In the Free Press today, an article on a neighbor, Jane Kirby, reminded me of the beautiful range of colors eggs can be, depending on the breed. We used to have Aracona hens that layed green, aqua, and blue eggs, but now we have only beautiful pale brown eggs. When they are colored at Easter, they take on earthy, natural colors because of the brown underneath, and look especially great when they are marbled. (Just add a few drops of oil to the coloring water.) Chickens are fun to have, and although they are not friendly like cats, they can endear themselves to the hand that feeds them by greeting you at the door of the coop and rustling around your feet. It just amazes me that they can lay an egg every day! Now that's a miracle.

While in New York for a wedding, we visited every bakery we had read about. Our favorite was a tiny little place called Once Upon a Tart, which looked so authentically French, we could have been in Paris. Our other favorite was City Bakery, which was the complete opposite: big, crowded, noisy, but absolutley delightful pastries and cookies. The whole experience just whetted our appetite for more. I think another trip may be necessary in the near future.