Vol 32 • No 07
$4.99
December 2019
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12 Ways to Give Back
Meet the Mummers Santa’s Kangaroo?
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life is better Published monthly in St. John’s by Downhome Publishing Inc. 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 Tel: 709-726-5113 • Fax: 709-726-2135 • Toll Free: 1-888-588-6353 E-mail: mail@downhomelife.com Website: www.downhomelife.com Editorial Editor-in-Chief Janice Stuckless Assistant Editor Katherine Saunders 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 Junior Accountant Marlena Grant Accounting Assistant Sandra Gosse Operations Manager, Twillingate Nicole Mehaney
Warehouse Operations Warehouse / Inventory Manger Carol Howell Warehouse Operator Josephine Collins Distribution Sales & Marketing Amanda Ricks Sr. Customer Service Associate Sharon Muise Inventory Control Clerk Heather Lane Warehouse Associate Anthony Sparrow Retail Operations Retail Floor Manager, St. John’s Jackie Rice Retail Floor Manager, Twillingate Donna Keefe Retail Sales Associates Crystal Rose, Emma Goodyear, Jonathon Organ, Nicole French, Elizabeth Gleason, Rebecca Ford, Erin McCarthy, Mackenzie Stockley, Marlene Burt, Marissa Little, Hayley Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Gauci, Beth Colbert, Kim Tucker, Heather Stuckless, Katrina Hynes, Tammy Keating
Subscriptions Sr. Administrative Assistant Ciara Hodge Customer Service Associate Kathleen Murphy
Founding Editor Ron Young
President & Associate Publisher Todd Goodyear
Chief Executive Officer/Publisher Grant Young
General Manager/Assistant Publisher Tina Bromley
To subscribe, renew or change address use the contact information above. Subscriptions total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL $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
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all ages party
Contents
DECEMBER 2019
40 Pinsent’s Take In a recent interview, Gordon Pinsent makes it clear he has no plans to call “Cut!” on his career. Janice Stuckless
54 Meet the Mummers A Boxing Day tradition delights young and old, performers and audiences alike. Dennis Flynn
66 Keeping a Light On
40 rowdy as ever www.downhomelife.com
Meet the Little Bay Islands couple hunkering down for life after resettlement. Ashley Miller
108 Readers’ Holiday Memories Favourite Christmas moments and traditions December 2019
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Contents
DECEMBER 2019
homefront 10 I Dare Say A note from the editor 11 Contributors Meet the people behind the magazine
12 Letters Soft serve upset, Come From Away in the UK, and NL beauty queens
20 Downhome Tours Explore the Arctic Circle with Downhome 22 Why is That? Why do we kiss under the mistletoe? Linda Browne
24 Life’s Funny Santa Proof Elizabeth James
25 Say What A contest that puts
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live in London
words in someone else’s mouth
26 Lil Charmers Christmas Cuties 28 Pets of the Month Festive Furbabies
30 Reviewed Denise Flint interviews Michael Crummey and reviews his latest book, The Innocents.
34 What Odds Paul Warford screens holiday movies
36 Poetic Licence Da Nite Afore Krissmas Gary Peddle
features 46 More Than a Good Yarn Knitting buddies release second book of Newfoundland patterns Marcia Porter 4
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28 Santa’s pet
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72 light it up
50 Twelve Ways of Giving A dozen ways to spread cheer in your community this holiday season Katherine Saunders
58 Christmas Critters The animals that make appearances in holiday traditions around the world Todd Hollett
explore 72 All Things Merry and Bright 12 days and nights of Christmas celebrations in Atlantic Canada Katherine Saunders
80 Lullaby for Little Bay Islands
58 he’s so fly
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An unforgettable night in a soon to be resettled community Dennis Flynn
84 Travel Diary A Little Bay of Tranquillity G. Tod Slone December 2019
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Contents
DECEMBER 2019
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refreshing gift
food and leisure 88 The Everyday Gourmet Homemade Limoncello Andrea Maunder
92 The Ultimate Christmas Party Mix We reached out to our regular Everyday Recipes team, led by chef Bernie-Ann Ezekiel, our staff and our readers to create this collection of our favourite food and beverages that make a Christmas get together a real “down home” one.
104 Stuff About What do ship’s cooks, a peanut salesman and diapers have in common? 6
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92 down home delights
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on the naughty list
reminiscing 116 Visions & Vignettes Brookwater’s scalawags hatch a plan to trap fake Santa Harold N. Walters
120 Christmas on the Coastal Boat Kim Ploughman
124 A Missionary’s Last Flight Burton K. Janes About the cover This wintry outport scene is the artwork of Adam Young, who lives on Fogo Island, NL. Check out his colourful, whimsical prints – including this one, called “Crisp” – on his website: AYoungStudios.com.
Cover Index Little Bay Islands • 66, 80, 84 A Yarn with Gordon Pinsent • 40 Tales of Christmas Past • 108 12 Ways to Give Back • 50 Meet the Mummers • 54 Santa’s Kangaroo? • 58 www.downhomelife.com
130 Newfoundlandia The story of Old Christmas Day Chad Bennett 134 Between the Boulevard and the Bay Ron Young 138 Mail Order 144 Marketplace 148 Puzzles 160 Photo Finish December 2019
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The year we lost 22 days and found Old Christmas Day. p. 130
Knitting Book Giveaway Visit DownhomeContests.com Dec. 2-13, 2019, and enter to win a copy of Saltwater Classics. (See related story on p. 46.)
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Wonder what to serve at a NL Christmas party? Recipes begin on p. 92.
Visit Downhomelife.com/magazine to view the trailer for Gordon Pinsent’s new short film, Night Shoot. (See related story on p. 40)
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Submission Guidelines and Prize Rules
You could WIN $100! Every reader whose PHOTO, STORY, JOKE or POEM appears next to this yellow “from our readers” stamp in a current issue receives $10 and a chance at being drawn for the monthly prize: $100 for one photo submission and $100 for one written submission. Prizes are awarded in Downhome Dollars certificates, which can be spent like cash in our retail stores and online at shopDownhome.com.*
Submit Today! Send your photo, story, joke or poem to
Downhome 43 James Lane St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 or submit online at:
www.downhomelife.com *Only 1 prize per submitter per month. To receive their prize, submitters must provide with their submission COMPLETE contact information: full name, mailing address, phone number and email address (if you have one). Mailed submissions will only be returned to those who include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Downhome Inc. reserves the right to publish submissions in future print and/or electronic media campaigns. Downhome Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material. www.downhomelife.com
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i dare say
“You all ready for Christmas?”
Todd Young photo
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me that in the month of December, I’d be rich – and I still wouldn’t have my tree up or presents wrapped. I’m generally a very organized person; I live by deadlines. But for whatever reason, and even though it comes the same time every single year, I can’t get ahead of Christmas. It’s like time speeds up after Thanksgiving. One minute I’m handing out Halloween candy, the next I’m buying stocking stuffers. Does time speed up for me so it can slow down later for Santa to make it around the world in one night? It’s enough to make me hyperventilate into a gift bag. While I do feel the weight of the season as the chocolates disappear from the Advent calendar (which, by the way, I often don’t get around to buying until five days before Christmas and have to eat 20 chocolates right away to catch up), I’ve found a way to make my tardiness less stressful. I gave in to it and now it’s tradition. That’s right. Our tradition is to not tackle Christmas shopping until after December 1, no baking until midDecember, and no festive decorating before the 20th. And the tree goes up on Christmas Eve. And because it’s tradition, who dares to question or criticize it? And the other unwavering tradition: decorations stay up until after Old Christmas Day, January 6 (how long after that day can vary wildly – we almost had a Valentine’s tree one year). With my laid-back husband’s help, I try to stop watching the calendar and the clock as the holidays near and try to live in the moment. After all, it’s not the lights, the food or the ribbons and bows that we really cherish – it’s the moments. Wishing you a merry and mellow Christmas,
Janice Stuckless, Editor-in-chief janice@downhomelife.com 10
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Contributors
Meet the people behind the magazine
Linda Browne
Joseph Seaward
Linda Browne is a freelance writer who’s been contributing to Downhome for a decade. Her regular feature “Why Is That?” (see p. 22) tackles common life questions with answers from experts. She says, “As a naturally inquisitive person who loves trivia – including Trivial Pursuit! – coming up with questions is easy. I think of all kinds of weird stuff as I’m eating breakfast, brushing my teeth or lying in bed trying to get to sleep! But finding answers isn’t always so simple. It’s all about following the breadcrumbs. That often begins with a Google search to see what (if anything) has already been mentioned about the topic. Then I’ll usually poke around university websites to find experts in a related field or comb academic papers and journals to see what I can dig up. And if I’m lucky, I’ll come across published books that cover some aspect of the topic and reach out to the authors for more information.” Linda is from Dunville, NL, but resides mainly in St. John’s.
Joseph Seaward was born in Gooseberry Cove, Trinity Bay, NL, and now resides in Wolfville, NS. He’s a repeat contributor to Downhome. Joseph was educated at the Canadian Forces Air Navigation School and served for 24 years in the military. He has also worked with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and served as president of JoMar Books and the Atlantic Provinces Booksellers Association. He’s a past member and instructor with St. John Ambulance Society of Canada, and was chairman of the New Minas Village Commission in Nova Scotia. In this issue, on page 112, Joseph shares his memory of coming home to Newfoundland to surprise his family and meet his new baby sister at Christmastime. Joseph’s submissions often show his love for his siblings – in last month’s issue, he submitted a poem written by his late brother, Garfield Seaward, entitled “Why I Wear a Poppy.”
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homefront lil charmers
Frosty the Snowbaby
Little Benjamin and his moose buddy are in a festive mood. Mandy Cooper Alberta
Christmas Cuties Twinkle, Twinkle
Two-year-old Kinley looks out the window, eyes peeled for Santa. Krista Kelly St. Lawrence, NL
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Reading by Tree Light
Baby Anderson gets to stay up late and read about the best place in the world. Heather Rose Conception Bay South, NL
Darling Delivery
Little Miss Shauna brings home the family tree. Lorna Harty NL
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homefront pets of the month
festive furbabies Stylish Pupper
Eight-week-old Oliver is all dressed up for family supper! Greg Hodder Conception Bay South, NL
Ready for Santa
Baron models his festive PJs, hoping to get on the “good boy� list. Donna Piercey Fortune, NL
In a Tangle
Garfield helps decorate the house for his second Christmas. Wanda Lambert Torbay, NL
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Knee-Oh the Newf-Deer
The best reindog Santa could ask for! Kerri Miller Calgary, AB
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features
KNITTING BUDDIES RELEASE SECOND BOOK OF NEWFOUNDLAND PATTERNS.
By Marcia Porter
For selfish reasons,
I’m giving my mom a copy of Saltwater Classics, Caps, Vamps and Mittens from the Island of Newfoundland for Christmas. (Shhh, don’t tell her.) My mom’s a knitter, and I’m an appreciative wearer of knits. I’d like a pair of the Little Hearts Ease vamps, Brigus boot socks and A Star of Logy Bay cap, please. Oh, and I wouldn’t mind the Streely Maid Trio or the Harry Hibbs hat. This latest yarn from knitters Shirley A. Scott (aka “Shirl the Purl”) and her good friend, Christine LeGrow of Spindrift Handknits, is a cornucopia of colour, texture and story. With more than 150 colour photos, this book of caps, vamps and mittens is as appetizing as a collection of Newfoundland recipes. In fact some of the colour combinations look good enough to eat, like the berries that inspired their design. Others are so bright and 46
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AUTHORS CHRISTINE LEGROW AND SHIRLEY A. SCOTT Anja Sajovic photo
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fun, they could live in downtown St. John’s. “We wanted to broaden our scope and include other types of clothing, socks, hats, vamps and winter outerwear,” says Christine about creating a followup to their first book, Saltwater Mittens. That one was a runaway bestseller that earned Best Atlantic Published Book for 2019 from The Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association.
colour combinations and coming up with new ones. We are really keen on colour,” says Shirley, who is especially fond the of Little Hearts Ease diamond vamps that remind her of ones she received as a gift more than 20 years ago. “I could knit these day and night.” One of Christine’s favourite patterns in Saltwater Classics is her moose hat. “So many people had asked me for the pattern,” she says.
In their Great Vamp Debate section, they ask: What is a vamp, and when is a vamp not a vamp? In Saltwater Classics, folklorist Dale Jarvis sets the tone for the 200plus pages that follow. He writes: “Tradition is a curious thing… it comes from the past, but it lives in the present, carrying ideas into the future.” Shirley and Christine want their patterns to breathe, so they are broken up here and there by sprinklings of Newfoundland and Labrador folklore – bits of poetry, traditional song lyrics, colloquial terms and meanings. Their mission was not to create a museum piece, but to invigorate a living tradition, one that you can pass on to your own children and grandchildren, and have fun in the process. “We’ve had great fun in naming our 48
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“But the thing I find the cutest are the little Mockbeggar patterns; I really like making them.” This collection of caps, mittens and vamps will certainly look familiar to knitters and readers. You can’t help but feel nostalgic turning the pages, reminded of the hand knits that your mom or aunt or nan gifted you at Christmas. But there is a certain je ne sais quoi here in the colour and flare and the pairing of mittens, cap or vamps with landscape and the natural world. Saltwater Classics a loving homage to Newfoundland nans and all the women who came before, arriving from their old countries with little but memories, traditions and the odd garment. 1-888-588-6353
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“They were knitting in the dark by lamplight, using sheep’s wool they’d spun themselves from sheep they’d raised,” says Christine. “They didn’t have fancy dyes and they’d have to figure out these intricate patterns while feeding 12 babies and baking the bread.” In spite of their heroic efforts to keep families warm and fed, Christine and Shirley could find little information about the identities of these early knitters and tradition bearers. Even the Dictionary of Newfoundland English, their go-to language source for the rich vocabulary featured in Saltwater Classics, refers to knitting as a male occupation, as in the knitting of fishing nets. But the pair found a unique way to pay tribute to the nans. They created Nan at Your Side sections offering tips and techniques to accompany every pattern. “If Nan’s at your side, what could possibly go wrong?” says Shirley. There’s good humour and laughter throughout the pages of Saltwater
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Classics, but Shirley and Christine aren’t afraid to stir the pot. In their Great Vamp Debate section, they ask: What is a vamp, and when is a vamp not a vamp? They quote the Dictionary of Newfoundland English, which suggests the vamp is a short, thick oversock worn in boots or around the house as a slipper. However, in Bonavista proper, the ladies point out, a vamp covers the foot to the instep and has a very short, snugfitting ribbed cuff; while just up the road in Mockbeggar any hand-knit sock of any length is called a vamp. “In Saltwater Classics, we embrace all definitions and have provided patterns for several versions,” write Shirley and Christine, in the genial language of the knitter. “But the great vamp debate continues. It’s tangly.” That sense of fun is a running theme in this latest book; it’s what you might expect from these two, who continue building their fan base and, as Christine jokes, their worldwide “knit-work.”
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features
From turkeys and turtle doves to donkeys and kangaroos, the animals that make appearances in holiday traditions around the world
As a child, I remember my grandfather telling me
stories about how his mother would make sure to visit the barn on Christmas Day and give their farm animals a special Christmas treat. Animals, after all, are as much as part of this holiday as the presents and the decorations. Some of their connections make sense, others are just too fanciful to believe. I hate to break it to you, but reindeer cannot fly no matter how much Christmas magic is in the air. And there are a few even stranger bits of Yuletide mythology that could make your Santa hat spin. Read on as I shed some light on the origins of Christmas animals around the world.
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Partridge
The highly inconvenient gift of a partridge in a pear tree is commonly associated with the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” where it is the first gift received from a true love. The true love in the song is meant to represent God and the partridge symbolizes Jesus. In fact, all the gifts in the song have religious significance.
Donkey
A holiday favourite is the story of Nester the long-eared donkey who just wants to fit in. It is based on the biblical tale of Mary’s trip to Bethlehem. However, according to the Pope, donkeys weren’t even near the manger during Jesus’ birth and they are not mentioned in the Bible as Mary’s transportation. In fact, until the 19th century, it was St. Nick who was typically shown riding a donkey or a horse-drawn sleigh. www.downhomelife.com
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Camel
Kings riding into Bethlehem on camels have become synonymous with Christmas. However, while the Bible mentions the “magi,” it does not mention camels. In fact, archaeologists claim that the desert dwellers didn’t arrive in countries like Palestine until the 10th century BC, long after Biblical characters used them. How they became a part of the Christmas story is unknown, but maybe it is because of the desert-like environment of Bethlehem.
Christmas Movie Animals Max the dog, The Grinch Snoopy the dog and Woodstock the bird, Charlie Brown Christmas
Hocus Pocus the rabbit, Frosty the Snowman
Caribou, Polar Express Gizmo, Gremlins Buzz’s tarantula, Home Alone 60
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Rudolph and Bumble the abominable snowman, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
Zero the ghost-dog, Nightmare Before Christmas
Topper the penguin, Santa Claus is Coming to Town
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The Ancient Wren
In several countries, including Ireland, Boxing Day is referred to as St. Stephen’s Day or Wren Day. An ancient tradition in these countries was for youths armed with sticks to form the Wren Boys Procession and
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beat the hedgerows until a small bird known as a wren was caught and sacrificed. It was then displayed on a decorated pole and paraded around to every household. A feather would be plucked and given to the homeowners as protection against witches. The origin of this primitive custom is very obscure, but it is thought that a wren alerted the guards when St. Stephen attempted to escape imprisonment, causing the death of the Christian martyr. In Greek mythology, the wren was considered the king of the birds, and killing the bird represented the end of the old season and the start of the new. This tradition is so old that it has nearly died out completely. However, it is still carried out by a dedicated few of Irish descent on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula.
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Turtle Doves
Doves symbolize love, peace and loyalty. In the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” the two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments. Doves have been depicted in early Christian literature as the manifestation of the Spirit of Christ’s baptism. They are mentioned in the New Testament, in which two are sacrificed during Christ’s birth, and they are featured quite prominently in poems and stories throughout history.
Kangaroo
Yes, you read that right! The Australian Christmas song “Six White Boomers” tells of Santa Claus giving his reindeer a well-deserved break once they reach the land down under. There he swaps his reindeer for white kangaroos to help deliver gifts to all the good little Aussie girls and boys. Boomer is a nickname for male kangaroos, who would probably be quite capable of carrying out the task of sleigh pulling – they can travel at 35 miles per hour and jump 25 feet in a single bound!
Christmas Inspired Animal Names The candy cane shrimp, Alpheus randall, is a red and white striped shrimp that resembles a candy cane. The Christmas tree worm, Spirobranchus giganteus, has two “crowns” that resemble red and white Christmas trees. 62
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Reindeer
Nothing evokes the magic of Christmas more than the image of eight, or nine, trusty reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh through the night sky. The story of Santa Claus is largely based on St. Nicolas of Myra and Sinterklaas of Dutch folklore, both of whom travelled on a white horse. In Norse and Germanic mythology, Thor, God of Thunder, flies through the sky in a chariot pulled by two magical goats. It is possible that this may have inspired Santa’s sleigh, and reindeer were viewed as mysterious
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creatures linked to the land in Northern parts of Europe. However, the general consensus is that Western culture created flying reindeer when Clement C. Moore wrote his famous poem, “The Night Before Christmas,” in 1821. The original poem listed only eight reindeer, which most of us can name by heart, but what about the most famous reindeer of all? More than 100 years later, in 1939, a writer named Robert May created a character for a colouring book to be handed out to children when they visited Santa at a department store. The 20th-century addition to the team was the red-nosed, foggy night hero, Rudolph.
Talking Animals
One familiar legend claims that barnyard animals and pets gain the power of speech at midnight on Christmas Eve. It is thought that this tale stems from the belief that Jesus was born at exactly midnight, and that his birth led to various supernatural occurrences. It is speculated that the myth has pagan roots, and some point to the genuflecting oxen and donkey often depicted in the Nativity scenes.
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Turkey
Prior to the 16th century, goose, swan, peacock or wild boar were the choice Christmas meal. The consumption of turkey is a relatively recent tradition. Henry VIII is believed to be the first person to eat a Christmas turkey, although Edward VII made it fashionable to eat turkey on Christmas Day. It wasn’t until the middle of the 20th century that the gobbler overtook the goose, with about 10 million turkeys now being eaten at Christmas.
Mouse
When decorating your tree this year, it is almost guaranteed that you will hang at least one bulb that depicts a cute and festive mouse. This little critter found its way into our Christmas traditions when referenced in “The Night Before Christmas.” It doesn’t hurt that they are so darn cute. 64
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More Christmas Animals European Robin (UK) Sheep (Biblical) French Hens (UK) Geese (UK) Swans (UK)
Goat and Boar
Many Scandinavian Christmas decorations feature stylized goats made of straw to represent a real goat that would have been slaughtered for the festive feast. The Yule goat is also said to be a spirit that visits households to ensure Yule preparations are underway. The Norse, meanwhile, made an oath for the New Year over a pig to be prepared for the holiday feast, which occurred on the 12th night of Yule (January 1). This is possibly the precursor to making a New Year’s resolution.
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Birds (Denmark/Finland/Norway) Penguins (Western/Commercial) Polar Bear (Western/Commercial) Oxen (Biblical) Rooster (Latin America) Dogs (Western/Commercial) Bees (UK) Spiders (Germany/Poland) Owls (Unknown)
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to be a quiet Christmas for Mike and Georgina Parsons. Poised to become the sole permanent residents of Little Bay Islands, they spent the fall watching their friends and family depart the remote Notre Dame Bay community that in February voted unanimously to resettle. Speaking to the couple in October, they say they suspect only a handful of residents – if any – will remain for the holidays as government readies to sever services to the community near the end of this year.
Michael Parsons photo
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“Even though they voted to leave, it’s heartbreaking to watch it, and it’s heartbreaking for them to leave,” says Mike, whose family arrived in Little Bay Islands when he was a toddler. It’s a move that’s been years in the making. With a population in steep decline since the 1980s, resettlement has been debated in this once-bustling fishing community for the better part of a decade. The Parsonses retired a couple of years ago, returning to Mike’s hometown to be a part of the community while it still existed. “I will miss the people here, but I have a connection to this place that’s just hard to explain,” says Mike, who previously spent two decades working as a software engineer in Ontario. That deep connection to the land and to the sea surrounding it, plus a penchant for solitude, is what fuelled the couple’s desire to stay put after the lights go out. And it drove them to find ways to sustain themselves once the electrical grid, plowed roads and ferry service to and from “mainland” Newfoundland become things of the past for Little Bay Islands. 68
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Party of Two
In preparation for resettlement, the Parsonses switched to solar power in September, a $17,000 system that’s served them well so far. They have a propane stove for cooking and a wood stove for heating. In addition to a robust stock of preserves (smoked fish, bottled moose etc.), they’ll have freshly laid eggs thanks to their new brood of chickens. And when the harbour isn’t jammed with ice, they have their own boats for getting to and from their island home. But for the most part, they plan to stay put. “I hate leaving here,” Georgina confesses. Originally from St. Mary’s Bay, she’s been smitten with Little Bay Islands since she first visited there with Mike in 2010. “I was just struck by its beauty,” she says of that first trip on a windy April day. “I remember making the comment, ‘I feel like I’ve gone back in time,’ and I meant that in a good way.” While some of their friends express their worry about loneliness and boredom setting in, especially during 1-888-588-6353
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Michael Parsons photo
the winter, the Parsonses aren’t concerned. They’ll use their snowmobile to forge paths for snowshoeing and walking their dog. And they’ll likely build a skating rink on the frozen harbour as they have in the past. “I can see myself reading by my fire, watching the storm through the windows,” Georgina says. Mike will spend his days much as he did when he was a youngster. “I really loved spending time by myself exploring the island. Even from a very small age, I would be gone from daylight to dark just basically roaming around,” he says. His favourite
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spot is a place called Ben Batt’s Cove. “You can snowshoe there in the wintertime when the bogs and everything freeze up… I have a little cabin there that’s kind of my sanctuary, where I go and spend time by myself,” he says. As the weather improves, the Parsonses expect some residents will return to their homes and cabins, and they’ll have neighbours once again. But they are keenly aware that things will never be the same. In many ways, things changed the moment resettlement became a discussion in Little Bay Islands.
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Mike and Georgina Parsons pose for a photo in Little Bay Islands, the latest Newfoundland and Labrador community to resettle.
“Resettlement has been the only conversation on this island for the last seven years,” says Mike. “And I am so tired of it right now… seeing what it has done to the fabric of the island.” Tension swiftly formed in the once tight-knit community among those who wished to stay and those who didn’t. (Previous votes fell short of the 90 per cent majority required for government-assisted resettlement.) Furthermore, people deemed ineligible to receive relocation funds (up to $270,000 per family) from the government now bitterly question the fairness of the qualification process. (Having recently returned, the Parsonses weren’t eligible to vote, nor did they receive relocation funds.) It’s a heartbreaking turn of events in a community where everyone once felt like family. “You couldn’t get a tighter knit place than what this place was,” says Mike. “I think some healing has started to happen. But I think there will be some rifts that probably won’t heal.” For Mike and Georgina, however, 70
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their former neighbours will remain, affectionately, “aunts” and “uncles” as they always have been.
Keeping a Light On
While they’ll have Little Bay Islands to themselves much of the time going forward, the Parsonses are determined to keep it alive in the hearts and minds of many. In September they launched a Facebook page to tell the story of the place and its people. They named it “Kintsugi,” after the Japanese art of using gold to mend pieces of broken pottery – a reminder that there is beauty to be found in something deemed broken, even a community. It’s important to them that Little Bay Islands’ resettlement, a historic moment for both the town and the province, be captured for posterity. “Most people here are very media shy,” says Mike. “They don’t want to talk to the press. So we kind of felt that maybe if we did it ourselves and started talking to people and posting things, we’d be documenting it.” They’re also using the platform to 1-888-588-6353
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share their experience going off-grid and living remotely. Maintaining the site will be something else to keep them busy during the long winter months and beyond. And with the coming holiday season, Mike will no doubt find himself reflecting on Christmases past in Little Bay Islands: A houseful of children waking Christmas morning; the smell of his mother’s Christmas cake wafting from the oven; his older brother, Steve, gobbling up any baking ingredient left in plain sight. But his most cherished holiday memory of all is one that brought the whole town together. “We had a Christmas concert at school. That was the highlight of the year for the entire community,” he says. While the students spent months rehearsing their performances, it was an adult who always managed to steal the show, says Mike. Year after year, old and young alike anticipated the thunderous arrival of local Ralph King, known to the children simply as Santa Claus. “He was like Mr. Energizer Bunny. He was hopping all over the place and getting us kids all riled up. Even talking about it now, the hairs on the
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back of my neck stood up,” says Mike, chuckling at the vivid memory. “I still can see him now. And he was only about 110 pounds soaking wet, but he was convincing.” With the Parsonses planning to stay for the long haul, there will likely be many more Christmases to come in Little Bay Islands and new memories to be made. “Little Bays Islands might be getting resettled, but it’s not going to die,” says Mike. In his mind’s eye, he can still see the very first ferry, an old converted schooner, that connected his hometown to the outside world. During our interview in October, he imagines what it will be like to watch the MV Hazel McIsaac (the ferry that’s serviced Little Bay Islands in recent years) pull away for the final time. “No doubt I’ll be crying,” says Mike, adding he’ll be honoured to document the historic moment for the rest of us. “It will be bittersweet. It will be the end of one era and the beginning of something brand new for us – something that we’re very excited about.” Follow the Parsonses’ journey at www.facebook.com/KintsugiLBI.
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food & leisure
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We reached out
to our regular Everyday Recipes team, led by chef Bernie-Ann Ezekiel, our staff and our readers to create this collection of our favourite food and beverages that make a Christmas get together a real “down home� one.
Cheeseball By Bernie-Ann Ezekiel Academy Canada
250 g cream cheese 2 tbsp sour cream 1/4 cup mozzarella, grated 1/2 cup old cheddar, grated 1/2 tsp ancho chili powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tbsp dried parsley 1/4 tsp black pepper 2 tbsp dried chives 3/4 cup sliced almonds, chopped fine
Mix everything (except almonds) together and blend thoroughly. Form into a ball and roll the ball in the almonds, pressing them onto the ball to ensure they stick. Cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. Serve with crackers or chips.
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Newfoundland Slush By Laurie Senior
1 can orange juice (frozen concentrate) 1 can lemonade (frozen concentrate) 1 can pineapple juice 7 1/2 cups boiling water 1 1/2 cups sugar 26 oz vodka
Boil water and sugar together. Remove from heat and let cool. Stir in orange juice, lemonade and pineapple juice. Add vodka and stir again. Transfer to a container with a tight-fitting lid (eg. small salt beef bucket) and put in freezer. Let chill at least overnight. To serve: fill a glass with 2 ice cream scoops of slush and top with 7-Up or Cola. Store slush in freezer between uses. Makes 1 gallon and can be stored in the freezer for up to two months.
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Spinach-Artichoke Dip By Bernie-Ann Ezekiel / Academy Canada
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 cup shallots, minced 1 tbsp fresh garlic, minced 1 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 1 can water chestnuts, minced
1 can artichoke hearts, chopped 4 cups spinach (packed), chopped 1 cup mayonnaise 1 1/2 cups sour cream 3/4 cup Parmesan, grated
Preheat oven to 375°F. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Sauté shallots in oil until they are golden. Add garlic, paprika, salt and pepper. Cook for about 1 minute. Add water chestnuts and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add artichoke hearts and turn the heat to high, tossing and stirring often to prevent burning. After about 1 minute, add the spinach and remove from heat (the residual heat in the pan should wilt the spinach in a minute or so). Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature before mixing in the mayonnaise and sour cream. Spread the dip in a shallow casserole dish and top with Parmesan cheese. Bake for about 15 minutes – top should be golden and the edges will start to bubble. Serve warm with crackers or chips. Yield: approximately 4 cups
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Honey Garlic Wings By Bernie-Ann Ezekiel / Academy Canada
12 chicken wings, cooked 2 tbsp shallots, minced 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil 6 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp fresh ginger, grated 1/2 cup honey 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 tbsp rice vinegar
SautĂŠ shallots in the oil over high heat, until they just start to caramelize. Add garlic and ginger, reduce heat to medium-high and continue to cook for one minute. Add honey and when it starts to foam and bubble up, add the vinegar and soy sauce. Bring to a boil and reduce by half. Immediately toss the hot, cooked wings in the hot sauce. Let sit for five minutes, toss again and serve. Yield: 12 wings
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Monkey Bread By Bernie-Ann Ezekiel / Academy Canada
1 1/2 lbs bread dough (your favourite kind – I used white) 1 cup salted butter, melted
2 cups sugar 1 tbsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp Chinese five spice
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a tube pan with non-stick cooking spray. Divide bread dough into golf ball-sized pieces. Mix sugar and spices together. Dip each ball in melted butter and then in the sugar & spice mixture. Drop each coated ball in random places around the pan, eventually covering all areas. Allow to rise in a warm area for about 20 minutes. Place in the oven and bake for about 30-40 minutes. If at 30 minutes, the top is a little too dark, reduce the heat to 325°F
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Ham & Cream Cheese Roll Ups By Tiffany Brett Deli ham, very thinly sliced A couple of bunches of green onion 1 tub cream cheese
for the remainder of the time. Immediately place a large round plate over the top of the pan and very carefully invert the pan (flipping it away from you) so the bread sits on the plate. When you lift the pan off, the spiced caramel will run down the bread. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes and serve warm.Yield: 8-10 servings www.downhomelife.com
Leave the cream cheese out on the counter until it’s soft enough to spread at room temperature. You’ll be spreading it on thinly sliced ham, so you want it to be smooth. Prepare ham slices by drying each piece with paper towel. If the slices are too wet, the cream cheese will not stick properly and will not roll into nice tubes. Prepare green onion by washing and removing roots, and cutting them to the same length as the ham slices. Spread a desired amount of cream cheese over one side of a ham slice. Place a piece of green onion on one end and roll it up in the ham slice. Repeat with rest of ham slices. Cut all the rolls into bite size pieces and place decoratively on a platter. Simple and delicious! December 2019
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BBQ Meatballs By Bernie-Ann Ezekiel / Academy Canada
Meatballs 1 lb ground beef 1/2 cup white onion, grated 1 tbsp fresh garlic, minced 1/4 cup oats 1 egg 3/4 tsp pepper 1 tsp salt
Sauce 1 small can tomato paste 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 1 tsp Dijon mustard 2 tsp fresh garlic, minced 2 tbsp honey 1 cup water 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Preheat oven to 350°F.
For the meatballs Mix all meatball ingredients together and very thoroughly blend them. Roll into 1"-2" balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the meat is sizzling and starts to brown. Remove from the sheet pan and place in a casserole dish. For the sauce Blend all ingredients together and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until the sauce is reduced to about 3/4 the original volume. Pour sauce over meatballs, cover and bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes. The sauce should reduce a little further and be bubbling when you take it out. Yield: 12-15 meatballs 98
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Peppermint Hot Chocolate By Bernie-Ann Ezekiel / Academy Canada
1/2 cup dark cocoa powder 1 tsp cornstarch 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 2 cups whipping cream 2 cups whole milk
1 tsp vanilla, pure 1/4 tsp peppermint extract Candy canes for garnish Whipped cream for garnish
Sift cocoa powder and cornstarch together and mix into the sugar. Gradually whisk in the cream, and stir it until the mixture is smooth. Add the milk, vanilla and peppermint. Place the chocolate mixture in a heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Allow to boil for about 20-30 seconds and remove from heat. Serve immediately with a candy cane and dollop of whipped cream. Yield: 2-4 servings
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Mom’s Pineapple Light Fruitcake By Bernie-Ann Ezekiel / Academy Canada
1 (19 oz) can crushed pineapple 8 oz (weight) raisins 1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, lightly packed 1 tsp almond extract 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 5 eggs, beaten
3 1/2 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 8 oz (weight) cherries, roughly chopped 8 oz (weight) mixed fruit 1/2 cup fine, unsweetened coconut 4 oz walnuts, chopped
Preheat oven to 300°F. Drain the pineapple, reserve the fruit and soak the raisins in the pineapple juice while you prepare the cake. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the flavouring extracts. Beat in the eggs a little at a time, scraping and mixing after each addition. 100
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My Aunt’s Christmas Nacho Dip By Katherine Saunders
Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the bowl, mixing until just combined. Add in all the remaining and reserved ingredients (the pineapple, the raisins and the juice they were soaked in). Mix until everything is evenly combined. Pour into a greased and floured tube pan, and bake for about 2 hours. It is done when a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool entirely. Yield: 1 fruitcake
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250 g cream cheese 250 ml sour cream 250 ml seafood sauce 2 cups shredded cheese, divided 1 bell pepper, diced (I use yellow or orange to have a variety of colours in the dip; use whatever you like) 1 tomato, diced 1 cup green onion, diced
Combine the cream cheese and sour cream until you have a smooth mixture. Spread thinly on a clean serving platter. This is the bottom layer of the dip. Pour seafood sauce over the cream mixture; spread evenly. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese evenly over the dip. Sprinkle on diced pepper, followed by diced tomato, then green onion. Top with the rest of the cheese. Keep refrigerated until serving. Serve cold with a side of nacho chips for dipping.
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Devilled Eggs By Bernie-Ann Ezekiel Academy Canada
6 eggs, hardboiled, cooled and peeled 3 tbsp mayonnaise 1 tsp whole grain mustard 2 gherkins, minced 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1/8 tsp smoked paprika 1/8 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper Capers, for garnish
Split eggs lengthways and carefully scoop hard yolks out into a small bowl. Add remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix until smooth. Place the filling in a piping bag with a round tip and pipe the mixture back into the egg halves. Garnish with capers. Keep chilled in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Yield: 12 devilled egg halves
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Newfoundland Hors d’Oeuvres By Janice Stuckless
1 can cocktail wieners (Vienna sausages) Cheddar or marble cheese Cocktail onions Sweet pickles (e.g. gherkins) Toothpicks
Cut cheese, pickles and wieners into same-size cubes (about the size of the pickled onion). Make each hors d’oeuvre by stacking a toothpick with cheese, wiener, onion and then pickle. Continue until all the wieners are used.
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Bacon-Wrapped Scallops By Janice Stuckless
1 pkg regular cut bacon 25-30 large sea scallops (fresh or thawed from frozen) Toothpicks (soaked in water to prevent burning)
Lay the bacon flat in a frying pan and cook just until some of the fat is rendered out (bacon is still soft). You may have to fry a few slices at a time so as not to crowd the pan or have your bacon curl. Drain and pat dry the bacon strips, then cut them in half. Pat scallops dry and wrap each one in a length of bacon, securing it with a toothpick. Turn oven to broil and move the rack to the top position. Lay baconwrapped scallops on a wire rack on a lined, rimmed baking sheet (to catch drippings). Cook under the broiler for about 5 minutes on each side, flipping when scallops start to brown. Watch them closely so they don’t burn.
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Snowballs By Heather Lane
1/2 cup butter (softened) 1/2 cup milk 1 1/2 cups brown sugar 2 cups rolled oats 4 tbsp cocoa 1 tbsp vanilla 1 cup unsweetened coconut + extra for rolling
Combine butter, milk and sugar in large bowl. Stir in rest of ingredients and mix well. Scoop out tablespoonsize portions and roll into balls. Roll snowballs in unsweetened coconut and refrigerate for one hour. Yield: approx. 24 snowballs
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READERS'
Holiday Memories This is the season of sharing, and in that spirit, Downhome readers have shared some of their favourite Christmas moments with us. We hope these stories bring you joy and stir up cherished memories of your own.
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THE HOLIDAY
Prank Duncan Gary Grant
This story
took place in Ottawa, Ontario, a few years ago and several of the participants have Newfoundland and Labrador connections. Two have subscriptions to the Downhome magazine. My mother, Claire, an excellent French Canadian cook, was in the final stages of preparing an 18-pound turkey for the 3-4 hour cooking cycle. Once in the oven, most cooks would check on the bird every half-hour or so to ensure the turkey was turning golden brown by basting it etc. Late in the cooking cycle, all hell broke loose when my mother said the turkey had shrunk! Screaming so loud she could be heard from Ottawa to St. John’s, she said, “I looked around and there it was, gone!” This brought everyone to the kitchen to see what the problem was. We looked in the oven and, sure enough, the turkey looked a third of its original size! My sister, Lisa told my mother maybe the bird had shrunk because she put a frozen bird, instead of a thawed one, in the oven. That statement went over like a lead balloon with the cook. Someone else suggested perhaps the bird was left in the oven too long. The heat in the kitchen got so intense that Lisa finally broke and confessed the truth. She and her husband Dale had bought a small pre-cooked chicken and replaced the larger turkey with it to play a prank on our mother!
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Gift
of
CHRISTMAS HOME By Sean Conway, Winnipeg, MB
Christmas has never
been the same since my mom passed in 1990. Her efforts at sheltering me from experiencing death growing up didn’t prepare me to face her loss. Yet, an annual joy going on 28 years has come from her passing. Christmas comes early to our home, in the form of a care package from our neighbours in the hometown I grew up in. Mr. and Mrs. Hulan, as I still call them some 50 years later, were George and Roma to my mom. Their home was nextdoor to our two-bedroom house that was tucked in behind Phil McCann’s garage in Stephenville, NL. Ours was a single-parent family, and Mr. and Mrs. Hulan were an
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extra set of parental eyes that kept watch over my brother and me while my mom worked at the local department store. We even got to go camping in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter with them and their three daughters. And every year we joined the Hulans for Christmas dinner. My brother and I would give up playing with our gifts to dress nice (as Mom would request), don our winter coats and schlep across the yard to the Hulans’. I can still taste Mrs. Hulan’s pudding and sauce, the best stopper at any Christmas meal. I can’t recall when I first started receiving the “Gift of Christmas Home.” I was grown up and married. A few weeks before Christmas, a brown paper-wrapped box from Mr. and Mrs. Hulan arrived in the mail. Tucked inside was a Christmas fruitcake and a present for me and my spouse, Cindy. Jenna, our daughter, received a gift when she was born. And as our family has grown, so have the gifts in the box multiplied. This past year, Kenzie, our wonderful granddaughter, got her second Gift of Christmas Home. Mr. Hulan passed away two years ago. His job was packaging the Gift of Christmas Home. I don’t believe there is a man on earth who can design and construct a cardboard container to better protect its contents. I can’t recall any year when the cake was broken or the contents of 1-888-588-6353
the box exposed. However, there is a woman – his wife, Mrs. Hulan – who has taken over the task of packaging and would make the man proud. Last year’s gift for me was knitted grey wool socks. As I pulled on the grey bristled beauties, I wasn’t preparing to shovel the driveway – in my mind, I was getting ready to play road hockey or dressing to keep my feet warm for a toboggan ride with my childhood friends. I have received so many knitted treasures in past years, with the knit one-purl two ribbing memories from my childhood. The Gift of Christmas Home is a joy our family looks forward to every year. When it arrives, we get together to cut the packaging and pass out the contents. Breaking the cellophane tape releases the aroma of cloves from the cake trapped in the hermetically sealed container. Each person waits in anticipation to discover what reminder of my home Mrs. Hulan has knit this year. No one has ever been disappointed, only friends who can’t find the items locally. I will make a phone call on Christmas Day, as I have done every year since receiving the first package. My first question is usually, “What’s for dinner?” Followed by, “Are we having pudding? I will be right over.” December 2019
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THE CHRISTMAS
Baby By H. Joseph Seward
In 1949-1950,
three of my siblings died, including my only two sisters. We were living in Southport, Southwest Arm, NL, then. In October 1950, we moved to Clarenville, and shortly after I left the province. While I’ve visited on vacations, I’ve not lived there since. On October 19, 1954, I received a telegram telling me I had a new baby sister. I was determined to see her at Christmas, and make it a surprise for my family. I went to the local children’s store and purchased a white bunny suit, as an appropriate gift for a particular tiny person. Mom had written to me that she and Dad were naming the baby Janet Marie, for one of my sisters who had died. I wrote back and asked Mom to add the name Leonie for the youngest sister who had died. So she was named Leonie Janet Marie. I left for Clarenville on December 20, 1954. Travelling by train I arrived in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, and by ferry to Port aux Basques. There I boarded the eastbound train for home. The spectacular beauty of the west coast mountains and the panoramic view of the lakes and forest of central Newfoundland made for a pleasant journey to Grand Falls. From there I went to my berth for the remainder of the ride. The porter awakened me at 3:30 a.m. for a 4:00 arrival at Clarenville. I disembarked at the station and walked the short distance home. I walked through the unlocked door 112
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Christmas Flashbacks and deposited my luggage on the kitchen cot. I met Dad in the hallway; he was coming to see who was in the kitchen, thinking it was someone from Southwest Arm on their way home for Christmas. With a few words of greeting from Dad, it was time to see Mom, who gave me a hug and a kiss. In a bassinet lay my baby sister, Leonie Janet Marie (Sis). I again had a sister to love and admire. I have loved and admired her every day since. After breakfast and a short wait for the stores to open, Mom dressed Sis in the suit I had brought for her. Then I took her to some of the smaller stores to show her off. Christmas Day, everyone was up early and opened their gifts. After Dad’s special breakfast of fish and brewis, it was time for church. On arriving home after the service, I was met with the aroma of Mom’s Christmas dinner almost ready for the table. Lucky for me some things never change. The roasting turkey, covered with Mom’s special pudding, soon had me craving a huge helping. Christmas vacation passed too quickly, and it was time for me to return to Kentville, Nova Scotia. I hugged and kissed Sis goodbye and walked the short distance to the train station. It was a short, but enjoyable vacation that I will always remember. 1-888-588-6353
Cape Broyle Christmas There are nine of us O’Brien siblings. Here are the four oldest on Christmas Day 1960, in Cape Broyle, NL. (L-R) Eric, 2; Irene, 3; Denise (now White), 8 months; Ruth (now Frizzell), 4. Irene O’Brien Kentville, NS
My One and Only This is Mary French with her only child, Christine, during Christmas 1968. Mary was 28 years old at the time, and Christine was 3. Mary French Scarborough, ON December 2019
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The Greatest
Gift By Ed Power, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
Christmas 1958
was one that will stay with me forever. Just two years before, our beautiful 18-year-old sister, Eileen, had been killed in a car accident. She was the kindest, gentlest person you would want in a sibling and did her utmost to help Mom and Dad provide for a large family. It was a devastating blow to me, a 10-year-old boy, shattering my fragile existence with the reality that nothing would ever be the same. She had, however, instilled in us the will to face all adversities head on, and she always said that “life was what you make it� and to never give up.
On this particular day, I was returning home from mass and eagerly looking forward to Mom’s delicious Sunday dinner. Suddenly, I heard the shrill sound of the fire siren and turned around to see where it was coming from. Everyone was running towards me and someone shouted that it looked like our house was on fire. I turned and ran as fast as my legs would carry me. I reached my home and found that it was, indeed, engulfed in flames. I saw Mom standing outside, still wearing her cooking apron and 114
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sobbing uncontrollably. Before anyone noticed and could stop me, I ran into the house and up the flight of stairs to the second floor. I retrieved the new coat and galoshes that Mom had bought me for Christmas and, fortunately, made it safely back outside. Mom hugged and scolded me at the same time for my foolhardy act. Soon after, we were joined by Dad and many of our neighbours. Together they tried to save some of the furniture from the burning house. When the fire truck arrived, there was not much that could be 1-888-588-6353
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done except save the basic structure. The house was gutted and most everything inside was lost. I cried, and as the tears fell to the ground, I noticed a muddy picture of Eileen. I picked it up and put it in my pocket. All of us who were living at home at the time were taken in by friends and relatives temporarily. For a while, I stayed with an aunt and uncle who already had a large family. After a few days, Mom came to tell me that a distant relative, a stranger to me, had offered to take one of us in until the house was rebuilt. Although she appreciated the kindness of her sister and her husband, she realized that they were struggling and thought that I should go. Next day I arrived at my new, temporary home, and received a warm welcome from Tony and Marion Walsh and their children. They made me feel like one of their own, and I realized how lucky I was despite what our family had gone through. Christmas Day came quickly and I missed my family dearly. I had never spent a Christmas away from home. But Tony and Marion had a beautiful way about them and did their best to make me feel at ease, and for that I will be forever thankful. That day they took me, accompanied by their own children, to see Mom and Dad and most of my brothers and sisters. In doing so, they had saved my Christmas and had instilled in me a strong belief in the goodness of humanity. As we celebrated, I put my hand in my pocket and touched Eileen’s picture. To this day, it is still one of my prized possessions. 1-888-588-6353
Christmas Flashbacks
1970 Kids Three siblings – Kelly, Baxter and Claudette – on a Christmas morning long, long ago. Claudette Russell St. John’s, NL
Deer Lake Darlings Group of kids from Spillway and St. Jude’s enjoying Christmas in the early 1960s. Gennie Philpott St. John’s, NL December 2019
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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
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) _________________________________
SIGN GIFT CARD FROM: _______________________________________
* Valid in Canada on a 1-year term. Total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL $39.99; NS, NB, PE $45.99; ON $45.19; QC, SK, MB, AB, BC, NU, NT, YT $41.99. US/International $49.99. ** Valid in Canada on a 3-year term. Total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL $99.99; NS, NB, PE $114.99; ON $112.99; QC, SK, MB, AB, BC, NU, NT, YT $104.99; US/International $140.99.
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
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GREAT GIFT IDEAS!
The True Meaning of Christmas Robert Hunt #78275 | $19.95
In Search of St. Nicholas Bruce Templeton #78217 | $19.95
Shiny and New Robert Chafe #76255 | $14.95
Sale!
A Newfoundland & Labrador Christmas Wish - Christmas in Newfoundland: Memories and Mysteries Necie (hardcover) #57326 Mike Martin Was $16.95 #77993 | $16.95
Now $8.95
East Coast Keto: Tips & Lessons to Help Simplify your Ketogenic Lifestyle - Bobbi Pike #78131 | $34.95
From Rum to Rhubarb: Modern Recipes for NL Fruits, Vegetables and Berries - Roger Pickavance #78130 | $24.95
PRICES IN EFFECT FOR DECEMBER 2019
• For larger images visit www.shopdownhome.com • While supplies last
Rock Recipes Christmas Barry C. Parsons #60474 | $22.95
Saltwater Classics Christine LeGrow and Shirley A. Scott #77729 | $29.95
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FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com
Review
pg. 30ed
Man and Dog: Through The Newfoundland Wilderness Justin Barbour #78128 | $22.95
Into the Deep: An Exploration of Our Oceans Annika Siems & Wolfgang Dreyer (hardcover) #78210 | $34.00
Art and Rivalry: The Marriage of Mary and Christopher Pratt - Carol Bishop-Gwyn (hardcover) #78214 | $34.95
And the Tony Goes To... Newfoundland & Labrador on the World Stage - Scott Linehan #78023 | $19.95
Fire, Fog and Water: A Sgt. Windflower Mystery - Mike Martin #78211 | $19.95
The Place: A Novel Gary Collins #78129 | $19.95
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353
The Innocents: A Novel - Michael Crummey (hardcover) #78208 | $32.95
Orphanage: Life Changes Forever - David Wesley Sheppard #78215 | $19.95
The North Atlantic Right Whale: Past, Present and Future - Joann Hamilton-Barry #78127 | $19.95
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GREAT GIFT IDEAS!
Red Plaid Fleece Blanket 59" x 47" #63445 | $29.99
I’m a Catch T-shirt Newfoundland s - xxl #62884 | $19.99
Apron - Row Houses w/ front pocket #77462 | $14.99
Microfiber Drying Mat Row Houses #77465 | $6.99
Newfoundland Scarf #78144 | $12.99
Newfoundland Toque #78145 | $10.99
PRICES IN EFFECT FOR DECEMBER 2019
Moose Hoodie sizes - 2, 4, 6, 8 #75561 | $34.99
Tea Towel - Row Houses #77463 | $8.99
• For larger images visit www.shopdownhome.com • While supplies last
Newfoundland Gloves #78146 | $17.99
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FOR MORE SELECTION VISIT: www.shopdownhome.com Sale!
Stocking Mummers Parade #78001 | $12.99
Lumber Jack Toque #72936 | $9.99
Newfoundland Shot Glasses Clear #20214 Frosted #37399
$4.99 each
Fog Globe 5" #72874
Regular 31.99 Now $10.00
Sale!
Ornament - Santa Trapped in Lobster Pot #51422
Regular 15.99 Now $9.88
Bobbi Pike - Ornament Mummers Approach #52925 Party on Prescott #61203
$16.00 each
Ornament - Newfoundland Flag and Map #55608 | $11.99
Ornament - Light up LED Plays the “Mummer Song” by Simani Mummers Afloat #75783 | Mummers Come a Knockin’ #75784 Mummer's Sleigh Ride #75782 | Winter #56830
$13.99 each
TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353
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GREAT GIFT IDEAS!
Traditional Newfoundland Cooking Bags Pease Pudding Bag #35871 | $2.99 Vegetable Bag #60592 | $5.80 Pease Pudding Kit #35874 | $3.29 Fish 'n' Brewis Bag #35876 | $3.29 Extra Large Pudding Bag w/ Recipes #75944 | $3.79
Summer Savoury Savoury card w Recipe #22019 | $4.95 Savoury - 60g #34177 | $7.99 Savoury - 28g #34176 | $4.95
Tea Towels Any Mummers ’lowd In? #77316 | Lobster #48613 | Lighthouse #48612 | Puffin #65131
$6.99 each
PRICES IN EFFECT FOR DECEMBER 2019
• For larger images visit www.shopdownhome.com • While supplies last
TO
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
$17.00
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
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FOR SALE BY OWNER Clay Cove • Southshore Glovertown, NL
THREE BEDROOM OCEAN FRONT HOME Surveyed Land Daniel’s Harbour, Northern Peninsula Photos available $65,000
Secluded 3 Acre Waterfront Property in Glovertown.
Contact 709-520-2178 LAND FOR SALE• Glovertown, NL
Call: 709-898-2452
FOR SALE BY OWNER
12-16 Main Street. 100 foot frontage and centrally located. View of the marina & walking distance to school, bank, grocery store & gas station.
Contact 709-520-2178 VACATION COTTAGE FOR LEASE
Building in Town Square Gander, Newfoundland 1st Floor, Commercial 1700 Sq.Ft. 2nd Floor, Residential 1700 Sq.Ft. 2 bedroom apartment with separate entrance. More pictures on request
EMBREE • CENTRAL NL
Enjoy your vacation in this cozy, ready to move in cottage with full amenities! Private, fully equipped, fully furnished, 2-bdrm with a BBQ, large deck, washer & dryer, quality bed and bathroom linens, dishes, toiletries, satellite and free WiFi. Just minutes to a sandy beach & ocean! $700/week or $120 daily (min. 3 nights)
Call, text or email today for availability!
416-998-1960
709-221-8757 709-424-0757 f.tizzard@nl.rogers.com
Downhome Real Estate Start at $50 for a 1 col. x 1" 709-726-5113
facebook.com/EmbreeCottage
1-888-588-6353
Attention Mechanics
OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS! Includes all equipment, land and building. 3700 square feet, two bays with 10'x10' doors and an additional bay with 12'x14' door for servicing heavy equipment. Ample land is great for a parking lot. One portion of the garage was built in 1983 and features a new roof (2 years). Equipment includes wheel alignment machine, compressor, tire changing machine, muffler machine, lift and more. Open for over 65 years, this turnkey business has a loyal clientele with endless opportunities!
For more information contact Randell O’Rielly: 709.682.5121 144
December 2019
1-888-588-6353
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St. Fintan’s
New cabin 14'x16' on 2 acres. 1 km from the TCH on the road to St. Fintan’s with beautiful view of Crabb’s River. One of the best salmon pools on Crabb’s River. The best hunting in the area. Very private. Wood stove for heat, propane stove for cooking. Kitchen sink & counter top. Bathroom w/toilet & vanity. No electric or running water. Internet available. Restaurant 2 km away. Grocery store 5 km. Lot can accommodate 2 or more RV’S. $65,000.00 Firm
Don Gibbon 709-643-3843 • 709-649-1256
Downhome Real Estate Start at $50 for a 1 col. x 1" 709-726-5113 1-888-588-6353 For sale by owner, well-established business, located in Chapel Arm, Newfoundland
BUSINESS + HOME + GARAGE Fuel Pumps Hardware Propane Lottery
Grocery Automotive Walk-In Cooler Beer
2 Apartment, 1200 sqft home 3 Bed, 1 Bath / 2 Bed, 1 Bath Separate entry and parking Large 36" x 57" garage
January 2019 Downhome Ad Booking Deadline Nov. 22, 2019
Marketplace
CONTACT BARRY: (709) 699-6259 • P0WERSPETROLEUM@HOTMAIL.COM
www.downhomelife.com
December 2019
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Movers & Shippers SAMSON’S MOVING
FIVE STAR SERVICE Without The Five Star Price!
Let our Family Move Your Family Home
★ Local & Long Distance Moves
Newfoundland, Ontario, Alberta and All Points In Between
★ Packing ★ Door-to-Door Service Across Canada
Newfoundland Owned & Operated Fully Insured, Free Estimates Sales Reps. in Ontario and Alberta
★ Replacement Protection Available ★ NL Owned & Operated
Call Jim or Carolyn - Peterview, NL 709-257-4223 709-486-2249 - Cell samsonsmovers@yahoo.ca www.samsonsmovers.ca
35 Years in the Moving Industry
Andy: 416-247-0639 Out West: 403-471-5313
aandkmoving@gmail.com
MOVING INC. 709-834-0070 866-834-0070 fivestarmoving@outlook.com www.fivestarmoving.ca
Over 25 Years Experience in the Moving Industry
A&K Moving Covering all Eastern & Western Provinces and Returning Based from Toronto, Ontario Discount Prices Out of NL, NS & NB Newfoundland Owned & Operated
Voted CBS Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year
Clarenville Movers Local & Long Distance Service A Family Moving Families Professionally and economically
Your Newfoundland & Alberta Connection
Coast to Coast in Canada Fully Insured
Toll Free: 1-855-545-2582
Over 30 years Experience
Newfoundland Owned & Operated
Tel: Cell:
Contact: Gary or Sharon King
Toll Free: 1-866-586-2341 www.downhomemovers.com
709-545-2582 709-884-9880
clarenvillemover@eastlink.ca www.clarenvillemovers.com
Movers & Shippers Rates start at $175 for a 1 col. x 2" ad.
Call Today! 709-726-5113 Toll Free: 1-888-588-6353 Email: advertising@downhomelife.com
January 2019 Downhome Ad Booking Deadline November 22, 2019 146
December 2019
1-888-588-6353
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photo finish
Holiday
Trappings
This lobster pot Christmas tree created a festive scene in the town of Salvage, NL one beautiful December morning. Janette Lambert Gander, NL
Do you have an amazing or funny photo to share? Turn to page 9 to find out how to submit. 160
December 2019
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