HAPPY THANKSGIVING

My sisters and I trade off hosting the holidays (I get Thanksgiving and 4th of July) so this is always a super busy time of year for me--remind me NOT to schedule a book before Thanksgiving again!

I'm a bit more adventurous than my sibs, so if it was up to me I'd experiment more with the meal and the traditions. I mean, I too am a traditionalist, don't get me wrong, but part of the fun of being a traditionalist is creating your own traditions.

Anyway, every year it's cheese plate, Grandma's stuffing, Martha Stewart's cheese potatoes, Martha Stewart's herbed turkey (the SO is a rebel and adding brining to the festivities -- in fact, he's in the kitchen right now cursing over the fact that the turkey is too large for his chosen vessel), corn, cranberries, green salad, Crescent Rolls (why????????) and a LOT of very good wine and then comes the Sees Candy, the Marie Callendar pies (pumpkin, lemon meringue, chocolate), more very good wine, whatever cocktails people are in the mood for -- I discovered Pineapple Upsidedown Cocktails this summer!!!) .

I sound ungrateful because IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME but you know what? That's something to be grateful for right there. The boringness of a reliably delicious and bountiful menu, the presence of my much-loved family, shelter from the storm (it's going to be freezing temps tomorrow with a chance of snow). In short, the traditional kick-off to another hectic and happy holiday season.

Fingers crossed. Because how incredibly lucky we are to take these things so much for granted, we're even a little bored by them. I've been guilty of it too--I AM guilty of it too. Never again. Not with the world as it is.

Except... This is not the day to fear what may come. It's the day to celebrate now, what you have to be grateful for this moment, this meal, this harvest, this year, your life so far.

Wishing you an abundance of things to be grateful for today and always.