Thanksgiving Interrupted

Thanksgiving weekend was not at all what we had envisioned here in Knitsburgh. I spent the week cooking and baking vegan tastiness to carry forth across the land to visit two sets of Wee Grandfolk. Misfortune struck, bringing a hasty retreat back to Knitsburgh. Family drama, car trouble and finally illness ensured our fate. So disappointing.

Have faith readers, there is always good with the bad. Blue Molly (the car) only sustained a busted radiator hose and did not in fact need a new alternator. The illness appears to be a fierce cold at its worst and not any type of scary flu. We had gotten both the regular and H1N1 shots last week in an effort to prevent the Wee One from sickness, however he too has the cold, poor thing.

So what to do when you are stuck in Knitsburgh? You can knit up a Wee Hat:





The pattern came from Just Jussi thru Ravelry. It was fun and fast and keeps a Wee One's ears warm. It also seems to actually stay on his head through a walk, which is hard to accomplish with his other hats. Thank you, chin strap! That Jussi is pretty smart, I would say.

I also hit a great sale at Joanne Fabric this weekend and picked up some super-cheap printed flannel to make into some Wee Fun. If things turn out like I think it might look like in my head, I will share the results here.

We also made some ornaments this past week and weekend and will have photos up soon after they are completed and sent to some special folks.

We also started the Holiday-ification of the Estate. I need to tell you about our artificial tree. Years ago, when living in Colorado, we would trek up into the mountains, pay $10 and cut down a tree the forest service had designated as one that would be removed for fire control purposes. They were wild and scraggly and see through and so natural. When we left Colorado we were stuck with either buying a cut tree or one with a root ball. I would normally prefer the second option, however when living on the shore and our yard was sand, it wasn't really feasible. Now, living in the city where the estate grounds are rather limited, there really wouldn't be any space. We were buying a cut tree and then "recycling" it after the four short weeks it lived with us.

Three years ago, we decided to get an artificial tree. Part of the decision involved our oldest cat, Madison Penelope. Though Miss Madison Penelope has been with us for thirteen holidays now, she will still eat the pine tree. She chews it up and throws up needles. Every day. She doesn't want to eat fresh cat grass; she wants to eat pine trees. She is insatiable, unstoppable and irrepressible. Which if you ask me is part of the beauty of her, she's not just a lay-around-and-nap-cat, indeed.

So back to the main point here. We got this tree and it came pre-lit which also means Nature Boy and I don't disagree about where the lights should go (deep in the branches say I, right on the tips says Nature Boy). We just snap three sections together, plug it in and put on the ornaments. Sounds great, but one section of lights is not like the others. It doesn't light up right away, then will suddenly start blinking, then go out, then blink. This year, Nature Boy seemed determined to fix this. He took out fuses, replugged things, adjusted bulbs and wires, with no fix. Then something unheard of happened. He read the directions! He found a number for customer service. Customer service was called and they are sending a whole new middle section for our tree! Incredible! A tree that is three years old. In fact I was informed the tree is under warranty until 2017! So if anyone out there needs an artificial tree go with the Sylvania Staylit types, which have a 10 year guarantee.

Thanksgiving wasn't the greatest but I've already got my sights on Yule and it looks like it will be fantastic!