Island Light: Little Spring
Fog creeps in and surrounds the Quitsa boathouse.
Fog creeps in and surrounds the Quitsa boathouse.
Skateboard flip in tee-shirt on Seaview avenue.
Skateboard flip in tee-shirt on Seaview avenue.
Coffee and a walk at Lambert's Cove Beach.
Coffee and a walk at Lambert's Cove Beach.
Grazing on Middle Road.
Grazing on Middle Road.
Chappy Ferry makes her way to Edgartown side of the harbor.
Chappy Ferry makes her way to Edgartown side of the harbor.
Barn at Duarte's in West Tisbury.
Barn at Duarte's in West Tisbury.
Gulls alight on East Chop dock.
Gulls alight on East Chop dock.
Gray days at the Gay Head Cliffs.
Gray days at the Gay Head Cliffs.
Zig-zag of the snowfence at Katama.
Zig-zag of the snowfence at Katama.
Duarte's Pond.
Duarte's Pond.
Rising tide at Inkwell.
Rising tide at Inkwell.
On the shore of the Lagoon.
On the shore of the Lagoon.
Winter waves carve out a berm on the bech at Lambert's Cove.
Winter waves carve out a berm on the bech at Lambert's Cove.
Highest point of the Island is at Peaked Hill.
Highest point of the Island is at Peaked Hill.
Squibnocket waves.
Squibnocket waves.
Light snow falls on Lighthouse Point in Edgrtown.
Light snow falls on Lighthouse Point in Edgrtown.
Weather churns up waves at the Oak Bluffs harbor channel.
Weather churns up waves at the Oak Bluffs harbor channel.
Corbin-Norton house on Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs.
Corbin-Norton house on Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs.
Snow geese mingle with the flock.
Snow geese mingle with the flock.
View across the harbor to Gannon and Benjamin's Boatyard.
View across the harbor to Gannon and Benjamin's Boatyard.
Riding the storm out.
Riding the storm out.
We’re about a third of the way through the Island’s cold season. But recent days of that traditional January thaw were enough to turn thoughts forward to the advent of spring, a time that will come just as surely as winter will pass.
On three days this past week temperatures on the Vineyard rose to the fifties. The high mark was fifty-five, warm enough to play tennis or to dress in something lighter than heavy winter garb for long walks through Island wildlife sanctuaries. The arrival of seals in Vineyard waters always validates the height of winter. But then comes the January thaw and our playful visitors take to sunbathing on rocky perches in the Squibnocket Beach area.
No doubt the winds will blow and the snow will fly again before winter takes final leave of the Vineyard. For now, however, it is enough to enjoy a few warm days in January, days that often end in breathtaking sunsets.