>I want to make a few icons.
>And, being a poor old wizened geezer I ask, do you know where I can get a free icon making program?


There's a free software graphics program called GIMP which can save .ICO files. They are typically multiple layered 32x32, 16x16, 48x48 or other common size files. GIMP also does a lot more.

To create the icon, just create a new bitmap of the appropriate size (32x32, or whatever). Then for each new icon image you'd like to embed, add another layer (right-click on layers, choose "add new layer", and then you can resize the layer if you need to). Whatever layer is selected or on top if none are selected will be the one you're editing. You can use the eyes to hide the other layers.

Hope this helps.

BTW, if you're going to get it ... I recommend the 2.6.x version, and not the 2.8.x version. The older interface is easier for simple tasks.