Downhome January 2026

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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76 healthy awakenings 1-888-588-6353

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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

www.downhomelife.com

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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.

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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.

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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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never ever complained. He passed away in 1967 at the age of 52, leaving my mother, at the age of 45, a widow.

When she applied for a widow’s allowance, they said she was too young and had to go to work.

She took a stroke at age 84 and was paralyzed and tube-fed for four years in a nursing home until four years ago when she passed.

I’m sure it was a very hard time for a lot of people, especially those with young children and wives left at home.

Some mothers had to go in there as well and leave their children at home to be cared for by someone else.

After my father came home, he used to get a Christmas card from Melvin Mansfield, New Melbourne, Trinity Bay. I often said I should send in some pictures to see if anybody recognized anyone.

Thank You, Ida Crummey Western Bay

Thank you for sharing, Ida. Many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians no doubt share similar memories to yours. We’re always happy to share your recollections with our readers.

Decked in the Face James Martin Griffin inherited Griffin’s Garden, along the Battery road, in Cherry Orchard, Carbonear, after his father, Martin Griffin, died in 1907. Jim, as he was called, lived in Cherry Orchard until 1939 when he moved his family to Brown’s Garden on Irishtown Road. During his tenure in Cherry Orchard and even after he had moved, Jim had kept a garden and grown and cut his own hay.

One day, while out cutting the hay, Jim heard a man behind him call out his name. “Jim!” He turned around and called back, only to discover that no one was there. He continued on with his work until the same voice from behind called out his name a second time. Jim turned around again and called back to see that there was no one there to have called out to him. He continued on working away until a third time the voice called out to him. Jim quickly turned around, only to be met with a blow to the face. Jim was knocked unconscious and awoke later with his face blackened all on one side. His face was hurt so badly that he was bound to his bed for a considerable amount of time. Unfortunately, Jim never saw, nor found out who or what it was that had assaulted him.

Despite never catching the culprit, Jim and those he told always believed that those pesky fairies were the ones responsible.

Anthony Griffin Carbonear

Jim Griffin

Darn fairies! For years, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have been plagued by these nuisance-causing sprites. Anyone with their own stories of such encounters is welcome to share them with editorial@downhomelife.com for proper documentation.

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Friends in Small Point

Old Friends I am submitting for your interest a picture of four Newfoundland friends, each of whom turned 88 this year and who are still friends throughout the years, seeing each other regularly. All Newfoundlanders who attended the old Bishop Spencer College in St. John's, where they met in 1949. Joan Crocker, Ottawa; Georgina Jones, Ottawa; Elizabeth Reynolds, St. John's; Jean MacKinnon, Ottawa.

All St. John's women who look forward to your magazine every month!

Hi, I think I have identified two of the people in the photo on page 105, titled “Friends in Small Point,” from the May 2025 issue. My maternal grandparents were Willis and Edith Flight. I believe that my mother, Erma (Dot) Flight Pottle, is the third from the left in the back row, and my aunt (Dot's sister), Mary Flight Reynolds, is on the far left, in the back, holding the child. That picture would have been taken between 1936-1940, I would guess. I would love more information on the photo, its submitter, and if anyone else has been identified.

Thanks, Cindy Barlow Kingston, NH

Georgina Jones Smith Falls, ON

Thank you so much for sharing, Georgina. We appreciate you ladies more than you realize!

Anyone with any extra information for Cindy is welcome to let us know through social media, downhomelife.com or directly at editorial@downhomelife.com.

Dear readers,

Would you like to comment on something you’ve read in Downhome?

Do you have a question for the editors or for other readers? Submit your letter to the editor at DownhomeLife.com or write to us at 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3. www.downhomelife.com

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homefront Downhome tours...

Spain

Casa Batlló Daphne (Green) Choquette poses by the Casa Batlló, masterpiece of Antoni Gaudi, in downtown Barcelona.

In Barcelona, one of the biggest celebrations of the year is Three Kings Day (El Día de los Reyes). On the evening of January 5th, the Cavalcada de Reis parade marks the arrival of the Three Wise Men (did you know their names were Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar?) who arrive by boat and are welcomed by the mayor.

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Monumento a Colón Craig Walsh made a stop at the 60-metre-tall monument built to honor Christopher Columbus and his first voyage to the Americas.

Three Kings Day festivities continue into January 6th, when families exchange gifts and share the traditional Roscón de Reyes – a ring-shaped cake decorated with candied fruits to resemble jewels on a crown, filled with whipped cream or custard.

Balcony of Europe What a view! Angela Gill of Deer Lake, NL, submitted this photo from the famous Balcony of Europe viewpoint in Nerja, Málaga.

Spain celebrates Saint Anthony’s Day (Día de San Antón) on January 17th, especially in towns across southern Andalusia. Centuries-old traditions honor Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals. People bless their pets, livestock, and farm animals in church ceremonies, and there are bonfires and parades where animals are included. www.downhomelife.com

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homefront

Then&There

Downhome catches readers up on major recent news, notes, events, anniversaries and acknowledgements across Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond.

MusicNL Award Winners

The 2025 MusicNL Awards have come and gone, honouring the best in the province’s music industry. Kelly McMichael was among the big winners this past November, taking home two awards including Album of the Year. Other notable winners included Mallory Johnson, Justin Fancy, Smoke Signals, Quote the Raven and Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts. Dave Panting was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while June Hiscock received the Denis Park Industry Builder Award and Paul “Boomer” Stamp was honoured with the Unsung Hero Award.

Kelly McMichael

CNA Launches NL Chapter

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) has announced the launch of their first-ever chapter in Newfoundland and Labrador. The new structure is designed to “strengthen the voice of nurses in the province, enhance their collective influence on health policy, and foster greater engagement across the country.”

Election results for the first executive committee will be announced in early 2026.

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The Rooms.ca

BMO Supports The Rooms BMO has presented local institution The Rooms with a large donation of $500,000 over the next five years, in support of the ‘BMO Edukits.’ These kits, which were developed in 2007 and 2009 (with content for the third kit being developed in 2016), aim to “amplify stories that reflect all who call Newfoundland and Labrador home.” The kits include interactive materials, lesson plans and activity sheets which aim to meet curriculum goals, outcomes and learning objectives targeted for grades outlined by NLSchools.

One Night with Mary Legendary Newfoundland actress and comedian Mary Walsh has released her first-ever comedy album.

Fittingly titled A One Night Stand with Mary Walsh, the project serves up Walsh’s razor wit, with personal and political yarns from one of this province’s most endearing storytellers. The album, which was recorded live at the Holy Heart Theatre in St. John’s, is now available on all major streaming services. www.downhomelife.com

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Expert answers to common life questions.

By Linda Browne

What’s the origin of the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and is that sound medical advice?

It’s a brand new year, and like many folks, you’re probably looking to indulge a bit less and incorporate healthy habits (and snacks) into your daily routine. When it comes to healthy snacks, you can’t go wrong with a juicy, crunchy, shiny apple (and whether it’s red or green, it matches your holiday decor, too – bonus!). After all, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But does following this advice really save you from a trip to the Health Sciences?

As it turns out, researchers have examined whether or not there’s any medical muscle behind this piece of folk wisdom, sharing their findings in a 2015 paper titled “Association Between Apple Consumption and Physician Visits,” published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

They also put the saying under the microscope, noting it originated in Wales. It first appeared in a publication in 1866 in a different form (“Eat an apple on going to bed and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread”), before appearing in its current form around 1913.

“Medical practice in the 19th and 20th centuries was crude, and the public sensibly sought to keep physicians (and other health practitioners) 20

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away — a sentiment that may not be out of place in the 21st century.

Through the ages, the apple has come to symbolize health and healthy habits, and has been used by government and private health organizations to symbolize lifestyle choices that lead to health and wellness,” the authors state.

But do they really help keep the doctor away? The 2015 study consisted of 8,399 participants in the U.S., who completed a 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire (reporting that the quantity of food they ate was reflective of their usual daily diet). They were grouped into two categories: “appleeaters” (those who reported eating at least the equivalent of one small apple daily, or 149 g of raw apple) and “non– 1-888-588-6353

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apple-eaters” (those who did not).

In the study, “keeping the doctor away” was defined as “no more than one visit to a physician during the past year; secondary outcomes included successful avoidance of other health care services (i.e., no overnight hospital stays, visits to a mental health professional, or prescription medications).”

Of the eligible study participants, researchers identified 753 adult apple eaters (9.0 per cent) and 7,646 non– apple eaters (91.0 per cent), noting that apple eaters “had higher educational attainment, were more likely to be from a racial or ethnic minority, and were less likely to smoke.”

In the crude analysis, they found that those who consumed apples were more successful at keeping the doctor and prescription medications away, with 39.0 per cent of apple eaters avoiding physician visits versus 33.9 per cent of those who weren’t fans of the fruit.

However, they add, “after adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics, the association was no longer statistically significant.” And while those who ate apples were slightly successful at avoiding prescription meds, “there were no differences seen in overnight hospital stays or mental health visits.” The researchers do point out that there could be other difference

between those who eat apples regularly and those who don’t, noting “Specifically, individuals who eat apples may be more health conscious and otherwise healthier, which could entirely explain the associations we observed.”

To sum it up, while eating an apple a day isn’t a cure-all for every ailment, or a sure-fire way to avoid the doctor, adding them to your diet, if you don’t already enjoy their crunch and munch, certainly can’t hurt.

After all, they’re filled with fibre, vitamins, minerals and flavonoids like quercetin, “a group of molecular compounds thought to be beneficial in the prevention of cancer and other health conditions,” the researchers note.

“Our findings suggest that the promotion of apple consumption may have limited benefit in reducing national health care spending,” they conclude.

“In the age of evidence-based assertions, however, there may be merit to saying, ‘An apple a day keeps the pharmacist away.’”

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

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

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homefront life’s funny

The Cheshire Dog An elderly couple, friends of mine, travelled to Alberta to spend the winter with their daughter and her family. The daughter’s mother forgot to remove her false teeth when she retired for the night with her husband. Not wanting to get out of bed again, she decided to take them out, wrap them in a tissue and place them under the pillow. The next morning, she got up and went to the washroom only to discover that she had forgotten to retrieve them. She went back to the bedroom and, to her dismay, found that her grandson’s dog had chewed them to pieces. She wasn’t too happy, especially as her husband started to laugh while the dog looked at her with a strange smile on his face!

Ed Power via downhomelife.com

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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“It’s ok guys, they’re L dogs” not REA sa Benett – Meli

Say WHAT? Downhome recently posted this photo (submitted by Deanne Hussey) on our website and social media platforms and asked folks to imagine what this dog might be saying. Melisa Bennett’s response made us chuckle the most, so we’re awarding her 20 Downhome Dollars!

Here are the runners-up: It’s about to get ‘dog eat dog’ around here. - Patsy Chaffey Humby It’s a three-dog night! - Janet Locke When she said three hot dogs, I thought she meant us! - Clara Sharpe

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

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homefront lil charmers

Stack of Stories This little guy loves to read at Nana and Grandpa’s house.

Karl Noseworthy Round Lake, ON

Lil’ Readers Topsy-Tales Kaci’s seeing stories differently!

Tanya Barter Picadilly, NL

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Baby Bookworm 15-month-old Grace take a peek at the pages.

Heidi Gushue-Noonan Hanover, ON

Book Buddies Big Sis teaches Brudder about his Newfoundland roots.

Krista Higgins via Downhomelife.com

www.downhomelife.com

January 2026

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homefront pets of the month

Frosty Fashionista Harper protects her peepers with stylish snow goggles.

Lori Snow Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL

Winter Wanderers

Polar Pup Cooper’s the coolest dog around.

Dwayne White Stephenville Crossing, NL

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Sweater Weather Blue’s a frosty feline.

Cathy Cullinan Froude Grand Falls-Windsor, NL

Snowy Sidekicks Norland and Duck love the winter wilderness!

Leisa Strickland Triton, NL

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January 2026

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homefront book nook

Downhome dives into the latest and greatest in Newfoundland literature, running down must-reads and offering recommendations for your next book binge!

A Door in the Middle of Nowhere Karen Lundy Flanker Press $22.95

What would you do if you stumbled upon a door that shouldn’t exist – a door that leads to secrets buried too deep in time to ignore? Maddie Murphy and her husband, Mark, thought they were escaping the monotony of their lives in Toronto when they bought a summer home in Lockston Brook, Newfoundland. But the house has a past no one dares speak of, and a door hidden in the basement reveals a parallel world tangled with haunting truths, forgotten lives, and a tormented soul named Gerome Falconer. As Maddie begins uncovering the chilling events tied to the house and its former occupants, she is drawn into a mystery that resonates with her own buried past. A Door in the Middle of Nowhere is a gripping tale of suspense, heartbreak, and healing, where past and present collide in a chilling exploration of trauma and resilience.

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Downhome Recommends Six For Saint-Pierre Kevin Major

In the sixth installment of the Sebastian Synard mystery series, Sebastian finds himself beyond the borders of his home in Newfoundland, where history blends with modern-day intrigue.

Travelling with his partner, Mae, Sebastian arrives in Saint-Pierre, where his son, Nick, is spending a semester. However, his visit to this charming yet peculiar overseas territory of France quickly takes a turn.

Hurricane House: A Novel Jay McGrath

Hurricane House tells the gripping story of the Parsons family as they face one of the worst storms in Atlantic Canadian history. Amidst a hurricane, they must test their resilience, evaluate their bonds, and confront their deepest fears to survive both the storm and their internal conflicts. This story explores the enduring scars of intergenerational trauma and the turbulent dynamics within one family, where the violent storm outside serves as a vivid reflection of the emotional storm raging within the Parsons home.

Blinders: A Crime Thriller Ida Linehan Young

Captain Patrick Boulder has built his life and policing career on law, order, and the clear lines between right and wrong. But when his sixteenyear-old daughter vanishes, those lines begin to blur—and he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her home. Blinders is a gripping crime thriller that explores how far a father will go—and what happens when his truth becomes the most dangerous lie of all.

Visit shopdownhome.com for these and other great titles. www.downhomelife.com

January 2026

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fresh tracks

new music talk with Wendy Rose

The Best of 2025 OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, Downhome has been excited to share new music from Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. With personal and humorous Q&As with artists, and in-depth track-by-track reviews, we have encouraged our readers to open their ears to new local music of all genres. “Fresh Tracks” has allowed me the privilege of diving into over 40 albums, ranging from first-time releases by emerging artists to highly anticipated follow-ups from long-established acts. Every record is its own aural journey, and while each album offered a unique world of sound, a few songs stood out.

These are the tracks that lingered after the Q&As were compiled, the reviews submitted, and the pages gone to print – a carefully curated list of my top songs from all 12 albums reviewed this past year.

Kira Sheppard The Internet Moon

A lush, genre-blurring “baroque dream pop fantasy,” The Internet Moon delivers shimmering synths, harp-driven arrangements, and vivid, poetic lyrics. It’s delicate, groovy, haunting, ethereal, and narrative-rich, yet remarkably congruent. This record showcases her talents as a singer, songwriter, harpist, and storyteller, and like Mort Garson’s Mother Earth’s Plantasia, it might even help your plants grow and your flowers bloom.

Top Track: “Yard Sale”

Dave Whitty Long Way To Go

A warm blend of East Coast rock, country, and Irish influence, Dave’s latest record ranges from tender to intense. With catchy twangy riffs, punchy percussion, funky bass, and a hip-hop-tinged vocal delivery, the album has touches of modern country pop, rap-rock, and reflective balladry. All of this is delivered without losing his signature folky sound. With over 20 years on the scene, Dave’s music remains fresh.

Top Track: “Stormy Weather” 30

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Waterman and Still Ballet Movement

Blending psychedelic rock, folk, classical violin, and traditional early American pop elements, this album boasts a diverse group of songs that showcase the creativity of an artist with a wide musical interest. Despite the diverse influences and genre-jumping, this record delivers a cohesive sound. Though interviewing the artist, I discovered a new favourite genre-defining term: “doom-wop” – a mix of doo-wop and doom rock. Thanks for that one, Andrew.

Top Track: “An Amusing Life”

With Violet Saturday Nights In Your Sunday Best

Alternative pop swirls with early punk rock, all dipped in sugary pop music to create the perfect sweet treat. The record showcases their versatility in the broad genre of rock/pop music – there’s jazz-tinged pop, 80s-infused rock, silky funk, soft alt-pop, and potential punk anthems.

The tight musicianship is what makes this kind of genrehopping creativity possible while remaining cohesive. It’s high energy and a lot of fun – deserving of the nationwide radio play they’ve already received.

Top Track: “Ex’s and Oh’s”

Rum Ragged Gone Jiggin’

Rum Ragged’s fourth album once again shows the group’s masterful musicianship and profound respect for our island’s heritage and history. This record is a mix of original compositions and lovingly collected traditional songs from older musicians, kitchen parties, and archival cassette tapes. The band is artistically reviving stories and tunes that might have otherwise been lost, and it’s a beautiful nod to the lesser-known musicians who have helped shape the musical landscape of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Top Track: “Lazy Afternoon”

Matthew Byrne Stealing Time

Matthew Byrne’s long-awaited fourth album merges signature storytelling with a stellar cast of UK and NL collaborators. With tender originals, haunting ballads, refreshed interpretations of traditional favourites, a theatrical spoken word piece, and an instrumental lullaby, this record was worth the eight-year wait. Matthew closes the album with a 300-year-old poem-turned-song, but it was a contemporary song with tense percussion and frenzied, layered guitar work that stood out for me.

Top Track: “Lady In The East” www.downhomelife.com

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Youngtree and Carole Bee An Introduction

It’s been half a year since the review of this album was published, and I’m honestly kind of disappointed that my outlaw-themed dream of having Peter and Carole score a spaghetti western film hasn’t yet been realized.

From energetic to solemn, this seven-track record presents this duo’s dynamic range. Their contrasting voices provide breathtaking harmonies, and their expertise especially shines on the instrumental tracks. I’d happily ride off into the sunset if this were the soundtrack.

Top Track: “Highway Desperado”

Rube & Rake Good Time After Bad

A confident shift from folk into country and western, Rube & Rake have perfected how to alchemize all the elements needed to make a truly great country tune – strong storytelling skills that paint vivid imagery, and haunting poetic lyrics that pull on all the right heartstrings. The lyrical process is presented through strong vocal performances and gorgeous harmonies, and of course, that beloved old-timey twang. With guitar, piano, pedal steel, fiddle, and banjo, this is a strong record that combines the duo’s East Coast and West Coast roots and their deep love of the country, western, and folk genres on the whole.

Top Track: “Waitin’ on Your Cue”

Andrew Smith Band Spent

Love both country and alternative music? Well, this is the alt-country record of the year for you. It’s got it all – tender ballads, lo-fi alternative vibes, throwbacks to 90sinspired country rock, catchy riffs, heartfelt lyrics, and memorable choruses that will have you singing along in no time. Andrew is heavily inspired by his late father’s CD collection, and also his bandmates – the album was recorded by and features a slew of local musicians, and the camaraderie of the close-knit group is audible. This record is the perfect soundtrack for a late-night drive, and deserves to be played at maximum volume with the windows down.

Top Track: “Dead Hornets”

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Hannah Green Moving Fast In Slow Motion

Soft, smooth, honest, ethereal, gentle, delicate, and unafraid, this emerging artist’s debut record shows immense promise. Hannah’s velvety vocals deliver honest, intuitive lyrics that showcase a deep, wise-beyond-her-years emotional range as she details a journey of love, loss, and coming of age. Moody, experimental, and varied, this record boasts elements of pop, rock, folk, and even spoken word.

Keep your ears out for future releases from this talented musician on the rise.

Top Track: “Panic Room”

Modern Behaviours Modern Behaviours

A fusion of classic rock, metal, and alt-rock, this is another record powered by the natural chemistry and creativity of longtime friendship. Their self-titled debut album is indulgent, offering a smorgasbord of genre-defining ingredients, without pigeonholing themselves as any one particular sound. Some tunes feature heavy riffs, others have a psych-rock edge. Acid rock sizzles on one track, jazz influences are evident on another, and there’s even a burst of baroque-pop in there. It’s sweet, salty, savoury, and sour, and I’m definitely not bitter about it.

Top Track: “Organ Jam”

Wade Tarling Shoreline Sounds

Wade’s latest release gave this longtime musician a deeper appreciation for nature, as he learned to listen to the world from a different perspective. You can actually hear the natural beauty of our province in this new record, which gives listeners a stunning blend of ambient music and field recordings gathered across the island and the Big Land.

Each track captures the essence of specific locations. Listen for crashing waves, whipping wind, passing cars, or the call of a White-Throated Sparrow, all woven seamlessly with piano, drums, and bass. It’s thoughtful and tender but also wildly cinematic, hinting at Wade’s potential ambitions in film scoring and beyond.

Top Track: “Starlight (Cape Spear)” Thanks again to Downhome for the space to explore new music, to the artists for their involvement, and of course, to you, the readers. Support local, first and always!

www.downhomelife.com

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homefront

adventures outdoors

Cliff Doran photo

Moose ‘Homework’ Pays Off

By Gord Follett

Never have I put as much pre-season scouting

and effort into a moose hunt as I did for the 2025 season.

Each holding an either-sex licence for MMA (Moose Management Area) 35 - St. John’s - Tony Vinnicombe and I began mid-July (in between salmon fishing trips) hiking to what we considered prime moose country around the southernmost parts of our zone.

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and conditioning Tony’s beagles for the upcoming snowshoe hare hunting season By the time moose season rolled around on September 13, this 67-yearold and my 66-year-old buddy had put considerable mileage on our ol’ bodies, and not one metre of it was aboard quads or pickups. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, mind you; 1-888-588-6353

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it was just quite different, especially for me.

With the abnormally dry summer experienced throughout much of the province, finding tracks wasn’t always easy. Marshes and trails that were usually wet and muddy were hard and “crispy” underfoot. So dry were conditions, in fact, that even as a regular cigarette smoker, I left mine at home,

referred to our efforts. Once we determined three spots offering the best chances of spotting animals, we set the cameras on trees in those areas and would hike back to check them every few days. We had the sites identified by numbers to help determine where we would set up before daylight on opening morning.

We also found cover in strategic locations to use as blinds, with a small bit of trimming and some camo netting completing the tasks.

Wind, of course, was another important consideration, which is why we set each of our lookouts facing different directions and went with Site #3 and its north-facing view on opening weekend.

Sighting-in scopes on my son-in-law’s 303 WinMag and Tony’s 30-06 took a lot longer – and more bullets – than we had anticipated, but eventually we managed to set them up and group our shots where we felt comfortable firing from various distances.

While we didn’t fire a shot photo Follett Gord on opening day, we did see two huge bulls 1,000 metres Tony sets up the trail or more across a couple of marshes, camera at one of our sites casually browsing at the edge of a treefearing that if I happened to fall and line. I figured they would disappear drop a lit cigarette among grass and before we advanced within range, so bushes, it wouldn’t take long to ignite. we tried calling.

On the occasional days when we did Much to our surprise, the bulls never have “a drop of rain,” we were in the reacted to Tony’s calling – and he is woods the next morning before the one of the best I’ve ever heard – so we sun and hot temperatures had a determined they still weren’t in the chance to dry up what bit of moisture rut. Plus, they were hanging out like did fall. buddies, not combatants.

Trail cameras were another integral At 6:50 a.m. on Day 2, Tony’s grandpart of our “homework,” as Tony often son, Carter, spotted a moose, which www.downhomelife.com

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the range finder showed was 315 yards northeast of us. Tony fired first but wasn’t sure if he hit the animal, and then his second cartridge jammed.

“You fire, Gord,” he said anxiously while trying to eject the jammed casing.

I took careful aim and squeezed the trigger on the “elephant gun,” as I later described the powerful 300.

What? No sign of a hit? I fired again, and we discovered that the young bull had indeed been hit, but apparently went into complete shock from the impact for 30 seconds before taking a few steps and falling among the high “yellow grass.”

The bullet hole we found while skinning convinced me that I’ll be sticking to my 30-06 for the rest of my big game hunting days.

On the third day of the season – again at 6:50 a.m.

– Carter tapped me and pointed northwest, where a large cow was sauntering across the far end of a large area of barrens and relatively dry marsh.

He and Tony set out on foot to get closer while I watched with my Vortex binoculars.

I saw Tony set up to fire

from about 450 yards and wondered why he didn’t (a) try to get closer, and (b) wait to catch his breath so that he would be steadier.

“Carter was getting excited and wanted me to shoot,” he said later with a chuckle.

Nothing was happening at the range, so he moved in another 100 yards or so, caught his breath, set up the shooting stick and fired two more shots, the second of which dropped the hefty cow.

When I finally made my way to Tony and offered congratulations, the first thing he said was, “Our homework paid off, buddy.”

Brody Earle photo

Tony harvested his cow on Day 2 of the season 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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life is better People watching at Middle Cove Beach Connie Boland Corner Brook, NL

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homefront

The start of a new year marks the perfect time to reflect on the past 12 months. Here at Downhome, that means revisiting each issue of 2025 and celebrating the beautiful, heartwarming, funny, unforgettable contributions from our readers. As part of this tradition, we’ve created a Top 12 list of standout submissions, giving our readers the chance to vote for the one that will be named Submission of the Year and win $500 in Downhome shopping coupons. Check out all the finalists on the following pages, then head to our website between January 12–19 to cast your vote. The winner will be revealed in our March 2026 issue.

A heartfelt thank-you to the readers who share their stories and photos with us each year. You’re the reason Downhome is the magazine it is today.

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Evening Glow in the Battery Bailey Parsons

Harbour Haul Cynthia Gullage

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In Golden Light Deanne Hussey

Nan’s Little Helper Glenda Keating

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Jam-Packed!

Karla Gould

Gone Sniffin’ Lauretta Lynn Wheaton

www.downhomelife.com

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Buzz Off Lorie Goodyear

Reel Deal Lynette Peach

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Fiery Farewell Mark Gray

Scotland Ron Wagg

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Chasing the Wind Samantha Burton

Hostile Local Tannis Rode

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

This is your chance to get in on our most popular reader contest and try to woo the judges into choosing your photo for the 2027 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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features

Embracing the cold with Brent Beshara

BY NICOLA RYAN

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IT’S BLOWING A GALE

on Signal Hill. Clouds scuttle across the sunny November sky. It’s windy enough to wrench the door off the car, to blow the hat off your head. It churns whitecaps in George’s Pond. Folks pass by in winter coats and hats, and I’m in a bathing suit. I’m here with Brent Beshara, his bathrobe billowing, to learn about cold water exposure.

And that means getting in.

BRENT BESHARA

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Brent guides people in exploring both the physical and mental benefits of cold exposure. With a big smile and grey curls tucked under a rainbow beanie, he chats with the easy effortlessness of a seasoned public speaker.

“Why would I go so willingly into such cold water?” he asks with a laugh.

“Well, a little background. I was in the Canadian military for 24 years and a day. My first six years I was in the infantry, and the next eighteen years

were as a special forces Navy bomb disposal diver. I had two tours overseas. I got back from Afghanistan in March of 2004, and I retired in ’07.

We moved here to Newfoundland in November of 2009. Keli-Ann’s from town, my bride.

“To deal with the stress of dealing with high explosives on a daily basis and being responsible for people’s lives, I was on medications,” he continues. “Then when I got out, through

Therapy Below Zero Facebook

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lifestyle choices of yoga, eating better, walking more, learning to meditate and breath work, I got off this medication – and support from my family, of course.

But then in September 2015, my doctor said, ‘Hey Brent, you’re pre-diabetic,’ and I was shocked. I think I’m fit, I work on my fitness, it’s my passion, so to hear that I was really shocked.”

In October of 2015, Brent heard about a man from the Netherlands, Wim Hof, the Ice Man. Wim’s method of mindset, breath work, and gradual cold exposure safely stresses your body, which can improve circulation, increase energy and boost immunity.

“I went to Toronto the following year and did a one-day workshop with him, and then I was inspired,” Brent says.

“And the best way to learn something is teach it, so I went to Amsterdam and Poland to become an instructor in the method. I was a military instructor most of my career, so I love teaching, I love sharing, I love the experience of teaching, it’s fantastic. So I started the NL Winter Crew – I made a Facebook group to get people to come out – and now I’ve taught hundreds of people cold exposure.”

As I dither at the pond’s edge, Brent grabs my hand and strides confidently into the water.

So what is cold exposure? Hormetic stress is a concept from biology: small, controlled doses of stress can actually make you stronger. Think of it like exercise for your cells. A little challenge – like dipping in icy water – triggers repair and adaptation, so you become more resilient over time.

“If we don’t give our body a challenge, if we continuously seek comfort, our body will give us a challenge,” Brent explains. “That’s where we get auto-immune issues like fibromyalgia, www.downhomelife.com

Benefits of Cold Water Exposure • Reduces Inflammation and Muscle Soreness • Boosts Mood & Helps with Depression/Anxiety • Improves Stress Resilience • Enhances Circulation • Strengthens the Immune System • Increases Metabolism and Brown Fat Activation • Improves Sleep • Boosts Lymphatic Flow

Cautions

Be careful if you have:

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure • Heart conditions • Raynaud’s disease • Any condition where cold shock could be dangerous

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lupus, Lyme, Crohn’s, Addison’s, Hashimoto, obesity, diabetes. So what we’re doing is we’re allowing our bodies to adapt, to strengthen our cardiovascular system, our veins, nerves, bones, muscles and fascia.”

Slow, controlled breathing is the key to the experience in the water.

they’ve adapted to the cold. And it’s fantastic because the cold is free, there’s lots of cold in Newfoundland.”

In the pond, the wind whips my hair into my eyes as I follow Brent into the choppy water. Neck-deep now, my nervous system is shrieking. I’m probably breaking Brent’s hand. I set

In the pond, the wind whips my hair into my eyes as I follow Brent into the choppy water.

Neck-deep now, my nervous system is shrieking.

“We do a yoga breath,” Brent explains. “Slow in through the nose, hold it for a moment, and then longer outs.

We just take a breath in, get down to our waist in the water and then start the slow breathing. Then it’s only two minutes, right? That’s all you need to initiate the body’s response to hormetic stresses. It’s called shock proteins, and you get them through heat or cold. What we’re doing is allowing the body to adapt to the available conditions. You see farmers, fishermen, they’re outside all year round handling ropes and lines and gear without gloves, right, cause 52

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my mind. I take deep breaths through shivers. I try not to think of the warm Downhome office where I usually spend mornings drinking coffee.

Brent, who does this every day, looks comfortable, calm and steady. After about a minute, the initial shock eases, and I feel a little better. The sun glints off the ripples in the water. I settle into breathing. I think of bragging rights and health benefits.

There are lots of benefits to cold adaptive training.

“It’s anti-inflammatory, right off the bat,” Brent says, describing how chronic inflammation, the body’s nat1-888-588-6353

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Newfoundland Winter Crew Facebook

ural response to injury or infection, like swelling, redness, or pain, can contribute to health problems like diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, or autoimmune issues.

“It makes a difference, and I’m living proof of it,” he says. “I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes in 2015. Every year after that, since doing this method, my doctor said my numbers have gotten better and better and better. As Wim says, ‘a cold shower a day keeps the doctor away.’ Especially seasonal flus, I haven’t had a seasonal flu in years.

“My next big point is that it is totally a mental health thing. It creates dopamine and serotonin, and all the feel-good hormones within the body.

Van Gogh, he was prescribed two cold baths a day for his depression two hundred years ago. But apparently, he didn’t listen. It also helps with pain deactivation, reducing pain receptors in the body. The health benefits are profound. It’s a biological superpower.”

To Brent, mindset is everything.

“I do it first thing in the morning, and it gives me that mindset of carpe diem/ joie de vivre/ seize the day. It’s like making your bed. It’s one of these little tips, tricks, techniques that set us up for a sucwww.downhomelife.com

cessful day. And you’re physically doing something to promote health within your body.

“And you don’t need to be a freak like me or the crew; you can just do cold showers. Take a two-minute cold shower, rinse off; it tightens the skin, closes the pores, it’s great.”

Back at the pond, our two minutes are up, and we splash back onto the bank. Brent cheers and gives me two thumbs up. My legs are tingling, and I feel so exhilarated that I want to laugh and dance. Brent’s guidance makes the icy water feel inspiring rather than impossible, turning the cold into a challenge worth meeting.

Would I do it again? Maybe. But first, let me bask in this chilly victory.

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features

Saving Lives through Mindfulness By Anna Dwyer

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After several years of setbacks –

both personal and professional – I once found myself plagued by recurring thoughts of suicide. At times, the intrusive thoughts seemed more like an obsession than any serious desire to harm.

That is, until an impulsive act landed me in a psychiatric hospital.

And even after the waves of shame and guilt had subsided, the thoughts returned with increasing urgency. Even on days when I didn’t feel completely without hope, it was like, what’s the point?

Nothing would ever work out anyway.

www.downhomelife.com

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By chance, in May 2025, I found myself in a small group learning to use meditation as a tool to help manage intrusive thoughts. The idea is to use sitting practice techniques to create a gap between negative feelings and impulsive responses, explained program developer and facilitator Andrew Safer. By focusing on the present moment, we learned to move our attention away from the past and concerns about the future to what’s happening now. Doing that alongside those experiencing the same struggles was truly powerful.

“Normally, people go about their lives with a lot of things going on,” said Safer. “With sitting practice, the aim is to not move, to not engage physically. To just be here and available to experience whatever the mind comes up with in that environment.

The main thing is to do [the practice] consistently over time.”

A life-long practitioner himself, Safer has been teaching people how to use those traditional methods to help manage modern-day pressures for well over 25 years. His applied mindfulness workshops assist people living with mental health conditions, specifically suicidal ideation, depression, addiction, anxiety, and attention deficit disorders. He has written two books on the topic: Anxiety, Stress & Mindfulness and Mindfulness in the Workplace. Based on his experience as a mindfulness trainer, he has noticed a connection between negative emotions and impulsive behaviour, which can lead to suicide attempts.

His goal is to reduce these incidents by helping people understand what’s happening in their minds.

“For example, in the case of anxiety, people start to feel jittery. There’s a 56

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Andrew Safer, mindfulness trainer trajectory: a restlessness that builds to anxiety,” he said. “The aim is to head that off by being an observer of your own thoughts. When we are more selfaware, we begin to notice what’s off, and then, we’re less blindsided when a negative emotion comes along.”

Participants in the eight-week Suicide Prevention Through Mindfulness program met weekly to engage in sitting and walking practices, and to learn about self-compassion and the brain’s relationship to thoughts and emotions.

Between sessions, Safer emailed links to relevant articles and videos as well as encouragement to maintain a daily practice. For additional support, he teamed up with certified counsellor 1-888-588-6353

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Janet McDonald; Tina Davies, a mental health advocate with suicide-prevention training; Darren Fancey, a mental health advocate; and Kathy Porter, a meditation instructor. These experienced individuals were also on hand for one-on-one support when necessary. Two former participants of the pilot project, which Safer developed in 2021 with funding from the CMHA-NL and VOCM Cares Foundation, also spoke to the group.

The inspiration to develop this program arose from Safer’s work with people living with mental illness and his personal experience with just how unkind our minds can be.

“About 30 years ago, I felt backed into a corner, thought there was no way out. So I made a plan,” he said.

“But I was fortunate enough that I was unable to carry it out. I know circumstances can seem dire at times, but

nothing is fixed. I focus on that: when we feel boxed in, our circumstances can change. We just have to be around long enough for it to pass.”

He noted that this is why it’s important to be able to assess the credibility of our thoughts, adding that research shows sitting practice can help us become better observers of our thoughts and behaviours.

According to statistics tracked by several organizations, including Statistics Canada, the mortality rate due to suicide in this province remains among the highest in Canada, tripling since the 1980s despite an overall decrease in the national average.

Although statistics may vary, this upward trend is evident among both youth and middle-aged. Causes are complicated and vary among populations despite government efforts to increase resources and treatment options.

Andrew Safer explains mindfulness practices in a group session as part of his Mental Health and Addiction Workshop Series www.downhomelife.com

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Suicide Prevention Through Mindfulness Support Team: Tina Davies, Andrew Safer, Darren Fancey and Janet McDonald Safer feels encouraged, however, that mindfulness practice can enhance mental wellness by eliminating intrusive thoughts, including thoughts of suicide. By the end of both the pilot project and, more recently, the eightweek program, many participants reported an overall decrease in the intensity of their suicidal thoughts.

That program, funded by the Washington-based Khyentse Foundation, maintained a near 100 percent rate of participation throughout the sessions.

When asked why he thought the outcomes were reassuring, Safer reiterated that learning to focus on the present is key.

“Also, I like to treat people as people, not get into their mental diagnoses and problems. That tends to make people divide up and focus on their weaknesses. That’s why self-compas58

January 2026

sion is so important. When we focus on our weaknesses, we are already headed in the wrong direction. So far, the data is really promising.”

Safer has further provided this training on a one-on-one basis, while continuing to offer group sessions to individuals with a general interest in meditation.

For me, the difference has been noticeable. I can feel the gap between my thoughts and the negative emotions that still spring up from time to time.

In that space, I am now able to ask myself, Is that thought credible? Is it even real? I make an effort every day to do some form of practice – whether it’s sitting or walking. Some days are better than others, but it is something positive to focus on.

For more information visit safermindfulness.com 1-888-588-6353

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You could be published in Downhome Magazine!

Tell us about a funny interaction you’ve had, a heartwarming moment, what’s happening in your community, Newfoundland and Labrador history or anything you would like to share with us and other Downhome readers.

Three Ways to Share Visit: downhomelife.com/submit Email: editorial@downhomelife.com Mail: 43 James Lane, St. John’s, NL, A1E 3H3 (Attention Editorial Department)

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features

Linda White, Founder and Editor of the Award-Winning The Greenspond Letter, Shares Stories of the Beloved Publication

By Dennis Flynn

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Linda White, of Memorial University’s Archives and Special Collections, displays the first issue of The Greenspond Letter, next to the most recent edition. The gap between the two entails colourful characters, remarkable reminiscences, phenomenal photographs, and spectacular stories covering more than 30 years.

Robert Carter photo

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Linda White holds copies of the first and most recent editions of The Greenspond Letter “It’s been only me from the start,” Linda chuckles during a past interview. “From day one, this has always been purely a volunteer operation. I generally do all research, conduct interviews, compile transcripts, write articles, and whatever else is needed.

The Greenspond Letter is a labour of love I have really enjoyed. I had no idea as founder and editor I’d still be at it over 30 years later.”

This not-for-profit journal, published quarterly, features articles on all aspects of Greenspond history and culture, including first-hand interviews, select biographies, articles, stories, poetry, genealogy and archival photographs.

So how did a resident of St. John’s start a magazine documenting Bonavista Bay? Colleague Colleen Quigley perhaps put it best when she de62

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scribed Linda as “a booster of Greenspond.”

“I started The Greenspond Letter in April of 1994. I’d been a nurse for 20 years and travelled the world. When I returned to Newfoundland and Labrador, I continued my formal education in history and decided I was going to write the history of Greenspond, but quickly realized it was too big a project,” says Linda, who has family in the region.

“It came to me to put very interesting pieces of the information in a little newsletter instead, so I could share them. I combined history with genealogy and family trees of people connected to Greenspond, and always tried to use sources that would be difficult for regular people to locate.”

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which she described as “great fun.”

“When I started, my computer was a Tandy 8088 and I’d type and save files to a five-and-a-quarter-inch disk. The next day, I’d bring the disk to my brother-in-law, who had a personal printer. Then I’d lay out and scotch tape the photographs and diagrams in place by hand. Next, I would bring the finished version into Kwick Kopy on

150 issues produced in each run.

“People ask what I’ll do when I run out of ideas to write about on Greenspond, but I tell them not to worry, as I’ll never run out. So many people suggest great topics,” she says, explaining that she was part of the founding of the Greenspond Historical Society in 1997, the Facebook page of which boasts over 7500 members as of this writing. “I’ll be fine for a long time to come.”

In 2018, Linda was awarded the prestigious Historic Sites Association’s (HSA) Manning Award in the category of “Outstanding Heritage Supporter.”

The Mannings were created in 1993 to recognize and celebrate the work of individuals, communities, and organizations in preserving and presenting this province’s history and heritage. In 2025, Linda was named as a member of the “Centennial 100” in the “Creators” category. The designation celebrates 100 students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters who have made a world of difference at Memorial University over the last century.

Cover of the first edition of Linda demurs, saying, “I The Greenspond Letter in 1994 was quite honoured. I really Empire Avenue in St. John’s, and he appreciate all the people behind the would photocopy it for me. I made 50 scenes who supported me and The Greenspond Letter.” copies and they all sold.”

Linda has since donated her collecSharing that she only charged “two or three dollars a copy to cover the tion of audio tapes related to Greencosts of printing and mailing,” Linda spond to the MUN Folklore Archives, explains that the publication is still with back issues available through the published quarterly, all through the MUN Digital Archives Initiative tireless work of volunteers, with about (DAI), MUN Centre for Newfoundwww.downhomelife.com

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Some earlier editions of The Greenspond Letter land Studies (CNS), as well as Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries, even reaching as far as Wayne State University in the United States.

Perusing that very first issue, I learn that Greenspond resident Clarence Burry served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II. After the war, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Memorial College on Parade Street in St. John’s and taught school around Newfoundland.

All issues of The Greenspond Letter abound with further interludes into the past of a proud people and place. I have no personal connection there, but reading Linda’s eclectic mix of heritage tales, trials, tribulations and triumphs, I know the community much better.

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the making and still going strong.

As I leave, I notice a beautiful stained-glass compass behind Linda from a public art display entitled “The Voyage.” A lovely image as Linda and The Greenspond Letter continue to navigate history, saving remarkable stories on the voyage ahead.

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features

A son’s tribute to his mother

By Pam Pardy

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Lucas with his mother, Joan

When Lucas Pike from Harbour Mille decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, it wasn’t for adventure or recognition. It was for love and to honour his mother, Joan Pike, who passed away in July 2021 following a battle with brain cancer.

“I knew that climbing Mount Kilimanjaro would challenge me in many ways I had never experienced,” Lucas shares with Downhome. “Given the significant positive impact my mom had on my life, I felt it was only appropriate to do something that would require me to overcome a lot in the process.”

Before he even began the climb, Lucas set out to raise $10,000 for Brain Cancer Canada, which he explains is “very mission-driven and operated by an incredible team of people, most of whom have been directly impacted by brain cancer themselves. They are also a 100% non-profit organization, so all funds raised go directly to support brain cancer research.”

He reached his goal just days before setting foot on the mountain, calling the support from friends, family and supporters “truly incredible.”

Left: Climbers make their way to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro www.downhomelife.com

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Lucas on Kilimanjaro

“I could really feel the impact this was having and knew I had so many people behind me,” he says.

“Brain cancer, glioblastoma specifically, currently has a very poor prognosis of approximately 12 to 18 months, and there has been little to no progress in treatment options for decades. As we’ve seen with other cancers and diseases, progress and much better outcomes are possible with the right commitment to research. So I believe it’s necessary to drive change and provide hope for everyone being impacted by this disease today.”

Every step up Africa’s tallest mountain became a reflection of that pur68

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pose. The days were long, the air thin, and the terrain unforgiving, but Lucas carried his mother’s memory with him through every kilometre.

The climb tested him physically. The lack of oxygen, extreme cold temperatures and wind, sleep deprivation, and exhaustion made reaching the summit on day six taxing, but the emotional side of the journey was just as intense.

Though even when things got hard, he never thought about stopping.

“There were times when it got very difficult, but there was never a moment when I considered giving up.

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enough that it was never an option.

Having that mentality just kept me moving forward.”

When he finally reached the summit – on his mother’s birthday, no less – the moment was both surreal and emotional.

“If I’m being entirely honest, I probably wasn’t thinking the most clearly at that time,” he admits with a laugh.

“The lack of oxygen due to the elevation had me feeling very intoxicated.

There had been so much anticipation leading up to that moment, so it really was a surreal feeling with a lot of mixed emotions. I was definitely feeling a lot of gratitude for the experience and the opportunity to honour my mom this way. That was also combined with the sadness of not being able to share that moment and another big milestone with her.”

Those who knew Joan Pike remember her for her warmth, grace, and re-

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silience.

“My mom just had this incredible presence that you always wanted to be around,” Lucas says. “She had this infectious smile that could light up any room. She was such a kind and compassionate person, always looking for a way to give back or to help others.

Mom always found so much joy in the little things: her morning coffee, her daily walks, and spending time with family. Even during her battle with brain cancer, no matter how tough things got, she never complained and always showed incredible strength and resilience.”

Her example continues to inspire him, though the loss has changed his perspective on life.

“It really made me confront how precious and limited our time here is. Though it may sound extreme, acknowledging my own mortality really shifted my perspective and has

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“T dif giv be Ha

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allowed me to live a lot more intentionally. It’s helped me realize what matters and what doesn’t. And because of that, I’ve become a lot more comfortable taking bigger risks and making bolder decisions.”

As he reflects on his journey, Lucas hopes others find strength in his story.

“I hope those impacted by diseases like brain cancer know there are people out there who care and are striving for change. And for those

experiencing the feeling of loss and hopelessness to know they are not alone, and that even if they are in a very dark place right now, they can turn that into something positive and meaningful.”

From the quiet peace of Harbour Mille to the summit of Kilimanjaro, Lucas carried his mother’s light with him – one step, breath, and memory at a time. And though she wasn’t there to see it, her spirit was with him every inch of the way.

Lucas unfurls a tribute banner to his mother, Joan, on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro

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You Love it, They Will too!

42

Gift Subscriptions $ start at

99*

plus applicable taxes

Start Your Gift Today! www.downhomelife.com • 1-888-588-6353 mail@downhomelife.com * Valid in Canada on a 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.

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features

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to ‘The Newfoundland Downhome magazine,’ a favourite little monthly magazine for all on the island, and abroad. My name is Carolyn Walsh, and I was raised on the Port au Port Peninsula, in the Bay St. George area, in beautiful Newfoundland. I moved away from home many years ago and settled in Fort McMurray, Alberta. My father, Mr. Carl Walsh, still resides in Boswarlos, where we often visit.

My father was born and raised in Boswarlos in 1941, when Newfoundland was a British colony.

When he was just eight years old in 1949, Newfoundland joined Confederation, and he became a Canadian. As years went by, he had a family of his own and would often speak to us about how he would have loved to cross the ocean one day and to go and visit England, the land where his ancestors came from.

There was one place that stood out in listening to his stories, a place called ‘Bosworlas’, which is a farmland around St. Just, Penzance, St Ives, and Land’s End, on the very southern tip of England on the Atlantic Ocean (across the pond, Newfoundlanders phrase it as today, in a humoured manner).

Boswarlos, NL native Carl Walsh in Bosworlas, England www.downhomelife.com

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This little Bosworlas farm was a place where a gentleman came from. Mr. Captain Andrew Harvey, an English entrepreneur and engineer, travelled from England to America, and then finally to Canada. On the Port au Port Peninsula, he settled in a little area he resided in, which he named after his home, and called it Boswarlos, Newfoundland (just a couple of letters in the name ‘Boswarlos’ that were spelled out differently over the years, but mean the same).

This gentleman farmed this little community for many years, raised a family, and today, many relatives live in his memory and the fruits of his labour. Many proud residents of Boswarlos, including my father, carry on the legacy of the land.

This past summer, Carl’s daughters made one of his dreams come true. They figured now would be the time, as their Dad was turning 84, and knowing he was in pretty good health still. He was over the moon excited, as this would be his first time across the seas.

We all landed in Gatwick, England, rented a vehicle (yes, the roads were all very narrow), and headed south to search out these planned areas of the Bosworlas farm. We were so happy to finally reach the exact spot where Captain Andrew Harvey derived from, amongst other relative areas of common ground.

We were greeted at our ‘Bosworlas Farm’ Airbnb by a gentleman named Mr. Tom Osborne, who presently farms this land. He gave us a complete tour and all the history that he had of the same. It was 74

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a dream come true for our Dad, and a very pleasant experience for us all.

We travelled from southern England and headed north to Scotland, to visit extended family members, and then onward to Ireland. We felt very blessed and so grateful that we were able to make this all happen. We worked together, making the vacation a most beautiful memory with our Dad. I’ve attached a few photos of our Dad by the ‘Bosworlas’ farm sign, with his four daughters, two granddaughters, and a niece, in tow. He’s surrounded by women, as always, who love him dearly.

www.downhomelife.com

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HOME and Cabin

stuff we love by Nicola Ryan

To Your Health!

RISE & SHINE Start your day gently with a sunrise alarm clock. Instead of jarring you awake by making a racket, it’ll gradually brighten your room. By simulating dawn even if it’s still dark and freezing outside, it regulates your sleep cycle, boosts your mood, and energizes your mornings. www.amazon.ca

DISH IT OUT Dinnertime, dish up your Jiggs onto a Precise Portions plate. With sections to keep protein, veggies, and starches in check, every meal is balanced and portion-controlled. BPAfree, durable, dishwashersafe, and travel-ready with secure lids, they make eating well easy, mess-free, simple and satisfying. www.amazon.ca

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DRINK TO THAT Turn every sip into a mini pep-talk. A motivational water bottle like this one keeps you hydrated and inspired. Instead of forgetting to drink until you’re parched, it keeps your water in sight and your goals in mind. With bold time markers and encouraging reminders, you can track your intake and make hydration a simple, daily win. www.walmart.ca

ON THE GO Tech doesn’t have to be intimidating. A Fitbit Inspire 3 is a beginner-friendly health and fitness tracker. It tracks your daily steps, calories burned and active minutes, plus provides heart rate, sleep and stress monitoring. It’s a neat tool to build healthy habits, stay motivated, and take manageable steps toward wellness. www.sportchek.ca

MAKING STRIDES Strides is a habit and goal-tracking app for your phone that helps you set, track, and work toward your goals. Focus on health, productivity, finances or hobbies and learn consistent routines. Daily reminders and progress reports keep you going, and pop-up messages make hitting small wins feel extra rewarding. www.stridesapp.com www.downhomelife.com

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HOME and Cabin

Ask Marie Anything Interior designer Marie Bishop takes your questions

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas season full of rest and relaxation. Now, with the beginning of the new year, we generally take a look around and wonder what else in our environment needs a refresh. I recently received a great question from a reader, which I think is quite pertinent for this timeframe:

Marie, I’m a senior woman, living alone in a small, three-bedroom, 20-year-old home (not much lighting throughout).

My home needs a new paint job, and I would like to paint the whole house the same colour. How do I choose the right colour palette for this?

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Thank you, Eileen. Often, the lack of lighting is a combination of your home’s orientation and the size of your windows. If most of the natural light comes from the north side, it offers a more consistent degree of light, but not usually in abundance. Also, if your windows aren’t oversized, there won’t be much lighting throughout, as you mentioned.

The obvious choice is to go with a light neutral off white on all the walls, but that’s usually where the daunting journey begins. Benjamin Moore alone offers 152 options in its Off White Collection, so it can be intimidating and confusing.

Let’s begin with a few basics. All the paint samples you’ll find in a retail store have a few reference numbers on the back. The most prominent is to identify the colour, which is always accompanied by a name. For instance, in the Benjamin Moore neutral collection #OC-130 Cloud White has been one of the go-to colours for decorators www.downhomelife.com

The obvious choice is to go with a light neutral off white on all the walls, but that’s usually where the daunting journey begins.

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Paint sample booklets from manufacturers offer options as to which colours go well together for walls, trims and ceilings and contractors alike for years. It’s mostly used for trims and ceilings, but recently for main walls as well.

The other number you will see on the back of the paint sample represents the Light Reflective Value, often referred to as LRV. This numbering system begins at 1, which indicates that the colour reflects 1% of the light it receives, so it is the closest to black that a paint colour can be. On the other end of the spectrum, an LRV of 100 means that colour reflects 100% of the light and therefore appears overly bright and sterile.

A comfortable LRV for your living space, especially since you aim to increase the amount of light capacity, is between 85 and 95. This range maximizes brightness without being stark or clinical. The Benjamin Moore colour I referred to earlier, #OC-130 80

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Cloud White, has an LRV of 85, so it’s an excellent choice to create a soft, light neutral space. Another favourite colour that fits this category is B.M.#OC-45 Swiss Coffee with an LRV of 82. Still bright, but slightly softer.

There are two other factors you need to consider when choosing the colour for your space. What type of lighting are you using? Usually, there’s a combination of ceiling light and ambient or lamp lighting. There’s another whole education around that topic these days, but here’s a simplified version. The colour and warmth of the light you’re using will have a critical effect on how your eye sees the paint you’ve used on the walls.

For instance, a soft white, leaning towards yellow light, is considered a warm light and will offer an inviting 1-888-588-6353

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you want task lighting, I’d suggest going to the 3500-4000K range. In areas where you want more general, soft lighting, the 3000 K range is the best choice.

The other factor to consider for your paint colour is that all paints have an undertone. Especially, neutral off-whites, which have a definite undertone. This is what influences how a certain colour, in this case off white, looks compared to a similar shade of that colour.

Individually, off whites look similar, but side by side they will appear to be more brown, yellow or gray; some may even lean toward blue or pink. This is important because you will want your wall colour to work in harmony with your furnishings.

The colour and warmth of the light The paint images shown used in a room will affect how the eye here are from the Benjamin sees the colour of the paint.

Moore Collection.

The truth is, there’s a lot spectrum is the blue/white light. The to consider when choosing the right light from these bulbs are usually white. The best way to start the much brighter, leaning into the blue process is to bring home a handful of spectrum, giving the space a cool feel. colour samples from a paint store and The numbers on this scale range from view them at different times of the 4000-5000 K and are used in clinical day/evening with different lighting settings such as health care facilities options.

If you’re still unsure of the best and medical offices.

Fortunately, marketing has caught choice, get a second opinion from a up with technology and the packaging professional. It will be worth the on light bulbs these days lets you investment for your peace of mind, a know where the bulb you’re buying is great outcome and certainly the best on the scale, so you can make an way to ensure that at the end of the informed purchase. In places where day, you will love your space. glow to the area. On the Kelvin scale, it lies between 2700-3500 K. The higher the number, the brighter the light. The lower number is usually used for ambient lamp lighting, the higher number for everyday use.

On the other end of the light bulb

Ask Marie Anything!

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

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HOME and Cabin

downhome recipes

Eat Well with East Coast Keto When Bobbi and Geoff Pike began their journey into revamping their overall health a decade ago, questions on what your food can do for you, and how that same food makes you feel, were at the heart of their discussions.

“I can tell you all kinds of stories about how my mom was a diabetic and had heart disease, and I wasn’t happy with myself, but it really just came down to I got to the point where I felt food wasn’t making us feel good anymore. When what’s supposed to be nourishing is making you sick, you know there’s something wrong. You know you’ve got to change something,” Bobbi begins during a sit-down with Downhome.

The couple found their answer in keto. The layperson may wonder what exactly keto is and what a keto diet entails. Bobbi and Geoff perhaps describe it best through their East Coast Keto website, a brand which they formed to help others embrace the ketogenic way of life.

“In a normal higher carbohydrate diet, the body will use glucose as a primary energy; your fats are not needed and are therefore stored.

By lowering the intake of carbs, the body is induced into a state known as ketosis. Ketosis is a natural metabolic state the body initiates to 82

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help us survive when food intake is low. During this state, we produce ketones, which are produced from the breakdown of fats in the liver.

The end goal of a keto diet is to force your body into this metabolic state.

We don’t do this through starvation of calories, but instead through starvation of carbohydrates. We just stop feeding the internal sugar monster.”

The proof is in the keto-friendlypudding for Bobbi and Geoff, both of whom have experienced real and long-lasting positive health results.

“I think the easiest part of this whole journey was to just take it back to raw ingredients,” says Geoff, explaining that a keto diet relies heavily on pure, unprocessed ingredients. “It’s not in boxes, not in cans, not in bottles. Just the stuff that you would get from a farmer: a piece of meat or a vegetable, or a piece of fish.

You can’t go wrong there.”

“If the ingredients list reads like a book, and you don’t know what half of it is and you can’t pronounce it, put that back on the shelf,” Bobbi adds. “You really want to be eating that stuff?”

Make no mistake, the recipes dished out via the East Coast Keto website, and their series of decadent cookbooks, are not skimping on flavour. Rather, they’re reworked takes on old classics, from addictive appetizers and mouthwatering mains, to decadent desserts.

“Basically, what we’re doing is we’re just trying to take our traditional foods and tweak them a little bit,” says Bobbi, sharing how lucky the couple were to be embraced

by Newfoundland’s culinary com1-888-588-6353

munity. “A few of the events that we did, we were making our food for 400, 500, 600 people. And when it’s the regular people that are coming through and tasting your food and saying, ‘My God, that’s amazing.’

And not even realizing that it’s “diet food,” that’s where we know we’re successful.”

Asked what major message the couple would impart to readers and those who are struggling with finding a solution to the age-old question of navigating their personal health, Bobbi has the last word. “There’s a better way. I mean, you can still have all the foods that you ate before; they’re just tweaked a little bit differently. We still have our Jiggs dinner, we still have baked apple cheesecake, we still have hamburgers, all that stuff, they’re just a little tiny bit different. There’s a way.”

Visit eastcoastketo.com for a full list of recipes and tips for navigating your own ketogenic journey. The following recipes were lovingly provided by Bobbi and Geoff : January 2026

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Pork belly is a meat that a lot of ketonians use as a staple ingredient. Really, this is just the uncured cut from the underbelly of the pig – the bacon cut. Sure, it tastes really good as regular old bacon, but we can help you to take this incredible cut of meat and turn it into something so good, it’s just like candy – Pig Candy, that is. Make sure you use a deep pan while roasting these to catch all the drippings; you’ll want to save it as a free source of fat to keep next to your stove. This recipe is downright delicious when it’s warm, chewy, crispy, and straight from the oven/grill, but our favourite is the leftover bits that we store in the fridge in a zip-lock bag. Cold, crunchy pig candy!

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2 lb pork belly slab 1 cup Scottish Highland Grill Sauce Salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 250°F. Cut the pork into 1-inch square pieces that are the full thickness of the slab. Season all over with salt and pepper. Don’t skimp on the salt; salt allows the meat to retain moisture as it cooks.

Place the pork pieces on a grate or rack over a pan to catch drippings.

Make sure to keep a little space between each piece. We want these to crisp up, and overcrowding the pan will prevent that from happening. Roast for 2 hours or until the meat starts to cook/reduce in size and fat has started to render. Don’t flip before you see this. Cook time will vary depending on the thickness of the meat and the temperature of your oven. Remove from the oven and turn the pieces over, then return to the oven for another 2 hours.

Drain and reserve the fat from the bottom of the pan. Remove the racks at this time, placing the pieces directly into the pan. Pieces should be crispy on the outside, with most of the fat rendered at this point. If not, put them back in the oven again for more time without sauce. Once in the pan, add your chosen sauce and toss to coat on all sides. Return to the oven for another 1 1/2 to 2 hours, saucing and tossing again about halfway through. Continue cooking until the sauce has caramelized over the pork. Remove from the oven and enjoy.

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Scottish Highland Grill Sauce 2 tbsp olive oil 1/2 onion, minced fine 2 cloves garlic, minced 3/4 cup powdered sweetener 2 cup tomato sauce 2/3 cup Scotch whisky 1/3 cup coconut sauce 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar 1 tsp Korean chili flakes 1 tsp ginger, grated 1 tsp Hungarian or regular paprika 1 tsp thyme 1 tsp Himalayan pink salt 1/2 tsp pepper pinch nutmeg Add olive oil and onions to a saucepan and sauté for 3-5 minutes over medium heat. I often add about 1/4 cup of water here to help coax the onions to get soft.

Add garlic and ginger; continue to cook for 2-3 minutes. Adjust the liquid if the pan starts to dry out.

Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes or until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Sauces can be whizzed up in a blender if you prefer a smooth sauce.

If using a smoker, set a slightly lower temperature of 225 °F and smoke for 6-7 hours . Spritz every hour with ap ple cider vinegar. This helps to keep the meat tender.

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Our southern-fried oven chicken is a tweaked and revamped version of our Best-Ever Breaded Chicken recipe from our first book. This new oven version skips the pork rinds in the almond dredge, but adds another coconut dredge to the equation. The coconut helps the egg stick to the chicken, and the egg wash, in turn, helps the final dredge stick to the chicken, creating a final dish that is close to the chicken shack-style breaded chicken that you’re used to. The butter/oil in the bottom of the pan adds a buttery note to the batter and takes this oven-baked chicken up a notch in crunch.

I know the number of ingredients and steps can look intimidating here. If you buy the spices/flours in bulk (think future batches!) and just take your time with the steps, you’ll find it’s super easy once you get the process down.

When we do the flip midway through, we spray-dry battered areas with a coating of oil to ensure the entire piece of chicken will achieve that southern fried crispy texture

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2 tbsp butter, melted 3 tbsp olive oil 4 large chicken breasts, boneless and skinless

For the egg wash 2 eggs 3 tbsp water 1/4 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp salt

For the first dredge 1/2 cup coconut flour 1/2 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp salt

For the second dredge 1 cup almond flour 2 tsp Himalayan pink or sea salt 2 tsp garlic powder 1 1/2 tsp onion powder 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp dry mustard powder 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp ground thyme 1 tsp parsley 1 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp coriander 1/4 tsp ground cumin

Heat the oven to 375°F. Place melted butter and oil in the bottom of a baking dish. We use a foil-lined sheet tray. Combine the eggs, water, and seasonings in a bowl big enough to hold these ingredients and a chicken breast. Give yourself some space in the bowl to work and move the meat around. Set aside. Combine the coconut-flour dredge and set aside. Mix all the almond flour items together and set aside. You’re now ready to proceed to coating the chicken. Arrange the bowls in an assembly line on your counter in this order.

1. Coconut flour dredge 2. egg wash 3. almond flour dredge 4. prepared baking tray. Gently place your first chicken pieces into the coconut-flour dredge, and press the flour into the chicken. We use a fork to move the chicken in and then a spoon to move the flour to coat the meat. Using a second dry fork, lift the chicken out of the coconut flour, shaking gently to remove extra dredge. Coat your chicken with the egg wash, taking care not to rub off the coconut layer. After coating the chicken in egg, move to the final almondflour dredge. Using your spoon-fork combo, completely cover your chicken in dredge. Remember to press the mixture into the chicken, or it won’t stick.

Give your chicken a gentle shake to remove excess coating and place your now-battered chicken on your prepared pan. Repeat steps for remaining chicken pieces, then place the pan in the oven and bake 20 minutes. Remove For faster cook from the oven, carefully flip chicken pieces and ing, flatten cook for an additional 10-15 minutes. For a the chicken by placing crispier chicken, turn your top broiler on and between two pieces of broil at 425°F for about 5 minutes. Keep an eye plastic wrap an d use a to make sure your chicken doesn’t burn, as indi- rolling pin or the bottom vidual oven temperatures may vary. of a pot to fla tte n.

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Chaffles, or cheese waffles, have hit the low-carb/ keto community in a fast and furious manner. Our chaffle can be brought back to bare-bones basics without the green onions and ham. How about using these barebones chaffles as a holder for all things keto? A sandwich? A burger? You can even add a serving of your favourite keto-friendly sweetener and dress it as a dessert – maybe a sweet version of a strawberry shortcake!

The possibilities are endless. Whatever route you choose, we’re betting you will fall in love with chaffles! Be careful not to overload your chaffles with too many ingredients! We topped our chaffle with a dollop of our keto mayonnaise, but you can also use butter or a spoonful of salsa or hot sauce to jazz up your plate.

4 eggs 1 cup cheese, grated 2/3 cup ham, minced 1/2 cup green onion, diced

2 tbsp almond flour 1/2 tsp cream of tartar Salt and pepper, to taste.

Combine all ingredients and place in a waffle maker on medium setting.

Cook for about 2 minutes, then open the waffle iron to check if the chaffle has reached your desired amount of doneness. We like our eggs on the lighter side, so two minutes is a lot for our taste, but your preference might be closer to 3 minutes.

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2 cups almond flour 3/4 cup powdered sweetener 2 tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp Xanthan gum 1/4 tsp nutmeg 2/3 cup butter 3 eggs 1/2 cup 35% whipping cream 2 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp orange zest

1 tsp vanilla 5 drops of liquid stevia, to taste 4 drops food-grade orange essential oil

Orange Cream Frosting 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened 1 cup 35% whipping cream 1/4 cup powdered sweetener 3 drops of food-grade orange essential oil 2 squirts tangerine-flavoured water enhancer (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients, including sweetener. Cream butter into the dry ingredients. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well with a stand or hand mixer. Note Batter will be thick! Pour batter into greased 9-inch pan and bake for 4045 minutes, depending on how hot your oven runs. Cake should just be starting to turn a tiny bit golden around the edges. Don’t move the cake from the oven right away, as the change in temperature may cause your cake to fall flat. Instead, turn off the oven, open the oven door about a quarter of the way and allow the cake to gradually reduce in temperature. I usually remove the cake after about 2-5 minutes with the door ajar.

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life is better Icy day in Western Brook Pond Becky Wiseman Springdale, NL

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reminiscing flashbacks

Bundle Up “This is winter the way I remember it,” writes the submitter.

“This photo of me was taken in 1950 in front of my home in Wilmot, Nova Scotia. Back then we had a lot of snow. The snow banks were extremely high, often reaching the power lines!”

Beryl Keddy via Downhomelife.com

Winter on Ice Gabriel Billard skates on a pond in Margaree in this undated photo.

Karen Simon Margaree, NL

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Breaking Through Fishing boats make their way through the ice off the coast of La Scie in 2007.

Nancy Norman La Scie, NL

This Month in History On New Year’s Day, January 1, 1933, Jabez and Lillian King of Broad Cove, NL, welcomed their first child - a baby boy named Malcolm Roy King. Dr. MacLean delivered him, and the Reverend Samuel Baggs performed the baptism. A fine start to the year.

Exactly five years later, on January 1, 1938, another baby boy, Jake, arrived, this time with Dr. Jacob H. King and the Reverend J.A. Wilkinson presiding over his arrival and baptism. Then, because clearly the Kings had a knack for timing, five years after that, on New Year’s Day 1943, a daughter, Ada, was delivered by Dr. Conran and baptized by Reverend A.S. Butt.

Jabez and Lillian always considered themselves fortunate. Three children, all born on the same date, each exactly five years apart – a rare bit of New Year’s luck!

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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.

January 1991 Volume 3 • Number 8

On December 5th, the president of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation announced cuts of $108 million from its national operating budget.

Twelve hundred people across the country lost their jobs. Here’s how it affected Newfoundland: In all, 70 people lost their jobs. The station in Goose Bay is closed. CBYT in Corner Brook, which started in 1959, has been downgraded to just a few jobs. With the exception of “Here and Now” and “News Final,” all local programming was stopped immediately. The presence of CBC in Newfoundland, as we knew it, is no more.

However, the need that it filled is still there. It’s an ill wind that blows no good, and one wonders if anything good will rise out of these particular ashes.

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Long-distance telephone rates for Newfoundlanders are going down. Effective January, Newfoundland Telephone will reduce its long-distance rates by 17%. The company says further cuts are in the works. And for the first time, Newfoundland Telephone could be facing competition in the longdistance communication business. Unitel, a Toronto-based company, has applied to the CRTC to enter the Newfoundland market. Under the arrangement, Unitel would use the telephone lines of Newfoundland Telephne and pay them a fee for it. Within the governing guidelines, Unitel could then charge the public up to 15% less than Newfoundland Telephone.

January 1996 Volume 8 – Number 8 –

A survey of members of the Corner Brook Chamber of Commerce shows unanimous support for having the mainland ferry designated an essential service. All 67 respondents to the Chamber-conducted survey agreed it should be an essential service. This was one of five questions posted to the Chamber members in the survey conducted Oct 30-Nov 3. 97 per cent agreed the service should be considered an extension of the Trans Canada Highway, while 98.5 per cent believed a dispute resolution should be in place to avoid strikes.

Reprinted from the Humber Log by permission.

Economic renewal for the Bonavista Peninsula is literally happening from the ground up with the exciting announcement of the approval of Cabot Resources Inc.’s Wildberry Farm Development Project. Chairman Whit Stagg, on behalf of the Board of Directors, is pleased to announce approval of Phase I of a two-year, three-phase $2.9 million project, valued at $207,000. The project, which will create 12 full-time and 38 part-time jobs through the harvesting of 2000 acres of berry lands on the Bonavista Peninsula, will complement an estimated 75 additional jobs created through a private sector secondary processing operation being established in Catalina.

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January 2001 Volume 13 • Number 8

Orlando – The St. John’s Maple Leafs of the American Hockey League have been recognized internationally for excellent management. The team was singled out for honourable mention within minor professional sports, finishing just behind the Chicago Wolves of the International Hockey League.

Maple Leafs VP Glen Stanford, who accepted the award on behalf of the club, explained that the St. John’s operation was up against minor pro sports operations of all types, including a large number of baseball teams.

Gerry Rogers, who was featured on The Rosie O’Donnell Show in December, was given a leadership award for Women’s Health in Atlantic Canada.

She was singled out for her role in developing protocol for Newfoundland emergency rooms, for dealing with battered women, in founding the first Transition House for battered women in St. John’s and in helping society understand women and breast cancer through filmmaking (My Left Breast) and other projects.

St. John’s – The 18-year-old Hotel Newfoundland in St. John’s has a new name. While the title ‘Hotel Newfoundland’ will remain on the building’s canopy, the hotel has officially become The Fairmont Newfoundland. The new name reflects the management company now operating the hotel, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.

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—

January 2006 Volume 18 • Number 8 –

A survey published in this issue presented “George Street by the Numbers.” The street, at the time, contained 28 bars and measured 1,132 feet in length. 600 people were employed by George Street Bars in the offseason, with 1,000 employed during each of the main four festivals. An average of 60,000 revellers attend each of those festivals, with around 1 million tourists per year. 14 per cent of St. John’s residents say they buy food and/or drinks downtown, according to the survey by the Downtown Development Commission.

Joy Newhook of Mount Pearl has been overwhelmed with the amount of support she’s received from Newfoundlanders and Labradorians for her Blankets for Pakistan drive. Last October, an earthquake in Pakistan killed tens of thousands and left 2.5 million people homeless. Joy decided to help, and she put out a call over the radio for others to do the same. Soon, her home became so full of donated items that her neighbour, Diane Spurrell, opened up her home as well. In November, boxes arrived from all over the province, and eventually they collected over 1900 blankets, 400 baby blankets, 33 tents, 274 sleeping bags and almost 300 boxes of medical supplies.

On January 1, 2006, Newfoundland and Labrador ushered in its first female Fire Chief. Sonia Williams of Harbour Grace is the longest-serving female firefighter in the province as a 12-year member of the Harbour Grace Voluntary Fire Brigade. The only female in her department, Williams was elected by a majority vote to take up the top position in the new year. She has also had a long career as a supervisor in a fishplant and coaches minor hockey in her spare time.

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reminiscing visions & vignettes

Gnat, do you mind…

Toboggans

By Harold N. Walters

Harry was poisoned with Santa Claus. During the weeks before Christmas, Harry had struggled to stay off Santa’s Naughty list — to no avail. The number one gift he’d requested in his letter to Santa had not shown up beneath the tree on Christmas morning. Now, in the middle of January, Harry was still disgusted with the jolly old elf.

“I wanted a toboggan,” Harry said to Gnat as they stood in the fresh snow at the top of Uncle Rube Ginn’s woods path.

“You keeps saying,” said Gnat, “but it’s no good to keep bawling about it.”

Fancying he was booting Santa’s butt, Harry kicked the snow. “This would be some spot for toboggan rides.”

“It would so,” said Gnat.

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Although steep, Uncle Rube’s path was the tidiest one in Brookwater.

Uncle Rube had trimmed tree trunks in equally spaced gaps on either side of the trail. Like fence posts staked in parallel rows, the trees defined the path’s edges.

Thick secretions of myrrh encrusted every trunk.

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powered chute. Visions of toboggan rides danced in his head.

“Frig Santa Claus,” Harry said, “I’m going to make my own toboggan.”

“You’m the b’y,” said Gnat.

As sure as scripture, it came to pass that Harry made his own toboggan.

One day, without fear of being nabbed because Old Man Farley was at the supper table intently eating a double helping of saltfish and potatoes, Harry and Gnat sneaked through the shadows into Old Man Farley’s shed and heisted a piece of plywood.

“I ‘lowed Old Man Farley’d have some good wood among his scraps,” Harry said as he and Gnat absconded at opposite ends of an eight-foot piece of thin plywood.

“It’s hardly a scrap,” Gnat spoke over his shoulder and adjusted his grip.

“It’s long and narrow enough for a toboggan, though. It isn’t too wide either.” Keeping a firm hold, Harry pictured one end of the wafer-thin plywood bent backwards like a toboggan’s curled front end.

After lugging it to Pa’s work shed, Harry measured the plywood using Pa’s tape.

“Eight-foot long. Eighteen inches wide.” Harry rolled the tape back inside its casing.

“Dandy,” said Gnat. “But how are you going to curl the front?”

“Steam.”

“Steam?”

“Yes.” Harry pointed to what looked like a mutated kettle the size of a washtub stored beneath the workbench. “When he built our punt last year, Pa rigged up that contraption to steam birch slats so he could bend them to shape the ribs.”

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With Gnat’s help, Harry scoated the kettle across the floor and, straining their guts out, hoisted it to the wide top of the shed’s cast-iron stove.

Within the hour, me buck-oes had the kettle filled with brook water and a fire blazing in the stove’s firebox.

Steam commenced to pour from the kettle’s hose-like flexible spout.

Using Pa’s brace-and-bit, Harry drilled holes in two corners of the pilfered plywood. He threaded the rope of a discarded set of reins through the holes and tied mighty knots in the ends to prevent slippage. He ran the rope’s loose ends through pulleys he’d already bolted to the board, a measured distance from the drill holes.

Meanwhile, the kettle gurgled and spewed forth steam.

Harry handed the rope to Gnat.

“Your job is to haul with all your might, like you’m reining in a stampeding team of horses. I’ll steam the wood.”

Pa’s elbow-length leather gloves smothering his hands, Harry held the spout like a fire hose and directed the steam.

Slowly, the wood and the resin binding its plies heated and softened.

Gnat braced himself, dug in his heels and pulled on the reins.

Before the kettle boiled dry, before Gnat’s noggin burst from the strain, the plywood curled, not exactly like the front of a toboggan, but close enough.

Harry trimmed off his toboggan with half a dozen slats nailed across its seat and the trailing ends of the rope reeved through holes in the crossbars. As a finishing touch — and perhaps to spite Santa Claus — Harry used two or three colours of glossy January 2026

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paint he found on the workbench to paint a pair of humongous, demonic eyes on the toboggan’s forehead.

It was nigh onto dark by the time Harry fastened a tow rope to the toboggan.

“She’s a beaut.” Harry stood back and admired his handiwork.

Gnat couldn’t help but agree. “That she is.”

“We’ll test her out tonight,” said Harry.

“In the dark?” A smidgen of uncertainty shivered in Gnat’s voice.

“Not in the pitch dark,” said Harry.

“I got an idea.”

“I ‘low,” said Gnat.

There was no moon that night, and the sky was only half full of stars, and even they seemed to lack lustre.

Toboggan in tow, Harry and Gnat arrived at the foot of Uncle Rube’s woods path, directly across the road from his bungalow’s porch door.

They could barely see each other in the lamplight glimmering from the porch window.

“Hope you brought matches.”

Harry patted his pocket to show he’d remembered that detail of the plan they discussed back in the work shed.

“A full box.” Said Gnat.

“Let’s go then.”

Towing the toboggan together, Harry and Gnat trudged across the level landing where Uncle Rube stacked his firewood until he carried it across the road to his bucksaw.

They climbed the path until they reached the first pair of myrrh-coated trees, where they parked the toboggan and fished out their matchboxes.

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slight breeze and, almost as if rehearsed, stuck matches in unison and set fire to the myrrh.

Satisfied that the myrrh was burning, they moved on to the next pair of trees and lit up two more patches of myrrh… … and so on, until they reached the top of the path.

“Jim-dandy.” Flickers of flame from the corridor of fiery tree trunks illuminated Harry’s chops.

“It is.” Gnat’s cheeks flickered just like Harry’s.

“Alright, b’y, let’s line her up and get aboard.”

Almost as quick as Granny caught the weasel, the boys settled the toboggan into position. Harry sat up front holding the tow rope. Gnat sat in the rear, latched on to the side ropes. Their knees almost knocking their noses, the intrepid riders dragged their heels through the snow and spurred the toboggan into movement.

Perhaps sensing danger, the toboggan stalled for a moment before it tipped over the path’s lip and commenced its downhill run.

“We’m off,” a pair of voices cheered.

Cheers dying in the frosty air, the toboggan lumbered down the first ten feet of slope. It crawled past the first myrrh torches as if it feared what fate might be waiting at the finish line.

“Go. Go.” The boys rocked back and forth, coaxing the toboggan to pick up the pace, which it decided to do.

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glaring like the rolling eyes of a lunatic in the light of the flaming tree trunks.

It blew past Uncle Rube’s woodpile, hit the scooped edge of embankment where the landing joined the shoulder of the road and, like an Olympic bobsled, went airborne… … at the very instant Aunt Mary Ginn opened the porch door to let the cat out.

Puss hissed and made a pointless bared-claws swipe at the monster hurtling across the road.

And Aunt Mary…well, when she saw the manic eyes that had spooked Puss, Aunt Mary hove her arms over her head and — as was her wont — measured her length on the porch step.

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Harry and Gnat caught a glimpse of Aunt Mary, supine on the step seconds before the toboggan touched down on the eave of Uncle Rube’s bungalow.

Touched down but didn’t stop.

Instead, like Prancer and Dancer and the rest of Santa’s coursers of Christmas Eve renown, it swooped up the roof’s slope, blasted past the chimney and flew into the night’s dark sky. Reaching the zenith of its flight, the toboggan hovered for a heartbeat — or perhaps two — before it plummeted towards the droke of snotty var below.

Mind that toboggan ride, Gnat?

Thanks to the tangle of spruce trees beyond Uncle Rube’s house, two reckless bay boys — despite inevitable paternal lashes on arses — lived to remember.

Harold Walters lives in Dunville, NL, doing his damnedest to live Happily Ever After. Reach him at ghwalters663@gmail.com

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I won’t forget the time I pulled the wool over Joseph R. Smallwood’s eyes.

First, allow me to put my story into historical context for those who are too young to remember the flamboyant contender who signed an agreement on December 11, 1948, to bring Newfoundland, Britain’s oldest colony, into the Canadian Confederation, much to the joy of those who had voted to join Canada and to the chagrin of those who voted to remain a country. The pages of Newfoundland history turned for the bad or the good as 300,000 Newfoundlanders who had been born British subjects became Canadians.

The little man with a big voice from Mint Brook near Gambo became the first premier of the tenth province of Canada on April 1, 1949 and remained premier for almost a quarter of a century (1949-1972).

During Smallwood’s premiership, his disembodied voice often blared from radios across the province.

Sometimes he could be heard through a loudspeaker as his campaign car drove through communities. Women in aprons, some with a baby on their hip, hurried out on their doorstep while men in fishing gear stood on a stage or wharf as Joey’s motorcade went by.

“The man has gone right through the roof!” one woman exclaimed after seeing the great man’s head through an open sunroof, a loudhailer in his hand.

“There’s a lot of bull in that bullhorn,” her husband said.

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During one Liberal election campaign, I and other school children gathered outdoors during our school lunch break to get a look at the man whose voice had preceded him on the radio. He did not arrive on schedule, and we reluctantly left for school rather than risk having our hands strapped for being late.

Joey, though no great looker, had a certain presence. He knew how to connect with ladies, charming many of them into voting for him, nature pushing a dimple in his left cheek when he smiled.

During his 1966 campaign, Joey’s aides passed out compact make-up mirrors with Joey’s 3-D picture and a caption on the opposite side of the mirror: “WILL THE LADY ON THE OTHER SIDE VOTE FOR ME.” It was a good enough reason for many ladies to cosy up to Joey any way they could.

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When one woman accepted the mirror from a Liberal campaigner, she looked into it and exclaimed, “My oh my! Here I am on one side and Joey on the other. The likes of that. I never thought we could get that close.”

“Not a good enough reason for me to vote for him,” her husband umped. “The next thing, Joey will be walking on water.”

the great beyond anytime, but not without taking Joey with her. He was going to be looking down on her from the inside cover of her coffin, she and Joey dressed in their Sunday best.

“All well and good if you could get your eyes open to see yourself that close to him,” a neighbour told her.

Another die-hard fan hurried from her home to join a gathering of people waiting to see the great man, her

Other women were so smitten by the man that they had his photo framed and hung in their bedroom.

“He will when the pond freezes over,” she said.

“When hell freezes over,” he muttered, showing the great divide that is often between couples when it comes to politics.

The mirror became a sacred memento for some women. One woman found it handy when she wanted to pluck a hair from her chin or preen into it, ever mindful of Joey on the other side. She also had Joey’s framed portrait on the wall of her kitchen, right up there with a framed poster of Jesus knocking on a door as if he, too, was looking for a vote.

Other women were so smitten by the man that they had his photo framed and hung in their bedroom.

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white apron waving like a flag as she gushed, “Seeing the premier is something wonderful. Sure, he’s more to my fancy than the queen of England.

He’s got my X and my Y and everything in between.”

“There’s nothing in between,” her husband mumbled and pointed to her head.

Another woman said, “I’ll always be there to thank Joey for the baby bonus. The ten youngsters might have starved otherwise.”

Smallwood changed the course of Newfoundland’s history by marrying her people to Canada for better or worse. Until Newfoundland joined Canada, there had been very little help, other than the dole, from the Commission of Government. Families found it difficult to feed large families. Joey grabbed their ears with 1-888-588-6353

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his promise of “the baby bonus.”

In April 1949, 50,000 women received a baby bonus cheque ($5-8 per child), the only money many mothers ever received in their childraising years. Though fishermen’s wives minded the household needs

understand what he wanted. His ears must have hated his own growls as he tried to speak – to command. I could only think how small he looked without his props: black-framed eyeglasses, bowtie and booming voice. I hurried to turn down the radio on a table

In jumping up, he had let the white sheet covering his pyjamas-clad body slide down. I bent to pull it up over him. To my dismay, it went right over his head. and helped cure fish, they weren’t considered to be employed.

When I was a teenager, I got to meet Joey up close for the first time.

I came face-to-face with him on the steps of the high school I was attending in Windsor. He shook my hand, and I got a good look at him. He wasn’t so big after all. It was his voice that was big, his black bowtie with the white polka dots, and his blackrimmed glasses imposing.

I and members of my family saw him for the last time on the Thanksgiving weekend of 1988 in the Health Sciences Centre, where he was hospitalized. We were visiting a family member when we spied Joey, his door open. He waved a hand for us to come in, and we cautiously entered his room. He made a gesture towards his radio on a side table, then lifted his hand in consternation when I didn’t

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beside his bed. Suddenly, making a frustrated growl, he jumped up on his knees and switched off the radio.

Then he lay back, looking satisfied.

In jumping up, he had let the white sheet covering his pyjamas-clad body slide down. I bent to pull it up over him. To my dismay, it went right over his head.

He grabbed the sheet with both fists and glared at me as if I was hurrying him to a maker he was not quite ready to acknowledge as God. He tucked the sheet under his chin with such feistiness that, for a moment, I glimpsed the larger-thanlife Joseph R. Smallwood.

Pulling the proverbial wool over Joey’s eyes may have been political justice for all the times he pulled the wool over the eyes of little old ladies peering into his looking glass, the man himself, posing behind it.

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reminiscing

By Lloyd Mushrow Port aux Basques, NL

106

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My late father told me many tales and assured me that all of them were true.

The main character in this story was a real, living man whom they nicknamed Bruiser. It takes place at the Port aux Basques railway terminal shed in 1942. Bruiser and my father were two of many stevedores who worked unloading the Gulf ferry, the SS Caribou. (This ferry was later torpedoed on October 14th of that same year.)

The Port aux Basques port and shed were very busy in those days, since it was the nearest seaport to mainland Canada. This meant that most of the freight and express came through here on route to other places. It also meant that the railway stevedores were constantly exposed to all of the latest developments passing through, such as automobiles and other new items.

One can imagine the excitement a travelling circus created when it was on the scene. This was the case in July of that year. It had been a very windy night crossing for the Caribou. It arrived late that morning with most of the passengers seasick and looking as if they had been dragged through a bag of nails. It was still windy and raining as the skimpily-clad souls inched their way across the gangway and scurried quickly toward the waiting train.

The mood ashore was understandably different; here we had hearty young men full of vim and vigour, anxious to get to work. The word was out there that there was a circus aboard and there would be lots of exotic animals. Dad said you could feel the excitement in the air, and the eyes of the workers were twinkling like little kids on Christmas morning.

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Sure enough, in came a variety of caged animals. There were monkeys, tigers, lions and elephants, and to top it all off, one very large silverback gorilla. Most of the animals were in bad shape, especially the gorilla, and there was no shortage of men volunteering to get them new bedding or help the circus crew with the feeding.

It wasn’t long for most of them to bounce back to a point where they looked like they belonged somewhere on this planet.

A decision was made to hold the circus for an extra day in the hope that the animals might fully recuperate from their ordeal.

Basques as a jungle dud. They thought to get some response by throwing small bits of potato at him, but to no avail. Suddenly someone called out, “Ah, me sons! Look out now, ol’ Bruiser is coming. He’ll get ‘im to move, I bet ya.”

Bruiser was a fearless man with broad shoulders and a forced, rough voice that was deep and commanding. He wore a tattered, brown bomber jacket that seemed to compete for attention over his black, tobacco-stained beard.

My father claimed that although Bruiser was a bit rough around the edges, he was still a pretty level-

Spurred on by the men, Bruiser walked straight up to the cage, looked the massive beast straight in the eye and said in a loud, raspy voice, “Wha’s the matter wit’ you, me son?”

After several hours, things started to quiet down a bit, except for the big silverback who was now getting all the attention – not because it was doing anything, but rather the opposite. This animal was obviously still seasick and in no mood for attention of any kind. It sat there motionless, staring straight ahead with large brown eyes that seemed to penetrate everything in front of it, including the strong one-inch bars.

I guess it must have been the size and potential power of this creature, along with its placid state, that piqued the men’s curiosity. They expected more from him, possibly an action of some sort, like pounding his chest, rattling the bars, a roar, anything. Surely this 600-pound beast wasn’t going to leave Port aux 108

January 2026

headed fellow. Dad said that you can always tell this about a man when you see equal amounts of tobacco juice coming from both corners of his mouth at the same time.

Spurred on by the men, Bruiser walked straight up to the cage, looked the massive beast straight in the eye and said in a loud, raspy voice, “Wha’s the matter wit’ you, me son?”

Still, there was no response. The men now quietly huddled in a halffrozen state close behind Bruiser, wondering what was to happen next.

“What are you gonna do now, Bruiser?” one whispered. Bruiser never answered; he just bent down and picked up two pieces of straw that were near his rubber boot. He pushed one into the other to elongate them, 1-888-588-6353

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then stood up and reached in through the bars with the straws that just barely reached the gorilla’s nostrils.

You could hear a pin drop as he proceeded to manipulate the end of the straw in and out of its nose. There was no visible response, but the animal’s breathing got louder and more pronounced. By this time, I guess curiosity replaced caution, and Bruiser failed to pick up on the warning signals.

Suddenly, all hell broke loose.

Shattering the silence with an explosion of energy, in a flash of fury, the gorilla extended his long left arm

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through the cage and grabbed Bruiser by the leather collar. Instantly, he was drawn up tight to the bars, firmly embedded about a foot from the ground. About four inches separated their eyes as they stared motionlessly at each other.

All was deathly quiet, apart from the sound of urine dripping down from Bruiser’s bootless feet to the ground. After several eternal seconds, the gorilla spoke, calling Bruiser by name, in very good English, I might add, and said, “Listen here, Bruiser. Don’t you ever, ever poke straw at me again!”

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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

Free WALL CALENDAR Free EXPLORE TRAVEL GUIDE 2 Issues INSIDE LABRADOR †

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ORDER ONLINE TODAY! www.downhomelife.com

2601_Puzzles_1701-puzzles 11/19/25 2:38 PM Page 112

puzzles The Beaten Path

Julie Baggs 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.

M M K E

B S

T

n

M

m

J L R

T p n H V U x Q A S K B T M J U m K E V S H

J

H

M H

x

E

m

L S

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

Last Month’s Community: Colliers 112

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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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Sharon Whalen original 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: ● Located in “Scenic Green Bay” ● Logging and mining are mainstay industries ● Birthplace of actress Natasha Henstridge ● Longtime hometown of humourist Ed Smith ● First European settlers named it Wolf Cove

Last Month’s Answer: Hopedale

Picturesque Place NameS of Newfoundland and Labrador

by Mel D’Souza Last Month’s Answer: Red Bay 114

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

Last Month’s Clue: Never gaze into the jaws of a donation equine In Other Words: Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

This Month’s Clue: Attractiveness exists in the perception of the gazer In Other Words: _____ __ __ ___ ___ __ ___ ________

A Way With Words

Rhyme Time A rhyming word game by Ron Young

walking eggshells

1. To sample a chip is to ___ a ___

Last Month’s Answer: Walking on eggshells

2. One who fails to appear is a __ ____

This Month’s Clue

THECATCHERRYE Answer: _______ __ ___ ___

3. A suspicious woman is a _____ ____ Last Month’s Answers 1. no snow, 2. belly full of jelly, 3. present sent

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.

L E C O A A A D E C A A C E B A D E B L E E D O B U O M R U D D G O H H E L L E E O O E L H I P B Y S T S N E M S O R L S Y P R S O S V M R M U R N T U S P S R S P S

Last month’s answer: It’s all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends and family. www.downhomelife.com

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Rhymes 5 Times Each answer rhymes with the other four

1. stride

____________

2. chat

____________

3. limestone

____________

4. harass

____________

5. refuse

____________

STUCK? Don’t get your knickers in a knot!

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

Last Month’s Answers: 1. beard, 2. reared, 3. feared, 4. geared, 5. seared

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. HALOS NIPOT

For best results sound the clue words out loud!

2. EASTERSPY

Heaven Iced Hey ____ _ ____ ___

3. SCYAIB YBA

Up Oat Hate Oaf Armor _ ______ ______

5. TREEPS RVIER

Last Month’s 1st Clue: Owe Verb Airing.

Answer: Overbearing. Last Month’s 2nd Clue: Bit Hurt Hears. Answer: Bitter tears.

4. LAPGROUT VCOE SHOUT

Last Month’s Answers: 1. Petites, 2. Grand Bruit, 3. Grey River, 4. Francois, 5. Burgeo

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

1. DART VENUE ~ Clue: it’s never boring 2. MADE TINY ~ Clue: it’s a blast to work with 3. ROLEX REP ~ Clue: he’s all over the map 4. GRAVY IT ~ Clue: it doesn’t let you down easy 5. COCAO SIN ~ Clue: when it happens, it’s special Last Month’s Answers: 1. envelope, 2. forgiveness, 3. occasion, 4. pessimist, 5. quadruplet 116

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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 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1-10: strangely 1-21: rear 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 1-91: then 3-8: usual 6-9: shopping centre 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 7-10: friend 9-39: running behind 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 11-15: parable 12-15: can 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 15-17: deer 20-15: wrestle 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 20-17: pushpin 25-21: ticker 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 25-22: take heed 26-29: steam whistle 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 29-25: molar 32-2: colourless 32-35: move swiftly 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 35-31: switch 38-35: brag 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 38-58: pull 40-20: perch 93-53: insurgent 62-42: wedge dessert 40-35: embark (2 wds) 97-67: comedian Jay 62-64: bench seat 40-70: achy 99-97: zilch 41-46: prepare to fire again 64-84: overcame 100-10: spirit of giving 67-70: stare openly 43:46: laundry portion 73-43: peal 47-17: expression Last Month’s Answer 73-71: Aero 47-49: toss 75-73: burgle 47-77: lake bird D EHCA T T ANU 75-80: acclaim 49-29: gamble E CCH S A S NR L 80-50: Rome’s famed fid49-46: outspoken C HA I ROU T E T dler 51-54: undomesticated A E E N T E ROT I 84-86: Mother Teresa 51-60: pitcher plant P A T R I OT I SM 87-90: rim 51-71: battle I P I EMR U L E A 88-68: collie 55-5: priest T E S D P AR E N T 88-86: study 55-95: meeting 91-95: Beat it!

A S S ROY B I T E 56-76: mislead 91-100: scurrying 56-86: hold on property T T UU S OON I L 58-55: “big bad” creature 92-62: bull E L EME N T ARY

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The Bayman’s

Crossword Puzzle 1

2

by Ron Young 3

4

5

6

7

8

10

9

11

34

31

35

37

41

40

A

38

42

44

46

45

47

48

49

51

50

118

25

30

29

33

43

17

24

36

39

16

20

28

27

32

15

14

23

22

26

13

19

18

21

12

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ACROSS 1. ___ come? – why 3. new 5. do not resuscitate (abbrev) 6. opposite of WNW 7. seal flipper ___ 9. saint 12. spanking (colloq) 18. waterproof overshoes (colloq) 20. skilled flier 21. Stay where you’re __ till I comes where you’re at 23. longer 24. religion 26. fish ___ brewis 28. lean on 30. symbol for iron 31. __ J.M. Olds – physician who cured “seal finger” 32. pasture 34. delete 36. paddle 38. “Oh me, oh __, I think I’m gonna die” 39. hay tool 41. ungroups 43. before (poetic) 44. “Where __ that blackbird to?”

45. either 46. An honest man when there ___ __ anchors around (2 words) 48. derogatory words 50. young harp seal (colloq) 51. ___glass – binoculars DOWN 1. backwards (colloq, 3 words) 2. sea urchin (colloq, 2 words) 4. dashes in grammar 8. She had me __ the knots – laughing 10. pig’s ___ – doggy treat 11. perjurer 12. I don’t want to hear ___ of it!

13. rural route (abbrev) www.downhomelife.com

14. “__ da b’y that catches the fish” 15. type of cirrus cloud (2 words) 16. glitter (storm) 17. no ____ of it – unnecessary 19. fit to be ___ 22. lonesome as a gull __ _ rock (2 words) 24. come from away (abbrev) 25. two-wheeled carts (colloq) 27. thick stand of trees (colloq) 29. “What’re __ at, atall?”

33. woman’s name 35. “We’ll rant and we’ll ____ like true Newfoundlanders” 37. __ nerves is rubbed right raw!

38. _____-go-round 40. he fell _____ over kettle 41. appear 42. ___ Mildred – colloq, meaning dearly departed 44. “wearin’ his mother’s big 42 ___” 46. Uncle __ Clouston – NL joke book author 47. opposite of SW 49. Great Big Sea album

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

ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD

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DIAL-A-SMILE © 2026 Ron Young

Pick the right letters from the old style phone to match the numbers grouped below and uncover a quote which will bring a smile to your face.

____ 5453

____ 4323

_ 2

__ 66 _ 4

_____ 96626

___ 437

____ 4283

____ 9484

_ 2

______ ___ 746853 377

.

_ 4

_____ 63257

Last Month’s Answer: Just when I discovered the meaning of life, they changed it. ©2026 Ron Young

CRACK THE CODE

X

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

_ _

_ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ T

7e

peD 3 tX1 3 eX

_ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

AeBi H 3 l k 3

pe _ _ _ _

z7 n t

T _ _

XZ 3

_ _ _ T

; 3 tX

_ _ T _ _ _ _ T p eX 3 Y 3 tX Last Month’s Answer: A good cook is like a sorceress who dispenses happiness.

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Food For Thought

© 2026 Ron Young

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.”

odd = _

_ _ _ _ _ _

complete = _ _ _

_

run =

_

things = _

_

s}v v

vo i l b ` e _

_

present = _ _ _ _ ` [ so

_ _

hardy = _

_ _

_

bt

lie

i e ` i eo v

k}vo

_ _

_ _ _

o he i e

_ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

ot}` h

_ _ _

_ _ _

_ _ _

vo}ss

kt `

_ _

_ _

[b

_

_

_ _ _

_

v [s e

_ _

_

v e v vt b v

Last Month’s Answer: A friend is a gift you give yourself. – Robert Louis Stevenson

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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 A GAME OF PING PONG

Last Month’s Answers: 1. Star, 2. Tail fin, 3. Sled, 4. Santa’s bag, 5. Jacket, 6. Woman’s cap, 7. Child’s arm, 8. Antler, 9. Narrows, 10. Jet engine, 10.

Wing, 11. Nose wheel 122

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HIDE & SEEK NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

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

APOLOGIZE ATTITUDE CAREER DECLUTTER DEDICATION

FINANCES FITNESS FORGIVENESS IMPROVEMENTS LEARNING

MINDFULNESS MOTIVATION ROMANCE SOBRIETY TRAVEL

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

Last Month’s Answers

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

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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.”

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January 2026

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Not intended to solicit properties currently under contract

709-726-5113 1-888-588-6353 advertising@downhomelife.com

Book your ad in Marketplace 709-726-5113 or 1-888-588-6353

126

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Trinity Bay North Located on east coast in beautiful Port Union, just 10 miles from historic town of Bonavista.

Building measures approximately 38' x 58' and sits on half acre+ of prime property with highway on front and waterfront on back.

It’s 25 years old and will require a few upgrades.

Original survey available.

Property taxes approximately $1300 year.

Priced to sell at $85,000.

Book your ad in Marketplace 709-726-5113 or 1-888-588-6353

Movers & Shippers Rates start at $175 for a 1 col. x 2" ad.

Inquiries at db0078@hotmail.com or text/call 250-631-7066.

Call Today!

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the back porch the Labrador current

The Beautiful Game

By Nathan Freake

“Oh, he’ll be so excited!”

I heard my mother exclaim over the phone. I poked my head into the room, and she gave me the classic “just a minute” hand signal for me to stick around.

“Who was that?” I asked when she hung up.

She had a wide grin on her face that I’ll never forget. It was New Year’s Day, and one of our family friends had gathered a large group of teenagers and young adults for a giant game of ball hockey on the mall parking lot that evening. He wondered if I might be interested in joining them.

To this day, it is difficult to explain how that moment felt as a young lad.

At that time in my life, hockey was everything. I was ten, turning eleven, and my life seemed to revolve around hockey. So, when someone took time out of their day to acknowledge my interest and invite the “little guy,” it meant the world to me. I felt a twinge 132

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of nervousness to accompany the somersaults in my stomach. When you’re a kid and have found yourself included by someone older, it’s impossible to put into words how important it makes you feel.

Come to think of it, I had just gotten two new hockey nets for Christmas, which may have had something to do with it…

We loaded our gear into the pan of the truck – sticks, nets, shovels and all – and headed for the mall. It was an unusually balmy January night, with no wind in the trees, and the distant scraping and beeps of snow-clearing equipment carried between the streets of town. In Labrador, daylight in January is beautiful, but hard to come by.

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In the darkness, the parking lot lights shone brightly after the early-set sun.

Snow danced lightly, coating the parking lot in a shimmering, fresh dusting.

Three of the guys were lined side by side with wide-blade shovels in hand.

They made passes one after another, barreling the snow over at an angle like an ocean wave. Soon, the surface was scraped clear, and the games began.

I played in net with my new street hockey gear, and you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I can’t tell you how many saves I made. Maybe two, maybe twenty, but I felt like I stood on

my head, like a superstar. At one point, I remember making a glove hand save, and the whole team came back to tap me on the helmet. I stood a little taller that day, and I’ll forever look back on it as a highlight.

Afterwards, we sat on tailgates and drank hot chocolate, saying our goodbyes and well wishes for a Happy New Year. To this day, the tournament continues near the tail end of the Christmas break, ringing in the New Year with a bang. We’ve played in blistering cold weather, have had three generations of players join in multiple families, or come-from-aways lace up whenever they’d be in town for the holidays. Every year I’m home, I look forward to it.

That evening, under the parking lot lights, with snow falling gently, made me understand what it was that made my home truly special: our unpredictable weather, our predictably warm and caring people, and our love for being together and doing the things that we love. I’m sure for many of you, that’s what home feels like as well.

I hope, wherever you are, that this New Year you feel as “at-home” as little ten-year-old me when I was invited to play in a small, seemingly meaningless game of ball hockey in the middle of winter on New Year’s Day all these years ago.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Nathan Freake is a writer and educator from Labrador City. For any inquiries, you can reach Nathan at thelabcurrent@gmail.com

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January 2026

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the back porch what odds

take the diamonds and run

By Paul Warford

You know Leo for the same reason I know Leo, the reason we all know Leo: Mona. Leo’s Mona Lisa is the most famous artwork in the world, and you don’t need to go to Wikipedia to figure that out.

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As university students, my friends and I sat in the New Minas McDonald’s in 2003, chatting and snacking. A hideous seaside painting hung on the wall above us, and we talked about how funny it would be to just snag it and walk out with the cheap, framed print. Without saying anything to us, our friend Beaver stuck it under his navy pea coat, and I can still see him now, all these years later, running like The Pink Panther across that parking lot, his scarf flowing behind him, the painting clutched in his hand. Not our proudest moment, but what can you say? Beaver saw an opportunity, and he took it.

In 2016, I went to the Uffizi Gallery. This is a prominent art museum in Florence, Italy. The place was originally an office building for the Medici banking family, hence the name “Uffizi,” which translates to “office.” Don’t say I never go on Wikipedia for you guys because I’ve spent some time there to prep for today’s distinguished discussion of the arts.

My ex-wife and I surveyed the Florentine courtyard as we queued for entry at eight in the morning – this is one of the most-visited museums in the world, housing some of the greatest hits of Renaissance art, so getting there early was necessary. I couldn’t help but notice, as we waited in the sun, that the Italian military was present, with a trio of olive-skinned, seriouslooking guards standing around holding assault rifles on shoulder straps. The guns were Beretta 70/90s, maybe, or something like that.

Beretta was founded “no later” than 1526, making it not only the oldest firearms manufacturer in the world, but one of the oldest companies in the world, period. So, here we were, lining up to get into the oldest banking office in the world, now one of the oldest museums in the 1-888-588-6353

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world, itself protected by the oldest weapons manufacturer in the world.

No wonder the guards looked so serious; that’s a lot of history to have in your hands on a Tuesday morning.

The Uffizi has a few Leonardos as well, and I certainly wanted to see those. Italy’s Renaissance man knows no equal for 500 years running, and it’s not every day you get to see his work.

You know Leo for the same reason I know Leo, the reason we all know Leo: Mona. Leo’s Mona Lisa is the most famous artwork in the world, and you don’t need to go to Wikipedia to figure that out. She’s the most recognizable cultural figure, and since famous artworks are among the most valuable items in society, that means Mona is the most valuable…thing in the world, the most valuable single object. What kind of guns would you employ to protect her?

A few months have passed since the infamous 2025 royal jewel theft at the Louvre. They’ve rounded up a few of the handsome thieves, and charges have been laid. Whether they get those precious sapphires back or not, the damage has been done, and the security staff of the world’s most-visited museum, containing the world’s most valuable thing, are a laughing stock.

The annual revenue to France from the Louvre totals between $200-$500 million, according to the Internet. Security staff admitted that, in the wing these jewels were housed in, onequarter of it was not covered by security cameras, and after you re-read that a couple of times, you can start to understand why the world is laughing.

The lads around here put a Ring camera on their sheds for crying out loud. www.downhomelife.com

You’d buy a few cameras to protect your quad and snow blower, so you’d assume the French government would invest in a few cameras to keep an eye on the country’s crown jewels.

The cameras may have had eyes on the jewels, I don’t know. For this art appreciator, that’s not really the point.

The point is that of pride; if you’re running this sort of operation, there should be cameras covering every inch of the place. You can visit the Stardust in Vegas knowing there’s a camera watching you from the front door to the buffet station and everywhere in between, and they’re just protecting a few hundred million dollars and some imported potted plants. The Stardust isn’t going to let two guys with disc cutters make off with any dollars or chips, and, say what you will about the gaudy glitz of this gambling gateway, at least these Vegas goons take their investments seriously.

Meanwhile, back in France, the Louvre staff are shrugging their shoulders in thousand-dollar suits while the gendarmes are checking under every rock, and the shame of it all is the unlikelihood of it happening in the first place.

Sapphire crowns aren’t supposed to lie abandoned in the street, and a couple of clever crooks shouldn’t be able to leave a major cultural institution standing with their pants down. Unlike McDonald’s locations, which do display “art” from time to time, but it’s not how they make their money…

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 January 2026

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the back porch ties to home

handmade with love by dianna brown

My Dad bought a MiniDV digital camcorder in the 90s, and 35 years later, it serves as a wistful window to our past.

There’s a sense of nostalgic homesickness as we reminisce over videos of friends and family who are no longer with us. One video in particular, a visit to my grandparents in December of ’96, pulled at my heartstrings. In the kitchen of their saltbox-style house, friends and family gathered around the table for a spur-of-the-moment kitchen party. The beat of feet tapping and hands clapping kept time better than any metronome, as the lilting staccato notes of my Pop’s fiddle and my uncle’s guitar brought people to 136

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their feet to dance a jig. The music paused only long enough for dancers to take a seat, catch their breath and refill their drinks.

At the kitchen table, through a fog of cigarette smoke, sat Javie, an old retired fisherman. He was a soft-spoken man, radiating an aura of respect, with a heart of gold. Lovingly, he was called ‘Jeepers,’ as he used this minced oath frequently in his storytelling to express surprise or delight, and sometimes dismay over long-forgotten hardships. His buoyant spirit em1-888-588-6353

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anated in the twinkle of his blue eyes set behind thick-framed glasses; his tobacco pipe, a constant fixture on his weathered face, was replaced only by the sip of a hot toddy.

In the video, voices quieted when my Uncle Ed picked up his guitar and strummed a couple of chords from a familiar song: Dolly Parton’s “A Coat of Many Colours.” Javie straightened his back and propped his elbows on the kitchen table. He held a tissue in one hand, and in the other the pipe with a little blue box of matches tucked in his palm. His hands and forearms moved like those of an orchestra conductor anticipating the lyrics of the song.

In case you’re not familiar, this song is about Dolly Parton’s recollection of growing up in poverty, with no coat to wear in late fall. With no money, her mother sewed a patchwork coat from a donated box of small pieces of rags.

Although Dolly wore the coat to school with pride, the schoolchildren were quick to make fun of her coat. The song ends with great insight:

But they didn’t understand it And I tried to make them see That one is only poor Only if they choose to be Now I know we had no money But I was rich as I could be In my coat of many colors My momma made for me This last verse brought a distant gaze to Javie’s eyes, like the melody opened a floodgate of memories. His bottom lip puckered out now and then, in an attempt to hold back tears. Although he tried, he could only sing a few words of the emotion-packed lyrics before his bottom lip would jut out again. When the song ended, Javie shook his tissue and pipe in a spontaneous expression of fisted joy, and said, “I loves that song, I do.” All attention turned to him when he laid down his pipe and tissue.

“By the jeepers…” he exclaimed in a thick Newfoundland accent. “When I was growing up, my brother and I had one pair of boots for the two of us. My brother would go to school one day,

Javie, aka “Jeepers”at the kitchen table

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January 2026

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and I’d have to go the next.”

He clapped his hands in front of his face and pointed as he spoke, telling a story of a shirt his mother sewed from a 98-pound flour sack. “That’s true, my love, that’s true,” he said, looking right at me. “That’s why I love that song so much… by the jeepers.”

He shared that in the winter months, it was a cold, long walk to get to school, and his mother had sewn him the shirt to keep warm. “But I didn’t want the boys to know I had a flour sack shirt at school, and so I’d try to cover it up, right up to my collar,” he said, pinching the top of his shirt at his neck.

Their ridicule hurt his feelings, but like Parton’s song, he knew every stitch was sewn with his mother’s love, so he continued to wear the shirt on cold wintery days.

Although I was only fourteen, I experienced an epiphany listening to Javie’s story about his family’s ability to harness love and resilience in the face of hardships. I learned love is not based on price tags, but on the time and sacrifice put into keeping our loved ones safe and warm— evident by the rush of emotion and pride that swelled in Javie’s chest as he took in every word of the song. I’ve carried

this lesson with me and have come to realize that some of my most cherished belongings are those that were handmade with love.

There are three items I will keep forever: a knitted Newfoundland pullover sweater made by my Nan, Betty Brown. I wear it when I need some guidance and a warm hug from her.

I’ve also kept a pair of ‘socks of many colours,’ which were a Christmas gift from an Inuit woman during my eight-month stay in Resolute Bay in 2001. Supplies were not plentiful, and this gift reminds me of the times I would cuddle up in a blanket with my colourful socks during the 24-hour darkness in the winter months. The socks symbolize this woman’s giving heart to bring me comfort. I also treasure my Newfoundland wool mittens knitted by Beverly Stewart, which I received over a decade ago.

They still keep my hands toasty warm through all the years I’ve sat in rinks watching my son play hockey.

Always focus on the people who love you, and wear their love like a metaphorical coat of many colours.

When you do this, you’ll wake in the morning with a grateful heart, then everything else is a cherry on top.

Dianna Brown is a hockey mom, an elementary school teacher and author of two novels: Saltwater Joys and Saltwater Stranger. She was born in Gander, currently resides in Calgary, and loves to visit her hometown, Kelligrews, C.B.S. You can reach her at diannabrown.tiestohome@gmail.com 138

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the back porch from our readers

By Terry (Ted) Young

There’s something special about Newfoundland, something you can’t quite explain, only feel. It’s in the salt air that rolls in with the morning fog, the laughter echoing from a kitchen party, and the sound of a guitar being passed around like a gift. But most of all, it’s the people, the kind of folks who know your name, your parents’ names, and exactly when your roof needs fixing.

My father is a proud, fiercely independent man, the type who insists on doing things himself, no matter his age or the weather. He’s a man who is always ready to help others with their projects, no matter how big or small, who gives his time and effort generously, never expecting anything in return. His kindness, patience, and selflessness made a lasting impact on everyone in the community, as evidenced by the story I’m about to tell.

In May 2025, my father had a heart attack while trying to re-shingle his shed. That morning, his body reminded him, and all of us, that even the strongest sometimes need help.

He was taken to the hospital, and our family was shaken. Thankfully, he received excellent care and stabilized within days, but the fear stuck with us.

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Being away from home at the time, I struggled with guilt for not being there. I called him daily, checking on how he was feeling, asking about his blood pressure, etc, but he only had one concern: his shed roof. With spring rain on the way, he was worried it would leak. Half of the shingles were gone, the wood beneath exposed to the elements.

Two days after his incident, my mom called with an update I didn’t expect. A crew of men had just arrived at the house with trailers in tow, hammers in hand, carrying tar paper, nails, and everything else needed to finish the job. I asked who was there.

She laughed and said, “Every ablebodied man in Triton, I think.”

By the end of the day, the roof was completely redone. Not just patched 1-888-588-6353

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up, but fully and beautifully finished.

Old shingles removed, new ones laid with care, and the yard cleaned spotless. No tools, no debris, no fanfare, just a solid roof that looked like it had always been there.

When I asked Mom what was on the go, expecting a bit more detail, she just giggled and said, “The b’y’s just showed up, Ted.” That afternoon, 15 local men, friends and neighbours, came together without invitation or fanfare. They quietly removed the old roof, replaced the underlay, and installed new shingles.

Without a word to my dad, they finished the job and left, knowing they had lifted a burden from his shoulders. No celebration, no pomp and circumstance, just a powerful act of quiet kindness.

Later, I texted my dad’s buddy Darren to find out who I could pay or how I could thank them. His reply: “We lost the bill, me buddy.”

That was it. Try explaining that to someone outside this province. Try describing the way communities in Newfoundland work in a world that often seems disconnected and overwhelmed by self-interest. Here, that kind of thing doesn’t make headlines.

It doesn’t need to. It’s just what we do.

In Newfoundland, your neighbour isn’t just the person next door, he’s family. It’s normal for someone to drop off a hot meal if they hear you’re under the weather. It’s not unusual to wake up and find your driveway already plowed after a storm. And when someone’s in trouble – or even mildly inconvenienced – the community moves as one and says, “We’ve got this.” www.downhomelife.com

What makes these moments so meaningful isn’t just the generosity, but the humility. There’s no fuss, no need for recognition. Just people showing up for each other because that’s what community means here.

It’s a deeply rooted value passed down through generations, woven into who we are.

With the world feeling as unpredictable and divided as it does some days, Newfoundland remains grounded in something rare and real: human connection. We still make time to check in on each other and believe in pitching in without being asked.

We look after one another, not because we have to, but because we want to.

Because when you grow up in Newfoundland, you grow up with an understanding that we are stronger together. You learn that the measure of a good life isn’t in what you own, but in how you care for others and how they care for you when it matters most.

Yes, the world can feel overwhelming at times. News cycles are full of conflict and uncertainty. But I carry this story with me now, the story of a group of neighbours who showed up, quietly and without question, to fix my dad’s shed. Because that’s just what you do in a place like this.

There are still places where love speaks louder than noise. Where kindness doesn’t need a receipt and community isn’t just a word. It’s a way of life. And Newfoundland, my home.

Well, it just might be the best example of that in the world.

January 2026

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the back porch from our readers

Valuing Wellness & Freedoms

By Lloyd Bonnell

There’s a virtual universe of difference between my basic feelings and attitudes now and those that prevailed in my mind just before – and during – the time that I was admitted to hospital in October of 2006.

At that point, I was experiencing the frightful and oppressive notion that my life was being ruled by some unknown and uncontrollable forces.

Now that I have been out of hospital for more than six years, I deeply enjoy breathing the sweet and exhilarating air of freedom, and I relish the fact that I no longer have to submit myself to the overbearing authority of not-always-overly-friendly personnel work-

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ing within the constraintive confines of a psychiatric ward.

When one is admitted to such a place, the effects of a new and socially austere environment are felt even in the mundane matters of getting up and going to bed. I like to go to bed about midnight or later and to sleep well past 9 a.m. While on the psychiatric ward, patients are compelled to get into their beds by about 10:30 p.m., and they are expected to be up by about 8:30 a.m., after having showered in facilities that may be hard to adjust to with regard merely to turning on hot and cold water.

Now that I am free of such bondage and repression, I am able to plan my day independently and dress and shower exactly as I see fit. It seems like a simple thing, but it is an essential part of one’s daily routine.

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I like to watch television, mainly for news, sports and movies, but while in hospital, the television set was turned off at about 11 p.m., thus arbitrarily ending any enjoyment patients are having. Actually, I myself didn’t enjoy television much while in hospital, even in the daytime hours, because I was acutely paranoid and felt that voices and information coming from TV were adversely directed at me personally. Now I have full control of my own large-screen television set, which is a cheerful feeling, and of course, I also have continual access to the internet, which is non-existent in patient rooms as well as in recreational areas.

Something else that I missed dearly while in hospital was physical activity such as weight-lifting and walking.

There were a few exercise programs conducted for patients during the mornings, but these were rather dull and comfortless, and I avoided them as much as possible. Even the walks to the downtown area of the city were not very appealing, as the supervising nurses kept a close eye on us as though we were dangerous convicts.

There was the overhanging feeling that, whatever freedom we enjoyed in the outdoor settings, we would soon be locked up again, with no definite end to our ordeal in sight. Now, I love the pleasure and zest of choosing to weight-lift on my own time, not to mention the freedoms of walking according to my own will and visiting shopping centres with no restrictions.

Another aspect of independent living that was grossly interfered with while I was in hospital was the receiving of cheques in the mail. Dad used

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to bring me my cheques and would cash them for me after I signed them, but he was not always around. During such times, a burly psychiatric nurse would escort me to the banking area of the hospital and I would change my cheques there, but I always had the feeling of being confined and even intimidated, so there was little joy in obtaining my cash in this way. Now, of course, I have complete control over my banking and my money management, and I always am able to have adequate cash on hand, which is quite a reassuring feeling.

My doctor’s assessment of my condition now is that I am well and stable on my medications and consistently show myself to be “polite, intelligent, credible, and responsible.” In fact, I am so well that when I see her soon, that will be the first time in well over a year that a psychiatric consultation will be necessary for me – and that one is just an appointment for routine monitoring. Yes, I’d rather be mentally and physically well than to win the lottery!

Perhaps there was an upside to my hospitalizations of 2006 (there were two different admissions during that year). That period in my life reinforced in me the knowledge that normal modes and structures of life are too precious and indispensable to be taken for granted.

I am always conscientious about taking my proper medication, which will keep me in my cherished arena of freedom and wellness, and I prize my health and autonomy all the more for having temporarily lost those vital qualities.

January 2026

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photo finish

Lickety Split

Caribou savour highway salt near Stephenville, NL. Nancy Andrews Kippens, NL

Do you have an amazing or funny photo to share?

Turn to page 9 to find out how to submit.

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