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

What Makes Chincoteague So Special?

Actual descendants of the famous foal Misty

Dear Imaginary Friends and Horse Lovers of the World,


Chincoteague is famous for its annual round-up of wild ponies who live on the salt marshes of Assateague, a national preserve.
At least one hundred ponies wander free eating salt oats and wondering why they look so bloated. (Stay away from the all-salt diet!)


Every late July, they are herded along the beach and forced into a gallop, right into the lowest tide time on the Chinctoeague channel. They swim across, foals, mares and stallions. Some of the herd is sold off at the annual auction. Who buys the ponies? Farmers, horse lovers, fathers of horse-obsessed little girls, the Amish and the Mennonites.


By the way, we saw some Mennonites driving around Assateague in their SUV and were ready to write them a religious "Ticket." How dare they flaunt modern technology! Don't they know they are supposed to be oppressed? Humph.


During the auction at the pony-penning, there are traditionally buy-backs, in which the philanthropists of the town buy ponies, and then donate them back to the island to roam free and have fun. All profits go to the Chicoteague firemen. It might be more efficient to just train the ponies to serve as firemen. No salary, no benefits, except for the aforementioned salty oats.

After that, perhaps the ponies could be trained to harvest the clams and oyster beds that are so abundant here.


A book was written about Misty of Chincoteague, a beautiful foal, who could not be captured for many years. Who buys this book? Mostly young fillies, I mean little girls.


Horses just wanna be free. And they are not much up for swimming.

Ponies eating on Assateague

Your Imaginary Friend,
Patsie

Miami's Beautiful South Beach

The striped cabanas above, in sherbet colors, belong to the Delano Hotel in South Beach.

What is South Beach famous for? Well, in addition to Art Deco architecture, beautiful white sand, turquoise water, and beautiful people, it's glamtastic, thanks to some newer fabulous hotels such as the Delano, Shore Club, the Raleigh, which is home to the Ford Modeling Agency, and a beautiful Loew's, all right on the ocean.

Black Sand Beach on the Big Island

Back in 2004, Carlo and I took a trip to Hawaii, the land of natural extremes. Here is shown a black sand beach, pounded by waves from volcanic rock.

It was soft enough to walk on...and stunning to see.

Your Traveler,

Patsie

Sunset in Lewes over the Delaware Bay

Dear Imaginary Friends,

If only one could spend the waning hours of every day gazing out on the water at the beautiful beach sunsets...

Wish you were here,

Patsie