This carrot cake recipe got me wondering why I never make it in any season but winter, and I think I just enjoy accentuating the change of seasons by making little things season-specific. Of course going from summer to autumn means wearing a different part of my wardrobe, but I like to rotate lots of other things too, like arbitrary foods (carrot cake is winter-only, so are crêpes) or books (some genres are for spring, or autumn). At the start of a new season I have a few seasonal reads that I’ve been putting aside all year and can’t wait to dive into, and it creates a double layer of anticipation—in late summer I’m looking forward to enjoying my autumn books or foods, while also looking forward to next summer’s fruit pies and the summer books I haven’t had time to start this year. I have seasonal playlists too, and all of this renews my appreciation of things that I’ve been doing / eating / listening to for a long time and would otherwise get tired of; they feel fresh and delightful when I finally get to enjoy them again after a year. It also ends up charging arbitrary things with a seasonal mood, so in the midst of winter blues I can get a pleasant summery feeling by exceptionally making my summertime tea…