Peeping through my Venetian blind, I could just see across the way the delicate, pink coral vine, curling over one of Miss Flora Covington’s trellises. I recalled another such coral vine, covering one end of the large porch on Holley Hill, the home of Robert and Bernice (Stokes) Holley. I used to love to sit in the porch swing, backed by the coral vine, and talk with Bernice by the hour. Those were happy days!

Miss Priscilla Primme, the English teacher, tells me that the new brick-column-and-iron-wrought-picket fence at Andalusia Memorial Cemetery along Easley Road is finished and looks handsome.

Miss Birdie Purdie informed me that the little “trail” at our public library, the one leading from the parking lot to the doors of the Dixon Memorial (meeting room), has been paved with bricks, handsomely. Hardly anybody went around to the paved walk to gain entry. The public pressure (literally) had formed a shortcut across the grass years ago. We shall call it the Path Inevitable.

Miss Flora praised the row of Knock-Out roses, planted recently across the front of Springdale, the old Scherf estate along East Three-Notch. The land around City Hall and Springdale is being beautified to the nth degree.

The bed of periwinkle at the Dairy Queen looks good, too. The DQ is the oldest eatery in our capital of Covington County still in operation, dating from l950.

This Monday, September 5, the 63rd Labor Day Barbecue and Greek Pastry Sale is set from the Greek Orthodox Church on Mt. Meigs Road, Montgomery. Plates include barbecue (pork, chicken, or lamb) with camp stew, slaw, and bread. Pastries are sold separately.

Seen at David’s Catfish for supper were Gary and Loraine Sutton, and Joel and Alice Calhoun. Joel is pastor of West Highland Assembly of God.

Robert Lee Holley reports another good, weekend, seafood buffet, the Rocky Creek Seafood Restaurant over in Daleville, just past Enterprise and just off 84-East, the Dothan road. The owners are the Gautneys. Rocky Creek has been open about eight years. The fried oysters are especially fine.

Seen at the hospital cafeteria for Sunday lunch were A.G. and Pat Palmore, Dan and Virginia Frasher, Betty Bass, John Hill, Gillis “Combman” Jones, Rayford and Carolyn Davis, John and Mary Lee Howard and their daughters, Paricia and Sueanna, and Kent Barnes.

Kent Barnes is retired from 20 years in the Navy but is still working as a purchasing agent for the county agent.

Seen at the Huddle House for supper were Mike and Donna Cauley.

Nina Keenam and I ran into each other at Tabby D.’s the other day. Nina’s late husband, Claude, was a teacher at the Andalusia High School, a Methodist minister, and a writer of mystery stories. Nina spoke of how she misses him, sitting beside her in church, and how she misses his hand on her shoulder as she led him up the aisle to communion. Claude was blind in his later years.

Nina told me that Claude’s sister in Birmingham is a neighbor to another ol’ AHS teacher, Joe Gamble, who taught science and was a devoted Bulldogs fan. Joe, like Claude, became blind and a Methodist preacher.

Nina writes a Saturday column in our paper.

Also seen at Tabby D.’s were Maggie Shelley, Mickey Riley, James and Jenelle Jones, and Emma Locke.

Seen at Hook’s for supper were Roger and Cathy (Powell) Powell.

A lovely home-and-garden party was given for the engaged couple, Lauren Park and Corey Brawner, Sunday afternoon, August 28, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the attractive home of David and Laura Darby on Stratford Court.

Co-hosts were Buddy and Pam Brannon, Todd and Jackie Caton, John and Martha Givhan, Ray and Melba Kelley, David and Carol Moore, Cam and Sharyn Smith, Brownie and Gina Woodall, and Ray and Mikelyn Clausen.

Guests took him-and-her gifts, suitable for house or garden.

Tables were placed around the pool, on the lawn, and under shelters with candle stands spaced between. Each table was covered with white cloth, topped with blue-and-yellow runners and a burlap-wrapped vase of sunflowers.

David Darby worded the blessing for the meal and the couple.

Green’s catered a buffet of barbecue, baked beans, and potato salad with tea and soft drinks.

Dessert was homemade ice cream, vanilla, chocolate, or peach.

An estimated 75 – l00 attended.

The Luncheon Pilot Club has planned a “Treasures ‘n’ Treats” garage-and-bake sale next Saturday, September l0, 6:00 a.m. – noon at the Andalusia Chamber of Commerce.

Rogerl Reeves sang a solo, ‘I’d Rather Have Jesus,” in the Baraca Class Sunday-School assembly last Sunday, accompanied by Martha (James) Givhan at the Ann Martin Memorial Piano.

In morning worship at First Baptist last weekend Allie Karthaus, Garrett Davis, and Coleman Thompson were given plaques and applause for their participation in the state-wide Bible Drill. Their faithful sponsor is Joan (Hill) Mitchell.

Also during the service Dr. Fred Karthaus, pastor, baptized young Noah Gooden.

Erica Ziglar, a senior at Straughn School, played a trumpet solo, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” in honor of the late Jaime Prestwood, who had once requested the song from Erica. Erica was accompanied by Jeanice (Paul) Kirkland, pianist.

The Adult Choir, directed by Dwight Crigger, sang “My Hope,” with the solo section being sung beautifully by Charlotte Rogers.

The Luncheon Pilot Club of Andalusia met August 25 in Tabby D.’s.

President Marianne Wilder presided.

After pledges to the American and Alabama flags, Mary Jane Winkler presented a devotional, consisting of a poem and a prayer.

Teresa Mabrey took roll.

Gladys Trawick of the Patriotism Committee presented the guest speaker, Joe Wingard, who spoke on “Patriotism.”

Wingard spoke of outer and inner patriotism; then, concluded with the following statements: “There was a time not long ago that I had no trouble with patriotism, outer or inner. Our government was in line with Christianity.

“Now, however, when our government and its courts allow abortions, turn their backs on God, and smile at same-sex ‘marriage’ – to name a few conflicts with Christianity – I don’t feel so patriotic.

“I want to be loyal to the United States but not the United Sins. U.S. can stand for both.

“My first loyalty is to God, not the federal government, especially when the federal government is at odds with God.

“I’ve decided that America is really the people and the land, and I can love both.

“The federal government may think it’s America, but I don’t. It has money and power, but I don’t think it has God’s blessings anymore. I think it’s going under, and the time is coming when you and I shall have to decide between being a good Christian or a good American. I don’t think we can be both much longer.

“If our government fails – and it seems to be failing fast – we can start over and do better. After all, our forefathers encouraged that very action in ‘The Declaration of Independence.’

“Patriotism – the love of one’s country – the people, the land, and the government, but only if the government is in step with God.”

Eight Pilot Club members from the two Andalusia Pilot Clubs toured Camp ASCCA (Alabama Special Camp for Children and Adults) on Lake Martin in Jacksons’ Gap August l6.

The Pilots enjoyed “Taco Tuesday” with the adult campers.

The visit was coordinated by Benny Jo Sasser of Andalusia, the Alabama District governor.

The Pilots from here went during the last summer session though the camp stays open all year.

To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible, I quote John Ruskin, the English artist-author: “Read your Bible. Make it your daily business to obey it in all you understand. To my early knowledge of the Bible I owe the best part of my tests for literature.”

Again I ask that each citizen of Andalusia join the Covington Historical Society and pay its annual dues of $25 so as to help preserve the history of our county, whether you attend meetings or not. Mail to CHS, P.O. Box l582, Andalusia 36420.

CHS President Sue (Bass) Wilson asked me to include the address of a new CHS website: www.3nmsm.com..

To commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States, let us return to this week l50 years ago.

Northern Gen. John Fremont declared martial law in Missouri, confiscated property of those taking up arms against the federal government, and made an emancipation proclamation, declaring slaves of those who were pro-South to be free men.

President Lincoln called Fremont’s actions “dictatorial.” Lincoln feared that Fremont’s actions would alienate federal sympathizers in the South, especially in Kentucky. (He may have been fearful and jealous, too, that Fremont was “stealing his thunder,” since the men were political rivals.)

(If Lincoln called Fremont a dictator; then, in all fairness Lincoln would have to call himself a dictator, too, considering his own actions during his war.)

General Polk of the South ordered Southern troops into Kentucky to hold Confederate positions there.

Remember to buy Sesquicentennial stamps and the new Mark Twain stamp, too.

Romaine Tadlock identified last week’s mysterian, Bebe (Faircloth) Greene, long-time teacher at the Andalusia High School, still going strong.

The new cluegraph is as follows: kind, sensitive to others’ feelings, a Christian lady, faithful wife, loving mother of one son, collector of Christmas decorations, grandmother, neat, organized, excellent cook, pleasant, but not a very good swimmer.

Notable birthdays this past week were those of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German novelist and poet; Lev Tolstoy, the Russian novelist; Oliver Wendell Holmes, an American physician, essayist and poet; Eugene Field, a newspaper poet known for his poems about children; and Sarah Orne Jewett, an American essayist.

The Treaty of Paris officially ended the American Revolutionary War on this date in l783.

Goethe is to Germany what Shakespeare is to England – its greatest writer. Goethe wrote the two-part play, Faust, about the man who sold his soul to the Devil for youth and pleasure. This play was later made into an opera of the same name by Charles Gounod of France.

Tolstoy wrote perhaps the greatest novel in the history of the world, War and Peace.

I stood at the grave of Holmes in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts, one cold and snow-blanketed day. I have admired this old doctor since my youth. He was a man of letters with his philosophical essays and poems such as “The Chambered Nautilus.” One of his pieces, “Old Ironsides,” saved that famous ship from destruction. It still floats on the Charles River of Cambridge/Boston to this day. Dear ol’ Holmes! To crown his reputation, he was part of the inner circle of Longfellow. That alone is fame enough!

Field’s poems for children still are heard today, such as the one Mrs. Wilson reads to Dennis in the Dennis the Menace film.

Sarah Orne Jewett’s book of essays, Country of the Pointed Firs, is loveliness itself.

Now, gentle reader, allow me to encourage each of us to be in his place of worship this weekend, Lord willing. Fare thee well.