A New Year, A New Adventure

       On New Year’s Eve we rang out 2023 at Tommy's and Emily’s house with a few of their friends.
        Some of the group rustled up a card game, a fast-moving and entertaining game called Spoons,

…which actually involved using spoons.

    Meanwhile others of us were happy to chat,

...or to play with Ronan.

     And we all enjoyed the yummy snacks that Emily fixed for us:

     A choice of cider- or champagne-soaked grapes
      Cream cheese and chocolate bars

     Tasty Impossible Meat meat balls
      Apple, basil, and brie skewers

...and "2024"mozzarella-stuffed pull-apart rolls. 

     The following day was the beginning not only of the new year but of a new adventure of sorts for my mate, Tom, and me, as well as for our grandchildren: Their parents returned to Los Angeles and, for the first time, left them here in Ohio with Tom and me.
      Though their visit was to last only four days, still I stressed over whether we'd succeed in keeping them entertained and happy enough to avoid boredom and homesickness.
​       We needn't have worried.
       These California girls reveled in the novelty of being outside in the Ohio winter on “Grandpa’s Farm,” as they call our suburban Columbus backyard, and being put to work on some outdoor chores, such as raking leaves,

...spreading manure around the blueberry plants,

...taking down the Christmas lights,

...and, of course, occasionally taking a break to play,

...or to come inside to warm up by the fire.

     They also helped with taking down the indoor decorations,

...and with the shopping.

     Not that it was all work for the girls.

     We took trips to the mall,

...where one day we saw the movie "Migration," a hilarious flick about a cute but hapless family of ducks braving their first flight south for the winter.

      And there was plenty of time for biking,

...artwork,

...as well as playing "Exploding Kittens" and other games with their Aunt Theresa, who, like her nieces,  is also a an afficionado of card games.

       And then, too quickly, the days were up, our adventure, such as it was, was over, and we were at the Columbus airport,

...and soon onboard our flight,

...to deliver the girls back to their home.