Downhome April 2024 by Downhome Publishing Inc

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$4.99 April 2024

Vol 36 • No 11

Mystery of the German U-Boat 10 Years of Downhome Expo Spring Events to See & Do

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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 Dillon Collins Assistant Editor Nicola Ryan Editor Lila Young

Warehouse Operations Warehouse / Inventory Manager Carol Howell Warehouse Operator Josephine Collins Shipping/Receiving Clerk Jennifer Kane

Art and Production Art Director Vince Marsh Illustrator Mel D’Souza Illustrator Snowden Walters

Retail Operations Retail Manager, St. John’s Jackie Rice Floor Manager, St. John’s Crystal Rose Retail Floor Manager, Twillingate Donna Keefe Retail Sales Associates Jonathon Organ, Kim Tucker,

Advertising Sales Account Manager Barbara Young Account Manager Ashley O’Keefe Marketing Director Tiffany Brett

Heather Stuckless, Katrina Hynes, Destinee Rogers, Amy Young, Emily Snelgrove, Brandy Rideout, Alexandria Skinner, Emily Power, Colleen Giovannini, Rachael Hartery, Julie Gidge, Drew Oliver, Kaitlan Lewis, Emma Luscombe, Rebecca Pevie

Finance and Administration Accountant Marlena Grant Accountant Sandra Gosse

Subscriptions Customer Service Associate Lisa Tiller Customer Service Associate Cassia Bard-Cavers

Operations Manager, Twillingate Nicole Mehaney Founding Editor Ron Young Chief Executive Officer/Publisher Grant Young President & Associate Publisher Todd Goodyear General Manager/Assistant Publisher Tina Bromley To subscribe, renew or change address use the contact information above. Subscriptions 1-Year term total inc. taxes, postage and handling: for residents in NL, NS, NB, PE $49.44; ON $48.58; QC, SK, MB, AB, BC, NU, NT, YT $45.14. US $54.99; International $59.99

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

Printed in Canada Official onboard magazine of

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the splendid coast

Contents 58 healing art

APRIL 2024

42 Saluting a Saqamaw Chief Mi’sel Joe reflects on a lifetime of service to the Miawpukek First Nation. Dillon Collins

58 The Art of Inspiration Labrador-based artist Scott Pynn shares the personal motivation behind his creations. Pam Pardy

114 The Mysterious U-Boat Snap The real story behind a photo of a German vessel in St. John’s. Lester Green

80 Off the Beaten Path Discovering Harbour Breton and the South Coast. Wayne Parsons

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Contents

APRIL 2024

homefront 8 Between the Lines A note from the Editor

10 Letters From Our Readers Winter hiking and hometown hockey

14 Downhome Tours Nordic Nations 16 Why is That? Where did the phrase “to curry favour” come from? Why shouldn’t we eat green potatoes? Linda Browne 18 Life’s Funny Race-Jay Nicole Foucault

14 nordic explorers

19 Say What? A contest that puts words in someone else’s mouth

20 Lil Charmers The Scenic Route 22 Pets of the Month Beach Buddies 26 Reviewed A Company of Rogues by Trudy J. Morgan-Cole

28 What Odds Paul Warford’s young at heart.

18 go nuts!

30 Fresh Tracks Two States of Mind by Land of the Lakes 34 Adventures Outdoors Camaraderie Gord Follett

38 In Your Words A tribute to Mark Small Jim Winter

40 Life’s Funny A Shot of a Lifetime Roy Gollop 4

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taking the shot

48 expo let’s go

features 48 Celebrating 10 Years of Downhome Expo 54 Crafting With Care Mina Campbell sharpens her skills making traditional Inuit uluit. Nicola Ryan

64 Between Two Tickles St. James Anglican Church in Pool’s Island transitions its message. Marie-Beth Wright

72 Sure Shots Featuring

things to do & see www.downhomelife.com

photographer Heather Nolan.

explore 86 Tis the Season A list of events to check off your spring bucket list. April 2024

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Contents

APRIL 2024

100

tastes of the season

home and cabin 90 Stuff We Love Jet Set Nicola Ryan

90 time for travel

92 Ask Marie Anything Interior designer Marie Bishop takes your questions. 96 The Everyday Gourmet Pasta Carbonara Andrea Maunder

100 Downhome Recipes Springtime Favourites

106 Down to Earth Prunic Practices Kim Thistle

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112 a look back

reminiscing 112 Flashbacks Classic photos of people and places. About the cover Our cover photo of picturesque Harbour Breton comes via writer/photographer and proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian Wayne Parsons, who gives us a deep dive into the region with his explore-feature ‘Off the Beaten Path’. See page 80 for the scenic journey through one of the province’s hidden gems.

Cover Index Reflections with Chief Mi’sel Joe • 42 The Art of Inspiration • 54 & 58 Off the Beaten Path • 80 Mystery of the German U-Boat • 114 10 Years of Downhome Expo • 48 Spring Events to See & Do • 86 www.downhomelife.com

113 This Month In History The Signal Hill blockhouse

118 This Month in Downhome History 124 Puzzles 136 Colouring Page 138 Classifieds 140 Mail Order 144 Photo Finish April 2024

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between the lines

Finding Meaning in Negative Spaces The preservation and proliferation of our culture through story is a continued mandate for us here at Downhome. And as we cross into April – and hopefully it’s warm with the promise of spring – we continue to share stories that resonate with readers from all corners of our province, to wherever you call your port of call. Inside this issue, Downhome sits down with the esteemed Chief Mi’sel Joe to reflect on five decades in community politics. It’s a reflective and honest examination of a life dedicated to others over self, to putting the whole before the individual and of the immeasurable weight and value of respect. From artists to activists, our writers peel back the curtain to give readers an in-depth look into the makings of the ulu and to examine a collective on Pool’s Island dedicated to maintaining home, heritage and faith. There are stories of struggle, perseverance and redemption, of connections to the past and the immense moving power of an image. Some connect us to our island roots and remind us of the simple pleasures of a clear sky or tranquil sunset. There are laughs, touching tributes, testimonials and general guides to home, health and wellness. So thank you one and all for your continued patronage, and for finding meaning amidst negative spaces, of meaning in the timeless art of storytelling. In today’s climate of media scrutiny and a growing age of endarkenment, your support means more than you’ll know. Dillon Collins, Editor-in-chief

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Submission Guidelines and Prize Rules

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

Submit Today! Send your photo, story, joke or poem to

Downhome, 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 or submit online at: www.downhomelife.com *Only 1 prize per submitter per month. To receive their prize, submitters must provide with their submission COMPLETE contact information: full name, mailing address, phone number and email address (if you have one). Mailed submissions will only be returned to those who include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Downhome Inc. reserves the right to publish submissions in future print and/or electronic media campaigns. Downhome Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material.

Hidden somewhere in this issue is Corky Sly Conner.

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

Send your replies to: Corky Contest 43 James Lane St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3

mail@downhomelife.com www.downhomelife.com Deadline for replies is the 25th of each month.

Congratulations to Darla Lambe of Saskatoon, SK who found Corky on page 69 of the February issue!

*No Phone Calls Please. One entry per person

www.downhomelife.com

April 2024

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Winter Hiking It’s still mind-blowing to me that so many people hate the winter. “Oh my, more snow in the forecast” and “Oh the bloody snow, I’m sick of it!” How many times have you heard that? Or even say it yourself? Just because it’s wintertime doesn’t mean you have to miss out on being outdoors and stay cooped up in the house. Why turn your home into a jail cell? Remember when you were a child and saw the fresh snow falling and you got so excited to go out and play? We all said those famous four words when it was time to come inside: “Just five more minutes.” Why let that free-spirited excitement fade once you got older? I’m no outdoor recreation professional or in tremendous physical shape, but I’m an enthusiast about hiking and the outdoors. With a passion for getting not only myself but other people outside, I hope this write-up inspires you to get out and enjoy winter. Some people have to come to the understanding we are 10

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not bears, so why y’all hibernating? A fresh blanket of snow is nature’s blank canvas. Your footprints are its art. After a fresh batch of snow, my husband and I love nothing more than adventuring in the path behind our house to explore and take in all the beauty of winter. Of course, our huskies Blaze and Balor are tagging along for the fun. The smell of pine trees covered in snow, the sound of snow crunching beneath your feet, the fresh crisp air in your lungs, and the slight tingle of cold on your nose make you feel alive. It’s truly remarkable the transformation that takes place from fall to winter. The landscape itself is like something from another world. A never-ending view of fluffy white, like you are walking on nature’s duvet. Animal tracks dot the landscape. You ask yourself, where are they going? Where are they coming from? The

forest is alive, so why would you stay home and miss this? I find winter hiking more challenging than I do other times of the year. The cold air, trudging through the snow, (thank God for my snowshoes) and the harsher conditions I find exhausting, but more rewarding. It’s not only a personal goal to reach my destination, but it’s also a reminder of how far I’ve come since starting this journey. Once you reach your destination the struggle and exhaustion are forgotten. The tranquillity of silence as your cold breath dances in front of you, your mind starts to reset and you’re just living in this peaceful moment. It’s a freedom and calm I can’t explain. There’s more than the beauty of the outdoors to your winter hike, you just have to be prepared. To get the most out of your winter hiking experience it’s a MUST to keep

SPRING SPRING IT ON! Book your mobile tire service appointment today

atlantic.caa.ca/mts 709.579.4222

www.downhomelife.com

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yourself warm and dry! Here are a few helpful tips I follow when venturing out in the winter. Wear layers: Layering is a three-part system that includes a base layer that keeps perspiration away from your skin, a mid-layer that insulates you from the cold and a shell layer that keeps wind and moisture out. Getting wet on a cold day can lead to hypothermia. Say no to cotton: When cotton gets wet, it takes a very long time to dry, which can leave you feeling damp, cold and uncomfortable. Synthetic and wool layers dry much faster. I wear my wool socks and mitts whenever I’m in the woods. Cover your skin: Any skin that’s exposed to freezing temperatures and cold wind is prone to frostbite. Have communication: When hiking, or any time you are adventuring alone, please remember to have some sort of communication in case of emergencies. Walking Poles: If my hike takes me on a trail with hills or any type of incline, I like to have a good pair of walking poles to help keep my balance on uneven terrain. Now get out there and have some winter fun! Sarah Lambert-Vey via downhomelife.com

As many of us are clinging to the last vestiges of winter here on The Rock and beyond, we ask you readers what are some activities you love to tackle during the colder months? Or, what are you looking forward to once spring appears? Let us know at editorial@downhomelife.com.

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Why I Play Hockey For many, hockey is a game played under strict rules with goals, assists, and victories being the objectives. For others, especially the young, it’s a time to learn to skate, play some fun games and make many new friends. For me, now in my 70s, playing hockey means many things. Entering the arena with the hockey bag slung over my shoulder makes me feel good and very thankful for the good health God has given me. When I get to the dressing room and start putting on my equipment, I am just one of the perhaps 18 or 20 others in the room who are doing the same thing. We joke with one another about things such as; will we see the Leafs win another cup? (The consensus is we won’t.) Will Donald Trump be re-elected or go to jail? All good, clean fun. When we get on the ice we try as hard as we can, but goals and points don’t matter much. What matters is we are having fun, getting good exercise and maintaining friendships. The rules are simple – no slapshots, no checking. Our group consists of many occupations and religions, but these things don’t matter. We all come together in the spirit of friendship and sportsmanship and that’s what matters most. I’m sure there are hundreds across the province who can relate to what I have written and are thankful to be able to participate in the wonderful game of recreational hockey. Reg O’Neill Harbour Grace, NL

Thanks for sharing Reg! Hockey is one of my core memories as a youngster. Are there sports memories that resonate with you readers? Let us know at editorial@downhomelife.com. 1-888-588-6353

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Sponsored Editorial

For the Record

Registering Newfoundland Ponies!

Kelly with a pony in Lawn on the Burin Peninsula.

When Kelly Power-Kean moved to Newfoundland, she didn’t know much about the Newfoundland Pony; it was her daughter Sarah’s love of horses that sparked her interest. Born in Ontario and having lived in Newfoundland during her post-secondary studies and married to a Newfoundlander, Kelly lived in several provinces before returning to Newfoundland. The Kean family spent their summers on St. Brendan’s Island in Bonavista Bay where Gerald Aylward, (at one time, President of the Newfoundland Pony Society), kept a herd of ponies. Sarah developed a special bond with one of his older mares, Rocky Moors Kit (NPS #975), and eventually Gerald sold Kit to Sarah for $1.00. Kit was the beginning of the Kean family’s passion for Newfoundland Ponies. As Kelly learned about the breed’s declining numbers, she felt compelled to help. “I was living in a rural community when the by-laws changed in the 1980s prohibiting animals from roaming - and the ponies just disappeared. It hit me how important and just how much a part of this place they are. I felt compelled to get involved,” she added. Today Kelly is the Registrar (volunteer) for the NPS Registry, documenting the lineage of each pony through DNA testing and historical research and maintaining the Herd Book. Ponies who meet the breed standard and other criteria, but were somehow missed in the establishment of the registry, can also be considered under a “grandfather” clause. It’s a lot of work to maintain a registered Heritage Animal’s Official Lineage, but important for maintaining the breed.

Kelly explains, “you’re tracing lineage reports, figuring out where ponies are located, and linking pedigrees, which is key to understanding the demographics of the population.” She credits the efforts of past registrars who built a solid foundation for today’s records, and pony owners who are registering their animals. The Registry recently celebrated a milestone with Newfoundland Pony #1000, Driftwood’s True North. Born on July 1, 2022, his owner is Dr. Jessica Boyd of Stephenville. The NPS celebrates his registration and looks forward to adding his foals to Pony the Registry. (1000 #1000: ponies does not Driftwood’s refer to living True North ponies; rather it is a record of all ponies living and deceased for which there is a record.) The NPS encourages pony owners to get in touch about registering their pony. Kelly stresses that “our information is only as good as what the NPS receives. It is the only official Newfoundland Pony Registry in the world. It’s an important tool in our efforts to preserve the breed.”

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homefront Downhome tours...

Nordic Nations

Norway

“My husband and I took a motorcycle trip to Europe during the summer of 2022 – a seven country, 10,000 km adventure. We took a photo with me holding the Downhome magazine at the Arctic Circle in Storforshei, Norway,” writes submitter Arabella Lewis (Brown) of Kemptville, ON.

April is lambing season in Norway! Around this time ewes and their new lambs will be heading out to pasture. It’s also the month that puffins return to the country. Bird lovers flock to the islands of Runde, Lovund and Røst from around mid-April, when thousands of Atlantic puffins return to their breeding grounds.

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Iceland “Of course we took our Newfoundland flag when we visited Iceland in September!” writes submitter Donna Francis via DownhomeLife.com.

The first day of summer, or sumardagurinn fyrsti is an annual public holiday in Iceland. Held on the Thursday after the 18th of April, it’s a celebration of the start of the first summer month, Harpa, of the old Icelandic calendar used by the Norse. Locals will be off work celebrating with parades, flags, and musicians playing in the streets.

Sweden Zane Fraser and Donna Kean of Dartmouth, NS visited the ABBA Museum in Stockholm, Sweden in 2022. “My mom gave me a copy of Downhome to read on the flight over, and asked me to get her pics with the magazine in it. This museum, along with the Vasa, is well worth the visit,” writes Zane.

Swedes celebrate Valborg, also known as Walpurgis, each year on April 30. A tradition with German roots, Valborg was introduced in the Middle Ages and acted as a holiday to honour Saint Walpurga and say goodbye to winter. Traditional festivities include bonfires, music, and fireworks. www.downhomelife.com

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Expert answers to common life questions. By Linda Browne

Where did the phrase “to curry favour” come from? Have you ever tried to suck up to your boss because you really, really wanted next Friday off? Or perhaps you were overly generous with your compliments after the last big snowfall because you didn’t want to help your spouse dig out (though they probably caught on pretty quickly). Bootlicking, kissing up, or sucking up are all more direct ways of saying someone’s “currying favour” (using flattery in an attempt to get on someone’s good side and further your own interests). But how did the phrase come to be? The American lexicographer Charles Earle Funk tackled the question in his book 2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings & Expressions from White Elephants to a Song & Dance. This phrase, Funk explains, is a corruption of an older saying that can be traced back to a pale brown or “fallowcoloured” horse named “Fauvel,” “used to symbolize fraud and cunning,” he notes, in a 14th century allegory called Roman de Fauvel. “The allegory achieved great popularity in France as well as in England. Perhaps in ironic jest, a person who indulged in fulsome flattery was said ‘to curry Fauvel,’ meaning that he 16

April 2024

sought by fraud and cunning to gain the good will of the person he flattered. This, in the English spelling of that day became corrupted into ‘to curry Favel,’ and a toady or sycophant became known as a ‘curry-favel.’” As with other words and phrases that get passed on over the years, Funk says, “Popular speech took up the phrase, but the popular ear did not hear it quite correctly; so favel became favor several hundred years ago, and gave us an expression, ‘to curry favor,’ that had no literal meaning, but which was used then, as now, to mean to flatter subtly in order to gain some end. In French, many years ago, they made a verb of ‘Fauvel’ – faufiler – which has the meaning of our entire phrase.” So if your boss does give you that Friday off, you can tip your hat to “Fauvel” the horse for giving you the idea to use flattery in the first place. 1-888-588-6353

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Why shouldn’t we eat green potatoes? Growing up, your parents and doctors likely offered up the sage advice to “eat something green every day.” We know that green veggies are jam packed with vitamins, nutrients and all the good stuff you need to lead a healthy life. However, when it comes to green potatoes, that’s another story. Potatoes, like other veggies, offer a variety of benefits. They contain potassium, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, fibre and a whole slew of vitamins and minerals that are essential to a healthy diet. But if you spot any green bits, you’re going to want to chop them off, advises Dr. Joe Schwarz, Director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society. He explains why in his book Dr. Joe and What You Didn’t Know, which examines the chemistry of everyday life. Potatoes contain compounds from the alkaloid family, including solanine and chaconine, which “are toxic in a high enough concentration. They can create digestive distress and interfere with nerve transmission,” writes Schwarz (who’s also received the American Chemical Society’s Stack-Grady Award for interpreting chemistry to the public). These compounds are formed when potatoes are exposed to light, or stored in temperatures that are too hot or too cold, which causes stress on the potato, Schwarz explains. Bugs are another culprit, he adds, noting “A University of Guelph study showed that

potato plants stressed with Colorado potato beetles and leafhoppers had significantly higher glycoalkaloid concentrations.” Solanine and chaconine, Schwarz says, “are probably the most widely consumed natural toxins in North America. These alkaloids are colourless, but their production parallels the production of chlorophyll – which, of course, is green. That’s why green potatoes are suspect.” In high enough concentrations, Schwarz writes, solanine and chaconine can make your tongue burn. “Potato sprouts are rife with alkaloids, so you should always cut them off,” he adds. Heat doesn’t destroy alkaloids, Schwarz says, “but, since they are mostly concentrated very near the potato’s surface, peeling pretty much eliminates the problem. However, if you like to eat potato skins, don’t worry about it too much – you would have to eat over a pound before symptoms would appear,” he adds. “So, solanine and chaconine don’t present a great risk, but don’t go seeking out green potatoes to eat.”

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

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

April 2024

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homefront life’s funny

Race-Jay One day, I invited my neighbour Dave over for tea and fresh, warm bran muffins with raisins – his favourite. As we chatted and finished up our treat, we noticed through the large window that three blue jays were picking acorns from the top of Dave’s Garry oak, leaving to hide them and immediately returning for more. Dave quickly stood up and said “I’m going to pick my acorns before they get them all!” I watched as he picked acorns from the middle and bottom of the tree while the three jays picked acorns from the top. Like a race! It was hilarious! Then Dave brought out his stepladder and picked the last 14 acorns. Dave 14, blue jays...? Nicole Foucault Gold River, BC

Do you have any funny or embarrassing true stories? Share them with us. If your story is selected, you’ll win a prize! See page 9 for details.

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t cloud a h t , t n i u q s “If I cowboy!” looks like a et.ca – Hardtick

Say WHAT? Downhome recently posted this photo (submitted by Leanne Pitcher) on our website and social media platforms and asked folks to imagine what the horse might be saying. Hardticket.ca’s response made us chuckle the most, so we’re awarding them 20 Downhome Dollars!

Here are the runners-up: You’re Haylarious! - Brittany Whyte Howdy, NEIGH-bour! - Patricia Callahan Yes! I’m a natural blonde! - Robin Cuff

Play with us online! www.downhomelife.com/saywhat

www.downhomelife.com

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homefront lil charmers

Island Girl Lily takes a boat trip to Brunette Island in Fortune Bay. Lily Marsh Via DownhomeLife.com

The Scenic Route Cove Cutie Baby Ashton loves the peace and quiet of Newman’s Cove. Amanda Hicks Via DownhomeLife.com

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A Little Fishy We’ve fallen for this lil’ cutie hook, line and sinker! Tina Thompson Via DownhomeLife.com

Stage Star

Carter enjoys a weekend in Salvage. Kayla Howell Via DownhomeLife.com

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homefront pets of the month

Beach Buddies Excursion Around the Bay Cooper’s cuter than a bergy bit. Alana Murray via DownhomeLife.com

Wave Over Wave Harry Styles the Saint Bernard knows life’s a beach. Allyson Jones Paradise, NL

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Great Big Sea Sweet Riesa poses with the wild waves in Seal Cove, NL. Kimberly Canning via DownhomeLife.com

Evening Tide This pretty kitty’s sniffing out seaside snacks. Leanne Pitcher via DownhomeLife.com www.downhomelife.com

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We’re wasting no time preparing for the next Downhome Calendar, . . . and neither should you! Submit your favourite photos of scenery, activities and icons that best illustrate the down-home lifestyle. We’re looking for a variety of colourful subjects – outports, animals, laundry lines, historic sites, seascapes, hilltop views, and so much more – and photos from all four seasons. This is your chance to get in on our most popular reader contest and try to woo the judges into choosing your photo for the 2025 Downhome Calendar. These calendars are seen by tens of thousands of subscribers and displayed all year long.

What are you waiting for? Submit today, using one of these ways:

by mail: Downhome Calendar Contest 43 James Lane St. John’s, NL A1E 3H3 online: www.downhomelife.com/calendar Must be original photos or high quality copies. Digital photos must be at least 300 dpi, file sizes of about 1MB. We can’t accept photocopies or photos that are blurry, too dark or washed out. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want your photos returned.

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homefront

reviewed by Denise Flint

A Company of Rogues Trudy J. Morgan-Cole Breakwater Books $22.95

Trudy J. Morgan-Cole’s Cupids Trilogy has reached its conclusion and that will probably make a great many readers sad. From the first volume, A Roll of the Bones, through Such Miracles and Mischiefs and now A Company of Rogues, Morgan-Cole has consistently brought to life the earliest days of European settlement in Newfoundland in a very readable and compelling way. With this final volume, all the main characters of the first two books are reunited and new ones are brought in to round out the story. The central theme is one of home and it’s fitting that while the men might be the ones who outwardly shaped the colony it’s the women, whose names never made it into the history books, who brought it to life. Morgan-Cole has managed to make each book better than the last, a not-inconsiderable feat, possibly achieved by the way the characters grow more complex with every volume. The women of the Cupids settlement have very relatable aspirations and dreams. We could easily sit down with Kathryn and Nancy for a comfortable chat over a mug of tea while the children play around us. But at the same time, they don’t feel anachronistic. They come across as people who lived over 400 years ago. Knowing that the gallant little colony eventually failed makes reading the Cupids trilogy bittersweet. It’s hard to accept that all that effort to build a home in the New Found Land was ultimately futile. But it’s worth reading anyway. Trudy J. Morgan-Cole’s A Company of Rogues is available now at shopdownhome.com 26

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Q&A with the Author mense relief! Taking on writing a whole trilogy I knew would be a big project, but it was bigger than I expected. It’s always a challenge to tell a story so that all your plot lines and characters resolve and it’s even harder in a trilogy. People want it to be resolved in a way they will find satisfying. They’ve trusted me on this long journey.

‘If Hayman brought a book with him to the colony what would it be?’ and I knew the Odyssey was plausible. It’s also an interesting metaphor because the Odyssey is specifically about a journey home and this book is about coming home and making a home and what is the idea of home and the awareness that you are seeking your own home but dispossessing others from their home. We’re always looking for a home, but it always comes at a cost to us and unfortunately sometimes to others.

DF: You pitched this as a trilogy right from the start. How did you know that’s what you wanted to write? TJMC: It was kind of a matter of

DF: You’ve hopped between different periods in your work. Do you have a favourite? When and where are you going next? TJMC: I don’t really have a favourite

setting a challenge for myself to see if I could do it. It was also about setting the scope. I’ve covered longer time periods in one book, but the experiences I wanted the characters to have and the people I wanted them to meet fit in the scope of the longer story I wanted to tell. It’s important that you wrap it up well in that last book.

period. It’s easier to write about the most recent past. There’s more material and there are more people around with memories of the time and more resources available. But going back 400 years there are a lot fewer accounts available and so a lot of stories don’t get told. You’re doing so much more research into daily life because you don’t even know what they had for breakfast. But it gives you more leeway. Sixteen women came to Cupids but we know literally nothing about them except that one had a baby. I don’t want to let this research go to waste, so I’m moving a little later to the Ferryland colony of Avalon. There will be some connection. That’s a project in the very early stage.

Denise Flint: How does it feel to have this trilogy done and dusted? Trudy J. Morgan-Cole: It’s an im-

DF: What’s the significance of the passages from The Odyssey that introduce each chapter? That’s new to this book, isn’t it? TJMC: The first book had epigraphs from Robert Hayman’s book (the colony’s first governor). The second didn’t. I brought them back in this one and used the Odyssey. I thought www.downhomelife.com

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homefront what odds

young at first sight By Paul Warford

I’d just like to I recently turned 42, for those of you track. Who had my birthday on their insert this as an keeping calendars already? As always, you can forward aside: I can’t all monetary gifts and cruise tickets to me care remember of the Downhome offices. if we’ve ever I don’t know when I’m supposed to feel old. I suppose I haven’t gotten around to it yet, talked about though I do sometimes emit groans I don’t my deceptive, recognize when I lift myself from a couch. youthful Perhaps the bags under my eyes are darkening, it’s also possible I just need to change the appearance but bulb in the bathroom. Age can be an elastic before. We have, thing. haven’t we? For example, I thought I was turning 43 in 2024. Mom had to correct me when really, if anything, this should be the other way around. I’d spoken to my close friend, Josh, who celebrated his 43rd in Halifax this year. When I wished him well on his special day and mused at our ages, he interrupted me with a laugh, saying, “Dude, we’re turning 43 this year.” I didn’t bother dusting off the ol’ birth certificate and instead took my dear friend at his word. Turns out both us geezers forgot that Josh is older than me by a year, rather than a month. I gained a year and then lost a year within two days. What’s funny is that I could be confused about my age in the first place. Imagine telling a child that you’re not sure how old you are. They’d laugh in your face; they’d think you were crazy. I think of young Paul floating around in the annals of time and if I were to talk to him about it, all I’d do is shrug. “What can I tell ya, kid? Time makes fools of us all.” On that note, my age continues to elude everyone, from the mailman to the sushi waitress. One night my big buddy Justin

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“Buddha” Wiseman took me to a sushi buffet, because he’s six-footfive and can eat more sushi than a full booth of high school graduates. “Hey buddy, this is my birthday, not yours,” I joked as he suggested the outing. Luckily for my gigantic friend, I was in the mood for sushi, so it was a date. Afterward, as he treated me at the counter, he mentioned it was my birthday. I asked our waitress to guess how old I was. She figured I was 24. I’d just like to insert this as an aside: I can’t remember if we’ve ever talked about my deceptive, youthful appearance before. We have, haven’t we? It wanders, this old brain of mine. Anyway, I’m a ringer to throw off the mystic at the carnival – he might guess my height and weight, but I’ll stump him with my 1982 birth year. The misconception is so regular that I have to ensure I’m not being rude when shocked strangers learn I’m no spring chicken. I sometimes find myself saying things like, “You weren’t expecting that, were you?” and so on, which starts to make me sound like some sort of narcissistic playboy. “Yes, I’m lookin’ good.” My ego is inflated enough as it is (ask anyone). Sure, it’s great, having this smooth forehead and ruddy cheeks, but it’s a funny sort of compliment to receive over and over again. “Wow, I thought you were way younger!” begins to sound like, “You’re surprisingly old!” These youthful genes run in my family. My father is 80 and doesn’t look a day over 70-odd. www.downhomelife.com

I’ve never felt or acted my age, by the way. The pigment may be fading from my strands of hair but my attitude and spending habits match those of a 25-year-old. I’m young in behaviour if nothing else. I’ll tell my younger friends this when the inevitable, shocking discovery of my actual age reaches their ears. “I know, I know, but I feel like I’m your age, in my head.” Then I feel a sudden, rushed obligation to say something wise, now that they’ve learned I’m 15 years older than they thought I was. From their perspective, I’ve just had more than a decade’s worth of experience smooshed into me in the blink of an eye. The reaction seems to warrant a tidbit of insight, like, “Do your taxes early,” or, “Change your email password every six months.” Something. The best I can offer them is the same I’ll offer any whipper-snappers out there reading this old hand’s words right now: Hug your friends. Get out and be among them, ignore your poisonous screens sometimes. Oh, and wear a coat! We all know you’re cold in your zip-up hoodies and white sneakers when you’re huddled (smoking snuck cigarettes) against the driving sleet and wind in Tim’s parking lot on Friday night. Wear a jacket, grow up! (But not too much.) Paul Warford began writing for Downhome to impress his mom and her friends. He writes and performs comedy in Eastern Canada. Follow him on X @paulwarford April 2024

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fresh tracks

new music talk with Wendy Rose

Two States of Mind Land of the Lakes

THE HUSBAND AND WIFE duo behind Land of the Lakes have had many musical monikers over the years. Now known as Land of the Lakes, the duo recently released their third studio album, Two States of Mind. Beginning with “Lifelong,” the listener can immediately hear how Matthew Thomson’s indie-rock leanings and Danielle Hamel’s electronica exploration combine to create something fresh, exciting, and catchy. There’s a happy bubblegum pop feel with Danielle’s high-pitched vocal performance – very Kate Bush-esque, as a frame of reference – but the song gets a more classic rock and roll edge with electric guitar and drums by Dave Noseworthy. “Heads Held Low” definitely gives off an East Coast rock vibe – think Wintersleep, Joel Plaskett Emergency, and NL’s Hey Rosetta!, to name a few. Catchy guitar riffs and a simplistic chorus make this song a toe-tapper that you’ll find yourself somehow singing along with on the first listen. The album’s title track comes in 30

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third, with “Two States of Mind” kicking off with jazzy drumming and keys, Danielle’s vocals soon joined by electric guitar, with added violin from Maria Cherwick. This slower-tempo song is a personal favourite and could fit comfortably on a playlist of slow jams as well as indie-rock classics. On “I Got Lost,” Matthew’s electric guitar and vocals are in the front seat, taking listeners on a comfortable ride through many eras of alternative rock, akin to late 90s Pavement and Built To Spill, through to more contemporary artists like The War On Drugs and Arcade Fire. A boisterous guitar solo leads us out of this musical trip. A memorable guitar riff chugs us along through “The Weight of Everything,” with synthesizers giving this song a different atmosphere. Land of the Lakes changes things up on “Handsome Boy,” with acoustic guitar, soft plinky piano, and tambourine bringing a slight folk 1-888-588-6353

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twinge to this pop song. At exactly three minutes flat, it’s the shortest song on the record, and one can almost see Danielle and Matthew putting their kids to sleep in just three minutes by singing this lovely song. At nearly four and a half minutes, the next track, “Dream Away,” is the longest on the record. The electric guitar returns and prominent drums

could’ve been on an It Could Be Franky album – so much so, that I double-checked to make sure I had not somehow bounced around this musical power couple’s many projects and hit play on the wrong track. The early to mid-2000s indie rock scene comes to mind when listening to “I’m a Lot Like You,” with Matthew taking lead vocals and Danielle

will once again have you bobbing your head along with the beat before you even realize you’re doing it. I continue dancing at my desk with “Unexpected,” with another infectious guitar riff rocking us through this song. A layered vocal performance from Danielle brings an element of spoken word into this selection. Once again, a captivating guitar leads us out, toes still tapping and head still bobbing. “Perfect In Time” is more of an electro-pop song, and until the guitar and drums join in around the twoand-a-half minute mark, this song

backing him up. Matthew’s ability to consistently create stunning guitar parts continues to impress, and I already know I’m going to revisit this record to strategically place Land of the Lakes throughout my carefully curated playlists. The record wraps up with “I’ll Keep This One Close,” another slower track. With haunting violin, this dreamy song serves as the perfect closer to this excellent indie rock album. Anyone listening to this band for the first time (and undoubtedly liking what they hear) will have quite a vast

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discography to explore, with three previous Land of the Lakes albums plus Danielle and Matthew’s various solo projects. Charge up your wireless headphones, and take these records for a run – literally. Land of the Lakes will put the pep in your step!

Q&A with the Artists Wendy Rose: Let’s start by introducing you two to our readers. How did you meet, and how did your longtime creative partnership begin? Danielle Hamel: We met and began

dating in 2002 in our last year of high school. I was living in Glovertown and Matthew was living in Gander. A few of us friends from Glovertown were soon making regular trips to Gander on the weekends to visit the “Gander boyfriends.” Gander had an underground music scene happening in high school at that time, so Matthew had already been writing songs and recording albums for years at that point. So when we met, we just started writing songs together. In those early days, we called ourselves The Corduroys. Matthew wrote most of the songs and played most of the instruments on the recordings. I contributed keyboard parts, and we divided up vocal duties. We both moved to St. John’s for our first year of university in Fall 2002 and our first gig was just the two of us playing at an open mic at Bar None. We played a few gigs with a five-piece band that year in St. John’s at places like The Ship and Masonic Temple. The musicians backing us up at these early shows included Gander friends Justin Avery, Andrew Hiscock, and Victor Lewis. 32

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WR: Your third full-length album Two States of Mind was released in the spring of 2023, following 2017’s Pink Rabbit, and a self-titled album in 2015. What was the inspiration for this latest record? DH: We began writing for Two States

of Mind in 2020. With our individual projects It Could Be Franky and Yelverton Undertow going in such completely different directions at this point, we wondered how we could even agree on a sound that we’d both be happy with. More so than any previous album we have done together, there’s much more of a clear divide between my songs versus Matthew’s songs. But because we had developed a style for the band by that point, I think the album still sounds very cohesive despite there being two headstrong cooks in the kitchen. I think Two States of Mind represents a very mature and conscientious sound after 20-plus years of writing songs together and we are very proud of how it turned out.

WR: 2023 was a big year, with Land of the Lakes and Danielle’s electronic project It Could Be Franky nominated for MusicNL awards. What was your reaction to hearing about these nods? DH: We were honoured to be

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Tom Cochrane photo

are and checking out the albums! That’s the ultimate goal for us, just hoping that people will listen. That’s the reason we play live and the reason we release music videos. We both love the process of recording most of all, so everything else we do feels like it’s in service to that.

WR: The last record Land of the Lakes released was 2017’s Pink Rabbit, a rock record for kids! Can you tell us about the idea of creating a record for this particular audience and the experience of performing for kids? Matthew Thomson: For Pink Rabbit,

which was a 2017 RPM album, we were inspired by the band They Might Be Giants, who release really good albums for kids in the same style as their “grown-up” albums. The music doesn’t change, it’s just the song topics are more kidapproved. Our two kids were two and four at the time, so it was a way for them to get involved and excited about music. Our oldest even helped us write the lyrics for the song www.downhomelife.com

“Zamboni.” They’ve gone on to write their own songs since then, so I think it helped demystify the songwriting process and let them think it was a normal, common activity to just sit down and write a song.

WR: What’s in store for Land of the Lakes in 2024? MT: Releasing Two States of Mind

was a three-year process that was made longer by COVID. It was the longest time either of us had ever spent working on one album. But releasing an album on vinyl was a huge dream for us and we are so glad we finally got to accomplish it. We are already thinking ahead to our individual projects again. I will begin recording soon with Rob on a new Yelverton Undertow album. Danielle will probably start writing soon for a new album for It Could Be Franky. We will probably record another Christmas song together this year, as we usually like to do that every 1-2 years. Beyond that, we will just have to wait and see. April 2024

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homefront

adventures outdoors

Sean, Tony, Johnny and Gord salmon fishing at Torrent River

Camaraderie By Gord Follett

The Canadian Oxford dictionary defines camaraderie as “mutual trust and sociability among friends,” though in the outdoors of Newfoundland and Labrador it’s simply “a time with the b’ys.” The people of this province love seeing friends getting along, exchanging friendly banter, laughing, having a drink together, singing songs, pulling pranks, frightening one another, etc. There’s no jealousy or animosity, we are just genuinely happy to see others enjoying life. Believe me, I know. After 30-plus years of writing articles for the Newfoundland Sportsman magazine about our fishing and hunting trips throughout the province, 15 years of 34

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co-hosting a television show and a dozen years of posting photos and video clips on social media, I’ve learned beyond any doubt that displays of camaraderie give people a wonderful, warm feeling. I guess it’s just one of many beautiful things that make the people of this province a bit different than others. I’m both proud and fortunate to have had great times with friends all over Newfoundland and Labrador, from Randy Edmunds in Makkovik, Northern Labrador, to 1-888-588-6353

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From left, Sean, Gord, Tony and Johnny after a day of rabbit and grouse hunting in Northwest Gander.

Cliff Doran in Trepassey, Southern Newfoundland and a hundred stops in between. Some of the best times of my life have been salmon fishing excursions on the Torrent River, rabbit hunting trips in Northwest Gander and relaxing overnighters at Salmonier Line with some of the best friends anyone could be blessed with. There’s never been serious “competition” among us. If one member of our party doesn’t have much luck on a salmon river, for example, you can bet your bottom dollar the others will do whatever they can to make sure he hooks up. For one reason or another, it had been more than two years since Tony Vinnicombe, Sean Kearsey, John Dyke and I had gotten together, and to be honest, I was missing those times. Then, on the afternoon of January 30 of this year, I was pleasantly surprised to notice activity from J.D. on our old text group chat. “You guys interested in going up to the cabin (off Salmonier Line) Saturday for the night?” asks Johnny. He didn’t have to wait long for our replies. “Love to!! I’m in,” says Sean. www.downhomelife.com

“Sounds good to me bud,” I add, while Tony responds with an enthusiastic “Heck yeah!” With all hands on deck, Johnny continues: “I got a drill ice auger at the cabin. Also, bring your poker coins. Should be fun. Oh yes, I will bring the Boombox (so we can listen to our favourite road trip tune) ‘All Summer Long.’” Offering to take his truck, Sean jokes, “I can’t friggin’ wait to see your withered, dried-up old faces and take your money. It’s long overdue that we get together.” Long story short, we didn’t catch many fish. The heavy canvas tarp which formed the top half of our ice fishing shack caught fire because it was too close to the small wood stove we had going. But boy, did we have a fabulous 24 hours! Not only were there no injuries in the small fire on the pond, but the boys had a great laugh about it and were making up their own ‘news’ reports about firefighters ‘knocking it down’ pretty fast. “It’ll be on NTV tonight, fellas,” Johnny said with a chuckle. “Investigators were on site and I gave my statement. No insurance carried April 2024

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on the property; might be a GoFundMe.” After telling the boys early Saturday afternoon that I was considering writing my next Downhome column about special friendships – particularly those stemming from the great outdoors – I mentioned how much the people of this province enjoyed seeing their fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians “getting along.” Sean happened to post a picture of the four of us on Facebook and briefly mentioned how good it was to get together again. Within seconds, our phones began to light up, as one of the boys referred to it, with likes and comments throughout the day and night. Virtually everyone was along the lines of, “This is so great to see, fellas,” and “Nice to see you guys enjoying yourselves,” or “You fellas always know how to have fun; enjoy and keep the pics coming.”

Often, without even realizing it, outdoor buddies regularly demonstrate the true meaning of friendship. It’s not only our small troop, of course. We are no different than thousands of other buddy groups – male and female – across the province. I’ve witnessed numerous examples of camaraderie among other fishing and hunting parties over the years and it does the ol’ ticker good. We’ve also met up and run into countless fellow outdoorsmen and women in our travels and we always seem to “hit it off.” Again, that’s just how people from this province are: friendly, helpful and of course, wonderful storytellers. I read this somewhere recently and it seems fitting: “Good friends are among the rare jewels of life – difficult to find and impossible to replace.”

A few hands of poker at Johnny’s cabin

Gord Follett was editor of the Newfoundland Sportsman magazine for more than 30 years and co-hosted the Newfoundland Sportsman TV show for 15 years. Email gordfollett@gordfollettoutdoors.com.

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homefront in your words

Mark Small A Passionate Champion of Canada’s Sealers By Jim Winter

The Canadian Sealers Association has lost one

of its major figures and a courageous champion with the death of past president Mark Small on January 18th. He was 83 years old.

To show respect for Mark’s contributions to the CSA, our home province and to sealing communities across Canada, Jim Winter, founding CSA president, Eldred Woodford, current president, and Albert Newhook, an earlier president, were present for the celebration of Mark’s life in Baie Verte, on the northeast peninsula of Newfoundland. 38

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For decades Mark was a major figure in the association’s efforts to counter the propaganda of the animal rights corporations and remove the politically motivated bans on Canadian seal products in many countries. Mark cared. More importantly, he acted on his caring. What more can you ask of a person? 1-888-588-6353

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Caring is one thing, but taking action is a much harder thing to do. For decades Mark took action. He took action on behalf of all sealers throughout Canada. His presence made a difference. His presence at events was the presence of the people, in the midst of various Canadian and Provincial government politicians and bureaucrats. In fact, his presence often resulted in those entities taking concrete positive steps to resolve the issues that plague the Canadian sealing industry – issues that also plague rural coastal communities like his beloved Baie Verte. Mark saw the sealing industry not only as a 400 year old tradition throughout coastal communities in Atlantic Canada, but also as an important contributor today to the continued existence of those rural communities dependent on the mosaic of incomes that provide a living for their citizens. Sealing, fishing, hunting, farming, being a

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“jack of all trades” – all pieces in the financial mosaic that rural coastal communities depend on for survival. Mark spoke our facts, our realities, in Canada and to foreign politicians and media. He did so clearly, passionately, and concisely. Mark was a man of great caring, and that caring was rooted in his faith as a pastor in the Pentecostal church. His faith infused everything he did. It made him the man he was. He was not only an activist for the sealing industry, he was equally active in the fishery and in his community. Despite the challenges of all those activities, his prime focus was always on his wife Patricia and their three sons. As time passed he became a loving grandfather, uncle and great uncle. Mark, as you set sail on this new voyage may you have fair winds, full holds and bloody decks. Rest in peace.

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homefront life’s funny

Shot of a Lifetime By Roy Gollop

In the late ‘60s, my buddy and I decided to go moose hunting up in Sandy Badger. We left town at about 7 in the morning and got to Sandy at 1 pm. We fixed up the cabin, got enough wood for the week, put on some grub for supper and lay down for a good night’s sleep. Early the next morning we had breakfast, made lunch, and went in over the cutting to have a look around. There was a small hill in the cutting so we decided to spend an hour or so there to see if we could see either moose. After 15 or 20 minutes, out of the woods to our right came a cow and a calf. They walked across the cutting, but the calf was on the other side of the cow. We waited, but the calf was still on the other side of the cow. We decided that I would have a shot at the cow. With a little luck, I knocked her down so my buddy could have a shot at the calf. The cow went down, but still no calf. 40

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Them years, there was no such thing as a bull-only license. We called it a “Bologna License.” In those years there was a lot of cordwood around, so when the cow fell she hit a piece of cordwood, which went up in the air about 15-20 feet and splashed down in a small brook about 20 feet away. We waited 10 or 15 minutes, but still no calf. I decided to go to the cow to see what was happening. When I went over to the cow, lo and behold, the calf was there, dead as a doornail. We figured the bullet went through the jugular, hit the calf in the head, and killed her. Them years, there was no such thing as a bull-only license. We called it a “Bologna License.” I called my buddy over to paunch the moose. When we rolled the moose over, there under her was a dead rabbit.

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We cleaned them up, and since we were full of blood, we went down to the brook to wash up. Down in the brook, something was shining. There in the brook were about 20 trout, one to two pounds each. We figured the cord of wood hit the trout in the brook and killed them. We went back to the moose to sling them back to camp. At that time there were no quads or side-by-sides. We had on oilskins, and one of the hasps got hooked up on something, broke off, and went up in a tree and killed two grouse. Not bad for one shot! Two moose, one rabbit, twenty trout and two grouse! My buddy and I still go moose hunting and rabbit slipping. I am 81 years young and my buddy is 93.

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features

Chief Mi’sel Joe reflects on a lifetime of service to the Miawpukek First Nation

By Dillon Collins

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Respect,

as with most meaningful things in life, is earned, not given. Few in this province have earned the adoration and unbridled respect as has Chief Mi’sel Joe, the longtime hereditary Saqamaw, Administrative Chief and spiritual leader of Miawpukek First Nation. Chief Joe lived, and continues to live, a life dedicated to community service. Stepping down from his role of Administrative Chief in January 2024, the soon-to-be 77-year-old reflects on the winding journey during a candid one-on-one with Downhome. “I think, during the last election, I debated whether I would run or not. And at the eleventh hour I decided I would do another two years,” he admits, delving into his recent decision to step away from administrative duties. “I’ll be 77 in June of this year. After having a good discussion with my family during Christmas when they were home, after Christmas I decided that, yeah, I would talk to council first and then go from there.”

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Chief Joe reflects on his time on the Mi’kmaq Grand Council. “They’ve been my other family for 30 years…” He admits freely that the move came with no shortage of emotions. “They’ve been my other family for 30 years. The people sitting around the table, the councillors, I watched them grow up. It was a heartful time to leave them. I know they’re in good hands. I feel more like a grandfather leaving my kids now and somebody else is going to look after them.” Chief Joe first entered community politics in 1974 as a councillor, and then as Hereditary Saqamaw of Miawpukek and the Newfoundland District Chief for the Mi’kmaq Grand Council following the death of his uncle, Chief William Joe, in 1982. “My life has been here, working here and serving the people in this community,” he shares, reflecting on his ‘trial by fire’ beginning in the waning months of 1982. “I was fairly close to my uncle. Every once in a while he would say to me, ‘You’re going to be the Chief’ and I’d say ‘Not for awhile I hope,’ but unfortunately he drowned in a car accident just before Christmas. I sort of jumped into the fire from there without really knowing what I was getting into. But I knew there was good staff that were already there 44

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that worked with him and would help me through this. And it was trial by fire, no doubt about it. Taking on the Peckford government was no mean feat at all.” His first months in office would bring him nose-to-nose with Newfoundland and Labrador’s third premier, Brian Peckford. Issues arose surrounding federal money allocated for the Miawpukek community withheld by the provincial government, who refused to release it without claiming $60,000 (of the $800,000 total), for administrative fees. “The plan was to go after the Peckford government for funding that was outstanding for 13 months or something like that. Of course, some people in the meeting called me a damn fool and said ‘You’re crazy or you’re never going to get that. Your uncle couldn’t do it and the advisors he had with him couldn’t do it, so what makes you think you’re going to do it?’ And I think my response, if I remember correctly, might have been, ‘Well if we don’t try, we’ll never know,’” he shares of the turbulent period. Making the trek to St. John’s and back with the promise of payment 1-888-588-6353

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Chief Joe’s first months in office were a trial by fire, with a protest against the Peckford government for withholding federal funds from the Miawpukek community. The protest ended after a nine day hunger strike with the funds being released. intact, Chief Joe and his companions made it to Gander, where it was confirmed that the agreed-upon payment had been cancelled. Acting quickly, a group of more than 80 members of the community chartered a bus to St. John’s, occupying the offices of the Department of Rural, Agricultural and Northern Development at Atlantic Place. Over three dozen community members went inside the building and padlocked the door in an act of civil disobedience. “The plan was to take on the government,” Chief Joe recollects, recounting the peaceful protest blow for blow. “We locked the doors with a chain and piled some furniture against it and waited for the police to www.downhomelife.com

show up, which we knew would happen. Now, we didn’t realize that it was going to happen in four hours, but we figured we’d be there at least three or four days negotiating. But four hours later the paddywagons showed up. I think the next day we all went to court and basically (were told) ‘Go home, be good Indians.’ And that was the turning point for us in many ways.” Over two dozen protesters were arrested and subsequently released, but the move did nothing to dampen their resolve. Quite the opposite. “If we had listened to the judge at that time and came home, I don’t think we would have gained any ground at all,” Chief Joe says, sharing that high-profile hunger April 2024

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strikes by the likes of Mahatma Gandhi and Bobby Sands inspired his next, more daring course of action. “We had to do something that really brought the public into this and showed them what we’re going through, what we’re asking for. I knew there were going to be naysayers, and I certainly knew Peckford was going to be a devil to deal with,” he adds, explaining that

dealing with the Peckford government,” he said, recounting one particularly ominous conversation. “I found out later that (the attending physician) was concerned and basically said that ‘Peckford is not going to move on this. He’s going to let those people die.’” Thankfully, on the ninth day, an agreement was reached where funds would be released directly to the

he voiced to the community that “This is the only way I know how we can do civil disobedience our way. We’re not hurting anybody, we’re only offering ourselves. It was our life that we’re offering for the community.” For nine days the nine men fasted, subsisting on only water and juice, standing their ground against the prospect of death by starvation, steadfast to their beliefs and demands to Peckford’s government. “I was on the inside, fasting with everybody, with negotiators outside

community, with no administrative costs attached. Reflecting on the dramatic and highly influential outcome, Chief Joe pauses. “I remember being asked once, ‘Are you telling me that you’re hungry in Conne River, and that’s why you’re doing it?’ I said ‘We’re not hungry for food. We’re hungry for justice. And that’s why we’re doing this.’” It was indeed a turning point. More changes would come and for the better. Miawpukek First Nation would be registered under the federal Indian Act, becoming part of the first

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reserve in Newfoundland and Labrador in 1987. Chief Joe would become the first Administrative Chief of the Miawpukek community when it adopted a dual-Chief system, complete with an election every two years, in 1988. Reflecting on his life and legacy, no moment stands above the rest. It’s a body of work, of trials, struggles, successes and of a community in better shape at the end of his tenure. “To be fair and honest, I’m humbled by it all,” he says. “Coming off of the heavy equipment that I used to do, leaving here at 16 and travelling across the country and seeing a lot of Aboriginal communities and meeting a lot of Aboriginal people in my short span, I’ve always thought about how nice it would be to be able to work from home, have our own school, send them off to university to do what other communities are doing. And we have that. People have worked here in this community, retired in this community and that humbles me. Everything that we’ve done humbles me. To me, it’s like a dream come true that did come true. “When I think back on all those things, we’ve come a million miles in the right direction. How we managed to do that, I can’t tell you for sure. It’s like putting your hand inside a rattlesnake’s nest and hoping to God you don’t get bitten. You don’t know from day to day if the decisions being made are the www.downhomelife.com

right ones. Sometimes you have to make a lot of wrong ones to get to the right one. We were learning how to be a government, learning how to look after everyone who lives in the community. We did all those things and are still doing all those things.” Chief Joe will still be around, he cautions, staying active and involved in the community to which he’s dedicated over five decades of his life. Coming full circle to the idea of respect, the point is once again hammered home that few in this province have done more to earn the respect of their peers and contemporaries as Chief Mi’sel Joe. It’s an ethos he carries with him through each waking moment, of respect earned, and given, to everyone he meets. “The key word is respect, respect for all people,” he says with a kind smile. “If you go pounding on some minister’s desk, cursing and swearing, you’re not going to get anywhere. We all know that. The only way to do that, to be number one, is to be respectful. If you can’t be respectful to yourself then you can’t be respectful to anyone else.”

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They say that life is better Downhome. With that ethos in mind, May 3-5 will be an absolute blast at the 10th annual Downhome Expo. The largest trade show and marketplace in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Downhome Expo features two arenas chock-full of vendors, games, giveaways, The Frontline Action Fun Zone and Marketplace while boasting over 120 exhibitors across various industries. The result? A can’t-miss weekend of the best products and services and entertainment all in the name of home-grown hospitality and the promotion and love of Newfoundland and Labrador. “We have been building on the

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show since the beginning,” shares Grant Young, CEO and Owner of Downhome Incorporated, adding that organizers for the event have aimed to come back bigger and better every year. “We are always adding new energy and events to the show to keep it fresh and rejuvenated.” “It’s really exciting to be part of the largest lifestyle tradeshow in Newfoundland and Labrador,” adds Downhome’s General Manager Tina Bromley. “The wide variety of vendors along with the various activities makes it different from all

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other shows. There’s something there for everyone, which is why it has been so successful.” Variety is indeed one of the hallmarks of the now decade-old fan favourite. The three-day event boasts the world’s largest PLINKO game, which stretches over 40 feet high! Patrons can test their paper planemaking and flying skills with Air EXPO, which offers contestants a chance to win one of three trips for two anywhere PAL Airlines flies, which will be drawn once daily throughout the weekend. The 10th annual spectacular features the return of Expo200 and the all-new Cornhole 50/50. From a widevariety of vendors, and family friendly entertainment including Newfoundland ponies, games and activities for kids and adults alike, the Downhome Expo is the premier

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event of its kind in the province. “There are two arenas filled with exhibitors from many different industries including travel and tourism, local artists, authors and creators, pets, and great products and services for your home and lifestyle, plus some of the best local baked goods, candy and treats,” teases Downhome’s Marketing Director Tiffany Brett. “It’s exciting and colourful. There are so many things to do and take in that you can shop, find some great products and services, eat, play, and win some fun prizes in one trip!” The final word goes to Grant, who’s watched first-hand the Expo, and the Downhome brand, grow into a much-loved local institution. “I think the smiles we put on children’s faces is the biggest takeaway,” Grant says with a smile of his own. “We all know that a smile on a child makes us all smile.” Adult admission is $9 (Ages 13 and up), with child admission costs of $5 (Ages 6-12) and ages 5 and under free (Must be accompanied by an adult). Family Passes are available for $20 (4 people, 2 adults max). Visit downhomeexpo.com for more information. Want to be a vendor? Email expo@downhomelife.com

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life is better Sunrise at Spillars Cove, Bonavista, NL Sheldon Hicks, Bonavista, NL

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Crafter Mina Campbell sharpens her skills making traditional Inuit uluit. By Nicola Ryan 54

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Each year, near North West River, as the spring season slowly lengthens the days, Inuit hunters head to the ice for seals. The annual traditional hunt is a deeply rooted cultural practice for Indigenous peoples. Seals have long provided an essential source of food, useful material used for making garments, boots, harnesses, tents, soap and fuel for lamps. Their reappearance every spring embodies a mystical connection to the land and sea – their presence is essential not only for survival, but also for the spiritual harmony of ancient traditions. Growing up in North West River, crafter Mina Campbell recalls how her grandmother, Edna Campbell, prepared seal skins for her own use and for the hunters to sell at the fur market in North Bay. “She’d clean the seal skins for some of the hunters, some people cleaned their own, but most people got her to clean the seal skins. So every spring, that was my life. I was surrounded by seal skins,” she says with a hint of humour. “My grandmother cleaning seal skins, seals hung up outdoors, seal grease all over the place, I’m a teenager, you know, full of seal grease everywhere I go. Not very excited about that! But now I appreciate that I learned from watching her. So she’d clean the seal skins and now I do.” To clean and prepare seal pelts, handy uluit – short knives with crescent-shaped blades – were essential everyday tools. In Inuktitut, ulu translates to ‘women’s knife’, a small word for a multifunctional and practical tool Dan Smith Photography

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Mina Campbell (left) teaching students at an Ulu making workshop that embodies the resourcefulness and ingenuity of the Inuit. Uluit have been used for thousands of years across the northern regions of North America. The blades were originally made of sharpened slate, but today are made of steel. An ulu is a major part of an Inuit woman’s life and culture, and each one was as unique and beautiful as the woman who used it. Girls are taught from an early age to treat the sharp blade with respect and care, and an Inuk woman might use the same ulu for her entire adult life. Inspired by her ancestors’ craftsmanship, and driven by a desire to celebrate her cultural roots and learn the timeless art of knifemaking, many years ago Mina learned to how craft these distinctive tools. “So maybe around 35 or so years ago, quite a long time ago, I took a workshop. It was by the Labrador 56

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Heritage Society and the late Louie Montague was the teacher. And so I made one, a group of us did. Then I didn’t make any more, I didn’t even think that I’d ever make any more really,” she says. “I work at the Labrador Interpretation Centre – that’s a cultural centre that exhibits the cultures of Labrador. It’s also a regional museum of The Rooms. The Rooms has three regional museums, one in Grand Falls-Windsor, one in Grand Bank and one in North West River in Labrador. I just finished my 25th year this past summer,” she explains. “So I work from around the first of May to the middle of October and then I’m laid off for the winter because it’s a seasonal centre, and when I finish work I do crafts.” Then, unexpectedly, COVID came along, disrupting daily life even in the remote regions of Labrador. 1-888-588-6353

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When the pandemic left Mina with too much time on her hands, she decided to sharpen her skills. “That year of COVID, because it was so slow at work, we hardly had any visitors, so myself and the staff brought our crafts to work,” she says. “We couldn’t do anything else anyway, we couldn’t do programming, you know, it was COVID, it was full-fledged. So by the time I got laid off in the fall, I was tired of doing the crafts,” she laughs, “so I started thinking of something else. And I said, well maybe I’ll try to make an ulu, see if I remember how.”

join the blade to the handle, I got to cut that and drill a hole through it. Then I drill a hole through the blade and sand the blade off to make it shinier. Then I cut out the handle and the stand and drill a hole in the handle and drill a slit in the stand and then put it all together. “I put a call out every year to see if people have old saw blades or moose – or any – antler for that matter,” she continues. “I’ve had different people send me antlers – Newfoundland deer antler, and I collect moose antler and of course caribou antler, which is very hard to come by. Now,

With some help and guidance from other crafters, Mina was able to recall how to create the traditional tools. “Then I said I’m going to make 10 before I finish so that I don’t forget how to do it, so I did. I made 10 and I put them on Facebook and I’d say the next day they were sold,” she says. “They can be used, but most people just use them for decoration, right, it’s like an ornament. And so every year I’ve been making them and every year it’s no trouble to sell them.” Mina’s uluit are created from repurposed saw blades and foraged antlers. “I use a dremel tool, I got a little pattern and I draw it out with a marker. I cut it out with a dremel tool from the blade,” she says. “Then to

once in a while, somebody will part with a few pieces because we use it for the handle and the stand.” In the future, Mina aspires to pass on this skill, spreading the art of ulumaking to others eager to learn and preserving this cherished tradition for generations to come. “I’m going to teach a workshop (with the) Labrador Heritage Society. We got a grant to do a workshop so we’re just waiting on the equipment now, to provide their tools and things, and I’m going to teach six youths to make an ulu,” she says. Mina’s deep connection to her heritage and commitment to preserving traditional skills shine. In each ulu she makes, a reflection of her ancestors’ ingenuity showcases a timeless tradition that continues to inspire and endure.

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Labrador-based artist Scott Pynn shares the personal motivation behind his creations By Pam Pardy

From his home in Labrador City,

artist Scott Pynn explains how he’s “completely split creatively” when it comes to his art. “I have my light side and my dark side,” Scott begins. Looking at some of his work – and his very different canvas choices – it’s easy to see what he calls the “yin and yang” of art styles. “My paintings focus mostly on really bright and colourful, modern landscapes and then I sort of bounce back and forth between that and my tattoo work, which is strictly black and grey work and probably a little bit darker subject matter,” he says. www.downhomelife.com

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His mood – as well as the season – can direct his art, he continues. “I’ve been an artist professionally now for about 25 years. For me, painting season is more a summer and fall type of thing, and then in the winter time I focus on my tattooing because it’s mostly inside my nice, cosy studio,” he says with a laugh, referencing Labrador’s cold winters. “It’s an awesome balance and because I was born here in Labrador, I just absolutely love the outdoors and everything about it. When I was a kid, my fondest memories were going fishing with my grandfather. He was also an amazing artist and he sort of taught me everything I know.” Scott shares that his grandfather, the late Henry Pynn, was his first, and greatest, art teacher. “He taught me how to appreciate nature, respect nature and see the beauty in everything. A lot of people look at Labrador as having just some 60

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scraggly old spruce trees, but we’ve got a lot of natural beauty up here and you’ll never run out of inspiration.” When his grandfather passed, Scott struggled. He’s spoken publicly about his battle with addiction and now shares how proud he is for changing his life for the better. “I’ve dealt with addiction my whole 1-888-588-6353

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life, ever since I was a teenager, and it came to a tipping point in 2021. It got worse and worse and worse and eventually got to the point where I lost everything that I had. I lost my family and my job. I decided that it was time to go to treatment. I graduated from the program in December of 2021 and have been sober ever since,” he shares proudly. Was there a particular motivation behind his very personal and powerful life change? Scott pauses a moment before answering. “I was going to die. I could feel life sort of creeping out of me every day. I was just sick and tired of letting my family down. The biggest thing that kept me from getting treatment for so many years was pride. I wanted to believe that I could do it on my own, but I couldn’t,” he admits. www.downhomelife.com

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Going into a treatment centre was “the best experience” of his life. Today, he’s a peer advisor at the same treatment centre he went to. “The first night I was in the treatment centre, they had a couple of canvases, paint brushes and some paints there. I said, ‘This would be a nice time to get back to my routine,’ and I painted every single day after that,” he shares, explaining that painting helped him heal. “One of the biggest things that contributed to my worsening addiction was when I lost my grandfather. One of my counsellors at the addiction centre told me they watched me painting in the evening. She said, ‘You paint with such intention, and behind every brushstroke, you can see that instead of grieving your grandfather, you are honouring him and you can choose to honour him with every single brushstroke.’ And that’s what I did from then on. And I never stopped.” Scott’s now at a place where he can give back through his artwork. “I started a program where I supply art supplies free to recovering addicts and we reached a lot of people. I use my artwork now to raise money for charities too. We auction off my paintings to help people afford treatment. I use my artwork to raise money for anyone that’s in need, especially in my community.” 62

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It’s part of his amends process, he adds. “I’ve spent so much time disappointing so many people in my community, so this is my way of making it better,” he says with emotion. True to his dedication of giving back, Scott has some advice for young artists. “Don’t ever quit and always be authentic. Don’t try to paint or do art the way you think someone else would like it. Do it for yourself. And if it’s authentic and you put your passion into something, it will be beautiful.” And Scott’s work is very beautiful. That’s because where he lives is so captivating and inspirational, he adds. “Most of my painting work focuses on that twilight time – just when the sun’s going up or down. It’s kind of a little bit more moody.” On the tattoo side of his artwork, as long as it’s black and gray, he’s inspired.

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“One day I could be tattooing a beautiful, delicate rose and the next day I am tattooing a skull and crossbones. The best part is that I get to spend time with amazing clients and I get to have some good chats,” he says with a laugh. Scott’s thoughts filter back to his grandfather. “My grandfather worked on the railway his whole life, and I’d love to share a painting he did (see below) of a train because that’s what he loved the most.” As for anyone dealing with addiction or recovery, Scott would like everyone to know that there’s help out there. “If I could get better, I’m a firm believer that anybody in this world can get better. Ask for help. There’s no stigma and no shame in getting help. There’s only shame in knowing that there’s help out there and not taking it.”

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The bonds of faith lead St. James Anglican Church into the future By Marie-Beth Wright

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Through faith, fellowship and a refusal to let a community anchor disappear,

the people of Pool’s Island in Bonavista North have created an impressive phoenix of hope and tradition: the St. James Memorial Gallery. A core group of volunteers, who banded together for a community reunion in 2012, have now made fresh efforts to save the nearly two-centuries-old footprint of St. James Anglican Church once repairs to its foundation were found to be unfeasible in 2020. This energetic team of Emma Gale (Chair), Brenda Lee Goodyear, Marie Boland, Trudy Hoyles, Colin Hoyles, Nina Bungay, Edwin Sheppard, and Paul Rogers were quick to turn their talents and attention toward this vital mission.

Courtesy St. James Anglican Church 1865 - 2020 Pool's Island, Newfoundland on Facebook group

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St. James Anglican church was founded in Pool’s Island in 1865. Some congregations have cultivated memorial gardens or let their church become entertainment hubs, but St. James chose a singular route. Full, enthusiastic cooperation ensued with the Anglican Diocese of Central Newfoundland for the Island’s plans to memoralize and retain its collective soul. Bishop John Watton and his team were involved in the full journey, which led from the demolition to the new building being erected on the former church site, which will culminate with the official opening of the Memorial Gallery on September 24, 2024. This date is also steeped in tradition, being the day the original church was opened in 1865. Winston Perry is an experienced veteran of community development and current President of the highly effective Cape Freels Development Association. He has already spearheaded a focal point on the island, “The Wave,” which seeks to 66

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define the growth of the New-WesValley area that spread out from Pool’s Island and Greenspond, two sites closest to the offshore fishing grounds. Tasked with this newest challenge of community history and tradition, Winston managed the project from its inception, provided the design, negotiated funding and guided St. James Memorial Gallery-Between Two Tickles into impressive reality. Joanne Wiley, a CFA, who with her husband relocated to the island over 15 years ago, has much admiration for the love of church, collaboration and resiliency displayed by the people living there. She cites their team spirit and effectiveness. The result is an interactive virtual “church” and community showcase that will offer tourists and locals alike, “a look back” at the vibrancy and devotion that was St. James. Its artifacts are preserved in a 12x20 foot structure which includes 6-foot 1-888-588-6353

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wrap-around verandahs to mitigate against inclement weather since the 24/7 exterior viewing can be accessed year-round. The church bell is mounted nearby, and automatic lighting illuminates the new structure which has already become a focal point for community celebrations starting with November 11, 2023, Remembrance Day. Brenda Lee Goodyear attests,

ually, she reports, “there will be a soundtrack added, accessible by one’s phone, where the initial hymn, “From Greenland’s Icy Mountain,” sung at the long-ago first service in the 150-year-old church, will be played.” The volunteers are buoyed by the donations that have been received, especially through the on-site drop box as people visit the site.

Members of the Committee with Cape Freels Development liaison, Winston Perry, (far right) “During Christmas, we led a carol sing from the site and it was live streamed on YouTube to friends and family here and in other parts of Canada and beyond.” She continues, “Interest has been strong from ex-pats such as members of Facebook groups, ‘Pool’s Island Was Once My Home’ and ‘St. James Anglican Church.’” Eventwww.downhomelife.com

Let’s imagine ourselves preparing to access the display. Winston Perry explains, “You press a button and the lights come on for 15, 30-minute intervals or longer. The front door is a portal giving an interior view of St. James, as it was, looking into the Chancel and Nave.” That door, incidentally, came from the church’s upper gallery. April 2024

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The corridors of the memorial gallery are lined with artifacts once found in the St. James church. Side views reveal other artifacts in a corridor or hallway such as a banner depicting the 150th anniversary, names of war veterans, a wooden slide used by sealers making the trek to Gambo and a berth ‘at the ice.’ Such historical artifacts and key moments in the community’s long history have been gathered from 90year-old islander Gerald Starkes, who has reams of knowledge of the island’s past. Large sets used in the Christmas display, especially the Nativity Scene, were painted by late Pool’s Island resident artist Sam Kelloway. He also created the St. James Church and School and Orangeman’s Lodge paintings displayed on the interior walls of the Gallery. 68

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This memorial building is practically self-sustaining and costeffectively presents itself while employing new technology to share information and engage the viewer. At the back of this compact structure sits a rotation of historical storyboards, developed by Winston Perry, a true litany of the fruits of hard work and conversely, of heavy losses via community tragedies. They range from the multiple roles of women in pre-Confederation Newfoundland, the Sealers’ Strike of 1902, and the Greenland Disaster of 1898, events which affected Pool’s Island and nearby communities. A little-known fact: St. James Anglican, like George Street United in St. John’s, carried the designation of being “the Sealers’ Church.” 1-888-588-6353

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The memorial gallery features storyboards chronicling the history of the region such as the Sealers’ Strike of 1902. En route to the Ice, sealing vessels would moor offshore so that sealers could walk ashore to pray for safety and a rich harvest. The church, with galleries, could hold 500 supplicants. This is a key connection to the Sealers Museum, 12 kilometres away in Newtown’s Barbour Living Heritage Village. Winston adds, “There are still more impressive stories of the community waiting to be told.” Brenda Lee also speaks of work yet to be done. “In spring, we will be

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adding benches and complete landscaping, adding flowers, etc.” When asked what advice she would have for churchgoers or community volunteers, faced with dwindling attendance or maintenance challenges, she replies, “Do not let it go.” Pool’s Island has seen the loss of its school, post office and other community buildings over the last 30-40 years. This was a moment to stand up and be counted and retain its rich legacy.

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sureSHOTS Featuring photographer Heather Nolan

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From a young age, Heather Nolan was moved by the art of photography. “I remember this terrible very early digital camera that my dad got for free with a printer he bought, and taking photos with that. I think it only had 2 megapixels. Then in high school art class, there was a unit on film photography and darkroom development and that really stirred me. The art teacher lent me his old Minolta and I took so many rolls with it. When I got my first job I spent the entire summer saving up to buy a DSLR and just never stopped shooting,” she recalls to Downhome. Born in St. John’s, but calling Bonavista home, Heather’s work in the medium – which began in earnest following a year-long stint in a journalism program and period assisting a local wedding photographer – takes her island-wide as an in-demand photographer, specializing in a ‘documentary approach.’ “I photograph weddings with a documentary approach – with its roots in photojournalism – and I love this approach. It means I am very hands-off, fly-on-the-wall during a wedding day, capturing little moments as they happen naturally around me,” she shares. “There are no fabricated or posed moments just for the camera, to tick a shot off a list, because they are the photos you’re “supposed” to have. Working in a documentary approach means I am capturing what’s happening without interrupting. I think it’s www.downhomelife.com

one of the most rewarding kinds of photography for me because I go into this state of perpetual noticing, of just creative freedom to make photos from within a scene. Storytelling is at the heart of what I do.” Creating a compelling narrative through a captured image is at the heart of Heather’s work. Whether it’s a serene landscape, haunting backdrop, or unspoken moments between loved ones, Heather has garnered a reputation as having a keen eye and instinct for capturing fleeting moments in time. “Last year I was on a bus that stopped in the city of Santa Cruz on Tenerife during Carnival and I got a great shot out the bus window of two guys walking down the street in banana costumes. I was shooting film on that trip, so I had no idea if the shot would even turn out, but it did and I love the absurdity of it,” she shares with a laugh, reflecting on ‘the one that got away.’

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“On the same trip to Tenerife, I went back to the city, Santa Cruz, the morning after Carnival ended and spent the morning walking the streets and shooting the aftermath – people cleaning up all the confetti and discarded clown masks. Then some guy bumped into me and I dropped my camera and the back popped open and I lost the whole roll of film. I was devastated. Obviously, because I never got to see the photos, I envision them as the best I’ve ever taken.” Tried and true tools of Heather’s trade include a Canon mirrorless and old-school Canon 5D which she utilizes “for low light because it just has this gorgeous colour profile that almost looks like old film.” When she’s not travelling the province as a photographer-for-hire, Heather can be found drawing inspiration from her surroundings, particularly that of the rugged Newfoundland landscapes.

“I think nature is always where I feel most inspired. Natural light, textures and colours make up so much of my creative landscape. One of my favourite parts of a wedding day is when the couple takes time for some photos in nature. It can be such a balm if the day is feeling hectic, and connecting with nature is a great way of connecting with each other.” From candid posed images to docustyle retellings of a day to remember, ruminations of the great outdoors, or the hidden gems to be unearthed in urban street photography, Heather is one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s preeminent storytellers for her art form. “I just really love looking for a story in my surroundings,” she says. For more on Heather Nolan: heathernolanphoto@gmail.com heathernolanphoto.com @heathernolanphoto Instagram

Would you like to be featured in Sure Shots? Send a few sample photos to editorial@downhomelife.com. 74

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We have yet to explore the south coast of the island, save for a short drive to Rose Blanche while we waited for the ferry a few years back. Part of my bucket list is to visit all the southern coast’s little towns and island communities. With limited time, we chose to visit the town of Harbour Breton. The weather was looking ideal for a drive: partly cloudy and a bit of a breeze, perfect road-tripping weather. We packed enough for an overnight trip and away we went.

wilderness, eventually transforming into forested mountains, deep glacial valleys, and oceanside fjords. We weren’t so fortunate to see wildlife this time but be prepared to see caribou and moose. A forest fire broke out here in 2022 that we missed by a few weeks, as evidenced by the smouldering plumes of smoke in the distance. The damage is devastating, but there’s beauty in the starkness it created. The land will recover to its former glory in no time. Still, the landscape you pass is

The journey takes you through the island’s most remote wilderness area, eventually transforming into forested mountains, deep glacial valleys, and oceanside fjords. Leaving our house in Heart’s Delight-Islington, we had a lengthy six-hour drive to get to our destination. Harbour Breton is very easy to get to, as there’s one way in and one way out. Turning onto the Bay d’Espoir Highway in central Newfoundland and Labrador will take you directly to the town. Looking at a map, you would think the drive would be boring, but far from it. The journey takes you through the island’s most remote 82

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mesmerizingly beautiful. Be prepared to stop several times to shoot photos or admire the vastness of the mountains and huge valleys as you get closer to the town. Sitting in a cove in Fortune Bay on the island’s southern coast, Harbour Breton is an unexpected destination. Amenities for the weary traveller, including hotels, gas stations, and even a department store are all along the main street. The town’s website states that Harbour Breton is 1-888-588-6353

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A spectacular 360° view rewards those who brave the steep climb up Gun Hill in Harbour Breton. “Newfoundland’s Walking Town.” This statement is all too true, as you could easily walk to everything. It feels like a destination, not a town you drive through, with a cosy feel like you’re protected from the sea by the mountains. Upon arrival, you’ll notice that Harbour Breton is very clean and well-kept. Immediate appearances indicate a strong civic pride from residents and council www.downhomelife.com

alike. Unlike many small Canadian towns, Newfoundland and Labrador’s little communities are often very welcoming. Harbour Breton is no exception. We arrived early in the afternoon and set off to explore two of the four highlighted trails in the network. First up was the Gun Hill Lookout. Although I hike often, my short attention span is not one for long April 2024

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Deadman’s Cove hikes. On the contrary, I like to feel like I’ve accomplished something. The Gun Hill trail offers a short yet exhilarating burst of energy to reach the peak. The half-a-kilometre route features multiple flights of stairs that seem to go straight up. Resting offers spectacular views that get better as you ascend. As you crest the mountain top, you are rewarded with 360-degree views of the town, with multiple inlets and fjords in the distance. On a clear day you can easily see the French islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, in addition to the Burin Peninsula. Although the Gun Hill trail is relatively short, it’s hard work. I’d recommend going on a calm and clear day so you can get the most out of the views. Hiking has become a draw of many small communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. Destination travellers are attracted to towns where ecotourism is actively promoted. Harbour Breton has embraced this idea and run with it, so to speak, understanding that tourism dollars complement other industries. If done 84

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well, tourism can be the main industry driving the local economy. In Harbour Breton’s case, it doesn’t hurt that its location is one of the most awe-inspiring in the province. Approaching sunset, we quickly drove to the Rocky Point Lighthouse. Constructed in 1881, this prefabricated cast-iron tower is the oldest structure in Harbour Breton. From here, you can see the resettled community of Jersey Harbour, along with the grounded shipwreck, the Rupert Brand II. Some may consider old shipwrecks to be eyesores, but to me they offer historical significance and a great photo opportunity. The afternoon nearing its end, we drove over to Deadman’s Cove Beach Trail. This was a surprise that caught us off guard. It featured a lengthy, south-facing sandy beach, along with boardwalks and, not surprisingly, epic views. My wife and I made plans to hike all the trails in one day, but we decided to stay put and watch the sunset on the beach. I was wondering if this was real or a dream because 1-888-588-6353

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the setting was almost too good to be true. Picture it: a huge white sand beach, gentle waters, and a tropical sunset. Yet, not one other person to be seen. The temperature was pleasantly warm with virtually no wind. Surely this wasn’t Newfoundland, was it? How could the residents of Harbour Breton be so lucky to have this sandy oasis on their doorstep? We hopped over to the liquor store for a bottle of wine and booked a night at The Southern Port Hotel & Chalets. Although it was the offseason, we were able to find a place to eat and a department store where I could buy socks to replace the ones I forgot to pack. In a town of about 1,500 people, it was impressive that it had so many amenities. But given that Harbour Breton is more destination than drive-by, I shouldn’t be surprised. What took me off guard about this little town was what it offered. The natural beauty of the landscape made me think I was in another part of the country reserved for the wealthy. It

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seemed more akin to a resort destination than a small fishing village. We only stayed one night, but I wanted to stay longer to explore the area more and to get a sense from the locals of what they have. Take British Columbia for example, where we also live. If you had this natural beauty and that massive sandy oceanside beach, your property value would be in the multiples millions of dollars. But isn’t that what makes Newfoundland and Labrador special? We have these jaw-dropping landscapes that almost anyone can attain. It would be easy to recommend visiting a more popular tourist destination like Bonavista, Trinity, or Brigus. Chances are you have seen photos from these towns or know someone who’s been there. But I’m here to argue the case for Harbour Breton. Sure, it’s a long drive, but it’s also an easy one with beautiful sights along the way. It’s all about the destination, and Harbour Breton is up there with the best of them.

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explore

Winter’s chill has begun to release its grip on The Great White North as we move into the hopeful promise of spring. With the thaw comes time and options, and lord knows there’s plenty to see and more to do across the boundlessly explorative province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Downhome put pen to paper to compile a list of major sites and marquee events to check off your bucket list this spring season.

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Trails Tales Tunes Festival Norris Point • May 17-26, 2024

A celebration of culture and community takes over Norris Point with the Trails Tales Tunes Festival. The annual event, located in picturesque Norris Point, Trails Tales Tunes offers a unique blend of nature walks, culinary adventures and world-class entertainment in unique and intimate settings.

Songs Stages & Seafood Festival Bay Roberts • May 22-26, 2024

Have your fish and eat it too as Bay Roberts celebrates the sea at this five-day festival. Enjoy meals cooked by award-winning chefs with delicious locally sourced cod, salmon, halibut and mussels, and participate in demos, culinary workshops and evening dining. Tuck into a sampling of up to 10 different fish cakes to choose the next Newfoundland & Labrador Fishcake Champion, and get your toes tapping with live entertainment.

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April 2024

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Record Fair NL

St. John’s • May 26, 2024

The record renaissance is real in Newfoundland and Labrador, stacks of wax are in, and the almighty vinyl is attracting throngs of collectors and those craving a nostalgia kick to the bi-annual Record Fair NL in St. John’s. Dozens of vendors show off tens of thousands of albums to would-be buyers in a coming together of music lovers that hits you right in the feels.

Growlers and Rogues

St. John’s • October-June

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can compete with the best of them! Pro sports are thriving on The Rock, with former Kelly Cup winners of the ECHL the Newfoundland Growlers and the Newfoundland Rogues of the BSL packing Mary Brown’s Centre throughout the fall, winter and spring. Catch professional hockey and basketball as both clubs push to the playoffs, seeking accolades and glory in one of Canada’s preeminent sports towns.

15th Annual Iceberg Festival St. Anthony • June 7-16, 2024

The Iceberg Festival celebrates the coming of spring in the north. With events planned in St. Anthony, Conche, Gunners Cove, Roddickton, L’Anse aux Meadows and all along the Great Northern Peninsula, the schedule is packed with nature tours, live music performances, art exhibitions showcasing local talent, and interactive workshops high-lighting the region’s rich heritage. Savour Viking delicacies, immerse yourself in traditional Newfoundland folk stories or simply bask in the breathtaking vistas. 88

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The NL Pet Expo

Mount Pearl Glacier June 8-9, 2024

Furry friends and fun for the whole family – the NL Pet Expo is a must for all pet lovers. Check out the interactive exhibits from various local and national pet businesses featuring the latest pet care products and services, handmade treats, fashion, supplies and more. Pet rescue groups will be on hand with opportunities to meet adorable adoptable animals from local shelters and rescue organizations, and exciting pet demonstrations will take place in the event ring.

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Tely 10 Mile Road Race

St. John’s • June 23, 2024 On your mark, get set, go! The NL Athletics Association’s premier road race, now in its 96th year, is set to go ahead on Sunday, June 23, 2024. Starting in the Town of Paradise and heading east through Mount Pearl and St. John’s to Bannerman Park, the event – generally known as the Tely 10 – attracts over 4,000 runners annually.

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HOME and Cabin

stuff we love by Nicola Ryan

Jet Set ADVENTURE AWAITS To strut your way to vacay, you’ll need a great suitcase. Look for a great carryon that’s lightweight, durable and designed to fit in overhead bins. Aim for one with an easygrip top handle and smooth wheels like this one from Away. awaytravel.com

TUNE OUT Noise-canceling headphones make loud airports and long flights so much more bearable. We like these QuietComfort headphones from Bose – you can easily switch between Quiet and Aware modes, so you can hear important flight announcements without taking them off. bose.ca

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TAG ALONG Don’t be worrying about your suitcase getting lost. Tuck a luggage tracker into your bag like these compact AirTags from Apple. You’ll be able to keep tabs on your bag right from your phone to make sure your souvenirs get home safe. apple.com

GOT YOU COVERED A good windproof travel umbrella is your go-to buddy for dodging raindrops on the move. This Weatherman Travel Umbrella’s tough design holds up against gusts and is conveniently compact making it a must-have for any adventure. Stay dry in style, rain or shine! weathermanumbrella.com

BLOWN AWAY No more hotel hair-dryers! No more frizzy holiday hair! Invest in a travel-sized hair dryer like this one from Drybar. Though it’s called a Baby Buttercup, it’s got a powerful airflow and we also like how it folds up into a nice, compact size. drybar.com

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HOME and Cabin

Ask Marie Anything Interior designer Marie Bishop takes your questions

Q. I like to keep my home looking current and up to date, but seriously how can anyone keep up with all the latest ‘trends’ in decorating?

The short answer is you can’t. In all design-related

industries, nothing stays the same for long and realistically how could it? The very nature and focus of any design business is to keep reinventing itself. The industry is always searching for new materials, construction ideas, and the next new craze. Inspiration and innovation lead to wonderful new ideas and solutions for our everyday lives. That’s not to say we need to buy into all the latest gizmos, gadgets and decorating trends that hit the market. That would be exhausting and expensive. However, there are things you can do to help keep your space in step with today’s look.

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The words style and trend are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. First, we need to define the difference between the two as well as establish what’s necessary for regular home maintenance versus minor updates. A trend is something popular or fashionable at the moment. It’s a look or design direction that will be popular for a specific period, but not necessarily a lengthy one. For instance, when 2020 began with the world being turned on its ear, the trend for multifunctional spaces began, where people could work from home, kids could access online classes and everyone could live in reasonable harmony within fairly close quarters. This trend has continued as many people are still working from home and it has directed a real focus on making every square foot of real estate count. On top of that, because we were under lockdown at home for long periods, we relied on calm and grounding colours such as shades of blue, brown and green to soothe us. Colours from nature became important and were incorporated into our living spaces. And as much as we craved a sense of calm there was also a yearning for visual stimulation, so artwork became a feature and wallpaper began to creep back into our decor, especially as a point of interest in small areas. www.downhomelife.com

Because we were under lockdown at home for long periods, we relied on calm and grounding colours such as shades of blue, brown and green to soothe us.

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Local trends are often influenced by climate, so here on the Rock, we tend toward warmer colours and textures. But generally speaking, trends are often market-driven or influenced by factors in the environment beyond anyone’s control. Because we like change and seem to get bored easily, trends keep shifting. The colour and design choices you’d make building a house today will be different from those you would have made even five years ago, simply because trends have changed. But here’s the thing, your style will still be the biggest influence on your choices. 94

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Style is very personal. It’s how you express yourself in the world, demonstrating your likes and preferences, what makes you feel good, and what makes you unique. Your design style is reflected in your living space as much as it is in your wardrobe choice. When focusing on interior design, choosing a style usually leads you in a certain direction. Under the category of design styles, you will find Modern, Minimalist, Scandi, Retro, Coastal, Bohemian, Urban, Contemporary and Industrial, to name a few. Again, style is personal. You may 1-888-588-6353

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take elements from two or three different design styles and bring them together to create your style. A colour may predominate your wardrobe, and chances are this colour will find its way into your decorating style, whether it’s part of today’s colour trend or not.

There are ways to keep your house looking up to date without changing everything or spending a small fortune. Most houses endure wear and tear over time and need a paint refresh every five to seven years, sometimes longer depending on the room. This would be the time to

consider if you want to change the colour to something more current, or if you’re happy with what you have. If it’s time for a total redo, you may want to consider a new colour scheme for walls, furniture, rugs, etc. This happens about every 10-15 years and involves a considerable investment. That’s when you want to choose larger, big-ticket items, such as furniture, that suit your style, not something based on the current trend. You’ll want to lean toward a more neutral colour palette, one you can live with for the next decade. On the other hand, you can update your look on a smaller budget and keep it more on trend, or point, simply by adding new toss cushions, comfy throws, and a few accessories. Even a rug isn’t a huge investment these days and can completely change the look of the room. Toss cushions are a great way to incorporate the seasonal changes we go through and brighten up your home environment. And don’t underestimate the power of a few houseplants or fresh floral arrangements to breathe fresh air and a new look into your living space. Keeping an eye on current trends and making an effort to keep in step with today’s look doesn’t have to be a weekly or monthly chore, nor does it have to be expensive. It’s refreshing to change things up a little now and again to keep things interesting. Let your home reflect your style and tell your story. Let the world know how much you love your space.

Ask Marie Anything! Got a design question for Marie? Email editorial@downhomelife.com. www.downhomelife.com

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the everyday gourmet

Pasta Carbonara Breakfast of Champions

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the everyday gourmet By Andrea Maunder

Andrea Maunder is the owner and creative force behind Saucy & Sweet – Homemade Specialty Foods & Catering.

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If there was ever a pasta dish that was perfect for breakfast, it’s carbonara! It’s essentially bacon, eggs, “bread” and cheese. Traditionally, guanciale and Pecorino Romano – more on that later. I’d been craving, and cooking it, a while back, so I had the ingredients on hand in the freezer. One morning, realizing I hadn’t eaten breakfast, I was thinking about what I could pull together quickly. I had no bread but wanted something breakfasty and substantial. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of breakfast carbonara before. I always have a variety of pasta in the pantry and a few eggs in the fridge. I make a habit of freezing perishable ingredients in smaller or easy-to-grab/thaw portions so I can make something delicious any time. Here are some tips: Buy cheese in larger formats to save money. Shred and freeze it in containers. Aged harder cheeses, such as Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano), Romano (Pecorino Romano) Asiago and Manchego, work exceptionally well because the lower moisture content keeps the shreds from sticking together, meaning you can pull out the container and pretty much grab a handful or two without having to thaw the whole batch. Firm cheeses, such as Cheddar, Mozzarella, Swiss and Gruyere, shred well but can clump in the freezer, so it’s handy to package them in the size bags or containers you tend to use most. They don’t take long to thaw, and you can poke enough loose with a butter knife for a smaller dish. I finely shred the harder ones and use the larger grater hole for the firm ones. I recently learned that manufacturers are coating their pre-shredded cheese with cellulose, which creates a mealy texture, especially horrible in sauces such as bechamel. It’s made from cotton and wood fibres. I avoid pre-shredded products. The other gem in my freezer is a container of 1-ounce bags of diced guanciale. The traditional carbonara pork ingredient is cured, but not smoked, pork jowl. It’s not unlike Newfoundland salt pork, but rather than being April 2024

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all fat, it has a little meat streaking through. I scored some recently from my friends at Chinched Deli in St. John’s. I bought a pound and cut some into small dice, some into slices and froze, so I am set for a while. Other local butchers may cycle it in and out of inventory, so you can check with them. However, with guanciale being hard to find outside Italy, carbonara is often made with Prosciutto or Pancetta, cured but not

smoked Italian hams, or even North American bacon (thick-cut if you can get it.) My preference would be pancetta because it usually comes in a chunk rather than the prosciutto, which is usually sold thinly sliced. Carbonara is beloved for its simplicity, but it can be a trick to get right. The gorgeous silky “sauce” forms when the egg and cheese hit the heat and come together to coat the pasta. Having enjoyed a beautiful rendition in a restaurant, most firsttime at-home carbonara attempts result in scrambled egg and pasta, which is not the result we’re after. My plan for this column is to break down the steps so you can get it right the 98

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first and every time. Carbonara is typically made with Pecorino Romano cheese, Pecorino meaning the Romano-style cheese is made from sheep milk. However, Parmesan or aged Asiago, made from cow’s milk, would work well too. Some recipes call for whole eggs and some call for yolks. I prefer just the yolks for a richer and more stable sauce. Some recipes call for garlic cloves toasted with the pork and removed. I love that addition. And although not traditional, I like a little lemon juice and chile – which, to my palate, add brightness and balance. You can choose to omit them from my recipe if you like. I always have a jar of oil-pack Calabrian chillies or cherry-peppers in my fridge. Chile flakes are a great substitute. Though generally made with spaghetti, I love it made with thicker pasta such as linguine or bucatini. Thicker spaghetti with a hole right down the middle, like a straw, can be hard to source locally. I ordered from Amazon. I would avoid capellini (spaghettini or Angel hair) as it’s too delicate to hold the sauce. Several techniques are important to achieving perfect, creamy carbonara. Be sure to whisk the egg yolk and finely grated cheese together well in a little bowl, and add them off the heat to the frypan after you’ve added the pasta to the cooked pork. This will keep the egg from curdling. Set the water to boil before you do anything. The pasta will take longer to cook than the pork. Pasta water is key, so you’ll be pulling it out of the water with tongs, not draining into the sink. And I like to warm my bowl so my meal stays warm. 1-888-588-6353

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Pasta Carbonara for One 75-100 grams of spaghetti, linguine, bucatini or other long pasta. Bunched in your hand, it’s about the thickness of a quarter.

1 extra-large egg yolk, or 2 if your eggs are smaller

Salt for pasta water

1 tsp fresh lemon juice (optional)

1 ounce cubed guanciale, pancetta, prosciutto or bacon, about 1/4 cup

Plenty of freshly ground black pepper (8 or 10 cranks or a good 1/3 to 1/2 tsp)

1 minced oil-pack chile pepper, or a pinch of chile flakes

1/4 cup finely shredded Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese

A little extra cheese for garnish

1 large garlic clove, sliced into 3-4 slices or a couple of small ones, halved (optional)

A pinch of freshly chopped parsley, if you like, for garnish

Put hot tap water in your bowl to preheat and set aside. Set a pot of water big enough to boil the noodles on the highest heat. Salt very well. Pasta water should taste salty like the sea. Place a medium-sized nonstick frypan on a cold burner. Dice the cured pork and place it in the pan. Mince the chile or add the chile flakes. Add the sliced garlic. Don’t turn the pan on yet. In a small bowl, whisk the yolk(s) with the cheese. Add lemon juice if you like and plenty of fresh black pepper. Whisk until it gets a little pale and clumpy-thick looking, a minute or two. Chop the parsley and set aside. When the water boils, add the pasta and cook according to package directions, usually 8-12 minutes. Give the pasta a couple of minutes head start, then turn on the heat under the frypan to medium and allow the cured pork to render. Be careful to adjust the heat and stir everything so the garlic doesn’t burn and the pork doesn’t overcook. If

there’s a lot of fat in the pan, drain some out so there is about 1 tbsp left. Once the pork is cooked and fat drained, turn off the heat. Remove the garlic cloves if you like. I leave them in as I love the toasty pop of flavour. When the pasta is cooked, use tongs to transfer the pasta to the frypan. Add 2 tbsp of pasta water to the frypan and toss. Remove the frypan from the heat completely. If it’s still sizzling, wait a moment. Then, working quickly with a silicone spatula or wooden spoon, add the egg-cheese mixture to the noodles-pork-pasta water and stir/toss to coat. It will come together in a creamy, shiny sauce that clings to the noodles. If it is too thick, add a little more pasta water, being careful to stir immediately or allow it to cool a few seconds if hot so the egg yolks don’t cook. Dump the water from your bowl, wipe dry and transfer your carbonara to the bowl. Garnish with a sprinkle of cheese and parsley, if desired. Dig in with a satisfied smile. You just nailed a notoriously tricky dish.

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downhome recipes

Springtime Favourites Look out your window. Is it still cold? Wet? Snowy? If you’re like us, smack dab in the middle of the Atlantic, you’re likely still holding on to old man winter’s after-chill, even though spring has sprung, so to speak. While we’re waiting for the weather to turn, or if you’re lucky enough to experience the sun’s warmth, dive in to lighter lunches and decadent suppers fit for that awkward gap between the bivvering cold and unbearable heat.

Apple Parsnip Soup 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 4 cups parsnip, grated 2 cups onions, small dice 1/2 cup carrot, small dice 1/2 cup celery, small dice 2 tsp fresh, minced garlic

1 bay leaf 2 tsp fresh thyme, minced 3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and grated 3 L vegetable stock, hot 1/2 cup cream, hot (skim milk for reduced fat) Salt pepper

Sweat vegetables and garlic in oil over medium heat until the onion is translucent. Add bay leaf, thyme and apples; cook for 5 minutes. Add the hot stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Puree in a blender until perfectly smooth and add the hot cream. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serves 6-10.

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Salt Fish Cakes with Carrot Compote 1/4 cup vegetable oil or olive oil 1/2 cup butter 1 cup onion, small dice 1 tsp savoury 1 1/2 tsp pepper

2 cups salt fish, soaked overnight, drained, patted dry 1/4 cup flour 1 egg 4 cups mashed potatoes, cooled 1 cup flour

Compote 2 tbsp olive oil 2 cups grated carrots 1/2 cup minced shallots 2 tbsp garlic, minced

1 tsp ginger, grated 1/2 tsp chili flakes 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/3 cup water 1/2 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp salt

For the compote: Heat oil over medium-high heat. Sauté carrots and shallots until shallots start to become translucent. Add garlic, ginger and chili flakes; continue to sauté until shallots just start to turn golden. Add sugar and mix well. Turn heat to high and allow the pan to sizzle while the sugar begins to caramelize. Add vinegar and shake the pan to deglaze it. Add water, pepper and salt; simmer over medium heat until the mixture has a jam-like consistency (5-10 minutes). Set aside. For the cakes: Melt butter over medium-high heat in a frying pan and sauté onions until they just start to turn brown. Add savoury and pepper; stir and remove from heat. Add onions to a bowl with the fish and mix enough that the fish breaks up. Add flour and egg to mashed potatoes; mix well. Fold in the fish/onion mixture until thoroughly combined, but try not to break up the fish too much. Form the cakes and dredge them in flour. Fry cakes in oil over medium heat until they are heated through and golden brown on the outside. Serve with Carrot Compote. Yield: 12 cakes

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Lemon Chicken 4 chicken breasts 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Marinade 2 tsp dried oregano leaves 1/2 tsp celery salt 1 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp paprika 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp dried thyme leaves 1/2 tsp dried chili flakes 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 lemon, zested, juiced and then sliced

Whisk all the marinade ingredients in a bowl and pour three-quarters of it into a large Ziploc bag. Add chicken to the bag, squeeze out the air and seal. Reserve the remaining quarter of marinade. Allow chicken to marinate in the fridge for 1 1/2 hours. Heat the oil in a large, oven-safe frying pan (cast iron works well) and remove the chicken from the bag. Discard the used marinade. Once the pan is hot, sear the chicken on both sides, pour the reserved marinade over the top and place in the oven until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. This will take about 15-20 minutes. Serve immediately with your favourite starch and vegetables. Yield: 4 servings

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Turkey Burger 3 pounds ground turkey 1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs 1/4 cup finely diced onion 2 egg whites, lightly beaten

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Gather all ingredients. Mix ground turkey, seasoned bread crumbs, onion, egg whites, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Form into 12 patties. Cook the patties in a medium skillet over medium heat, turning once, to an internal temperature of 180° F (85° C). Garnish with your toppings of choice, serve hot and enjoy. Yield: 12 burgers

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Baked French Toast 1 (1 pound) loaf French bread, cut diagonally in 1 inch slices 8 large eggs 2 cups milk 1 1/2 cups half-and-half cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 cup butter 1 cups brown sugar 3 tablespoons light corn syrup

Butter a 9" x 13" baking dish; arrange slices of bread on the bottom. Beat eggs, milk, cream, vanilla, and cinnamon together in a large bowl. Pour over bread slices, cover, and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Meanwhile, combine butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup together in a small saucepan; heat until bubbling. Pour over bread and egg mixture. Bake in preheated oven, uncovered, for 40 minutes. Serve with berries and syrup. Serves 12.

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Strawberry Rhubarb Scones 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup cold butter, small dice 2/3 cup 1% - 2% milk 1 egg, beaten 1 cup rhubarb, medium dice 1 cup strawberries, large dice 2 tbsp 1% - 2% milk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Using a pastry blender or fork or your fingers, cut cold butter into the flour until consistency is coarse like small peas. In a small bowl beat together the milk and egg. Add it to the flour mixture and combine with a spoon or floured hands until you have a dough that comes together but is still crumbly and wet. Dump the dough out onto a generously floured surface and gently fold the fruit into the dough with your hands. Keep dusting hands and dough with flour as needed while you work. Flatten the dough into a circle about 8-10 inches around. Use a floured knife to cut dough into 6-8 wedges. Lay wedges on parchment-lined sheet a couple inches apart to make room for them to expand. Dip a pastry brush in milk and use it to brush the tops of the scones. Bake for 10 minutes, until tops are slightly golden. Yield: 6-8 scones

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down to earth

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Prunic Practices BY KIM THISTLE

Pruning trees and shrubs is more important than you think. It’s a bit like cleaning the house. You put it off and put it off and the next thing you know, it’s out of hand and you have a real mess to manage. Try to get in the habit of pruning once a year. Several types of trees and shrubs need pruning attention at varied times of the year, so don’t go whole hog and try to do it all at once. For deciduous trees and shrubs, spring is the best time to prune. You can do it anytime that the tree is dormant, but who wants to be outside in Newfoundland and Labrador in the dead of winter, freezing their pinkies off? Pick a sunny, warmish day in March or April when you are yearning to get out into the garden.

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Tools You Will Need Pruning shears Bypass pruners (pruners that have the two blades sliding past one another like scissors) are preferable to anvil pruners (One blade which closes onto a flat surface) as they give a clean cut that does not crush the branch. Loppers Larger bypass pruning shears with thicker blades and a long handle. They are great for extending your reach and for cutting thicker branches. Pruning saw These saws, unlike regular wood saws, cut on the forestroke and the backstroke (half the workload), and are designed for cutting green wood.

Pole pruners These replace your step ladder when you are pruning taller shrubs and trees. They will reach from 8' to 16' and have telescoping fibreglass poles for less weight (Wearing high heels doesn’t quite help here).

Tarp This will make it easier to gather up the refuse and dispose of it. Size up the tree or shrub in question. Your object here is to have a nicely shaped, healthy tree. A few things to look for are: Dead branches Remove all dead branches before starting pruning. Dead branches are easily cracked off whereas live branches bend. Sometimes it’s easier to just break off the dead growth but if it’s large, you will have to use shears or a saw.

Branches that are rubbing against one another When branches cross over and rub, they create a wound where the 108

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chafing occurs. Insects and diseases will enter through these lesions so eliminate the source before it becomes a problem. You may prune both branches or leave the strongest, best-shaped branch.

Branches that are growing inward, preventing good airflow. A well-shaped tree allows for good air circulation and light penetration. Branches that are growing inward, creating masses of dense, untidy 1-888-588-6353

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growth, will be esthetically unpleasing as well as provide a breeding ground for insects and disease. Stand back and look at the tree or shrub with a discerning eye. If it helps, tie fluorescent tape around branches that you feel are a problem and reevaluate. A good rule of thumb is to avoid cutting back more than one-third of the plant.

Size Matters Shrubs and trees can be cut back to manage size. However, it’s always best when purchasing to check out the size at full growth and buy the right size plant for the right space. If you are hoping to keep it under control with pruning, you have a high-maintenance plant that will cause you grief. If you are trying to manage size, you will need to learn about ‘heading cuts.’ These cuts remove the end of a shoot which over time will result in an excess of dense growth that will have to be thinned out. Yucky.

Insect Infestation Cracks in the bark are an indication that there may be overwintering eggs of an unwanted pest. These branches should be pruned out. If the problem is in the main trunk of the tree, use dormant oil. Keep an eye out for masses of eggs that overwinter on branches. These can often be removed by hand. Insects such as the Viburnum

Leaf Beetle lay eggs in the tips of the twigs. This beetle attacks Snowball trees, a favourite of Newfoundlanders. Prune off the tips of twigs in the spring before leafing out. Be sure to destroy the pruned branches. Leaving them around your garden will defeat the purpose and your efforts will be in vain. It behooves one to be vigilant and know what sorts of over-wintering insects may abound and know the signs to watch for. When pruning you are redirecting growth. Always look for a bud facing outward and prune back to that spot. This will form a new branch so if you choose an inward-facing bud, the branch will grow toward the center of the tree and create future problems. Cut all branches and twigs flush with the adjoining stem so the plant forms a callus that will seal the wound. There are a few exceptions to the early pruning rule. Heavy sap producers such as Maple and birch should be pruned in late spring or early summer. Early-blooming trees like magnolia and forsythia should be pruned immediately after flowering. If you choose to do it earlier, you risk losing your flower display for the year. Don’t wait long as early bloomers set their buds for the following year immediately after they flower. Don’t forget your hat and sunscreen. Those early spring rays are stronger than you think.

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

Got a question for Kim?

downtoearth@downhomelife.com www.downhomelife.com

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life is better Moored off in Dunfield, NL Bernice Goudie, St. John’s, NL

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reminiscing flashbacks

Flirty Thirties “My Aunt Elsie Dean Smith (left) and my Mom Mildred Dean Adams (right), taken in the mid 1930s,” writes the submitter. Gloria Young via DownhomeLife.com

Family Business “The O’Brien brothers at the flake drying cod in Cape Broyle, NL, 1927,” writes the submitter. “Left to right: Stephen, William, James, and Thomas.” Irene O’Brien Kentville, NS 112

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Keeping it Reel This photo from Glenwood, NL is dated 1919! Jennifer Rowsell via DownhomeLife.com

This Month in History Lady's Lookout is the highest point on Signal Hill in St. John’s, NL. One of the earliest structures on the hill – a blockhouse surmounted by a signal tower – was installed there in 1795. From the top of the narrow ridge, ships approaching the Narrows from any direction can be seen from miles away. When one appeared, the lookout stationed at Lady’s Lookout would run flags up the signal tower to alert the British garrison at Fort William – this is what gives the hill its name. The old blockhouse was destroyed by fire on April 20, 1894. Construction of the new Cabot Tower began in 1898 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's landing in Newfoundland, and Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. 1-888-588-6353

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reminiscing

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I spent many hours captivated by the ancestral history recorded in Mom’s collection of “snaps.” The photograph of a submarine fastened to the pier at St. John’s waterfront would cause my imagination to go into overdrive. Questions floated in my head. When and where was this taken? Who owned the submarine? Did we have relatives serving that this U-boat sank? Why did my Mom take this iconic photo? When confronted with these questions of my youthful mind, Mom’s response would always be: “That’s a German U-boat that was captured and brought into St. John’s near the end of the war.” With this simple explanation my curiosity would be satisfied, though I’d continue shuffling through intriguing snaps that compile our family history. After Mom’s passing in 2004 and my retirement in 2011, I began digitizing her collection. When I held the snap of the German Uboat, my curiosity peaked again. What was Mom doing in St. John’s during the war? Why were all the people gathered on the waterfront? Mom, Olive (Jacobs) Green, was the daughter of David and Alice Jacobs, born in the small fishing outport of Little Heart’s Ease, where the Salvation Army arrived in 1932. Mom was seven when she attended the Army Citadel on the Hill, where she would become a junior soldier. She received a certificate of merit from the Army in 1942. Shortly after, she went into service with the Salvation Army in St. John’s. After I retired to our parent’s home, my family visited, and 1-888-588-6353

the old photos would become a point of discussion. The conversation turned to various photos, including the submarine and others showing Mom’s life in the city. We would discuss Mom’s employment as a teenager “inservice” with the Salvation Army. The photo of the submarine, however, would continue to puzzle us. I had to seek out the answers. My curiosity had to be satisfied. Researching the Internet and posting on social media soon brought a maze of articles,

Olive (Jacobs) Green (left) with a fellow member of the Salvation Army April 2024

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The surrendered U-190 in St. John’s harbour in 1945 Dept. of National Defence Library and Archives Canada

newspaper clippings, and photos that helped solve the mystery of the “submarine snap.” The submarine, indeed German, was known as U190. I soon learned the intriguing history behind this U-boat. The U-190 had conducted several operational patrols and was responsible for sinking two Allied vessels. On March 8, 1943, U-190 raised its periscope about 500 miles off Cape Farewell, Greenland. It spotted an unescorted freighter that had strayed from its convoy en route from New York to Glasgow, Scotland. Under its master, Fredrick John Gudgin, the British cargo ship Empire Lakeland was now in the crosshairs of U-190. The submarine discharged its torpedoes, and within minutes the merchant vessel slipped below the surface, taking all 64 sailors to their watery graves. The submarine continued under the same commander and made other operational patrols, but was unsuccessful at sinking other ships. On February 22, 1945, under a new German commander, Oberleutnant Hans-Edwin Reith, U-190 left the 116

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submarine base in Norway on its sixth and final voyage. Its mission was to interrupt allied shipping off Sable Island and the approaches to Halifax harbour. On the morning of April 16, 1945, the minesweeper HMCS Esquimalt was conducting its daily routine patrol. The ship failed to follow naval procedures to evade enemy submarines. The naval inquiry would later determine that the ship failed to employ the zig-zagging pattern, it was not towing the Foxer-type decoy designed as a countermeasure to torpedoes, and the ship’s radar was turned off. That morning, the commander of U-190 was convinced that HMCS Esquimalt had detected the submarine. When the minesweeper turned around, U-190 fired a torpedo that struck the doomed ship. The HMCS Esquimalt went down, taking eight crew members to their deaths. The vessel also failed to radio a distress signal while waiting for a rescue vessel, resulting in 44 more crew dying of exposure. Only 26 were rescued by the HMCS Sarnia. 1-888-588-6353

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U-190 econtinued to evade detection, hunting for other vessels off the Canadian and Newfoundland coast until it received orders from the German command to surrender. Unlike my Mom’s explanation, this U-boat was not captured but surrendered to the Royal Canadian Navy off Cape Race on May 11, 1945, to the HMCS Victoriaville. She was then escorted to Bay Bulls, where the crew members were removed, sent to Halifax for interrogation and held as prisoners of war. The Royal Canadian Navy escorted U-190 from Bay Bulls to St. John’s harbour, where she remained at the waterfront until repairs were completed. The Canadian navy sailed the vessel to Halifax, where it served as a training vessel for a year and a half. On July 24, 1947, U-190 was taken to the exact location where HMCS Esquimalt was torpedoed two years earlier. The German submarine that caused terror by lurking beneath the waters along the eastern seaboard was fired upon by the Canadian Navy and sank into the sea. We’ll never know if Mom realized the significance of the snap that captured the image of U-190 and had the foresight to preserve the image in her family album. Mom returned to Little Heart’s Ease and married William Green in 1949. The family believes Mom was unaware that U190 was scuttled where the HMCS Esquimalt met its doom. Carefully, I placed the photo back into Mom’s album and was reminded that she had lived through troublesome times. She witnessed and photographed U-190, a German 1-888-588-6353

submarine feared by Canadians and Newfoundlanders during the war’s final months. The story captured and preserved in this image reminds us that every photo has a story. This one reminds us that schooners and other vessels that sailed the waters around Newfoundland and Labrador’s coast were in constant danger of U-boats lurking below the surface.

Visitors to the Crow’s Nest in St. John’s can take a look through U-190’s periscope. I recently visited the Crow’s Nest, where the periscope and other mementos taken from U-190 are permanently displayed. As I stood by the periscope, a vision of my Mom appeared in my mind. She was holding the snap and telling those who would listen her story of the submarine secured to the St. John’s waterfront wharf. Thanks Mom. This photo and the many others you preserved have become part of our family’s legacy. April 2024

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reminiscing

For over 35 years, Downhome Magazine has been at the heart of all things Newfoundland and Labrador. A comforting, familiar and constant presence in our province’s media climate, Downhome has been a name synonymous with ‘home’ for over three decades and counting. In this Month in Downhome History, we dive through our archives to give readers snippets of days gone by, highlighting major events, unique facts and the stories that matter to our readers. April 1989 Volume 1 • Number 10

Tom Rideout

Newfoundland’s Fourth Premier By Barry Stagg

Tom Rideout is Newfoundand’s fourth Premier. In a razor-close finish, Premier Rideout beat out his central Newfoundland neighbour, Len Simms, 403-377 in the third ballot. St. John’s candidates Hal Barrett and Neil Windsor were eliminated as was Loyola Hearn, the Education Minister. Premier Rideout was Fisheries Minister in the final Peckford government and represents the riding of Baie Verte-White Bay. His constituency borders that of Brian Peckford’s Green Bay both geographically and philosophically. The new premier crossed the floor of the Newfoundland House of Assembly from the

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Liberals in 1980. Rideout’s defection was based on the Liberal’s failure to back Peckford’s battle with Pierre Trudeau for Newfoundland ownership of offshore oil. How interesting it is to note that former Conservative Energy Minister Leo Barry crossed the floor to the Liberals to become the third Liberal leader to be thumped by Peckford in the 1985 election. Barry, who was widely regarded as the heir apparent to Peckford, now languishes on the Liberal backbenchers while newcomer Rideout is in the Premier’s chair. The new premier projected a pragmatic image after his victory and gave no signs of any radical

change in course for the Conservative government. He was obviously buoyed by his close victory, achieved without any serious political bloodletting. The choice for Newfoundlanders will be at the polls in the spring. In the standard situation for the province that Irish-like decision between a smothering mediocrity and a dangerous new world is there as plainly as it was in Brian Peckford’s three elections. Newfoundlanders once again are called on to reject the poetic wail of political criticism that W.B. Yeats planned for the world in the thirties: “The best lack of all conviction while the worst are full of passionate intensity.”

Halifax Situation unlike Gander for Cubans Allan Scott, acting general manager of Gander airport, says a decision on Cuban flights not being permitted to use the airport at Halifax had no bearing on the situation at Gander. These were meant to be charter flights taking Canadians from Halifax to Havana as tourists, but the national transportation agency, representing the Canadian government, denied rights at Halifax, fearing these could jeopardize security, according to the report. Scott said at Gander the Cubanna flights were on a regularly-scheduled basis, as opposed to being chartered. Cubanna Airlines is Gander’s second best customer, when it comes to traffic. Last month, for instance, there were 63 flights. The airline has no pickup rights at Gander for Canadians, but conveys passengers from Cuba and East Bloc countries. It has been operating at Gander for some years.

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April 1994 Volume 6 • Number 11

Miracle in Lady Cove “It must have been a miracle,” is the way Mrs. Elsie Pittman told it to the Clarenville Packet, as she related the story of how her and husband William survived an icy slide down an 150 foot embankment and ended up in the saltwater in their car. The Lower Lance Cove couple were on their way to Clarenville when it happened. While driving slowly on a twisting section of the highway near Lady Cove, Mr. Pittman lost control of his vehicle. It simply slid over the side of the highway and started to roll over and over down the side of a steep cliff and into the water. As luck should have it, there was a pan of ice around a few feet from the shore. The car landed smack in the middle of it, on all four wheels! And as luck should have it, except for Mr. Pittman breaking a finger, they were badly shaken up, but uninjured. After about 10 minutes they came to and the couple walked through the frigid waters to the shore. Mrs. Pittman said they were too shaken up to feel a thing. Their problems weren’t totally over yet, though. They were cold, wet, and dazed and found out that the slope was too icy for them to climb. Eventually, help did arrive and the freezing couple were rescued by ropes lowered down to them. Their car didn’t fare as well though, suffering considerable damage.

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Tell us,

when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the age Matthew 24:3

This question was put to Jesus a few days before his crucifixion. The following includes some of the answers to that question as given by Jesus.

1. Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and pestilences (plagues) and earthquakes in diverse places. Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, Luke 21:10-11 2. And this gospel (good news) of the kingdom shall be preached in all the word for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:14, Mark 13:10 3. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Luke 21:20 4. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved. Matthew 24:21-22, Mark 13:19, Luke 21:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 5. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light. Matthew 24:29-30, Mark 13:24, Luke 21:25-27 6. Behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of Heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Daniel: 7:13-14 7. And GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4, 1 Timothy 6:13-16 This page is sponsored by an anonymous reader

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Now more than ever a Downhome subscription is a great value. Not only do you save over $20 off the cover price, you receive: 1 Year (12 issues) OF DOWNHOME

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puzzles

The Beaten Path

Bernice Goudie photo

By Ron Young

Block out all the letters that are like other letters in every way, including shape and size. The letters that are left over, when unscrambled, will spell out the name of the above community.

O M K E S S T m J L R H T p H V U x Q A M K J E S S T S E S L C L H S P m T O R M S

R L Q

S p U U T H G S A R A T A J H m H V m Q J U K M x V E p T M V

Last Month’s Community: Rose Blanche 124

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Sudoku

from websudoku.com

Last month’s answers

Need Help

Puzzle answers can be found online at DownhomeLife.com/puzzles

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Lorraine Winsor photo

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Downhomer Detective Needs You After more than two decades on the Urban City Police Force, Downhomer Detective has come home to rid Newfoundland and Labrador of a new threat – cunning thief Ragged Rick. A real braggart, the slimy criminal sends DD a blurry photo of his surroundings plus clues to his whereabouts just to prove he’s always a step ahead. DD needs your help to identify where in Newfoundland and Labrador Ragged Rick is hiding out this month.

Use these 5 clues to identify where Ragged Rick is now: • Settled by fishermen in the 1800s • Winter logging was done in Blackhead Bay • It has the “Upper” hand on its neighbours • Current population <50 • Located between King’s Cove and Bonavista

Last Month’s Answer: Grey River

Picturesque Place NameS of Newfoundland and Labrador

by Mel D’Souza Last Month’s Answer: Black Tickle 126

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

Last Month’s Clue: It is a godsend in a costume In Other Words: It’s a blessing in disguise

This Month’s Clue: The bovine vaulted over the celestial sphere In Other Words: ___ ___ ______ ____ ___ ____

A Way With Words THEUPAIR

Rhyme Time A rhyming word game by Ron Young

1. An angry hooter is a ____ ___

Last Month’s Answer: Up in the air

This Month’s Clue

2. A rose’s strength is ______ _____

VISION VISION

3. Doubly pleasant is _____ as ____

Answer: ______ ______

Last Month’s Answers 1. cooks the books, 2. hit with a mitt, 3. sees trees

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.

’ G E A D E K A O E L E D A E H H E N M N O N R E H G N O N O P N O R U S T W H O T O Y R S T W I S

’ H O N E E R H A I E M P O R O H S M O N T T M O R S U T S T O W O S T R

Last month’s answer: A heart well prepared for adversity in bad times hopes, and in good times fears, for a change in fortune. www.downhomelife.com

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Rhymes 5 Times Each answer rhymes with the other four

1. strength

____________

2. rush

____________

3. excitement

____________

4. sound

____________

5. mollusk

____________

STUCK? Don’t get your knickers in a knot! Puzzle answers can be found online at DownhomeLife.com/puzzles

Last Month’s Answers: 1. laugh, 2. gaffe, 3. staff, 4. giraffe, 5. graph

Tangled Towns by Lolene Young Condon and Ron Young

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

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

1. SKGIN NOTIP

For best results sound the clue words out loud!

2. ARTGLINT ROBOK

Arrest Mike Ace _ ____ __ ____ Arrow Spud _ _______ Last Month’s 1st Clue: Abe Axe Heat Rye Fur. Answer: A back seat driver. Last Month’s 2nd Clue: Ache Hunt Trim Aisle. Answer: A country mile.

3. BASHEDICE 4. FEEFCO VOCE 5. GLAREDPINS Last Month’s Answers: 1. Hopeall, 2. Dildo, 3. Heart’s Content, 4. Hants Harbour, 5. Brownsdale

A nalogical A nagrams Unscramble the capitalized words to get one word that matches the subtle clue. 1. TUB ELF TRY ~ Clue: it had to crawl before it could fly 2. WEAK LIDS ~ Clue: its cracks could break your mother’s back 3. AHEM MODE ~ Clue: no factory in the world could make it 4. ROOK BOND ~ Clue: used properly, it will open doors for you 5. WILL MIND ~ Clue: it’s a breeze to operate Last Month’s Answers: 1. donation, 2. bedspread, 3. skyscraper, 4. handwriting, 5. lipstick 128

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Four-Way Crossword F o re Wo rd s • B a c k Wo rd s • U p Wo rd s • D o w n Wo rd s By Ron Young

Unlike regular crosswords, in Four-Way Crossword each letter is not necessarily related to the letter in the adjacent row or column, but is part of one or more words in some direction. 1-10: description 3-1: nourished 3-5: fish part 5-7: louse egg 5-35: require 9-29: lube 16-13: ring out 16-20: terrace 18-15: record 18-48: cut hair 22-25: tardy 32-2: hint 32-36: scold 32-72: nearby 33-3: fifty percent 33-36: pelt 33-63: possess 37-35: cot 37-7: spoiled child 37-57: tavern 39-37: chest bone 40-36: clan 40-70: knits 41-1: tied up 41-44: tattle 42-72: misplace 44-24: chomped 44-94: deceive 46-44: wheel centre 50-48: objective 51-60: air-driven boat 52-55: finished 55-25: impolite 56-16: inexpensive 57-7: bunny 57-60: barge 57-97: bird 59-57: distant 59-79: mist www.downhomelife.com

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62-82: sight 65-68: hal 70-10: outpost 71-74: behind 77-75: tender 77-79: sack 73-93: limb 74-94: beam 82-84: epoch 86-46: hag 86-83: don clothing 86-90: broader 91-1: toward the Arctic 91-51: magnetic pole 93-91: human 95-75: oxblood 96-46: jerk

96-94: attempt 100-60: bread end 100-96: enumerate 100-91: compatriot 100-94: nation Last Month’s Answer

MA R I ON E T T E A S A T I R E CA L S HAR P E N I HC T U B ARCO P E A E NA I L N T E RN RA I L ROAD E R ME T N E CCAN E I L E ARA T LOB N I S BO S AGOA D E T A C HME N T April 2024

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The Bayman’s

Crossword Puzzle 1

by Ron Young 3

9 10

17 18

24 26

29 33

37 40

35 39

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46 48

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47 49

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ACROSS 1. lie 3. Sound of surprise 5. kitten call 7. Coal Bin’s friend 9. satched 10. short for fabulous 11. “Overfishing or oversight? The ocean ___ __ _____” (3 words) 16. “___ to Newfoundland” 17. “He don’t know if he’s punched __ bored” 18. “___ _______ __ out to you” – condolence (3 words) 24. Society of ______ Fishermen 25. knock out (abbrev) 26. insecticide (abbrev) 28. sheep’s bleat 29. father of the same name 32. lottery 33. fisherman’s shed (colloq) 35. Dildo Island (abbrev) 36. Mountain ___ – dogberry 37. “_____ we strikes bottom inside the two sunkers” 40. in other words (abbrev) 42. stripping bark 44. repulsed 47. “Good day __ clothes” 48. mite 49. once more DOWN 1. “Well done, you boys ____ ___________” (2 words) 2. “You gotta __ ’appy” 4. buddy 6. “boats are tied up to the wharf, they ____ __ ___ ____ June” (4 words) www.downhomelife.com

8. peruse 11. reindeer 12. wind direction (colloq) 13. Curler Gushue to his family 14. reading, ’riting, ’rithmatic 15. British toilet 19. United Nations (abbrev) 20. Parent Teachers Association (abbrev) 21. “As far as ____ a puffin flew” 22. Marble Mountain equipment 23. “There’s more meat on ____ Friday” 27. Microsoft operating system (abbrev) 29. “Rock _____ Builds” – HGTV reality show based in Brigus 30. opposite of SW 31. “The wind in the ______’ would remind him of she” 34. beat out 38. birdie bed 39. La ____ – Columbus’s ship 41. ___ on – encourage foolishness 43. Newfoundland or Labrador 45. “Any mummers ’lowed __?” 46. Toogood Arm (abbrev) S

A D O Y E W I

E D

G O A J A

ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD

S S H O R E

C O O L K

R D

C B A

O F

E M P

O A T

E L

N F

A L

H O E W A R M

L A D D

L Y

C E

E L M T R E E E N D

H A Y M E

R A M L A T C H B Y

S K E T

P O L A

L D O

L O T

O D E

April 2024

N O

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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. ____ 9436

___ 843

________ 56625464 __ 48

’

____ 7278

_____ 26637

’

_ _ _ _ _ _. 267937

____ 3668

___ 427

_______ 6684464

__ 86

____ 8355

___ 639

___ 968

CRACK THE CODE n

Each symbol represents a letter of the alphabet, for instance =S Try to guess the smaller, more obvious words to come up with the letters for the longer ones. The code changes each month.

_ _ _’ _ QCX x _ _ _ _ _ S _ Z E bkO n E S _ _ _ _

n tBY E _ _

_ _ _

b3 ; _ _’S

Bx n

_ _ _ _ . CR E 3

_ _ _ _ _ S _ Z E bkO n E _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1kDD E X E Q

Last Month’s Answer: The way I see it, you should live every day like it’s your birthday. 132

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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.”

fellow = _ _ _

halt =

toting = _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _

_ _ _ _

_ _ _

b v c c yo m i

i wy

_ _ _ _

silly =

qwK]

underage = _ _ _ _ _

jumped = _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

oq qo Y]ny

_ _ _ _

wv V qKwn qKb oVw _ _ _ _

d cKY

_ _

KmV _

_ _

v _ _ _ _

_ _

v q o w ]vqq Vq

_ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _

_ _

Vt wb v woKm

_ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

nVv]V t

YomK c

_ _ _

dKKn oqv

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _

i VmV c v woK m _ _ _ _ _ _ _

v mKwvV c

Last Month’s Answer: Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life. It's what you do for others. www.downhomelife.com

April 2024

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Different Strokes

Our artist’s pen made the two seemingly identical pictures below different in 12 places. See if you can find all 12.

ERN AND COAL BIN IN FRANCOIS

Last Month’s Answers: 1. Kettle, 2. Man’s leg, 3. Button accordion, 4. Bottle label, 5. Chair backrest, 6. Lady, 7. Bottle, 8. Drapes, 9. Picture frame, 10. Hair, 11. Wrist (spoons), 12. Chair leg “Differences by the Dozen”- A compilation of Different Strokes from 2002 to 2014 (autographed by Mel) can be ordered by sending $9.95 (postage incl.; $13.98 for U.S. mailing) to Mel D’Souza, 212 Pine St., Collingwood, ON, L9Y 2P2

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HIDE & SEEK SPRING

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

BABIES BEGINNING BLOSSOM BREAK BUDS BULBS CHICKEN CROCUS DAFFODIL EASTER EGGS EQUINOX FLING FOAL

GARDENING ROBIN ROLL SEASON SEMESTER

Last Month’s Answers

SHOWERS TRAINING THAW TIDE TULIP

R A M H S A O G N I Q C Y X A J Y L I M A J Q X A Y C R X A E O L W N N N H P V E S T H O M G K C F E P L X G O I F S Q C W V I O H S E C P M G W A X P S D W E T I R N T H R F S C U T J I F I O N N U Q O T N E E E D F W V Z F J H K T K W K F Z Y V G Y H R E G R U B M A H X M R E T E I D K O B Z Y J O C A T G Y M I L K S H A K E M O N N U O O S A J Z A R P M G T B T S J E V F S V P M A E T S C F E S N Q I I T U C M U C T G S E P A T S G V R Z K O H O U F H D H N N N F U G G B B R B U K H L O U Q Q T T B U N H X M D G K H N U B W U K J E I S T Y I I X E M R Z Z U A X W R I R I K N C Z H Z U K C Q R Z D U O O X A E F Z W W G S Q Q T K S N P R N S R B V K C A U K N O O D L E S N E Z X O Z U F I S U P X L P H X I Z J Z J C R M R K U D D Q V M S M B S T I O F A O Q M O U K G P V H C U A C Z D H H W E R F P D D X J Y D J R P K S H N J H O L G Y D T K T I B K T N B H F C V I P F C U C W H I N U

P M F N C S D D N F U D M V L Q J Z Z V Q U I V I X W Y J C N S P A J O T F K S E L J O C W I E H B Z J S Z L C P F B F F A V L E R Z G V V N Q W U M G G J Z Z R T O H Y F E L B I S E I B A B U X B H X T R I T S G O N C E O W M Q N A W N Y B C D K N C X B T E V W O F M B U D S Q Q G R O P U A P X E O S U X S Q S O D C X W G I G E V O X H M R C E L N L L O R A A Q P F E F Q I L D G B X B S R L Y L M H B V E B M P S G G E K J F I O I M P E K O A J O E S S L D C E Q U I N O X W T G N I N I A R T F S O U M B R E T S A E X Z E B M L L I R C Q O K G S E T B O R E X I Y S A Q Q R N U V W E H C F Q F O Y M C R A M R S Q N V G T E T Y A K X I G H Z D L S U E F K V L V N S O E R A O H W Q M C P W F B B S L A S N Q V A B Q P D J K T H P I C K I X T P E O N W O T T Q Q C I B E G I N N I N G E J Z Z T T Z U K N U E U Q J T U N T W G J S B P N O J Z T W G N I N E D R A G B W Z O H V T V M Z W E Y J P www.downhomelife.com

April 2024

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Colourful Culture

The drawing on the opposite page

is the work of Newfoundland Mi’kmaq artist Marcus Gosse, a member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band. His grandmother, Alice Maude Gosse (nee Benoit) is a Mi’kmaq Elder from Red Brook (Welbooktoojech) on the Port au Port Peninsula. Marcus’ work has been exhibited in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax; The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery in St. John’s, NL; and the Canada 150 Art Show at the Macaya Gallery in Miami, FL; and his work is in private collections around the world. He has generously offered a series of colouring pages that run monthly in Downhome. Each image depicts a NL nature scene and teaches us a little about Mi’kmaq culture and language. Each colouring page includes the Mi’kmaq word for the subject, the phonetic pronunciation of the word, and the English translation. And you’ll notice a design that Marcus incorporates into most of his pieces – the eight-point Mi’kmaq Star. This symbol dates back hundreds of years and is very important in Mi’kmaq culture. Marcus’ Mi’kmaq Stars are often seen painted with four colours: red, black, white and yellow, which together represent unity and harmony between all peoples. Many Mi’kmaq artists use the star, and various Mi’kmaq double curve designs, to decorate their blankets, baskets, drums, clothing and paintings. To download and print this colouring page at home, visit DownhomeLife.com. To learn more about Marcus and find more of his colouring pages, look him up on Facebook at “Mi’kmaq Art by Marcus Gosse.” 136

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www.downhomelife.com

April 2024

137

Not intended to solicit properties currently under contract

LAND

2404Mktplace_0609 Marketplace.qxd 2/22/24 1:10 PM Page 138

CAMPBELL’S CREEK • NL %$#"! $% $# $ %! $

10 acres. Wooded: 7 acres. Road frontage: 3 acres. Contact: (902) 895-4919 or campbellemmag@gmail.com

GEORGE’S BROOK-MILTON

Book your ad in Marketplace 709-726-5113 • 1-888-588-6353 advertising@downhomelife.com

Executive style home on approximately 2 acres of land in a secluded area with panoramic scenic views. Call 709-466-1524 or 709-766-1853 marionstanley@nf.sympatico.ca

Movers & Shippers Ontario to Newfoundland and All Points in Between

Covering all Eastern & Western Provinces and Returning Based from Toronto, Ontario Discount Prices Out of NL, NS & NB Newfoundland Owned & Operated

A Family Moving Families Professionally and economically Coast to Coast in Canada Fully Insured Newfoundland Owned & Operated

Return Loads from NL, NS, NB, QC, ON at a Discounted Price

Contact: Gary or Sharon King

905-424-1735

Toll Free: 1-866-586-2341 www.downhomemovers.com 138

April 2024

A&K Moving

arent58@hotmail.com www.ar-moving.ca

35 Years in the Moving Industry All Vehicles Transported

416-247-0639 aandkmoving@gmail.com 1-888-588-6353

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GREAT GIFT IDEAS!

Puffin Cookie Cutter

#49565 | $10.99

Lighthouse Cookie Cutter

#49560 | $10.99

Kitchen Favourites Anchor Cookie Cutter #56911 | $10.99

Lobster Cookie Cutter #49561 | $10.99

Chocolate Moose Cookie Cutter #52241 | $10.99

Labrador Flags 24" x 36" #39217 | $17.99 36" x 60" #39218 | $19.99

Labrador Flag on Stick: 12" x 18" #39216 | $4.99

Labrador Tea - Loose 10 g

#79376 | $9.99

ORDER ONLINE: www.shopdownhome.com

Prices subject to change without notice. Prices listed do not include taxes and shipping. While quantities last.

2404_Mailorder_Mail order.qxd 2/22/24 1:48 PM Page 141

MORE SELECTION ONLINE www.shopdownhome.com

Any Mummers ’lowd In Tea Towel

Puffin Tea Towel

Lobster Tea Towel

#65131 | $7.99

#48613 | $7.99

Kitchen Sayings Tea Towel

Anchor Tea Towel

Downhome Vegetable Bag

#77316 | $7.99

#65130 | $7.99

#65085 | $7.99

Downhome Fish ‘N’ Brewis Net

Downhome Pease Pudding Bag

#35876 | $3.29

#35871 | $2.99

TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353

#60592 | $5.80

Downhome XLarge Pease Pudding Bag #75944 | $3.79

Prices subject to change without notice. Prices listed do not include taxes and shipping. While quantities last.

2404_Mailorder_Mail order.qxd 2/22/24 1:48 PM Page 142

GREAT GIFT IDEAS!

NL Recipes - Recipes From the Kitchens of NL

Our Best Seafood Recipes - From contributors

Our Best Berry Recipes

#2495 | $4.95

to Downhome magazine

- From contributors to Downhome magazine

#58362 | $10.99

#55888 | $10.99

Cooking Up a Scoff

Fatback & Molasses

- Traditional Recipes of NL

- Ivan Jesperson

The Treasury of NL Dishes - Jill Whitaker

#79297 | $14.95

#2313 | $9.95

#38322 | $19.95

Rock Recipes: The best

Rock Recipes 2: More Great

Food from My NL Kitchen Barry C. Parsons

Food and Photos From My NL Kitchen - Barry C. Parsons

Rock Recipes Christmas Edition - Barry C. Parsons

#53803 | $26.95

#56832 | $26.95

#60474 | $22.95

ORDER ONLINE: www.shopdownhome.com

Prices subject to change without notice. Prices listed do not include taxes and shipping. While quantities last.

2404_Mailorder_Mail order.qxd 2/22/24 1:49 PM Page 143

MORE SELECTION ONLINE www.shopdownhome.com

Doyle’s 2024 Almanac of Newfoundland and Labrador

Word Search of Newfoundland and Labrador: Volume Three

Revitalizing PLACE through Social Enterprise

Too Young To Die:

Rhymes From The Rock

Capelin Weather

#87784 | $16.95

Searching for the Boys of Change Islands - Hector M. Earle

#87312 | $21.95

Newfoundland and Labrador Lullaby - Riemann, McCarron and Steuerwald

#49135 | $14.95

#87747 | $16.95

- Hicks & Carbage

#58304 | $9.95

Where Are You, Puffling: A Bird Island Adventure - Erika McGanne

#77685 | $9.99

TO ORDER CALL: 1-888-588-6353

#87718 | $29.95

- Lori Doody

#80033 | $11.95

The Ewe Who Knew Who Knit You - Cara Kansala #83698 | $19.95

Prices subject to change without notice. Prices listed do not include taxes and shipping. While quantities last.

2404_photo Finish_0609 Photo Finish 2/21/24 2:57 PM Page 144

photo finish

On the

Rocks

A taste of Screech on the beach in Bellburns, NL. Ann-Marie Johnson via DownhomeLife.com

Do you have an amazing or funny photo to share? Turn to page 9 to find out how to submit. 144

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