text: Enjoy a front porch visit and small town life…
  Published 5:24 pm Thursday, April 10, 2014
  “We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.”
  ~ Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
  Spring mornings in Saluda, I pour a cup of hot fresh coffee in a favorite brown and turquoise mug, head out to porch swing to watch life dance: birds, butterflies, the goldfish bright spangles floating nearby as water splashes. When it warms up enough, house windows are open, I leave the French doors open so River can saunter in and out to the back deck if I’m away.
  Last week, Jenny Wren, as she loves to do, dropped by for a visit—I discovered she had flitted her way upstairs. Flashing from room to room, she lights on armoires, cabinets, fluttering here and there. Silly girl, you’re way too early for afternoon tea, I say smiling, quietly opening a door for her. I don’t yell or fuss—no need. She spies her exit and flies out, singing. She’ll be back again. She probably wanted to see if I’d made the bed and had my nest in order.
  I’ve found that some folks get in a tizzy if a bird, bat, wasp, or other critter wanders in. The best thing to do is quietly open a window or door. You don’t have to beat critters with a broom or run squawking for goodness sake! They mean no harm and are greatly relieved to get back outside. A soft towel thrown over the bat that got inside, gently putting him in shady bushes worked wonders. Birds are all too happy to make a flight out, once something’s open. (If they don’t figure it out, make sure overhead lights are off.) Be kind.
  Saluda Welcome Table is every Tuesday, with dinner served from 5:30-7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church. All welcome; donations accepted.
  Saluda Small Town Main Street will have their month meeting on April 15, 9 a.m. at Saluda Library.
  Saluda Women’s Club meets April 15, 10 a.m. at Saluda Presbyterian Church.
  Saluda Garden Club meets April 21, 10 a.m. at Saluda Library to carpool to Columbus.
  Saluda Community Land Trust will have their annual meeting this year at Saluda Center on Greenville Street, April 23 at 6 p.m. with Rob Evans as guest speaker. Visit www.saludaclt.org for more info or call 828-749-1560.
  Stop by Saluda Library to peek at the gorgeous jade plant on display and spring for a few tickets: it’s going to be raffled at Saluda Community Land Trust’s annual meeting on April 23 (you don’t have to be present to win); proceeds benefit our Saluda Dog Park and new agility course.
  There’ll be a community potluck and bingo at Saluda Center, April 28, 6 p.m. Bring your favorite dish to share.
  The Saluda branch of Tree City USA
  meets at 6:15, Saluda Library, on the last Tuesday of each month.
  Don’t forget to purchase a brick paver that can have the name of your choice engraved for Pace Park to be located in the alley by M.A. Pace General Store. For information, contact Catherine Ross at 828-749-3534 or email@example.com.
  Art Notes: Saluda Art Festival is May 17—plan to enjoy a pleasant spring day strolling around enjoying Saluda and art! Bill Jameson has a May painting workshop available; The Old Chicken House is open Friday and Saturday through fall. Congratulations to Saluda artist Jim Carson for having a painting accepted in an OPA show. I’ll be having casual open studio, weather permitting (call ahead to check). A big thank-you goes to all the generous artists who donated art to help with Kathleen
  Carson’s medical expenses—many beautiful pieces are on display in her gallery on Main Street. There’s a lot of art going on around Saluda this spring!
  Happy April Birthday to: Martha Ashley, Melody Gibson, Dave Prudhomme, Kaye Vazquez, Cindy Keeter, Betty Anna Brown, Marion Fairey, Hope Pace, Diane Pace, Ruth Anderson, Greaton Sellers, Clay Arrington, Bonnie Bardos, Luther Connor, Gary Pace, Doug Honeycutt, and Niece Lundgren. Add your name to the birthday list!
  Thank you dear readers, for reading this column! As ever, the goal is to make you feel like you’re enjoying a front porch visit and small town life in a friendly little mountain town called Saluda. You can contact me at firstname.lastname@example.org; or 749-1153, visit my website at www.bonniebardos.com for more writing and art, or find me on facebook.