All of the seasons have their good points—even winter, though admittedly it’s my least favorite. Of them all, Fall has my heart. In North Carolina, spring is great but lasts about three weeks before diving into summer. Summer heat and humidity wear out their welcome long before the season moves on.

Fall brings a welcome cooling trend, clearer, less humid air, beautiful swathes of color on the trees, a last burst of bloom from the roses, and, of course, the holidays.

Halloween and Thanksgiving are delightful, each in their own way. I’m not into dressing up myself, but I get a kick out of seeing the kids in their costumes. Our home’s location means we get quite a few Trick-or-Treaters. Plus, I love decorating for Halloween and fall. Orange and yellow leaf swags drape my mantel, sharing space with glittery pumpkins and a big batch of orange flowers.

Thanksgiving takes us to visiting family and time together as well as a meal replete with so many favorite foods. And we can all benefit from meditating on all the things we have to be grateful for.

Through it all, there’s preparations for Christmas. If you know me, you know I love Christmas. Decorating, baking cookies and other goodies, shopping for presents, even cleaning the house in anticipation of visitors all make me happy. For me, it really is “the most wonderful time of the year.”