“…into paying more attention to the world’s day-moon,
to sunlight bright on water
or fragmented in a grove of trees,
and to look more closely here at these small leaves,
these sentinel thorns,
whose employment it is to guard the rose.”
~ excerpt from “The First Night by Billy Collins
September’s days have trickled by: a slowing of time, yet a hastening. Sunny afternoons seem more precious now; Sunday found me out on the back deck, art projects waiting, River dog happily soaking up sun, laundry drying. Yet, I sat there and watched the high blue  concert of life above, wispy white puffs floating lazily. There wasn’t a thing I wanted to do more than inhale those moments, to watch those drifting clouds and think about life.
We all need a sense of humor some days, and over the past year, I’ve treasured mine even more than usual. To bring you smiles, I think I’ll share some favorite around-the-house tips, with the disclaimer if you try them at home, you may get laughed at.
One long-time ‘cheat-cleaning’ method, since I haven’t yet won the lottery and don’t have a house cleaning service (and probably won’t since I don’t buy tickets), is the leaf-blower trick. As owner of a rather pathetic electric-cord model, it’s meant for light-weight tasks, not heavy-duty chores. However, the blower excels at house dusting/ Yes. House dusting. Open up doors, windows and let ‘er fly. Low-speed of course, preferably with good aim.  Watch those dust bunnies vamoose! Whee! Great for pesky under-the-bed and furniture dusting, curtains,book shelves, large plants and silk arrangements: anything and anywhere that collects dust. I think I’m hearing snickers already.
Another favorite trick is using Duck® tape. I can’t begin to tell you how useful a creature it is: patching things together. Although I haven’t yet resorted to patching the car together with it, I’ll admit to using it as seat repair and quick shoe or clothing repair too. It also helps skin: cracked, dry heels? Need a emergency bandage? Need I say more? Spray-insulation foam, too, is useful for places on outside walls that really need a carpenter to fix. Can’t afford the carpenter? Fix-it with foam. What WILL the neighbors think? Perhaps at this point, I’d better draw back on naming more favorite fix-it methods; maybe I’d better save ‘em for a book! Not sure if it’ll be in the comedy section or do-it-yourself section, but coming soon.
Saluda Tailgate Market continues at West Main Street public parking lot on Fridays, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Fall goodies are coming in to market now—the lovely fruit and vegetable colors encompass yellows, reds, oranges, emerald, rich amethysts; a visual feast.
Many Saluda businesses will be open tonight until 8 p.m. for Friday Night Live. Come enjoy the tailgate market, shop, eat, and enjoy music in our charming little town! It doesn’t get much better than this.
It may be early to say the “C” word, but a Christmas parade will be on Saturday, December 15, 3-5 p.m. It’s limited to the first 50 applicants; due date is October 15. Applications can be found at Historic Thompson’s Store, Somewhere in Time, or check with City Hall.
Saluda Elementary School has been recognized as a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School.
A big thank you goes to photographer Mara Smith, who furnished a wonderful picture of the Mill Farm eye-surgery fund-raiser event for this column recently. It was my fault that the caption read “Mara Ford.” The plausible excuse is old-timers’ disease. And of course the vision issues. When you start getting names and faces wrong, it’s a down-hill slide!
Happy September Birthday to Dale McEntire, Joni Rauschenbach, Peggy Moffat, Sonya Monts, Linda Kaye Hayes, Carol Kenfield, Debbie Fisher, Leslie Jespersen, Linda Mintz, Sheila Billeter, Cary Pace, Ross Arrington, Hop Foster, and Chuck Hearon.
Thank you, dear readers for reading this column. It’s my goal to make you feel as if you were enjoying a ‘Saluda Time’ visit on the porch swing and warmly welcome in our small town of Saluda whether you live here or not, dreaming of being here, or are visiting.  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.