Hello February.

Already January is gone, and we are starting the shortest month of 2025.

February is known for a few holidays, our own Punxsutawney Phil will come out and let us know if we have six more weeks of winter or not. I’m not a winter person so I’m hoping for an early spring.

We have Super Bowl Sunday, where we get to see the latest Clydesdale commercial. I’m not sure, but I think there is a football game played that day also. OK, just joking. A shoutout to son and grandsons — Go, Eagles!

Valentine’s Day is so very popular. I can’t see enough red hearts or eat enough chocolates.

Presidents Day was just another day when I was in grade school, but today I recognize it for two men, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, who put our country before themselves and so much more.

How do I make this winter month pass by?

In our house, February is soup month. Trying new recipes and making old favorites is a passion of mine. I recommend a good Italian wedding soup. Recipes are all over the internet.

This month is also perfect for reading a good book. If I were to suggest one, it would be “The Women” by Kristen Hannah. It is historical fiction about a 20-year-old nursing student who joins the Army Nurse Corps to serve in Vietnam during the late 1960s.

If you sew, now is the time to start a new project or finish up an old one. It’s easy to get lost in your sewing room because the outside is not calling you. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy the hum of your machine.

As you know, I am a puzzler, so I always have a puzzle of a warm tropical island to put together during this month.

Netflix, Amazon Prime, Paramount+ and Starz, or any of your favorite streaming channels, are good for a night on the couch with popcorn and covered in your favorite blanket.

The nights are long, so my husband and I play a board game right after the supper dishes are done and put away. Our favorite is Scrabble. Some background information on this game is that it was invented in 1931 and was called Lexiko and later Criss Cross Words. But in 1948 it became Scrabble, which means “to scratch around frantically.” It is one of the most popular games played in jail. Hmmmmmm …

Fresh flowers with lots of color are a must. Splurge on a pretty bouquet for your kitchen table. Experts say fresh flowers can lead to an immediate mood boost and feeling of happiness. This year I am growing water lilies and forcing five Hyacinth bulbs in water for that early smell of spring. Wish me luck with this one.

Enjoy your February any way you like because we know spring will be right around the corner.

Mary Tobia is an occasional writer for the Times News. Reach her at tneditor@tnonline.com