Labour Day brings a sense of new beginnings, and with it a strong desire to get organized. Closets and drawers are turned out with vigour, items carefully sorted for Goodwill or Just Junk. At the same time, we long to savour the last few days of leisure as we bid summer adieu.

After a day of hard work, the kids gathered in our back yard for a late afternoon swim, and we all looked forward to a meal by the pool. While the Apple-Brined and Hickory-Smoked Turkey roasted on the barbecue, we shucked corn, peeled potatoes and prepared green beans.  A earlier trip to Myers Apple Farm had furnished the ingredients for Apple Chutney, and we finished up with a deep-dish apple pie with vanilla ice-cream.

The cabbage leaf charger plates are from Williams Sonoma, and the dinner plates are Country Heritage by Villeroy & Boch, both patterns now discontinued. The wine and water glasses from Elise Abrams Antiques are my “go-to” set. The wheel-cut pattern of flowers and fauna never fails to appeal, and their fairly sturdy compositions makes them perfect for frequent use. Country Dining Room provided the napkins, and the tureen with flowers and butterflies is by Fitz & Floyd.