title: Matplotlib and Numpy - Create a calendar heatmap
body: <p>Is it possible to create a calendar heatmap without using pandas?
  If so, can someone post a simple example?</p>
  
  <p>I have dates like Aug-16 and a count value like 16 and I thought this would be a quick and easy way to show intensity of counts between days for a long period of time.</p>
  
  <p>Thank you</p>