Oh boy! Snow and more snow. It swirled and danced and blew a week ago, piling up against doors, high drifts in some places, blown clean in others. It’s snowing again this morning as I am writing this column. Beautiful.
There is nothing my husband likes better than operating or working on his power equipment. The storm provided him the opportunity to indulge freely and wholeheartedly. He and his snow blower have been an inseparable pair that turned our yard into a labyrinth of paths from the house to the road, to the compost pile, to the wood pile, to the sheds, to his shop and my studio. Our yard suitably rendered, he expanded his purview to his mother’s yard, then outward to the town abroad.
It actually came in handy for a few rescue and ambulance calls when he rolled it down the ramp of his truck and made paths into unplowed yards. We were both surprised at how few accidents there were throughout this storm. Thankful that people stayed home and off the roads, that everyone was safe.
A friend sent us a video link to a Canadian fellow who built a snow blower extraordinaire powered by a Chevy V-8 car engine. It can shoot snow up to 126 feet into the air. Take a look at chonday.com/Videos/snowblowvch1. It’s impressive.
The Haynes family has three birthdays in two days to celebrate every year. Bruce and Jennifer’s daughter Hannah was born on Jan. 31. Betty and Janice were both born on Feb. 1. The first party was for Hannah and her cohort of 3-year-old friends and both sets of grandparents — Hayneses and Burkes. Dinner that night was the traditional surf and turf, held also on the 31st so as not to interfere with Super Bowl Sunday. Janice and her husband, Jeremiah Brown, are avid Patriots fans. The Pats certainly gave them a great game this year. Happy birthday to all of you, and congratulations to the New England Patriots on their amazing Super Bowl win.
Parents of K-12 students are invited to an open house at the Charter School on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 5:30 pm. Call the school at 508-693-9900 for more information.
The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Science and Engineering Fair is this Saturday, Feb. 7. Exhibits will be presented to the judges first, then the hall will be opened to the public between 11:15 am and 12:15 pm. The awards ceremony is at 12:15. The fair shows the hands-on scientific and investigative methods of students as they obtain data and test their ideas, then present their work to the judges, their parents, and peers, and to the community at large. The Marine and Paleobiological Research Institute and its director, Fred H.C. Hotchkiss, sponsor an award to recognize an outstanding marine, freshwater, geological, or coastal science project that might include any aspect of science, fishing, engineering, or conservation. Last year’s winners were Mary McCarthy and Lena Hanschka. Their project was “The Effect of Different Salinities on Brine Shrimp.” I am always amazed at how bright and sophisticated our kids are, certainly more so than I remember being at their ages. Come and check out their projects, and see what they have come up with this year.
Below is a schedule of events at the West Tisbury library for this coming week:
Thursday, Feb. 5, Llama Llama will visit storytime at 10:30 in the Children’s Room.
Friday, Feb. 6, there will be a reception at 3:30 in the Program Room for February exhibitor Johanna Wooden. Ms. Wooden describes herself as “a photographer, teacher, world traveler, nature lover, sunset addict, and international foodie.” Her photographs “reflect her experiences with the people, culture, colors, and magical beauty of Asia,” where she toured and explored seven countries.
Saturday, Feb. 7, come to Teen and Tween Yoga from 10 am to noon. Please preregister at the library: 508-693-3366. There is also an all-day craft project set out in the Children’s Room.
Monday, Feb. 9, Mother Goose on the Loose story time for infants begins at 10:30 am. Writers Read meets at 7 pm. Readers are given six minutes each to share their original prose work, fiction or nonfiction.
Wednesday, Feb. 11, the Lego Club meets from 4 pm to 5:30 pm.
Thursday, Feb. 12, there is story hour for toddlers. Martha Hubbell will teach a Valentine craft for ages 9-plus at 4 pm. Please preregister.
I had planned to clean our house today after I finished writing my column, but decided to goof off instead. What can be better than a day by the wood stove, snuggled in with a good book, dogs by my feet, cat on my lap? All is right with the world.