Peeping through my Venetian blind at the winterscape, I thought of Shelley’s lines from “Ode to the West Wind,” “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”

In a chat with Wayne Clark about Perry’s Store, I learned that Wayne’s great-grandfather, “Doc” McKinney, in 1906 built the original store building, which is still standing. Perry’s Store is one of the most famous landmarks in this part of the country.

Gentle reader, have you ever tried parsnips? They can be substituted for carrots with a pot roast. They can be eaten as a side dish, nicely buttered. I recommend the flavor of a parsnip.

Seen at the Surly Mermaid on the Golden Square were Angie (South) Cotton and Martha (Eiland) Steele. I ran into Angie’s father-in-law later in the week and learned that he has the same birthdate (February 11) as the Portly Gentleman’s aged father.

Primroses bloom about this time of the year. I heard that they are so popular this year that a local grocery sold out its supply within a few hours on the same day.

Steve Sanders told me that his Great-grandfather Sanders built the Old Barn, now used as a restaurant in Goshen near Troy. What impressed me most on an outing with my church group to eat at the Old Barn was the quail on the menu. John Little, who joined Steve and me in conversation, spoke of quail hunting. It’s rare to see quail on any menu.

Seen at the Corner Market for lunch were Mickey and Joyce Sharpe, Frances Ptomey, James Summerlin, Jimmy Gillis, Jesse Sirmon, Scotty Hooper, Barney Wiggins, Frank King, Dr. and Mrs. Bill King, Robert and Sheila Williams, and Sheila’s mother, Mrs. Thompkins.

A mother and her son, Nicole (Burnham) Jackson and Haden Jackson, were baptized Sunday morning, January 18, in First Baptist by their pastor, Dr. Fred Karthaus.

Also Sunday at First Baptist the minister of music, Dwight Crigger, led in music primarily composed by Andrae Crouch, who recently died. The selections included “My Tribute,” which is associated with the late Jeanice Kirkland of our town, who loved to sing it.

It is interesting that both Crouch and Kirkland died in the same month about the same age.

I was invited home to Sunday dinner the 18th by Cathy (King) Alexander and her husband, Gary, both former students. Their son Mitchell dined with us.

The Alexanders live in a beautifully re-decorated house, the former home of Clara Thagard.

Cathy served chicken’n’ dumplings, ham, field peas, collards with potatoes, hot, buttered cornbread, iced tea, and royal chocolate cake, topped with a strawberry glaze.

It was a second-helpings meal!

Lynn (Parrish) Capps, I have something to tell you, please.

Last week “Miss Betty” Mitchell provided an account of a bus tour to New York City. This week we pick up with Part II, Saturday and Sunday, October 18 – 19.

“After breakfast we were off to pick up our tour guide, James. James was with us for the next three days as we toured New York City. He was a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable and entertaining. As we started our tour of New York, we just could not believe the traffic and the people on bikes and skateboards, riding down the middle of the streets.

We Opp and Andalusia people just couldn’t believe our eyes. George, our driver, reminded us that he was a mortician; and if something happened to us, he would just strap us in a seat and take us back home – very comforting to know. Before the day was over, Sugar Mama started passing around the snacks again. James, our tour guide, said he had never seen so many snacks on a bus; and from that point on, our bus was renamed ‘The Super Market on Wheels.’ He also said we ate the most of any people he had ever seen. We were always eating something. Our first stop was at the National 9/11 Memorial Museum. This was very emotional for many of us. We also saw the fire stations where the firemen were based. They were the first responders to arrive at the towers and were all killed. After leaving the 9/11 Museum, we stopped in China Town for lunch and some shopping time. We enjoyed a night tour of New York City to see all the lights and famous buildings before ending our first day in New York at Canyon Road Restaurant for dinner.”

“After breakfast we were back on the bus. After a short devotional (we always have a devotional when we travel on Sundays), we were off for more touring of New York – and I must say again that James was a wonderful guide and we really enjoyed our tour. This morning we toured Central Park. On this day they were having there a Breast Cancer Walk in Central Park with 30,000 walkers. Now, if you can imagine trying to keep up with 52 travelers in the midst of all this, you will known what a job James had, keeping us together. What a sight we saw! One male construction worker had on a pink helmet, pink bra, and pink tutu over his work clothes. Anything goes in New York! After leaving the park, we were off to Lunt-Fontanne Theatre to see the performance of Motown. Everyone enjoyed the play – great music. After the Broadway show we were off to EAT AGAIN. Our tour today ended at Fino Restaurant on Wall Street. After dinner we went to the hotel for another night of much needed rest.”

That concludes Part II of the bus tour to New York.

The celebration of the War of 1812 (1812 – 1815) continues.

Again, I ask the citizens of Andalusia to join the Covington Historical Society and pay its annual dues of $25 to help preserve the history of our county, whether you attend meetings or not. Mail to CHS, P.O. Box 1582, Andalusia, Alabama 36420.

If you collect stamps, now is the time to buy those commemorating the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States and the War of 1812.

To commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States, let us return to this week 150 years ago.

Southern Gen. Robert E. Lee became general in chief of all the armies of the Confederacy. Southern Gen. Richard Taylor took charge of the Army of the Tennessee, now with fewer than 18,000 soldiers.

The mysterian this week is a place – the Little Building. What is it?

Recent birthdays are those of “Stonewall” Jackson, Confederate general; Lord Byron, English poet; Francis Bacon, English essayist; and John Hancock, American patriot, who signed our “Declaration of Independence” in a hand so large that King George would need not put on his glasses to read it. To this day one’s signature is known as his “John Hancock.”

January 20 was St. Agnes’s Eve. Girls are said to dream of their future husbands on this night if they perform certain rites. See your computer for next year.

Now, gentle reader, allow me to join Buffalo Bob Smith in encouraging each of us to be in his place of worship this weekend, Lord willing.

Fare thee well.