Oh hey, look! It’s snowing again! These are the words I have found myself exclaiming repeatedly these past few weeks. Well, this weekend I am off to Texas for what was meant to be a quick respite from winter woes, but the South doesn’t seem to be faring much better these days, with temperatures at record lows. Oh well, maybe I won’t be able to wear a T-shirt, but at least I can opt for cute footwear without the risk of breaking an ankle on the ice.
But you know what? That’s enough complaining. Let’s focus on all the awesome things about living in a wintry ice village. First off, there are winter sports. The Shemeth-DeOliveira gang has been finding ponds on which to play pickup hockey and just skate around. Doriana Klumick recently dusted off the cross-country skis for a woodsy adventure. I personally brought the snowshoes out of storage, but that was more out of necessity than anything else — I had to employ them in order to clean off my heating vents.
Culinary pursuits have been another enjoyable pastime for some. Amanda Hollyfield tried her hand at Indian cuisine with the help of ACE MV, and Ryan Murtha has been reveling in the results. In Mikey Harmon’s kitchen, anything that can be sous vide-d or turned to stock is not safe. Then there are the kiddos experimenting with various flavors of snow ice cream.
A few of us partook last week in a puzzle challenge, seeing who could complete a good old-fashioned jigsaw puzzle in the least amount of time. I came in second place, but I have since scored extra credit for completing yet another one. Mom is still working on her first — sorry Mom.
When all else fails, I continue to live vicariously through others, as Alex and Maggie Morrison explore French Polynesia, Barbara Courtney bops around Bali, the Walpoles lounge in Key West, the Robertses relax in Marathon, and Timmy Scott fishes along the shores of Costa Rica. I enjoy each water view, sunset, cocktail, and exotic fruit shared on social media. So please continue to share. Because I really can’t handle another picture of the Island Home or the Chappy ferry ripping through sheets of ice. I shiver just thinking about it!
Luckily, we change the clocks this weekend, and things seem to move pretty quickly after that. Even without the time change, we remarked on how light it was outside after five o’clock this past weekend. Next thing you know, we’ll be hearing pinkletinks and kids out on the Little League field. Music to my frozen ears.
Andrea Dello Russo will offer another session of her class “Basic Auto Maintenance for Women,” beginning March 11 at 5 pm at McIntosh Motors. This five-week course is for women (or men) with no prior experience in auto mechanics. The course will cover the basics: You’ll take a tour of your car both under the hood and under the body and learn some fundamentals. You will be instructed how to use basic tools safely and properly, and you’ll learn five basic maintenance checks you can do on your own car, including changing your own oil. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. For more information and to reserve your space, visit acemv.org.
Also on tap through ACE MV, Northeastern University faculty will lead a five-week series of seminars focusing on our oceans and sustainability issues. The seminars will take place Saturdays, March 7 to April 11, from 1 to 3 pm at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School library. Call 508-693-9222 for more info.
Birthday wishes go out this week to Gail Avakian and Cheri Mason, who celebrate March 6; to Simon Athearn, March 7; to Paul In, March 8; and to Richard Prieto, Mike Benjamin, Polly Maciel, and Derek Gamble, March 10.
