Far be it for me to complain about the beautiful weather we have been enjoying. It is, however, making it difficult to get into the Christmas spirit. I set out on Sunday to whip together a couple of wreaths but transplanted some lettuce seedlings instead.

By LYNNE IRONS

Far be it for me to complain about the beautiful weather we have been enjoying. It is, however, making it difficult to get into the Christmas spirit. I set out on Sunday to whip together a couple of wreaths but transplanted some lettuce seedlings instead. Then I got sidetracked weeding. Amazingly, the weeds are still going strong. I hated to take apart my window box to dress it up with some holiday greens. The purple alyssum and white bacopa still looked great.

Funding Available

Attention, nonprofit organizations: The Edey Foundation, founded by the late Maitland Edey of Seven Gates Farm, has available funds for conservation, energy, education and scientific studies.

In 2011 the foundation gave approximately $71,000 to eight Island organizations for a range of activities, including education programs for the public and for schoolchildren, conservation advocacy, research, and water-bird protection.

The time is quickly approaching for the annual Christmas Bird Count. The Vineyard’s CBC, as it is abbreviated, is slated for Jan. 2, 2012, rain or shine. Rob Culbert is again the compiler for this event. I give him encouragement and help as the cocompiler.

Blair Cavanaugh Gallagher and Arthur Wellman Sheehan were married on Saturday, Sept. 10 by the Rev. David Marcotte, S.J. at Saint Mary Church in Greenwich, Conn. A reception followed at the Belle Haven Club, where the couple and bridal party arrived by boat.

Blue Cross Grant

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation has awarded Dukes Country a $40,000 grant for health care enrollment assistance and referral programs focused on Spanish and Portuguese speaking communities. A total of $1.2 million was given to 24 organizations that promote the health care needs of uninsured and low-income residents.

Elizabeth B. Anderson and Timothy M. Moriarty, now of Florence, were married on Oct. 15 at Blackthorn Farm in West Tisbury in the barn Liz’s father built and where she spent her childhood tending to the horses and preparing for weekend shows.

Mrs. Moriarty is the daughter of Sally R. Anderson and Richard J. Anderson, both of West Tisbury, and her husband is the son of the Hon. and Mrs. Cornelius J. Moriarty 2nd of Edgartown and South Hadley.

Sail MV Sale

Sail Martha’s Vineyard is presenting an exhibit and sale of maritime art, jewelry, crafts and note cards by several Island artists and photographers. The exhibit opens with an artists’ reception from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the office of Sail MV located at 110 Main street in Vineyard Haven and transformed for the holidays into an art gallery,

The hours of the show are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily throughout Dec. 23. A portion of proceeds from any sales benefits Sail MV’s free sailing programs for Island kids.

Art in the Stacks

Bill Buckley is the featured artist for the month of December at the Vineyard Haven Library’s Art in the Stacks program.

In his own words, Mr. Buckley describes his influences as “Picasso, Monet, Gauguin, Botticelli, Magritte, Hopper and Dali to name a few.”

Minnesingers Concerts

The Martha’s Vineyard High School Minnesingers are coming and, well, the holiday season on the Island wouldn’t be complete without them. Go hear the concert this weekend or go one better and hang out with high schoolers at the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust soiree held tonight, Dec. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House in Edgartown.

The concerts take place at the Old Whaling Church today, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m. and tomorrow, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m.

Visiting Poets

On Thursday, Dec. 15, at 5:30 p.m. the West Tisbury Library will host poets G.E. Patterson and Samantha Barrow.

G. E. Patterson is a poet, critic and translator whose collections of poetry include To and From and Tug, which won the Minnesota Book Award. Mr. Patterson has received fellowships from the Bread Loaf Writers Conference, Cave Canem, the Djerassi Foundation, the MacDowell Colony, and the Minnesota State Arts Board.