Sept 26, 2012

Our skies are full of smoke from fires to the west of us.  There are days when we cannot see our mountains. The mountains I am referring to are nearly in our backyards.  We will welcome some wind to blow this smog out.  Mink Creek residents are not accustomed to bad air quality.

Andy McKay, son of Paul and Terrie McKay, is in intensive care at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, due to an accident on his motor bike.  It happened as he was traveling homeward on the dirt road between Bear Creek and Station Creek.  This report is most likely unnecessary because, judging from inquiries the family has received, the entire county populace is already aware, and beyond.   Word does get around, Debbie and Jim Harrison checked up on Andy, they live in St. George. Elder Jimmie and AnnaBeth Olson had even heard about it, and they are serving a mission in England.

The Fall plowing of our fields is underway.  On the irrigated land the tractor and plow go fairly smooth. However, on the dry-land fields the ground is rock-hard.  It is like breaking up concrete.  This is just further evidence of how little rainfall there has been this past summer.  The wild sunflowers are at their peak, another indication of the warm season starting to wind down.

By now those who graduated from high school last spring have moved on with their lives.  Some have found jobs, two are ready to go on missions shortly, others gone off to college in one direction or the other.  It has been interesting to hear comments from the college bound group of being concerned about getting lost on campus, after feeling secure and confident at PHS.

Several of our residents reported attending the High School Version of Les Miserables recently on stage at the Ellen Eccles Theater in Logan, UT.  All reports were expressed surprise and delight at the expertise of the cast members.  Age was no deterrent for the quality of voices or the ability of acting.  Laural and Jody Janke, of Mink Creek, were part of the pit orchestra for this production.  They seem to be sought out to perform on their trumpets in various parts of Cache Valley.

Weatherwise, we no longer have the intense heat experienced this summer. Nor have we had a freeze that has wiped out our gardens, so no complaints.

Sept 19,2012

Mid-September , is it time to drag out the blankets to cover tomatoes?   The dip in daytime temperatures is a relief after the baking of summer, but no one is ready for winter.  Now that school is underway everywhere there is a slow-down of visitors to Mink Creek.  The routine for the next nine months is getting set in place.           

Wynn and Cecelie Costley have been on the move with family matters.  In Plain City, UT, they were present for the blessing of a new grandchild, the first child for Noel and Jeff Hadley.  Then Josie and David Hulme’s oldest son was ordained to the office of a deacon in their LDS Ward in North Ogden and Wynn and Cecelie were able to be there.  Lastly, they drove to Salt Lake City to celebrate the birthday of Cecelie’s father, Bill Allen.  All of this in one weekend!

Many residents have enjoyed driving down to Brigham City to attend the open house of the Brigham City LDS Temple.  Marie Aupperlee was able to go with Bonnie Hansen and the family of Dirk and Pat Bowles of Fairview.  She loved the art work particularly and is grateful to them for that opportunity.  Many have made the drive over:  Bryce and Terry Stromberg, Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen, Layne and Karen Erickson, Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen, Glade and Corinne Larsen, Nate and Dana Olson, David and Judy Wilde, the Sheldon Longhurst family, Terrie and Paul McKay.  I am sure there are others of whom I am not aware. Our Erickson family made the event a family outing, three families went together, us, the Janke family and the McKague family of Vancouver, WA.  Simply the whiteness of the edifice makes it standout against the backdrop of the mountains, just beautiful!

Mink Creek residents---don’t forget the DI Drive this coming Saturday morning!  By 7 am have your “stuff” either on your porch or by your mailbox.  If your Stuff is the large variety give Camille a call for arrangements.

Bob and Claudia Erickson headed south to Salt Lake City for a previous appointment and then took in the Utah State Fair for a few hours.  Lots of things and people to see, but no carnival rides, please.  Then they drove on past Point of the Mountain to Alpine for an overnight stay with Gene and Danalee Abernethy.  The next day was filled with visiting and going to the BYU football game.  Is anyone surprised?

Bryan and Shannon Erickson of Woodland Hills met them in Provo with great pre-game food and a great time was had by all.

Doug Wilcox came up from his place in Salt Lake with a pickup load of veggies.  He drove around Mink Creek handing out the produce:  boxes of tomatoes, peppers of all descriptions, cucumbers, etc., and no zucchini!  He could have started a farmer’s market!  Thanks for stopping here, Doug.

Sept 12, 2012

The sun is having a harder time climbing up the eastern mountains in the morning, not many hours later he is tired and heads to the west for an early rest.  All this summertime activity has worn him to a frazzle and he is ready for fall and the onset of winter.  Most humans are feeling the same way.

Armando Crosland is in Bejing, China, studying abroad with his major in international studies.  While he learned Korean on an LDS mission, now he is tackling Chinese and their history.  He is on a scholarship and this will serve as an internship for Armando.  We know this will be a rather intense year of work for him.

Cheryl and Mitch Cowgill and their little girl have been visiting Cheryl’s dad, Craig and Elaine Larsen.  The Cowgill family live in Gresham, OR, and don’t get down this way too often.

Austin and Katie Keller and children of Franklin, ID,  and Josh and Noel Keller and their baby of Brigham City, UT, have been putting in some summer hours here, They are the sons of Kim and Dianna Keller and have had fun at Grandpa Vernon Keller’s farm.

Michelle Wall and her two children came over from Grand Junction, CO, to her parent’s home relaxing for a few days.  Joining the crew at Kent and Tammy Beardall’s were Shawn and Callie Beardall of Spanish Fork, UT, and their three youngsters.  Five grandchildren around equals lots of activity.

Driving from Vancouver, WA, Claudine and LaMar MaKague and their five children were able to spend a week with her folks, Bob and Claudia Erickson.  They were bringing their oldest son, Sam, to start his first year at BYU/I in Rexburg.

            Several young people in the LDS Ward were recognized recently.  Celina Crosland  graduated from Primary  and now moving on to the Beehive group in Young Women.  Travis Greene was ordained to the office of a teacher.  Kendrick Nye and Justin Longhurst were both ordained as priests.  Joseph Seamons received his Duty to God Award.

            The eldest son of Bruce and Shauna Crane  has recently returned from a mission to Chile.  He, his parents and his sister came to the Crane “Cabin” for few days.  They live in Logan, bu the Mink Creek roots go deep.

It is time for mowing the third crop of alfalfa.  That only applies to the irrigated fields, of course, but it is an encouraging cutting after the dryness in the earlier cuts.   Farmers are feeling fortunate if they can get this third crop.  After this crop is in the barn the hay equipment can be retired until the 2013 season.

With fall approaching the canning of the garden’s harvest is speeding up.  In addition to the locally grown food the Brigham City peaches are appearing in roadside stands and the grocery store.  They seem to be a winter staple for most homes.

I hope all readers took a moment today to reflect on the date, 9-11.  The students at Preston Jr. high were wearing the colors of the USA to recognize Patriot's Day.  All lives of our citizens have changed since that tragic event.

Sept 5, 2012

There is a nip in the air most mornings, reminding us that Fall is on its way.  Otherwise the days are still plenty warm.  All summer long the countryside has looked dry, now it looks over-baked, tan and crisp, brittle, and alive with the arrival of seasonal insects:  grasshoppers, boxelder bugs, and, of course, wasps and bees.  Fruit fallen off the trees attract the wasps and boxelder bugs so a person has to be careful picking them up and disposing of them.  Even the truit still on the branches are covered with layers of black boxelder bugs, feasting on the juices, and most like on each other.  Yuck!

The community held a Harvest Social at our Mink Creek Ballpark.  The temperature was perfect and there is nothing quite so nice as sharing time with good friends.  The tables were full and there were lots of choices in the potluck version of salads and desserts.  Provided were pulled pork sandwiches and the choice of water or lemonade.  Reed Jensen was to be the guest of the evening and we missed having him with us.  Program replacements were stories of Mink Creek past as told by Bob Erickson, Garland Rasmussen and George Garr.  George hasn’t lived here quite as long as the others, but he has enjoyed his place here for the past fifty years.

It is great to see the lights on in the Egley home.  Jared and Julie Egley and their four children have moved into the home of Jared’s grandparents, Bryce and Carlene Egley,  and some further back Egley great grands before them.  They have been living in Preston and we are so pleased to have them make the decision to move here.  Another young family perks up the village for all of us.

Dixie Bybee  is leaving us, again.  She is moving to the Boise area to be near her children, Darlene and Jason Travis and their family, and Lloyd Bybee.    We do understand the need for this decision. We are happy for them, but she will be very missed in our community.

 Beware of the zucchini growers!   This seems to have been a very good year for that particular crop and the green giants and even smaller sizes are arriving by the box loads on unsuspecting doorsteps. 

We have several residents recovering from recent surgery.  They prefer to remain nameless to the public, however there are general terms one can use when thinking of them and feeling concern.

Karl and Marion Haws are here from Santa Barbara, CA.  They make frequent visits to the Haws house in Mink Creek, sometimes with children and their families, other times just to soak up the quietness of the sound of the creek in their backyard and few cars passing by.

Jim and Debbie Harrison are similar residents of Mink Creek.   Home is still the one on Hwy 36, Idaho, regardless of the time spent in St. George.