Vol 38 • No 08
$4.99
January 2026
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Smallwood & I
Climbing Kilimanjaro The Greenspond Letter
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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 Art and Production Art Director Vince Marsh Illustrator Mel D’Souza Illustrator Snowden Walters Advertising Sales Account Manager Ashley O’Keefe Marketing Director Tiffany Brett Finance and Administration Accountant Marlena Grant Accountant Sandra Gosse Operations Manager, Twillingate Nicole Mehaney
Warehouse Operations Warehouse Operator Josephine Collins Retail Operations Retail Manager, St. John’s Jackie Rice Retail Floor Manager, Water Steet Crystal Rose Retail Floor Manager, Avalon Mall Jonathon Organ Retail Floor Manager, Twillingate Donna Keefe Retail Sales Associates Kim Tucker, Destinee Rogers, Emily Snelgrove, Alexandria Skinner, Colleen Giovannini, Emma Luscombe, Rebecca Pevie, Morgan Powless, Adriana Hann, Keith Lamkin, Martina Rogers, Hayley Warren, Annie Woelfel, Shannon Jones
Subscriptions Customer Service Associate Jennifer Kane Customer Service Associate Jacinta Squires Founding Editor Ron Young Chief Executive Officer/Publisher Grant Young 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, NB, PE $49.44; NS $49.01; 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
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48 chill out
Contents
JANUARY 2026
20 Why is That? What’s the origin of the saying ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’? Linda Browne
38 Submission of the Year Meet the finalists and prepare to vote!
48 Signal Chill Embracing the cold with Brent Beshara Nicola Ryan
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82 East Coast Keto Keto recipes from Bobbi and Geoff Pike Dillon Collins
keto life
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Contents
JANUARY 2026
homefront 8 Between the Lines A note from the Editor
10 Letters From Our Readers The Seagoing Banker, Lidstone Medals and Uncle Alfie
16 en españa
16 Downhome Tours Spain 18 Then & There Downhome catches readers up on major recent news, notes, events, anniversaries and acknowledgements across NL and beyond.
22 Life’s Funny Cheshire Dog Ed Power
23 Say What? A contest that puts words in someone else’s mouth
22 smile!
24 Lil Charmers Lil Readers 26 Pets of the Month Winter Wanderers
28 Book Nook Downhome dives into the latest and greatest in Newfoundland literature
30 Fresh Tracks The Best of 2025 Wendy Rose
34 Adventures Outdoors Moose ‘homework’ pays off Gord Follett
34 prep work
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Contents
JANUARY 2026
66 in tribute
features 54 Training a Healthier Mind Saving Lives through Mindfulness Anna Dwyer
60 Love Letter to Greenspond A chat with Linda White, founder of The Greenspond Letter Dennis Flynn
60 chronicle of a town
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66 A Journey of Hope A son’s tribute to his mother Pam Pardy
72 A Trip with Dad Carolyn Walsh
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Contents
JANUARY 2026
98 crafting mischief
home and cabin 76 Stuff We Love To Your Health! Nicola Ryan 78 Ask Marie Anything Interior designer Marie Bishop takes your questions.
reminiscing 92 Flashbacks Classic photos of people and places. 93 This Month in History New Year’s babies
94 This Month in Downhome History 98 Visions and Vignettes Adventures of two young scallywags in an imaginary outport in days gone by. Harold N. Walters
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102 joey love
102 Smallwood & I Smitten with the little man with the big voice Nellie P. Strowbridge
106 Bruiser Lloyd Mushrow 112 Puzzles 124 Colouring Page 126 Classifieds About the cover It’s a new year in Newfoundland and Labrador, and what better time to evaluate your mind and body? Embracing the cold – much like the cover photo of fishing stages surrounded by ice, submitted by Christopher Street – Downhome takes the plunge to experience the benefits of cold water exposure. Plus, eating well with East Coast Keto, a journey in mindfulness and a test of the expression “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Cover Index Eat Well with East Coast Keto • 82 Signal Chill • 48 Smallwood & I • 102 Climbing KIlimanjaro • 66 The Greenspond Letter • 60 www.downhomelife.com
128 Mail Order 132 The Labrador Current The Beautiful Game Nathan Freake 134 What Odds Paul Warford’s take on history’s least subtle art heist
136 Ties to Home Handmade with Love Dianna Brown
140 From Our Readers Where Neighbours Are Family Terry (Ted) Young
142 Valuing Wellness and Freedoms Lloyd Bonnell 144 Photo Finish January 2026
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between the lines Famed American poet T.S. Eliot once wrote, “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.” I don’t have much to add to this seminal piece of poetry other than to use it to reinforce the timely idea that change and the dawn of a new year are intrinsically linked. When we think of what’s behind us and what’s ahead, we often fall on resolutions, bucket lists, goal charts or any other mode or metric for documenting how, why and when we will do, or undo, a particular facet of our lives. We so often see it at the start of the new year. Waves of wannabe gym rats take over fitness centres, inclined to shed winter weight and become the me I was destined to be. We see the pursuit of new aspirations, hobbies or dreams that have been stuffed down in favour of practicality for practicality’s sake. Learn an instrument, travel the world or Marie Kondo your condo! Why not?! To that end, with the pursuit of improvement in mind, this installment of Downhome, unofficially titled ‘The Health Issue,’ takes stock of the physical and emotional changes our bodies go through year in and year out. We dive into a cold and brave new world with Brent Beshara to learn more about cold water exposure and uncover the benefits of the Ketonic lifestyle with East Coast Keto. We take a poignant journey into the power of mindfulness, and unpack the ol’ expression “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Does it? Turn to “Why Is That” to find out! We even ascend great heights with one man, who put life and limb on the line in honour of a cherished loved one. Have a wonderful New Year, readers. We hope it’s happy, hopeful, and, as always, in good health.
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 Linda Miles of Corner Brook, NL who found Corky on page 63 of the November issue!
*No Phone Calls Please. One entry per person
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The Seagoing Banker
I have been a subscriber to Downhome for many years. I see many people share their experiences. Well, here is my story: During the 1960s, I was employed by the Bank of Nova Scotia in Newfoundland. Someone in the upper echelon of the bank thought it would be good for business to convert one of the cabins on the coastal boats around the south and northeast of Newfoundland into a small banking office. One other young man and I were chosen as staff for these so-called banks. My first trip was on the coastal boat Bonavista from Grand Bank to Port aux Basques and back, stopping at several ports along the way. Very little banking was done, but I got to see lots of NL outports. There was one incident, I don’t remember where this was, when the Bonavista collided with another ship that was anchored in the harbour, resulting in a smashed lifeboat on the Bonavista. Before this incident, a man brought on board a bottle of home-brewed alcohol, which he gave to the crew to share. This was probably the reason for the collision, as it happened in daylight. My second trip was on the Northern Ranger from St. John’s to Battle Harbour, Labrador, and back. Like on the previous trip, very little banking business was transacted. On board, there was a woman from Ontario travelling as a tourist. 10
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It seemed that this woman and the Chief Engineer struck up a romantic relationship on the trip. He seemed to spend a lot of time in her cabin. Well, there you have my recollections of my observations as a seagoing banker. James Thoms Thorold, ON
Thanks so much for sharing your insights and experiences, James! We’re always interested in hearing the adventures of our readers, past or present. Send us yours at editorial @downhomelife.com or online at downhomelife.com
A Piece of NL Dear Downhome, I must again, from the bottom of my Newfie heart, say how sweet it is to get a piece of NL in the mail. I am, of
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course, referring to the Downhome. The puzzles and the stories keep me spellbound, not to leave out Dillon Collins – what great reading from “Between the Lines.” How precious his remarks are. Sorry to read about the former Premier Frank Moores, also author Earl Pilgrim, who has died, leaving a great legacy. Then what could I say about Gordon Pinsent? A great comedian – I loved it when he was on The Red Green Show. Great stories, puzzles, great Newfoundlanders. God bless you all, Veronica Lunn Grande Prairie, AB
Thank you kindly for reaching out, Veronica. We always appreciate your kind words for Downhome and the entire province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Re: “Medals of Mystery” (Lidstone Medals) Dear Editorial Staff, I was thumbing through some old issues of Downhome (June 2014) when I happened upon the article on a couple of World War I medals that were awarded to Ernest Lidstone of Lawrencetown, NDB. I was wondering if the issue was ever resolved? I only skimmed the older editions. My reason for asking is that I recently started some family tree work on my wife’s family in NDB and came across a cousin who married a Lidstone of Brown’s Arm ... Love your magazine. Keep it going! Cheers, Tim Walker Grand Falls-Windsor Harry LeDrew of Lewisporte wrote that Ernest returned from the War and went to work at Bowaters in Corner Brook, before moving to St. John’s in 1958. Margaret Chaffey wrote, explaining that Ernest’s father was William Lidstone, and mother was Mary Ann Cox. He had three brothers and one sister. He apparently has some descendants in Hughes’ Brook and Lark Harbour. The British War Medal and Victory Medal were awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial Forces who had rendered service between Aug. 1914-Nov. 1918, though we’re unsure if they were ever returned to anyone in Lidstone’s family. Hope this helps!
Uncle Alfie I received my “Inside Labrador” with the April 2025 Downhome Magazine and was delighted to see Alfred Spearing. I visited Mary’s Harbour in July 2021 while waiting for transportation to Battle Harbour. While walking around, I too came across Alfie. His glasses were so distinctive, I asked if I could take his photo, because my reflection was so clear. He agreed, and this is the photo from that day. Karen Simon Mary’s Harbour
Thanks for sharing, Karen. Uncle Alfie, as he’s known, has become a fan favourite for Downhome readers. 12
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My Father’s Time in the San Note: The following letter is in response to the article “My Stay in the San,” published in Downhome’s January 2016 issue: I am writing in response to a letter that was published in the January 2016 edition pertaining to the story of Roger Judge and his stay in the San. It brought back many memories for me as my father was in the San around the same time. The picture in the bed was one like I have of my father. My mother has now passed away, and I have no one to get any information from. My father’s name was Thomas Moores, from Small Point, Conception Bay North. I am now 71 years old, and I don’t know how my father contracted the TB. But when I was eight years old and my brother was three, I knew my father went in the San and he was there for five years and also lost a lung. He didn’t come home during that time, and we had many lonely times without him, especially at Christmastime and in the summer when our family members would come home to visit. I can remember we went into the Department of Health on Harvey Road to have our regular X-ray to see if we had contracted the disease. We used to go by taxi, but we always got a good bill of health. I know it must have been some worry for my mother and other family members. My grandmother used to say that if our mother didn’t look after us good, we probably would have come down with the disease. I can remember walking outside the San grounds. I often thought about how hard it must have been for my fawww.downhomelife.com
ther, being so sick and away from his family. My grandfather from Trinity Bay used to come over and stay with my mother for company. I remember when my father went in the San, he got a man to bring a beagle dog home to us so he could be company for my brother, and we had him for 15 years.
I can remember my father making those wallets and lacing them around with certain designs on them. They lasted a long time. And I can also remember my father making baskets out of foam strips. I know he had to be tormented. He was home for five years before he could go to work doing light duties. I remember he used to have sputum cans, and after he used them, he had to send them in to get tested. We used to have our own dishes, face pan, towel and face cloth. My two uncles, his brothers, got TB, but they weren’t in the San for very long. And an aunt, but I can’t remember much about her. My father was a wonderful man and January 2026
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