Yesterday in my Facebook timeline I got the delightful news that Cally’s Teas talented baker, Laurel, would be making pumpkin pie to order for Thanksgiving weekend.

As I was on turnip puff and dessert duty for our family’s Thanksgiving dinner this happy news about the pie made me do my autumnal “I get pumpkin pie and I don’t have to bake it” dance. You will have to be satisfied by reading my dance description:

• Attire self in nutmeg coloured leotard.
• Hot glue fallen poplar leaves, Mountain Ash berries and late blooming chrysanthemums to leotard.
• Lift one leg, point toes, and wiggle leg about, but not too vigorously to prevent injury to knee.
• Drop leg, lift other leg, point toes, drop leg, massage cramp out of calf.
• Lift leg again, cautiously point toes, and wiggle leg about.
• Simultaneously lift both arms towards the sky and praise gourd saints with thanksgiving.
• Sway back and forth.
• Grab chair-back. Regain balance.
• Be a pumpkin. Be a tree. Don’t bend quickly. Save that knee.
• Rest.
• Put the kettle on.
• Eat pie.

Now, my dear readers, you know I rarely have a “short story”, and today is no exception. It goes like this:

Michael is spending Thanksgiving with his Mum and sister in Calgary this weekend. Here in Edmonton, this year it turned out the only people around our Thanksgiving table would be my Mom, my sis and me. We tossed around a few ideas about what to do about Thanksgiving dinner.

My sister volunteered to make the turkey and do the dishes. I volunteered turnip puff and dessert. Mom would get the stuff in between. We were set. Then I read a Facebook friend’s post  about some memory of my sister and a microwaved turkey. When I asked my sister about this she was quite dismissive and vague.

As a society, we have had enough to worry about with the E. Coli. We don’t need to start messing with microwaved turkeys.

And as you can imagine, suddenly a full turkey feast didn’t sound so appealing. We compromised by deciding on taking a Chinese take-out, followed by a late night slice of pumpkin pie, keeping at least a little bit of Thanksgiving tradition.

Now to the pie. Here’s a picture of Laurel’s pumpkin pie. Although at this point in time I have not tried the pie (using ALL OF MY RESTRAINT and repeating the mantra, The Pie Must Be Shared. The Pie Must be Shared), Laurel has elevated baking to levels I have not ever experienced. With Laurel, you know baking is not just a job. She puts her heart and soul in her baking. She’s a happy person. Her baking makes us happy. It’s a grand thing.

And, my oh my, here’s the cream. I think it’s 80% MF (it’s heart friendly because it’s organic). If you squint, you can see where I “tested” it:

This Thanksgiving weekend, I encourage all of you who read this to take pause and think of at least one thing you are grateful for.

I am grateful for many, many things including silicon spatulas, Advil, music, clinker bricks, telescopes and wine. But most importantly, I am grateful for my husband, my family, my friends, and each of my readers, from near and far. This blog has given me exposure to things I never would have dreamed of. It gives me energy and makes me happy. And for that, I am grateful.

Hugs to all of you. xo