July 3 or 4, 2012

Fire #2 has already happened in Mink Creek.  You read about the first one in last week’s Citizen.  This one apparently was caused by a spark flicked off a passing vehicle, possibly by the garbage truck as it departed.  At least the beginning of the fire was traced to the base of the empty trash container.   Of course, it may have been that cigarette butt hastily tossed out the window with the hot ash still intact.  At any rate, the blaze was spreading rapidly toward the home of LaRon and Liesa Baird when their neighbor, Karen Arnout, began spraying water from her hose.  Just passing by, Ben Keller, added his efforts with rake and shovel.  They managed to stop the progress before it got to the Baird house. The Baird family were not at home on this day.

Mario Crosland, son of Robert and Phee Crosland, has received his mission call.  He will be serving in the Bacolod, Philippines, Mission.  One can imagine the activities at the Crosland home, preparing twin sons to soon leave for missions, both foreign, totally different languages and customs.  Croslands have enjoyed having their son Giovanni and Kristina Crosland and children home for a bit of a vacation.  Gio and Kris now live in Kirksville, Mo, while Gio is in medical school.

Girls’ Camp definitely took an unusual twist this year.  Girls and fathers traveled down to Zion’s slot canyons in southern Utah. Laurel Wilde went along as the Young Women advisor.  According to reports from the girls, besides the hiking, climbing and swimming, they endured lizards, potholes, crickets and cockroaches.  Their connections with their dads were enriched, learning to trust being a major thing.  They had to trust each other, their equipment, and the knowledge and skill of others besides themselves.  One father described these few days as a “spectacular experience,” including opportunities, accomplishments and the beauty of the landscape they encountered.  All participants learned more than anticipated.

We will be singing patriotic songs this week and one verse speaks of waving fields of grain.  The grain is amber in the song, but for now they are still green.  With the winds that seem to be blowing with daylight hours we can see the ripples go across the surface of a grain field.  It is just one of those  nature things that is dear to a farmer’s heart.

The community has enjoyed its last Sports Night of the summer.  For several weeks we have met at our lovely ballpark for fun, good conversation, and games;  softball, horseshoes, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee.  There has even been food provided, varying each week:  pancakes drowned in syrup,  watermelon slices,  Dutchoven fruit cobbler topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, hot carrot cake with similar treatment.  It is a long tradition in Mink Creek for a bit of relaxation in the busy, work-laden summer months.

The hay crop this year, 2012, is on the skimpy side.  Even the best fields are showing a yield of about a third of what would be considered a “good year.”  Still the process  of growing it and harvesting goes on.  At this point the process of haying is in various stages up and down the length of our village, some are still in the field, some in bales, some in the barns.

We are looking forward to our annual July 4^th celebration at the ballpark and hope it lives up to our anticipation.