The warm colors of autumn
Susie Larsson
2017 has been a huge year of out-of-state shows, beginning in Arizona with four shows in the spring, and ending in September/October with my last out-of-state show in North Dakota.
Last year, I had flown into the city of Minot, North Dakota with all of my jewelry and display packed onto an airplane. This year, I debated between a plane, the train or driving my own car. I decided to drive the 1,300 mile journey across Washington, Idaho, Montana and finally to my destination of North Dakota.
Not terribly far, but considering I had just completed another 2,600 mile round-trip journey to Breckenridge, Colorado just a few weeks' previously, it seemed like a very long journey, but I made it and most importantly, my car made it and no animals were injured. When I was driving down from Lewiston, Montana into Livingston, I was warned that quite a few deer are always in the road. They were right, luckily, I had slowed down and was watching the road very closely, a deer stood still staring at me and I waited until she decided which side of the road she wanted to take.
When I mapped out my route, using the aid of a computer, I found that there were three different routes I could take. I decided on the scenic route, driving over and I was not disappointed. I drove into Montana and Missoula, making the decision to head north and onto Highway 2. A very beautiful and sometimes a very long journey. What I enjoyed the most were the wide open spaces of land and trees and nobody in sight, just nature and maybe some wild animals grazing on the side of the road.
I am so lucky to be able to do what I do and travel and see so much of this beautiful country.
Next year, I will have a new plan, sometimes, I will choose the same places to go, but also explore new destinations, new designs, a new year.
With only three shows left, I am looking forward to a bit of time off to recuperate and reconvene to make some newer designs. I already have made a few and they will be showing up in the last part of 2017 and even more in 2018.