“Love is the quality of attention we pay to things.”

~ Poet J.D. McClatchy

There’s a pile of succulent peaches from Atkins’ Produce Stand in the kitchen sink, ready to be peeled, sliced and put into a pie.

When I stepped up to pay for them, Dolph tucked a couple extra in the bag, his eyes twinkling. Now that’s Saluda folks for you.

I smiled the whole way home, windows down, the Turtle scented with summer peaches and July.

Pie-baking, as well as numerous other things, have been slow lately — after all, it IS July, when things are languid in the heat.

I’ve been over to see our new Saluda physician, Dr. Broyles — returning home with a carpal tunnel/tendinitis diagnosis, which cramps my style, no pun intended!

Peeling peaches, painting, dog baths, lifting, carrying, mowing, typing, driving — you name it, it’s harder to get things done — but I’ve held back on whining about old age/falling apart, carrying on one-handed, wearing a brace at night, hopeful things will get better — albeit slowly.

River reminds me every day’s a good day — we both got up this morning. There are ripe peaches perfuming the air, a pile of books for afternoons, the A/C is still working this year and the Turtle’s tires aren’t flat.

The old refrigerator is still blowing cool air, and there’s a spare bag of coffee tucked away in the fruit bin. Iridescent-green hummingbirds visit, and ripening tomatoes grace the garden.

There WILL be peach pie tonight.

• Saluda Tailgate Market is open on Fridays 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 5:30-6:45 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church.

• Saluda Community Land Trust 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 Sunday, Aug. 5, to Saluda Mountain Passage of the Palmetto Trail. Meet at Saluda Library’s parking lot at 2 p.m. to carpool. You can reach SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit saludasclt.org. Contact Chuck Hearon for hike information at 828-817-0364 or chearon@skyrunner.net.

• Saluda Historic Depot is located at 32 W. Main St., and is open from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Saluda Train Tales are held on the third Friday each month at 7 p.m. through October. The next one will be at 7 p.m. Friday with Frank Thompson.

• Saluda Living in Place offers free blood pressure checks/diabetes screenings from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month, at Saluda United Methodist’s Wesley Cottage, 132 Greenville St.

• Saluda Historic Depot is co-hosting a ‘60s “Rock & Roll” dinner/dance with The Party Place & Event Center on Friendship Road (off Ozone Drive) on Saturday as a fundraiser for Neighbors United — Polk County Storm Relief that will include a talent show, food, music with “A Return to the ‘60s” and more.

• Saluda Center potluck and bingo night is 6 p.m. on Monday, July 30.

• Saluda School is on summer vacation, but you can still collect specially-marked box tops to send to the school office. Money is used to purchase books for the Books Are Really Fun program.

• Saluda Sympathy goes to the family of John Miles.

• 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 Honeycutt, Melissa Justus, Hunter Justus, Alyssa Justus, Lin Savage, Doug Taylor, Amanda Anderson, Gail Slaughter and Diane Ballard. 

Thank you for reading this column; 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.