New Year...

 The wee grands had a "spend the night" with us on New Year's Eve. The four-year-old was all on board. The two-year-old had some misgivings. Finally, I got them both snuggled into bed. I was asked for a story. I made up one about a princess with a well-equipped kitchen who was bored, so she whipped up a big batch of chocolate chip cookies and delivered them to all her neighbors by way of dog cart. The girls loved it and asked for more, so I stretched it out, weaving in mice and crumbs and cats and more until they fell asleep. All was well until around  3:00 AM, when the wee one poked me in the eye, giggling, and said, "PEEK A BOO!" Then she blew raspberries at my face. I didn't get a lot of sleep, but I did get some excellent snuggles, some giggles, and a "This is the best sleepover EVER!" What could be better? These days (and nights) are fleeting, and I need to appreciate them while I can. I am most grateful that their parents so generously share these wee girls with us.

I had a fun New Year's surprise while doing chores. Late last summer, I added some new pullets to my flock of chickens. These particular birds were bred to lay unusual colored eggs. I've had several olive-green eggs (left), which delight me, and now a blue layer has begun to contribute, and they are so pretty. 

In case you wonder, the eggs all taste the same. White, brown, green, or blue... It's just fun to see a variety of shell colors in the carton. I now have shades of brown, white, blue, and green coming out of my very own coop. Like an Easter egg hunt every day. 

I'm past the point of setting resolutions for the new year, or even looking back on the past year to ponder events. But on the first day of the new year, when I woke up to see three inches of soft, fluffy snow covering my world, and the windows framing a sky filled with flakes, I felt almost as excited as the tousled-headed, wide-eyed girl bouncing beside me.  "Lovie! It SNOWED in the night!" I let myself feel the awe and joy. Clean slate, new year, full of wonder.