As we move out of the dreary days of January and the Arctic blast of winter weather, February brings a welcome respite — moderate days, a promise of hearts and flowers, and hope that spring isn’t too far away.
The trusty ground hog didn’t see his shadow last Saturday; therefore, that means warmer rather than colder days ahead. Leave it to the ground hog to alert us about what to expect. The camellias are blooming, the sasanquas are going insane, the Japanese magnolias are budding and the jonquils nod their yellow heads in the sunshine. You know what that means? Yellow pollen dust is about to cover everything.
Congratulations to the New England Patriots for their sixth Super Bowl win; however, I wasn’t up close and personal until half-time to watch the play by play on TV last Sunday. I was at Calvary Episcopal Book Club’s monthly meeting. Despite the game competition, there were book lovers there just like me, including Annie Hughes, Raye Holt, Abbie Dillard, Cindy Dudley, Dreena Hoffman, Susan Beger, Bobbie Orris, JoAnna Arnold, Allyson Drinnon, Mary Lopez, Mary Ferrill, Millie Cohen, and Joni Woolf who led the discussion on “The Joy Luck Club,” by Amy Tan, this month’s book selection. And everyone contributed book bags and children’s books to the DFACS’ foster children program for Valentine’s Day. Somehow, “The Joy Luck Club” slipped by me when it was released years ago so I checked out a copy from Lake Blackshear Regional Library and found it a pager turner and difficult to put down. Amy Tan is such an excellent story teller that I’ve been reading other novels by this author and thus far I’m on my fourth.
Speaking of Lake Blackshear Regional Library, the 30th annual Library Play presented by Friends of the Library was another success. Always a farce, “A Mistaken Case of Identity,” written and directed by Anne Isbell, library director, was clever and entertaining and a large crowd turned out for the two performances.
Congratulations to the cast: Terence Clemons, Linda Erkhart, Donna Franklin, Hope Henderson, Jane Hendrix, Anne Isbell, Bill Krenson, Tom McFarland, and Chet Toms. Thurston Clary provided the music.
It was a delightful evening rounded out by a delicious cocktail buffet prepared by the Friends board and other volunteers. Among those at our table were John and Susan Morgan, Carey Holt, Wilma Kinslow, and Jim and Nancy Herron. Others I chatted were Dr. Schley and Karen Gatewood, Bill and Gay Sheppard, Gail Clary, Sharon McFarland, Meda Krenson, Aggie Crump, Jean Deriso, Mary Ferguson, Bill and Jan Bird, Al Erkhart, Jane Wilson Abernathy, Mary Lopez, and Jane Abernathy.
February’s First Friday brought the grand opening of the Art Council’s art gallery at 117 W. Forsyth St. — the organization’s second downtown location. The gallery features the art work of local and community artists that is lovely, especially the beautiful one-of-a-kind jewelry by Jane Merritt Myers. A large crowd attended the opening event that featured a talented silhouette artist who stayed busy for three hours, cutting silhouettes.
Meanwhile, congratulations to Brooks and Richard Nettum who are new grandparents. Whittaker Lee Everett was born Tuesday, Feb. 6 and his proud parents are Lee and Stephanie Arknak Everett, of Columbia, Indiana. The infant’s great grandfather is David Peak, his aunt Sally Lanier, and uncle Will Peak.
February is birthday month so smile and help Bruce Case, my husband, Jean Deriso, Phyllis Tucker, and Mary Ann Hooks blow the candles out on their birthday cakes.

Leila Sisson Case lives in Americus.