Author: paedwards

Sweet Lorane Community News, December 2, 2021

December 2, 2021Newspaper Columns Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
December 2, 2021
By Pat Edwards

Post-Thanksgiving greetings, all… Our “turkey day” was wild and wonderful this year with seven of our twelve great-grandkids, ranging in the ages from 2 to 6, very much in evidence. Our family hasn’t been able to sit at one table in years, so after gathering around my big dining room table and saying grace, we filled our plates and dispersed throughout the dining, living and family rooms to eat and visit. We even set up a children’s table next to the big table this year.

Has everyone cleared their refrigerator of Thanksgiving Day leftovers yet? Jim and I just finished the last bowl of the turkey-noodle soup I made from the scraps. I was able to get a good “do” on it this year so it went pretty fast. Our house has always been the venue for our family Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. I love having them here, but I’ve always had problems with the large amount of leftovers that I have to deal with afterwards. As I mentioned earlier, I bought cardboard takeout containers this year and no one was allowed to leave that evening without at least one carton in hand, and all remaining pies and desserts had to be taken away, too. We were left with a manageable amount of leftovers to enjoy for only another meal or two. How nice that was, since Jim and I eat so much less than we used to.

Connie Suing of the Crow Grange has asked me to let you know about the upcoming Holiday Community Potluck they are hosting. It will be taking place on Thursday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m. The Grange is providing turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes and is asking folks to bring side dishes, salad, and dessert to share. There will be crafts for kids to create and take home and also photos with Santa. Contact Connie at 541-556-2609 for more information.

The Lorane Community Association put up their Angel Trees at the Lorane Family Store and Applegate Elementary for area children last week. One of the Holiday Helpers, Rozlyn Fox, shares this information with us about the Angel Trees:

“If you come for a tag and they are all gone, please check back in a couple of days; families are still reaching out for assistance and tags will continue to be added as requests filter in.

“Families, it’s not too late to request assistance with gifts for your kiddos! We ask that kids be 18 or under and either live in Lorane/Crow or be enrolled in C-A-L School District… the ‘littles’ and kids being homeschooled or attending school in a different district can receive gifts too! All information is completely confidential.

“You can sign up by either sending me (Rozlyn) or Marissa McNutt-Cooper a message on Facebook or by calling or texting Marissa at (541) 517-6608 or Paula May at 541-729-3999. Please share with us your child’s age, an idea of some items your child has on their wish list, their clothing sizes and any particular items they’re in need of. We’ll ask for your contact information in case we have follow-up questions and to arrange drop off.”

They would like to have the information by December 8, if possible.

Boxes for the community food drive have been placed at the Lorane Family Store and the post office. Also, a drive-through collection for the annual Lorane Community Food Boxes will take place in front of the Lorane Deli on Saturday, December 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will be another drive-through collection at the Crow Grange on Sunday, December 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., as well. If you or someone you know could use a food box, please let Jennifer and John Long (785-806-5262) or Pam Kersgaard know, or contact one of the Holiday Helpers listed as contacts for the Angel Tree, above. They stress that it’s helpful for them to know if you have any particular requests of items your family prefers or food allergies so they know what foods to include or avoid when packing.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Sweet Lorane Community News, December 18, 2021

November 18, 2021Newspaper Columns, , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
November 18, 2021
By Pat Edwards

Ok, Life, let’s settle back into a nice, regular rhythm. I’m back home after traveling through 5 states in 3 days and the Groundwaters anthology is done and we’re waiting for the books to arrive.

But wait! Next week is Thanksgiving.

Well, I may not be able to get into that natural rhythm for awhile, but what needs to be done can be done at home, at least. Over the years, I’ve learned that hosting a big family dinner—which I do every year—isn’t something that I can leave to the last minute. Preparations need to be started well in advance. Believe me, I’ve experimented with the last minute stuff and it just doesn’t work if I’m to enjoy the day, itself.

Today, was my “clean the refrigerator and oven” day… a couple of chores on my “least liked” list. If I get those out of the way first, then they won’t be hanging over my head for the next week.

Now it’s time to clear off and clean the cluttered surfaces that somehow accumulate in our house, shampoo the carpet and the couch that our dogs think is theirs, and launder the area rugs that bear the brunt of the winter traffic. Most people do these things on a more regular basis than I do, I admit. I do manage, each day, to keep the dishes done, the countertops wiped down and relatively clear of clutter, the beds made and the laundry kept clean, but the finer art of keeping house on a daily or weekly basis has always escaped me. I was always the kid who was outside riding my horse when I could and hoeing strawberries or pulling weeds on our farm instead of helping my mom in the house.

The 21-lb turkey is “bought”—thanks Winco!—as are the yams, potatoes and turkey stuffing ingredients that I provide for the dinner. Other family members will bring the ham, salads, rolls, side dishes, veggie trays, snacks and desserts for our 20+ member family. In fact, we end up with so many more leftovers each year than I want to deal with, that I’ve learned to provide “take out” cartons and insist that everyone take home what’s left.

Let me assure you that we are well aware of our blessings in having more than enough food for our own table. That’s why Jim and I are ardent supporters of our local food pantry. I ask each of you who are also blessed, to donate generously to the Lane County Food Bank, your local community pantry or even take a meal to an elderly next-door neighbor or a family who would enjoy knowing that they are in your thoughts on this special day.

In Lorane, there are food boxes set up at the Lorane Family Store and the Lorane Post Office. The food pantry also plans to schedule two “drive-by” donation events again this year on December 11 and 12. Details will be posted soon on the Lorane Facebook page and the reader board. I’ll mention them in a future column as well. The Angel Tree will be set up soon at our store and probably the Crow Middle/High School, as well. Let’s all keep those boxes filled throughout the holidays so everyone is able to enjoy family and friends this year.

Because of the remaining Covid concerns, the annual Lorane Community Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners are not going to be held again this year, so it’s especially important that we go out of our ways, individually, to make sure that no one is forgotten.

Thanks to all of those active community members who spend a great deal of time and effort each year in making sure that food and warm clothing are available and provided to the less fortunate in our communities.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Sweet Lorane Community News, November 11, 2021

November 11, 2021Newspaper Columns, Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
November 11, 2021
By Pat Edwards

Greetings from Roswell, New Mexico. Two of our daughters, Gloria and Michele, and I just picked up a new puppy that we’re bringing home to Oregon. Grizz will never replace the very special place that Gloria’s Cappy will always hold in our hearts, but he’s opened one of his own already. He’s 9 weeks old and is quietly sleeping beside me in his soft crate in the back seat of the car as we make our way back home. He’s already brightening our world.

The sun is shining and it’s about 60 degrees, but despite our joy over meeting Grizz, we just learned of the passing of one of the strongest, bravest men I have ever known. Michael Matchulat died this morning—Veterans’ Day—after spending the last 6 ½ years battling cancer. Michael grew up in Lorane with his parents and his four sisters. He was the youngest of the 5 siblings and was adored by all.

Michael’s wife, Amber, his mother, Trish, his sisters and his mother-in-law were by his side when he passed. His mother-in-law, Vicki Doughty, sent this message:

“Michael not only taught us how to live, he taught us how to die. I was so blessed to be with him, Amber and the Matchulat family this week as we all helped Michael transition to Heaven. I really believe he got to hear God say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

For the first couple of years of his battle with cancer, Michael shared his journey on the pages of the Lorane Facebook page, and even though he hadn’t been known before by some, his shared experiences pierced the hearts of each of us as he met, and seemingly overcame, each obstacle that the “Big C” presented him.

Later, Michael wrote of not only his experiences with cancer, but of his happier life’s experiences while growing up in Lorane, on the pages of the Groundwaters anthologies. (There are two of his stories included in our soon-to-be published 2021 edition.)

He was an intelligent, warm, imaginative man who never lost his sense of humor or love of life.

Before he became too ill to finish the project, he asked me to help him put his experiences and writings into a book. All that remained for him to do was to design a cover. I will see that it gets published with the help of his family.

In the meantime, Jim and I send our deep condolences to the Matchulat family. Our hearts are broken. May you rest in peace, Michael.