Tag: painting

Columbines in the Garden

Columbines in the Garden

Posted on by Melisa

I told you that I would post some photos of the Columbines once they popped so I could see the colors.  I bought a large selection of many types at the end of the season last year on discount.  Since they were past their prime, I didn’t really have any idea what the color of many of them would be.

Double Columbine

Didn’t label them so didn’t remember WHERE they would be.  It has been like a treasure hunt in the garden watching them start to grow as I recognize the leaf and when the flowers come, such a surprise.

Double Columbine

I did manage to get a few yesterday that were not on sale unfortunately, but are definitely different colors and varieties than I have right now.

Cream Columbine

I do so love a good columbine and oddly enough even having heard that name of the flower, I had never encountered them prior to living in the mountains of Colorado on our ranch in the front range.

Blue Columbine

I have no idea why I hadn’t seen a columbine before, why no one that I know seems to grow them, or why there aren’t even MORE colors and varieties as they are so easy and fun to grow.

Double Blossom and Double Color

I have counted 5 different colors and types so far.  Sadly, my maroon purple with a white center double one from Colorado doesn’t seem to have survived the winter.

I know this was supposed to be all about Columbines, but I couldn’t help adding in one last photo of the stunning poppies that popped in the yard just a day ago.  They are such a shock of color that I can see them from all the way across the yard.  I remember last year, shortly after we moved from CO to MI, that I happened to look out our bedroom window one morning and saw this shock of color in the yard.

Poppies!!

I had no idea what it was and hurried outside to take a closer look.  Imagine my surprise to find that we had a bunch of these growing in the bottom of one raised bed.  I have beds all over the yard, but this is the only bed they are in.  I love the centers and the vivid color.

I think that Charlie should paint some poppies, what do you think?

Michigan Update

Posted on by Melisa

Update on our move to Michigan.  We have been overwhelmed with getting things done, unpacking, getting the property secure for the goats and llamas.  Several of our plans have changed such as our building project will have to be postponed until next year as that entire budget will now be shot on taking down trees.  We have numerous old poplar, white birch and scotch pine that are dying, dropping and falling and need to be cleared to ensure the safety of the buildings.

Gazebo

I had a tree fall on the lean to a few weeks ago.  Thankfully it did not crush the lean to as that is where the VW bus is housed and Charlie would have been crushed had his bus been crushed.

To date we have had about 30 trees taken down.  The house is secure for now and the trees that were tangled in our power lines are now down as well.  Since we won’t be doing our building projects until next year, we didn’t really have a location to unpack our last semi to.  We ended up buying a 53 ft long white semi trailer to park in the drive and unpack our things to.  Wow is that looking very redneck.  I did not want to do this and told Charlie is it only temporary as it is NOT staying and had an expiration date.  It was the most economical way to store the last load as the storage fees that we were paying would have been half the building fund for next year.  It is logical.  I know that.  I do NOT have to like it.

The trees around the semi that were dangerous are already down as well. More trees will be coming down in another month or so.

Raised bed with blueberries

Charlie has the front gates up and has started on the fencing.  He is starting on the hay barn tomorrow as we need a place for storing hay that is more than just 40 bales.

We have also done a fair amount of gardening and planted about 20 trees, 25+ bushes and various other loads of plants.  Our garden is coming along and we are slowly fixing many small things that need doing.

I have finally unpacked the fiber store mostly and am getting ready to so some spinning and some dyeing in the next week or so.  Stay tuned for photos of fiber fun.

Pretty Flowers

In the mean time, you can enjoy some of the photos that I took out in the garden and gazebo area today.  Isn’t it looking marvelous?

 

Alba Ranch Moved to Michigan

Posted on by Melisa

Alba Ranch has moved to Michigan.  This has been a very long and tiring journey over the last 4 months.  We are in Michigan and unpacking.  We will most likely be unpacking for the next 6 months or more!!!

I, Melisa, am just back online tonight for the first time and the connection is slower than my usual as I am tethered to my cell phone.  Soon I will have my proper internet installed but first I was hoping for my hot water heater and maybe my washing machine.  I have been boiling water in the kettle for hot water and going to the local laundry mat.  However that will not be happening again as someone stole my laundry from the dryer tonight.  I now have lost my blankets!!  I think all the other blankets are in the semi that we plan on unpacking in July.  sigh…. so you have to bear with me as I try to get all these things done and not forget my name or my new address in the mean time.

Lovely view of our stream in January when we first saw our place

We have springs, a stream and pond.  20 Acres of woods…sugar maples, beech, birch and bramble berry everywhere.  Grass for the critters, studio for both of us artists, garages, barns, and a wee little house that I just love.  Now I have to figure out how to condense enough stuff for a small country into a 1250 sq foot house.  But it is MILES bigger than our 12×18 cabin.  Wahoo! more to come later.

Hand Painted and Dyed Yarns for the Store

Posted on by Melisa

 

All 57 hand painted skeins drying in garden

I have over 60 new skeins of yarn for the online store. I did a massive dye project and hand painted 57  200 yd skeins in less than 24 hours.  They were at the Salida Fiber Festival and are now going into the Alba Shop to get ready for the Holiday Shopping.

Here is a shot of them all hanging on the line to dry in my garden.

Most are in colorways of about 6 skeins, with each skein being 200 yds.  One 200 yd skein will make a lacy scarf and 2 skeins making a lovely shawl.

Purple Mint 60/40 merino mohair

I have 21 skeins of 100% pure Angora Rabbit lace weight 2 ply yarn.  This yarn is a stunning 28 wpi!  Such a delicate fine 2 ply lace yarn.

 

 

Pure Angora Rabbit Yarn in Pastel

I have 36 skeins of a blend of 60% merino and 40% mohair.  This yarn is dyed in about 8 different color ways.  This fiber was grown here on Alba Ranch in the Colorado Mountains.  It came from 2 white merino sheep, White Mama and Crazy 208.  The 3 white angora goats were Michelle (grandma), Lucy (mom), and Sami (wethered grandson).

I also have a six skeins of Baby Woo Boo.  This yarn is 35% baby alpaca, 30% merino, 30% bamboo and 5% nylon binder.  It is a wonderful soft, stretchy boucle with lots of bounce and is still very lightweight.

WooBoo Green

I hand painted all these skeins myself and love the colorways.  I am just starting to photograph them and will be uploading them to the shop here shortly over the next week.

Red Fall 60/40 merino mohair

I have taken over 100 photographs of the yarns and all the Lincoln Long Wool Locks.  Now they are all edited and I will be uploading them in the shop as I get them done.

I have decided to include a few photos of the yarns just to tease you.  Keep an eye out here as they come your way.