18 files changed, 194 insertions, 410 deletions
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2020/recipients.org b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2020/recipients.org
deleted file mode 100644
index e4e2149..0000000
--- a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2020/recipients.org
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,99 +0,0 @@
-#+TITLE: winter solstice letter recipients
-
-* DONE Alisha Nielsen
-31140 Rhea Valley Rd.
-Meadowview, VA 24361
-USA
-* DONE Bill Goebel
-2413 Calypso Rd
-Apt 2
-Madison WI 53704
-USA
-* DONE Carol & John Wright
-1550 Trusler Circle,
-Oregon WI 53575
-USA
-* DONE Claire & Ralph Till
-* DONE Collin Engstrom
-* DONE Darien Morrow and Kaitlyn Fischer
-* DONE Elizabeth Breuer
-3402 Rutland-Dunn Townline Rd
-Stoughton WI 53589
-USA
-* DONE Felix Radford
-140 Cottage Street 3FR
-New Haven CT 06511
-* DONE Justin Earley
-1830 Denver West Dr.
-Apt 2432
-Golden, CO 80401
-USA
-* DONE Kate Webber & Steve Burger
-96 Bowdoinham Rd
-Sabattus ME 04280
-USA
-* DONE Katherine Taylor
-418 Admiral Cove
-Tarpon Springs FL 34689
-USA
-* DONE Czech Family (Kyle, Emily, Danny)
-* DONE Kyle Sunden
-1009 N Sunnyvale Ln Unit D
-Madison, WI, 53713
-* DONE Marilyn Roberts
-1431 N 5th Ave
-Grafton WI 53024
-USA
-* DONE Mark and Roger
-3848 Blazing Star Rd
-Deerfield, WI 53531-9682
-USA
-* DONE Nathaniel Nielsen
-1450 Marclair Dr.
-Apt. A
-Concord CA 94521
-USA
-* DONE Nathan Neff-Mallon
-1830 Northwestern Ave
-Madison WI 53704
-USA
-* DONE Nina Halperin
-Calle Italia 157
-Dpto. 602
-Cercado de Lima 15074
-Peru
-* DONE Parker/Eckert Family
-4482 Medowlark Court
-Napa CA 95668
-* DONE Sam Price
-1010 N Dodge St.
-Iowa City, IA 52245
-USA
-* DONE Sarah Charley
-Sarah Charley
-149 Route de Divonne
-01210 Versonnex, France
-* DONE Susie & Mike Truninger
-902 W.8th St.
-Davenport IA 52802
-USA
-* DONE The Boyer Family
-1338 San Miguel Ave
-Santa Barbara CA 93109
-* DONE The Kohler Family
-5713 Dorsett Dr.
-Madison WI 53711
-USA
-* DONE The Manly Family
-17821 E Baintree Ave.
-Roland Heights, CA 91748
-USA
-* DONE The Nielsen Family
-746 Keeler Ave
-Berkeley CA 94708
-* DONE The Thompson Family
-* DONE Tyler Roberts
-2801 Western Ave
-Apt 723
-Seattle, WA 98121
-* DONE Zach Ott
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2021/recipients.org b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2021/recipients.org
deleted file mode 100644
index c544aea..0000000
--- a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2021/recipients.org
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,152 +0,0 @@
-#+TITLE: winter solstice letter recipients
-* DONE Alexander Moore
-2816 Messanie St
-St Joseph, MO 64501
-USA
-* DONE King Family (Cypress, Jaxson, two children Jonathan and Grace)
-723 Andy Nowling Rd
-Defuniak Springs, FL 32433
-USA
-* DONE Linda Thompson
-1 Hogtown Bayou Lane
-Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
-USA
-* DONE Alisha Nielsen
-31140 Rhea Valley Rd.
-Meadowview, VA 24361
-USA
-* DONE Bill Goebel
-2413 Calypso Rd
-Apt 2
-Madison WI 53704
-USA
-* DONE Catherine Elliott
-4044 Park Ave
-Minneapolis, MN 55407
-USA
-* DONE Collin Engstrom
-2852 59th St NW
-Apt 218
-Rochester MN 55901
-USA
-* DONE Czech Family (Kyle, Emily, Danny)
-420 Fairway St
-Mt Horeb, WI 53572
-USA
-* DONE Darien Morrow and Kaitlyn Fischer
-16W505 Mockingbird Lane
-#102
-Willowbrook, IL 60527
-USA
-* DONE Elizabeth Breuer
-3402 Rutland-Dunn Townline Rd
-Stoughton WI 53589
-USA
-* DONE Felix Radford
-140 Cottage Street 3FR
-New Haven CT 06511
-* DONE Hannah Frame
-660 Maryland Ave
-Apt 12R
-Pittsburgh PA 15232
-USA
-* DONE Justin Earley
-1830 Denver West Dr.
-Apt 2432
-Golden, CO 80401
-USA
-* DONE Kate Webber & Steve Burger
-96 Bowdoinham Rd
-Sabattus ME 04280
-USA
-* DONE Katherine Taylor
-418 Admiral Cove
-Tarpon Springs FL 34689
-USA
-* DONE Kevin Michaels
-#302 523 W Wilson St
-Madison, WI 53703
-* DONE Kyle Sunden
-1009 N Sunnyvale Ln Unit D
-Madison, WI, 53713
-* DONE Margaret Pickoff
-166 Nassau St
-Apt 3, Princeton, NJ 08542
-USA
-* DONE Marilyn Roberts
-1431 N 5th Ave
-Grafton WI 53024
-USA
-* DONE Mark Jochem
-PO Box 162,
-Sun Prairie, WI 53590
-USA
-* DONE Nathaniel Nielsen
-1450 Marclair Dr.
-Apt. A
-Concord CA 94521
-USA
-* DONE Nathan Neff-Mallon
-1830 Northwestern Ave
-Madison WI 53704
-USA
-* DONE Nina Halperin
-Calle Italia 157
-Dpto. 602
-Cercado de Lima 15074
-Peru
-* DONE Parker/Eckert Family
-4482 Medowlark Court
-Napa CA 95668
-* DONE Sam Price
-1124 St Clement St
-Iowa City, IA 52245
-USA
-* DONE Sarah Charley
-Sarah Charley
-149 Route de Divonne
-01210 Versonnex, France
-* DONE The Truninger
-902 W.8th St.
-Davenport IA 52802
-USA
-* DONE The Boyers
-1338 San Miguel Ave
-Santa Barbara CA 93109
-* DONE The Kohler Family
-5713 Dorsett Dr.
-Madison WI 53711
-USA
-* DONE The Manlys
-17821 E Baintree Ave.
-Roland Heights, CA 91748
-USA
-* DONE The Nielsens
-746 Keeler Ave
-Berkeley CA 94708
-* DONE The Thompsons
-827 Brown St
-Iowa City IA 52245
-USA
-* DONE The Till Family (Claire & Ralph)
-656 Grotzman Rd,
-Arcata, CA 95521
-USA
-* DONE The Wright Family (John & Carol)
-1550 Trusler Circle,
-Oregon WI 53575
-USA
-* DONE Tyler Roberts
-2801 Western Ave
-Apt 723
-Seattle, WA 98121
-* DONE Zach Ott
-915 Ellis Ave
-Apt 212
-Baraboo, WI 53913
-USA
-* DONE Paul Hudson
-1132 Morraine View Dr
-apt 101
-Madison WI 53719
-USA
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/1813.jpg b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/1813.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9bc803a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/1813.jpg
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/blaise.jpg b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/blaise.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d07e534
--- /dev/null
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/blaise.jpg
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/death-camp.jpg b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/death-camp.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 4cf164a..0000000
--- a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/death-camp.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/lake-superior.JPG b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/lake-superior.JPG
deleted file mode 100644
index 3cd8b70..0000000
--- a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/lake-superior.JPG
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.jpg b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.jpg
index 9a2884b..ada3db3 100644
--- a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.jpg
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.jpg
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.pdf b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.pdf
index 8d7c882..16fd5d0 100644
--- a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.pdf
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.pdf
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.tex b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.tex
index 0ebeabe..c8aaeb4 100644
--- a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.tex
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/letter.tex
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 % text
 \usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
 \renewcommand{\familydefault}{\sfdefault}
+\usepackage{lipsum}
 
 % graphics
 \usepackage{graphicx}
@@ -23,74 +24,84 @@
 
 \pagenumbering{gobble}
 
-\large{\textbf{Winter Solstice Greetings \hfill 2021}}
+\large{\textbf{Winter Solstice Greetings \hfill 2022}}
 
 \begingroup
 \setlength{\intextsep}{0pt}%
 \setlength{\columnsep}{10pt}%
 
-Hello to all my friends and family.
-Unbelievably, this is the eighth time I'm writing to you all for the solstice season.
-It's become tradition to look back at old letters as I sit down to write.
-Today is the first large snow storm of the year, but I am warm and comfortable writing at my lovely desk.
-My Endlers Livebearer fish gave birth just a few days ago, so I am taking frequent breaks to enjoy watching the very cute fry.
+Greetings to all friends and family.
+It's been a busy year!
+The holiday season has snuck up on me this time.
+Nice to have this opportunity to sit down and review the year that was.
+Hope each of you are finding similar opportunities for quiet contemplation in this season.
+Snow has come to Madison, but it's above freezing at the moment.
+This tends to cause a thick white fog, very quiet and still.
+The sun rises late and sets early.
 
-\begin{wrapfigure}{l}{0.4\textwidth}
+\begin{wrapfigure}{r}{0.5\textwidth}
   \begin{center}
-    \includegraphics[width=0.4\textwidth]{"./death-camp.jpg"}
+    \includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{"./1813.jpg"}
   \end{center}
 \end{wrapfigure}
 
-I was lucky enough to go on \emph{many} great vacations this year.
-I'd like to highlight three, starting with the trip to California I took with my good friend Tyler over the labor day holiday.
-We flew into San Fransisco where we were graciously hosted by Jim and Tracy in their beautiful home.
-We stopped by Claire's family in Napa and Tyler's home town of San Ramon.
-We then traveled down Big Sur to a beautiful ocean-side campground near Santa Barbara.
-We visited Tyler's uncle before heading inland to spend a night among giants in Sequoia National Forest.
-Finally, we camped for two nights in Death Valley.
-We had the entire campground to ourselves (see left)!
-Death Valley was definitely the highlight for me, especially the drive through Titus Canyon and the night sky.
-
-\begin{wrapfigure}{r}{0.4\textwidth}
+On March 25th of this year I bought my first house.
+Here it is (pictured, right) in May---the front yard just bursting with wild violets.
+I participated in ``no-mow May'', of course.
+What a crazy thing it is to buy a house.
+Losing most of my life savings to a down payment, taking on debt, committing to Madison long-term.
+Yard work, utilities, neighbors.
+Rhubarb in the back yard, a kitchen with enough room to chop and dry dishes simultaneously.
+Fisher Street has come to feel like home.
+What's the point of owning a home if not to take on overly-ambitious home improvement projects?
+My father has incredible construction skills, and he has been generous enough to spend many days helping me learn the basics.
+The first two big projects are a fence along the north border and wood floors in the bedrooms.
+
+\begin{wrapfigure}{l}{0.3\textwidth}
   \begin{center}
-    \includegraphics[width=0.4\textwidth]{"./porcupine.jpg"}
+    \includegraphics[width=0.3\textwidth]{"./ruffed-grouse.jpg"}
   \end{center}
 \end{wrapfigure}
 
-In July my good friends Claire and Ralph Till visited me for a hiking adventure in the Midwest.
-We drove from Madison to Michigan's upper peninsula, where we spent several days hiking through the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness.
-It's been years since I've been backpacking, and it was a new experience for Claire and Ralph.
-The Porcupine Mountains were amazing---very private campsites with long trails and very few people.
-For hours we hiked along the southern coast of Lake Superior, enjoying the dramatic geometric shapes of the rocky shoreline.
-Here (right) we three are---tired but happy near the end of our hike.
+This year's big vacation was a June trip to Maine with my boyfriend Kevin.
+We were able to see Kate \& Steve, and visit the Bates Campus (first time since graduation).
+We hiked Katahdin and explored the Maine coastline.
+Kevin helped me to enjoy the birds of Maine, which I did not properly appreciate as a student.
+In total I saw 76 bird species!
+My favorite bird was this elusive ruffed grouse (left), which we were able to observe ``booming''.
+A wild spirit of the wild forest, for sure.
+Also this year I was very lucky to be the best man in the wedding of Felix Radford and Kendal Musgrave.
+What a power couple!
+All the best to them in this new phase of life.
 
-\begin{wrapfigure}{l}{0.4\textwidth}
+
+\begin{wrapfigure}[9]{r}{0.3\textwidth}
   \begin{center}
-    \includegraphics[width=0.4\textwidth]{"./lake-superior.JPG"}
+    \includegraphics[width=0.3\textwidth]{"./blaise.jpg"}
   \end{center}
 \end{wrapfigure}
 
-Near the end of September Kevin and I spent a few days exploring Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota.
-It ended up being a tour of many waterfalls.
-We started by camping in Amnicon Falls State Park and visiting Big Manitou Falls (highest in Wisconsin).
-We then camped in Tettegouche State Park (below), where we had our own small private beach with signature Lake Superior pebbles.
-We spent several days exploring the northern coast of Lake Superior---full of picturesque waterfalls, dramatic coastlines, and cozy small towns.
-We'll have to go back soon.
-
-I'm feeling grateful for all the joy I have experienced this year.
-I continue to learn and grow in my professional life.
-Congratulations to Kate and Steve on their marriage.
-Thanks to all who have been great friends, especially Zach, Mark, Darien, Kyle, my Bates Buds, and the Wednesday night game crew.
+Professionally I am ``keeping on''.
+There are still mountains of things to learn about software and hardware development, instrumentation, and teaching.
+I now have two job titles: ``Instrumentation Engineer'' and ``Lecturer''.
+I continue to have enthusiasm for both of these domains.
+Here I am (right) in my shop, mostly renovated but always more to do.
 
-Wishing you and yours a happy new year. Stay in touch!
+Family and pets are doing well.
+I continue to dote on dear Ridgeback (my turtle), who turned 23 this year.
+I separated the endlers by sex to keep them from breeding so quickly.
+Home ownership and improvement projects have brought my parents to Madison often this year.
+Hope that all reading have a restful holiday season and a wonderful 2023.
+Keep in touch, visit!
+Remember, I have a guest bedroom now.
 
 \vfill
 \raggedleft
 
 Blaise Jonathan Thompson \\*
 \hspace{0pt} \\
-725 W Washington Ave. Apt 306 \\*
-Madison, Wisconsin 53715 \\*
+1813 Fisher St. \\*
+Madison, Wisconsin 53713 \\*
 \hspace{0pt} \\
 1-424-225-2493 \\*
 blaise@untzag.com \\*
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/porcupine.jpg b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/porcupine.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index d472948..0000000
--- a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/porcupine.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/recipients.org b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/recipients.org
index b31ffe8..89dd3f1 100644
--- a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/recipients.org
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/recipients.org
@@ -1,144 +1,37 @@
 #+TITLE: winter solstice letter recipients
 * DONE Alexander Moore
-2816 Messanie St
-St Joseph, MO 64501
-USA
-* DONE King Family (Cypress, Jaxson, two children Jonathan and Grace)
-723 Andy Nowling Rd
-Defuniak Springs, FL 32433
-USA
-* DONE Linda Thompson
-1 Hogtown Bayou Lane
-Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
-USA
 * DONE Alisha Nielsen
-31140 Rhea Valley Rd.
-Meadowview, VA 24361
-USA
 * DONE Bill Goebel
-2413 Calypso Rd
-Apt 2
-Madison WI 53704
-USA
 * DONE Catherine Elliott
-4044 Park Ave
-Minneapolis, MN 55407
-USA
 * DONE Collin Engstrom
-2852 59th St NW
-Apt 218
-Rochester MN 55901
-USA
-* DONE Czech Family (Kyle, Emily, Danny)
-420 Fairway St
-Mt Horeb, WI 53572
-USA
+* DONE Czech Family (Kyle, Emily, Danny, ??)
 * DONE Darien Morrow and Kaitlyn Fischer
-16W505 Mockingbird Lane
-#102
-Willowbrook, IL 60527
-USA
 * DONE Elizabeth Breuer
-3402 Rutland-Dunn Townline Rd
-Stoughton WI 53589
-USA
-* DONE Felix Radford
-140 Cottage Street 3FR
-New Haven CT 06511
+* DONE Felix & Kendall Radford
 * DONE Hannah Frame
-660 Maryland Ave
-Apt 12R
-Pittsburgh PA 15232
-USA
+* DONE Hanne Elleby
 * DONE Justin Earley
-1830 Denver West Dr.
-Apt 2432
-Golden, CO 80401
-USA
 * DONE Kate Webber & Steve Burger
-96 Bowdoinham Rd
-Sabattus ME 04280
-USA
 * DONE Katherine Taylor
-418 Admiral Cove
-Tarpon Springs FL 34689
-USA
 * DONE Kevin Michaels
-#302 523 W Wilson St
-Madison, WI 53703
+* DONE King Family (Cypress, Jaxson, two children Jonathan and Grace)
+* DONE Kristi Ferguson
 * DONE Kyle Sunden
-1009 N Sunnyvale Ln Unit D
-Madison, WI, 53713
-* DONE Margaret Pickoff
-166 Nassau St
-Apt 3, Princeton, NJ 08542
-USA
+* DONE Linda Thompson
 * DONE Mark Jochem
-PO Box 162,
-Sun Prairie, WI 53590
-USA
-* DONE Nathaniel Nielsen
-1450 Marclair Dr.
-Apt. A
-Concord CA 94521
-USA
+* CANCELED Nathaniel Nielsen
 * DONE Nathan Neff-Mallon
-1830 Northwestern Ave
-Madison WI 53704
-USA
 * DONE Nina Halperin
-Calle Italia 157
-Dpto. 602
-Cercado de Lima 15074
-Peru
 * DONE Parker/Eckert Family
-4482 Medowlark Court
-Napa CA 95668
 * DONE Sam Price
-1124 St Clement St
-Iowa City, IA 52245
-USA
-* DONE Sarah Charley
-Sarah Charley
-149 Route de Divonne
-01210 Versonnex, France
-* DONE The Truninger
-902 W.8th St.
-Davenport IA 52802
-USA
 * DONE The Boyers
-1338 San Miguel Ave
-Santa Barbara CA 93109
 * DONE The Kohler Family
-5713 Dorsett Dr.
-Madison WI 53711
-USA
 * DONE The Manlys
-17821 E Baintree Ave.
-Roland Heights, CA 91748
-USA
+* DONE The Michaels Family (Mandy, Brian, & Wren)
+* DONE The Michaels Family (Ross & Beth)
 * DONE The Nielsens
-746 Keeler Ave
-Berkeley CA 94708
 * DONE The Thompsons
-827 Brown St
-Iowa City IA 52245
-USA
 * DONE The Till Family (Claire & Ralph)
-656 Grotzman Rd,
-Arcata, CA 95521
-USA
+* DONE The Truningers
 * DONE The Wright Family (John & Carol)
-1550 Trusler Circle,
-Oregon WI 53575
-USA
 * DONE Zach Ott
-915 Ellis Ave
-Apt 212
-Baraboo, WI 53913
-USA
-* DONE Paul Hudson
-1132 Morraine View Dr
-apt 101
-Madison WI 53719
-USA
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/ruffed-grouse.jpg b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/ruffed-grouse.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8636562
--- /dev/null
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2022/ruffed-grouse.jpg
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/letter.jpg b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/letter.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42cbe17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/letter.jpg
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/letter.pdf b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/letter.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7cf1a38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/letter.pdf
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/letter.tex b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/letter.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73a51bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/letter.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+% document
+\documentclass{letter}
+\usepackage[margin=0.5in]{geometry}
+\usepackage{multicol}
+
+% text
+\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}
+\renewcommand{\familydefault}{\sfdefault}
+\usepackage{lipsum}
+
+% graphics
+\usepackage{graphicx}
+\usepackage{wrapfig}
+
+% signature environment
+\newenvironment{sig}[1]%
+ {\begin{list}{}%
+         {\setlength{\leftmargin}{300pt}}%
+         \item[]%
+ }
+ {\end{list}}
+
+\begin{document}
+
+\pagenumbering{gobble}
+
+\large{\textbf{Winter Solstice Greetings \hfill 2023}}
+
+\begingroup
+\setlength{\intextsep}{0pt}%
+\setlength{\columnsep}{10pt}%
+
+Greetings to all friends and family.
+This has been a difficult year for me.
+The end of a relationship, medical issues (I'm okay), problems with the house.
+I'm tired, struggling to feel the holiday spirit.
+That said, melancholy is a time-honored Christmas theme just the same as cheer and joy.
+Elvis Presley recorded ``Blue Christmas'' in 1957.
+My favorite Christmas Song---``Christmas Time Is Here''---brings forth nostalgic feelings from the full palette; bitter, sweet, uncomfortable, homey...
+
+To be quite honest, I don't want to write a holiday letter this year.
+Cynically, the yearly letter-writing tradition is braggadocious.
+Uncynically, this is an opportunity to practice gratitude for all the wonderful gifts life continues to bestow.
+Times of hardship can also be gifts, to the extent that they deepen my appreciation for the simple things in life that are so easy to take for granted.
+
+In late January Claire \& Ralph visited me in Madison---their first time in my new house.
+We enjoyed hockey and other winter activities.
+Claire \& Ralph helped me shop for a new bed-frame for the guest bedroom.
+On our way to buy a very expensive frame, we decided to stop by Habitat ReStore and found a wonderful frame for \$75!
+I've since bragged to many visitors about my \$75 bed.
+
+In February Uncle Jim visited, his first time visiting Madison since I've lived here.
+Jim recently retired, and was nice enough to include me in his cross-country road trip.
+It was special to see Jim, and he was so helpful---fixing the rocking chair and installing a larger toilet paper holder.
+
+This year I was able to start vegetables from seed and enjoyed a healthy garden harvest, with much to share.
+I'm pleased to report that the retaining wall along the north side of the property is done, although there is still the matter of the pavers, and the fence, and much more fun to be had with landscaping.
+
+In October my parents and I enjoyed a trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
+Wonderful to be able to find the time to take vacations together as a family.
+
+\begin{center}
+  \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{"./shop.png"}
+\end{center}
+
+Work continues to be fun.
+I now manage a team of five focused on electronics for instrumentation.
+Here's a picture of most of us with the Machine Shop and Glass Shop.
+Sebastian wore his Halloween costume.
+
+Thank you all for being a part of my life this year.
+Please---stay in touch.
+
+\vfill
+\raggedleft
+
+Blaise Jonathan Thompson \\*
+\hspace{0pt} \\
+1813 Fisher St. \\*
+Madison, Wisconsin 53713 \\*
+\hspace{0pt} \\
+1-424-225-2493 \\*
+blaise@untzag.com \\*
+https://blaise.zone
+
+\end{document}
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/recipients.org b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/recipients.org
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3491c87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/recipients.org
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#+TITLE: winter solstice letter recipients
+* DONE Alexander Moore
+* DONE Alisha Nielsen
+* DONE Bill Goebel
+* DONE Catherine Elliott
+* DONE Collin Engstrom
+* DONE Czech Family (Kyle, Emily, Danny, ??)
+* DONE Darien Morrow and Kaitlyn Fischer
+* DONE Elizabeth Breuer
+* DONE Hannah Frame
+* DONE Hanne Elleby
+* DONE Justin Earley
+* DONE Kate Webber & Steve Burger
+* DONE Katherine Taylor
+* DONE King Family (Cypress, Jaxson, two children Jonathan and Grace)
+* DONE Kyle Sunden
+* DONE Linda Thompson
+* DONE Mark Jochem
+* DONE Nathan Neff-Mallon
+* DONE Nina Halperin
+* DONE Parker/Eckert Family
+* DONE Sam Price
+* DONE The Boyers
+* DONE The Kohler Family
+* DONE Drier
+* DONE The Manlys
+* DONE The Nielsens
+* DONE The Thompsons
+* DONE The Radford Family
+* DONE The Till Family (Claire & Ralph)
+* DONE The Truningers
+* DONE The Wright Family (John & Carol)
+* DONE Zach Ott
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/shop.png b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/shop.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..272e887
--- /dev/null
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/2023/shop.png
diff --git a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/blaise-thompson-letters.md b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/blaise-thompson-letters.md
index e19ed2a..60c8985 100644
--- a/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/blaise-thompson-letters.md
+++ b/memories/blaise-thompson-letters/blaise-thompson-letters.md
@@ -54,3 +54,15 @@ start:  2014
 <figure>
   <img src="./2021/letter.jpg">
 </figure>
+
+# 2022
+
+<figure>
+  <img src="./2022/letter.jpg">
+</figure>
+
+# 2023
+
+<figure>
+  <img src="./2023/letter.jpg">
+</figure>