August 7, 2010 - Chemainus Accordion Festival


Such excitement in Chemainus this weekend...there was an accordion festival. Accordion players and bands came to Chemainus from all over and played on the streets, in cafes, and they planned to have a concert in the park on Sunday.


Faunette and I were so excited to be going out to see them and Lynne told us that Jonesy and Ken from Victoria were coming too. Jonesy plays the accordion too and she brought her accordion with her and .... she brought an accordion for both of us! We were so excited because now we would not only see them but be part of the festival.






I vaguely remember tickling the ivories with my feathers a long time ago, but an accordion is like a sideways piano!...and you have to remember to pull it in and out. We practiced and practiced, and when I started singing, the darn garden egret started to sing and she was a bit off key! We sat on the porch of the B&B and as passersby heard us, they even applauded. We knew we had done real good!

We were ready to hit the big time!

Saturday arrived and we were ready for our debut! Because it rained (for the first time in 6 weeks!) the concert was held in the Church Hall instead of the Park Bandshell. They didn't have our names on the program, but we wowed everyone with our harmonizing! We even had Lynne and Jonesy up dancing! What great fun it was!

Jonesy, thank you for giving us our first accordions and helping us to play.




Playing with Steve Cramaro from Powell River and Mary Ross from Victoria. They are really accomplished so it was a good thing we practiced ahead of time with Jonesy. Faunette kept falling down because she wasn't holding her accordion properly. Or it could have been all the practicing that tired her out, but we were having a good time anyway. I can't wait for next year!

From Alice
Lynne, I hate to tell you this, but I've received an email from Faunette, who is extremely put out about not being included. This is what she wrote to me:

"Dearest Creator (I keep telling her she CAN call me Alice, but she says she has too much respect for me to call me that)-

Lynne didn't take me to meet the CAMPers, who I believe are relatives of yours. Being a miniature, she COULD have tucked me into her purse and I would have been MUCH easier to bring than that huge space hog, Fauna. But did she even mention NOT bringing me? NO!

I know that Fauna is older than me, but why oh why must I be the forgotten second bird? The sight of a flamingo lady crying is NOT pretty! With all that hot pink mascara running down her beak. sniff sniff...."

PLEASE tell Lynne that I love it here in Canada, especially as I hear you are having a hellish summer in Florida and the hurricane season is here. I'd hate to have to threaten to fly south for the winter if she doesn't pay attention to me. (To tell the truth, I think she's taken my passport and hidden it!)

I hope this finds you in the pink!

Faunette"

July 28, 2010 - Kinsman Beach

Dear Alice:
I can't thank you enough for coming to my rescue. Lynne was so scared about being reported to the SPCA that she took me for an afternoon at the beach today. I'm sorry to hear that your summer in Florida is not very nice. I hope the hurricanes stay away from your house this time. I miss you but not the hurricanes.

We've had a gorgeous summer in Chemainus. I only knew that from hearing the guests in the B&B talk but today I got to see it for myself. Kinsman Beach is only two blocks from here so it was a short trip and more time to spend in the sand. I had to keep my eye on that seagull out there because I knew I was no match for him.

Lynne put me on the swing but I was so scared she had to hold me. One swing and I'd be lost forever in that sand.

The tide was way out today and there were shells are all over the beach. I wanted to bring one of them home for a bathtub but Lynne says leave them there for everyone to enjoy.

I was visited by two young ladies admiring my shells but they don't live here so I probably won't see them again. Maybe they'll write to me. I like to get mail.

Thank you for beachwear, Alice. The hat worked nicely to keep the sun away and protect my complexion and the life ring not only made me feel safer with that big ocean so near but I was probably the most fashionable bird on the beach.

I'll remember you always,
Faunette



July 25, 2010


I was a wee bit put-out that I didn't go to Victoria to meet Molly Cromwell and the miniaturists on the Alaskan cruise. However, I understand that I might have met some people from "my past" and so perhaps it was best that I didn't. I was very pleased that Marie in CAMP had sent a "portrait" hat of me to Lynne. However, since it was supposed to be a replacement for the halo Lynne usually wears around here, I don't think Lynne was pleased. I thought a flamingo hat was very pretty, and if it was in a small size, I would have scoffed it from her. Perhaps there will be another opportunity to go to Victoria in the future (sigh). I haven't seen Jonesy since the day I arrived and she lives in Victoria so maybe one day I can go when Lynne goes to visit.

4th of July

These holidays are so close together I hardly had time to change and get myself together for the 4th of July. I don't think anyone else celebrates the 4th of July here. This is when I miss California and my friends there.

Hank and Donald were good friends and I liked Lucy too. We visited together sometimes but I usually hung out with Hank and Donald.

Do you think I look like Abraham Lincoln?

Canada Day

I didn't get out to any of the Canada Day celebrations because Lynne hurt her back and had to stay home. I was looking forward to meeting this "Bob" guy, sure hope I get another chance.

And I was going to surprise everyone and say "eh" because I hear that's what you do in Canada, eh?

Hi, this is Faunette. See me perched on the pineapple leaf waving my flag? Happy Canada Day!

Chemainus Afternoon Market

I didn't buy anything at the market but it was good to get back amongst the fauna.

Karen's Uptown Bistro

Finally! I was able to top up my betacarotene levels. When Barb Jones visited here from California, she said that Karen's Uptown Bistro made the best carrot cake in the whole world so I knew that was the place to go if I wanted to keep my beautiful complexion.


And she was right, I can still taste it, drizzled in caramel sauce, and topped with nuts. Um-um! The restaurant was crowded so it must be a popular place to eat in Chemainus. All around me, the dishes coming from the kitchen smelled and looked so good, but I knew I needed to save my appetite for the carrot cake.

And the other diners kept looking and smiling at me, what a friendly place to eat.

A Camper visits the B&B

June 10, 2010 - A guest from Washington came to stay at the B&B. Lynne called her a Camper but I think her name is Cherie. Cherie was very sweet and nice, but her friend, Judy, is more of a party girl I think. I like to party too but I have to be more demure to keep up a good reputation for the B&B.

They all went to Victoria for the day where I heard them say there were 20,000 sailor boys in town celebrating. I would have liked to go too but I think Lynne was afraid of taking me. She said something about meeting up with Jonesy, another Camper Girl, and I guess they worried there might not be enough sailors to go around for all of us.

And I'm always worried about running into people from Nevada or California whom I'd rather not know I'm here. I did leave some good friends in California that I miss and would like to see them again, but I remember it was a very long car ride coming here and I can't fly. Maybe they'll come back to visit sometime.

Need a Day Off

Jun 3, 2010
It feels like summer today. The B&B is getting busier so I hope I can get time off to go out for lunch. Sometimes I feel like my carotene is getting low and my color is fading. They haven't given me a regular day off, it could be any day of the week.

But then, I need someone to take me out for lunch anyway. People look at me funny and it's hard to even get seated when I'm by myself, never mind being served.

And I'd like to do some shopping. Lynne & John expect me to look good at work and some of the clothes I brought with me from California are not really appropriate. People here in Chemainus respect me, so I'm careful not to be flashy and start them talking, especially now that Faunette is here. I may have some explaining to do.

Surprise Visitor

This has to be one of the greatest days of my life. The day that "Faunette" came to live with me. Lynne has this crazy friend in Florida named Alice Zinn. I don't know how she came to befriend Faunette but she said Faunette not only insisted on migrating, but emigrating to me in Canada. Maybe Faunette read about me on the internet. I don't know but I was so excited when she arrived, I would have pee'd my pants if I was wearing any.

This is a picture of the two of us together and one of Faunette where you can see her beautiful yellow rain hat.

And we'll get along well, because she likes fashion too. Today she's wearing her spring rain outfit because she heard that Vancouver Island gets a lot of rain. But I see in her bag, she also has outfits for summer and winter, and for holidays too, like Valentines Day, St. Patty's Day, Graduation and New Years. Another "fashion diva". We're going to have lots of fun.

Faunette told me Alice Zinn made all of her clothes and they're in a how-to book she wrote "A Dog for All Seasons". http://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2009/10/featured-guest-miniaturist-alice-zinn.html. Imagine that, a real celebrity fashion designer. If that what you call "going to the dogs" I'd like her to design for me too.

At the Theatre

May 29, 2010

Thank goodness the rain finally stopped and I got to show off my new two-piece outfit. And wait til' you hear where I went. Lynne & John took me to the Chemainus Festival Theatre with their friends, Steve & Marge. Imagine, me at the theatre! I think it surprised a lot of people. And that wasn't all, first we had dinner in the Playbill Dining Room.



There were a lot of people there and Marge was celebrating her birthday so it was quite a party. But all of those forks at the table? I didn't know what to do with one fork, never mind three.

Do you think John looks a little scary? I don't know what he was thinking. But of course, he probably felt uncomfortable because people were looking at him, probably wondering how he snagged such a beauty to take to dinner. We did look like the odd couple.





You need to have a big appetite when you come here. We started with clam chowder served with yummy hot rolls. I could have stopped there, but there was a big salad bar, then a table of different entees, like fish, chicken and roast beef. But there was lots of things for a vegetarian like me too. And the desserts! Better than Christmas time. After all that food, I knew someone was going to have to poke me to keep me awake for the show.




After dinner, we moved into the theatre. I was told to sit very quietly in the theatre while the performance was on so I didn't disturb other patrons. I guess they think I haven't been out much. Of course, I was more stationary in California than I am here. I liked California a lot and they were good to me but I love my new home where I can dress up and go out. In time, I hope to make more friends, but Nanny was my first.



The show was "The Sunshine Boys". Talk about an odd couple, that's sort of what the show was about. Two old guys that were in vaudeville together way back when and were getting back together for a television special. When they did the hospital skit, I laughed till my feathers almost fell out. And speaking of oo-la-la. You should have seen their nurse. Now there's an outfit I'd like to have, garters and all.

My only complaint was the seats that pop up when you get up. I'm so slender, I had to have help to keep the sit down when I sat on it.


You should come to Chemainus and I'll show you where the theatre is. It's probably the largest performing arts company around and there are lots of other good shows coming up on the schedule. I see they have children's shows sometimes too and that would probably be fun.

The Tea Party

My new friend, Nanny, invited me to a tea party at Twisted Sisters Tea House. Lynne's friend made me an outfit for the occasion and I was so excited to get out of the house. I do love my work at the Bed & Breakfast, but all work and no fun could make Fauna a dull "chick". There are a lot of things to see and do in Chemainus and I like to dress up and paint the town.

If you are in Chemainus and get a chance you should visit the Twisted Sisters Tea House or maybe not. It isn't called Twisted Sisters by chance. John warned me to pick a day when they've taken their medicine that morning or you may end up with tea where you don't expect it. I guess this was a good day because they seemed okay to me, but then how would I know?

Nanny introduced me to the sisters, Debra and Teresa, and picked a table by the window for us. She lives at the restaurant so she knows her way around the place. While we sipped our tea, Nanny told me about her charity work, raising money for the local food kitchen. I had heard that she is an Olympian but we didn't have time to talk about that today.

Teresa served the tea at the party from a fine china tea pot. Nanny chose Buckingham Palace Garden Party tea flavored with bergamot and jasmine for the occasion. She's had more experience than I in that field. Lynne has some special teas at the B&B, but I don't get to eat with guests there. John does, but not me. Go figure!

Debra was serving the lady at the next table a yummy dessert called Ginger Apple Cake with Caramel sauce and her friend had Lemon Buttermilk Cake with Chocolate sauce. It looked so good and we were tempted but Nanny and I still have to think about our figures while they probably don't worry about that anymore.

I'm not the only one who likes "bling". Nanny has a ring that will dazzle you. She wears ear rings too. I think I'd like some too. She wouldn't tell me how she got the ring but I could guess. She looks sweet and innocent but I could see the twinkle in her eye. Debra said she found Nanny one morning with a smile on her face. Now what does that tell you? I think we're doing to be good friends.

Nanny and Fauna, best friends forever.

Check out the "bling"

I am very happy in my new home. I sit on a desk in the front hall and greet all the guests and anyone who comes in the front hall. I've made so many new friends that often those coming in the back kitchen door come around to say hello. Apparently I'm getting a reputation as a fashion diva in Chemainus!

I definitely need a new wardrobe as the weather is so much different here than in California. I heard whisperings of some of Lynne's friends that they are planning to make new clothing for me! I'm so excited about that! I'm glad I don't have to wear a daily dull, drab uniform!

Speaking of clothing, although I'm not a mother, I heard of others buying a Mother's Day Gift for themselves. I was feeling a bit chilly, and so indulged in a new outfit, and 'someone' gave me a diamond!! I'm wondering if I have a secret admirer?? I'm not sure if it's a real diamond, but I sure do love that bling!

Some guests came today and they admired my outfit. They asked if I was the Canadian version of the Brussels, Belgium tourist attraction, 'Mannekin Pis' fountain, where the 'peeing boy' changes his clothes every week. Imagine!

This weekend I have been invited to an afternoon tea. I think I may go shopping for a new outfit, as I want to make an impression on these small town people. Not meaning to sound conceited, but they are impressed with this California gal!

B B-ingly yours, Fauna

Smuggled into Canada

From sunny California, USA to Chemainus CANADA, in the trunk of a car. What a time I had, being stuffed into a suitcase, quite naked, and then brought into another country. Hmph!! The indignity of it all! I could almost feel the colour draining from me from lack of betacarotene. When I finally saw daylight I couldn't believe that I was in a man's workshop! "Oh, dear" I wondered...is this a good thing or not?

I peeked as I was carried into the house, and oh, what a beautiful garden. I truly hoped I could stay here.

I was taken into a nice warm kitchen and ladies gathered around me, admiring my wardrobe as they unpacked my suitcase. Well, it was about time I was appreciated!

I understood that this was to be my home and that my job would be to greet guests as they came into the Bed & Breakfast. In return, I would be treated with the utmost respect. That sounded wonderful to me, and I look forward to my adventures.

Then, a woman came in and was most insulting to me. Hmph!...I don't think she'd look very good neither if she had been shunted around in a suitcase. However, having been brought up with good manners, I kept my opinions of her to myself. Thankfully, she wasn't one of the guests and soon left.....