Thread: Canadian Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. U.S. Thanksgiving comes in November. It has been a glorious weekend -- sunny , warm 22 - 23 degrees. The trees are really beautiful , red, orange and yellow. Thanksgiving is usually spent with family -- with a large meal usually, turkey , stuffing , cranberry sauce , mashed potatoes, gravy , assorted veg. and ends with pie, often pumpkin or apple.

Yesterday took the grandkids to a local apple orchard where they have all kinds of activities for almost all ages;mazes, climbing activities, hay to jump in ,and throw at each other, sandboxes for the little ones , pony rides etc. and of course hot dogs, sausages on a bun, roasted corn etc. There were hundreds of people there. It is well organized though, and everyone was having a good time. Ended up picking our own apples. we all had an enjoyable day.
This was a n annual event for my children when they were young, and my daughter carried on the tradition while she lived. It brought back many memories.
Sheena, if this is not in the right spot just move it over, please.

Originally Posted by Liz H

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. U.S. Thanksgiving comes in November. It has been a glorious weekend -- sunny , warm 22 - 23 degrees. The trees are really beautiful , red, orange and yellow. Thanksgiving is usually spent with family -- with a large meal usually, turkey , stuffing , cranberry sauce , mashed potatoes, gravy , assorted veg. and ends with pie, often pumpkin or apple.

Yesterday took the grandkids to a local apple orchard where they have all kinds of activities for almost all ages;mazes, climbing activities, hay to jump in ,and throw at each other, sandboxes for the little ones , pony rides etc. and of course hot dogs, sausages on a bun, roasted corn etc. There were hundreds of people there. It is well organized though, and everyone was having a good time. Ended up picking our own apples. we all had an enjoyable day.
This was a n annual event for my children when they were young, and my daughter carried on the tradition while she lived. It brought back many memories.
Sheena, if this is not in the right spot just move it over, please.

Hi Liz

We enjoyed our second Thanksgiving here in Canada and did the turkey and trimmings with pumpkin and caremel cream cake, met up with some of the locals and had a great day. The kids got Friday and Monday off school and it was nice to see all the major stores closed for the day. Looking forward to halloween and our guy fawkes bash but not winter. Did you see the CTV news showing the snow storm in Saskatchewan on Saturday

Andy and Team Canada :v_SPIN:

Hi Andy,
Yes I did see the report of snow in Saskatchewan; glad it veered off to the North! The problem with Autumn , though beautiful, is the fact that Winter is not far behind. and I do not look forward to that.A friend told me recently, that she would like to travel round the world going from Autumn in one place to Autumn in another, and so on. I would prefer to look for Spring.
Next 'celebration ' is Hallowe'en. Last year it was quite warm. The neighbours and I sat outside on the porch to greet the little ghosts and goblins, and some not so little, and doled out the treats.
Was interested to hear of your Guy Fawkes celebration. Does your Municipality allow bonfires? For any outdoor fire we would have to get a permit -- even outdoor fireplaces require them, and I'm sure we would not get one for a bonfire.
Did you see the wildfires in California? It seems to be an annual event Wonder if 'Traveller' is near there.
Liz

Yep - some of the fires have been pretty close - too close sometimes! We're surrounded by all sorts of trees including Eucalyptus and they go up like matches in this dry heat. We had a couple of days in the height of summer where the air here in the Bay Area was so smoky they recommended people with asthma stay indoors, but I didn't find it too bad and I have asthma. Actually I have far less asthma attacks here than in the UK.

The nearest fire was on the hill adjacent to ours but the fire service response is phenomenal - we had three of those planes that carry water circling overhead and the fire was out within half an hour.

Back home in the UK we have a house near to natural heathland on the coast and every year people maliciously set fire to different areas of the heathland so we're used to fires on our doorstep.

I don't envy you those cold winters. That's one thing I don't miss. I'm due to go back to the UK in Dec for a short visit and work and I'm dreading the cold.

Hi Liz

No permits and no outdoor fires of any kind are allowed except for the grape / fruit tree transition programe so we have a bonfire made of old grape vines. The farm next door is removing old juice grapes because the juice plant has closed down and there is no market anymore. The fire brigade come out and inspect the location and we need a water supply with hoze pipes, a tractor with front loader and a mound of soil, if approved we agree a date and time with fire inspector. Providing weather conditions are ok (wind) and a phone call to inspector we light late afternoon and the main burn has to be over by nightfall but the glow and embers keep going all night.
We are spring fans like you - not too hot or cold and just to see everything come back to life.
I still cant believe the effort everyone puts into halloween out here for the kids and ours love it. We live out in the sticks so we take our guys to town with their little collection bags (not rucksacks) for the candy and choc.
Cheers for now

A + TC

Originally Posted by traveller

Yep - some of the fires have been pretty close - too close sometimes! We're surrounded by all sorts of trees including Eucalyptus and they go up like matches in this dry heat. We had a couple of days in the height of summer where the air here in the Bay Area was so smoky they recommended people with asthma stay indoors, but I didn't find it too bad and I have asthma. Actually I have far less asthma attacks here than in the UK.

Originally Posted by traveller

The nearest fire was on the hill adjacent to ours but the fire service response is phenomenal - we had three of those planes that carry water circling overhead and the fire was out within half an hour.

Back home in the UK we have a house near to natural heathland on the coast and every year people maliciously set fire to different areas of the heathland so we're used to fires on our doorstep.

I don't envy you those cold winters. That's one thing I don't miss. I'm due to go back to the UK in Dec for a short visit and work and I'm dreading the cold.

Hi traveller,
Glad to know you are not in the path of the wildfires. Santa Ana again ? Saw this morning they are pretty much under control. Yes, I know about water bombers. Lived further North than at present, A friend had a year round home on a lake used by the water bombers. It was interesting to see them fly low over the lake, lower the water bucket and scoop up the lake water and off again to fight the forest fires. Canada has often sent water bombers and fire crews to the U. S. to help out in critical situations.
Unfortunately, you are right about malicious people deliberately setting fires; sometimes careless people throwing lit cigarettes from a moving vehicle too.
Actually, the cold, providing you dress accordingly, can be tolerated. It's the snow and more particularly, freezing rain and ice that bother me most.
I always enjoyed going back to the U.K. at Christmas. The atmosphere was different -- but that was a long time ago.. I suppose things have changed.Make the most of your trip anyway.
Glad your asthma is better here. From time to time I have had that problem, mainly when smog comes our way from more industrialized areas further to the south.
Take care,
Liz

Originally Posted by Andy

Hi Liz

No permits and no outdoor fires of any kind are allowed except for the grape / fruit tree transition programe so we have a bonfire made of old grape vines. The farm next door is removing old juice grapes because the juice plant has closed down and there is no market anymore. The fire brigade come out and inspect the location and we need a water supply with hoze pipes, a tractor with front loader and a mound of soil, if approved we agree a date and time with fire inspector. Providing weather conditions are ok (wind) and a phone call to inspector we light late afternoon and the main burn has to be over by nightfall but the glow and embers keep going all night.
We are spring fans like you - not too hot or cold and just to see everything come back to life.
I still cant believe the effort everyone puts into halloween out here for the kids and ours love it. We live out in the sticks so we take our guys to town with their little collection bags (not rucksacks) for the candy and choc.
Cheers for now

A + TC

Hi Andy + T.C.,
I believe all outdoor fires have to follow the Ontario Fire Code, though there may be some slight variations in each Municipality's by-laws. Yours are much the same as ours including all safety precautions. Enjoy the celebration.
Yes, when I came I too was amazed, and still am at the Hallowe'en celebrations. I know too about kids being driven into town to collect goodies, in mini-buses, vans etc. When my kids were young , generally, kids only went to friends and neighbours.Now, instead of a small plastic 'pumpkin' container some kids come with pillow cases., either that or parents carry the pillow case and the kids dump their goodies into itfrom a smaller container. A couple of years ago, a boy who lived in the area, came early with the little kids, dressed as a skeleton, and came back two hours later dressed as a hobo.I mentioned that he had already visited me, and his answer was " But I was wearing a different costume then"!Kids!!
Cheers Liz