The Vineyard is shuttered against the cold these days, Islanders wrapped in layers of fleece and wool as they go about their daily lives, with one eye on the heating bills, the other on the ice skates hanging in the shed. The bay scallop fleet is grounded until the thermometer climbs above 28 degrees. Farms are tucked in for their winter nap. Colds and flu are a seasonal hazard. And with the holidays over, many more businesses have begun to close for the winter.

Selected from nature writings published on the Gazette editorial page in 2012: No winter to speak of — at least so far — at least not what we have steeled ourselves for with the harsh weather conditions in the last few years.

You probably want to know a little more about the hermit, Alfred. From the start I’ll tell you that it’s very hard for the islanders to talk about Alfred, although we all carry him on our conscience. On the day that Alfred died just about everyone on the island passed by his house and saw him waving from the window. Although most unusual, we all waved back and continued on our way.

The mice were back. The other night I watched in peeved frustration as the scrabbling noise behind my tiny dorm-sized fridge grew louder until finally a little brown shape darted the three feet or so into the coat closet. There was another sound, more scrabbling, another dart. I counted three before I texted my friend. “My apartment is literally being invaded.” (I was pleased, in spite of it all, to for once use the word “literally” in its true sense). The apartment is a stand-alone studio, roughly 250 square feet.

Thank you to the Vineyard Gazette for publishing the beautiful photo of Grace on the front page. As our children grow, we tend to forget the sweetness in the faces of the little children who are so filled with wonder and joy of the world around them.