Island Light: Quiet Week
Lone cormorant has West Chop dock to itself.
Lone cormorant has West Chop dock to itself.
Jon Mayhew mans his drone at day's end in Menemsha.
Jon Mayhew mans his drone at day's end in Menemsha.
Photographing sunset.
Photographing sunset.
Huddling for warmth in the barn at Island Alpaca.
Huddling for warmth in the barn at Island Alpaca.
Calm harbor in Edgartown.
Calm harbor in Edgartown.
Waves swirl on the shore at Lucy Vincent Beach.
Waves swirl on the shore at Lucy Vincent Beach.
Quiet at the Squib Shack until warmer weather.
Quiet at the Squib Shack until warmer weather.
Snow-covered moss on the edge of Sheriff's Pond.
Snow-covered moss on the edge of Sheriff's Pond.
Edgartown barn.
Edgartown barn.
Rose frozen under the ice of Duarte's Pond.
Rose frozen under the ice of Duarte's Pond.
Polly Hill Arboretum stonewall frosted with this week's snow.
Polly Hill Arboretum stonewall frosted with this week's snow.
Trinity Methodist Church.
Trinity Methodist Church.
Tabernacle.
Tabernacle.
Foggy conditions at the Martha's Vineyard Airport.
Foggy conditions at the Martha's Vineyard Airport.
A day to walk on the pond instead of paddle.
A day to walk on the pond instead of paddle.
Memento left to rust in Vineyard Haven.
Memento left to rust in Vineyard Haven.
Kayaks await warmer weather on the shore of the Lagoon.
Kayaks await warmer weather on the shore of the Lagoon.
Outstanding in its field.
Outstanding in its field.
Vineyard Sound.
Vineyard Sound.
Blanket of snow at the Tisbury Park and ride.
Blanket of snow at the Tisbury Park and ride.
Dusk on Vineyard Haven's waterfront.
Dusk on Vineyard Haven's waterfront.
The Vineyard's most peaceful and least frantic week of the year is drawing to an end. It's the turning point of winter as spring appears on the horizon. The week’s earlier snow has retreated into puddles, then disappeared.
But ah the quiet villages, the deserted country lanes and byways. Crows caw their urgent messages, chickadees dart about, and mourning doves bob along the ground in their stately way, dressed in formal gray. And this is the one time of year when families can go off-Island with free spirits. The schools were closed this week, and many an Island parent has taken a child or two to northern ski slopes, southern sun, or simply a mainland vacation. Those of us who remain enjoy our reduced numbers, note the closed cafes and coffeehouses, and take a walk on the winter beach by ourselves. Now March is here. Times will be busy again soon enough, soon enough indeed.