Dear Imaginary Friends,
How many paintings did I sell in my River Farms show? Sixteen!
The painting below is still available.

Grace Gathering Shells

The above painting is a seascape that was in the show: Grace Gathering Shells.

A tiny little girl is unaware of the large bay behind her. She is totally focused on the bright shiny shells capturing her interest on the beach. She and her dad are reflected in the water beyond. He hovers above her, protecting. Grace is inches from danger, yet because of her father's presence, she is entirely safe. And she knows it.

Your Imaginary Friend,
Patsie

Mixing It Up

Dear Imaginary Friends,

January is a good month for mixing it up, trying new things, something offbeat to shake off the winter doldrums.

Timothy McTabby, Oil, 10" x 8"

Albert J. Alpaca, Oil, 7" x 5"

Herewith, I submit my newest in my animal series. A genteel Tabby with old world sensibilities, and a fun loving Alpaca, who seems to be sharing a good joke with the viewer.

When nobody is amusing me, I seek to amuse myself. (it's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.)
I had a lot of laughs painting these two animals over the last month. Like a good book too soon finished, I miss making them.

Your Imaginary Artist Friend,
Patsie

Timothy Mc Tabby

Sweet!

The Canyon Leading to Petra

Eighteen Thousand and Counting

Dear Imaginary Friends,
Wow! I now have 18,000 views -- or hits -- of my blog that I started about two years ago.
I can hardly believe it.
I have covered food, travel, art, religion, jokes, stupidity, and you name it.
Well!
On to my number eighteen thousand and one.

At the Sofitel El Gezirah in Cairo, Egypt

Your Imaginary Friend,
Patsie

Cairo

Carlo in Mohammed Ali Mosque

Stairs Up to the Iman's Lectern in Mosque

Ehab Smokes a Hookah with Apple Tobacco

in Khan Al Khalili

In an alley

Making Pita Bread in Cairo

Going Native

All Covered Up in Cairo

Dear Imaginary World Travelers,

If you are a woman and you want to enter a public mosque, your arms, legs, body, and head must all be covered, but your shoes must be off.
I guess Allah only likes clean feet. Shoes stay outside.
The Muslims are extremely modest and covered up, not just in the mosques, but also on the street. I am OK with modesty, however...

Muslim women are required to pray upstairs out of view in the mosque, lest their presence distract the men.
As far as I know, women are not allowed to be the Iman, nor sing the call to prayer.

As an American feminist, it is vaguely similar to the Catholic Church I grew up in the sixties.
Before we call the Muslims behind the times, let's ask ourselves why women are still not allowed to be Catholic priests in America.
Not much has changed since the days when I was a little girl in America, wearing a veil atop my head and modest clothing to Church every Sunday. 

Considering that American society has loosened up greatly when it comes to gay marriage, women holding office in Congress, acceptance of abortion under certain circumstances, and widespread use of birth control, why are women still not allowed to be Catholic priests, when men are not exactly clamoring to join up?

Traditional religions often discriminate against women, even in this day and age. And it is time it stopped.

Yours very truly,
Patsie

Crusaders and Leaving Your Mark

When it comes to graffiti, it is a long standing practice. Early Christian crusaders searching for the Holy Grail carved Maltese crosses on ancient Egyptian temples. Defacing buildings: timeless form of rebellion!

Sakkara, near Memphis, Egypt

Sakkara Pyramid

The oldest and first pyramid to be built in the ancient times was a simple step pyramid called Sakkara, outside of Cairo.
All pyramids were built as monuments to dead pharaohs. They were located out in the desert so that their tombs would not be found and raided. Eventually, as cities and the population grew, they were all discovered and looted. Hordes of precious gold, silver, and jewels were taken.

The Egyptian weather -- hot and dry -- turned out to be an excellent environment for the preservation of mummies.

The turban on the man shown above is typical of the Bedouins, who are Sahara desert nomads. The turban is long, wound many times around the head, so that if someone in the nomadic tribe died, it could be used as a death shroud. It is commonly worn both in Nubia, Egypt, and in Jordan among the Bedouins.

Like the Boy Scouts say, Be Prepared.

Your Imaginary Friend,
Patsie