2015, #1

Happy 2015! Christmas morning arrived with a blanket of white snow for our village, It is picture-postcard beautiful! However the snow shifted around a few days later when a fierce wind visited all night and created drifts in some driveways while it cleaned other driveways out. The temperatures plummeted and we are now surviving in subzero degrees. Most homes are grateful for heat from wood burning stoves.

        Cody McKay , son of Paul and Terrie McKay, reported on his mission to the Alabama, Birmingham, Mission on the last Sunday of December. His extended family were all able to attend. Grandparent, Karen and Layne Erickson are Mink Creek residents. Bryan and Shannon Erickson and boys came from Woodland Hills, UT. Todd and Julie Kunz and children dropped down from Idaho Falls. Connie and Adam Westenskow drove from Logan. Parents of a recent companion, Elder Fredrickson, of Bountiful, UT, joined the congregation. Cousins, Carla and Mark Nielsen and boys of American Fork, UT, planned their holiday visit with her parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson, for this event.

        Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen have had daughter Annie and Steve Earl and children with them for some of the holiday. The Earls live in San Jose, CA, so snow time is a treat.

         Marie Aupperlee's daughter, Sandra Wiley, from Texas, has been visiting her mother. At the present time Sandy has traveled to Rock Springs, WY, spending some time with her daughter, Mona.

         Jake and Holly Longhurst were with his family, Sheldon and Candy, for a few days. Jake ha been working in Fiji, helping to cover the roof of the Fiji LDS Temple. Holly is still stateside, attending school in Orem.

          Steve and Terry Mainini were happy to have visits with their sons over the holidays. Mario came up from Richmond and Tony had a break from his job in Pocatello. Their daughter, Angelina, had been here not long before. 

          Sometimes  living amongst the wildlife is frustrating, but often there are special rewards that don't come to those in the citiesl  Our deer are showing up in small groups, snacking on southern slopes that have melted down enough to provide forage.  They  are still able to find food in the fields because the snow isn't very deep.  Turkeys can really make their presence known.  An entire flock took flight off a hillside, swooped over Highway 36, landing in the fields belonging to Sam Smith.  That wasn't a sight one sees every day.  Where is that camera when you want it, one of those kind of moments.

        The youth of the community are teaming up for some winter basketball, competition within the wards of the Preston North LDS Stake.   They play their games at the stake center in Preston, but the practices are at the recreation hall of the LDS Ward.  This is a weekly event and most years there is a pretty good fan support from parents and friends of the teams.  There is both a girls' team and a boys', so most everyone who wants to play gets the opportunity.
        I chose this new background for the blog  because it made me feel like the winter nights in Mink Creek.  A beautiful dark sky that is filled with stars,  headlights of cars traveling our length on Highway 36 that just happens to be our "Main Street."  I had to change the text color so I hope it meets with your approval.