Happy New Year, and Congratulations!

Well, I was a bit slow getting going today. Not, I assure you, because I overindulged in the libations.  I fall asleep to early for that to happen. I am wondering, though, if it is possible to suffer from a garlic hangover? We went out to eat last night, and I'm pretty sure that I consumed enough garlic to keep the vampires away from my entire neighborhood for several days! But it was soooo good! I hope you all had a fun evening, with no aftereffects.

This afternoon was so beautiful around here, that it just had to be spent outside. Let me show you what I mean. We went for a walk at Barrett Park in Leominster, Ma., the same place we went walking last year at this time. Last year, a stream entering the pond looked like this.

This year, there was no snow in sight.

Last year, the view from the beach included an area for skating that had been freshly swept clean of snow.

This year, we still weren't swimming, even though there was barely a skim layer of ice over most of the pond.

It was truly a beautiful way to begin the New Year.

And now, what you've all been waiting for. We drew numbers out of a hat (the Husband did the honors), and Gina of Clay and Fiber is the winner of our Blogiversary Giveaway. Here the Younger One kicks up her heels in Celebration!

If you haven't seen Gina's work before, you need to go check it  out. As the name of her blog suggests, she works with both clay and fiber, in separate projects, and in really amazing work that combines the two materials.Interestingly, Gina just recently posted about wanting to sketch more, so the contents of the bag should come in handy.  Congratulations, Gina!