“All things on earth point home in old October; sailors to sea, travellers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow and the long voice of the hounds, the lover to the love he has forsaken.”

~ Thomas Wolfe

October: dusty cornstalks, goldenrod, fall asters, apple-scented afternoons, lavender-blue shadows falling quicker, blankets pulled from closets. Around this old house, September left a flooded basement thanks to the demise of the Old Faithful water heater. Old Faithful survived through my now-adult son’s childhood, birthdays/deaths, four Shar-Peis, divorce, various presidents, 9/11, Katrina, revolving cars/trucks, and other markers of life’s journey.

For years, I’d pray that my friend in the rock basement wouldn’t give up in the dead of winter. Just a little longer, I’d say: can’t afford YOU to kick the bucket this year! So, years came and went. We lived through frozen pipes, ice, summer rains. Life continued. Last Friday morning on the last legs of September, laundry whirring as city workers worked on a water line nearby, Old Faithful (pardon the pun) tanked. Water flooded over the basement steps, no ark in sight.

By late afternoon, the Roto-Rooter plumber hauled poor Old Faithful off along with a large chunk of my long-suffering bank account, leaving behind a sparkling new water heater to celebrate October. Let’s hope, Dear Reader, that the newcomer lasts as well as Old Faithful did – 23 years. Thank you, Old Faithful, bearer of hot water and pipe dreams indeed!

Saluda Tailgate Market is open on Fridays through Oct. 28 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street.

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

Nostalgia Courtyard at 171 Main Street hosts the 7th annual Artists’ Autumn Art Fair, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

M.A. Pace Store is having a BBQ, music, auction and cruise-in benefit Oct. 8 at Saluda Party & Event Center from 4-9 p.m. This fundraiser benefits Saluda native Ralph Morgan, a self-employed builder, husband of Carolyn Morgan, father of Jessica.

A dance/music/friendship fundraiser to benefit the old St. Matthews church on Irving Street (now used for Saluda Community Choir and other artistic endeavors) will be Oct. 16, from 5-9 p.m. at McCreery Park’s pavilion. Funds raised will go toward repairs, maintenance, and utilities.

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) benefits from your donations or time as a volunteer for their many community projects. “Walks in the Woods” are on the first and third Sundays each month. The next walk is Oct. 16 to Waters of Camp Creek. Meet at Saluda library, 2 p.m. for car-pooling. Contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit their website at saludaclt.org for more information.

Saluda Train Tales are held at Saluda Historic Depot (HistoricSaluda.org) on the third Friday each month through October. Stoker on Stoker and Modern Mysteries will be held Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. The depot is open Thursday through Sunday noon-4 p.m.

Ward’s Grill will have a free Veterans’ Breakfast on Oct. 20 until 11 a.m.

Saluda Railroad Day is Oct. 22, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in downtown Saluda.

Mark those calendars and get your tickets now for Saluda United Methodist Church’s annual turkey dinner, Nov. 12, from 5-7 p.m. at Saluda School cafeteria.

Happy October birthday to Cissy Thompson, Patricia Case, Joan Barker, Gary Corn, Aaron Bradley, Amanda Burrell Anderson, Lisa Orr, Marilyn Prudhomme, Bubba Dawson, Kirby Jackson, Mary Ann Asbill, Sheila Billeter, Carol Thompson, Mildred Hipp, Dean Bradley, and Susan Wheeler. Add your birthday to the list; no ages mentioned unless you’re under 2 or over 100!

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 watching sparkling spider webs, fall butterflies, and drifting leaves. Please feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com or 749-1153. You may also visit bonniebardosart.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.