In January it’s so nice,
While slipping on the sliding ice,
To sip hot chicken soup with rice.
Sipping once, sipping twice,
Sipping chicken soup with rice.

~ Maurice Sendak, “In January”

Today’s column is inspired by winter’s steaming bowls of chicken soup, Missy Mousy looking for warm spots, icicles sprouting on frozen noses, and other random things. Really random things. Read on.

You know those old cartoons showing a pair of wide-open eyes blinking in pitch-dark?

Yes, dear reader, that was me at 3 a.m. one icy night. Eyes snapping wide open, awakened out of a sound snooze by faint scattering sounds of mouse footsies whispering up, down, back and forth. In my room. Just the hint of such sounds will jolt the soundest sleeper awake. Just like ceiling leaks, a whining mosquito bent on blood, or a wasp trapped in the bedclothes, these events happen up close and personal in the silent dark hours, where they can’t be avoided or pushed under the rug, forgotten. Just when you’d rather be snoring and burrowing deep under covers on a bitter January night, trying to keep your icicle nose warm.

River, being the fine always-on-duty guard dog he is, snored on blissfully and unaware, pressed snug against my legs. (It IS possible with both of us snoring, he missed the burglar). Clicking light on, there was no visible sign of a little gray intruder, no scurrying, nothing. Had I dreamed it? Had I ingested too much cheese before bedtime? A case of the whim-whams?

It took me a while to go back to sleep, thinking where that rascal had disappeared to, probably making nests out of my clothing, stealthily chewing electrical wires, or heading to the kitchen for midnight snacks. Or worse yet, heating up bowls of chicken soup, rooting through the fridge and pantry for leftovers. Mouse: 1, me: 0.

Saluda Welcome Table is every Tuesday, with dinner served from 5:30-7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church.  All welcome; donations accepted.

Don’t forget to save box tops for Saluda School. Collection containers are located in Saluda Library, Saluda Post Office, and the school’s office.

There’s still time to honor a loved one with an engraved brick paver for Pace Park. Proceeds go toward building public restrooms at this community park to be located downtown near M.A. Pace Store. For information, contact Catherine Ross at 828-749-3534 or carnc@charter.net.

Saluda Historic Depot will have Saluda Train Tales with Jerry Ledford presenting Logging in Western N.C. on Jan. 22, 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Saluda Center will have a community potluck and bingo night, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. Everyone welcome.

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) will benefit from your donations for this year ahead, or your time as a volunteer for their many community projects. Contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org.

The Saluda branch of Tree City USA meets at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at Saluda Library. I visited with Ruth Anderson at the Saluda library on a recent rainy day, and she invites all to come for these meetings.

Happy January birthday to Nora Parks Anderson, Brandy Bradley, Alex Bardos, Carolyn Ashburn, Scott Kinard, Donna Bond, Greer Eargle, Wyatt Alan Pace, Irma Anderson, Paul Aaybe, Rich Rauschenbach, Phyllis Arrington, Kenneth Justus, Cheryl Harbin, and Avery Lena Mintz. Please add your birthday to the list. No ages mentioned unless you’re under 2 or over 100!

Thank you for reading this column, dear readers. As ever, the goal is to make you feel like you’re enjoying small town life in a friendly little mountain town called Saluda. Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com or 749-1153. I always love hearing from you! Or visit bonniebardosart.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.