Here I type in a sundress in St. John, though by the power of modern travel, I will be back in the north, snow shovel in hand, by the time you all read this.
I’m amazed by the Edgartown representation here in Cruz Bay. It is impossible to walk down the street without stumbling into someone you’d likely see on Dock Street any other time of the year. We visited Janice and Michael Donaromas’ winter retreat downtown, where as one would suspect, their green thumbs are well exercised. Janice was excited to show off the lone mango hanging from a tree in the yard.
Out in the wilds of Fish Bay, Norman and Margaret Rankow, our gracious hosts, foster quite a menagerie. We have spied hermit crabs, stingrays, pelicans, hummingbirds, and scads of geckoes all within steps of our cottage door, and some not far from finding their way inside.
We had a great day on Jost Van Dyke in the BVIs with Deb and Aziz Elias and their children. It might have been an August day on Norton Point what with all the familiar faces. Sadly we’ll miss Jon and Dee Laird by days and Lee and Cheryl Welch by mere minutes, but we’ll catch everyone back on the Rock anyway.
I received an email from Cathy Minkiewicz, president of the Garden Club, with a couple of suggestions for getting over the winter blahs, namely the bus trip to the New England Flower Show in Boston on March 17, arranged by Sandy at the Vineyard Haven COA (508-696-4205). Second, a trip to see the gardens of the Delaware Valley arranged by the Polly Hill Arboretum in May (for info, contact Karin at 508-693-9426). So there are a couple things to scribble on your calendars.
As of yesterday, the seventh-grade class from Edgartown School is off to the mountains, on their annual ski trip to Gunstock. Hope everyone is having fun and staying safe.
Kelly Hess dropped me an email about Vineyard Youth Tennis, a nonprofit organization that offers free tennis lessons year-round for all Island youth from ages 5 to 18. They are holding their annual Round Robin Extravaganza and silent auction this weekend, February 10-13. Funds raised send deserving youth to weeklong tennis camps off-Island. The silent auction will be set up all week, but it will end at 6 pm on Sunday, February 13. Please visit the “bubble” at the blinking light in O.B. to check out the auction and place your bids! Visit vineyardyouthtennis.org or call 508-693-7762 for more information.
Friday, February 11 the Anchors will host a lunch with the Fire Department EMS staff. Sign up for braised brisket, sweet and sour cabbage, and roasted potatoes.
Also upcoming, February 15 at 2 pm, get on down to the third annual chocolate tasting. This year’s offerings include the Black Dinah Chocolates from Isle Au Haut, Maine. Everyone will sample a sweet, floral, earthy, spicy, salty, fruity, herbal, and boozie chocolate with spritzers in between.
Other upcoming programs include informative cooking classes, inexpensive foot massages, and bird watching, to name a few. Call 508-627-4368 for more info.
Happy anniversary to Charlie and Martha Smith, who celebrate 16 years on Valentine’s Day. Hope you have a lovely time.
Birthday wishes go out to Nicki Miller, Saturday, Feb. 12. And a special birthday shout-out to St. John-host-with-the most, Norman Rankow, who celebrated February 7. Our gift to you was vacating your guesthouse!
