Our normally quiet, little Lorane has become “busy” Lorane, Ore., with lots of events planned within a two-week period.
The weekend of Aug. 13-14 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 on the second 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 two-day event. It’s always well-attended and popular; this year was no exception.
Then on Sunday, Aug. 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 two 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.
