If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.

~ Eleanora Duse

Yesterday morning sunshine warmed the front porch up enough for River Dog to bask outside. He looked so pleased and happy (as dogs do while basking in sunshine), that taking a lesson from his book, I hustled back to the kitchen to make myself a second cup of coffee in a bright-yellow Wildflour Bakery mug I’d gotten years ago and join him on the porch.

There’s  just something about a yellow pottery mug, basking in sunshine, and front porch sittin’ that does a soul good. Even on a 40-degree morning, the sun warms things up, just enough to give hope of spring ahead. So much for groundhogs say: at this house, we’re calling spring early.

Saluda Welcome Table at Saluda Methodist Church is every Tuesday from 5:30-6:45 p.m.

Saluda Women’s Club meets February 13, 10 a.m. at Saluda Presbyterian Church.

There’s still time to order an engraved brick/paver for Pace Park in the alley by M.A. Pace Store. Drop off applications and payment to City Hall or mail to City of Saluda, 6 Main Street, Saluda, NC 28773. Proceeds will go toward building public restrooms. For information, contact Catherine Ross at 828-749-3534 or carnc@charter.net.

Did you know: our Saluda Business Association has donated $7,000 to the City of Saluda to install restrooms in Pace Park. They’re challenging the community to give toward the effort: so every dollar donated toward this effort will be matched by the SBA up to $7,000. Make your donation to the City of Saluda with a memo note that it goes toward the SBA Challenge Grant or mail to SBA, PO Box 1085, Saluda, NC 28773.

Learn more about Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) by visiting saludaclt.org or calling 828-749-1560. To sign up for a plot/rows at Robinson Community Garden on Henderson Street, or for information on the community garden, call 828-749-9172 or email dlprudhomme@gmail.com

At Saluda Historic Depot, Saluda Train Tales return on March 16 at 7 p.m. with Harold Williams, a Saluda native who will share stories about growing up in the railroad community between Melrose and Saluda. Donations to help support Saluda Historic Depot can be sent to P.O. Box 990, Saluda, NC 28773 or on the HistoricSaluda.org website. Visit saludahistoricdepot.com for more information.

Good News: Clark Thompson is busy with his latest restoration project downtown at the two-story historic building “Saluda Station” next to the train depot. This ensures he keeps far away from something known as retirement!

Calling all artists: the Saluda Business Association invites you to enter the 15th annual juried Saluda Arts Festival on May 19, 2018, the deadline for entry is mid-March. Visit saluda.com to link to the arts festival page.

Saluda Sympathy goes to Caroline Tindal for the loss of her mother.

Saluda Get-Well wishes go to Cissy Thompson, Rita Igoe, and Judy Ward.

Happy February Birthday to: Wylie Rauschenbach, Wesley Pace, Biddie Dawson, Ginny Jones, Jenna Igoe, Suzanne Igoe, Pam Thompson, Catherine Raymond, Eva McCray, Ellen Rogers, Margaret Miller, Paul London, Ward Sandahl, Bill Klippel, Pat Bares, Dwight Smith, Ingrid Sandahl, Fred Baisden, Duane Bateman, Ragan Thompson, Laura Williams, and Susan McMasters. Happy-belated January birthday to Connie Scicluna.

Happy Birthday to Saluda, at 137 years old this February!

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 mountain town called Saluda.  Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, (828) 749-1153, or visit bonniebardosart.com.