The passing of Thanksgiving annually marks the seasonal opening of a unique Baldwin City shop. Claudia Hey this weekend will kick off the annual three-month run of her Ad Astra Alpacas store at her farm by the same name about a mile south of Baldwin City at 168 East 1700 Road.

The farm’s barn store is decorated, and refreshments are ready for the store’s seasonal grand opening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Hey said. It will remain open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays through the end of March. Hey said customers unable to make it to the store on weekends can call her at 785-594-6767 to set up an appointment on weekdays.

The store offers a variety of clothing and toys made from alpaca fiber. As always, Hey has some new articles on hand for shoppers.

“I’m trying to get people tantalized so they will come out and take a look,” she said. “I have lined capes. I’ve never had them before. I also have ruanas. They are like a shawl fitted for to wear over the shoulders. What make mine special is they are reversible. Both sides are equally beautiful.”

As usual, the store will have sweaters, caps, mittens, gloves (even fingerless ones for texting) and socks. ?”I managed to save up enough of my own alpaca fiber to have some socks made,” she said. “They have the name of the farm on the toe. I’m really proud of those.”

The store doesn’t carry much in the way of children’s clothing because she knows youngsters quickly outgrow the expensive items, Hey said. But shoppers can still find children’s gifts at the store because she does carry a variety of alpaca fiber-stuffed animals and toys.

Remember that ghastly sweater you got as a Christmas present a couple of years ago? It’s time for Eudora residents to dig theirs out before heading to the community Christmas tree lighting so they can be dressed appropriately for the ugly sweater contest. The lighting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Sunday in downtown Eudora.

A certain rotund visitor in a gaudy red suit will be available for photographs with the youngest attendees. Others activities include a parade, dancing, song performances and sing-alongs.

Proof that this reporter needs to get out more was the erroneous statement in last week’s Area Roundup column that the soon-to-open Lodge on Main would be the only private event venue in Eudora. Susan Howig provided a tap on the shoulder to remind me that her Sweet Acres Inn at Seventh and Elm streets has been offering that service to the community for two years.

It’s well known now that last Saturday’s unexpected Kansas Jayhawk gridiron victory against the visiting University of Texas was KU’s first win against the Longhorns since 1938. Lecompton historian Paul Bahnmaier informed me that local Lecompton student-athlete Chet Gibbens secured that victory long ago with a drop kick for a field goal. The drop kick remains legal but is now rarer than a Jayhawk victory against the Longhorns. It requires the kicker to drop the football and kick it as it hits the ground or off the bounce through the goalposts. Gibbens’ window now lives in Arizona, Bahnmaier says.