Pellville, Kentucky
Written by Bill Stewart, my late father-in-law. It's in a life history that he and his wife Marji Smock Stewart wrote. Her part is called Finding the Rivers. His is…
Beef in Brine
I accidentally made Jigg's dinner for St. Patrick's Day. First time ever. Husband comes home with groceries: "look what I found, beef 50% off." Beef in brine, the package said.…
Corrie 10000
I haven't watched Coronation Street since June 2018. But I watched Thursday and Friday's episodes. Episode numbers 10000 and 10001. I figured out that I'd watched regularly since about episode…
Cream Soup
In Joan Clark's novel The Birthday Lunch, Laverne makes asparagus and Stilton cream soup and Coquille St. Jacques for her sister. How delicious! Cream soup makes a warm and hearty…
The Birthday Lunch
Maybe it's because Sussex NB is now my hometown. Or maybe it's because Joan Clark wrote an amazing book about family and place. Whatever, I read her 2015 The Birthday…
Sam Anger, Fiddler
Sam Anger was "the best durn fiddle player in seventeen counties." That's what an ad for Winger's Crescent Park Entertainers called him. He worked as a blacksmith in Ridgeway, just…
Bosco’s New Year
From my St. Thomas Dog Blog, Jan. 31, 2011, about a dog named Bosco. I was in Beaver Creek Animal Hospital about a week ago. A beautiful young black Lab…
Caribou Drive
In his 1969 book Newfoundland, Harold Horwood recounts the story of a caribou drive in western Newfoundland in the late 1800s. He heard it in the Codroy Valley, from "an…
Plantar Fasciitis
Nearly a year ago, I bruised my heel. So I thought. When it didn't stop hurting, I went to my doctor. Plantar Fasciitis, he said. What's that, I said. The…
Jerry and Oscar
Two new horses, two new horse pedigrees to explore. Jerry was easy. He is registered with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) as Mea Classico Duster. His full pedigree, therefore,…
Cream Cheese Spread
My mother-in-law made us a book of family recipes. One is her mother's recipe for cream cheese, olives and nuts sandwich spread. That looks good, I'd think every time I…
Lum and Sarah McDonald
By Marji Smock Stewart, Finding the Rivers. The conclusion of her mother's parents Lum and Sarah (Brogan) McDonald's story. My grandfather Lum owned a small farm near Curdsville KY and…
English Channel 1944
William Stewart, a US Army Air Force Captain in World War II, tells about his flight across the English Channel on December 15, 1944. Enemy planes were a risk, yes,…
Sarah Brogan McDonald
By Marji Smock Stewart in Finding the Rivers. This is the maternal side of her family history, centring on Sarah Brogan. My grandmother was Sarah Clementine Brogan McDonald. She was…
Roxie Spencer
Without Roxie, the city of St. Thomas likely wouldn't have a dog park. At least not in 2010 when the first one was built. Because, a couple of years earlier,…
Swiss Steak
Here is a recipe for Swiss steak as made by Elizabeth (McDonald) Smock, and written down by her daughter Marji Stewart. That's Elizabeth's grandson who is cooking the Swiss steak…
35 Cent Grilled Cheese
Part VII, Finding the Rivers, Marji Stewart: Grilled cheese fortunes Our trip out west in 1946 was a real honeymoon. We were gone a month or longer and made some…
1945 A Year to Remember
Part VI, Finding the Rivers, Marji Smock Stewart: 1945 My final year of high school (1944-1945) was at Owensboro Senior High. It was not especially outstanding. I felt older than…
River Pilot, Air Pilot
Part V, Finding the rivers, Marji Smock Stewart: River Pilot, Air Pilot Let me explain a bit about working on the river. The crew had to stay on 24 hours…
Smocks on the Ohio River
Part IV, Finding the rivers, Marji Smock Stewart: Back to the Ohio River We left Texas in the summer of 1938, heading back to the river. We must have looked…
Smocks in Gladewater TX
Part III, Finding the Rivers, by Marji Smock Stewart: Gladewater TX In 1936 we moved to East Texas, to Gladewater where oil had been discovered. Uncle Ben [McDonald] and his…
Smocks at Bagnell Dam
Part II, Finding the Rivers, by Marji Smock Stewart: Bagnell Dam MO I regret that I did not ask Daddy to tell me about taking the Sarah Mac to Missouri.…
Monroe Smock, Kentucky
Dr. Marji Smock Stewart, my late mother-in-law, wrote her family story for her son and grandsons. She called it "Finding the Rivers." She shared it with other family members too…
Stephen Gallant
This St. John's Evening Telegram article is about Stephen Gallant and his wife Elizabeth Gaudet of Stephenville, Bay St. George. From 1942, calculating from the month and day shown. That…
Why watch Corrie?
It's been just over a year since I stopped watching Coronation Street. I still record it, and read the on-screen synopses as I delete episodes. Have I been tempted to…
Juicer Rhubarb
Bought a juicer. A Cuisinart, on sale. More precisely, it's a juice extractor. Fruit or vegetables go in, spin around while little blades separate the pulp from the juice. First…
Portugal Day
On this day in 1965 Newfoundland Premier Joseph R. Smallwood proclaimed June 17th Portugal Day in the province. It was at the Confederation Building when the Portuguese Fisheries Organization presented…
NB Regiment K.I.A. on D-Day
The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, landed at Juno Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. They landed at what was code-named Nan Red…
Asparagus Casserole
This baked asparagus and cheese casserole is my mother-in-law's recipe. It was one of her potluck favourites because it travels well and easily warms up in a microwave. And if…
Missouri Puppy Mills
Last week, the US Humane Society released its 7th annual list of the 100 worst puppy mills in the USA. For the 7th year, Missouri took first place. From April…
Murel Anger, Mail Carrier
In 1972 my mother wrote this Dorchester Signpost article about her mother-in-law's retirement from rural mail delivery. Mom was the weekly's Belmont reporter. She put it in her scrapbook with…
Jump!
I've wondered what real jockeys think about horse racing novels. Especially those where newcomers - human and horse - manage against all the odds to win THE BIG RACE. It's…
Jim John Tourism Ad
Jim John on the Gander River, a full page ad in MacLean's magazine May 2, 1977 issue. From the Dept. of Tourism, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, it reads in…
Coffee Pods
Keurig coffee - wonderful. The K-cup - not so much. Concern about the plastic coffee pods started almost as soon as the Keurig coffee maker came on the market. Each…
Rwanda 25 years ago
Lest we forget: 25 years ago a genocidal massacre in Rwanda started. Nearly a million killed in 100 days. Here is what it was like, a couple months after it…
Boogie-Woogie Piano
Today, the 88th day of the year, is Piano Day. So CBC Radio q told me. One or another piano has kept me company almost all my life. And one…
A Great Reckoning
Usually I read an author's acknowledgement page first, even if it's at the back of the book. But when I started A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny, for some reason…
Fish Cakes
A can of tuna and presto, you've got fish cakes. Quick and easy, they make a simple or dressed up dinner or lunch. Tuna, bread crumbs, an egg, and onion.…
Beothuk Great-Grandchild
Two hundred years ago today, John Peyton of Twillingate and his party abducted a Beothuk woman, Demasduit. Her husband Nobosbawsut was killed while trying to protect her. Shortly after, her…
Willow Grove Settlement
On the road to St. Martins in southern New Brunswick you see a sign in a clearing on a corner. Willow Grove Black Settlement Burial Ground, it says. Behind it…
Lymburner DNA Project
Guest post by Gordon Revey Hello fellow Lymburners! I am reaching out to people in my known Lymburner family and others that fall under John Jay Lymburner. He was the…
Kennel Club Show
The 143rd Westminster Dog Show is on television today through Tuesday. So from Jan. 13, 2011 here is my St. Thomas Dog Blog post about that year's Elgin County Kennel…
Sled Dogs
It was sled dogs that kept the Inuit alive by giving them the mobility to hunt across vast expanses of the Arctic. It was sled dogs that kept stranded hunters…
King’s Curse
The King's Curse by Philippa Gregory is about Henry VIII. It was published in 2014. Despite knowing this, I kept checking the publication date because of passages like this: Dear…
Weatherfield Brexit
Are people in Weatherfield stockpiling water, tinned food and toilet tissue? They are in real life Britain, according to news reports. People fear shortages, due to goods tied up at…
Half a ton of pet food
Day 27 of the US government shutdown. Food banks are helping feed furloughed federal employees. Animal shelters are helping feed their pets. This is short-term desperate need. These are people…
Harness Racing Mabees
Looking into a branch of the Mabee family led me to harness racing in Tillsonburg during the early decades of the 1900s. Three names stood out: Jack M. Climie, Charles…
Pet Food Bank
Eight years ago today, the St. Thomas Dog Owners Association started a pet food bank. Here is my St. Thomas Dog Blog, Dec. 31, 2010 post about it. I've removed…
Newfoundland Reindeer
So what happened to the Newfoundland reindeer? The ones Mattie Mitchell helped herd down the Northern Peninsula to Millertown? The reindeer Dr. Grenfell took such great pains to bring from…
Ratatouille
One thing I thank a long ago boyfriend for is introducing me to ratatouille. He used the Joy of Cooking recipe, but added ground beef and cumin. That radically changes…
St. Thomas Happy Endings
From my St. Thomas Dog Blog, Dec. 11, 2010 It’s been a good week in St. Thomas for happy endings to harrowing animal tales. First was a stranded Canada Goose…
Roger Gonzales
A poster of a young man in Tegucigalpa's central square. Kidnapped April 19, 1988. It's in a photograph I just happened to take when I was there one year later.…
Honduran Contra Camps 1989
Donald Trump calls it "the Democrat Party led... assault on our country by Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador..." (Twitter Oct. 18, 2018). A caravan of migrants started in Honduras, headed…
Bush Pilot Red Lymburner
Googling a Lymburner ancestor recently, I noticed Red Lymburner in the search results. Bush pilot, Antarctica and Mount Lymburner. So I read more. His full name was James Harold Lymburner,…
World War I Reunion 1987
From the archives of my mother: the story of four men, and a bottle of Crown Royal, at a very special World War I reunion: Battery mates knock back last…
Animal Testing
Cover Girl, one of the biggest cosmetic lines, has stopped all animal testing of their products. This is such good news. There are still some caveats to think about, but…
Ma Bell
Our landline was not working. So my husband calls BellAliant. Customer service representatives are all busy, would you like a call back? Thank you very much, he thought, and pressed…
Dog Park Groupies
From my St. Thomas Dog Blog, Sept. 24, 2010 When I began going to the Hamilton Road dog park in London several years ago, I never thought about how it…
Journey to Anne Marie
Marie Rundquist writes about her journey into her family history. Not the history she heard from her mother and grandmother, although it's part of the story. The story Ms. Rundquist…
York and Mountbatten Weddings
A big year for royal weddings. Tomorrow, October 12th, Princess Eugenie will marry. In May, her cousin Prince Harry married Meghan Markle. Both large, lavish and televised. But, in between…
Apple Chutney
Apples left over from a good crop this year from our trees. As much jelly and juice as I could handle making, apple crumble too. Maybe apple chutney? Lots of…
Zucchini Noodles
When only a giant zucchini will do: to make zucchini noodles. Zoodles some call them. Use them the same way you use pasta. They taste great, and they are gluten…
Dinner Talk
Swiss Chalet in Saint John, two 20-something women with a toddler each and one infant. Four full meals. One child picks at his food, the other has eaten all he…
Third Generation
Tony Warren 1992 The Queen came to Coronation Street and she stood and chatted to me. I really couldn't believe it. Because they'd just rebuilt the set. And I was…
Cheese Stuffed Zucchini
A zucchini that escaped, hiding under foliage in order to grow huge. Stuff it. With what? What about a cheese stuffing? Something light and summery for the last days of…
They shouldn’t have pets
You may hear people say “people who need help from food banks shouldn’t have pets.” If you can’t afford to feed your animal/your kids/yourself you can’t afford a pet. Easy…
West Virginia
In 1971 my parents and I drove through West Virginia on our way from Ontario to Kentucky. We'd never been there before and it was stunningly beautiful. So we took…
Mattie Mitchell, Response
Good response to Mattie Mitchell story Vignettes of the West, by Don Morris (Apr. 11, 1992) I was pleasantly surprised by the response to the two-part series on the story…
Mattie Mitchell, Reindeer
The unique 400-mile 'reindeer drive' Vignettes of the West, Don Morris - Mar. 14 1992 (Part 2 of Mr. Morris' columns on Mattie Mitchell) Newfoundland's most noted Micmac Indian, Mattie…
Mattie Mitchell, Buchans
The amazing career of Mattie Mitchell - Vignettes of the West, by Don Morris Mattie Mitchell was a Micmac Indian with strong western Newfoundland connections. It was he who, in…
Can’t keep your pet?
I took this from Facebook and shortened it some. Be warned: it is a chilling story. If you haven’t got time or money for a pet, don’t get one. But…
Sea-trouting at Main Gut
In July 1835, Archdeacon Edward Wix joined a night fishing party at the Main Gut, Stephenville Crossing, and described it in his diary. In his Vignettes of the West column,…
Angel in a Foxhole
Writer Dave Tabar wants to make a movie called Angel in a Foxhole - about Smoky, the Yorkshire Terrier war dog. Until July 4th, Blackpool Records will match all contributions.…
Fruit Cobbler
In my never-ending spring search for things to do with rhubarb, I found a Robin Hood Flour cobbler recipe in my recipe scrapbook. A cobbler has fruit on the bottom…
Leaving The Street
This week I only watched Monday's double episode. I decided at the end of it that I'm leaving the Street. Not forever - I hope. But for now, until something…
Corrie Street 17 June 2018
Three Reasons Three reasons on Monday to leave Coronation Street. Three scenes that too quickly reminded me too much of other types of television shows. So I made a decision…
Justify
A big chestnut colt won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. Five weeks ago, Justify won the Kentucky Derby. Three weeks ago, he won the Preakness. So he won the Triple…
Corrie Street 10 June 2018
Stag Robert's stag do in Wednesday's episode. Less than a handful of guys who don't know Robert all that well gathered in the Rovers in mid-afternoon. On its own, a…
Terrenceville Mi’kmaq
(Guest post by Devon Griffin) This story is about Terrenceville, Fortune Bay, about 140 years ago. It was told to the late Esther Mary Cox by her grandmother and namesake,…
Corrie Street 3 June 2018
Royal Weddings The chat in the Kabin on Wednesday about royal weddings and coronations. Liz and Rita remembering, Gemma trying desperately to remember her history lessons in school. Very funny.…
Fortune Bay mtDNA
5A guest post by Devon Griffin Mary Park Brooks John G. Edgar provided me with details of Mary Park Brooks from his research. She was born about 1758 in the…
Corrie Street 27 May 2018
After a suicide Tuesday's episode - that's my pick of the week. People on the street are trying to wrap their heads around Aiden's suicide. So there's the story of…
Avocado Time
Any time is avocado time, but sunny summer days especially. Here are two really easy avocado side dishes. The first you may not have thought of. The second you likely…
Corrie Street 20 May 2018
Mother and Baby Glossy 8x10 photos of mother and baby, what Eva believes will be her only reminder of that single day she was a mother. From now on, she…
Princess Harry
On Saturday, Meghan Markle will become Princess Harry. That is when she will marry Prince Henry of Wales, second son of the Prince of Wales and better known as Prince…
Corrie Street 13 May 2018
Life Sucks "It's not the hot chocolate. It's just the rest of my life that sucks." Summer expresses what recent events have shown her. Life sucks. I felt sorry for…
The Story of Seabiscuit
The Story of Seabiscuit was released in 1949, only two years after the great racehorse died. It is the story of his life - sort of. His son Sea Sovereign…
Corrie Street 6 May 2018
Relations Monday, the nice dinner party at Michelle and Robert's ended abruptly. Michelle saw Ali and Carla canoodling in the hallway. Her son and her best friend, sister-in-law and cousin.…
Diane of Bluenose Corrie
My condolences to the family and friends of Diane Johnson Williams. Diane passed away in Dartmouth NS on March 28th. Many of us knew Diane as Tvor and author of…
Corrie Street 29 Apr. 2018
Reading Sitting in comfortable chairs, reading. A pleasant, relaxing break at the end of a busy day. That was the case for Carla and Roy, and me, on Tuesday. Busy…
Royal Corgis
A week ago, the death of an elderly dog made headlines. A pet's death is always momentous for his or her loved ones. But it's usually not world news. Willow,…
Corrie Street 22 Apr. 2018
David lectures Sarah David stopped me in my tracks Thursday. He lectures Sarah about Gary and about trusting people. About what people will do to you, given half a chance,…
French Shore Settlers
The First Settlers On The French Shore by Rev. Canon J. T. Richards, O.B.E, to The Newfoundland Historical Society (The Newfoundland Quarterly, Sept. and Dec. 1953) The march of the…
Corrie Street 15 Apr. 2018
Watery Grave Pat Phelan went to a watery grave Thursday. He fell off the pier, then clung desperately to a rope pleading with Eileen to pull him up. She didn't.…
Mary Jo Kopechne
Known best as "the girl in the car," Mary Jo Kopechne had a promising career as a political worker in Washington. She was idealistic and enthusiastic - the sort of…
Corrie Street 8 Apr. 2018
Martin Platt Martin Platt emigrating to New Zealand. David bemoaning his father's past actions. Listing off Gail's husbands, including Martin, by almost everyone. Lots of talk of Martin in the…
Martin Luther King
I don't remember what I was doing when I heard that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had been shot and killed. I do remember the shock and horror I felt.…
Corrie Street 1 Apr. 2018
Rehab They tried to make me go to rehab But I said no, no, no (Amy Winehouse, 2006) Give Phelan a few minutes with anyone, and rehab starts to look…
Best in Show
From my St. Thomas Dog Blog, January 23, 2011. The 2018 Elgin County Kennel Club dog show will be in October. Lots of other dog, and cat, shows too. To…
Corrie Street 25 Mar. 2018
Fool for Love Phelan in two scenes. Monday, his 'so whaddya gonna do about it?' admission of fraud to Tim. On Tuesday, his 'I'm a fool for love, I did…