It’s been a beautiful week, mostly warm. Snowdrops continue to show up and bloom in gardens around town and other tips of greenery are poking up through the ground. If you are lucky enough to have hellebores, they may be covered with thickening buds or flowers. Fields and lawns are still a faded shade of the soon-to-come fresh spring green. I saw a swan and some various ducks swimming in the Mill Pond.
It was snowing when Mike took Nanuk out Saturday night. By Sunday morning there was barely a trace. At least it wasn’t raining, which had been the weather prediction. Sunday was a lovely, mild, sunny day.
The sun poured into Joanne Scott’s living room as a group of us gathered for tea and birthday cake, celebrating Suzi Wasserman’s natal day. It always amuses me that Suzi and Bob share the same birthday, Feb. 18. After tea, I stopped by their house to wish Bob a “Happy Birthday” and for a visit with the Wasserman/Bassett family, here for the President’s Day long weekend. Unfortunately, young Hugh was fighting off a cold and fever, but the rest of the group was just fine. Sarah was making a special dinner for her parents. Brian was off at the library. I got about half an hour with Henry all to myself. It’s always a treat when they are here.
Nancy Cramer was sitting next to me at Joanne’s. She had just returned from a birding trip to Sanibel, Fla., and was very excited about some of the unusual and exotic (to us in the north) birds, notably a pair of anhingas.
An update to last week’s column: Harriet Bernstein’s missing cat, Tillie, has been found and returned to her rightful home at the Red Hat on the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road. She is none the worse for her adventure. Owner and cat are happy to be reunited.
Walking into Ghost Island Farm, the first thing one sees is rack after rack of lush plantings of pea shoots in varying stages of growth. Inside there were a couple of trays of just-sprouted tomato seedlings, a sign of things to come. The farm stand is only open Saturdays and Sundays through the winter. I shouldn’t say “only,” as it’s the only farm stand that remains open all year, and I am so grateful for the fresh, delicious greens, onions, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, and potatoes that Rusty and Sarah have had for sale. Fred Fisher’s eggs are abundant now that the days are longer.
Activities at the library this week include the weekly open chamber music rehearsal on Friday, Feb. 23, at 10:30 am; a documentary film about Maya Angelou, poet, memoirist, playwright, activist (part of the Martha’s Vineyard Women’s Winter Film Series), on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 3 pm; on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 2 pm a meeting of the Death Cafe, hosted by Cape Cod Death Cafe founder, Heather Massey is planned. “This gathering will provide a comfortable atmosphere in which to share a respectful, thought-provoking, and life-affirming conversation on the topics of death, dying, and bereavement. Cake will be served,” a press release from the library states. Immediately following the Death Cafe at 3:30 pm, certified funeral celebrant/life tribute professional, Jasmine Tanguay, will give a presentation, “Inspired Funerals, Lasting Legacies: Thoughtful Choices for the End of Life.” The program is designed to help participants imagine the final arrangements that reflect their personality and values.
On Monday, Feb. 26, at 11:45 am, Kanta Lipsky’s Balance Workshop will meet at the Howes House. Note change of time and place.
One Love Yoga’s Emily LaPierre will lead a children’s yoga class for 4 to 8 year olds on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 10:30 am. Sign-up is required.
In other library notes, librarian Laura Coit has become a notary public. You may contact her at the library for an appointment. Also, this is school vacation week, and the library has a full schedule of events planned for Monday through Friday. There will be drop-in crafts set out between 10:30 am and 4 pm; a free soup and bread lunch served between 11:45 am and 12:45 pm; and movies for families, tweens, and teens from 1 to 3 pm. Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by a mature caregiver.
Everyone who went to the high school’s performance of “West Side Story” raved about it. Nancy Nevin said that she thought she was in a Broadway theater, the students were so professional. It is a much-repeated and shared sentiment about all of the school’s art shows, theater and dance performances, music concerts, etc. I am constantly amazed at the sophistication of our Vineyard kids and their achievements. Bravo!
