We’ve been blessed with beautiful fall weather this year, but it appears to be gearing up for the rainy season this past week.
I’ve noticed that in our yard and front pasture, especially our oak trees are divesting themselves of lots of acorns. This is unusual for us, as I don’t remember seeing as many acorns around until now. We haven’t had the overabundance of gray squirrels that many are reporting and our dogs discourage deer from entering the property, so when Jeff Levy of Lorane’s Balance Restoration Nursery put out a notice that he was needing white oak acorns, I contacted him. He came right out and harvested ours. If you have a good supply that hasn’t been eaten by wildlife, give him a call at 541-942-5530.
Halloween preparations are in full swing. The Crow-Applegate-Lorane School District’s “Harvest Festival” was held this past weekend and Lorane’s celebration on the actual day—Wednesday, Oct. 31 — the Lorane Christian Church will be hosting its annual “Trunk ‘n Treat” from 5 to 7 p.m. Local residents are encouraged to park their cars in the parking lot at the church where they can open their trunks to display Halloween decorations. Ghosts, witches, Cinderellas and superheroes can get goodies from each trunk while the adults, who are also encouraged to dress in costume, enjoy the hot soup and cocoa provided.
The age-old practice of trick or treating used to be a fun, exciting prospect when I and later, our children, were young, but it was also logistically challenging in the rural areas. Homes were frequently so spread out, with many of the houses at the end of long driveways, that most parents took their kids into familiar neighborhoods of friends and family in town.
Sadly, the rare, but very real dangers posed by sick predators who laced candy with hallucinogenic drugs or even razor blades, has almost brought that practice to a full halt. The church’s “Trunk ‘n Treat” is the ideal solution for a fun and safe time for young and old alike. Thank you to those who provide this and the harvest festivals for the area children.
Groundwaters Publishing (aka Jennifer Chambers and me) is gearing up for its upcoming Groundwaters LIVE! event scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 4, at 3 p.m. at the Applegate Regional Theater located north of Crow on the corner of Central and Fleck Roads. Our 2018 annual anthology is done and waiting to be distributed that day. As we do each year, 10 of our over 70 contributors will be giving five minute readings from their stories and poetry included in the 146-page book. If you haven’t experienced Groundwaters through its 11 years as a literary quarterly or the past four years as an anthology, you will be amazed at the quality of our local writing talent. Plan on joining us at Groundwaters LIVE! on Nov. 4! It’s FREE and a fun way to spend a fall afternoon by honoring those who share their wonderful stories and verse with us.
Lil Thompson of the Lorane Grange asked me to let everyone know that the grange meets next on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. They always welcome new members. The next spaghetti dinner and bingo event will be on Friday, Nov. 16. There was no winner on the progressive blackout game last week, so there’s a good chance it will go next time.
The Crow Grange hosts a similar dinner and bingo night every first and third Saturdays during the school year. Doors open at 6 p.m. with bingo starting at 7 p.m.
These are family nights of fun. Plan on coming out to support your local grange!
Be sure to check out my personal website! http://allthingslorane.com