This week comes March, with the all promise of the mud season that so often suffices to separate winter from summer on the Island. Spring may still be more than three weeks away, but the mush is here already, subject of course to periodic rounds of refreezing as dictated by the whims of the weather that has buffeted us through this winter.

Cabin fever is epidemic. We're soon hopefully through taking pictures of the Vineyard’s winter wonderland, done with clearing a path out the back door for the family dog, finished with tissues and windshield scrapers and drying our boots by the wood stove.