Dear Pearl,

You were born to wear the Babette look, dear!  Seeing you strike that sassy pose, Melba is gaga to acquire the outfit and has the buyers at Harrods frantically shopping for it.  We have heard rumblings of a scandal about Babette, though.  That dreadful Marjorie Bluestocking is claiming that SHE is the originator of the Scottish plaid ruffled shirt worn with the bias cut skirt with the thin layer of lace along the hem.  She maintains that Babette's addition of gym socks is in fact a coded insult intended for Marjorie herself impugning her lack of monarchical pedigree.  Marjorie is very thin-skinned about the matter.  But sally forth, dear friend.  You have style like no other! 

I Remain As Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue

The Very Babette Look  in Oil

Just yesterday, here in the Village,where Style and Fashion compete, the buzz was on about the newest Babette Look. There it was, displayed in the French Shoppe Window, the Outfit that is driving all the ladies into a frenzy. They Must have it, Miss Blue -  the most Scottish plaid shirt with ruffles at the throat and hanging down so gracefully to partly cover The Cut-on-the-Bias-Black skirt, with its tiny black lace trimming on the hem.  And there, on slightly posed feet, the real designer creation, White Gym Socks.  No Patent Leather Pumps of old, no sandals with more cutouts than soles, just white gym socks!

How does she do it, Miss Blue?  Babette knows her Fashion, and that is all that it is.  The competition between fashion and style will always be confusing to the fashion seekers no matter how shocking.   There is such a traffic holdup on our Main Street, with cars slowing down and honking horns in approval, with windows down - even in this hottest of weather -calling out their love for the Babette Look!  Well, I do wish you could be here to witness it all!

Love from Pearl,

Wearing the Babette Look

Oh what a scandal you have described, Pearl!  Angry voices, runaway dogs, secret notes posted from the Yukon Territory.  What's next?  A mob of snarly villagers descending on The Lanterns with pitchforks and torches?  Best to keep your regal profile out of sight while this settles down.  Oh, and Schubert, too.  If word gets out that he's a pen pal of the rogue companion dog, well, mischief may ensue.  Say, why not take this time for a visit here?  Our old friends Pansy and Clover have just arrived and are staying in the music wing.  Remember how they used to ride up and down the neighborhood on their scooters from Sears and Roebuck?  You charmed them into letting us try the silly contraptions but it ended rather messily when neither one of us could figure out how to apply the brakes in time to avoid that collision with the Suffragettes Bike Club.  I can hardly remember that day now. Can you?

I Remain As Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue

There's a rumor in the Village that the missing dog was a companion animal who went out for a couple of Starbucks one day and never came back!  How mysterious it all is! Oh Pearl, do you think foul play was involved?  A scorned lover?  A jealous neighbor?  Please let me know as soon as you are aware of the details!  And do carry your stick with you at all times, dear, if there are dognappers about. . .

Your Devoted Miss Blue

Dear Pearl,

Thank you, dear, for the clue about Pea Surprise.  Melba was able to introduce the secret ingredient in the most roundabout way - Louise is convinced it is her own idea!  Melba is so good at being roundabout, no doubt due to her theatrical training. . .

"Leotard Follies" ended its very successful run last night.  The critics were kind, most of them paying special tribute to the difficulty of Linguini's high C - originating as it did within the confines of the book costume.  And all of us attended the cast party at the home of Mrs Highbottom.  In addition to being a great friend of the opera, she sings with gusto when there's a crowd.  Her rendition of "When The Saints Come Marching In" brought down the house, even if it did include some strange lyrics that she inserted to make up for the ones she'd forgotten.  Oh how you would have enjoyed the evening, too, Pearl.  I hope you do come for a visit once the Village is all squared away with its Case of the Missing Dog.  I wonder what became of him?  Did he, to your knowledge, have any enemies who could be considered suspects?  Do let me know.  I love a mystery.

I Remain As Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue

Wishing only to help your household, I am offering Louise my secret ingredient that has made the Pea Surprise so stunning to the taste buds.  Long ago, the Pea Surprise was a favorite among the early settlers in Kentucky.  The pea, even though grown as a Sweet Pea - its pods heavy with the fat little peas, hanging so gloriously to the eye from slender stems -often lacked the anticipated sweetness - seemed a perfect dinner for the pigs.  And so it was.  But one day, the self proclaimed head gardener decided to inject a drop or two of bourbon into each seedling when he planted row upon row of Sweet Peas.  Never before had there been such a joyous time for the Early Settlers there in Kentucky.  The peas were always sweet!

Even with all of that, Miss Blue, I always add the best Kentucky Bourbon to my Pea Surprise recipe.  I imagine Louise will choose her own brand of bourbon, unique to Louise, of course.  Well, Miss Blue, I only hope that the awful recipes you mentioned in your letter have become a thing of the past and that Louise will accept the recipe and make it her very own, with no reference to me.  The Early Settlers would have wanted it that way.

Yours in good eating, Pearl

Dear Pearl,

Louise is on a mission to top the kiwi pie, Pearl, or she will die trying! We've spent the weeks since your letter forced to eat all kinds of green dishes she has prepared: Collard Greens Incognito, Avocado Loaf with Odd Green Filling, Asparagus with Kiwi Bechamel, Pea Surprise, Green Bean Sorbet. "If you like it," she says, "I'll tell you what's in it." We never like it! Oh Pearl, you have no idea what you started with your innovative way of looking at the lowly kiwi. The mere thought of green makes me shudder. Please advise.

I Remain As Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue

Dear Miss Blue,

Just startling, the news that Linguini has, at last, found his Voice! Earlier times when Linguini performed as a Singing Waiter there were many ups and downs, what with carrying trays of
Vermicelli to hungry diners while singing those high C's. Troublesome for sure, Miss Blue.  The diners loved it when Linguini sang Funiculi Funicula while they ate their dinners; hurrying to finish as Linguini sang that last Funiculi Funicula high C. Just gripping their throats, almost choking with the delight of it all! And now he is On Stage with the Leotard Follies. singing the ever popular "Bookworm's Lament."  I will watch for the Critic's Corner review in the papers over here.

Has Louise perfected her most recent recipe featuring the Kiwi fruit?  Or is that part of the moratorium too. Can hardly wait to hear further news.

Love from Pearl