Tag: Natalie Edwards

Sweet Lorane Community News, September 14, 2017

September 14, 2017Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
September 14, 2017
By Pat Edwards

Well, our family has made it through a busy, busy time these past several weeks… vacation, out-of-town company and three birthday celebrations. They were all fun, family times, but it’s so nice to be able to settle into a more normal routine. I’m not sure what “normal” means these days, but for me, it’s spending more time at home, running errands with Jim, taking our dogs for walks and being able to work on my book projects.

I am really excited about this year’s Groundwaters anthology that I’m currently working on, and even more so about the new local history book that I have almost completed for publication. I’m hoping that it can be the maiden voyage for a series of books I’d like to write on early Lane County families with connections to Lorane and the Siuslaw Valley. I envision that future books will each contain profiles on 4 to 6 of these families, but the research on this first one has been so interesting and the information so extensive that it will feature just one family. The proposed title of the book will be The Baileys of Bailey Hill. They were not only a prominent family in the Eugene City area of Lane County in the mid-1800s, but several of them also owned land in the Siuslaw/Lorane area. I hope to have the 70-plus page book published and available by the first part of October.

The 2017 Groundwaters Anthology should also be out by mid-October. We will once again be featuring the amazing writing talent of 60, mostly-Lane County, authors, poets and artists. Jen and I hope to host a Groundwaters Live! event again this year to celebrate its publication and to distribute pre-ordered books as soon as it is in print. More on that later…

I want to remind you about the upcoming Crow Booster Club’s Fall Auction & Carnival to be held on Saturday, October 14. This will benefit all K-12 students in the Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District.

The carnival will run from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and the dinner and silent auction will begin at 4:30 and run until 6:00 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., the live auction will proceed with some fantastic items in the offing. I’m sure that they would welcome donations of auction items (both silent and live) as well as offers of volunteer help during the event. For more information, contact a Booster Club member or Crow Middle/High School at 541-935-2227 or email to crowboosterclub@yahoo.com.

I understand that Lorane resident B.G. Kidd was admitted to the Cottage Grove Hospital in serious condition last Wednesday. At this writing, her son and daughter are asking for extra thoughts and prayers to be sent her way. Get well soon, B.G.!

The Lorane Grange is seeking donations of new socks for children to add to those being collected by the Lane Pomona Grange. Anyone interested in donating may contact Lil or Gary Thompson at 541-942-5701.

Jim and I got to attend our first volleyball game of the year last night. Our granddaughter, Natalie Edwards, is playing on the Creswell Middle School team. It’s the only sport she participates in and she’s the last of our grandkids to participate, so it’s a real treat to be able to exercise grandparent rights by cheering and showing our pride in not only the Creswell team, but Natalie, as well. Go Tigers!

Don’t forget to check out the Lorane Grower’s Market table in front of the Lorane Deli…

Sweet Lorane Community News – December 15, 2016

December 15, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
December 15, 2016
By Pat Edwards

As I sit here writing this week’s column, I am surrounded by what looks to be a war zone. Trees… good-size oaks, mainly… and large branches are lying all around our home. One especially large tree in the hillside pasture in front of our driveway split in half and the huge, tree-size chunk landed precisely between a small storage shed and a fence. It is even straddling a wooden fence without smashing it. Our house and vehicles are unscathed although one of Jim’s tractors is littered with small branches.

We are currently without electricity… our third day, but thanks to our oldest daughter, Gloria, and Jim’s small generator, we’ve had enough light in our family room to think we are “normal,” warm food (and hot coffee!) and enough power to charge our cellphone batteries and provide Jim with his indispensable TV each night. It’s even allowing me to write my column on my laptop if the WiFi will allow it to be transmitted. We also had enough heat to keep us warm thanks to an indoor propane heater .

It’s all been an inconvenience, but this morning the roads are clear of ice and the sun is breaking through the clouds, so we are blessed in even small ways.

It was an extremely rough week for us even before the ice storm hit. We had to put down our beloved Outlaw. I still tear up when I talk about him as I am now. He and Shortie have been Jim’s and my companions now for many years. Unfortunately, Outlaw, a Queensland Blue Heeler, developed seizures and they got so bad, even though he was on medication, that he became brain-injured. He had 4 seizures in one day… the last one especially bad, After that, frequently he didn’t recognize us and became lost when he would go outside and eventually, even in the house. When he woke us up one night last week, whimpering because he didn’t know where he was, we knew that it was time. It was so hard, but he left us with so many good memories!

We’re going to have a quiet Christmas this year after our over-the-top Thanksgiving. It’s probably just as well since there’s so much to do once our power comes back on. I did get my tree up and decorated, but nothing else. Oh, yes! We did fill two requests on the Angel Tree. Apparently many others did, too, as Jim said that the tree at the store was kept bare most of the time. Thanks to all of you who filled the food boxes, too.

It was fun going to the Crow High School’s Alumnae Basketball Tournament this year, especially since the women played, too. There weren’t a whole lot of brave female souls who felt they were in shape to run up and down the court, but it was fun watching at least one granddaughter out there making her fantastic moves again. Our grandson, Kevin, was there, too, showing us some of his stuff. All were having a good time.

We also had an enjoyable evening the other night watching the Creswell Middle School Choir perform. Our youngest granddaughter, Natalie Edwards, was one of the singers who did a wonderful job of putting us into the Christmas spirit.

Thank you to all of the organizers in Booster Club and the Creswell choir director for the hard work that went into these events.

There’s probably a lot of other things I need to tell you and remind you of, but I don’t have access to my other files, so hopefully you will already had your calendars marked.

To each of you, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! and may your New Year be one that brings us all joy and peace.

Sweet Lorane Community News – February 11, 2016

February 11, 2016Newspaper Columns, , , , , , Leave a comment

Fern Ridge Review
Creswell Chronicle
Sweet Lorane Community News
February 11, 2016
By Pat Edwards

Those of you who love and respect Debbie Davis as much as I do, will be glad to hear that her craniotomy surgery this past week went well and she is recovering nicely. Her daughter, Anna, said that she was expected to go home last Friday… that’s where healing really can begin! Debbie has proven time and again how strong she is and I have no doubt that she will continue to battle the cancer that keeps trying to sneak up on her and one day she will be declared the winner.

It’s strong courageous people like Debbie and Michael Matchulat who are literally fighting for their lives against cancer that make me realize that this world has some amazing people who are daily showing us how precious life is.

Loranian Michael Matchulat has been very open with his fight against the cancer that has invaded his colon, liver and lungs and his words on Facebook are inspiring others who are heading down the same road. Last night, Michael posted an update about the fact that the new meds that he is on are “way more bearable and have eliminated almost every (bad) side-effect.” When someone mentioned his amazingly positive attitude, Michael immediately responded with what I consider a golden nugget of advice for others and their loved ones who are in the same position: “Just remember one rule: Be sad sometimes. Optimism is often confused with positivity. Don’t make cancer fighters be positive; it tells them their emotions are wrong.” I shared his words with an especially good friend in Montana who has just begun the journey down that road and I know that they are so appreciated.

One of our former long-time residents, Walt VanDecar, passed away on  February 7, according to his daughter, Rose. She and Walt’s stepchildren, Susan and Kenny Keeler, went to the Lorane and Crow schools and his wife, Mary Ann, was active with the Lorane P.T.C. for many years. Walt was a sheep rancher and shearer, and after moving from the Crow area, he worked closely with Cleve Dumdi in the Monroe and Junction City areas. Our condolences go out to Rose, Mary Ann and the rest of the family. I know that he will be sorely missed.

Disclaimer: The following is a “proud grandma” alert… I just got word from our son, Rob, that our two Creswell granddaughters, Hannah and Natalie Edwards both came home today with report cards sporting 4.0 GPAs! In addition, Miss Nat was named Student of the Month at the middle school.  Congratulations, girls! Grandpa and I are so proud of you both. Hey! How could I NOT brag a bit?

I’ve got a date with both of my girls for this coming Saturday. We’re all going to get pedis, followed by lunch and maybe some shopping in celebration of Hannah’s 15th birthday on February 3. (You Creswell and Cottage Grove driver’s might want to be on the alert!) Actually, Hannah has a headstart on driving. She’s driven the tractor during haying season and has practiced on her Uncle John’s long driveway in Saginaw for the last couple of years. I have no doubt that she is going to do just fine. It’s so much fun being a grandma… and great grandma!

Ok… back to Lorane… The only other news I have right now are reminders of events that I’ve covered pretty thoroughly in the past couple of columns:

There’s a mandatory parent/athletic meeting scheduled at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16 for all Spring Sports at Crow Middle/High School.

Sunday, February 21 is the Lorane Christian Church Friendship Dinner at Sizzler’s in Springfield at 5:30 p.m.

The next Lorane Grange dinner and bingo is Saturday, February 27 at 5:30 p.m.

I hope you’ve all been enjoying the sunshine this past week!