Raspberries. Just the color a painter would describe, a dark pink-red. Sweet. Perfect. Of course, the best, ripest ones are deep in the tangle of briars that is my raspberry patch. It escaped the neatly planted rows of canes to flourish inside the vegetable garden fence. The best soil, I suppose, and regular water. For now, they remain there. Handfuls for breakfast, along with the alpine strawberries that border the beds outside our kitchen door.
I wish they had ripened in time for our friends’ children to pick last week. I had watched and planned. When Mike’s cousin Stephanie’s son, Alexander, was a little boy, the raspberries always ripened for his arrival for Fourth of July. This time, it was my friend Sara’s children, Eli and Annabelle, who picked the last of the strawberries and looked at the uncolored, not-yet-fruit on branching canes. They were too young for explanations.
Meanwhile, they enjoyed their time on the Vineyard with all the things parents and children do here: visiting beaches and animals, gathering stones and crab shells, walking barefoot, exploring everything from the back of their parents’ bicycles or from their own vantage point a couple of feet above the ground. There’s something magical about watching children discover the world. It’s a gift to watch and share.
Whitney and Bill Moody have been anticipating that very pleasure. Mike and I saw Whitney on our walk yesterday. Bill was up in Boston picking up the grandkids, Maya and Aiden Callahan, arriving from London. “Two-and-a-half weeks we’ll have them all to ourselves,” said Whitney. I know everyone will have a great time.
The weather has been pretty perfect. Not too hot, a little breeze. Rainstorms have been exciting. Hard, driving rain with thunder and lightning, wind blowing right in. There were lots of calls for the Fire Department and Rescue Squad. Gas alarms, smoke alarms, and a lightning strike kept everyone busy.
Fortunately, the Fourth itself was lovely for cookouts, beach walks, the parade, and fireworks. Mark Bettencourt took the big brushbreaker 732 to Edgartown for the parade. The Great Pond was full of Sunfish, kayaks, canoes, and a Hobie Cat, and we could see lots of people on the beach across the pond.
A new kitten named Maddie found Morgan Caruso and has moved in for good. Laura said she just appeared. Now Maddie and Layla, the resident elder cat, are eyeing each other and getting along, so far.
Happy birthday to Asa Allen Ruel, who turns 1 year old this weekend.
I was sad to learn that Carolyn Spengler died last Tuesday, June 30. Carolyn was accomplished at everything she did. She belonged to the Garden Club, the Monday Night Knitters, loved to travel with her husband Art, and was a genuinely nice person to know.
Phil DaRosa’s Second Annual Martha’s Vineyard Sound, an indie music festival, is this weekend, Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, in Oak Bluffs. Lots of familiar performers and lots of new ones, plus activities, all with a decidedly Vineyard flavor.
West Tisbury photographer Randi Baird is exhibiting her photographs of Stina Sayre’s newest collection at Stina Sayre Design on Winter Street in Edgartown. The opening is 5 to 7, Tuesday, July 14. Randi’s photographs bring together the clothing, models, and natural landscape settings, all in an artistic blend.
Valerie Sonnenthal leads MELT Mondays at the Howes House, 8:30–9:30 am. MELT is a combination of simple self-care techniques, focusing on hands and feet.
Plan ahead for the Annual Blueberry Festival at the West Tisbury Church, next Saturday, July 18, noon to 4. Expect a full description in next week’s column.
Regular activities resume at the West Tisbury library. Island-Grown Storytime is today, July 9, at 10:30 in the Children’s Room. An artist’s reception for Sally Taylor begins at 5 pm. Martha’s Vineyard Quilters meet at 6 pm, and there will be a public forum called “The Crisis of Homelessness and the Call to Care” from 6 to 8 pm. Friday, July 10, the Mac Pro is available from 10 to noon. Saturday, July 11, speakers from St. Vincent and Martha’s Vineyard will present “Sister Islands” about the history and relationship of St. Vincent & Grenadines with Dukes County. It begins at 3 o’clock. Monday, July 13, is a busy day. Mathea Morais’ Writing Workshop begins at 10:30. Mother Goose on the Loose storytime for infants begins at 10:30. At 5 pm Naomi Jackson will read from and talk about her debut novel, “The Star-side of Bird Hill.” Family and teen movies begin at 6:30. Come with binoculars and a blanket to star-gaze at 9:30 on the lawn behind the library.Dan Cooney will lead a comic book making workshop for teens on Wednesday, July 15. West Tisbury firemen and a fire truck will visit next Thursday’s story time at the library from 10:30 to 11:30.
I am sorry to report that our baby skunks didn’t live very long. We found them dead in our yard, one on Tuesday morning and the other on Friday. There is still a bit of skunk aroma wafting through the yard sometimes, so I think the parent(s) or maybe other siblings must be around somewhere. They were cute, but I knew what was to come, and it’s nice to be able to go out in our yard without worry.
We had a nice visit from Mari Harman and Tom and Elise Thomas. They just arrived on the Island, and headed right over to visit Nanuk, who was Mari’s former dog. Nan always dances and smiles and settles by her feet, for Mari was Nanuk’s first love.