While we appreciate and visit our local coffee shops, restaurants and eateries, once in a while we just have to treat a friend to a birthday lunch at the funky and cozy Red Hen, right beside the road in the miniscule village of Middlesex. The tomato orzo soup with thick and delectable, the grown in Vermont whole wheat bread topped with goat cheese spread was divine and the chocolaty chocolate, did I say chocolate! brownie was soft, buttery, and dark as it melted on the tongue. We chose to drink green gunpowder tea and stayed so long we needed refills. It was joy in January.

 Someone recommended a visit to Sally’s Second Act Thrift Shop, located right across the road. (The building was previously a service station.) Sally turned out to be the manikin of the store’s owner, Monica Martinet. Sally, seated near the cash register, was pale but pretty. Her tresses were murky blond. The lacey bosom of Sally’s black jersey dress was adorned with a blood red rose. She wore a black bow tie, black plastic top hat, black high top shoes. She held a basket of bejeweled hairpins in one hand. It seemed to be attire for the night of December 31 because a “Happy New Year” top hat rested on her lap. “She’s been my manikin for ever,” Monica said fondly. Monica said her shop “is a thrift shop plus and almost feels like a general store”.

It took us an hour to browse the contents of the three rooms where we found treasure amongst the books, clothes, footwear, dishes, craft supplies, miscellany galore. The prices were reasonable, the store clean and airy with a pleasant fragrance teasing the air. Jeans in all sizes filled several racks. Wow!

If your belongings were flooded last summer and you could use some different duds, Monica is offering free clothing and shoes – even to adults and children from as far away as Northfield. Also, free books, toys, and linens while they last. The store is open weekdays.

Byron Carpenter told us he’s having no problem getting through January. “I’m doing everything, that’s how I do it. Housework, outside work, cleaning the roof, using the charge card, paying the bills. Then it’s time to go back to bed.” His wife, Eunice, chimed in, “He has to be busy.” They live on the Berlin side of Chandler Road.

Bill and Karen Baker are driving January away with their car. They recently drove to Rhode Island to visit family members. That wasn’t enough to drive the days completely away so they made a trip to visit longtime friends in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Karen’s enjoying a new audio book subscription that she downloads to her phone and listens to with headphones.

When the sun is setting, fortunate are those who happen to glance up at the church overlooking the Common with its new steeple and new clock. Last week, as the white hands pointed to 4:19, the last rays of sun emblazoned the west and north facing walls. Image: ledge of shining copper underneath square walls of brilliant white clapboards. Black clock faces. Golden Roman numerals. White hands. 4:19 p.m. and all was well. * commontalk@ trans- video.net Thanks to all this week’s participants, and the steeple.