Peeping through my Venetian blind, I noted in the distance the elderberry blooms and pink mimosa with its delicate, sweet perfume, so associated with the lazy days of summer.

Seen at the Friday-night buffet at Tabby D’s were Donald and Judy Knox, their granddaughter, Scarlett, and her husband, Justin Shiver, with their little girl, Ella, down from Montgomery for a wedding, Esker and Ann Thomasson, Martha Duggan, Glenn Smith, Judge Jerry Stokes, David Little, Andy and Christy Clanton, and the Portly Gentleman.

Seen at David’s for supper were Bobby and Judy Scott, Jimmy and Tammy Cox, Mary Susan (Taylor) with her husband, her brother Kendall, and his wife, John Dugger and daughter, Danny and Barbara Posey, Ed and Gloria Short, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Grimes, Debbie Casey, Wayne and Lenora Johnson, James and Joan Hill, Vickie Shaw, Janet Stahler, Coach Trent Taylor, and Gary Hall, who spent 39 years at Opp High School and 1 year at the Andalusia High School, teaching horticulture. With his extra time he spent 41 years in education and is now retired.

I sat a long time on the front porch of David’s, enjoying the cool breeze and talking with Dennis Knowles, pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church at Loango, his wife Darby, and his associate and youth pastor, Russell Broussard.

Dr. and Mrs. Rainer Birk were hosts for a dinner, honoring Sammy Tang, recent graduate of the Culinary Arts Program at Lurleen Burns Wallace Community College, Thursday, May 7.

The honoree, Sammy had assisted Mrs. Birk in preparing the meal for his friends.

The variety of food was a real treat for most of the guests because they had never eaten authentic Colombian and Argentinian dishes. (Sammy is from Colombia.)

A special guest at the party was Sammy’s mother, Suil Tang, who came directly from her flight from Colombia to the party.

After a trip to Europe, Mrs. Tang and Sammy plan to return to Colombia where he hopes to continue his studies toward a BS degree in gastronomy and business management.

Guests presented gifts to Sammy, along with expressions of hope that he will return to the USA soon. Sammy responded with a promise to return and with his gratitude for the many friends he has made here in Andalusia and “for the most wonderful experience of my life.”

The Baraca Class of First Baptist, the Sunday-School class for the oldest men in the congregation, enjoyed their annual steak dinner at Hilltop Restaurant recently. This steak dinner is a tradition with the men, who invite their wives and other guests.

Those attending were Herb and Sue Carlisle, Charley Cope, Dan and Virginia Frasher, Bill Law, Frank and Tina Moore, A.G. and Pat Palmore, Claude and Nan Pike, Darwin Pippin, Kevin Price and his mother, Lucy Martin, Larry Shaw, Cindy Shaw, Gordon and Trudy Vickers, Fred and Connie Karthaus, and several guests.

The blessing was worded by Dr. Fred Karthaus, pastor of First Baptist.

Martha (James) Givhan, a local piano teacher, organist at First Baptist, and pianist for the distinguished Baraca Class, sponsored for her pupils two afternoon piano recitals, Sunday, May 3, in the Baraca Chapel of First Baptist, one at 2:00 p.m. and one at 3:30 p.m..

Playing in the first recital were C. J. Philpott, Madeline Pugh, Madeline Miller, Alyssa Leroy, Mary Faith Mitchell, Vance Kelley, Riley Grace Lowery, Ashland Kelley, Caroline Courson, Addison Mount, Collin Ward, Anna Kate Courson, Lauren Guilford, Caleb Evers, Ellis Mount, Caroline Andrews, Ali Brown (a senior), and Jonathan Bryant (a senior).

Repeating their pieces in the second recital were Caroline Andrews, Jonathan Bryant, and Ali Brown.

Performing in the second recital were Brooklyn Simpson (alone and with Mrs. Givhan), Baylee Robertson, Carley Tillman, Michaelyn Russell, Madison Geohagan, Caleb Geohagan, Abigayle Mancil, Allen Butler, Rexanne Butler, Abigail Lee (alone and with Mrs. Givhan), Claudia Pate, Ivy Rogers, Katie Black, and Katherine Finley.

At the May meeting of the Covington Rifles Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans in the Dixon Memorial of the public library, Commander Randy Kelley presided.

Former Cmdr. Curtis Hampton Thomasson prayed the invocation.

Pledges were led by Jimmy Cobb; and “Dixie,” by Larry Shaw.

Adjutant Derick Davis presented and posted the Camp’s new, regulation Confederate Battle Flag.

Curtis Thomasson introduced a special guest, Fran Fine, who assisted the speaker, Dr. Bill Tisdale, with a display of Confederate battle items. These included two McLelland saddles, which Dr. Tisdale had restored to excellent condition, one almost certainly used during the Battle of Gettysburg. He also showed an officer’s sword, also believed to have been used during the same battle. He shared numerous arrowheads, many made by him from animal bones, and a long-handled tomahawk, which he had also made. He shared stories related to the War for Southern Independence and his various collections from different wars and periods of history.

The benediction was worded by Chaplain Hank Roberts, and refreshments were served by Derick Davis.

Present were Randy Kelley, John Allen Gantt, Larry Shaw, Derick Davis, Vaughn Bowers, Hank Roberts, Jimmy Cobb, Kelly Veasey, and Curtis Thomasson.

Back in February, on the 12th, a group known as Fifty Forward motored to Hilltop Restaurant to enjoy good food and fellowship that evening. Fifty Forward is the name for the senior citizens, attending First Baptist.

Joining in were Jim and Sherry Wingate, Herb and Sue Carlisle, June Smith, Kittye Wyatt, Buddy and Betty Brunson, Morgan and Wilma Moore, Vivian Hickey, Dan and Virginia Frasher, Kim and Eleanor Dyess, Bea Miller, Gillis “the Comb Man” and Laura Ann Jones, Sue Wilson, and Gordon Vickers, director for the senior members of the church.

The Sesquicentennial, the 150th remembrance of the War Between the States, is coming to a close this May.

For several years I have mentioned weekly in this column events of the War in an effort to commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the War. There has been a pitiful participation in this commemoration locally, state-wide, and nationally. That is a shame because that war continues to affect us in a thousand ways.

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

Confederate President Jefferson Davis was imprisoned in chains in Fort Monroe, Virginia. He was never brought to trial for fear that he might be found innocent.

The City of Washington, D.C., celebrated the Federal victory with a grand parade of the Army of the Potomac.

Northern Gen. Philip Sheridan was appointed commander of the district west of the Mississippi and south of the Arkansas River.

Most Southern seaports and cities were scheduled to be reopened for trade.

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. Box1582, Andalusia, Alabama 36420.

The mysterian is Miss Mattie Waters. Who was she?

Recent birthdays are those of Alexander Pope, an English poet; Arthur Conan Doyle, a Scottish novelist; and South Carolina, our eighth state – and most rebellious.

Next to Shakespeare, Pope is the most quoted of English poets.

Elvis Presley sang a beautiful song with the words, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,” a line from Pope.

When in England, I made my way to the outskirts of London to find the grave of Pope and pay my respects. He is buried in a small chapel. A wedding had just been performed in the chapel, which was almost emptied of its parties. I made my way into the near-deserted room and found his grave, where I stood respectfully.

Doyle is most famous for his character, Sherlock Holmes, the great detective, and his friend, Dr. Watson.

In our day Doyle is as famous for the movies “spun” from his novel, The Lost World, about pre-historic adventure. We have three Jurassic films to view and another on its way June 12, I think.

By the way, Doyle never said “Elementary, my dear Watson” in the novels. That was Hollywood’s contribution.

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.