Goose Alley

Fortunately, Matt and I were able to go Mom and Dad's for Thanksgiving Dinner this year - even with the vehicle mishap! Matt usually drives our 4runner to work, and about four weeks ago he was rear-ended. The impact smashed our bike rack into the back window/door, making it impossible to access the back. We use the back "entrance" to get Tillie and her crate into the car, so we have been unable to take her anywhere since! The car finally went to the body shop at the beginning of last week, and although they indicated it would be done long before Thanksgiving weekend, they kept moving the date forward for multiple reasons. We did have a rental during this time, a Mitsubishi Eclipse. You couldn't get a hamster in the back of that thing! So when we realized the truck wouldn't be done by Thanksgiving we had to contact the insurance company (twice) to get approval for an upgrade and then find a rental company that had an SUV!! Fortunately, Enterprise followed-up and got us a RAV4 so that Tillie could come along (we can't leave her at home all day!!).

We planned to get there in the morning, but ended up arriving around noon. I had started a fall table runner that I really wanted to finish for Thanksgiving dinner, so I spent the morning working on the binding and Matt cooked the pumpkin cake.



We did eventually get all packed and convinced Tills that the new car wasn't that scary. The traffic wasn't horrible, but took about an extra 20 minutes to get there!

Matt went right to work on rolls when we arrived, and Mom, Meg and I finished hand sewing the binding on the runner. Got it on the table just in the nick of time! It was fun to have Kristin, Paul, Meg and I together. We missed Katie and Will. Dinner was fabulous and everyone crashed afterward (except for Mom, Meg, Dad, and Matt who cleaned up dinner). After everyone's naps, the girls made magnets (a Craft Warehouse inspired activity), and then later I showed Megan some knitting stitche.



Later, Megan, Andy, Matt and I played some hearts and speed-scrabble. Mom and Dad went to bed early because they planned to get up at 3am in order to get to the coast for more hunting.

Having family close-by is fun. We have to make time for more family outings! Megan and I are already planning our spring camping trip....