Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Gearing Up

I'm getting ready to pack to go to The Clearing on Saturday to spend a week in the Women's Writing Retreat workshop. Five days of quiet writing in the mornings and round table discussion in the afternoon, with some of the best company, and food, around. Six days to walk in the woods and listen to the waves lap at the base of a limestone bluff. Going there twice a year takes all my stash money savings but it's so worth it.

Jennifer, I hope your Shelby is comfortable. I'm thinking of you and hoping you feel you can make it Thursday evening.

September 8--Turkish School, Tile with a representation of Mecca. Sweat rolled down Dinah's face and stung her eyes. She had spent the entire day washing the woodwork in the parlor of her new/old house with undiluted pine oil cleaner. Convinced that the filth of the ages had transferred itself onto her clothes and skin, she promised herself a long cool shower just as soon as she had washed the mantle around the fireplace. The wood looked like ebony even though she knew it was not and the tiles around the fire box were nearly as black as the wood. Knowing that the oil soap was the only thing that cut the film from the old furnace, she tipped some onto her sponge. Used to the color change as it went from gold to black with one swipe she was amazed to see that at least one of the tiles was painted green and red. The whole room brightened as she uncovered the white tiles under the grime and a rainbow of color glowed from the Turkish tiles she uncovered with every swipe.

I might take this someplace sometime.
--Barbara

1 comment:

Bob said...

Barbara, have a wonderful time at The Clearing. Sound to me like a little taste of heaven. ;-)