As usual, the new year sneaked up on us in the middle of the night, while we were fast asleep ... also as usual. 
Both fortified with ear-plugs and thus sleeping through 'all' of the fireworks.
In truth, there were a few loud booms during the evening but I doubt there were a lot more at midnight, there's something (actually quite a lot) to be said to living rural.

We celebrated this brand-new year with our traditional oliebollen and just like last year we baked some 'appelflappen' as well:
(Those oliebollen by the way were seriously the best we ever made!)

                                                    

 

                                                    

During this fry-feast (grease and sugar, how's that for a healthy start?) we watched the Rose Parade at the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the parade that is held every year ahead of the Rose Bowl college football game.

It was quite a shock to tune in and find out that rain poured down on the parade for the first time in 20 years, and flood warnings and evacuation orders in Southern California joined snow squalls and frigid temperatures in the country’s midsection to mark the first day of 2026!

The floats had been lined up out in the open since the evening before and some had a bit of damage from the downpours overnight, but mostly the flowers looked actually very fresh and bright due to that same rain!

 

 

There were some amazing floats as usual but this one, the America250 float, with three life like bald-eagles, wings flapping and heads moving while soaring over a mountain landscape, representing the past, present, and future of the U.S , gave me goose-bumps ... so beautiful!




(This year of course, on July 4, 2026, America will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (from England).
Apparently there will be celebration events all year long!)

The beginning of the week was cold, but mostly dry, with several frosty mornings and temperatures of 30F!

 

 

                                     

The cows in the neighboring meadow, who came back from their coastal summer grounds the week before, were steaming in the morning sunrise ..

 

 

And the horses further down the road were snug in their winter-blankets ...

I'd made a big pot of 'lucky' black-eyed pea soup in my Instant pot:

                                                            

 

 

And finished my Christmas puzzle. Not and easy one but very pretty and fun to make!

          

James has been working on transitioning to a different computer program for appraisals. 
One that will make work a lot easier, and faster, but involves some studying and getting used to for a while.
Fortunately work always slows down during the holidays, but he has held back taking work for a bit as well so he'll have time to work on it.

So, bring it on 2026! We're (getting) ready for it!