I have made it safely across the ocean to Tucson but feel all at sea.

I had such a busy few days before leaving that I am convinced my packing is wrong and I will have left something important behind. Add to that tiredness and the start of a cold/ throat/ chest infection type thing and I feel under the weather and in the mood to stay at home snuggling in my Kigu (a panda one of course).

But the lure of Kate McKinnon, and others, keeps me on track and before I knew it yesterday I was flying through the sky, doped on Night Nurse; and the journey went in a blur of sleeping and moving bags from one place to another. I have only once before flown on my own where I have to change flights and between not feeling good and dazed from the medicine, by the time I touch down in Tucson I am feeling disorientated and in even more need of comfort.

I exit the airport and wait for Kate, watching bleary-eyed as one after another huge, ginormous, monstrous 'cars' pull up to collect their loved ones. The noise, scale and business are the last thing I need. But before long my Goddess in Shining Armour (otherwise known as Kate, in a snazzy, tiny, convertible blue car) pulls up and we depart for a whole new world. Of course Kate is in contrast to everyone else with her practical, colourful, cool car and this vision alone is enough to let me know the travelling was worth it.

Driving through the 'desert', looking at stars overhead, feeling the wind all around and listening to Kate talk confirms to me I am in a for an interesting time ahead. Before long we arrive at Kate's house and I am introduced to the wonderful Dustin Wedekind and dip my feet in the pool before retiring for the night, eager to see what the new day brings.

I woke up today feeling rested but confused as to where on earth I was, as this is the fifth bed (including 2 planes) I have woken up in these past three days. I remind myself where I am and emerge from the depths to see Kate making herself and Dustin pancakes. It all feels very weird but I put it down to jetlag.

Before long we are of course talking beads and beadwork and I get to see some of what they have both been working on in with their new book (If you have even a 1% liking for beadwork I would suggest you order this book. Having seen some of what they are working on, and knowing how clever and talented they both are, I have no hesitation in predicting it will be a great book- never mind everything else they plan to go along with it- all of which you can check out here). By comparison my beadwork looks dull (it doesn't help I'm working on a very grey project) and ordered- full of crystals and corners.

Before I get too down about it we head off to Hub for burgers (driving under the snake bridge) and then back again to bead in the house and the garden, both of which are full of colour. I especially love looking at where two walls meet opposite where I am sitting- the gold and the pink work so well I can't stop looking at them. Then outside I get to see my first hummingbird and my visit feels even more surreal.

You can see Kate's posts about today here and here.