By Bonnie J. Bardos 

“The stars stand guard and a haze veils the sky, a few hours when no one will do anybody harm.

If only we could speak to one another then when our hearts are half-open flowers. Words like golden bees would drift in.

—God, teach me the language of sleep.”

 

 ~ Rolf Jacobsen, excerpt from “When They Sleep”  

 

A sleepy summer morning rises with dawn as silver drizzle rustles gently through leaves. Soft breezes drift like memory through delicate lace curtains – an invitation to stay in bed just a little longer as scent of dry earth grateful for rain twines companionably with fresh-ground coffee. Drizzle, lace curtains swaying, feather pillows entice more dreams, waking or not, a half-world where time slows.

 

The coffee wins though, the pot calling my name. Usually I buy my favorite coffee already ground, but when I don’t have reading glasses handy, it’s too easy to mistake a bag of ‘whole bean’ for ground. Anyway, that mistake turned out to be an unexpected source of delight in the extra-lovely scents wafting around this old house on a rainy morning. Carrying the warm cup of coffee out to the front porch swing, River dog and I listen to rain pattering quietly.

 

Around here, that’s our idea of jump-starting the day. No blaring TV, no yapping talk shows, just early morning sweetness with a lazy front porch swing, an old-as-the-hills flowered cotton robe from Key West, fresh coffee scents, happy zinnias, all interspersed with raindrops singing of simple pleasures, half-open summer flowers of sleep, and life.

 

Saluda Tailgate Market is Friday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street. Local and fresh, the market includes summer produce in jewel colors, along with honey, flowers, trout and meats.

 

Saluda Welcome Table is every Tuesday with dinner from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church. All are welcome; donations are accepted.

 

Saluda Community Land Trust has Wednesday swimming through August 26 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Twin Lakes. There is no lifeguard, so children must have an adult along. Donations are appreciated. “Walks in the Woods” will be on July 19 to walk to Saluda Nature Park; meet at Saluda Library at 2 p.m. Contact Chuck Hearon at 828-749-9886 or 828-817-0364 for walk information or SCLT at 828-749-1560 or saludasclt.org.

 

Top of the Grade Concerts are held the second and fourth Fridays through October, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at McCreery Park at the Ella Grace Mintz stage area.

 

There will be a community potluck and bingo at Saluda Center on July 27 at 6 p.m.

 

The Saluda branch of Tree City USA meets at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday monthly at Saluda Library.

 

Happy July Birthday to Doris Marion, Debi Thomas, Rheta Foster, Nancy Weinhagen, Lisa Obermiller, Kathy Thompson, Bill Jameson, Emily Rose Ford, Jeremy Ford, Mike Cass, Emma Jean McGraw, Nathen Pack, Melissa Justus, Hunter Justus, Alyssa Justus, Tona Justus and Lynn Savage.
Thank you, dear readers for reading this column! It’s always my goal to make you feel like you’re having a front porch visit, enjoying life in a small town called Saluda. If you have something of note or a birthday to add to the list, feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, 749-1153, or visit bonniebardos.com or find me on Facebook.