Tuesday Travel - Diamond Hunting

3 states
15 hours
692 miles
0 diamonds

I'm a rock hound. There, I said it. I'm forever picking up rocks from wherever I go. Been doing it since I was a little kid, dragging rocks home from the shore of Lake Michigan. Nowadays, the collection includes stones from Switzerland, Paris and even Dubai (a friend brought me that one).

But today I was hunting the ultimate rock - a diamond. The Crater of Diamond state park has an active diamond field for anyone to come out and search out a precious stone. You find one, you keep it. There are white, yellow and brown diamonds waiting to be found.

I've wanted to go there for several years now and with some creative rearranging of my holiday plans, and a whole lot of driving, I finally made it there. No diamond for me but a couple days hours of digging in the dirt, enjoying the Sun and the thrill of the hunt.

Today the truck is headed to Paducah - Only a five hour drive away! With a more relaxed schedule, there will be time for stops and pictures.
Cherry

AQS Quilt Week Paducah - Day 0.5

Hello from the road!
I left yesterday evening to get a start on the drive to Paducah. So far, I've covered 220 miles in 3.5 hours, with 1 stop for dinner. Not bad. Tonight is the Holiday Inn in Effingham, IL. Very nice room, okay rate, considering I just booked it at 4 pm today.

Planning for an early departure this morning, so I should be on the road by the time this post goes live. For those of who wondering why I need to get going so early when I'm only about 4 hours out and the show doesn't actually start until Wednesday... Yes, I have a few side trips in mind for some extra adventuring! 

The plan is subject to the timetable and how hard I decide to push. The maximum is 6 states but that's a big push. And, of course, weather will need to be factored into the equation.  Intrigued? Me too! Come on along for this road trip. I promise I'll figure out a way to get some decent pictures uploaded. I'm posting via my tablet so that may be tricky. 
Cherry

I'm Home from Switzerland!

I got home late last Friday. 

There is so much to catch up on, every which way I turn.  All in due time!

Let's start with the most asked questions: 

1. How was it?

It was amazing. It was busy. It went so fast and felt like forever. It was strange and completely normal.

2. Did you get to travel?

Most of my time was spent working - early mornings before my commute, evenings and weekends.  BUT, yes, I managed to take 2 of the weekends completely off and traveled to London & Paris.  Both were whirlwind trips but I got to experience a bit of two iconic cities! More on those trips later because fabric/shopping/art is involved and there are many pictures that need sorting. 

3. Blogging/Email?

Okay - yeah, well, the best laid plans... 

I did have my new tablet with me, though typing long posts or messages are not the best on it. It was more a lack of time to focus on anything but the project.  Yeah - I know, we're all busy but here's an average day schedule:

Up at 5:30, leave apartment by 6:45, catch the 7:10 train, arrive at office at 7:45, work, catch the 19:02 (or 19:29) train, arrive back at the apartment at 19:45, log back on by 20:00 and work until 22:30, call home to check in and crash by 23:00. Rinse and repeat. 

Not a lot of room in there for personal computer time and honestly, spending time in front of another screen was not very appealing.

Yes - some days were a bit easier. But it was a huge project, with the typical challenges, unexpected hiccups, some extra drama, a tight timeline and a lean team.  We did it - the platform launched. We are now dealing with the aftermath but I am home.  Currently, there's no plan for me to go back. 

4. Quilt project progress?

Not as much as I had hoped! The Van Gogh challenge has the base done but no detail added yet. Pictures to come. I did not hand stitch one square on the Blue Quilt. 

5. Are you staying home now?

Not exactly.  I have 3 trips planned before the end of the month. Michigan House gets opened tomorrow. Midwest Horse Fair is next weekend. AQS Paducah is the last week of the month.

6. Would you do it again?

In half a heartbeat! Not sure the DH would have the same answer, though.  I told the Director that I can be packed & on a flight back to Switzerland with 24 hours notice.

Hope you are all enjoying some warm Spring weather this weekend!