Christmas!

No one can say this wasn't an interesting Christmas this year! A quiet one was planned, and a 'quiet' one we got - forced home time, no power, no water, no net, meant for some fireside monopoly and quality book time! Christmas was on a Wednesday this year, and sunday night into Monday day we had a massive ice-storm come through that knocked out our power. 

We were relatively prepared - we're on a well, so can't get water in a power out, and had plenty of oil lamps and candles. Alongside the propane fireplace and stove, and a small generator to keep the fridge cold every few hours - we did pretty well considering. The power went out sunday, but had come back on Monday morning. By 10am it had gone out again, and didn't come back on until late Christmas Eve. I have to say, it was super nice to take a hot shower Christmas morning! 

So the rest can be said with pictures - I hope everyone had a Great Christmas too, we sure did! 

Christmas Eve

Venturing outside to look a the crazy ice sculptures from the storm! 

We decided to sleep in the living room rather than upstairs for two nights - mainly so we could run the generator every 4-6 hrs to keep the fridge going without having to move too far, but also because it's pretty darn cozy in the living room and we wouldn't have to worry about having to heat upstairs so much with the fireplace (though we know from before we can keep the whole house pretty warm with just the fireplace if we need to!). 

The ice had shut up both cars completely, we had to pour a little water over the doors to be able to open them, then crack away at the ice on the windows. You couldn't just pour water everywhere, as it'd freeze right back up! 

The driveway, after plowing and moving the cars around. 

Zoe actually ventured out to see what we were doing. We had around 12 inches of snow on the ground prior to the storm, all was now covered over in an icy crust! 

Burning bush, encased in ice. 

Icy furs. 

I've said it before, and i'll say it again. One of the main things I love about Maine winters is that it is rarely grey. The amazing blue skies, the white landscape, punctuated by the most amazingly red and orange sunsets and sunrises. It's hard to be down on the weather when it's just so darn sunny.....even when it is below freezing! 

Christmas Day

A new Christmas tradition - orange cinnamon rolls from scratch! This was actually taken on Christmas eve - the dough rising on the fireplace. 

Before cooking on Christmas morning.

And the finished result! No, we didn't eat it all......some went in the freezer. Yum yum though, definitely a new tradition! 

Christmas morning sunrise.....just beautiful! 

Opening presents. Barkley likes pork butt apparently....and has a very firm grip on the piggies head! 

Brody tucking into a squeaky snake. It didn't last ten minutes, but he does love them so. The snake-skin also hangs around for months being played with, so they're worth it. 

Brandon making a survival bracelet....for the next time he decides to climb Mt Washington with his buddies (that's for another story....). 

Too icy for a long walk, we decided to check out the garden instead. 

We had to dig channels for Barkley - she gets pretty wobbly on ice these days, and with her stitches still in her belly she needed to be careful around the garden and not sink up to her belly. 

We had a couple of large fallen tree limbs. Barkley for scale. 

Frozen buds....the last of the season. 

Brody loves to rub himself up and down in the ice. Who knows why, but it's pretty cute. 

Even Zoe came out to see what we were doing. 

A little tree clean up and poop-patrol and we headed inside to hot chocolate, mince pies and movies on DVD....as we didn't get cable back until today, so had no netflix....or the queens speech, which is a first for me missing.