Last week, here in the hinterlands of West Tisbury, a serious frost — actually more like several hours of freezing temperatures — finished off my zinnias, tomatoes, peppers and beans.

When publishing powerhouse Condé Nast announced on August 27 that Dawn Davis would be the new editor of Bon Appétit magazine, the veteran book publisher was at home on East Chop.

In my fantasy world of self-reliance, I would become an expert preserver.

Maybe gardening isn’t such a horrible pastime after all, you think.

Just as soon as I planned my annual August grab-bag menu challenge, the refrigerator broke. The same day a long-awaited new water heater showed up, along with the installer, who regretted to inform us we’d be without hot water for a day (or two, as it turned out). Our internet and cell service, both of which had been heading towards oblivion all summer, were threatening to expire altogether. This made contacting the fridge repair folks difficult. When the smoke signals finally got through, the message back was clear: You’re on a very long waiting list.

This walk is my single determined effort to take part in the Vineyard landscape, to tap into that beauty.