Last of Feb, 2014

One day it feels like spring may be on its way, the next day we are certain that winter is in a lingering mood.   Our mountains still hold enough snow to attract the many snow mobile enthusiasts that crowd the canyons over weekends.

John Warburton has been in Utah with health issues; now he is back in the county.  He is not at home in Mink Creek, but staying at Franklin County Medical Center in transitional care.

Karla and Chris Jensen of Logan came up to check on her dad, Vernon Keller.  He has had quite a bit of company lately.  He happily claims that his friends and neighbors are supplying him with food that ”is way more than adequate.”

The Young Men and Young Women had fun doing a service scavenger hunt.  Small groups scattered throughout our village with a list of activities to be checked off by homeowners after the team completed cerain tasks.  Some were big:  vacuum a room, dust, clean a toilet, wash a window, etc.  Some were small:  sing a song, read a favorite scripture, sweep the porch, bring in firewood, etc.  Which classification the task of ‘change a diaper’ fell under might differ according to the contents of said diaper.  Another task that could be risky was labeled ‘homeowners choice.’

This was a timed event and each team was given a bag of candy, with the winners receiving more candy than the others.  Refreshments of ice cream and brownies were provided by the leaders.

            Jimmie and Anna Beth Olson took a road trip to Salmon, ID.  Their objective was spending time with their daughters:  Dana and Charlie Peterson and kids in Meridian, and Peggy and Jon Flinders and family in Salmon.  Enjoying scenery along the way, up and back, was a bonus.  They reported that many places across Idaho are devoid of snow in this latter part of February.  

            Two long-time Mink Creek people are in the hospital.   Neither live here now, but their roots are deep in the community.   Darlene Jepsen King, of Fairview, has been hospitalized for quite some time, rallies and then struggles some more.  Leness Keller of Preston, moved around in hospital stays for the last couple of months and he is now at the Franklin County Transitional Center, enjoying visits and sharing memories, but not able to walk.  His nurses are good at  giving him tours through the County med facility, checking to see if there are any Mink Creek friends in residence from day to day.

            Robins are popping up and down the village, singing about the coming of spring. They are probably a tad early.  Some storms are still in the forecasts so they may get their feathers ruffled a mite, but it is good to hear those cheerful notes of song.

Feb 18, 2014

Recent storms we have been having caused some interesting visual affects.  Snow fell for 5 days, then a day of rain, followed by one with winds.  As a result we had ripples in the snow.  The surfaces on the hillsides appeared like vertical waves, on the few, flatter areas it was like a wind chopped lake, all frozen in white.  It made for fascinating shadows when the sun light was slanting downward.

 The Mink Creek LDS Ward held its annual Conference on Feb. 9^th with stake officers from the Preston North Stake attending.  The membership was particularly please to hear from President Dax Keller and both of his counselors, Richard Swainston and Blayne Rounds.   A special musical number, Love One Another, was sung by the ward choir under the direction of Jennifer Seamons.  Three of the Seamons family, Ben, Samuel and David, provided a string trio as part of the selection.

On a dark and icy night a southbound car slid off the sloping Highway 36 down into a pasture.  This was near milepost seven. A young couple who had been visiting friends in Bear Lake were on their way homeward, back to college in Utah.  Emergency outfits arrived, along with law enforcement; the couple was found to be ok and able to continue on their way.

Kathy and Austin Jones took the opportunity of a wedding anniversary to take a five night cruise of the Caribbean.   They love those blue, blue waters.  The ship docked at Belize and Cozumel and the Jones’ climbed ancient ruins, did some shopping, and just had fun in general.  Their 35^th anniversary happened in December, but the celebration was delayed until February, because they received a new grandbaby in December. 

Josh and Judith Newby drove down from Rexburg for a weekend with his parents, Sharla and Lin McKay.   Josh is a student at BYU/Idaho, and a break from studies is a good thing.

Sister Macy Jepsen has headed to the MTC in Provo.  She now gets to tackle the learning of the language of Cambodia where she will be serving her mission.

Two Mink Creekers got together while having a stay at the Franklin County Hospital and reminisced about their “old days.”  Both Bob Erickson and Leness Keller enjoyed their growing up years here.  The stories they could tell---but I promised not to put them in print.

Mud season may come early this year, we have been getting rain, to the point that my backyard is nearly bare of snow.  I can hear a mourning dove that must be winterized calling from across the valley.  He is a bit off the time table, but welcome all the same.

Happy Birthday, Abe, 2014

Birds of prey and coyotes are competing for any animal that has met its demise.  Whether the carcass is found along a road or out in a field, these creatures gather to argue about feeding rights.   Turkeys, raccoons and deer are top items on their menus.

Stan Keller is now at home with his father, Ben, and Marie Keller.   Stan is looking for employment and working as a handyman around the house in the meantime.

It is looking like we may have enough snow for the annual youth tubing party after all.  The year’s snow accumulation has been scanty until this week.  So far the snow has fallen for a good part of the last five days, and it has been welcomed with open arms.   Occasional winds blowing have caused some drifting, but it has been manageable in this community of tractors and pickups with snowplows attached.  Every home owns at least one snow shovel.

Abigail Janke, daughter of Jody and Laural Janke, recently qualified for the BYU/Idaho Middle School Honor Band.  A 7^th grade student, she auditioned with her trumpet.  Ten middle school students from the Preston School District were chosen and traveled to Rexburg for a day of practicing as they prepared for a concert to be given that evening.  The concert was performed in the Barrus Concert Hall on the BYU/I campus, the music being directed by faculty members Diane Soelberg and Daryl Brown.

The wrestling season is drawing to a close.  Mink Creek has four young men involved in the Preston High wrestling program:  Kyle Christensen, son of Phillip and Krysta;  Justin Longhurst, son of Sheldon and Candy;  Travis Greene, son of Chad and Dawnell; Sam Seamons, son of Jeff and Jennifer. Tyson Hall, an alumnus of that program a few years ago, has been an assistant coach this past year.  He will soon be leaving to serve a mission in South America. 

The snow storm lasted most of last week so there was an accumulation and today we get a thaw., drip, drip, drip!  Water running, ice melting, and yet this is not a Chinook, just a warmer day. We are happy to be anticipating more snow this week.  Glad to have that bottom layer of ice disappear.

Some people  ask the question, “What do farmers/ranchers do in the winter time?”   Judging from my front row observations, the answer is:  They go to Agricultural Expos, they attend classes about hay production, they hang out at auctions of used farm equipment, they repair their own machinery, they take upon themselves the task of neighborhood snow removal, and in off moments they plan and dream about what crops they will be planting and harvesting during the next growing season. All of this in addition to the daily chores of caring for farm/ranch animals. These are just a few of the things that occupy the “down time” of an ag man’s life.  

Happy Valentine's Day, it is a great day to do a kind deed, share some of  the goodness we have.

Feb 4, 2014

We have had some snow this week, not a whole bunch, but every bit counts in a dry year such as it has been so far.  How much did we get?   A few inches, sufficient to make the roads slick enough for a car to slide into the barrow pit on Highway 36.  The ice underneath the snow makes walking a bit tricky.

Macy Jepsen, daughter of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen, spoke in the LDS Ward, prior to going to the MTC in Provo on Feb. 19^th.   She will be serving in the  Cambodia, Phnom Penn, Mission.  Family and friends gathered for this occasion.  Dan and Jean Jepsen and their son came from Bountiful, UT.  JoAnn and Kevin Auger drove up from Woodland Hills, UT. Shawn and Becky Jepsen and their six children  live in Pocatello.  Lanny  and Sandy Checketts, plus three children, came from Nampa.  Jana and Matt Musgrave and their five children are in North Ogden, UT.  Linda Winn, a teacher of the Jepsen family when they lived in Germany, is now in Salt Lake City.  Past roommates and friends also made the journey to show support in this new chapter of Macy’s life.

Bob and Claudia Erickson took a long drive out to Lakeview, OR, for a few days visit with their daughter Kristin and Jay Collins and their family.  Their grandson, Davis Collins, will soon be leaving for the MTC in Mexico City.  His area of service is in the California, San Diego Mission, Spanish speaking.   While at the Collins home they enjoyed a drive down into Modoc County,  in northern California, and had a sumptuous Chinese dinner in Alturas.  This area of the country is currently in a state of drought and badly in need of some good winter storms.

            Snow again!  Yea!  It may seem unnecessary to report every time we have a snow storm, but it is that kind of winter.  So dry that each flake counts, excitement is felt when a few flakes start drifting down.  Some arrived yesterday, more today.  No blizzards, but it has to be accumulating in our mountains.

            A small picture  of a young lady was found in some excavating being done at the LDS Meetinghouse.   This building was built, finished in 1929.  Now we have the fun of identifying the mystery girl in the picture.  No prizes for the answer, just intrigue and satisfaction.