Island Light: Midwinter
Lacing up the skates at Duarte's Pond.
Lacing up the skates at Duarte's Pond.
Winter fun in West Tisbury.
Winter fun in West Tisbury.
The view down Moshup Trail from the Vanderhoop Homestead in Aquinnah.
The view down Moshup Trail from the Vanderhoop Homestead in Aquinnah.
Seals share an offshore rock at Squibnocket.
Seals share an offshore rock at Squibnocket.
Swans find the open water in a partially frozen Cow Bay.
Swans find the open water in a partially frozen Cow Bay.
Whaling captain's house on North Water street in Edgartown.
Whaling captain's house on North Water street in Edgartown.
Geese in flight over Katama.
Geese in flight over Katama.
Off season.
Off season.
Horsehoe crab at Lobsterville.
Horsehoe crab at Lobsterville.
Mooring pulled up on the beach until weather warms again.
Mooring pulled up on the beach until weather warms again.
Marine Hospital cemetery.
Marine Hospital cemetery.
Merlin views his surroundings in the Katama plains.
Merlin views his surroundings in the Katama plains.
Grand Victorian homes line Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs.
Grand Victorian homes line Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs.
Red-tailed hawk has its eye on you.
Red-tailed hawk has its eye on you.
South Beach sunset.
South Beach sunset.
Sun shines on the Black Dog Tavern.
Sun shines on the Black Dog Tavern.
Gannon and Benjamin boatyard is busy all year long.
Gannon and Benjamin boatyard is busy all year long.
Barge assisting on electric cable work moored at Packer Wharf.
Barge assisting on electric cable work moored at Packer Wharf.
Deer in a Chilmark field.
Deer in a Chilmark field.
Landon Lepine in boys baketball action.
Landon Lepine in boys baketball action.
Miles Hayes looks to advance the ball upcourt.
Miles Hayes looks to advance the ball upcourt.
We are about midway between winter solstice and vernal equinox. The sun rises now at about six minutes before six, some twenty minutes earlier than at solstice, and sets at almost five. That's about fifty minutes more light at end of day than when winter began. Surely it's fair to feel the pull of spring, even though we haven't really had winter.
It's still the quiet time of the Vineyard year, the few months we savor before the summer to come. But in the mild, lengthening days, it's not so quiet as once it was.