Most of you know that I have a slight affinity for the autumn season. It has always been my favourite season, and I don’t believe this is an accident. I believe that I was raised with a healthy appreciation for the fall time.

When I was a kid, we used to go to my grandparent’s house for Thanksgiving. The drive from Kingston to Almonte was rife with auburn, red and golden leaves and even after we had arrived at our destination, we would set out again with my extended family for a “fall leaf drive”. This would result in an accumulated several hours of driving around for the express purpose of gazing upon the beauty of the season. Even after we began spending Thanksgiving at home, we tried to keep the tradition alive.

The fall leaf drive has evolved over the years – my dad and I head out for the drive early Thanksgiving morning, and at some point my mom decided she would rather stay home and make the Turkey soup (which we are forever grateful for). I’ve also become more prone to car sickness over the years so what once was a full day activity has been pared down to the better part of the morning. It’s one of the only traditions my dad and I have for just the two of us, so it’s a special event I look forward to every year. It usually involves coffee, nice radio music, a walk around somewhere lovely and contraband snacks like Ruffles chips and maple candy.

UGLY: Having to avoid winding roads for fear of barfing.

AWESOME: Maple sugar candy and the smell of wet earth 🙂