Peeping through my Venetian blind, I saw Miss Flora Covington, coming up the path to my garden gate with a little pot of primroses in her hand.

It was cold weather; so, I hurried her in and shut my door against the winter wind, thinking all the while of the old poetic line, “Oh, how the wind doth blow!”

As we sipped hot tea and ate some lemon squares given me by Jimmy Ponds, we talked primroses and other subjects, such as the birthday party given Buddy Brunson.

Buddy Brunson was honored by his wife of 57 years, Betty, with an 80th birthday celebration on Saturday afternoon, December 19, in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church, East Three-Notch. Buddy’s actual birthday is December 21.

Alane, the Brunsons’ daughter-in-law, decorated the hall in brilliant lime green and silver.

Suzi Maddox, daughter of Buddy, and her Marlee, Buddy’s granddaughter, helped with decorating and with arranging the party food on a buffet table.

Windows were dressed with magnolia leaves with insets of lime-green balls.

Tables for the guests were covered in white cloths with centerpieces of vases on mirror bases. Silver balls amid cedar sprigs filled each vase; and “silver bells,” candy kisses, surrounded each centerpiece.

Also used were lime table runners, silver and lime bows, and green napkins.

Placed about the room were stations for coffee, punch, and gifts.

The punch was made of white grape juice, pineapple juice, and Sprite.

Several helped arrange the food they had prepared to serve. They were Dee Brunson, Janet Brunson, Beth McKenzie, Vickie English, and Shirley Henderson.

One of the favorite treats was divinity made by Greg Brunson, brother of Buddy. He makes this delicious candy every Christmas for family and friends.

The immediate family attending were as follows: the Brunsons’ son Art of Andalusia and his wife Alane and their son Nicholas; the Brunsons’ daughter, Suzi Maddox of Mobile, and her husband Keith and their children, Marlee and Blake; Buddy’s brother Winston of Enterprise and his wife Dee and their daughter, Lynn Otto; Buddy’s sister, Vickie English of Decatur, and her daughter, Beth McKenzie; Buddy’s brother, Greg of Brunson Hill, Elba, his wife Janet, and their son Chris.

On the buffet were iced green squares, iced muffins, chicken-salad sandwiches, pimiento sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, cheese straws, chocolate-covered peanuts, fruitcake squares, fudge, petit fours, peppermint bark, a cheese log and crackers, cream cheese topped with pepper jelly or with orange marmalade, and trail mix.

One of the guests, Kim Dyess, was heard to say to another guest, Gillis Jones, “I might have known you’d have a plate in front of you.”

Joining this celebration and keeping a record of attendance was Wilma Moore.

Nancy Robbins directed the guests to the celebration.

Buddy was pleased that approximately one hundred guests came to celebrate with him and his family on this very special day.

Fifty Forward, the fellowship group for the senior adults of First Baptist Church, met January 7 for supper at Hilltop Restaurant.

Enjoying steak and other dishes were Kittye Wyatt, Buddy and Betty Brunson, Bea Miller, Billy Beech, Hazel Griffin, Morgan and Wilma Moore, Doug Golden, Vivian Hickey, June Smith, Betty Bass, Bill Law, Gillis and Laura Ann Jones, Joe Wingard, Herb and Sue Carlisle, and Kim Dyess.

My cousin, Byron Golden of Montgomery, tells me that in certain Montgomery circles Andalusia is known as “Aunt Lucy.”

Seen out and about were Tim Willis, Johnny and Nelda Godwin, Bill Law, Randy Wahl, Caroline Picking, Susan Underwood, and Nancy Sallans, wife of a former pastor in Andalusia, Dale Sallans, now living in Slocomb.

Educators, belonging to the Alabama Education Association, and living in District 24 (Conecuh, Covington, and Escambia counties), met January 11 at Reid State in Evergreen for their monthly business and supper.

Teresa Hultz, president, presided.

This year Genia and Earl Dorman decided to turn their annual Christmas party into a mini class reunion for the Andalusia High School Class of 1960.

December 16 their home on Rose Drive was decked to the hilt in Christmas splendor, inside and out, with a slowly twirling Christmas tree on the front porch. Reception rooms were laden with a huge assortment of goodies, including sausage balls, assorted cheese balls, dips and spread, crackers and chips, tiny sausages in barbecue sauce, cookies, candy, hot apple cider, and other beverages.

The party began at 2:00 p.m., followed by a scrumptious buffet dinner for twenty, served at 6:00 p.m.. Amazing Grace of Dozier prepared glazed baked ham, fried chicken tenders, steamed broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, scalloped potatoes, green beans, cole slaw, and homemade yeast rolls.

Genia’s desserts included icebox fruitcake, pecan pie (perfectly baked by Genia), Lane cake, and chocolate and vanilla puddings.

Taylor and Emily Wood, the grown-up granddaughters of Jenelle and Dickie Ennis, assisted in serving the lovely dinner.

Genia’s collection of memorabilia from elementary and high-school years was set up for everyone to enjoy. An album honoring deceased classmates was also on view. As guests departed, they were invited to pick up mementos of the evening – Mason jars filled with a variety of Genia’s homemade treats, including sweet pickles, pepper jelly, and her own Chex Mix.

Classmates and guests who attended were Jimmy Cobb, Sue (Meredith) and Ashton Wells, Phil and Linda Tisdale, Charles Studstill, Robert Anderson, Jenelle (Godwin) and Dickie Ennis, Linda ( Brogden) and Carl Palmer, former Senator Ted Little, Donnie and Glenda Sharpe, Marianne (Merrill) and Al Weber, Julia (Watts) Missildine, and her daughter-in-law, Fran, and Jim and Stacey Cooper.

Everyone departed with blissful visions of another happy class reunion in the not-too-distant future and, of course, good wishes to all for a very “Merry Christmas!”

Thank you to Linda Palmer for writing up the Dorman Christmas party.

Once 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.

The mysterian is the member of the AHS Class of 1926, still living.

January 13 was the birthday of an American novelist and preacher, Horatio Alger. His stories seemed always to be about poor boys who, through hard work, became rich. They were known as “rags-to-riches” stories.

Miss Annalee Simmons, who taught English at the Andalusia High School in its golden age, once told me that she read the Horatio Alger stories as a girl and worked hard, believing that would make her rich. When she did not become rich, she turned on Horatio Alger with deep resentment and scorn.

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.