“When we learned to speak to, and listen to, rather than to strike or be struck by, our fellow human beings, we found something worth keeping alive, worth possessing, for the rest of time.”

~ Eudora Welty

Early this morning, I stumbled bleary-eyed downstairs after River and Pikachu, fixed their breakfast, and poured clean water in bowls before making coffee. (We know who comes first in this household!)

That trickster, Mr. Coffee, had the green light on, but there was not a drop in the pot. Numerous times, Mr. Coffee has pulled that stunt. Probably I’ve touched a wrong button by mistake when moving the pot and hit ‘delay’ brew or such. Too many buttons, and too little coffee combined with bleary eyes and early morning, do not a good start make.

Measuring fresh coffee into the filter basket, I fondly remembered mornings with my parents’ stainless steel percolator singing on the kitchen counter: no such fancy gadgets like delay brew buttons, timer or clock on it. You plugged that old workhorse in and watched steam and burbling coffee dancing through the glass handle on the lid. All parts were metal, including the filter, tube, and basket.

Coffee now is an art form: you can get French presses, coffee/espresso machines (that cost more than a flight to Europe), pods, glass, and other contraptions, but something is to be said for those old percolators and their earthy morning song.

The good news is the naughty Mr. Coffee came through, this time with something in the pot. River and Pikachu crunched and munched breakfast nearby, and July came in the windows with bird song and Puck the frog joining in. Life is good up here in Saluda when you hear your pets crunching happily, Puck asserting his two cents, and hot coffee (finally) in your cup.

Saluda’s 54th annual Coon Dog Day is here! Come enjoy Saturday, July 8 with live music, parade, food, crafts, and evening street dances. Parade starts at 11 a.m.; 5K race starts at 8 a.m.

Saluda Welcome Table is at Saluda Methodist Church Tuesday from 5:30-6:45 p.m. All welcome; donations appreciated!

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) has “Walks in the Woods” on the first and third Sundays each month, leaving from Saluda Library’s parking lot. On July 16, enjoy an open swim day at Twin Lakes with swimming and hiking from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Bring a picnic, leave the four-footed friends at home, and enjoy a guided walk on the trails of Twin Lakes, one of which leads to a meditation platform. Visit www.saludasclt.org to learn more, donate, or volunteer.

Saluda Tail Gate Market is open 4:30-6:30 p.m. every Friday May through October.

Saluda Historic Depot is located at 32 West Main Street and is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Saluda Train Tales are held on the third Friday each month April through October. If you’d like to be a volunteer for the Depot Museum, please contact anitaomoore@gmail.com.

Top of the Grade Concerts schedule at McCreery Park: July 14 – Mercury Rising, August 11 – Casual Zealots, September 1 – Super 60’s. Music is from 7-9 p.m.

Social Singles of Saluda potluck dinner is July 13 at 5 p.m. at Saluda Center; all singles over 40 are welcome.

The Saluda Center Community potluck and bingo night is July 31 at 6 p.m.

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, Lynn Savage, and Amanda Anderson. Please add your birthday to the list!

Thank you, dear readers, for reading this column. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, 828-749-1153, or
bonniebardosart.com.