Bonnie Gets a Refresh

Bonnie the Birch

We adopted the paper birch sitting solitaire on Dogwood Street in Campbell River in the fall of 2012.

She had been neglected over the years and it showed. With the help of my husband Frank, our grandson Grayson and some beautiful friends, we cleaned the trash from around and under her, pulled the weeds, and provided her with fresh soil and water. We all breathed a sigh of relief. I felt happy energy emanating from our new comrade.

Later that year, we moved on from our lifestyle as apartment managers and began travel teaching looking for isolated Baha'is throughout western Canada and the Yukon. We also did house and pet sitting.

I thought of Bonnie the Birch often, a name we had assigned her. 

Then, in June 2019, we found ourselves back on Vancouver Island. I prepared a sign to place at Bonnie's base. On this day, we drove to be with her. She’d grown significantly along with her offspring. We pulled over and began to tend to her.

First, we removed all the discarded trash around her. Frank trimmed her lower branches, turned over the dry soil and pulled the weeds at her base. She brightened up significantly. The paper birch is famous for its white bark and small leaves. She’s such a beauty. 

Frank tends to Bonnie

A few folks came past and stopped to read the sign and glanced at the music notes on Big White.

If you happen to be travelling along Dogwood Street, just past building 301, keep her in mind.

Susan places Bonnie's sign

"Behold a beautiful garden full of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Each flower has a different charm, a peculiar beauty, its own delicious perfume and beautiful colour. The trees too, how varied are they in size, in growth, in foliage—and what different fruits they bear! Yet all these flowers, shrubs and trees spring from the self-same earth, the same sun shines upon them and the same clouds give them rain."  (Paris Talks) Addresses Given by Abdu'l-Baha in 1911  www.bahai.org/r/733601770

  

Big White with Bonnie

Confit de Canard

Duck Confit Salad

On February 16, 2019, we travelled from Kamloops, BC along Highway 97 east to Falkland. Frank stated that for all the decades he'd travelled that route, he'd never stopped in the small community. We took advantage of the opportunity and were fixed with a great adventure.

"What is duck confit?" I asked.

The lovely waitress explained it means duck meat cooked and seasoned with herbs in its own rendered fat.

"I'll have that," Frank said.

The charm of its presentation was worth it. The Ranch Cafe itself was filled with a cowboy and rancher appeal. Hanging lampshades in the shape of stagecoaches could be purchased if you're into that style. Also, scattered about where signs indicating life as a rancher is good for the heart and soul.

Ranch Cafe

The atmosphere was wholesome and upbeat. The waitress was efficient and very accommodating.

Outside the building were informative signs. One to advise you that your pet is not permitted on the balcony, another to supply it with water, one to warn the smokers to butt out and a fabulous take-your-breath-away painting of a horse-drawn chuckwagon.

Ranch Cafe

Ranch Cafe

After our meal, I chose to take a photo hanging on the wall inside the washroom. A drawing of a horse's head just above the toilet.

Frank found it rather entertaining.

Ranch Cafe

BLESSED IS THE SPOT