Happy New Year! With a new calendar in a brand-new year, I always feel like January is a positive, inspirational time – a fresh start to make great(er) things happen and to leave whatever no longer serves us in the past.

The holiday season is upon us as twinkly lights adorn trees and homes, creating a festive glow during colder, shorter days.

By November we’re deep into the autumnal season where the sun may still warm our shorter days, but by evening the signs of winter reveal themselves through cooler temperatures and often frosty ground coverings in the morning.

As the days get shorter and the temperatures become cooler, October shows its colors, in more ways than one, marking the middle point of autumn with a beautiful display of colorful fall foliage.

September means back to school, new beginnings and fresh starts. While it’s a bittersweet month as we say goodbye to summer, it’s also a time to be grateful for the wonderful memories created during those more relaxed sun-filled days.

August is the last (un)official month of the summer where many children are still on summer break and the working world is for the most part decidedly operating at a more leisurely pace. I tend to savor the long, hot days of this month with a cool dip in the ocean, engaging beach reads and easy recipes for entertaining in warmer temps.

For many, July marks the middle of summer when temperatures begin rising, schedules take on a slower pace and celebrations and festivities call for parties and gatherings.

Summer solstice occurs on June 21st marking the official beginning of summer and longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Warmer weather lends to slower paces and a time to enjoy sunny days at the beach or poolside, long weekend get-aways and alluring travel. 

May is the third and last month of spring , a time for celebrations and traditions around the world that include May Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Labor Day, during the calendric period where temperatures and warming, flowers are blooming , and summer is just beginning.

The month of April is named after the Latin word, ‘aperio’, meaning to open or bud. It’s asuitable moniker as this is the month where Mother Nature awakens from her slumber andbegins to grow again, sprouting forth in beautifulshades of green.

The month of March often feels like a tug-of-war between the seasons, winter and spring, with its blustery winds and seesaw weather. Winter slowly loosening its grip as spring arrives with longer days, warmer days, and the earth awakens with greener landscapes, blooming buds and chirping birds.

February brings with it beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The various pink hues also ring in a season of love, marked by Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated differently in many cultures.

Cozy dwellings in snowcapped mountains are what come to mind when I think of January. Shorter, cold days warmed by a cup of hot cocoa or a hot toddy by the fire.

Twinkling Christmas lights on a frosty evening, the sounds and smell of logs crackling in a fireplace and holiday treats baking in the oven lend a magical feeling during the holiday season. Reds, greens and winter whites dominate the color scheme, but even the old fashioned strings of holiday lights adorning trees and buildings evoke cozy feelings of happiness, joy and peace.

November is a month of golden hues mixed with bursts of bright red, yellow and orange and brown. Even the produce at the Farmer’s Market mimics the fall foliage.