The new year opens—old is past,
Stern winter comes with its rough blast:
See the farmer shivering with cold,
Driving his flocks and herds to fold.
— The 1793 Old Farmer’s Almanac

When I find that I’ve been relatively self-absorbed and a tad out of touch with the comings and goings of my friends and neighbors I often turn to places like the Farmer’s Almanac for a little tidbit of something to jumpstart the writing process. What I thumbed across was a reminder that today, Friday Jan. 5, is Twelfth Night. I will openly admit I am not a religious person so tend to lean towards the pagan aspects of this celebration. Gather with friends, enjoy a warm fire on a bitter January evening, sing, dance and toast from the wassail bowl to our neighbors good health, farmers good crops and, in our community, let’s throw in bountiful seas for our fishermen. Throw in the full Wolf Moon that passed through our skies between Jan. 1 and 2 and we have yet another reason to revel. Bah humbug to whomever said January was a brutal month.

Ponds have iced over and skates have come out. Corrick and Quinlan Slavin took to the ice at Duarte’s Pond with a whole band of folks dressed for the pleasure of pond skating. Tilly and Emmett Taylor, along with their folks Isaac and Noli, took to Squibnocket Pond. It may just be a winter worthy of pulling the ice boats out of storage. Although a few folks here and there have briefly had their boats out in recent years, it has been a while since the big ice boat gatherings on Squibnocket Pond. Scott McDowell, what do you think?

Welcome home to Genc Brinja who traveled to Vienna, Austria to visit with his brother and parents. A good visit was had strolling through museums, historic sites and, lucky for me, tasty treats from a chocolatier were brought home.

Jenny, Todd, Dash, El and Wren Christy have returned from a wintry but wonderful adventure in Montreal.

Montreal seemed to be the place to travel as Bradley Carroll returned from celebrating New Year’s in Montreal with dear friend Sophie Parker.

Mariah and Jessica Campbell traveled south to warm weather over their break to catch up with their aunt Laura Campbell in Ocala, Fla.

Lizzie Willette and Greg Maynes, along with their pack of pups, traveled from their home in New Jersey to ring in the New Year at the Maynes summer home. Both woodland and beach walks filled their time as did warming frosty toes in front of the wood stove.

Well wishes to five-year-old Joaquin Montoya who took ill on a family vacation in Florida. After a few days in hospital he is on the mend and should be home by the time you read this. Shout out to big sister Everly and mama, Fallon Aiello, for rolling with the punches and keeping level heads throughout.

Sophie, Susan and Jason Balaban traveled from New Jersey to enjoy the holidays at their Wayside Farm home. Whenever I drive by and see their lights on I just know their house is full of laughter.

The annual New Year’s Eve gathering at the home of Hillary, John, Adelaide, Thea, Ella and Lathrop Keene was a warm and inviting spot to seek shelter from the cold. Friends gathered to share food, drink, merriment and love. A highlight of the evening on Red Hawk Lane is a candlelight walk. Partygoers lace up their boots, pull hats down snug on their brows, nestle fingers into mittens and enjoy the natural beauty of the wintery night sky sharing both silence and quiet conversation surrounded by the glow of candles. It is a memorable way to ring in the new year with members of the Bardwell, Favreau, Athearn, Biskis, Kelliher, Walthers, Hagan, Fenner, Vail, Vigneault, Thomson families and more.

Has anyone had the opportunity to see the lovely artwork the 2016 K/1 class at the Chilmark School created as a thank you for enjoying The Wat Nawamin Temple Thai Dancers performance at the Howes House? Framed and documented by a Tea Lane artistic talent and long ago Chilmark School graduate, the students who created the colorful and dramatic piece include: Fletcher Zack, Aki Weiner, Leah Thomson, Emmett Taylor, Owen Silva, Jack Newton, Sam McMullen, Oscar Flanders, Mira Davis, Emme Carroll, Malia Bodnar, Tauras Biskis and Zeb Athearn.

Send Chilmark news to squidrow@vineyard.net.