Scenes From Martha's Vineyard: January 2020
Dragger comes home.
Dragger comes home.
Pinks and blues over Cow Bay.
Pinks and blues over Cow Bay.
Menemsha channel is the place to be.
Menemsha channel is the place to be.
Conch shells and icicles.
Conch shells and icicles.
Lone cedar at Waskosim's Rock Reservation.
Lone cedar at Waskosim's Rock Reservation.
Icy reflections.
Icy reflections.
Snow buntings look for food among the seaweed.
Snow buntings look for food among the seaweed.
Menemsha in January.
Menemsha in January.
Where the salt meets the snow.
Where the salt meets the snow.
Easy to tell why it's called Stonewall Beach.
Easy to tell why it's called Stonewall Beach.
Lunch time.
Lunch time.
Billy Alwardt mans the bull rake in Oak Bluffs harbor.
Billy Alwardt mans the bull rake in Oak Bluffs harbor.
Still waters under the Oak Bluffs fish pier.
Still waters under the Oak Bluffs fish pier.
Who you looking at?
Who you looking at?
Russett hues dominant the bog at Cranberry Acres.
Russett hues dominant the bog at Cranberry Acres.
Razorbills skim the surface of the water.
Razorbills skim the surface of the water.
First gray seal pup born this year on Chappy.
First gray seal pup born this year on Chappy.
Sun rises on a new year at State Beach.
Sun rises on a new year at State Beach.
Fishing port of Menemsha under blue skies.
Fishing port of Menemsha under blue skies.
A little taste of winter is just about perfect on these still mild January days. The cold and snow will come soon enough, we're sure.
Out walking, we see our own breath in the air and appreciate something essential about what it means to be alive. Somehow this season even reminds us of the dance of darkness and light, as the days grow longer and sunset, not starlight, becomes the sky's accompaniment to the drive home from work.
We'll settle for a brisk walk, and then a mug of hot coffee by the woodstove, and the sweet sensation of returning warmth.