I am winding down with my in-laws in the Dunes of Texel National Park in the Netherlands, after a very busy holiday season. This magnificent area is called ‘De Slufter’. It is an opening in the dunes that fills up with seawater at high tide. There is no greater pleasure than waking up at the crack of dawn with jet-lag, and hiking in a beautiful place like this as the sun is rising.
From DC I flew to Holland to celebrate New Year’s with my in-laws. We were treated to a lot of snow and took these photos on a magical early-morning walk down the road that Susanna grew up on. The last shot is of one of the many windmills behind her childhood home (click to enlarge):
This is what happened on New Year’s Eve, when a neighbor shot his bottle rocket across the street instead of up in the air. Kaboom!
My mother, Cay Mitton, turned 80 on December 7th. We celebrated this joyous occasion with the family in Superior, WI, and the ladies at Mom’s church worked hard to put on a lovely reception for friends and neighbors. Thank you to all the people who turned out for the festivities! Mom really enjoyed her special day.
Mom as a young girl – Church ladies – Unwrapping gifts
[click to enlarge]