Home again, after a brief trip to Acadia, and attempting to reignite the home fires. This is the biggest downside to heating with wood: how long it takes to get the house warm again. Even after a mere 24 hours, the floors, the beds, the chairs have absorbed a dull chill. The pipes are nowhere close to freezing; merely, the atmosphere is unpleasant and makes everyone feel grouchy and put-upon.

Nonetheless, my older son managed to hike into the forest after dark, cut down a lovely Christmas tree, and drag it into the house. Meanwhile, the younger son bashed out a few Christmas carols on the piano, just to add to the put-upon festive cheer. Then both boys decorated the tree (twice, because after they finished the first pass, they realized the trunk wasn't touching the water in the stand and they had to take the whole thing apart and cut off more branches) as Tom and I pressed ourselves fitfully against the wood stove and admired their gritty seasonal perseverance.

And today I have to steel myself to go Christmas shopping. You might not be surprised to learn that I dislike shopping. The only good thing is that the store will probably be warmer than my house.