It was a good holiday. A friend was able to visit, and, as usual, my husband did something amazing and wonderful to the turkey. This year’s masterpiece involved an apple glaze. Even though the kids didn’t make it home this year, we’ve been lighting the menorah each night. (I also have an ongoing Hanukkah giveaway.) We decided to get the whole family together over the longer Christmas holiday instead, and after seeing all the travel delays on the news, that appears to have been a good call.

I always wonder what to do with house guests in the depths of Iowa, but my friend was thrilled when I offered to take her to WalMart on Friday–to protest. After our small crowd of sign-wavers was chased off corporate property and interviewed by the local news, we shopped at the co-op.

For Small Business Saturday, we went to a marketplace that showcases local businesses. After munching on some great food (blini, yum!), I found a charming young woman selling yarn and knitted items. My guest had requested I make her a wool hat for Christmas, so I was happy to find several skeins that would suit the project. The saleswoman described the alpaca who had produced the fiber for one hank, and told me another came from a sheep owned by a local vendor, Big Boy Meats. (Yes, we have a business here named Big Boy Meats.) She is personally acquainted with each sheep and alpaca whose wool she spins. We found this almost Portlandian, but also completely awesome.

So I called my friend over and had her select the yarn for her present. If I can follow the pattern correctly, she will have a hat that she has promised to call Nathan, after the sheep who produced it, by the end of the year. I’m terrified I’ll mess it up. I can’t bear to disappoint Nathan by ruining his wool.