“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.”
– Stanley Horowitz

October has arrived at the door with a sunny chill and breeze, an early visitor. Scarlet and yellow brushstrokes of color appear in fluttering green canvases surrounded  by azure skies. Fuel trucks ply the back roads again, a dread sign of heating bills ahead!
Around here, I continue to recover from eye surgery and have been thoroughly spoiled by friends’ good cooking and kindness: knowing ‘chocolate’ is my middle name, one thoughtful soul brought a box of handmade Van’s chocolates, along with a bottle of Italian wine; that’s the best  medicine!
Prisms and halos appear in  my vision: the eye surgeon promises with a smile that this too shall pass. Actually, it’s all rather pretty—from my artistic standpoint. Gratitude seems to be part of daily life these days: just having one more day, to have a roof, to know what truly matters. The little things remain the most precious. (Including someone else’s cooking.)
The Saluda tailgate market continues through the mellow days of October after a hot summer, Fridays at the city parking lot off Main Street from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Smiles and hugs are in abundance.
Oct. 15 at 10 a.m., the Saluda 130th Birthday Celebration Committee is sponsoring an Antique Car Cruise-In. Antique car clubs will show polished toys in parking areas from Saluda School through downtown Saluda to the Baptist Church. Kicking tires probably not allowed, but admiring will be!
Oct. 20 Single Women United potluck dinner at 6 p.m.
Oct. 22 Saluda Artists and Farmers Faire will be held from Nostalgia Courtyard to Manna Cabanna from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Proceeds benefit Saluda Community Land Trust and  Mill Spring Agricultural Center.
Oct. 3 – 28 At the Saluda Center, things are busy. Dale McEntire’s  ICC afternoon class will have work on display.
Oct. 27 A community potluck with Sonya Monts and dance students at 6  p.m. Bring a dish to share; this is the last potluck of the year.
Oct. 28 Bring the kids for a Halloween Stroll downtown at 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 28 Mark your calendar and get a costume ready. The annual “Masquerade Ball” fund-raising event for Saluda Medical Center – tickets available for adults and children. Jack Roper will have a magic show for kids. You can do the Halloween Stroll downtown, then head for the Saluda Jamboree for the  Masquerade Ball in the evening. Please support our Medical Center; sponsors and donations always appreciated. How lucky we are to have good medical care available to all.
Oct. 28-29 “Visions of Saluda” Art Exhibit at the beautifully renovated “Upper Floor” at Historic Thompson’s Store, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Local artists will have work available for sale; the opening reception is Oct. 28 at 5 p.m.
Congratulations to Saluda School’s art teacher Susan McRostie was chosen as Polk County’s Teacher of the Year; and to Jim Carson for a third-place ribbon in the Spartanburg Guild show.
Condolences to the families of Elaine Carr, Edd Corn, Agnes Harris, Roy Diaz, Leona Thompson and Betty Stepp. There’s bound to be a baby grand piano waiting for Elaine in heaven!
Happy belated 69th anniversary to Ruth and John Rhodes. In this day and age, that’s mighty special.
Garden notes: fall leaves are great additions to compost heaps…or start a leaf pile area in a secluded section of the yard. It’s time to do garden clean-up and plant  shrubs. Late-season hummingbirds still appreciate feeders—they seem to stay longer every year.
Happy October birthday to Patricia Case, Jo Dellinger, Aaron Bradley, Amanda Burrell, Lisa Orr, Marilyn Prudhomme, Bubba Dawson and Kirby Jackson.
Thank you for your much appreciated thoughts and continuing feedback about this column! It brightens my day to know YOU read it. Please feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com; or 749-1153. You may also visit my website at bonniebardos.com for more writing and art, or find me on facebook.