Peeping through my Venetian blind, I saw Miss Cora Covington, heading my way from Covington Hall. It turned out that she was bringing over a pear cobbler. We melted some cheese over our portions and, later, added ice cream for our second helpings. Hmmm! Good!

Billy Beech of the First Baptist Church Adult Choir, a tenor, sang the classic Christian solo, “Follow Me,” in the opening assembly of the distinguished Baraca Class last Sunday, October l3. He was accompanied by Martha (James) Givhan at the Ann Martin Memorial Piano.

The Baraca Class that day was taught by Herb Carlisle in place of the regular teacher, Richard Pass, whose wife, Georgette, was ill.

Seen at Simone’s restaurant this past Sunday for its second Sunday brunch were David and Linda Finlin, Ann Hammonds, Natasha Mallory, Dan and Rita McMullen, Maegan McMullen and Lexy Aldrich.

Seen at Simone’s for Tuesday lunch were Pat Palmore, Sara Catherine (Short) Patrick, and young John Tisdale.

Seen at the Corner Market Restaurant, which has been purchased by Anthony King, were Alan Williamson, Joyce Leddon and Andrew Johnson.

I enjoyed a table visit with Alan Williamson, who is co-owner of the Covington Casket Company on North Cotton, with his brother, Eddie.

The Williamson men have a sister, Phyllis, whom the late Jim Nettles, once bandmaster at the Andalusia High School, selected as the first female drum major in AHS history.

Alan and I talked of his mother, Dorcas, of the late Theo and Myrtle Ruth (Everage) Welch and their grocery at the corner of Stanley and Lindsey Bridge Road (replaced by a Gitty-Up-N-Go) of Alan’s childhood friend, Jim Walker, who lived next door to Welch’s Grocery, of Mark Everage, and of Thomasville, Ga., where Alan does business and has eaten in its famous Farmers’ Market (also enjoyed by Roy and Lynn Parker and by the Portly Gentleman).

Seen last Saturday evening at the Hilltop for supper were Jerry and Linda Andrews, enjoying their barbecue sandwiches. In addition, Jerry also enjoyed a platter of raw oysters, which puts me in mind of that old line of Jonathan Swift, “He was a bold man that first eat an oyster!”

Also seen at Green’s Hilltop were Roy Barnes, AHS Class of 1971; his daughter, Gracey; and her husband, Brandon Truitt. Gracey and Brandon are newlyweds, having been married Sept. 27, not a month ago.

Before I left the Hilltop, I rocked awhile on the porch and enjoyed the fall evening. Billy Green, the owner, rocked to my right; his wife, to my left. I asked about his sister, Dianne, who used to run Green’s Barbecue down the hill by the Conecuh River, once run by their parents.

We also discussed Billy’s mother, Mrs. Green, and her faithful companion, Jo Florence.

Also, I sampled some of the Hilltop’s camp stew, which is delicious, and has been selling by the potsful!

Representatives of the Alabama Education Association members in Conecuh, Covington and Escambia counties (AEA District 24) assembled at Reid State Community College in Evergreen Monday night, Oct. 14, for their first monthly meeting of the academic year, 2013-2014.

The new district director, Jan Pastin Locke, formerly with the Covington County schools, spoke to those present. She replaces Vivian Jones of Brewton, who resigned as director July 3.

Presiding was Jimmy Ponds, librarian at Straughn Elementary. Mr. Ponds is serving in the first year of his two-year term as president of District 24, a post he has filled before.  He is also president of the AEA members, working in Covington County schools.
Following business, a “pot-luck” supper was enjoyed.

The next meeting was set for Nov. 18 at 6 p.m., again at Reid State.

The celebration of the 200th anniversary of the War of l8l2 continues.

Again, I ask that citizens 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 150 years ago.

The Confederate submarine, H. L. Hunley, sank for the second time during a practice dive in Charleston Harbor. The inventor and seven-man crew drowned. (The submarine would be raised for a third attempt.)

Federal Gen. U. S. Grant was made commander of a newly organized army, the Military Division of the Mississippi. Grant left Vicksburg for Illinois to assume this new post.

As part of his re-organization, Grant replaced General Rosecrans, who had failed at Chickamauga in Georgia, with General Thomas, the hero of Chickamauga.

For those who collect stamps, consider those associated with the War of 1812 and the Sesquicentennial of “the War.”

For the eighth week the mysterian is still a mystery. The answer is part of a riddle. “Where can one park at Straughn and yet not be at Straughn?”

Birthdays this week are those of Virgil, a Roman poet; Helen Hunt Jackson, an American poet who wrote “October’s Bright, Blue Weather”; and Noah Webster, an American lexicographer (maker of dictionaries), still known for his dictionary, not to be confused with Daniel Webster, the senator from Massachusetts.

October 15 was Poetry Day, as well as the birthday of Virgil and Helen Hunt Jackson.

Virgil was considered the greatest writer the world had ever known until Shakespeare came along.

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

Fare thee well.