A skim of ice coated the ponds, the surrounding grass, and shrubbery. Rhododendron leaves shriveled against the cold. Temperatures plummeted to near zero, then soared to almost forty degrees with rain that flooded walkways and roads. The sky remained a cold gray.

Tom Hodgson reported seeing the first snowdrops blooming along Music Street. I have looked under Louise Bessire’s hedge and in the myrtle along the south-facing wall of our house, but haven’t even seen green tips poking out of the ground yet.

Patti Linn will celebrate her birthday on Monday, January 19. She hadn’t made definite plans when I saw her last week, but was anticipating the day with pleasure. Happy Birthday, Patti.

My cousins, Mal and Harriet Gran, recently visited the Steven W. Atwood Library and Information Commons at the University Of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia, where they live. I have been after them to go and tell me all about it, especially since last May when a portrait of Steve painted by Leslie Baker was hung with great ceremony.

Mal and Harriet spend part of every summer here and are familiar with Leslie’s work, but with life and holidays it has taken them awhile to get to the library. I watched the portrait progress in Leslie’s studio, so was interested to see photographs of it in its place of pride. It looks beautiful. Steve has been a great supporter of his alma mater. His most recent gift was a collection of historical veterinary textbooks, now housed in a bookcase across from his portrait. For anyone who doesn’t know, Steve is Dr. Atwood of Animal Health Care in West Tisbury, a great vet and a great friend.

I received a fortuitous email this week from Kim D’Arcy, a professional organizer and owner of Organize MV. She has scheduled two workshops on consecutive Wednesdays to celebrate National Get Organized Month 2015. The first is on January 21: A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place. The second is on January 28: Paper Places and Spaces. Both begin at 6 pm and are at the Montessori School, 286 Main Street, Vineyard Haven. Cost is $20 for each. If you, as I, despair of having an organized desk or basement, this sounds like just the thing. There is a website: organizemv.com, a facebook page, and a telephone number: 508 726-3133.

Jamie Alley will host a series of Monday Night Movies at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse. $5 cash only at the door. The show begins at 7:30 pm. “Nightmare Alley” will be shown January 19 and “Night of the Iguana” on January 26.

Sad news that Francis Chinard, a longtime summer resident of Tiasquam Road, passed away last Monday, January 5. “A changing of the guard,” as the Chinard’s had recently sold their house. My condolences to Jo and to their friends and family.

I ran into Rosalie Powell earlier and asked for details about her upcoming Traditional Rug Hooking class that begins on Tuesday, January 20 and runs on successive Tuesdays through February 17. The class is a collaboration between ACE MV and Featherstone Center for the Arts. It will be held in Rosalie’s studio on Old Courthouse Road.

In other Powell family news, Rosalie’s son Jim was here over the holidays and spent part of his time clearing trees and brush at the old Mayhew Farm on Lambert’s Cove. Brian Athearn, Bruce Marchand, and Mike Jacobs are grazing sheep and horses there, helping to reclaim the older pastures from invasive autumn olives and improving habitat for farming and wildlife. While here, Jim counted nine bluebirds at his watering trough, and heard owls hooting at night. He encourages others in town to consider using sheep and pasturing animals to keep invasive, non-native species from overgrowing the meadows and stone walls that are so much a part of our scenic heritage. Jim has returned to his teaching job at Utah Valley University.

Ted and Susan Powell were here from Canton, visiting Rosalie and Jim, their daughter Shannon and her husband, Dan Larsen, and granddaughters Natalie and Isabella.

Pierce and Bernice Kirby welcomed their son, Pierce Kirby III, here from Austria. Grandson Mike Diaz, Jr., was here from Hollywood, and granddaughter Christina Diaz Simmons and her husband Wade Simmons came from San Francisco. Christina has recently passed the Massachusetts Bar exam.

ACE MV walk-in registration for winter classes is Friday. January 16, 5 to 6:30 pm, at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.

Calling all artists. The Vineyard Museum and Featherstone have planned a second Island Faces Competition for this summer. Portraits may be of yourself, a summer or year-’round resident. June 1, 2015 is the submission deadline. Please contact Anna Carringer at the museum for more information email acarringer@mvmuseum.org.

Dan Waters is giving a personal tour of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum’s current exhibitions this afternoon, Thursday, January 15, 3 to 4 pm. They are Nancy Luce: Madonna of the Hens; Sea Change: Martha’s Vineyard in the 1960s; Enchanted Isle: The Story of Martha’s Vineyard; and Cats and Dogs.

The West Tisbury Library and Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School are collecting “gently-used” jeans, part of a national campaign to help provide blue jeans for homeless youth. You have till February 3 to drop off your donations at either the Charter School or the Young Adult Room at the library. Take a look at the website: www.TeensforJeans.com.

Rob Myers is hosting a night of live music at the West Tisbury Library this Friday, January 16, 7 to 9:30 pm. He will perform with his band, Jellybone Rivers and the Maniac of the Heart, featuring his band mates from The Daytrippers, Brian Weiland and Doug Brush. Anthony Esposito and Adam Howell will also perform. The concert is free and all are welcome.

While at the library, take a look at Phyllis Dunn’s photographs in the Program Room.