I have settled a little in the new house outside of Alamosa, CO. And I have cranes dancing in my front yard. The house is surrounded by center pivot fields of mostly wheat and barley (I know, ironic for someone with celiac disease) which the greater sandhill cranes love to feed on this time of year. It is time for their migration north and they stop here in the San Luis Valley for a month or so every year.
I am pleased to be back in the San Luis Valley. The wildlife outside my front door (I also saw flocks of Canada geese feeding with the sandhill cranes, a hawk, and a great heron this morning as well as an owl last night), the quiet of the farmland, the endless views to 14,000 foot mountains, and this sunny little studio are all great. But of course being an auntie to the most beautiful little baby in the world is the best thing.
The loom fared fine during transport and the tension on the piece seems about the same as when I packed it up. That is to say, not great, but definitely workable. With a little extra futzing I am almost happy with it and am sure that when the piece comes off the loom it will be fine.
I made a trip to Taos last weekend to pick up a bed to sleep in, my tapestries from Weaving Southwest, and my LeClerc upright tapestry loom. My awesome brother-in-law loaned me his Sprinter van and I was sure I could just put the bed and the loom right into the van and be done with it. The loom was a few inches too high to fit into the van and I had a Sunday afternoon in Taos of hunting for the right drill bit in sea of hardware stores all closed for the Super Bowl. Unbelieveably, WalMart came through for me and I got the loom apart and into the van.
My father took that pile of wooden parts and somehow put them all back together the other day. He strongly suggested it not be taken apart again (or at least not in the way I took it apart to get it in the van). So as soon as this commission is finished, I am ready to start a new adventure weaving vertically.
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| Blanca massif in the distance |