Generally, I don't like to ignore tradition. When we share certain activities with loved ones on holidays, those things take on special meaning to us. When we do them year after year, they become traditions.

Traditional Thanksgiving activities may include family gatherings with football games and pumpkin pie. But the true symbol of the holiday is the turkey —and with good reason. Ninety percent of American homes serving a Thanksgiving meal this year will feature a delicious golden gobbler on the table.

Now, unless my bird gets a pardon from the White House, I'll be serving him this year. After all, without turkey, it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving. It's tradition.

Bring a bit of autumn color to the table with this turkey planter that can double as a centerpiece with instructions I found at www.familyfun.go.com. You can make it as large or small as you'd like. If you decrease the size of the pot, adjust the dimensions of the clay balls, as well. I modified the directions for our use.

Self-drying modeling clay (brown)Butter knife7 and one-half inch terra cotta pot2 small white pebblesBlack permanent marker1 walnut in the shell1 red pipe cleanerLow-temp glue gunSilk flowersPlastic foam.To fashion the head, shape two balls 3 inches in diameter and one ball half the size of the other two. Sandwich the balls together with the smallest one in the middle and press together. Smooth the balls to form a head, neck and chest. Use a butter knife to cut a vertical slit halfway up the center of the bottom ball. Slide it over the rim of the pot.Make two three-toed turkey feet with clay and press onto the front of the pot.Press and glue a walnut into the center of the head for a beak. For a wattle, fold the pipe cleaner in half and twist the ends together. Glue the pipe cleaner just above the beak.Draw black dots in the center of each pebble and glue them above for eyes.Glue a block of plastic foam onto the bottom of the pot.Arrange flowers behind the turkey's head. Use longer, straight items, such as cattails to the rear for feathers.