Island Light: 17 Days
Falling skies at Menemsha but the swordfisherman never sleeps.
Falling skies at Menemsha but the swordfisherman never sleeps.
Canada geese keep busy manicuring Ocean Park.
Canada geese keep busy manicuring Ocean Park.
Gray and wet weather along the Gay Head Cliffs.
Gray and wet weather along the Gay Head Cliffs.
Construction kicks into higher gear as sun comes out.
Construction kicks into higher gear as sun comes out.
Awaiting children of all ages and their quest for the brass ring.
Awaiting children of all ages and their quest for the brass ring.
An Island institution at the base of Circuit avenue.
An Island institution at the base of Circuit avenue.
Swirling tides work their way around shoreline.
Swirling tides work their way around shoreline.
Beach path at Lucy Vincent.
Beach path at Lucy Vincent.
Hewn of centuries-old granite, on Middle Road.
Hewn of centuries-old granite, on Middle Road.
Gull's lunch remains add to the seaside vibe.
Gull's lunch remains add to the seaside vibe.
Quiet Island indeed, and the quietest of Islanders.
Quiet Island indeed, and the quietest of Islanders.
Stone work in Tisbury has stood the test of time.
Stone work in Tisbury has stood the test of time.
Snowy owl keeps an eye on us at State Beach.
Snowy owl keeps an eye on us at State Beach.
Perhaps it's premature, but the warm weather this week turned our attention away from winter. Sundog, the Edgartown clothing store, runs ads counting down the days until spring on the Gazette front page. This Friday marked 19 days 'til spring. But even as we welcome the advancing warm season, we can't help feeling cheated a bit by this winter that mostly wasn't. Winter brought its darkness to the Vineyard, but that season of early evening gloom is already past. What we never really received was the chilling grip of snow and cold. Mind you, winter hasn't finished with us yet on the Island; we can remember fierce blizzards even in March. On Island, the buds on trees are fat almost to the bursting point, and snowdrops and crocuses are blooming. Horses on Island farms have shed their winter coats, and baby lambs in Chilmark are showing a spring in their step that gives the lie to winter.