February Break and S s s s signs of S s s s spring

Last week was a quiet one on the Vineyard. Winter school break, which happens a week later than the rest of the Massachusetts, meant teachers and islanders with school aged kiddies either headed north for snowy white mountain slopes or south for sandy white beaches.

After double header of snow storms at the beginning of February, people were happy to escape the Island for some well deserved R & R and perhaps the chance to miss the next round of shoveling driveways and ferry cancellations. (It's this time of year when we really learn to appreciate our lifeline to the mainland). An interesting phenomenon that many islanders experience whilst switching their small frozen island home for a warm tropical one, is to bump into their fellow escapees several thousand miles away. Caribbean islands become, it seems, invaded by Vineyarders and its not unusual to be teeing off behind ones chiropractor on the golf course or bumping into ones yoga instructor at the swim up bar! Brings a whole new meaning to “getting away from it all" doesnt it?!

In the meantime, the Island becomes somewhat of a ghost town, businesses are manned by skeleton staff and many restaurants close for a spring clean or simply to have a winter break; they have learned that it's smart to get repairs or work done, or just close during this week of depleted takings.

Vacationers returned last weekend to signs of Spring everywhere, the branches of Witch Hazel bushes are tinged with yellow and the days are getting longer, reminding us that daylight savings is only two weeks away! Temperatures in the upper 40's have melted the last of the snow which in turn has nourished and encouraged the bright green tips of spring bulbs to peep through.

I even saw a handsome garter snake at Duart's Pond this weekend. Either he was as confused as I was by the unseasonable temperatures or he just decided to emerge from hibernation to enjoy the day,(as did I!). It's hard to remember just two weeks prior to the vacation week when the island temperatures plunged into arctic conditions and one of our Tea Lane colleagues developed early signs of frostbite at a land showing!

At least we know summer is coming, as I was reminded when pulling up to a very busy Woods Hole ferry terminal on at the end of vacation week. People in line were reconnecting, telling their travel tales with exuberance, and it was hard to ignore the excitement in the air at the thought of the island coming alive again for another summer season.