tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19286836429764855732024-03-13T14:48:57.975-07:00Poetry Is CoolKatharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-4653045164702846062012-05-29T21:03:00.002-07:002012-05-29T21:03:54.379-07:00YAKIMA RIVER POEMS WANTED !POETS:::ONLY a FEW MORE DAYS to send in your Yakima River poems to A
Sense of Place. Do you have a Yakima River-located poem? We are taking
submissions for a special Yakima River sub-anthology of A Sense of
Place, that will be part of a ye<span class="text_exposed_show">ar-long
exhibit at CWU's Museum of Culture and Environment. We are only
accepting poems during the month of MAY 2012!!! Please send your poem,
the location of the poem on the Yakima River (preferably in map
coordinates) and your own picture of the place in .gif or .jpg to
asenseofplace.wa@gmail.com.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0b16Wv0ov0g/T8WcGSjLRhI/AAAAAAAAAWA/RyTqXRnh36s/s1600/Yakima+river+Joe+Powell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0b16Wv0ov0g/T8WcGSjLRhI/AAAAAAAAAWA/RyTqXRnh36s/s320/Yakima+river+Joe+Powell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> </span>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-5831194230298680632012-05-04T22:04:00.000-07:002012-05-06T10:55:49.175-07:00May 2011 flashbackClick hear to listen to <br />
<a href="http://jackstraw.org/blog/?p=250">My Jack Straw Productions podcast!</a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kONuksoVk-Q/T6SzKEqs1WI/AAAAAAAAAO4/27Vk06AFZ6o/s1600/Jack+Straw+Head+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kONuksoVk-Q/T6SzKEqs1WI/AAAAAAAAAO4/27Vk06AFZ6o/s320/Jack+Straw+Head+shot.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
The recording is from my May 2011 Jack Straw Writing Fellows reading in the Jack Straw studios. Being a fellow for 2011 was a fantastic experience that introduced me to warm, generous people and talented writers. I was privileged to meet my fellow "fellows" and the directors and staff at Jack Straw. I continue to benefit from these attachments!<br />
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The readings by the 2012 fellows are going on right now and I would urge you to attend! <a href="http://www.jackstraw.org/programs/writers/WritersForum/index.html">Here's the schedule.</a>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0909 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98164, USA47.6062095 -122.332070847.520564 -122.4899993 47.691855 -122.1741423tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-21129459447070630932012-03-10T08:25:00.001-08:002012-03-10T08:34:11.499-08:00Opportunities Abroad with Writing!<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Attention all writers and lovers of art and travel!! Here are two great writing trips for summer adventures!</span></span></h6><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pqKHSsJGRN8/T1uBwSLF36I/AAAAAAAAANw/SIGXiOhwq3w/s1600/ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pqKHSsJGRN8/T1uBwSLF36I/AAAAAAAAANw/SIGXiOhwq3w/s1600/ireland.jpg" /></a></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> </span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Speaking in Pictures: A Poetry Workshop Concerning Art<br />
Leader: Susan Rich<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_702009922"> (</a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_702009922" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://poet.susanrich.net/</a><a href="http://poet.susanrich.net/">)</a> One-week Residential Workshop Retreat<br />
Arrival: Saturday, 4 August 2012<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"> Departure: Saturday, 11 August 2012<br />
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The question is not what you look at, but what you see.<br />
·Henry Thoreau<br />
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Poetry and painting are sister arts according to the Greeks. It’s a natural collaboration to focus on ekphrastic poetry. Ekphrastic poetry simply refers to our poems inspired by visual images. Together, we will discuss traditional and experimental models of the form by Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Hayden, Lisel Mueller and Rainier Maria Rilke; study recent examples by contemporary poets, and sharpen our powers of observation and description.<br />
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Finally, through a series of provocative exercises, we will write our own poems on a variety of works of art. For the purposes of this workshop, art includes sculpture, collage, architecture and the natural world. All levels of writers are welcome — from beginners to very advanced practitioners.</span></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="text_exposed_show">http://poet.susanrich.net/</span></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="text_exposed_show">AND </span></span></span></h6><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tjCLCGCjNZI/T1uCOmyuoyI/AAAAAAAAAN4/oVTb7ltPkV0/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tjCLCGCjNZI/T1uCOmyuoyI/AAAAAAAAAN4/oVTb7ltPkV0/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="text_exposed_show"> </span></span></span></h6><h1 class="page-title"><span style="font-size: small;">Write With Us in Istanbul, Turkey</span></h1><h2><span style="font-size: small;">May 11-15, 2012 + optional trip to Izmir area, including Ephesus<br />
<a href="http://campaigns.ratepoint.com/campaigns/ff16591af492e437d242d53e477e25c3?r=820be715ef623992e9e834c0a645df95" target="_blank">Learn, Become Inspired, Build a Bridge to Another Culture</a></span> </h2><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Conference Fee: $550<br />
Optional Three-day add-on Trip: about $450</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>With Sheila Bender, Yesim Cimcoz and Susan Bono<br />
Optional 3-Day Trip Extension to Ephesus Area May 16-18</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Sheila Bender joins Susan Bono, editor of <a href="http://www.tiny-lights.com/" target="_blank">Tiny Lights</a>, and Yesim Cimcoz of the <a href="http://yesimcimcoz.com/eng" target="_blank">Writing Istanbul Project</a> in guiding poets and writers of personal experience in writing and touring the amazing city of Istanbul. We have an optional add-on trip following the workshop for those who want to see more of Turkey. Spouses, friends and partners are welcome to join us in activities surrounding our writing groups work.</span><br />
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="text_exposed_show">http://writingitreal.com/writers-conferences/istanbul-turkey</span></span><a href="http://writingitreal.com/writers-conferences/istanbul-turkey">http://writingitreal.com/writers-conferences/istanbul-turkey</a></span></h6>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-79263456320345798842012-01-28T12:29:00.000-08:002012-01-28T12:29:02.202-08:00Hey Writers--Here are some great upcoming opportunities to work with poet Elizabeth Austen!<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"></span></h6><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6fQTI2XYh9Y/TyRZ5ng4KeI/AAAAAAAAANo/lbK8EWH5iGs/s1600/austen-jack-straw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6fQTI2XYh9Y/TyRZ5ng4KeI/AAAAAAAAANo/lbK8EWH5iGs/s1600/austen-jack-straw.jpg" /></a></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ready to try something new? Elizabeth Austen is teaching a couple of poetry writing workshops in February:<br />
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Poems from Poems: Call and Response<br />
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“Good poems are the best teachers. Perhaps they are the only teachers,” writes Mary Oliver in <i>A Poetry Handbook</i>. This workshop explores ways to let others’ poems not only teach you, but lead to new poems of your own. We’ll experiment with po-jacking, sonic translations, echo translations and other ways to use one poem as a jumping off point for another. Come prepared to write and stretch your craft – participants will leave the workshop with fresh drafts of new poems.<br />
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February 4, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Richard Hugo House $96/$86.40 for Hugo House members. Registration is open online or via phone at (206) 322-7030. Here is a link to the<a href="http://hugohouse.org/class/poems-poems-call-and-response"> class description and registration</a>.<br />
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Elizabeth will also teach a shorter, free version of the class on February 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the <a href="http://www.lopezlibrary.org/">Lopez Island Library</a>.<br />
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Contact Elizabeth at eaustenpoetry@gmail.com for more information. More information is available on her <a href="http://elizabethausten.wordpress.com/">website as well</a>!</span></span></span></h6>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-72580866261493928362011-11-11T00:53:00.000-08:002011-11-25T00:06:44.334-08:00Podcasts, Geospatial Poetry and Vienna Angels<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zi1hDPYKWJw/TrziHX4xu1I/AAAAAAAAANc/KT5DxugztfU/s1600/pecs+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zi1hDPYKWJw/TrziHX4xu1I/AAAAAAAAANc/KT5DxugztfU/s320/pecs+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cathedral in Pecs, Hungary</td></tr>
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My colleague here at the University of Pecs, Joseph Horvath, produces a podcast called "Take Off," which features interviews with students and recordings of classic literature. I guess I fall somewhere in between. Joe interviewed me on one of the nicest days of autumn here; we sat outside at a cafe by the cathedral near my apartment. I read a brand new poem, "Dream Map-<i>Vienna</i>" at the end of the podcast. And we are laughing because earlier we had watched two girls walk past us wearing angel's wings.<br />
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<a href="http://jozsefhor.podomatic.com/player/web/2011-11-05T01_54_25-07_00">Kathy featured on Horvath Joseph's podcast, Take Off</a><br />
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Here is a video I made inside the Alte Bibliotek in Vienna (the Old Library), which is basically a museum. It's quite a place--if you have 5 minutes (warning) I show the ornate painted ceiling, old globes, statues, huge book stacks, and treasures.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/fVQOa3nKe9o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0Pécs, Hungary46.0713203 18.23314319999997245.225280299999994 17.866007199999974 46.9173603 18.600279199999971tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-22663316655902198642011-10-14T13:17:00.000-07:002011-10-14T13:25:55.653-07:00Vienna, Part I: SchlagobersTwo trips to Vienna (one solo in Sept and one with Bob in Oct). The train ride is 6 hours each way via Budapest.<br />
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<br />
When I visited Vienna alone I hit the last weekend of summer weather. I was able to sit outside with my plum cake and grosser brauner at <a href="http://www.cafesperl.at/index_fla.htm">Cafe Sperl</a>. I also tried the plum cake at the historic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caf%C3%A9_Hawelka">Cafe Hawelka</a>. Better at Sperl.<br />
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When it rained on the next visit, Bob and I and everybody else in Vienna had the same idea: to go to <a href="http://www.demel.at/">Cafe Demel</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gYLgxpgfH54/TpfNYAixrcI/AAAAAAAAAKg/x1M1V-YuCaw/s1600/close+up+Cafe+Demel+cakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gYLgxpgfH54/TpfNYAixrcI/AAAAAAAAAKg/x1M1V-YuCaw/s320/close+up+Cafe+Demel+cakes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qM4V3VgCjkY/TpfJoSmc5JI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/EHvHQfzvFYs/s1600/Schlagobers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qM4V3VgCjkY/TpfJoSmc5JI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/EHvHQfzvFYs/s320/Schlagobers.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
The nut cake is almost gone but the cup in my hand contained hot chocolate with Bailey's and <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate_t?client=gmail&rls=gm&q=schlagobers&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sl=de&tl=en&sa=X&ei=J8qXTu_2CIKw8gOHw9TQBQ&ved=0CBwQrgYwAA">schlagobers</a><br />
one of the best words in the German language. I'm trying really hard not to blink at the flash.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> BUT the best dessert was at the <a href="http://www.bitzinger.at/english.html">Albertiner Keller</a>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m_fsNFWMg4k/TpfOdo9DinI/AAAAAAAAAKo/PMqNGZ-jHlo/s1600/Abertina+Keller+dessert.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m_fsNFWMg4k/TpfOdo9DinI/AAAAAAAAAKo/PMqNGZ-jHlo/s320/Abertina+Keller+dessert.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Poppyseed-honey mousse with sour cherries. In a little glass preserves container. What??? You can see in the top left corner what was left of Bob's sachertorte.<br />
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More later on art and <i>buildings!</i>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-58301500990110766202011-10-04T12:11:00.000-07:002011-10-04T13:26:52.559-07:00I'm not going to make a joke about the word HUNGARYthough believe me, I erased a few puns before I took the high road. It's been a while since my last post. A lot has happened in my writing life, my academic life and my life-life. Bob and I both got faculty exchanges to teach at the <a href="http://english.pte.hu/">University of Pécs</a>, in Pécs, Hungary. It's still summer weather here, on the 4th of October. We arrived almost a month ago and since then I've taken the train to Vienna for the weekend, hosted a party on our back patio for our colleagues, Bob has assisted in the grape harvest and we've settled in to watch the parade of feral cats cruise through the yard.<br />
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I'm teaching a Multi-Genre Writing Workshop to upper-division students at PTE and an online class for CWU. I'm also working on a new book and training to run the <a href="http://www.ljubljanskimaraton.si/en/">Ljubljana Half Marathon</a> this month.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_57429599">Pécs</a><span class="st"><a href="http://en.pecs.hu/"> is the fifth largest city of Hungary</a>, located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country, close to its border with Croatia.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S8xU1vTonaM/TotZGqkUdbI/AAAAAAAAAGs/IZ970VF9BPg/s1600/Cancer+Charity+3K+GROUP+SHOT+9+17+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S8xU1vTonaM/TotZGqkUdbI/AAAAAAAAAGs/IZ970VF9BPg/s320/Cancer+Charity+3K+GROUP+SHOT+9+17+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marian, Szabolcs, me and Bob after a Charity 3K run our first weekend in Pecs. The run was sponsored by Magyar Posta, the Hungarian Postal Service and benefited cancer research.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nXSEmtRVPQ8/Totqs9ZUN4I/AAAAAAAAAI4/XgCBC6sqQj8/s1600/pecs+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nXSEmtRVPQ8/Totqs9ZUN4I/AAAAAAAAAI4/XgCBC6sqQj8/s320/pecs+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cathedral in Pecs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_xVe4H7Z7g/Totr1kI_hSI/AAAAAAAAAI8/FEQeWcfPj4I/s1600/pecs+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_xVe4H7Z7g/Totr1kI_hSI/AAAAAAAAAI8/FEQeWcfPj4I/s320/pecs+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The school on our street.</td></tr>
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</a></div>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com1Pécs, Hungary46.0713203 18.23314319999997245.225280299999994 17.866007199999974 46.9173603 18.600279199999971tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-12887187156888174712011-07-10T14:29:00.000-07:002011-07-10T14:29:05.110-07:00Beautiful Morning, Beautiful AfternoonI ran this morning up to high lookout at the top of the next valley over from Labastide Esparbairenque. The temperature was hot even at 9 and I hadn't done a longer run in a while, but I loved every minute of it. The runs here are so refreshing that I don't want to turn around--I come back feeling better and full of hope. Beauty erupts everywhere out on the trail--vistas open around each turn. I plan to have some new shots of the trail and the views to post later.<br />
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Then a long (3 1/2 hours) French lunch was devoured by our group at <a href="http://www.auberge-siredecabaret.fr/">Sire de Cabaret </a>in Roqueferre-- with glorious desserts and duck, lamb, entrecote, etc. I have no photos of lunch but I think I was the only one not taking pictures. Today was a day to look ahead to our last big project of the Creative Castle class and to enjoy being in France.Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-54334383504847839032011-07-07T14:46:00.000-07:002011-07-07T14:46:37.539-07:00The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qj1SDOZkOQ/ThYmUwIfFSI/AAAAAAAAAGk/BEnSyFCfP4I/s1600/Day+7+Albi+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qj1SDOZkOQ/ThYmUwIfFSI/AAAAAAAAAGk/BEnSyFCfP4I/s320/Day+7+Albi+002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The angels on the grand entry to the <a href="http://www.albi-tourisme.fr/us/">Cathedrale of Ste.-Cecile</a> have never flown with their burdens. (French sentence).Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-51811400358557875642011-07-06T17:16:00.000-07:002011-07-06T17:16:56.605-07:00Everything is Illuminated<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s7cEZo08_pk/ThTW6SJPuaI/AAAAAAAAAGc/RjqZroajqjY/s1600/Day+5+Carcassonne+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s7cEZo08_pk/ThTW6SJPuaI/AAAAAAAAAGc/RjqZroajqjY/s320/Day+5+Carcassonne+017.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> We had a beautiful day to explore the Cite (the medieval town) of Carcassonne. I hadn't visited the cathedral inside the Cite in the fall, so I appreciated having a tour led by Maria with the class this time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJVCAviv89I/ThTXGqFXVLI/AAAAAAAAAGg/-H7vdk2iWJg/s1600/Day+5+Carcassonne+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJVCAviv89I/ThTXGqFXVLI/AAAAAAAAAGg/-H7vdk2iWJg/s320/Day+5+Carcassonne+008.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We have been so fortunate with the weather during our stay in France. The air is dry, warm and fragrant (in a good way). I might even say we've been blessed.Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-88575202027044036302011-07-04T13:42:00.000-07:002011-07-04T13:42:50.921-07:00The Day with One Photograph<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FrUthWfQLec/ThIiIXOaF_I/AAAAAAAAAGY/1yQIuSj8n-E/s1600/John+Fanning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FrUthWfQLec/ThIiIXOaF_I/AAAAAAAAAGY/1yQIuSj8n-E/s320/John+Fanning.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>John Fanning, who owns <a href="http://www.lamuseinn.com/%20">La Muse</a> with his wife Kerry, let us in the ancient chapel today. This is a beautiful, peaceful space--it calms a person right down. This is John meditating in the chapel.<br />
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Today was also the book swap in La Muse's library. All of the students brought wonderful gifts to leave.<br />
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Alex Emmons, Aaron, Alex and I had a little adventure in the course of finding a place to buy bread and some necessities--we hit the epicerie in Mas Cabardes at just the time when it was closed and tooled up to <a href="http://www.tourisme-mazamet.com/en/index.php">Mazamet</a> instead.Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-8189391604910581202011-07-03T14:58:00.000-07:002011-07-03T15:01:39.479-07:00The Saint with a Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rDFnlvAymL4/ThDkjcGwY_I/AAAAAAAAAGU/DlIavg-jiw0/s1600/Day+3+Lastours+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rDFnlvAymL4/ThDkjcGwY_I/AAAAAAAAAGU/DlIavg-jiw0/s320/Day+3+Lastours+035.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>In the village of books, Montolieu, Can you imagine--a village of books!<br />
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<span class="tl"><h3 class="r"><a class="l noline" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBQQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.montolieu.net%2F&rct=j&q=Montolieu&ei=BOUQTp3IH8XsOcLX8b0L&usg=AFQjCNFgFDVFcLq9toomKXU3ADE_tAk-5Q&sig2=nm9lcF-FLr-bfexjUFWqjg&cad=rja" onmousedown="return rwt(this,'','','','1','AFQjCNFgFDVFcLq9toomKXU3ADE_tAk-5Q','nm9lcF-FLr-bfexjUFWqjg','0CBQQFjAA')"><i>Montolieu</i> village du livre,bouquinistes, librairie,livres d <b>...</b></a></h3></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-86165877527703712702011-07-03T14:11:00.000-07:002011-07-03T14:46:42.549-07:00French sentences return to France!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9YdRjgebk9A/ThDWnpQxexI/AAAAAAAAAGM/095_FgqaD3s/s1600/exclamation+mark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9YdRjgebk9A/ThDWnpQxexI/AAAAAAAAAGM/095_FgqaD3s/s200/exclamation+mark.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Today during our hike to Cubservies, I thought it would be fun to stop and write a short impression here in this place, having these experiences.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">When I was in France last fall I wrote a series of what I called "french sentences," which were merely a riff on Allen Ginsberg's American sentences--a seventeen syllable sentence with the qualities of a haiku. I was writing about what it felt like to be in this part of France.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">But this time around seventeen syllables felt way too short---and I set the parameters at 17 words, still with a concentration toward the</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"> qualities of a haiku.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Here's the one from yesterday:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">L'eglise Saint-Sernin</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">We find the chapel after hiking steep miles, old stories pieced into walls, layer upon rocky layer.</span></span>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-6050014497182784872011-07-01T15:19:00.000-07:002011-07-01T15:19:51.377-07:00Lucky Me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hUy-_jLFJas/Tg5EqvdOtEI/AAAAAAAAAF4/uJzTFlYygzQ/s1600/view+from+La+Muse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hUy-_jLFJas/Tg5EqvdOtEI/AAAAAAAAAF4/uJzTFlYygzQ/s320/view+from+La+Muse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> I'm back at <a href="http://www.lamuseinn.com/%20-">La Muse in beautiful Labastide Esparbairenque, France</a> with photography professor <a href="http://www.alexemmons.com/">Alex Emmons<span class="gl"> </span> </a>and our class of eight students enrolled in "Creative Writing and Digital Photography in Medieval France."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JLDN5YDSi9I/Tg5FBmEYBTI/AAAAAAAAAF8/G4XCsXF15AU/s1600/suzanne+and+brandy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JLDN5YDSi9I/Tg5FBmEYBTI/AAAAAAAAAF8/G4XCsXF15AU/s320/suzanne+and+brandy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Today was our first chance to get out into the sunshine and explore the area. Suzanne Blons and Brandy Dohrman (right) relax on the overlook before our extraordinarily long hike.Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-47089413967908041802011-02-28T06:00:00.000-08:002011-02-28T06:00:52.276-08:00Respite in the CatskillsI've come to the end of my nearly week-long visit with my friends Mark and James. They live in an 18th century farmhouse in the Hudson Valley with chickens, bees and cats. I was so relaxed I don't even remember what we did during my stay.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6dXnCQHWJFs/TWuoF_zgQkI/AAAAAAAAAFc/O1eIt-lmErI/s1600/completed+hundertwasser+sox.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6dXnCQHWJFs/TWuoF_zgQkI/AAAAAAAAAFc/O1eIt-lmErI/s320/completed+hundertwasser+sox.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I finished my sock project for February!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F9bD4dh2D9U/TWuortMo2zI/AAAAAAAAAFg/T1fsLPNQbGA/s1600/James%2527+bird.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F9bD4dh2D9U/TWuortMo2zI/AAAAAAAAAFg/T1fsLPNQbGA/s320/James%2527+bird.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I made James a weird little bird to go with Mark's.<br />
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Here are the two cats: Ursula<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ebj8NhmjgF8/TWuqMhSLI-I/AAAAAAAAAFk/_LOeeegO3tk/s1600/ursula.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ebj8NhmjgF8/TWuqMhSLI-I/AAAAAAAAAFk/_LOeeegO3tk/s320/ursula.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>and Gretchen!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V-DQVroH6YA/TWuqZAZG3sI/AAAAAAAAAFo/i8y-pAyySeg/s1600/gretchen+w+eyes+open.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V-DQVroH6YA/TWuqZAZG3sI/AAAAAAAAAFo/i8y-pAyySeg/s320/gretchen+w+eyes+open.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-2545136236625997342011-02-16T14:56:00.000-08:002011-02-16T14:56:14.960-08:00Poets on the Beach Conference, September 9-11, 2011Hey fellow poets! Are you longing to spend some inspiring days by the ocean?<br />
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In a literary-themed hotel on the coast of Oregon? Here's your chance. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://agodon.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/sylviabeachhotel.363101553_std.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://agodon.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/sylviabeachhotel.363101553_std.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><strong>“Dwell in Possibility” ~ Emily Dickinson</strong><br />
<div id="side_bar"><br />
</div>Join Kelli Russell Agodon and Susan Rich for the first Poets on the Coast Weekend Writing Retreat September 9-11th, 2011 at the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport, Oregon on historic Nye Beach. <br />
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This retreat has been designed for women writers of all levels, from beginning poets to well published. Sessions on creativity, generating work, publication and one-on-one mentoring are included. There are only have a limited number of spaces available and they will be filled on a first-come basis.<br />
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With the Sylvia Beach Hotel, designed to inspire writers with its literary-themed rooms, this retreat will offer you a unique experience to explore your writing and creativity. Come spend a weekend with other women poets. Be ready to be nurtured, inspired and creative.<br />
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For all the nitty-gritty info, see the official link: <br />
<a href="http://poet.susanrich.net/conference/">Poets on the Beach Writing Conference</a>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-38365821469586894722011-01-25T16:01:00.000-08:002011-01-25T16:01:57.078-08:00The Brie Scarf!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TT9kVoN-SII/AAAAAAAAAFE/yX5zlFrt3Fs/s1600/green+scarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TT9kVoN-SII/AAAAAAAAAFE/yX5zlFrt3Fs/s320/green+scarf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TT9kXr0VZqI/AAAAAAAAAFI/eO0UARldpDo/s1600/green+scarf+on+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TT9kXr0VZqI/AAAAAAAAAFI/eO0UARldpDo/s320/green+scarf+on+chair.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-49879877874645820142010-11-15T21:02:00.000-08:002010-11-15T21:02:58.573-08:00KaNoPoMo!!!Well,though the novelists have grabbed November (National Novel Writing Month--NaNoWriMo) as their own, in the spirit of prolificacy, I am taking on November as KaNoPoMo (Kathy's November Poetry Month).<br />
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In April I wrote a poem every day for NaPoWri Mo; and I had 30 poem drafts as a result. I had as added incentive an agrreement I made online with the cool website ReadWritePoem to post a link to each new poem draft. About six of those new poems have been published already in journals, like <i><a href="http://www.sweetlit.com/3.1/poetWhitcomb.php">Sweet</a> </i>and<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_273876088"> </a><i><a href="http://www.pifmagazine.com/category/poetry/">Pif</a>. </i>Some of those poems have ended up in my second full-length collection, <i>Summer, Posthumous</i>.<br />
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I was telling a poet friend the other day that the process of writing a poem every day took away the pressure that I would have "writer's block" or that my best poems were behind me. I kept surprising myself with my new poems--and it delighted me to have some much new material to revise, explore, work on. The experience of writing daily, in the middle of a very busy quarter, also showed me that there is no end in an artist's life---the intimate world of writing a poem is there for me as long as I am alive and as long as I am willing toenter it.<br />
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While I won't be posting new poem drafts in their entirety, I will post related material and some fragments/ideas.<br />
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I have 15 drafts for November so far--I hope you will keep checking in!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TOINq-N4cjI/AAAAAAAAAEo/W39HOyNayUo/s1600/birds_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TOINq-N4cjI/AAAAAAAAAEo/W39HOyNayUo/s320/birds_medium2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I'm also knitting lots of stripey birds in November (I'm on sabbatical)!!Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-55805927926413408922010-11-06T14:40:00.000-07:002010-11-06T16:12:32.069-07:00Call for Artistes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TNXLO2I7jyI/AAAAAAAAAEg/vkSI53VlE_w/s1600/tshirt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TNXLO2I7jyI/AAAAAAAAAEg/vkSI53VlE_w/s320/tshirt.png" width="320" /></a></div>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-51785076617835651022010-10-18T15:29:00.000-07:002010-10-18T15:29:06.557-07:00Reading Tomorrow at Yakima Valley Community College, 7 p.m.<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKMXaB7u3vI/AAAAAAAAADY/wzi53uqsm9Y/s1600/lamp1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKMXaB7u3vI/AAAAAAAAADY/wzi53uqsm9Y/s1600/lamp1.jpg" /></a></div>Please join me for poems from <em><a href="http://www.scn.org/floatingbridge/lamp_main.html">Lamp of Letters</a></em>, from my new manuscript, and from <em><a href="http://www.emporia.edu/bluestem/whitcom.htm">Saints of South Dakota & Other Poems</a>!</em><br />
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7 p.m. in the Writing Center of Glenn-Anthon at YVCC.<br />
More info at this link: <a href="http://www.yvcc.edu/AboutYVCC/communityrelations/Pages/PoetryReadings.aspx">Reading at Yakima Valley Community College</a>.Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-75407737149522435892010-10-06T14:32:00.000-07:002010-10-06T14:36:15.053-07:00Albi Seeing Ya in Barcelona<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKzkZNc32_I/AAAAAAAAAEY/fe3JSB6KBqQ/s1600/albi+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKzkZNc32_I/AAAAAAAAAEY/fe3JSB6KBqQ/s1600/albi+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKzkZNc32_I/AAAAAAAAAEY/fe3JSB6KBqQ/s320/albi+001.jpg" width="320" /></a> It takes a while to get somewhere else from Labastide Esparbairenque because first you have to get out of the forest and the mountains--the roads are steep and twisty-turny and about half a lane wide.<br />
I was able to take a road trip to the medieval city of Albi, about 2+ hours to the north. Albi is the heart of the Cathar resistance to the Pope. In the 15th century the Catholic Church built this enormous red stone fortress of a cathdral to impress the church's great power upon the resistors. The cathedral is a formidable Gothic pile---the 1400's version of shock and awe.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKzkIuu2Z4I/AAAAAAAAAEU/7XFZ3HGWl-s/s320/albi+022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This hand-painted ceiling in the cathedral in Albi has never been retouched!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><br />
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I got to see saint's skulls in the cathedral--that was a new one for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKzjWB0QdLI/AAAAAAAAAEI/xx_1p6tIMpk/s320/Espana+006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soccer players in Barcelona.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKzjWB0QdLI/AAAAAAAAAEI/xx_1p6tIMpk/s1600/Espana+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKzkIuu2Z4I/AAAAAAAAAEU/7XFZ3HGWl-s/s1600/albi+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKzjlSSQCjI/AAAAAAAAAEM/ygoxG15Zir4/s1600/Espana+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKzjlSSQCjI/AAAAAAAAAEM/ygoxG15Zir4/s320/Espana+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I also went on a whirlwind road trip to Barcelona. I had never been to Spain before. It turned out, though, that we just got to have some lunch, walk around the beautiful Born district--full of cobbled streets, little shops and parks and do a forced march to Gaudi's Sograta Familia. To the right is my buddy Jaclyn, checking the map. The forced march was not her fault!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am in the Born District with pistachio gelato--my favorite!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-14655239007969150962010-09-30T12:58:00.000-07:002010-09-30T13:06:24.992-07:00L' Oeuf Magnifique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKTikcchsUI/AAAAAAAAADk/Nuckwt6JAEk/s1600/egg+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKTikcchsUI/AAAAAAAAADk/Nuckwt6JAEk/s320/egg+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Today we drove up the mountain north of St. Julien to do LAND ART with the artist Christophe Eppe. Homer couldn't come with us.<br />
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He would have been in the way. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKTj99-vEvI/AAAAAAAAADs/uG0CDIIhYzg/s1600/christophe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKTj99-vEvI/AAAAAAAAADs/uG0CDIIhYzg/s320/christophe.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKTiIDgSyKI/AAAAAAAAADg/bdORfvpVR8A/s1600/egg+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKTiIDgSyKI/AAAAAAAAADg/bdORfvpVR8A/s320/egg+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Two of our sculptures began as spheres and then collapsed. It was a little discouraging.<br />
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This is Christophe checking out our ultimately successful rock egg.<br />
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And this is Jaclyn and Christophe and me after all of us completed the egg. (I will add more photos soon--had trouble uploading them just now).<br />
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</a></div>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-41106209175908619122010-09-27T14:43:00.000-07:002010-09-27T14:43:39.206-07:00Homer Ain't SlowTrail Running in Labastide Esparbairenque!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKEGCtppRTI/AAAAAAAAAC0/9E2nyucgGDE/s1600/la+muse+2+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKEGCtppRTI/AAAAAAAAAC0/9E2nyucgGDE/s320/la+muse+2+016.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I really didn't ever imagine that I would come to France and get a lot of practice running mountain trails. It turns out that this is the perfect area for high mountain, un-peopled, untrampled, awesome, endless trails.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKEG7g_AfLI/AAAAAAAAAC4/Jb1KxoQz5a0/s1600/la+muse+2+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKEG7g_AfLI/AAAAAAAAAC4/Jb1KxoQz5a0/s320/la+muse+2+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The air is dry and clear, and the trails with southern exposure are very warm in September. Homer, the English water spaniel (I think), likes to come with me.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKEIzaKDsLI/AAAAAAAAAC8/4bSVx1ogL58/s1600/la+muse+2+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKEIzaKDsLI/AAAAAAAAAC8/4bSVx1ogL58/s320/la+muse+2+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKEKWrnR83I/AAAAAAAAADA/PcjJWG7AmuY/s1600/la+muse+2+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKEKWrnR83I/AAAAAAAAADA/PcjJWG7AmuY/s320/la+muse+2+024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Homer is like the wind. He runs twice as far as I do--always circling around and up into the woods, in front of me and behind me.<br />
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The views are astounding--big gorges and valleys extending through forests as far as you can see.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKEMA1zsjJI/AAAAAAAAADE/cSQ4y-9pzak/s1600/la+muse+2+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKEMA1zsjJI/AAAAAAAAADE/cSQ4y-9pzak/s320/la+muse+2+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Homer reminds me how light a body can be!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKEOADseorI/AAAAAAAAADI/ex_ArfGF9mY/s1600/la+muse+2+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKEOADseorI/AAAAAAAAADI/ex_ArfGF9mY/s320/la+muse+2+023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-88004017518728450702010-09-27T13:49:00.000-07:002010-09-27T13:49:14.142-07:00Espar?La Muse in Labastide Esparbairenque<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKD7qamVFNI/AAAAAAAAACk/bHj8F23M_Ho/s1600/la+muse+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_O8OU6KgX_vc/TKD7qamVFNI/AAAAAAAAACk/bHj8F23M_Ho/s320/la+muse+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Even the flight attendant on my Air France flight who was from the Languedoc had trouble pronouncing the name of the town which was my destination..But after missing my first flight to Toulouse, then barely making my train to Carcassonne, I was picked up at the train station by John Fanning, the director of La Muse.<a href="http://www.lamuseinn.com/">La Muse is a Writer's and Artist's Retrea</a>t in the Aude "department" in the Languedoc region of Southern France.<br />
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I was so pleased to be given a residency here. The above is the hallway to my room.<br />
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This is the back, which faces the valley. When the weather is warm, the patio is a great place for dinner.<br />
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The town is in the middle of the "Black Mountain" region. Basically in the middle of a huge chestnut and pine forest---no one ever knows what part of France I am talking about when I try to describe it.<br />
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<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=gmail&rls=gm&q=labastide+esparbairenque&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl">on the map!</a>Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1928683642976485573.post-77415453353911042462010-09-23T12:42:00.000-07:002010-09-23T14:12:16.361-07:00Hey Dude! Is that my langoustine ravioli?More reasons to love Paris:<br />
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5. dead king's heads in the <a href="http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/">Musee du Moyen Age (Medieval Museum)</a><br />
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6. walking through streets forever trying to find the aforementioned Musee and one crosses the street into<a href="http://www.parisdigest.com/takingarest/jardindu.htm"> Luxembourg Garden</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">flowers in Luxembourg Garden</span></td></tr>
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7. sitting down at lunch at <a href="http://www.paris-paris-paris.com/paris_city_guide/where_to_eat_timeout_paris/comptoir_du_relais">Le Comptoir</a> with complete strangers and getting invited to visit them in New Zealand<br />
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8. on Rue de Bourgogne (very short street) there is a <a href="http://www.bourbon-paris-hotel.com/">wonderful little hotel </a>AND a bar called Club des Poetes (Poet's Club)---did you all get that??? My street had a Poet's Club!!!<br />
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9. this representational portrait (very unusual for the time--most art was religious) in the Musee du Moyen Age, which became my favorite photo from this trip so far<br />
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10. the last macaron<br />
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p.s. Paris doesn't suck at all if you greet everyone you meet politely and show that you appreciate what is around you. I was treated beautifully and everyone made little jokes with me. Maybe <i>at</i> me too, but I didn't know!I tried to speak French whenever I could--which was not much. I ate by myself in nice restaurants and got great service and nice seats. What really cracked me up is that I come from <a href="http://maps.google.fr/maps?hl=fr&expIds=17259,24472,25941,26614,26751,26757,26758&xhr=t&q=Ellensburg,+WA&cp=14&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Ellensburg,+WA,+USA&gl=fr&ei=FsKbTIyfLY7Hswajh9SXCw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBoQ8gEwAA">a little town in central Washington state</a> where it is notoriously hard to get dates---and I hadn't even made it off the subway before I got hit on by "Emil." I had slept in my clothes all night, had chocolate gateau smeared on my jeans and my greasy hair was hanging in my face. Emil showed me how to find the Magenta line to the Haussman station, told me he liked Obama and asked me if I wanted to go sightseeing with him. I said Non, but thank you (I have a sweet boyfriend) and he said in perfect English: "You are very welcome. It was nice to talk to you. Obama is better than George Bush."Katharine Whitcombhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09735067296822087641noreply@blogger.com2