Blink, and it's the new year. One minute I was pulling up thick wooly socks, and the next, slathering sunscreen on the beach over every pasty bit that was hidden under winter layers. I never was into New Years' celebrations as it feels like a rather superficial holiday, with meaningless well wishes and empty promises and resolutions. Resolutions are a funny thing to me; I never quite understood them as most rarely keep them.

Every Christmas, I make a batch of biscotti. They are a delicious treat to give away or simply to sip and savor by the twinkling lights of the tree. Christmas cookies can be cloyingly sweet, but biscotti, generally, are quite balanced between savory and sweet. This year I made a fennel and raisin, which quite frankly were what I found in the pantry, but they turned out so delicious with a hot cup of coffee or tea.

Light is everything to a photographer, like paint to a painter. It can make or break a photo, and it can prove challenging with the winter days getting shorter minute by minute. Sometimes it can be a flustered scramble to finish a project because there simply isn’t enough light in the day! Although, I actually prefer the winter light, when the sun does decide to show its golden face behind the gloomy clouds or snow.

Every morning I wake up bleary-eyed and look through the frosted window to see any flurry of snow, yet steady showers of cold rain and gloomy sky linger like a wet blanket. While anxiously waiting for the snow and the festive season, I’ve been thinking of ways to add more thoughtfulness and intentionality to the giving season. I love giving gifts, it’s one of my primary love languages (well, all of them are, in a way!), and it feels so good to find the perfect gift, especially if it’s unexpected with a special flourish. But this year, giving something homemade feels right.

Coming in after a cold, snowy day to a roaring fire and delicious spread is a welcoming sight indeed. The faint winter sun sets around 4 pm in Vermont, which is a hard reality to swallow if you're a sun worshipper like me. However, cozying up by the fire with a good book, blanket, a glass of red, and a bountiful cheese board is a delightful alternative in these darker days.

We arrived safe and sound back home on the farm in Vermont to a flurry of snow and wind. A shock to our spoiled rotten island selves, but I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else at Christmastime. Quite frankly, it doesn’t feel natural to see twinkling lights and decorated trees when it’s the same temperature as it was in July…although come January, I’m ready for some sunshine.

With the colder months drawing near and the days becoming shorter, I find myself turning inward in self-reflection. As creatives, we often can get swept up in a myriad of ideas with clippings haphazardly pinned on the wall and notebooks full of scribbles. Of course, that unbridled passion should be honored, but sometimes it can pull you in too many directions.

Autumn is a beautiful time of the month to host an outdoor dinner party. Growing up on a rural farm in Vermont, we often hosted many dinner parties on the porch or the terrace at peak foliage. Even in early November, when the trees have lost their glorious leaves and the cold winter wind blows in, we would gather armfuls of wool blankets, candles, and lanterns before the old ceramic table would be wheeled away for winter months.

There is power in storytelling. As humans, it's in our nature to tell stories. When I first began shooting product photography, I focused solely on the product itself rather than creating and telling a story. I discovered that my product and food photography lacked substance or depth…it was just ok.

As you may know, I didn’t start out as a photographer. In fact, I have a degree in global studies and french. And if that wasn’t enough off-subject, I also have a degree in fashion design. Although I always have had a creative eye and loved photography. While working in the fashion industry in New York at Calvin Klein, I scoured the internet, magazines, articles, and any print medium for collection inspiration and direction..

The other day my phone sent me a camera roll reminder of what “last year on this day” looked like. I try to be mindful of my screen time, but I do love this feature. The memory was from late October last year on the farm in Vermont. I traveled home to spend some much-needed quality time with my family and for a personal reset. As much as I adore Maui, it is refreshing to travel and get off the island, as it were. It certainly is hard to leave but knowing that I would finally finish up my autumnal chapters in The Outdoor Table with my family was exciting.

It’s hard to believe we are now at the peak of October. A gray and rainy gloom blankets Maui…the October doldrums. But our tropical sunny days do return in between the gray ones which are always welcome. The trade winds have halted, and the waves have begun to wake from “the deep,” as it were. I love this time of the year in Maui; the perfect mix of sunny and rainy days adds some variety to our otherwise blissful days.

A few glimpses of home on the island lately. We've been waking up before sunrise to walk our favorite beach on the North Shore. Even as an early riser, I have wanted to spend just that little bit longer in bed, but alas, the cheery birds have a tight schedule, naturally. Nevertheless, the soft golden rays with fresh salty ocean spray on your face wash away any lingering sleepiness.

After an extremely dry summer, our parched fields and lawns are happily soaking up the heavy rain of the passing coastal storms. The moody weather makes me want to wrap up in a woolen blanket with heavy socks and a hot cup of tea. (It can get chilly upcountry!) Cooler and rainy days naturally lead me to turn inwards with self-reflection and self-care. With bursts of golden sunshine simultaneously with the rain give way to vibrant rainbows, Hawaii’s vibrant signature.

On the cusp of October, I wanted to share an excerpt from the autumn chapter in The Art of Picnics. This golden and bountiful time of year is marked in our family traditions by apple picking. We forage for wild ones along the roadside and take a drive to a backwoods orchard in the North East Kingdom, trying not to get lost along the way on the windy dirt roads. It has been a seasonal family tradition for as long as I can remember.

I love toast; it's no secret. I love it in the early morning or an afternoon pick-me-up with a hot cup of tea. There is always time for toast - tea and toast, to be exact. Morning toast was a ritual growing up on the farm thanks to my mother, who always had a fresh loaf rising or baking nearly at any time of day. I loved taking my morning toast to the porch outside, sit the early morning sun, and savoring the peace and quiet. Winslow hops onto the bed waiting for morning toast patiently as possible (which I share with him.) Toast is one of life's simple pleasures, in my opinion… always there for you when you need a bit of comfort and encouragement.

Despite being in Maui, where it is forever summer in my opinion, my body has naturally started to crave cozy, warm foods — be it a tray of roast vegetables or a comforting soup. It’s quite a paradox if you ask me especially given the abundance of tropical sunshine! Regardless, I wanted to share a cozy recipe from my latest book, The Outdoor Table, that is perfect for the seasonal transition.

With cooler nights and mornings, September has arrived. A glorious month - one of bounty, cozy moments, crisp mornings, and bright skies. As a big tea drinker, I do love that it’s beginning to cool down here on the island. It’s been so unbearably hot and we finally were blessed with a few nights of much-needed rain. It was on one of these rainy and cozy mornings did I bake a few tea treats for a collaboration with Burleigh Pottery, a renowned British pottery company.

I’m writing this from my kitchen table, ignoring the tasks that I had planned for the day. I woke up to the devastating news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The only and only - Queen of all Queens. I felt compelled to mark this day in my memory. It’s one of those days you will remember where you were when you heard the news. I was on my morning run, listening to the news unfolding step by step. Regardless of your race, nationality, political stance, or faith, you can admire her exceptional character, service, and humility.

The tomatoes in my garden have slowed, although I still have a few late bloomers coming in. I hope your garden is lush and fruitful in the August heat. It’s so rewarding after months of hard work and preparation to it at its peak abundance. We are experiencing a severe drought upcountry and I don’t think I’ll ever take water for granted again!