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Mayapple, daffodil, hyacinth, lily,
and by the front porch steps
every billowing shade of purple
and lavender lilac,
my mother’s favorite flower,
sweet breath drifting through
the open windows:
perfume of memory-conduit of spring.

~ Linda Pastan, excerpt from “The Months”

 

Wheelbarrows overflowing with colorful flowers will greet folks at Saturday’s Arts Festival here in Saluda. After a two-year hiatus, the event returns—and the town’s busy getting spruced up for the big day. This morning, I spotted city workers carrying plumbing fixtures to the new public bathrooms at Pace Park, so those facilities should be up and running by this weekend. Everybody’s been working hard. 

 

Tired from garden chores and weed eating, I flop down in a wicker rocker—a cool glass of water in one hand and the May issue of Martha Stewart Living in the other. Inside, there’s a calendar of Martha’s daily tasks for the month. Suddenly I realize the rest of us are slipping, not even near the finish line. Some of us are still sitting at the starting gate! 

 

For instance, one week includes making lemon curd (ready-made in a jar works for me), preparing batches of homemade dog food, planting trees, trimming boxwoods, frequent weight-lifting and cardio, and a hat luncheon in Central Park. That’s not all – this is just a small listing of things scheduled on Martha’s May calendar. 

 

Following weeks involve pool opening/swimming, planting potatoes and edamame…plus 497,000 other things, lots more cardio/weight-lifting/yoga, weeding gardens, training Friesian horses for drives with newly-reupholstered carriages (one guess who did the reupholstering!), washing all Polaris vehicles, and the grand kicker: bathing donkeys. 

 

Geez, I’m worn out after weed-whacking on a Tuesday afternoon. And my calendar didn’t even have it listed!

 

This morning, those guys I spotted downtown toting boxes of Kohler bathroom fixtures probably haven’t marked weightlifting and cardio on their planners either. 

 

I doubt ANY of us have scheduled plans marked on the May calendar to bathe donkeys on a Friday afternoon. Yep, I’ll ‘fess up now – I’m too tired to make lemon curd for tartlets, and the donkeys will just have to dunk in the pond if they want a bath. 

 

The 17th Saluda Arts Festival is on May 21 from 10 a.m – to 4 p.m. Ninety local and regional artists will participate; live music, food, entertainment, and more.

 

Saluda Tailgate Market is every Friday at the west city parking lot located off Main Street, 4:30-6 p.m. 

 

Community potluck and bingo night at Saluda Center is May 30, 6 p.m. Bring a side dish to share; main entree provided. 

 

Happy May Birthday to Amy Copeland, Corinne Gerwe, Chris Anderson, Mark Jackson, Cary Pace, Lisa Hipp, Trevor Young, Paul Marion, Jesse Thomas, Margaret Sease, Elizabeth Baldwin, Chad Baldwin, Lynn Cass, Thelma Jones, Betsy Burdett, Melia Bradley, June Taylor, Robin Kirby, Kevin Matthews, and Stella Barnett. 

 

Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, (828) 817-6765, P.O. Box 331, Saluda, NC 28773, Facebook, or visit bonniebardos.com