It's Beginning to Look A LITTLE Like Christmas

I've been trying my darnedest to muster up some holiday spirit, but it's a struggle this year, for some reason. 

Maybe it's the economy.

Maybe it's my sore throat, which would win first prize in a Sore Throat Contest, I'm sure.

Maybe it's our lack of snow. Come on, Mother Nature. This is MAINE, for cryin' out loud.

Maybe it's the ice storm that's barreling our way. I've drawn buckets and jugs of water in anticipation of being without electrical power for who-knows-how-long. I've also vacuumed, taken a shower, done my hair, done two loads of laundry....None of these things can be done if the power goes out. (Anyone who lived through Maine's infamous Ice Storm '98 does not take likely the prospect of no electrical power. We lived at our old house then and got off easily: only 24 hours without power. Here in our new neighborhood, though, folks went 14 miserable days without power. Yikes. The prospect makes me weak in the knees.)

I've decorated the mantle, as you can see in the first shot. Ken has brought the life-sized nutcracker downstairs, and he stands patiently in the front hallway, waiting to be taken out onto the porch and placed beside the front door. Every time I catch a glimpse of him from the corner of my eye, I jump, thinking an intruder has sneaked into the house.

I've dug out my carolers. I see they are happily caroling and don't at all sense my glum mood.

Bah-humbug.

(But at least knitting needles don't require electricity, come to think of it.)