Thankful for Thanksgiving.

Autumn is probably my favourite season. I love the cold, crisp weather, the re-emergence of mittens and comfy coats, and the spicy sweetness of cinnamon flavoured treats. The trees turn fantastic shades of red, yellow and orange and curling up under a wool blanket by a crackling fire with a book is an acceptable way to spend an afternoon. Two of my favourite holidays happen in Autumn too. Well, I don't actually have any holidays I don't like but, you get the picture; I like Halloween and Thanksgiving a lot.

Here in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October, which this year is on the 13th. It's a statutory holiday in most provinces which means no work or school. Like our American cousins, we Canadians have a large turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Bring on the stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, carrots, peas and whatever else I can handle! Oh, and of course the turkey, we can't forget that! This marathon of a meal is usually followed by the traditional dessert of Pumpkin Pie, although I prefer the melt in your mouth deliciousness of Pumpkin Cheesecake. Some families have their feast on Monday, but mine has traditionally chowed down on the Sunday.

My Mom spares no expense when it comes to holiday meals, and Thanksgiving dinner is no exception. For great food, like with most things in life, there's no place like home. Whether it is because we become accustomed to our mothers' cooking, or whether they know just how we like it, nothing compares to wonderful home cooked meals.

But as I get older, I find that holidays become more and more about spending time with loved ones. No matter where we are or what we are stuffing ourselves full of, so long as we are surrounded by people who love us it's always a wonderful time. This year, for example, instead of the traditional turkey dinner we're having a seafood spectacular. What could be better on the west coast than fresh salmon? And even though we've deviated from our traditions this year, it doesn't feel any less like Thanksgiving. We'll have a house full of company and a table full of wonderful, home cooked food; isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about anyhow?

Happy Thanksgiving!