Island Light: Traditions
Annette Anthony runs fresh cranberries through 100-year-old equipment.
Annette Anthony runs fresh cranberries through 100-year-old equipment.
Kelsey and Ken Ivory gather cranberries from bog at Cranberry Acres.
Kelsey and Ken Ivory gather cranberries from bog at Cranberry Acres.
Rowing gig awaits its daily morning sojourn in Vineyard Haven Harbor.
Rowing gig awaits its daily morning sojourn in Vineyard Haven Harbor.
Midweek raindrops dapple the surface of Lake Tashmoo.
Midweek raindrops dapple the surface of Lake Tashmoo.
Canada geese take to the November sky.
Canada geese take to the November sky.
Leah Pachico heads into the woods with her bow.
Leah Pachico heads into the woods with her bow.
Seasonal shift along the waterfront.
Seasonal shift along the waterfront.
Gray ceiling over fishing village of Menemsha.
Gray ceiling over fishing village of Menemsha.
Five Corners Vineyard Haven.
Five Corners Vineyard Haven.
Ocean Park is gathering place for tourists in summer, feathered friends off season.
Ocean Park is gathering place for tourists in summer, feathered friends off season.
End of day at West Chop and the lighthouse beacon lights the way.
End of day at West Chop and the lighthouse beacon lights the way.
This upcoming Thanksgiving marks the end of one season and the beginning of another, but this year there is a distinct sense of procrastination about it all. Suddenly we are in no real hurry for winter with its hard freeze and slate-colored sea roughed up by whitecaps.
Nature agrees, and on the Vineyard autumn lingers like two lovers over coffee; no need to rush to the next appointment on the calendar. Lawns are still green, herb gardens redolent with rosemary, farm fields freshly turned and dusted with a fine powder of lime. Nantucket Sound is navy blue and the salt ponds lie still in the evening hush with a thousand stars splashed overhead.