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“Joy is not made to be a crumb.” ~  Mary Oliver

 

If you watch a squirrel raiding bird feeders, as you alternately feel delighted at the rascal’s bushy tail and bright eyes—along with the desire for squirrel stew, you’ll discover crumbs of joy; even as he roots through your pansies, upending moss and plants, hunting for cracked corn and sunflower seed, completely unconcerned about being stew in your pot that night. 

On dreary winter days, when winter stretches seemingly forever, joy is sometimes hard to find. But it’s there—in a cup of Earl Grey, a note from a friend, a smile. It’s when the postman stops, hands mail over, and says he had a good vacation.

There’s even joy in the scent of fresh-dried sheets on the bed, a crisp apple, a calf running in the pasture while its mom grazes nearby. There’s joy in holding a real fountain pen, opening a new book up, standing outside on a January night, and watching for falling stars and the Seven Sisters. There’s joy in days getting a bit longer, the light changing—nature doing her thing again and again. 

Saluda Winter Market is held at the Saluda Center, located at 64 Greenville Street, on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. through April. Hours were recently extended, so stop by for fresh produce, canned and baked goods, and much more from area vendors. 

Saluda Library’s featured artist for January/February is local artist Oliver Hoyt. 

Saluda Living in Place (SLIP) will have Dr. Lisa Broyles share ways to beat the winter blahs brought on by shorter days and reduced sunlight. Mark your calendar for January 26, 10-11:30 a.m., at Saluda Fire and Rescue on Greenville Street for this free and informative program! You can contact SLIP at (828) 749-0049 or  www.slipnc.org/contact.

Saluda Pop-Up Pantry is Tuesday from 1-6 at Saluda Presbyterian Church, 54 Carolina Avenue (behind Saluda Library). To volunteer at the Pantry, call Saluda Church of the Transfiguration, at 828-749-9740. You can mail tax-deductible donations to Saluda Pop-Up Pantry, P.O. Box 428, Saluda, NC 28773 or donate online at www.saludapantrycom; or through Amazon Smile.  

The Historic Saluda Depot and Museum is closed for January and February. 

Saluda Visitor Center at 20 W. Main Street is open Thursday-Monday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) is busy year-round with land conservation, trails and projects: visit saludaclt.org or call 828-749-1560 to learn more. If you’d like to volunteer to help work on landscaping/trails with Henry’s Nature Center, let them know! 

Mary Scurry and grandson Mason visited Saluda last weekend, spending time with Clara Carter on Smith Hill. Mary, a long-time resident of Saluda and Montana, moved to Athens, Georgia to be closer to family—she enjoyed a tour of the Saluda Inn’s renovations while here!

Garden Tips: Winter is a great time to get colorful garden catalogs out and plan. Cut branches of quince, forsythia, etc. for indoor forcing to brighten your rooms, clean birdhouses for those early-spring tenants, turn and aerate compost bins, and walk around the garden to see what needs attention. Cardboard under mulch helps smother weeds and grass. Why not plant wildflowers instead of grass? Birds, bees, and passersby will thank you. 

Happy January Birthday to Brandy Bradley, Carolyn Ashburn, Scott Kinard, Donna Bond, Greer Eargle, Wyatt Alan Pace, Irma Anderson, Paul Aaybe, Phyllis Arrington, Kenneth Justus, Cheryl Harbin, Avery Lena Mintz, Connie Scicluna, Ann Dudley, Charles Conner, Kristin Mode, Susan Parke, Rodney Gibson, and Frank McNutt. 

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