Category Archives: outdoors
Read While You Walk
Early this fall I started noticing black plastic stakes along the path I walk daily behind the West Tisbury School. They were maybe three and a half or four feet high and about a hundred feet apart (that’s a guesstimate … Continue reading
Winter Is Icumen In
Winter has been icumen in for a while now, but in fits and starts. In the early days of the month I put flannel sheets on the bed, turned the heater on for the first time since late April, and … Continue reading
Another No-Name Blows By
A formidable northeaster blew through earlier this week. I’m pretty sure it’s passed because the leaves are barely rustling and there’s enough sunlight to cast shadows on the road. But it was a big one. When I went to bed … Continue reading
Fall Finally Got Here
Fall was late getting a foothold this year. Most years, on or about September 1, August humidity falls away and driving down Old County Road I spot at least a hint of fall color in the trees. This year September … Continue reading
A Red Balloon
Yesterday morning, walking down Pine Hill with Tam, I spotted something bright red way up ahead. Huh? It was too bright and too red to be natural — unless it was a mushroom? Not likely: It was too big, and … Continue reading
Henri, Meet Uncle Bob
As I write, we’re on the fringes of Tropical Storm Henri. The wind is blowing, there’s been some rain, but so far, so good. The electricity flickered a couple of times before 7 but I went ahead and made the … Continue reading
Tam Gets Bit by a Fence
The late Rhodry and Travvy both spent time around horse barns so they learned about electric fences early on. Rhodry in particular didn’t even trust rope lying on the ground: if he couldn’t detour around it, he’d clear it by … Continue reading
Evening Walk
So Tuesday night Tam Lin and I are approaching the worst stretch of the Dr. Fisher Road. It’s not quite pitch-dark but close. Up ahead are red brake lights. They aren’t moving. This is unusual. When we come up next … Continue reading
I’m Not Jogging
I hate jogging. Don’t even talk about running. I do love to walk. I walk a lot. I walk about four miles on an average day. (Read on and you’ll learn how I know this.) Some people walk because they … Continue reading
Repurposing a Parking Lot
For years the back parking lot at the West Tisbury School was used by off-duty school buses. Teachers were having to park on the grass (apart from field trips, school buses are off-duty during the school day), so the decision … Continue reading
From the Seasonally Occupied Territories . . . 