Lorane Community News, September 1, 2022

September 1, 2022Newspaper ColumnsHappy Birthday Jim Edwards, Travelpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
The Chronicle (Creswell)
Sweet Lorane Community News
September 1, 2022
By Pat Edwards

Last Thursday, September 1, was my husband, Jim’s, 83rd birthday. With our daughter, Gloria, and our self-proclaimed “adopted daughter,” Tracie, we headed to Florence for a special lunch at Bridgewaters, since Mo’s was closed. Then we drove north to Heceta Head where we parked and watched the families playing on the beach and the incoming waves. Further out in the water were a few surfers trying to catch one of the bigger waves. The sea-air was glorious—so fresh and sweet—and the gentle warmth of a day with sunshine and very little wind invited open windows. Unfortunately, walks on the beach are no longer possible for Jim, so we enjoyed the sights, anyway. Sunday was reserved for a family barbeque to celebrate some more. Along with being with family and all of the many Facebook birthday wishes he got on Thursday, Jim felt especially honored and loved. Thanks to all who reached out to him.

Our anticipated celebration excursion to take a jet-boat ride last Wednesday with the River Road Parks & Recreation Dept. (which welcomes out-of-district residents) didn’t work out as we had hoped. Because of the wildfires in Southern Oregon, there was too much smoke along the Rogue River to send out the boats. So it was canceled for the time being. We’ve made the trip numerous times (but mainly from the Gold Beach end) and both Jim and I were really looking forward to it

The wildfire situation is really getting critical. It’s so difficult to keep up with the multitude of fast-growing dandelions that inhabit our lawns when we can only mow before 10:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m., but the rules are needed and we obey them. I was able to get half of our hill in front of our house mowed in the morning last week, but the other half is a bit steeper than I like to tackle on our riding lawn mower, so our daughter, Michele, showed up that night at 8:00 p.m. to finish the job. I was so surprised to realize that within less than a half hour, she was doing it in darkness. I hadn’t fully realized that fall was coming on quite so fast. Michele got it finished anyway with apologies for the few small spots that were missed.

Our family has always been supportive, but this last year, especially, they’ve been exceptional. Our grandsons have even taken on the task of cleaning out and rewiring our big tool shed and running wire to our gate at the entrance of our driveway so it can be opened and closed electronically… no more getting out to open and shut it each time we drive through! We are so grateful for them all. I’ve said it many times and will again… we are blessed!

Lil Thompson of the Lorane Grange asked me to give you a little more information on an upcoming Grange event: “Come out and meet our State Representative, Boomer Wright. He will discuss education in Oregon, and if there’s enough time, he will talk about crime and public safety concerns. Boomer originally grew up in Lorane on Fire Road, and graduated from Crow High School. Let’s give him a warm welcome on Tuesday, September 13 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lorane Grange. Light refreshments will be served.”

Enjoy this beautiful, more gentle, weather we are having as we approach fall, but let’s all strive to do whatever is needed to prevent possible wildfires. Let’s make it through this season without any more incidents than what we’ve already had.

Sweet Lorane Community News, August 25, 2022

August 25, 2022Newspaper ColumnsBlessings, Lorane Community Yard Salepaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
The Chronicle (Creswell)
Sweet Lorane Community News
August 25, 2022
By Pat Edwards

Since I write my weekly columns on Thursday or Friday of each week, I wasn’t able to do more than mention my participation in the Lorane Community Yard Sale event last week, since it hadn’t happened yet. So, today I want to thank everyone who stopped by my Oregon Author’s tent at the Lorane Grange to visit and maybe even purchase a book. Several of you introduced yourselves as readers of my column and it was so much fun to visit with each of you. I was there both Friday and Saturday, August 19 & 20, the weather was pleasant and the sales were good, so it proved to be a good decision to participate. Thanks to all of you who stopped by.

My next stop as an author will be on Saturday, September 3, at the Oregon State Fair’s Oregon Authors’ Table. I’m really looking forward to that because it’s the first year we, as authors, have been allowed to participate for a single day. I’m trying to get a family grouping to go that day so that Jim can venture out, too. As a young married couple with kids, we loved to join Jim’s family and go the State Fair to watch the horse races, visit the livestock barns and exhibits, watch some horse show competitions and, of course, spend the day eating all of the “fair food” we could handle. It was a special day that we all looked forward to.

The Lorane community is taking a break from further events until Tuesday, September 13, when the Lorane Grange hosts a talk by State Representative, Boomer Wright. He will speak on education and possibly crime. He grew up in Lorane and graduated from Crow High School.

Then, on September 16, they will begin sponsoring the monthly “Dessert and Bingo Night” at 7:00 p.m. Be sure to mark that on your calendars for both.

To give you an update on Jim’s progress, he sailed through his Home Health physical therapy program and his amazing therapists released him this week because he’s gained a lot of strength and balance since he began. He and I are taking daily walks with his walker up the hill on the country road that borders our property. He started small—50 steps past the end of our driveway—and graduated quickly to 100 steps; after that, we stopped counting steps and began counting fence posts. I’m so proud of him and his determination to be ready for our upcoming 8-day “Fall Folliage” bus tour beginning in Boston in late September. He’s really earned some “adventure” time. In addition, in preparation for the extended vacation, we’ve signed up for a day-trip with the River Road Parks and Recreation District in Eugene for a jet-boat trip on the Rogue River next week. We’re both looking forward to getting out again and doing some things we love and have been wanting to do for some time.

If I’ve learned nothing else these past few months, I’ve realized how important it is to enjoy each day that we’re given and to look for the positives that sometimes lie under the surface of daily life. Things are not always going to be the way we hoped or expected them to be at any certain time through any stage of our lives, but especially our later years. Life is not perfect or predictable, so we need to seek out and appreciate what we have and what we’ve been given each day.

Fall is fast approaching. Let’s rejoice in the bounty of the harvest, the cooling of the temperature, the lessening of fire danger and the changes in the season. Life is good.

Sweet Lorane Community News, August 18, 2022

August 18, 2022Newspaper ColumnsLorane Community Potluck, Lorane Community Yard Sale, Lorane Ice Cream Socialpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
The Chronicle (Creswell)
Sweet Lorane Community News
August 18, 2022
By Pat Edwards

Our normally quiet, little Lorane has become “busy” Lorane, Oregon, with lots of events planned within a 2-week period. The weekend of August 13 and 14 didn’t let us down as one of the busiest weekends of the year for the community. Jim and I were able to attend the events scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday that weekend. The Saturday event was our annual Lorane Community Potluck which has evolved over the years from being called the “Lorane Old-Timers’ Picnic” that has been held on the 2nd weekend in August for several generations.

When we walked in to the grange, we were greeted by many of our friends and neighbors who we haven’t seen for several months now. There wasn’t a large gathering this year, but being able to visit and be social once again was an especially enjoyable time for us. The food was excellent, as usual, as was the camraderie. The date of the potluck was changed last year from its usual Sunday slot, preceding the Lorane Ice Cream Social held on the same day, to the Saturday before in hopes of regenerating more attendance. There were a few more this year than last, but we are hoping that it will keep growing.

Then on Sunday, Jim and I came back to attend the popular Lorane Ice Cream Social that has been sponsored by the Lorane Fire Department for many years now. We brought Jim’s mobility scooter to drive around the grounds while we ate delicious ice cream and homemade pies. Jim parked inside the fire truck garage, out of the hot sun, where the food was being served and greeted more friends, neighbors and customers from our days owning the store as they stood in line to order.

After eating, we headed across the street where one of the fire trucks was parked near the bounce house, fishing booth and dunk tank set up on the church lawn. We watched as three of our great-grandchildren honked the horn on the truck as they pretended to drive it on a rescue mission, and played, bounced and slid down the water slide. Jim was tired by then, so we didn’t stay to watch them take a ride in the fire truck with other kids before heading back home.

This past weekend was the Lorane Community Sale. There were 19 sites recorded on the map for the 2-day event. It’s always well-attended and popular; this year was no exception.
Then on Sunday, August 21, the Lorane Christian Church held its annual “Worship in the Park” at Farmin’ Creek, followed by a potluck.

So, I think that with so much celebratin’ these past 2 weeks, it will soon be time to harvest our gardens, get our flower beds prepared for fall, take those final camping trips and get ready to hunker down as summer slowly begins to slip away. Labor Day will soon be here, signaling a time when school will be starting, leaves will begin turning brilliant reds, yellows and orange colors, and life for many will turn to football games, cooler temperatures and the coziness of home.