Snowy Martha's Vineyard

The day before a predicted snow storm is always busy with everyone out and about completing errands and battening down the hatches, collecting firewood and stocking up on provisions for an anticipated day or two at home.   While many New England snow storms miss us, the first real snow on the Vineyard is usually early January and we can expect to get a couple more big dumpings through the winter months.

Now is the time to make that call your local plow guy and check that the propane or oil tank is full.  Even if you are off island for the winter its a good idea to keep driveways clear for fuel delivery and emergency services and often insurance companies will require this.

For those without a generator a power outage will mean no heat or water.... it's important to keep woodstoves going and a good idea to crank up the hear prior to a winter storm.   Fill the bath tub with water and fill a few extra water bottles to flush toilets and brush teeth!    Of course candles and flashlights and perhaps a camping stove are good thing to have on hand. 

We're used to this here, snow days and power outages can be fun and force us to remember a time before the internet when we had to amuse oursleves before WIFI. A snow day is rarely used to catch up on school work and more typically the islands' children can be found  at one of the  sledding spots, like Sweetened Water Farm or Tashmoo. Plus theres nothing quite like a snow covered beach or watching the slushy frozen waves as they try to keep momentum . 

Have fun out there but stay off the roads if you dont have to be anywhere - let the emergency crews do their thing.