Tonight - Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 6-9pm - February First Friday Wine Tasting Drop in for wine and pizza! Coffee and tea will also be available.
Tomorrow we have a Book Launch - Sea Feather! 3-5pmJoin Westminster local Lois Szymanski for the launch of her latest book. We'll have books and munchies and coffee/tea/cookies.
“The True Story of Sea Feather” is a middle grade book for children aged nine to eleven with photographs of the real pony. For Szymanski, the tale is a personal one, the story of the Chincoteague Pony her daughters took home from Chincoteague Island’s wild pony swim and auction.
In 1995 Szymanski’s daughters, Shannon and Ashley went to Pony Penning on Chincoteague Island with $500 in their pockets and a dream. It wasn’t long until they realized $500 was not enough money for a pony. That’s
when they were approached by Carollynn Suplee and her husband, Ed.
Carollynn Suplee had recently survived surgery to remove a cancerous brain tumor. She told the family how she found feathers everywhere
she went while awaiting surgery. She believed they were a sign from above, but
a sign of what? Then she found Psalm 91: verse 4 and read the words, “God will cover you with feathers and protect you,” she knew she would be okay. When a fireman pointed to the Szymanski family and told Suplee about two girls bidding on ponies without success, a feather drifted past his finger. Suplee said she knew this was the family.
After the purchase they discovered the foal was a pinto with one white marking on his neck… in the shape of a feather.
This story was first told in a book released in the nineties called “Sea Feather”. Many true details were changed at an editor’s request. After the book went out of print Animal Planet aired a special which mentioned the book and used copies were in high demand. That’s when Szymanski decided to edit the book to include the entire story. The rewritten version was picked up by Schiffer.
