Between forest and field, a threshold

like stepping from a cathedral into the street —

the quality of air alters, an eclipse lifts,

boundlessness opens, earth itself retextured

into weeds where woods once were.

Even planes of motion shift from vertical

navigation to horizontal quiescence:

there’s a standing invitation to lie back

as sky’s unpredictable theater proceeds.

Suspended in this ephemeral moment

after leaving a forest, before entering

a field, the nature of reality is revealed.

Crossings – Ravi Shankar

Soft pearl mists veil early Saluda mornings in October: sun rising through mist, bringing a velvet lushness to the fall air.

Leaves flutter in the woods, bringing back memories of childhood rituals of tromping happily through the “big woods” along trails, joyfully pouncing in multi-colored leaves, a Turkish carpet underneath. A large leaf clings to the side of my car, but as I look a bit more closely, the leaf turns out to be the largest praying mantis I’ve seen yet. I visit with her a minute, glad she’s there, wearing her own variation of fall leaves.

Saluda Tailgate Market continues on Fridays through October from 4:30-6:30 p.m., many Saluda businesses are open later on Friday.

Top of the Grade Concerts are Oct. 11 and 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at McCreery Park; bring chairs, food available.

Help Saluda School: box top collection containers are located in at the library, post office and school office.

Opera in Saluda Oct. 10 – the University of South Carolina’s Music Department and Historic Thompson’s Store will bring a magical evening opera/dinner to the Back Alley Deck and Boarding House Venue. Contact Judy Ward at Thompson’s Store 828-749-2321 for information and reservations.

Saluda 5k9, an event for dogs and their human companions, will be held on Oct. 12 to benefit Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT), which in turn works to preserve Saluda’s rural character by preserving farm and forest land in and around Saluda. On Oct. 17 at 6 p.m., join SCLT for a free chili dinner at Saluda Fire Department and a program about kudzu control. Special guest speaker, Saluda native Becky Shropshire, will talk too about her search and rescue dogs.

Walks in the Woods are Oct. 6 and Oct. 20; meet at Saluda Library at 2 p.m. to carpool. More information about SCLT and these events can be found at saludaclt.org or by calling 828-749-1560.

Small Town Main Street meetings with the STMS program director, Sherry Adams, are scheduled the third Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. at Saluda Library. The next meeting is Oct. 15. All are welcome.

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.

Saluda Garden Club meets Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. at library.

Blue Ridge Contra Dancing will be held Tuesday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. at the Party Place & Event Center.

There’ll be community potluck and bingo, Saluda Center, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. Bring something to share.

Mark your calendar for the Saluda Halloween Stroll, Thursday, Oct. 31, 3 -6 p.m. on Main Street.

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.