’s Clue

THINK

Rhyme Time A rhyming word game

by Ron Young

1. Little cats’ gloves are _______ _______ 2. To launch a punt is to _____ a ____ 3. A deadened digit is a ____ _____ Last Month’s Answers 1. try to cry, 2. computer looter, 3. dumb plum

ANS: ________ ____

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.

O O R T

A N S T

C L E F E I F T O S Y O S

H T T T

H E E E C A A D E H E H G R A E G E I G S R E G I N O S T P T U

C A N G B C G I P I O E R T T O V N S O S

Last month’s answer: It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it. www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

151

1904_Puzzles2_1701-puzzles 2/28/19 12:46 PM Page 152

Rhymes 5 Times Each answer rhymes with the other four

1. greeting 2. gelatin 3. relaxed 4. gentleman 5. jaundice

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

STUCK? Don’t get your knickers in a knot!

Puzzle answers can be found online at DownhomeLife.com/puzzles

Last Month’s Answers: 1. money, 2. funny 3. runny, 4. sunny, 5. bunny

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!

Allow Seek Rook _ _____ _____ Thin Dove Yearn Hose ___ ___ __ ____ ____ Last Month’s 1st Clue: Goat Threw Them Oceans Answer: Go through the motions Last Month’s 2nd Clue: Ace Cam Mar Test Answer: A scam artist

A

nalogical

A

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

1. RADENG 2. WEREPISTOL 3. PANOETLP 4. NITTOR 5. NONTEB Last Month’s Answers: 1. Parson’s Pond, 2. Daniel’s Harbour, 3. Portland Creek, 4. Bellburns, 5. Port Saunders

nagrams

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

1. OPT ME SIR – Clue: identity thief 2. MS THIN EGO – Clue: it’s not nothing 3. A TAB HIT – Clue: a place to belong 4. RING OF LO – Clue: always being walked all over 5. A CLAN RED – Clue: where days turn into months Last Month’s Answers: 1. headline, 2. announcement 3. geography, 4. history, 5. interfere 152

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

1904_Puzzles2_1701-puzzles 2/28/19 12:46 PM Page 153

Four-Way Crossword F o re Wo rd s • B a c k Wo rd s • U p Wo rd s • D o w n Wo rd s

By Ron Young

Unlike regular crosswords, in Four-Way Crossword each letter is not necessarily related to the letter in the adjacent row or column, but is part of one or more words in some direction.

1-91: cheap 2-4: pitch 2-22: faucet 3-33: molecule 5-25: dine 6-9: cashbox 7-9: sick 9-39: fibber 10-1: uneducated 10-100: conceivable 11-13: tiger 11-31: swindle 13-15: beverage 13-17: taunt 13-33: male cat 20-17: belongs to me 22-2: rap 22-25: bard 27-25: place 27-29: oasis 28-48: soft drink 34-4: antlered animal 34-36: levee 36-31: lunatic 39-36: space 39-59: uncooked 40-36: bride’s mate 40-60: strong drink 42-82: claw 45-15: information 45-42: twosome 47-17: flower 48-45: poke 48-68: equal 52-92: solitary 54-24: impolite 54-74: trot 54-84: shrimp 55-95: enumerate 55-51: milk product 56-26: several www.downhomelife.com

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

100

56-51: shriek 56-60: breed 57-59: feline foot 57-87: impoverished 69-66: tramped 70-100: capable 71-74: penny 73-53: frost 74-76: sister 78-48: bunkum 78-80: taxi 80-76: pig product 84-82: perfect score 87-84: rave 87-90: rod’s mate 91-96: duration 91-100: longitudinal 96-6: best looking

96-66: hired man 97-100: knowing 99-69: bench Last Month’s Answer

L F A D E R S H I P

AME N T A B RU S R ED I HT RAERO OTOE TNU L I HWH T R E S TOA S T TUOR T E B EMO S EWE B OMT S E L A S S I ONA

L E AR DE AH OW AY OR DE I V T E

April 2019

153

1904_Puzzles2_1701-puzzles 2/28/19 12:46 PM Page 154

The Bayman’s

Crossword Puzzle 1

2

by Ron Young 3

4

5

6 7 8

9

10

11

12

13

15 17

16

18

19

21 23

25

28

37

26

29

38

33

30 34

42

45

46

April 2019

27

31

35

36

39

41

154

20

22

24

32

14

40 43

44

1-888-588-6353

1904_Puzzles2_1701-puzzles 2/28/19 12:46 PM Page 155

ACROSS 1. Great Big ___ 3. fish eggs 4. type 6. happy 7. “___ your partner, Sally Tibbo” 8. factual 9. spark (colloq) 15. simmer 16. vase 17. “There’s a red-headed tory ___ _____ __ __ dory” (4 words) 21. desire 22. battycatter 23. cod roe (colloq) 26. “___ a bayman for a chew, he will bite it off for you” 28. Scammell, author of “Squid Jiggin’ Ground” 29. him 30. Trinity ____ 32. Halfway Point (abbrev) 34. fried pork-fat cube (colloq) 37. baby horse 39. gardening tool 40. Grand __ Pierre 41. “Like a birch broom __ the fits” 42. kiln 44. longest river 45. following 46. “The weather being fine, __ ____ no time” (2 words) DOWN 1. “The whale made _______ ___ ______ Bay” (3 words) 2. “In _ ____ ____ ___ _ broken oar, ’tis always best to hug the shore” (5 words) www.downhomelife.com

5. den 9. “One for the money, two ___ ___ ____” (3 words) 10. “Not a word of a ___” 11. Mohammed ___ 12. NL party room 13. regret 14. tiptoe 15. pew 18. sou’wester 19. Nippers Islands (abbrev) 20. __ haven’t got a click nor a clue 24. rural route (abbrev) 25. untidy person (colloq) 26. mountain ___ – dogberry tree 27. “You’re ____ just a Newfie in a Calgary hat” 31. He doesn’t have _ ____ to his name (2 words) 33. grave 35. Spillars ____ 36. short for never 38. “A fisherman is ___ rogue, a merchant is many” 43. “That’s __ good for winter” H E T H R E W S T O N E S A T I T

O B U I C K L Y E Y S A C K E I T A T N Y

ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD

W E P T A R E Y A C A S C I M E T S O H A R B S I I W I L L I N

I N C O M E

N T A O R L D A Y S F O U R S E G A T

O T H E R D I O N P O T S T R U E A I R Y N I N E E D O

April 2019

155

1904_Puzzles2_1701-puzzles 2/28/19 12:46 PM Page 156

DIAL-A-SMILE © 2019 Ron Young

Pick the right letters from the old style phone to match the numbers grouped below and uncover a quote which will bring a smile to your face. ____ 9484 ___ _ _ 266 3 7

_____ 47328

__ 26

__ __ 38 36

_ _ __ __ _____ 3 5 32 87 42489

____ _ 7693 7 _______ 4732837 _ __ _ 2 45 5

Last Month’s Answer: Our toaster has two settings: too soon or too late.

©2019 Ron Young

CRACK THE CODE

L

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

_ _ _ 0 fX _ _ _ D kf

_ _ _ D

hZ I L

_ _ _ fX t

_ _ _ _

0 fX

_ _ _ _ _ D _

_ _ _ _

\ \l mL

_ _ _

_ _ _ _

h\ Z l I K m \ l D kl I L _ _ _’_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D 0 fX \ l Z IC f LC l L _ _ _ _ _ _ D _ _ _ Z I m K; m IL m L Last Month’s Answer: No man is a failure who is enjoying life.

156

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

1904_Puzzles2_1701-puzzles 2/28/19 12:46 PM Page 157

© 2019 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.”

able =

moving = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ KtVx]V}

_ _ _

b

kh}

pool =

chaff =

inscribed =

_ _ _ _

Yf}z K]mhq

_ _ _

_ _ _ _ _

]fq hmz

kt h} b v

.

hqhmv}vKK

_ _ _ _

_ _

VK

_ _ _ _

K]vY

_ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _

K]vY

_ _ _ _ _

x mV b t]

xV mK]

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

qmV]]v}

scare = _

_ _ _ _ _

]t v

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _

]t v

_ _

VK _ _ _ _ _ _

Kvkf}z

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

hkkvY]h}kv

Last Month’s Answer: Not only is women’s work never done, the definition keeps changing. www.downhomelife.com

April 2019

157

1904_Puzzles2_1701-puzzles 2/28/19 12:46 PM Page 158

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 ON EASTER SUNDAY

Last Month’s Answers: 1. House; 2. Hair; 3. Ceiling light; 4. Sail; 5. Bin; 6. Scissors; 7. Bottle; 8. Bowsprit; 9. Rope; 10. Door hinge; 11. Shovel; 12. Wood burner.

“Differences by the Dozen”- A compilation of Different Strokes from 2002 to 2014 (autographed by Mel) can be ordered by sending $9.95 (postage incl.; $13.98 for U.S. mailing) to Mel D’Souza, 21 Brentwood Dr., Brampton, ON, L6T 1P8.

158

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

1904_Puzzles2_1701-puzzles 2/28/19 12:46 PM Page 159

HIDE & SEEK NL BAYS

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

BONAVISTA BONNE BURNT CANADA CONCEPTION DEVIL FORTEAU FORTUNE GANDER GREEN GROSWATER HERMITAGE INGORNACHOIX MARGUERITE MORTIER I H L G V B V D H D X T R A P H A P

A N T R U I R E N U S N A I K M L B

H W G R I S T V E S A D K D O T A F

Y D N O H M V I E Y L E R R Q Y N O

Q T O P R Q Y L Z E G A T I M R E H

P Q G N K N T I H B Y I P R T C E Q

Y Z N L W I A T T E E L S A O J X D

www.downhomelife.com

SHALLOW TREPASSEY TRINITY VOISEYS WITLESS

PISTOLET PLACENTIA RENCONTRE ROBINHOOD SANDWICH

Last Month’s Answers

X L N O W O E C T R A E H T B F E R

R Q G T C L H I H C Q Z A S I D L F

C E K V O Q R Q E O U O L I H F K Y

N Y T T S E E N X H I D L V A I N S

L W S A U R T O V C U X O A Y O O Q

H H Z O M D A E Q P D F E E A K A E

S G R E K E R W Y U H L S G Y A K E

W I J G W I O Q W I Z A W N Z D E U

K E N S T P C D T V A C U D P I X J

E E A O X A A C V H S H O I W Z K L

P J R H A S X B Y W R G I O V S Y F

U Z Y G P E P B W F N W R R T L A K

N O R E U P Y W Z E O N G T N E I H

D A G X M Y O J I D T S R B V K W E

C K L R K L A F R Z H R J R S L T X

M J P L X B H R Y N D H E E N N O B

H I N X Z K L Z T V G H I A X C G G

N C V U N G E K W V O V J P M T Q Y

V O I S E Y S H G A H C N T E U Z S

X M J Z M K O L I S U E O O L H B E

N U Z Z C P M R S J S M O T E X W G

T R E P A S S E Y S K O C J K G Q E

R J X F A H I Z F W T S H R T M I N

A B N T R B N H Q O E Z P Y A E L D

R R X A O H B K F C Z R O X A E N K

E E N O I U K M C N B W Z H M U R L

B C A E B I H X J L T E T P M A Y Y

V E I I B U S G R V A V N D D Z P V

X P M A O K Z F I L Y M S P C J S B

O J Y F U N I F F U P C F B B G N Y

L M D N E N U T R O F X T A A S K I

S H A R K F V D M P T G V M A B S D

B Q U E R A H R U K W X J L F Q V M

G M V N I Y A P T E W H R T N X S Z

N R U Q T L E R R I U Q S W E O G R

K E R X Y F O X R Y Y S L Z S R K S

U H N H A T Y D U K E D E R A J O F

C Z T N L Y F M E M O W J X V Z W F

L O X R B E A V E R O N T Y Q Q E R

N M D X L G Y F S G C N I G C H T Z

April 2019

V Y D Z A A Y D E X Q Y A Q P Q V F

B Y C E N M U L Y D O Y Q D O P F C

U M S D C O N C E P T I O N E C O L 159

1904 photo Finish_0609 Photo Finish 3/1/19 1:43 PM Page 160

photo finish

Looking

Sharp

The Codroy lighthouse serves as a soft backdrop to this artsy urchin photo.

Cathy Gale Doyles, NL

Do you have an amazing or funny photo to share?

Turn to page 9 to find out how to submit.

160

April 2019

1-888-588-6353

1904-Cover-NL_0609-Cover-NFLD 3/22/19 8:47 AM Page 3

1904-Cover-NL_0609-Cover-NFLD 3/22/19 8:48 AM Page 4