Today we celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving!

The last supper in 2005

As I prepared the turkey this morning, I thought of my late parents. They loved the rituals around such
observances. Mom had all her traditions that they had to follow! Rules, actually. There was Mom's way and the wrong way! By 2005 she'd had three surgeries for cancer, as well as radiation. Dad's brain tumour was to come back the following year, and Mom passed over in 2006.

This photo is the last Thanksgiving they were able to prepare a turkey. Since they lived so far away, or, more pointedly, we moved from Toronto to Ottawa in 1981, we would usually do the driving.

The 'cottage'

They loathed leaving home, their dog and cat, too. That said, my parents would visit us the odd time, making the long 5-hour drive from time-to-time, leaving their precious Long Lake home behind.

Dad was in charge of the turkey, mom the veggies. For 50 years, or so, they did this. Often my Nanny would cook and host the entire family. I only regret that I didn't learn much
about it from them.

Nanny - marvellous cook,
seamstress (1966-ish)

That said, I haven't had much call to cook a turkey. Certainly, not during my single parent years. Hubby doesn't like poultry, having had to do them in at the farm when he was a child. Poor man. More often than not, the kids were too far away to visit. Many of my friends tell me about kids being far away!

The thing about dealing with such issues is managing the traditions as best you can, or changing them up totally.

Since we moved back to the region, the kids are able to visit more often. It is a blessing.

Mom and Dad visited us in
North Gower in 1991

Due to a couple of reasons, I haven't been able to summon the energy to do stuffing. Two hospice clients, plus... As with many families, one must apportion one's energy and decided what is important.

Our local farmer only had 22 lb. turkeys. I should have declined and gone elsewhere for a smaller one. However, I love them and their service.

It fit into the bar fridge, and the pan –although the lid doesn't sit snugly! What a hoot.
Our two bar fridges require another post to explain them!

Last year's painted pumpkin was better!

This year's one will do!

Lots of local produce

Lots of local farmers