Travel. Streets of Rome

Spanish Steps. November 1. Oh. So. Great. 

Art - Poetry

A Place to Hide

That summer I found places to hide

around the neighborhood.

The metal tubes stacked

at Grimes’ lot behind our house

was one of my favorites.

I sat in one on rainy days,

smelled the air,

and would not be bothered.

I hid under the stairway

and read comic books

in a neighbor's hall closet -

sneaked in the back door,

turned on the light,

and sat under jackets and coats

in privacy.

From the backseat floor

of Mom’s ‘41 Chevy,

with the window rolled down,

I watched ants crawl

over the top of pink and white peonies

that lined the driveway.

I found places to hide

so I could be alone,

I found places to hide

from father’s anger,

I found places to hide

where I listened

to what the rain had to tell me,

or the ants, 

or the peonies,

still my favorite flower.

- © Kathleen Matson 2005

Art - Autumn 2016 Scotland.

Transition to winter at Kellie Garden. 

The borders are in decline and yet still colourful. 

And green. So very green. 

Along the road nearby, the sunflower field at Ardross farm begins to rest. 

Sweet faces. 

Still life. 

 Move toward the dark materials. 

The Kingdom of Fife. 

Travel - Coopershill - Co. Sligo - Ireland

Very Jane Austen. Coopershill in Co. Sligo, W. B. Yeats country. A 250 year old Georgian house with at least 20 foot ceilings, wide halls, massive mirrors.  A privilege to sleep there, eat there, watch the trees there. Glorious. 

Tell me how you like this. 

I know. Carried away with the photos. What a place. Thank you Coopershill family. 8 generations. 

Travel - Ireland Co. Clare

Day 9. 

Cliffs of Moher. Surfing school and golf. This west coast is beyond beautiful and so very very very green. 

Lovely Ireland. 

Travel - Ireland Co. Clare - The Wild Atlantic Coast

Day 8. 

Co. Clare and The Moy House. 

Wild Coast. Surfers and golfers. 

Their own gardens & chickens. Incredible eggs. 

Travel -Ireland Co. Cork

Day 6 and 7. 

Ballymaloe House and Cookery School. The brainchild of Myrtle and Ivan Allen in the 1960's has grown into a successful country house hotel, shop, festival location and cookery school. 

Food very special. 

Bread making informative. 

Butter superb. 

Breakfast abundant. 

Cookery school buzzing. 

Multiple gardens. 

And the village of Ballycotton nearby for walking the coast.