The new look of the blog is what I worked on this evening. I’ve called the theme ‘Atypical Christmas’. Thanks to Andrea for the excellent pic that I used to create the banner image. I used GIMP (Open Source GNU Image Manipulation Program) to manipulate the original picture into the image you see. It also has a handy tool which allowed me to find colors in the image to use in styling the page.
Tomorrow we’ll post a link where you can download the theme.
The really neat thing about this theme is that the only changes I made to the previous theme were adding the banner image and modifying the style sheet (CSS).
Let me know what you think 
I like it! Pretty and easy to use – couldn’t ask for more!
Gorgeous!
It’s beautiful – and very festive.
Good job. Very pretty.
I really like the idea of using a photo that you shot as the banner. I’m expecting a new digital camera from AZMN today (review will follow on my blog). I’ll have to snap some pictures and see what I can do with The GIMP.
you can see the original phot we used here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68661927@N00/70508100/
Love it!
Daryl: We took 30-40 pictures at various angles, light, etc. That’s the key. The beauty of digital cameras is that you can do that at no cost. Rather than futz around with an ok pic. Take lots and if none are to your liking changing a few things and do it again
I love the new banner. Especially since here in the US there has been some controversy over Poinsettias the last three or so holiday seasons. One color has “religious” connotations and had to be removed from public buildings somewhere in the Great Lakes area. Some joker snuck back in after hours and filled the place with the offensive colored poinsettias.