For some reason I struggled this month to find something inspiring and interesting to write to you about. Maybe my brain is in overload testing new recipes, getting the kids organized at new schools, working and figuring out how I’m going to manage 3 Thanksgiving dinners in 3 days! In any case I decided to look at last year’s October newsletter to see what we talked about. And then it hit me. I must be in some sort of subconscious depression because at this time last year I was on my way to Italy ready to eat and drink my way through Tuscany. Talk about inspiring. I started pouring through my photos, recipes and food goodies from that trip. I was startled to notice a few hours had gone by and I needed to get down to the task at hand.

All that reminiscing about Italy made me realize that although it’s great to revisit the past it’s also equally important to enjoy the here and now. So with that in mind, I’m going to celebrate October with my family and friends to it’s fullest. I may have to roast 3 turkeys at once to enjoy with 3 separate family and friend groups, I’ll dress the kids up to the nines and let them eat as much Hallowe’en candy as they can muster on the 31st, help bake 1000 Apple Crumble Pies at my son’s school and make 60 litres of home made soup and dish it out at Empty Bowls Charity Event. And through it all I’m going to remember how lucky I am to not only have a fantastic family to share this with but some wonderful friends to indulge in a glass of wine when my arm can’t stir another pot or baste another bird!

No matter how you chose to spend your October, try to remember to thank the people who you share your meals with for taking the time to stop what they’re doing, sit down and raise a fork with you!