Indian-summer-sun

With crimson feathers whips away the mists,—

Dives through the filter of trellises

And gilds the silver on the blotched arbor-seats.

Now gold and purple scintillate

On trees that seem dancing

In delirium;

Then the moon

In a mad orange flare

Floods the grape-hung night.

~ Hart Crane, “October-November”

November, November: month of thanksgiving, frost, and simple fall pleasures. Gathering gold, russet, scarlet leaves — watching them drift along mountain streams. Pine needle carpets underfoot. Frost-kissed persimmons, sweet, soft — if you can find them before Mr. Possum does.

Fresh coffee steaming on chill mornings, a large pot of vegetable soup simmered all day making the house feel like ‘home’. A much-anticipated library book savored in an afternoon slice of mellow November sunshine. The arrival of a hand-written card with a ‘real’ note in the daily stack of bills. A renegade dandelion holding out for spring. The plush of a dog’s fur coat and soft ears.

Daylight savings ending is not included on the fall pleasures list. Swinging clocks back means winter’s icicles twisting the front door knob is more official! It also means you feel like dinner time’s at five, bed at seven! No thanks, November.  (Reminder: clocks get turned back an hour Sunday, Nov. 5.)

Saluda Welcome Table is each Tuesday at Saluda Methodist Church from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Everyone welcome; donations appreciated.

Saluda Social Singles (men and women over 40 welcome) meet Nov. 9 at Saluda Center, 5 p.m. for a potluck dinner. Bring a favorite dish to share. For more information, contact Anita Moore, 828-749-3335.

The annual Saluda United Methodist Church’s Turkey Dinner is Nov. 11 at Saluda School cafeteria, 5-7 p.m. Church members serve roast turkey, homemade gravy (my favorite) and all the fixings including dessert (my favorite, too!). It’s a great evening to see home town folks. Tickets available from church members or at the door.

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) needs volunteers; donations are always welcome. Contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org. 

Saluda Historic Depot, 32 West Main Street, will have Saluda Train Tales on Nov. 17, 7 p.m. with the granddaughters of Mr. Patterson who was an engineer on the Helper Train. Museum hours are Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 12-4 p.m. Fore more, visit saludahistoricdepot.com.

Saluda Family Medicine, at 1347 Ozone Drive with Dr. Lisa Broyles MD, CFMP, a holistic family physician, is open.

The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration’s Third Annual Holiday Bazaar is Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.  in the Parish Hall, 72 Charles Street.

A holiday tailgate market at the city parking lot off Main Street will be held on Saturday, Nov. 25, 1-3 p.m. with local crafts as well as local agricultural products and foods.

Garden notes: It’s time to turn over summer gardens, divide plants, plant shrubs or trees, add compost to the soil, clean bluebird houses. Fall leaves make fine additions to compost or rake into a pile at the side of your yard and let them decompose; no need to burn them.

An extra helping of Saluda Get-Well Wishes go to Mary Ann Asbill and Rita Igoe.

Happy November Birthday to Rich Igoe, Rita Igoe, Karen Johnson, Nancy Barnett, Dawn Pearson, Charles Pearson, Dusty Jespersen, Gwen Garren, Stoney Lamar, Jim Boyle, Tom Ellwood,  Wendy McEntire, Aaron Burdett,  Jane Thompson, and Candy Oakes.  Happy belated October birthday to James Hrynyshyn.

Thank you, dear readers, for reading this column. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, 828-749-1153, or bonniebardosart.com.