I'm quite sure that wishes for a "prosperous New Year" are not the thing for this particular moment in time...certainly not the message I would choose for the start of 2009. But I found this in the found-photos pile, and as an illustrator, this style of card appeals to me. The little house also reminds me of our neighborhood, as we have a whole row of tiny Tudors nearby that look not unlike this in the snow, with old-growth trees towering in a stately row above their peaked roofs.
...then I turned the card over.
What do you suppose...a falling out among former friends? An estranged relative? Or just a woman or man of few words? I'm not sure I've ever seen such a chilly and concise holiday greeting.
I also love that there was a time, not so long ago, that you could just write a name and a town..no numbers, no codes, and be assured that your missive would find its intended. And of course, the "Postage NOW one cent" mark.
Has population really increased with such formidable speed? It seems difficult to fathom.
Since there is no stamp, was it never sent? Did the sender think better of conveying even these few words? Or did the recipient value the missive enough to carry it with them through the years and the moves, saving it in a box with other meaningful correspondence?
Just food for thought. I like to imagine other times and other lives, as we move into this future of ours.
Happy New Year, and may it be, if not prosperous, rather rich in those things of less material and more meaningful value.

OK...most of them are actually geese. But the title sounded better this way.
Sloan's Lake, Denver.

Boulder, CO

Fly fishing from horseback in beautiful Patagonia, Argentina.

This is possibly my favorite picture of my mum, in Moab in her early twenties, before I was born. She and my father drove around Colorado and the southwest, camping in a tiny MGB in those early years. Later, when they became parents, we used a LandRover with a clamshell tent on top. I may have some pictures of that rig to share one of these days...

I promised to post the beautiful clothes the Lucia at the Etsy shop Larimeloom made when they arrived. And here they are! This poncho is one of my favorite designs ever...so versatile. It can be worn as an off-the-shoulder top or as a skirt as well.
Here it is off-the-shoulder, though I did not take a picture of it as a skirt.

The weave of the fabric is wonderful...Lucia chooses textiles of exquisite quality, and her pieces are as tactile and well-structured as they are comfortable. This fabric is soft and just a little stretchy with a beautiful, rustic texture to it, and my favorite part is how she cut the neckline. Such a gorgeous drape.

These capris were originally designed in corduroy with a buttoned waist. I asked if she could make them in a jersey fabric so that I could use them for lounge pants and working in the studio (I often just stay in my PJs, to be honest...but sometimes it's nice to look a little less slovenly, even when you work at home!) Comfort is of essence when you're chasing a toddler around. Lucia made them from an ultra-soft woolly jersey in charcoal grey, and redesigned the waist so that it can be worn high, or folded down around the hips like yoga pants. I love the wide cuff around the calves.
These are more comfortable than sweatpants, and elegant enough to be worn out with a nice pair of boots.
I have had trouble making a link that works to the Larimeloom shop, but you can search it under Etsy sellers. Many of her designs are one-of-a-kind since she is constantly thinking up new pieces. Can you believe she doesn't even make patterns for most of these, just freestyles? I wish I had that kind of talent with a sewing machine.

...our little rockstar.

Pure elegance from Charlotte, Clé and Jeanne during the holidays. It just keeps getting better. I love to watch how they evolve. Check them out at Le Vestiaire de Jeanne and Le Vestiaire de Clé.

This early edition of Moliere's plays, with a forward by Voltaire, was given to me by someone I once met in Nice. His mother, a film actress, collected vintage theatrical volumes. This one is beautiful in every way - the smell, the elegant leather binding, the worn and scored covers.

My father sketching a Chippewa fisherman, Red Lake, Minnesota.