All Outdoors
There is no need for speed if you are a snail. Life in the fast lane is not a high priority for the whelk, a common marine snail found in the ocean.
Even though it is only February, there will soon be a mad smattering of blooms Islandwide.
It is not global warming causing the flowers to blossom early; rather, it is the lovefest of St. Valentine’s Day that brings out the buds. Flowers are one of the more common gifts bestowed on this special day, keeping florists very busy. Valentine’s Day is their number one holiday, accounting for about 36 per cent of their annual volume and 40 per cent of their yearly income.
This year, this distinguished first will not go to Tom Hodgson of West Tisbury.
Even though Tom has been patiently waiting, he will be out of town when the big event happens. He says it should be soon, as he has been tracking the progress of what I consider the little flower that could.
This is no longer just a game of cat and mouse.
The mouse is in the house, and the cat isn’t earning her keep. While I appreciate my feline’s finesse in catching mice, I am not crazy about her choice of where to leave them. Luna (the cat) will receive no trophy for fetching and depositing a live mouse on my bed in the middle of the night. Eek, says I, and squeak, said the mouse.
I am looking for a good romp.
A romp is a group or pack of otters and in this season of snow and ice, these mammals have left their mark. The evidence can be seen at watering holes Islandwide. Elusive river otters (the Island’s only variety) leave behind tracks, slides, and scat (droppings).
You never really know your friends from your enemies until the ice breaks, says an Eskimo proverb. I don’t aim to find out.