Day 9---Pretty Paducah

An update on last night, and then today.  We went to the get acquainted meeting for Country Heritage Tours last night at the hotel.  Seems like a pleasant bunch of quilters ( plus one sister who doesn't quilt).  Everyone had to stand up and introduce themselves, as usual, no biggie.  We are from all over:  California well represented, Connecticut, Alaska, England, New Zealand (Wellington, Randi, if you're reading this) and Australia.
      All was going well until we got to the Australians.  What a bunch!  Then one of the Aussies stood up and said she had brought gingerbread men for all of us---wait for it---anatomically correct.  She used little banana candies for the important member, as she put it, and some were up, and some were down.  At that point we were laughing so hard (I was crying.) that someone came and closed the door to the meeting room, we were making so much noise.  Needless to say, we are off to a good start.

Welcome to Kentucky

Whitehaven

Today we boarded the bus, and off we went.  Nice to not be in the car, nice to have your big luggage schlepped for you, and nice to not worry about which way to turn, how fast to go, etc., all the things you have to think about when you're driving.  We loaded the bus today at 9:00 and were on our way to Kentucky.  It is impossible to take pictures out of the bus because the windows reflect, but I will say that Kentucky looks a lot like Tennessee, rolling green treed hills.  More farms now, with lots of wheat.  Stopped at a wonderful "Welcome to Kentucky" information bureau which is a converted old home named Whitehaven.

Me and Quiltman

Arrived in downtown Paducah (which is named after an Indian chief who
used to live in this area.) and were met by Quiltman, who wears a cape and tights and rides a Segway.  Paducah is a wonderful old river town on the Ohio River, just where the Tennessee River joins it.  Been flooded many times, most recently last year.  The downtown part has many brick streets and old buildings, altogether charming.

A side street in Paducah

The main street in Paducah

 We enjoyed eating lunch here and walking around the downtown area, but were more than ready to go to Hancocks Fabrics.  Billed as the largest quilt store in the US, Pat and I both think that Fabric Outlet in Portland is bigger.  There is a lot of fabric in any case.  After singeing credit cards, we were more than ready for the hotel, and some down time.

Pat entering the main exhibit area

Loaded onto the bus once again, this time for a preview of the show which will open officially tomorrow.  Pat and I decided to do vendors first, and look at the quilts tomorrow.  We managed to cover two of the three vendor areas in two hours.  This really is a marathon of vendors.  We could not help but see some of the quilts, and they were so I have put them in today's blog.  There will be many more pictures tomorrow.  Finally, back to the hotel and bed.

Imagining India

Detail of an appliqued quilt

A reward for surviving the day
Chocolate cake