L.L. Bean sheepskin slippers: no match for vicious Shar-Pei fangs. Birkenstock sandals: tough German shoes defeated in the line of duty. Land’s End slippers: dead on arrival. Easy Spirit walking shoes: walked to the trash heap in shreds. Two pair of Teva sandals: didn’t stand a chance.
Now, I will admit to finally picking up my shoes and actually putting them away (for once!). It’s hard to place blame when the truth is it’s mostly my own fault for leaving them around: easy victims.
Somewhere around here, I’ve got bitter-apple spray for dissuading the perpetrator — left over from Pooh’s teething stages; I just need to find it. Meanwhile, the shoes that are left are in hiding. I hear they’re quaking in their boots!

Community:
Saluda Tailgate Market continues through Oct. 26, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Help Saluda School! Box top collection containers are located in at the library, post office, and school office. Each box top is worth ten cents!
Join Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) for a walk through Saluda Nature Park on Oct. 21. Meet at Saluda Library at 2 p.m.; call 749-1560 for information.
Come enjoy the Art and Music Fair supporting local artists and craftspeople at Nostalgia Courtyard, Oct. 20. Also, there’ll be an OktoberFest at Maggie’s Old Saluda Store at 1487 Ozone Drive from 4-8 p.m.
Community Potluck and Bingo fun on Monday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at Saluda Center.
The Saluda Halloween Stroll along Main Street from Nostalgia Courtyard to across the bridge is Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 3 – 6 p.m.  Our fine Saluda Police Department will be helping out with this to keep our little ones safe.
Get your tickets now! Saluda United Methodist Church will host its annual Turkey Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 10, 5-7:30 p.m. in the Saluda School Cafeteria. Tickets are on sale now, or available at the door. Contact Terry Baisden at 828-749-3789 for information. I look forward to this every year!
Saluda sympathy goes to the families of Margaret Moffat and Maudie Faye Johnson.
Happy October birthday to Patricia Case, Joan Barker, Gary Corn, Aaron Bradley, Amanda Burrell, Lisa Orr, Marilyn Prudhomme, Bubba Dawson, Kirby Jackson.
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 in our small town of Saluda. Please feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com; or 828-749-1153. You may also visit my website at bonniebardos.com for more writing and art, or find me on facebook.