Scenes From Martha's Vineyard: December 2023
Fogbow appears over Vineyard Sound from Lambert's Cove Beach.
Fogbow appears over Vineyard Sound from Lambert's Cove Beach.
Off-season family beach walk after a holiday meal.
Off-season family beach walk after a holiday meal.
Checking you out at the Farm Institute.
Checking you out at the Farm Institute.
Great egret takes to the air.
Great egret takes to the air.
Scampering along the water's edge.
Scampering along the water's edge.
Geminid meteor shower over Edgartown Lighthouse.
Geminid meteor shower over Edgartown Lighthouse.
Sunrise.
Sunrise.
The grass is always greener ... at Sweetened Water Farm.
The grass is always greener ... at Sweetened Water Farm.
Redheaded drakes and scaups in the air.
Redheaded drakes and scaups in the air.
Slough Farm.
Slough Farm.
Menorah is lighted in downtown Edgartown.
Menorah is lighted in downtown Edgartown.
Menemsha doorway.
Menemsha doorway.
Martha's Vineyard Garden Club building dressed for holidays.
Martha's Vineyard Garden Club building dressed for holidays.
Solitary surfer heads out at Squibnocket.
Solitary surfer heads out at Squibnocket.
Ferry Island Home in her Island port of Vineyard Haven.
Ferry Island Home in her Island port of Vineyard Haven.
Crunching leaves underfoot on Island paths.
Crunching leaves underfoot on Island paths.
Flat Point Farm hike.
Flat Point Farm hike.
Quieter days at Beetlebung Farm in Chilmark.
Quieter days at Beetlebung Farm in Chilmark.
Chess board on Oak Bluffs harbor.
Chess board on Oak Bluffs harbor.
Cedar waxwing munches rose hips.
Cedar waxwing munches rose hips.
Sarah McKay takes Pumbaa out for a walk at Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center.
Sarah McKay takes Pumbaa out for a walk at Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center.
Work continues on the Tabernacle roof restoration.
Work continues on the Tabernacle roof restoration.
Store windows decorated for the season on Edgartown's Main street.
Store windows decorated for the season on Edgartown's Main street.
Not a soul in sight at Moshup Beach.
Not a soul in sight at Moshup Beach.
Try to think of December not as a time of darkness but as a time of quiet pleasures. There will be snow and ice and cold, to be sure, but there also will be days of crystalline sunshine and walks without another human soul in sight and long views through tree branches bare of leaves. An Island winter is a time of renewal while we wait for the true season of renewal to come.