Blog entries

Looking Back at Christmas '09

Dale Potruski — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:55:34 +0100

The holiday season has come and gone and with its passing, new memories are honed. The year of 2009 will no doubt be historically looked upon as the year that financial difficulties affected us all. But Christmas ‘09 will forever hold special memories of the wonderful guests that have become like family.

Donna and I stay close to the inn and welcome all holiday travelers, whether their highway leads through Saluda, or if they have chosen The Oaks as their destination, we wRead More...

Independence Day Weather Report

Dale Potruski — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:11:58 +0100

People often ask me, “How are summers in Saluda?” I can answer in a word, mild. I have come to know July as having comfortable overnight temperatures, perfect for restful-healthy sleep. We have yet to need the air conditioning. Recent guests from Florida pulled their blankets from the closet to insure a cozy slumber.

The days are warm and rarely humid. Daytime temperatures linger in the 80s. We haveRead More...

Local Treasure

Dale Potruski — Mon, 04 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Over the years, I have been fortunate to call many fascinating places home. In all these places, I have encountered knowledgeable and intelligent people, the finest of which I call friends.

Before we became residents of Saluda by taking over The Oaks Bed and Breakfast, my wife and I would stroll Main Street and visit its shops and restaurants. It was here we heard the stories and developed an appreciation for the people who told them. We learned wRead More...

An Inn for All Seasons

Dale Potruski — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:00:00 +0100

The snow fell without a break. When it was over, the hills had been covered in a plush blanket of fluff. To this point it had been a mild season with nothing more that a single dusting. Two weeks ago, the temperatures were in the 60’s and next weekend they have predicted the same. Today, a cheerful fire welcomes guests to the Library, Parlor and breakfast while icicles decorate the turret like glistening crystal swords.

Was a time when restaurants and shops closed for the winter aRead More...

Hometown Christmas

Dale Potruski — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:00:00 +0100

Winter views in Saluda offer a panorama of boundless mountain vistas. On occasion, a flurry of snow swirls weightless around the holiday lights in the antique village, giving the effect that we are living in a snow globe.

As the temperatures dip, town folk plan for the holidays. A traditional kick-off to this most joyous of seasons is Saluda’s Hometown Christmas – a gathering on Main Street that offers a storybook vision of Christmases.

I Can See For Miles and Miles

Dale Potruski — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:00:00 +0100

Winter is a special time to visit the Mountains of Western North Carolina. The autumn leaves have all fallen and their handiwork creates a colorful patchwork quilt that decorates the forest floor.

The gifts that autumn bestows upon us are many. Cooler temperatures allow us to sport about in the fashionable new sweaters and jackets we received last Christmas. On a beautiful 50-degree day, a lengthy bike ride or a vigorous hike can be undertaken withRead More...

A Morning Stroll to Main Street

Dale Potruski — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:00:00 +0100

On a recent walk from the inn down to Main Street, past Lullie Lane and Smith Hill, I discovered the raspberry bushes that line the sidewalk along the way. Branches heavy with ripened fruit sagged nearly down to the ground. The morning air is cool and moist and the sunrise golden as pure mountain honey.

Heralding my approach from the top of a tall forgotten locust, the local birds chirp wildly, sounding the warning of an approaching stranger. Ahead I Read More...

The Nicest People in the World

Dale Potruski — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:00:00 +0100

Can you explain the “random act of kindness”? What might be the motivation, the cause, and the consequence of such unexplained behavior? I understand that there are places where such occurrences rarely happen. However, here in my home town of Saluda, North Carolina, these unprovoked events occur daily.

My first experience was only days after my wife, Donna, and I had taken ownership of The Oaks Bed and Breakfast on Greenville Street. We were living among a labyrinthRead More...

Giving Thanks

Dale Potruski — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 07:00:00 +0100

Our very first Thanksgiving in Saluda was a complete success. The Oaks Beds and Breakfast welcomed guests from Savannah to Atlanta; from New Orleans to Cleveland, Ohio and I think it’s safe to say “a good time was had by all."

Fireplaces throughout the inn were ablaze as our guests enjoyed some genuine fall mountain weather. While some guests came to visit family in the area, the majority stayed to join us in on our Traditional Candlelight ThanksgivRead More...