Sweet Lorane Community News, May 26, 2022

May 26, 2022Newspaper ColumnsCrow-Applegate-Lorane School District, multi-tasking, Uvalde Texaspaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
May 26, 2022
By Pat Edwards

I’m amazed to discover that as I age, my ability to focus on more than one thing at a time is diminishing. I used to be able to multi-task rather well a few years ago, but I’m finding that I have to be careful to finish one task before I begin another or the first one gets forgotten… and probably the second one, too, if something else occurs to me that needs doing. If I’m folding a load of laundry as it is taken from the dryer, and suddenly stop with the intention of getting right back to it—for just a few seconds—in order to take mail out to the mailbox, I frequently find the unfolded laundry waiting for me at bedtime. Inevitably, while taking the mail out to the mailbox, I see some weeds in the flower bed that need to be pulled and then notice that I really need to lay down some more of the landscape fabric that I started yesterday before it begins to rain. Then, of course, as I hobble into the house with my back screaming in pain for the abuse I’ve given it by bending over for too long, I head for my recliner to give it some much-needed rest. The mail got mailed, a few weeds got pulled and another strip of landscape fabric got laid, but distractions have become my enemy these days.

It’s the same with my writing. I try to immerse myself in what needs to be done, but first there is the email to answer and, of course, then I need to check the Facebook postings to see what our little great-grands have been doing, and then discover that something inappropriate has been posted to the Lorane page, so, if I’m the first of our administrators to notice it, I usually opt to deal with it. Hey! It’s better than being bored!

Thanks to my good friend, Lil Thompson, who provided me with some important dates she harvested from the Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District office. I’d like to include them here for those of you who are parents and patrons of the school district.

The Crow Middle/High School Band Concert will be held on Thursday, June 2, at 7:00 p.m., and “The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza,” the school’s final drama production of the year, takes place the following night on Friday, June 3, at 7:00 p.m. The Drama class is in desperate need of sheets for this Greek Mythology production and will gladly accept donations from the community. Any sheets will work and they can be left the front office.
The Applegate Elementary Spring Concert is being held on June 7, at 7:00 p.m. in Applegate gym.
Graduation for our Crow High School Seniors will be on Friday, June 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.
Then, 8th Grade Recognition is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the Crow Middle/High School gym.
Kindergarten graduation also takes place on Tuesday afternoon, June 14, at 3:30 p.m. in the Applegate Elementary School gym
Finally, the all-day Applegate Elementary School Field Day is being held on June 15.

Our nation is grieving over the latest tragedy that took place in an elementary school in Texas this week. Each of us shares in the horror of these violent and tragic school shootings, and wonder, “Why?” Why is innocence being made a target by so many broken individuals? I have my own opinions and could write another column on them, but I won’t. It has become a political issue that needs to be resolved NOW. Our focus must be on these young lives that have been lost… and will continue to be lost… if nothing is done.

Crow Middle/High School principal, Kevin Rodemack, issued this statement in “The Buzz” the school’s newsletter, on May 25, 2022:

“I wanted to state how much our thoughts/prayers go out to the families and victims of the horrific school shooting that happened in Texas. We held a moment of silence this morning and spoke to the students about the importance of speaking out if they hear anything, and how important being kind to one another every day (is). We hold drills yearly for students about these situations and use those drills to try to educate.”

God Bless these young children and their teachers in Uvalde, Texas, who are the latest victims. God Bless their parents, their loved ones, their community… God Bless us all.

Sweet Lorane Community News, May 19, 2022

May 19, 2022Newspaper Columnsanimal rescue, Raining Dogs Rescuepaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
May 19, 2022
By Pat Edwards

As many know from past columns, Jim and I are big animal lovers. We had an “Old McDonald’s Farm” when our children were growing up… horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, dogs, cats, birds (parakeets, a cockatiel, and a miniature parrot), to name only a few. We passed that love on to our descendants, thankfully, and more recently have chosen to give homes to rescue animals. Both of our dogs and our three cats were all adopted as rescues. Our daughter, Kelly, has worked with Jack Russell rescue groups for many years and my heart breaks for the thousands of pets that are still being euthanized in some “high-kill” areas.

Yesterday, Raining Dogs Rescue, a local rescue group that I follow, announced its search for a foster family that would be willing to take in a dog recently discovered in Creswell whose “owners” had starved her, obviously for quite some time, and then abandoned her when they were served an eviction notice. Apparently, they had not only failed to pay their rent, but they had not given even basic care to their dog. When they left their home, they left a starved and emaciated Luna behind, locked up in a dog crate inside the house without food or water. Her skin was literally hanging over her skeletal frame and much of her hair had fallen out. Neighbors were apparently notified by the landlord about the dog, and one of them, Desi Lovenburg, took her in and began trying to nurse her back to health. In the month and a half Desi has had her, Luna has gained eight pounds and they are working with a Cottage Grove veterinarian to carefully get her back to good health. According to Desi, “Luna has a couple of wounds on her paws that are almost healed, but we have to spray them to keep her from licking the wounds. The vet said she needs carbs added to her food so we have been feeding her rice with her meals just to get some meat on her bones.”

BEFORE

Luna on the day after she was rescued by Desi

BEFORE – Luna with her “puppy” that was adopted by Desi at least a year ago

Desi is due to deliver her 4th child soon. They live in a small house with two other dogs and three cats, so she cannot keep Luna. She contacted Raining Dogs Rescue which was recommended to her, and they are trying to help her find a foster family who will continue nursing her back to health until a permanent—and loving—“forever” home can be found for her.

Luna is 4-years old and is a Border Collie mixed breed. Desi knows that Luna had one litter of puppies at least a year ago because she adopted one of them which she still has.

Despite all that Luna has had to go through in her life, Desi says that she is “the sweetest dog you’ll ever meet and is smart and eager to learn.” She loves Desi’s three children, all under 11 years of age, as well as her two other dogs and the cats. She craves being cuddled by the kids, and wants to be a lap dog. “It has been a pleasure watching her become a dog again. She is so full of love still and that, to me, is amazing.”

CURRENTLY

A foster family connected with the Northwest Dog Project has been found for Luna and that rescue organization will now handle Luna’s adoption. They will make sure Luna has all of her vaccinations and they will have her spayed once she puts on some more weight and before she is adopted. Adoption applications may be sent to their website at https://northwestdogproject.org/

Luna deserves to have a family who will give her the love and attention that has obviously been so lacking in her life up to now. Thank you to Raining Dogs Rescue, the Northwest Dog Project and most of all, Desi, for all that you have done for this sweet girl, and for being Luna’s spokesperson.

Sweet Lorane Community News, May 12, 2022

May 12, 2022Newspaper Columnsretirement, shoppingpaedwards Leave a comment

Fern Ridge-Tribune News
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
May 12, 2022
By Pat Edwards

I was shopping in one of the big-box stores the other day when I passed a lady pushing her cart in the opposite direction. She had a little support dog on a leash and wore a frown on her face. As she went by, she commented, “I can’t believe the prices these days!” Without thinking, I replied, “I just wish I could find what I’m looking for!” Both scenarios are understandable, but at the time, for me, mine was the most frustrating.

Having a husband who was a manager of Mayfair Markets for many years in the area before they sold their Oregon stores, I know that the strategy is to keep moving merchandise around so that people, in looking for what they come in for, will find other things to buy that they ordinarily would not see if the displays stayed in the same places. But, come on!… some of the recent “remodels” don’t have any rhyme or reason any more.

Part of my frustration, I know, comes from the fact that I no longer have the “luxury” of leisurely shopping for anything these days. I’ve never been a die-hard shopper… I’ve always had too many things on my plate to spend much time (or money) looking at or buying things I really didn’t need. But, I have enjoyed occasionally walking up and down the aisles to see what’s available should I need it without worrying about having to run into the store, grab what I went there for and head back out to the car. I’m finding, though, that with the change in our circumstances since I now have a fully-retired husband, I’m saving money while at the same time finding myself dashing to and fro to pick up what’s on our list and heading back out to the car. Jim has never been a shopper; he’s always hated it, but with so much time on his hands during the day now, he wants to go with me on every errand that needs to be run in town. Many times, he just waits in the car for me, so the “leisure” has been completely taken out of any shopping I now do and it is so frustrating to try and find the things I want in a hurry and not being able to find them. The hot summer days will soon be here. I never even take our dogs with me and leave them in the car when I go into town on errands, so something’s going to have to change. (Do they give tickets for leaving husbands in hot cars?)

Ok… I don’t want to make it sound as though I don’t enjoy my husband’s company. We have been trying out different restaurants and enjoying one or two lunches together each week when we have appointments or errands to do in town. And, our schedules are so open that we are usually able to go to our great-grandkids’ dance recitals and t-ball games, play bingo at the local granges and the Elks Club in Eugene and, on the occasional weekend, head to Seven Feathers for a few hours of recreation. Vacations and short trips are being planned, but we’re waiting for the sunnier weather to embark on those. I’m now the “designated driver”—someone who has never really enjoyed driving before. I was always the one content to sit back and enjoy the scenery while he drove, but Jim’s finding that he loves the role-reversal.

While at home, I am still trying to get some writing in when I can… I’m working on another book. Jim’s trying to develop interests that will give him things to do now that his life’s work in the grocery business and ranching are behind him. For now, we enjoy the antics of our pets and watching the birds flock to the feeders we’ve set out or the little wild rabbits romping around in the tall grass we haven’t been able to mow in the backyard lately. Life in retirement has taken on a type of comfort in each other’s company that we didn’t experience when we were both busy doing our own things. It’s different and the transition hasn’t always been easy, but I believe that we all need to accept change, because it’s going to happen anyway.

Happiness comes from adapting and seeing the positives in life.