about Burl Brookers Peas!

Burl (right) and brother Wallace

Some men live for fishing, and some for hunting. For others their passion is sports, politics, automobiles, animals or gardening. Burl Brooker had a passion, his granddaughters.

I do not think that Burl expected grandchildren.  His first, Vavielle, spent her baby years in British Columbia.  When we did return to New Brunswick, Burl took every opportunity to spend time with her. They played together like two pups, often with Burl on the floor to bring himself down to Vavielles’s height.   But he was just in training.  Soon Leisa was born and we moved to Fiellding, next door to the Brookers. As next door as you can be in the country, when separated by two fields and a church.

This proximity gave Burl ample opportunity for his tricks.  One day the girls went outside to find their bicycles tied in meters of rope and tethered to the clothesline pole.  Another day they heard the dog barking and discovered him dressed in their clothing, from jeans to hat.  Burl’s tricks went on and on; enjoyed by both grandparent and children.

Every outing warranted a treat.  I tried in vain to limit them, but ….  At any time our panty cupboard was home to at least twenty of Leisa’s half-finished treats.  Vavielle being the older always finished hers.  Better than chips, chocolate or ice cream was fresh new peas. Yes, those green beans just bursting out of their shells.   When Burl realized how much the girls enjoyed peas, he had his next challenge.

Did he plant a row or two in his garden?  No, he planted a field of peas. To be more specific, the he planted the field between our homes.  Burl did rotation planting and there were new peas for weeks.  Vavielle and Leisa certainly enjoyed those peas, and appreciated their grandfather even more.

No one asked me about Burl Brookers Peas!