I love driving home at night this time of year, seeing all the lights and decorations brightening my way. The tree at the turn into Old County Road always feels like it’s saying “Welcome to West Tisbury; Welcome Home.”
There is so much that makes this my favorite time of year. I love the cold weather and dream of snow. I love the lights and bare branches, the smell of blooming paperwhites and baking cookies. I love old holiday movies, Christmas music, wrapping presents, decorating the house and the tree, the anticipation as Christmas Eve approaches.
Hanukkah began Sunday night at sunset. I lit the first candle, said the blessing, and watched the glowing flame. This Friday evening there will be a special Shabbat service at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center. Everyone will bring their menorahs to light in the darkened sanctuary, then there will be a potluck after the service.
The West Tisbury Church began a series of Advent services on Wednesday, Dec. 5. They will continue on the 12th and 19th, beginning at 5:30 pm. “In the Time of Snow, a Christmas Choral Concert,” will begin at 4 pm on Sunday, Dec. 9, and feature Sandra Bittermann playing the harp and pieces by the bell choir. Hope O’Brien is the director. Admission is $15, students are free.
The Town Party will be held at the Ag Hall on Friday, Dec. 14, this year. It will be a potluck, as always. The library’s party will be on the 17th. More details in next week’s column.
Santa will be arriving at the Public Safety Building this Sunday, Dec. 9, to greet all children and hear their special Christmas wishes. He will be there between 1 and 3 pm. This is the best thing of the whole year, so don’t miss it.
At the West Tisbury library this coming week:
Friday, Dec. 7, Dumbledore’s Army will meet at 3:30.
Saturday, Dec. 8, 3:30 to 5 pm, an artists’ reception for the community photography show, “Through a Lens II.”
Sunday, Dec. 9, 3:30 pm, Second Sunday Jazz Concert.
Monday, Dec. 10, 11:30 am, Kanta Lipsky’s Balance Class. At 7 pm, Writers Read.
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 10:30 am, the Adult Community Dance Class. From noon to 1:30 pm, the Monthly Wellness Clinic with Lila Fischer. At 4:30 pm, families are invited to a music and dance event with the PickPocket Bluegrass Band.
Wednesday, Dec. 12, 4:30 pm, architect Bruce MacNelly will give a lecture on “2D/3D Painting and Architecture.”
Thursday, Dec. 13, 4:30 pm, Regina Powers will talk about her new book, “What Color Is Your Medicine?” about the five elements of Chinese medicine.
Heidi Schultz has added published author to her many other talents. Her book is titled “Benjy Meets Some Wild Animals; Summertime in the Country With Granny and Grandpa.” She will read from it and talk about how she wrote the story next Saturday afternoon, Dec. 15, at the library at 3:30 pm.
West Tisbury has a new website, created last summer. Check it out at westtisbury-ma.gov. Administrative assistant Janice Haynes is looking for great photographs that anyone is willing to share on the site. She requests landscapes and iconic views of West Tisbury, not photos of people. They must be high-resolution (a minimum of 1200px wide; 2000px wide is preferable) and in .png, .gif, .jpg, or .jpeg formats. Call Janice at 508-696-0100, or email thassist@westtisbury-ma.gov for more information.
The Christmas Faire at the West Tisbury Church was so busy last Saturday. There were wreaths hung everywhere, fragrant, and beautifully decorated, but I got there too late for the small, simple, boxwood wreath that is my favorite. So after choosing my fudge and the meringue mushrooms for my bûche de Noël, I stopped by Middletown Nursery to see if they had one. They didn’t, but I did find a small wreath that is now hanging beside our kitchen door. (FYI: Vineyard Gardens has lovely boxwood wreaths; they are just too big for the space I have.) It was so much fun to see all the decorations, plants, and greenery both places have, and Middletown’s wonderful gift and florist shop. It really put me in the mood to go home and start decorating and baking, hence all the activity on Sunday afternoon.
So much to do in hardly any time at all. It always feels that way this time of year. I have always said that I wish Christmas was Jan. 25 instead of Dec. 25. Somehow it always gets done, but every year I wonder if I will be able to make it.
