Peeping through my Venetian blind, my eyes were flooded with spring colors over at Covington Hall – pansies, violas, Sweet Williams (pinks, as Judy Buck calls them), foxgloves, fire-thorn blooms, verbena, red clover, white clover, yellow clover, primroses, spiderworts, bridal wreath, redtops, Indian cane, Indian hawthorne, sunset iris, bluets, purity, snowballs, fringe tree (“grancy greybeard”), banana shrub, Lady Banks roses, Knock-out roses, honeysuckle, Seven Sisters roses, parsley.

I could see Miss Flora, gathering a bouquet over the way.

The public is invited to the classical piano recital of John David Thompson, a senior in the Andalusia High School Class of 2013, on Thurs., April 25, at 6:30 p.m. in First Baptist Church. He is a tremendously talented young man, destined for great things.

Seen at Tabby D’s for lunch were Marvin and Jeanette Britt, Maggie Shelley, James and Jenelle Jones and Andy and Mickey Riley and their darling grandchild.

The children’s Bible drill of First Baptist Church was witnessed Sun., April 7, in the auditorium. Participating were Lexi Aldrecht and West Parker of the fifth grade, Ada Short of the fourth grade, and Abigail Lee and Hannah Grace Blackstock of the third grade.

In their age bracket Lexi, West, and Ada went on to qualify for the regional drill by participating successfully in the associational Bible drill Sunday afternoon, April 14, in the county Baptist headquarters along U.S. Hwy. 84.

Their sponsor is Joan (Hill) Mitchell, assisted by her husband, James.

Mrs. Mitchell has worked for more than 20 years with the Baptist Bible drill, beginning with First Baptist in Selma.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have youth from all the Baptist churches in the county participate? I wonder if other Christian groups have Bible drills. When I taught school, I found that the Baptists knew more about the Bible than any other group, except the Church of Christ, who seemed to have had the best Bible training.

If anyone plans to have a party for graduating seniors this spring, please share the information with me for this column. Thank you.

Erica Ziglar, a freshman at Lurleen Burns Wallace Community College, played “How Great Thou Art” on her trumpet as a special in the distinguished Baraca Class Sunday-School assembly last Sunday. She was accompanied by Martha (James) Givhan at the Ann Martin Memorial piano in the chapel of First Baptist. Mrs. Givhan is church organist.

Also last Sunday morning One Accord, the professionally sounding ladies ensemble of First Baptist, sang “Be Thou My Vision” (a cappella) and “Blessed Assurance.”

This past year the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama was ranked number one among state attractions that charge admission.

The next nine high-ranking attractions, in order, were the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, the Birmingham Zoo, the McWane Science Center in Birmingham, the USS Alabama Battleship Park in Mobile, the Montgomery Zoo, Huntsville Botanical Garden, Early Works Museum Complex in Huntsville, the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, and Point Mallard Park in Decatur.

The Covington Rifles Camp 1586 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans met the evening of April 4 in the Dixon Memorial of the Andalusia Public Library.

Sir Francis McGowin, camp commander, presided.

“Hank” Roberts, chaplain, worded the invocation and benediction.

Derick Davis led pledges to the flags.

All remained standing to sing “Dixie.”

A certificate of membership was presented to Lucas “Luke” Stuart Bowers, descended from Jefferson Sylvanus Thomasson, his great-great-great-grandfather who fought in the War Between the States.

Sir Francis presented a program on little known facts of history, as well as a tribute to Homer Orcutt, a former commander of Camp 1586.

A round-table discussion followed.

Posters were distributed, emphasizing that April, in Alabama, is Confederate History Month.

Attending were Derick Davis, Sir Francis McGowin, Ken Reeves, Joe Wingard, Curtis Hampton Thomasson (past camp commander), “Hank” Roberts, Lucas Stuart Bowers from Perdido Bay, Vaughn Bowers, Janice Wallace from Newnan, Ga., and John Allen Gantt.

This year is the 200th anniversary of the massacre at Fort Mims, Aug. 30, 1813. The Redstick Creek Indians killed those within the fort.

The Murals Committee of our town met April 16 in a conference room of City Hall (formerly, East Three-Notch Elementary School) to discuss the eighth mural proposed for Andalusia.

This one depicts scenes from the former Alatex shirt factory in eleven panels at the entrance to the old site along River Falls Street, where now the new chamber of commerce is located in the old Alatex administration building.

Members of the committee were led in prayer by Pat Palmore, chairman.

The committee discussed the contents of the mural with Wes Hardin of Dothan, who has painted all seven of the murals thus far.

All thought that the Alatex workers should be emphasized.

Attending were Pat Palmore, Mary Lee Howard, Elaine Manning, David Fuqua, Nancy Robbins, Robert Anderson, Hazel Griffin and Joe Wingard.

Fuqua now divides his time between Andalusia and Birmingham. His mother, Jean (Carter) Fuqua, is recuperating from her illness in the home of Fuqua’s brother.

The senior adults of First Baptist, East Three-Notch, assembled for their monthly luncheon April 16 in the church’s Fellowship Hall.

Gordon Vickers, director of senior adults, presided.

Tables were appointed by Kittye Wyatt with floral napkins and centerpieces of amaryllis, donated by Morgan and Wilma Moore from the garden of their town house.

Dr. Moore is chairman of the Senior Adult Council.

The buffet was catered by Hilltop and included beef tips and gravy over mashed potatoes, green beans, fried bread and rolls, tea, and Dean’s caramel cake.

Hmmmm! Good!

The blessing was worded by Joe Wingard; the benediction, by Dr. Fred Karthaus, pastor.

Wilma Moore and Sarah Gene Clark were wished a “Happy Birthday” in song, led by Dwight Crigger, minister of music.

Herb and Sue Carlisle were wished a “Happy Anniversary.”

The speaker was Otis Corbitt III, new director of missions for the Covington Baptist Association, as of last September 16. Bro. Corbitt spoke on methods of mission work.

Born in Phenix City, but reared and educated in Columbus, Ga., Corbitt finished Columbus State University.

He and his wife, Geri, a teacher in Luverne, have an adult son who works at WAKA Channel 8 in Montgomery and a daughter at The University of Alabama.

Corbitt’s work has included being pastor of Baptist churches in Alabama and Georgia, a Baptist missionary, and a National Guard chaplain (Iraq in 2010).

Some senior adults of First Baptist gathered April 9 for supper at David’s Catfish here in the “Dimple of Dixie.”

Enjoying the fellowship were Morgan and Wilma Moore, Bill Law, Kittye Wyatt, June Smith, Buddy and Betty Brunson, Vivian Hickey and Gordon Vickers.

The celebration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 continues.

Again, I ask that each citizen of Andalusia 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, AL 36420. Include your e-mail address if you wish to be reminded of upcoming meetings.

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

The CSS Alabama seized two federal ships. President Lincoln declared that West Virginia entered the Union as of June 20, 1863. Congress had approved the bill, declaring West Virginia a state. (West Virginia was carved out of Old Virginia during the War because so many of the citizens in the northwestern mountains of Virginia favored the Union. There are those who still think West Virginia was never made a state, (constitutionally.) Northern Col. Benjamin Grierson led 1,700 troops on a 16-day raid, covering 600 miles in Mississippi.

A fleet of 12 Federal vessels successfully escaped the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg on the Mississippi River. (The North was “closing in” on Vicksburg, a Southern strong hole.)

Stamps can be purchased to recall the Sesquicentennial and War of 1812.

Mavene Nichols correctly identified the mysterian as Ollie Blount, former waiter at the Gables Motor Hotel, run by Grace Larson. Congratulations!

I wish there were an historical registry to list alphabetically the “characters” in Andalusia history, a kind of reference for the curious. Anecdotes such as the following could be preserved.

Kate Head, wife of a local sheriff, known for her colorful language, was in the Baptist church, trying to find the book of Esther in the Bible, as I hear tell. She looked and looked without any success and finally blurted out, “Where is that old hussy!?”

The new mysterian was principal of the Andalusia High School for eight years, superintendent of the Auburn City Schools, state superintendent of education, and president of Auburn University. Who is he?

Birthdays this week are those of Noah Webster, lexicographer (dictionary maker) (not to be confused with Daniel Webster, senator from Massachusetts); and William Gilmore Simms, the most important writer in the South prior to the War Between the States.

Simms, born, now buried in Charleston, S.C., was a novelist, poet, historian, essayist, biographer, critic, and editor of magazines and newspapers.

Paul Revere, American silversmith, made his famous ride through the countryside, warning Americans that the British were coming, April l8, 1775. This deed was made famous through a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the single-most important poet in American history. Generations of school children have memorized the lines by Longfellow about Revere, beginning, “Listen, my children, and you shall hear.”

The Battle of Lexington and Concord in the Revolutionary War was fought April 19, 1775, following Revere’s ride.

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

Have you invited someone to church this week?

I invite you.

Fare thee well.