In Maine, 2013 certainly went out with a bang. We had an ice storm, and while it wasn’t as bad as the Great Ice Storm of ’98, it was bad enough. As it wove its icy path through central Maine and beyond, the storm knocked out power in many, many homes, just in time for Christmas, one of the busiest times of the year. We lost our power on Monday, December 23 and got it back Wednesday, December 25.

I’ll write more in a day or two, but I do want to assure readers that at the little house in the big woods, we are well prepared for ice storms and power outages. We were snug and warm and had plenty to eat, enough so that we were able to invite our friend Diane to join us on Christmas Eve. Within and without, the house was lit with lanterns, and Diane said it was charming to eat by the flickering lamps.

Clif and I are still recovering from all the excitement and brouhaha of the ice storm, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. The house is nearly back to normal, and as I write, another storm—this time snow—is making its way up the East Coast.

Happy New Year to all! Given that we don’t have another power outage, I should be back on schedule in the next day or two.