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“I sit beside the fire and think
Of all that I have seen
Of meadow flowers and butterflies
In summers that have been
Of yellow leaves and gossamer
In autumns that there were
With morning mist and silver sun
And wind upon my hair
I sit beside the fire and think
Of how the world will be
When winter comes without a spring
That I shall ever see
For still there are so many things
That I have never seen…”

~ J.R.R. Tolkien, excerpt from “I Sit Beside the Fire and Think”

Small songbirds sweet talk thrills of spring hope on a sunlit morning, the night’s chill wrapping up in a red wool blanket and disappearing as February eases up wood porch steps. 

Oh, the red blanket will be back tucked over my lap at night as I read near a pretend fire (electric space heater with fake flames), but day brings thoughts of meadow flowers, seed packets and hope ahead.

Sun on my face, I haul pillows outside to air, sheets out to dry, and let warmth seep in. The ground is still frozen underneath, and it’ll take a while for the icy rain barrel to melt. I should have stored it away over winter, but with rain, it never emptied enough to drag off. Now, it’s time to check bluebird houses, get them ready for early tenants that think of renting in the weeks ahead. It’s time to cut forsythia branches to bring inside to force into bloom, more hopes of spring. In the kitchen window, small yellow bulbs jump into bloom, and a hyacinth pushes green spikes up from moss. 

Hurrying to finish housekeeping chores, I move faster, eager to get the pitchfork and green garden cart out in the warm afternoon, do a little work here, a bit of puttering there: think about not-too-much-of-nothing. The best thing is being outside listening to birds have a say about the sweetness of the sun, and no five degrees. We’re in agreement. I don’t doubt for a moment that winter is far from done with us just yet, but it’s time to seize the moment, inhale mountain breezes and warm up the spirit. 

• Saluda Sister City’s board now consists of new officers: Susan Cannon, Chair; Ellen Rogers, Chair-Elect; Nancy Miller, Secretary; and Debi Thomas as her assistant. Saluda first connected with Carunchio, Italy, in 2014 when ten residents of Saluda visited the Palazzo Tour D’Eau cooking and touring program. Bevie Hardy was along on the trip and came up with the idea of becoming “Sister Cities.” In 2015, the two towns officially became Sister Cities with endorsements from their governing bodies and the approval of Sister Cities International. To celebrate the 10th anniversary, there’ll be renewed efforts to bring new cultural experiences to Saluda citizens and students and to connect with and support Carunchio and its elementary school students.
• The Women’s Club of Saluda (WCOS) is hosting the first annual Hearts for Saluda Scholarship dinner (lasagna) on February 7; check with any member or find the Women’s Club on Facebook for tickets/reservations. WCOS provides scholarships to students of all ages within the 28773 zip code.

Happy February Birthday to Wylie Rauschenbach, Wesley Pace, Ginny Jones, Pam Thompson, Catherine Raymond, Eva McCray, Ellen Rogers, Margaret Miller, Paul London, Ward Sandahl, Bill Klippel, Dwight Smith, Ingrid Sandahl, Fred Baisden, Duane Bateman, Ragan Thompson, Laura Williams, Susan McMasters, Mark Gardner, Cappy Rearick, Linda Seagroves,  Irmy Chmielewski, Brian Lilburn, and Edie Campbell. Also, Happy 143th Birthday to Saluda! 

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