Peeping through my Venetian blind, I noted the beautiful plants, framed by my window – snowballs, honeysuckle, amaryllis, buttercups (primroses), Lady Banks roses, red-tops, iris, peacock lilies, Indian hawthorne, and grancy greybeard.

The sight of the buttercups put me in mind of walking to school as a child. We used to pull the buttercups and invite our friends to smell, which always resulted in yellow pollen all over the smeller’s nose, accompanied by much laughter.

Recent holidays have reminded me of traditions.

Palm Sunday some wear little palm fronds on their clothing in remembrance of the day Christ entered Jerusalem.

Easter, though mainly a religious holiday, has its secular side.

For example, my mother used to prepare Easter baskets and hide them in the house for us children to find on Easter morning.

She used real eggs, by the way, not plastic ones.

My grandmother also prepared baskets for the house for us to find. She also made little nests of real eggs for us to find outside in the garden.

One of my dearest treasures is a small set of toy rabbits, placed in an Easter basket by my grandmother.

My friend, S. Daniel Shehan of Savannah, made me aware of a song, new to him this year. It’s called “Saint Patrick’s Day in Savannah.” He learned to play it and did so in celebration of the day this March 17.

March came in like a lion this year, and it went out like a lamb, true to tradition.

Chris Wilson was in town recently to visit his parents, Roy and Audrey (Thomasson) Wilson.

The distinguished Baraca Class for the oldest men of First Baptist Church enjoyed two pieces of special music the other Sunday during their Sunday-School assembly.

First, there was young Colby Lee, son of Randall and Katie Lee, and an eighth-grader in the Andalusia Junior High School.

Colby was accompanied by Sonja Crigger, church pianist, as he played “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” on the Ann Martin Memorial piano.

Second, Rogerl Reeves sang “It Is Well.”

Mrs. Crigger played for the class theme song and hymn.

Driving up to Montgomery, I was relieved to find I-65 clear for traffic, though one lane was closed. I feared there would be a traffic jam because of the roadwork above Greenville.

Seen for the Friday-night buffet at Tabby D’s were Esker and Ann Thomasson, Virginia Merritt, Trudie Steele (the artist), the youthful Tripp and Regina Bass (newly, grandparents of twin boys), and Jimmy Cox and his mother, Doyce.

The Covington Historical Society met March 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Dixon Memorial of the Andalusia Public Library.

Dr. Morgan Moore, president, presided for the 404th meeting.

Bill Law led in prayer.

All pledged the flag.

Sue (Bass) Wilson, vice-president, played the state song, “Alabama,” for all to sing.

Guests were introduced.

The secretary, Nancy Robbins, distributed the minutes.

The treasurer, George Harmon Proctor, made his report.

Mrs. Wilson announced that the latest newsletter had been published. Copies were distributed.

Addresses were collected to update a club yearbook.

Those providing refreshments were recognized – Harmon Proctor, Sue Wilson, Bill Law, and the ever-faithful Ottis and Betty Reynolds.

A sheet was passed to sign up to provide future refreshments.

Dues of $25 a year were collected. A payment of $200 provides a lifetime membership.

A book by Bill Hansford, called Andalusia, is being published. Profits will go to the historical society.

Brenda Gouge presented the program on genealogical research. One particularly interesting hint was to spray shaving cream on old tombstones to make the words stand out for reading.

Refreshments followed the program.

If you collect stamps, now is the time to buy stamps commemorating the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States and the War of 1812.

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.

To commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States, let us return to this month 150 years ago.

Northern General Wilson took the town of Selma, Alabama, destroying its iron and coal works. Southern Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, headquartered in Montevallo, Alabama, resisted.

Southern General Pickett moved his troops from their defensive position at Petersburg, thus, some believe, beginning the end of the Confederate defense of the South’s capital, nearby Richmond, Virginia, where the Confederate government was headquartered.

At Mobile, Alabama, both Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely were besieged and taken.

Southern Gen. Lee advised Confederate President Davis to evacuate Richmond. Davis and his party fled south to Danville, Virginia, and then Greensborough, North Carolina.

The Federals broke through Lee’s siege lines at Petersburg.

Richmond fell to the North April 3.

Wilson and Forrest clashed at Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

President Lincoln appeared in Richmond April 4.

On April 9 Lee surrendered to General Grant at the McLean farm in Appomattox Court House, Virginia.

At a victory celebration in Washington Lincoln requested that “Dixie” be played.

The mysterian is Miss Mattie Waters. Who was she?

Recent birthdays are those of Joseph Haydn, an Austrian composer; Hans Christian Andersen, Danish writer of fairy tales, such as “The Little Mermaid”; Washington Irving, American writer of short stories, such as “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”; William Wordsworth, English poet; and William Hazlitt, English essayist.

Hazlitt wrote the best essay I have ever read.

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.