This shows the process I used to make this year’s “new year” card… the first good one always goes to my parents!

making a card for the new year

Here is the lovely little fir at my parents’ house — these open trees show the ornaments off so well!

the tree with ornaments collected over the decades

And here is the elder stidkid trying out his grandfather’s cross-country skis for the first time. I asked his permission to use this image… It is impressive that he fell and got up — and fell and got up. The only way to learn! At the end he could go UP the hill on the skis, but the car tracks back down the driveway were not good for going the other way safely.

a perfect three-point landing

When we returned from my parent’s house this afternoon I sat down to load a few pictures. And learned that Eartha Kitt died today.

Here is the BBC article about her, and here is another from a local TV station.

I always thought she was elegant, brave and talented. I know that she was determined and hard-working, a good model for young women with dreams who find themselves in difficult situations. And I still think she was the BEST catwoman ever.

This is a picture of the scarf I knitted for a friend… she’ll get it a little late for the holiday, but it’s done — mistakes and all.

a present for a friend