Melba's Other Hat

Dear Pearl,

Melba wants you to wear the poppy hat she had made by the Queen's own milliner. Absolutely guaranteed to turn heads and it will be beautiful on you with your dark eyes. She won't take no for an answer so don't even try to talk her out of it. She can wear the other flower hat. . .

Your Devoted Miss Blue

Dear Miss Blue,

I will be happy to place a bet on your horse, Miss Blue, if you will tell me his name. I could easily guess it to be Sheeny, it is so close in appearance to my childhood memory of our Sheeny's horse.

I must have mentioned him to you many times: the wagon pulled by a moody horse and the Sheeny, always dressed in colorful clothes barely fitted to his rascally self, sitting up front in his wagon on a wooden plank covered with a ragged pillow and overhead a large black umbrella to keep the sun from burning his almost bald head. Toward the back of the wagon hung an amazing scale that we watched as he sorted out the rags and papers and other things and eventually fished out of his tiny vest pocket coins - never bills - offered in exchange for the pickings on the scale. We were afraid of the Sheeny but we loved his horse and afterwards always walked away saddened.

I would be interested to know the bloodline of your horse, Moody. Is that his name? Will Linguini be riding him? I am wondering if you intend to share any of the gorgeous hats that you are bringing to Churchill Downs? I would love to wear one trimmed with poppies front and back.

Love from Pearl

Dear Pearl,

The hats alone are taking a whole steamer trunk! Louise says all the crumpled paper around them will just invite rats. But I'm hopeful they look just as beautiful at Churchill Downs as they did at Ascot. Keep your fingers crossed (if you can spare them from snapping time to that infernal ragtime music you broadcast at the diner!). Our horse doesn't look like much here, but Linguini says that is because he's moody. Moody horses are very good runners. When they're in a good mood.

I Remain As Always,

Your Devoted Miss Blue

Weeping Pussy Willow in Bloom

Easter Egg Tree 2010