Last of May, 2014

       The tributary creeks that empty into the Mink Creek waterway are running high with spring runoff. Mink Creek itself is high above the Twin Lakes diversion point, but of course with much of the water diverted into the canal, it is pretty low from there down to the mouth where Mink Creek blends in with Bear River. Twin Lakes appears well fed and ready for all the visitors it will receive over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

        Our community has five high school graduates: Morgan McKay, daughter of Paul and Terrie McKay, Nicole Beardall, daughter of Kent and Tammy Beardall, Justin Coleman, son of Nelson and Tammy Coleman, Joshua Greene, son of Chad and Dawnell Greene, and Johnny Iverson, son of Kurt and Margret Iverson.

        Fathers and sons of Mink Creek community gathered for a campout at the Mink Creek Ballpark. They were grateful for good weather that made the experience more enjoyable . On Friday evening all comers feasted on pork chop sandwiches and hamburgers, veggie trays, baked beans, cookies and homemade rootbeer. Good visiting followed during the cleanup and various games got underway: baseball, soccer, football, volleyball, and just relaxation in general.

        After a relatively peaceful night Saturday morning dawned bright and clear, perfect for the days activities. Breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, cocoa, and orange juice whetted appetites further for a much anticipated wheel and horseback ride.

       Those prepared came with motorcycles, racers, or 4-wheelers, and a few on horseback.  This is a great place with lots of scenery on every side. The route took in our radio tower, Crystal Mines, Oneida Narrows, Ant Hollow and some points beyond and in between.

        All through the village the scent of apple blossoms hangs in the air with both wild and domestic trees in bloom. Bees keep a constant buzz going as they work their way through the trees. Mink Creek has a  long standing reputation for its apple trees.

        It doesn't matter what the calendar says, summer has officially started around here. Even the temperature seem to agree on that point. For the last week of May it is a little warmer than usual. The roar of dirt bikes echoes off our hillsides. We have had campers taking advantage of our canyon campsites over the past weekend. People are thinking of fishing, swimming,  baseball and soccer, vacation get-aways, etc. The change of pace that comes with the end of the school year is upon us. Young minds now are tuned in to whatever has the possibility of being “fun.” All other activities are being looked upon as boring, but that doesn't eliminate the need for accomplishment. Most likely it is the same wherever my readers live. It only lasts three months, no matter how you view the “summer season.”

May 20, 2014

       With Mothers' Day just a week past there were several families anxiously awaiting the phone call, or the arranged Skype contact that would bring the voice of their missionary into their homes for a good visit. Some were in early morning hours, others scheduled off and on throughout the day. Mink Creek community has ten families who were looking forward to those few moments.

        Listing them alphabetically by family name are: Elder Mikel Beardall, son of Kent and Tammy , in Russia, Hermana Rebekah Christensen, daughter of Wally and Kim, in Uruguay. Robert and Phee Crosland have three sons scattered---Elder Marco Crosland in Singapore, Elder Mario Crosland in the Philippines, Elder Rico Crosland in New Zealand. Elder Tyson Hall, son of Brett and Kristi, in Chile. Sister Alexis Iverson, daughter of Kurt and Margret, in Texas. Sister Macy Jepsen, daughter of Kerry and Melinda , in Cambodia, Sister Tiffany Longhurst, daughter of Sheldon and Candy, in California, Elder Cody McKay, son of Paul and Terrie, in Alabama, Elder Joseph Seamons, son of Jeff and Jennifer, in Germany, and Elder Spencer Wilde, son of David and Judy, in Minnesota.

       Brigham and Jennifer Wilcox and their children spent the weekend with his parents, Eldon and Danita Wilcox. The young Wilcox family live in Pocatello while Brigham is going to school.

       Joe and Kathy Jarvis made an exciting announcement to the LDS congregation. They have been called to serve in the Johannesburg, Africa, Mission. They will be leaving in September and will be working in the LDS temple in the city of Johannesburg.

       Danny and Nicky Coleman and their family were up from Logan,UT for Mothers' Day. His parents, Tammy and Nelson Coleman, always enjoy the grandparent time with this sort of visit.

       It is the last week of school around here. The scholars of 2013-2014 academic year are looking forward to sleeping in, not scrambling to meet the bus in the early hours. There has been field trips, projects handed in, and , of course, final exams. Now they are looking at summer fun, plus such things as moving irrigation pipe, weeding gardens, summer employment, and getting 4H projects ready for the county fair.

  

May 13, 2014

          We are having more of soggy season, but it only enriches the color of green that surrounds us. Our mountaintops are staying white, below the snow line is all shades of green. Our chokecherry trees are about to burst into bloom and the apple trees are not far behind. The row of chokecherry trees lining the road to Dr. Jim Malouf's home on the Riverdale side of Bear River is already full of clusters of white flowers. Riverdale has been called the local “Banana Belt.”

           Johnny Iverson, eldest son of Kurt and Margret Iverson, has received a mission call from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, to be serving Kobe, Japan. He will be entering the Mission Training Center on August 20^th. This family has a daughter, Sister Alexis Iverson, now serving in the Texas, San Antonio, Mission.

            Patti Christensen has returned from a week of visiting her son Matt and his family in California.

           Karl and Marion Haws are up from Santa Barbara, CA, readying their Mink Creek home to host guests during the coming months. They have a pretty stead stream of family, close and extended, that enjoy Idaho recreational pursuits even in the winter.

           Travis and Amber Arnout and their children drove up from Utah to have a weekend with his parents, Mark and Karen Arnout.

           Jeannine and Johnny Iverson welcomed a visit from her brother, Allen and Vilma Pack. These Packs live in McKinney, TX. By total coincidence, they are close neighbors of Brenda Seamons, now Kemsley, who grew up in Mink Creek.

            Samuel Seamons, the son of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, was awarded second place in the Idaho State Solo Competition. He played the double bass, a string instrument, and was accompanied by his mother. Congratulations, Sam, on a great performance!

             Finally, a day or two without rain. Instead the temperatures took a drop and we got a freeze last night. The growing fields of green were covered with white, and it gradually melted as the sun came up, if anything green was in shadow the white stayed until the sun was able to get to it. The bees were still busy in the apple blossoms today, hopefully they survived the frost.

            Any early garden sprouts in their tender stage, if uncovered, got zapped. It is very hard to cover a whole garden, but there is still time to start over if the need is there. Of course the weeds are doing very well, getting a head start on any plants of value.

            The US postal service had a food drive last weekend. Plastic bags of nonperishables, handing from the mailboxes, were picked up by the mailpersons as they delivered letters, bills, and occasional packages.  Being the day before Mothers' Day there were a few more of the latter than usual.

May 6, 2014

           Greening season is so restoring, for humans as well as the environment around us. Right now the wild plums and the cherry trees are in bloom. Apricots and peaches were blooming, and the nights were pretty cold so everyone is hoping some of those blossoms made it past freezing. Curly flowers were at their peak, along with bluebells and some purple blooms that come on a noxious weed. Now the pink and white mayflowers are popping up, the yellow lady slippers and golden mule ears. This is just our wild outdoor beauty. Tulips, narcissus and daffodils are gracing our yards.

           Brittany Durrant and her daughter now living in the Salt Lake City area , plus Tom and Ami Fenton and their children of Tooele, UT, spent a weekend with their parents, Eldon and Danita Wilcox. Lots of action going on with all those grandchildren.

           Tawni Hall, daughter of Brett and Kristi Hall, has been playing on the softball team of Preston High. Their season is drawing to a close with district play underway now.

           Layne and Karen Erickson spent a week in Woodland Hills, UT, at the home of Bryan and Shannon Erickson. They were there to support the Erickson boys while Bryan and Shannon took a vacation to Hawaii.

           Owls, Canadian geese, sandhill cranes, hawks are making their presence known. Some are very vocal. The flocks of geese can be heard chatting during both day and night hours. Owls talk on an individual basis, one on one, as soon as the sun goes down. Hawks are enjoying the updrafts of the breezes, soaring high above the valley floor. The cranes have a squawk that is all their own.

            It is water cress season in my neighborhood. So nice that it counts as healthy food, because around here it can be consumed three meals a day. Every waterway in Mink Creek is flowing high right now and that makes for good spots for the cress to flourish.

            It is also the time of year that the junior high science teachers are sending the students out to collect and identify plants of the region. The list is quite extensive. A lot of hours go into these projects. It certainly raises the awareness of the variety of plants in our environment.

           Election time is on its way.  Those running for offices are putting up signs all over the county, even in Mink Creek.  My front lawn, being close to a road intersection, is in demand during the weeks prior to voting.  Mowing the lawn around them takes a bit of maneuvering. a bit of spice to a routine activity.