April 18, 2012

Using a twist on words the Mink Creek Relief Society enjoyed an Eggstravaganza.  All attending brought something connected with eggs.  Most offerings were food of some type:  casseroles, salads, breads, pie, cookies, cake.  It made for a yummy potluck sort of fare for their evening meal just sampling all the different dishes.  One unusual presentation was that of an egg carton filled with tiny tomato plants which had been planted in  dirt-filled egg shells.  Goldie Bosen was a guest speaker ,encouraging all attending to be eggceptional and eggstraordinary in their lives.  She charged them to reflect on their potential and dreams.  Tammy Coleman conducted the evening.

Elder Josh Newby recently returned from his mission, serving the past two years in the Missouri, St. Louis Mission.  He is the son of Sharla and Lin McKay.  Friends and family gathered here to welcome him.  His brother, Payton, and Judith Newby drove down from Rexburg.  Grandparents, Hal and Marva Mason came over from Plymouth, UT.  Josh was glad to see enough snow within easy driving distance to give him some snowmobiling moments and is ready to go 4-wheeling at the first opportunity.

Mike Jepsen, Reed Swann, Joe Jepsen and Alex Swainston have been off on a fishing adventure, staying at the May Family Ranch, near Clayton, ID.  They were on the Salmon River, hoping for steelhead, and were successful.

Preston High School’s seasons for track, baseball and softball are underway.  We have several youth in track:  Cody McKay, Joseph Seamons, Alexis Iverson, Johnny Iverson, Nicole Straight, Morgan McKay, and Nicole Beardall. Tyson Hall plays varsity baseball with Tawni Hall on the softball team. 

Bryce and Terry Stromberg are at home in their place on Birch Creek.  They have been in California for our cooler months, planning to avoid the snow we didn’t have this past season.  It is fun to have them back with us.

There is no question about whether or not the sandhill cranes have returned for the summer.   They can be a very noisy bird and their volume matches their size.  Their calls and squawks can be heard up and down the length of Mink Creek.   I have noticed our local buzzards and eagles enjoying spots of updraft, soaring high, wings outstretched, around and around.  This looks completely effortless.  No wonder people feel the urge to go into aeronautics.

Recently an overnight rainstorm turned into a deluge.  This downpour could mean a disaster for newly planted hillside crops.  Topsoil and seeds washed down the slopes and across the adjacent road in some large fields.  In other places the water came down with enough force to create deep gouges along the roadside, half a foot or so in depth, cutting through the softer soil.  Farm acres in this community are angled, very few flat fields.   The lower end of our community was the hardest hit.  Farming can be a risky business.