The end of summer was always bittersweet in our household. Actually if you took a vote, bitter would win out.

Trading in swimming in Oswego Lake, ski tubing, and Lake Grove swim park afternoons for going back to school and the routine was a tough sell.

I learned to look ahead and what we had to look forward to.

 In case you too are suffering from summer withdrawal, here’s a sneak peak at good things to come if you live in Lake Oswego:

 ■Lake Oswego Farmer’s Market. Savor the season while you still can—it’s one way to hold on to summer! There are new discoveries to be found as the season changes like delicata squash. Market is open until Saturday, October 12.

 ■High School Football.  Are you ready for some football? The high school variety, that is. Lake Oswego High School is a state powerhouse, claiming the state title in 2011 and coming in second last year. League play starts Friday, September 27 against West Linn at home at 7:00 p.m.

Lakeridge’s first league play is an away game at Oregon City on Friday, September 20. The Pacers will play host for the first Civil War match-up against crosstown rivals, The Lakers on Friday, October 18.

With football comes homecoming parades and Lake Oswego will have two of them: October 4 for Lake Oswego and October 10 for Lakeridge. Be on the streets to cheer the teams and support the youth of our community.

 ■INDIAN SUMMER. I’ve always thought Oregon should be on an October-June school schedule since the month of September still holds such summer-like weather in store for us. Savor that sunshine with average temps in the high 70s and records in the 90s. Either way, odds are in your favor that the backyard cookouts, bike rides, swimming and sun bathing can still continue.

 ■FALL COLORS. Crisp autumn nights bring out the brilliance in our Tree City USA designated community. Check the colors out with this preview.

 ■Halloween Festivities. Lake Oswego offers a harvest of activities to get you into the spirit from pumpkin decorating at Luscher Farms, to Halloween Night at Lakeridge on Wednesday, October 29 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., to great trick or treat neighborhoods.

 ■Storytelling Festival. The Lake Oswego Library is bringing back this popular event October 25-27 complete with storytelling performances and workshops to encourage all of us to appreciate and share our stories within. Check out last year’s schedule to get an idea of what’s in store.

 ■Lake Oswego Wine Walk. The Lake Oswego Business Alliance is debuting the first (bi) Annual Downtown Wine Walk on Saturday, November 2 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. featuring wine-tasting, food, art and music while exploring all that local merchants have to offer. Advance tickets will be sold online and at participating stores for $25 and entitle participants to an official wine glass, venue map,  ID wristband and tasting tickets. Contact Susan Olson with World Class Wines for more info.

 Stay tuned here for all the reasons to live in Lake Oswego. Click the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column to receive weekly updates. Don’t miss a thing!

Photo credit: stock.xchng image 764984 by ArminH