Our Short-Schouten Story

Part One

The Honey Factory

Rural Ireland was just as she remembered, the narrow little village sreets lined with different colored cottages in yellows, terracotta's, aquas and the predominant blues. The villages were bespeckled with pubs and a spired Catholic church in the center of town.

As the artist drove up and down the left side of the winding roads, circled the many dizzy roundabouts, she let her eyes scan the fields defined by brick walls separating the pastures. for two years she had dreamed of coming back to this fresh and picturesque country to paint it.
Short was a Texas art teacher and spent her vacation time every summer pursuing painting and ceramics. The summer of 2005 was no exception and she chose Ireland for its beauty. A desire to be in the land of her ancestors, learn their customs, meet the Irish people and nurture her spirit were other considerations. She had spent four days there several years before and wanted to come back with her paints and brushes.

Being alone in the most beautiful places for one month would allow the teacher solitude and time to give some serious thought to the rest of her life. She wanted to retire. Her adult children were concerned about her going because of the expense and her safety but she had spent one summer in Europe when she was in college and felt comfortable going. Life decisions need time to brew and simmer.

To be continued...

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Jody is with us and taking her own photos. I think she is putting them on Facebook for all her friends who follow her. Every day is packed with things we have to do and places she wants to see. I'm taking her to get a pedicure today, which she has never experienced. Tomorrow we'll be at Francie and Eric's watching the Super Bowl. This coming week we're going down to San Antonio for a few days. I always love that trip through the backroads of the Hill Country.

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