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A Personal Story

Fall Brings Change and a Time for Giving Thanks!

Fall
A brisk air slowly blows Summer into the past,
Changing its green leaves and fragile flowers
Into dormant symbols of much needed rest,
Carefully arranging a colorful cornucopia
Of a time with no complaints,
Gently preparing us for a season
To harvest, pause and give thanks!

Fall is definitely in the air and with it comes a special time for us to pause and be thankful for all that we have. We are truly blessed in the area of the country I call home to be able to enjoy all of the four seasons. I just love it when we gracefully shift from one season to the next. Just when we are bored with the way things are, we are reminded of the fact that they are not always the same. Because of these changes that occur around us, we are forced to look at our landscape and our lives in a different way.

As the green leaves turn into beautiful shades of reds, golds, oranges and purples, we get ready to set aside time to be with the ones we love, to overeat and to offer thanks. Thanksgiving is always a special time for my family and me. It is a time when everyone cooks favorite dishes and desserts to sit along side the turkey. I always make my mother’s wonderful dressing recipe. Although mine is not quite as good as hers, I was the one chosen to do her job when she died eight years ago. We never miss our loved ones who are gone more than at the holidays.

When I think of Thanksgiving, my first memories are of mounds of food and the wonderfully pleasant aromas that permeated the air. The home movies that my granddaddy took with one of the first home video cameras prove our enjoyment of this holiday. You know the cameras I’m talking about. They were huge and bulky, hard to maneuver and had a light as big as a car’s headlight to illuminate the scene. Just as we were trying to break out our warm sweaters for the new season, we were kept hot under the camera lights as if we were food on a warming tray at a cafeteria. Eyes squinted and sweat popping out on our foreheads, we were photographed in living color on his moving pictures. We were stars and we thought we were so special!

Not only were we photographed, but our food table was as well. My granddaddy started at the head of the table and panned very slowly making absolutely sure that nothing edible was left out. There, caught on film was a smorgasbord in panoramic view. It was almost as if he was trying to chronicle everything we ate. Or perhaps, he was doing it for my granny’s benefit to help with next year’s food preparations. One thing is for sure. We were not allowed to touch one morsel until this ritual was complete and the blessing was asked.

In my constant quest to go out and create something beautiful, I have shown on many occasions how to construct a centerpiece. One thing that you may not know is that I was almost grown before I realized that a plate of biscuits was not supposed to be one. That’s what we always had. And, to be completely honest with you, I think they still make a beautiful statement! I mean, when they are browned perfectly, mounded properly on a beautiful tray or plate, just out of the oven, what else could you possible ask for in a centerpiece?

If you should opt for a more traditional centerpiece, autumn certainly has sufficient bounty to offer with a full pallet of fabulous colors just waiting to create a beautiful array. From rosy russets and bronzed golds to radiating reds and mellow tones of aubergine, the autumn pallet is just about as rich as color gets. Because of that gift, you have a great start. Your color scheme is established and so are the many unique shapes and forms. From prickly cones of various sizes to lush chrysanthemums bursting into bloom, from the changing leaves to the berries, gourds, pumpkins, vegetables and fruits, there is literally a cornucopia of possibilities waiting to adorn your table this Thanksgiving. You need not look any further than your own yard to find most of these treasures. All you have to do is gather them together for a beautiful presentation.

It is amazing what a difference a colorful centerpiece can make to your family and friends. It easily and beautifully sets the mood for your thankful celebration. Whether you chose a rattan or vine horn of plenty that you fill to the brim with fruits and vegetables or opt for a more traditionally arranged centerpiece in an interesting container, using the bounty that surrounds us at this time of year takes a lot of the guess work out of the creative process. Your ingredients are already chosen, you just have to showcase them.

However, if cooking has taken up all of your time, you can simply take the biscuits out of the oven, arrange them on a plate, and make a mad dash to your Thanksgiving table with the realization that your biscuits alone can be centerpiece enough to set a mood. Butter will make it even better! After all, biscuits set my holiday mood for many years. Enjoy this special time of year and go out and create something beautiful.