Town Column : West Tisbury
By Hermine Hull
Published: September 17, 2009
Our woods look like a cyclone went through. Mike and his chain saw have spent part of the last two weekends cutting down some of the caterpillar-killed trees along our driveway. There is nothing my husband enjoys more than a project that involves chain saws and heavy equipment.
Several years ago, Mike bought a 1978 Power King tractor and spent most of that winter getting it running, painted, and welding all sorts of attachments for it in his shop. It is his prized possession, reminiscent of a similar tractor his father owned and got rid of many years ago. This year he has added a log splitter to his collection. It stands at the ready out by our woodpile. Rather than heading to Tilton's with his trailer and splitting a winter's worth of cordwood in a day, this year, Mike is looking forward to readying for winter at a more leisurely pace.
Those rainy cold days we had last week were harbingers of what's ahead. The night of the heaviest rain I made a fire in the wood stove to dry out the dampness and chill in our house. It felt so cozy. There will be many such nights ahead, sooner than we might wish.
This Friday at sunset is the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year 5770. Services at the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center begin at 6 pm, Friday evening, Sept. 18, and continue through the weekend. Saturday and Sunday services begin at 9:30 am each morning.
The first day of Sunday School at the West Tisbury Congregational Church will be this Sunday, Sept. 20, beginning at 10 am. Please call the church office for more information: 508-693-2842.
The West Tisbury Library continues its Health and Wellness Series with two programs this week. On Saturday, Sept. 19, at 4 pm, Joanne Scott will present a program entitled How to Sleep. Next Thursday, Sept. 24, at 4:30 pm, Nancy Gilfoy will give a talk called Living in Harmony with Nature; The Late Summer/Earth Cycle.
Also at the library, the J.C. Trio will perform their monthly concert on Friday, Sept. 18, at 4 pm. The program will include the trio's jazz riffs and adaptations of American Songbook classics and favorites from the 1950s and 60s.
Don't forget the Littlefield family's memorial celebration for Al Littlefield this Saturday, Sept. 19, beginning at 11 am at the Polly Hill Arboretum. It will be a potluck; guests are asked to bring a salad or side dish to share. Parking is across State Road in Ann Nelson's field off Littlefield Lane.
All the best wishes for a happy life together go to Olivia Nelson and Anna Brickman, who were married last Saturday, Sept. 12. The family wedding was held at Forever Wild, Cleo Winsryg Wild's farm. The weekend began with a clambake Friday night, before the rains came. Fortunately, a big tent kept everyone dry on Saturday. Livy is Art and Gay Nelson's daughter. All of her siblings were here for the wedding, as well as lots of cousins and friends from far and wide. Martha Moore's sons, Alden and Tyler Maddry, had just been dropped off at the airport by their mother, homeward bound to New York City and Washington, D.C. Everyone had a wonderful time and the weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of the assembled party.
Judy Mayhew let me know that there are already plans for next summer for the Chilmark Church to serve their delicious lobster rolls on Tuesday nights. That was a highlight of my summer, the ride up to Chilmark in early evening and visits with all the Mayhews, then coming home with a dinner I didn't have to make or clean up after. Thanks to all the ladies for coming up with the idea in the first place and carrying it through so graciously.
West Tisbury's Juleanne VanBelle will exhibit a selection of her photographs at the Chilmark Bank beginning next week. There will be a reception next Friday, Sept. 25, from 4 to 6 pm. The photographs comprise two visual series, one of expansive vistas, the other closely focused on the folk-art qualities of roadside mailboxes.
The weather is turning perfect, the most beautiful time of year to be outside with my paint box and my dogs. This is a heads-up to anyone planning to visit my gallery that I tend to be lax about adhering to summer's strict schedule. I may be out in the sunshine painting somewhere beautiful.
By the way, a bit of advice regarding dogs. Murphy got skunked Friday night, right in the mouth mid-bark. After washing him thoroughly, Mike had the idea of getting Murphy to drink tomato juice to lessen the smell. He lapped a bowl of it right down and it did seem to help. Somewhat.
I happened to read in this month's This Old House magazine that September 19 is Wife Appreciation Day. I have never heard of this holiday before, but that doesn't mean I am unwilling to celebrate it. Any occasion for partners to appreciate one another seems all to the good.
