Sept 29, 2015

             Another fall wedding in our village. This was Cody McKay, son of Paul and Terrie McKay, being married to Kevyn Bruce, daughter of Brian and Tammy Bruce of Globe, AZ. They were married in the Bountiful Temple and the McKay family hosted an outdoor reception at their home on Station Creek Road the following evening, After several days of rain, the sun shone just right for the occasion.

              Larry and Mary Jean Rasmussen were happy to have a weekend visit from their son, JR. He and his wife, Elaine, and their two boys, William and Luke, drove up from Riverdale, UT, for good grandparent time, much to Mary Jean's delight.

             A new family have moved in, living in the home previously owned by Tammy and Nelson Coleman. They come to us from the San Diego area in California. The Mathis family consists of Ray and Mindy Mathis, plus Jessie and Mike Morris and their daughter Ella, and Jennie Mathis and Russell Sipes. Ray is a truck driver whose company is based in Smithfield, UT. The family has an online business, making and selling dog jackets. They have just finished getting their production room set up and are now pushing to fill orders. The company, Pittie Coats, constructs custom made jackets for their canine clients across the country.

              Julie Kunz and her daughter Kamry spent the weekend with her parents, Karen and Layne Erickson. It was a nice change from her pace at home in Ammon, ID.

              Lorraine Christensen has traveled back to Indiana, enjoying an unusual grandmother task. She accompanied a new baby granddaughter who will be adopted by her daughter Carrie Ann and Ken Melton. The family is excited over this important decision in their lives. They live in Lafayette.

              We had a beautiful night for viewing the red moon. As it came up over our eastern mountains the eclipse was already in progress. Interesting photos were reported up and down our valley. By the time it was all done and the full moon looking large and pale it was time for closing out the day.

               Jeff Knudson had a home full of family visitors for one weekend. His quiet time was shattered with all the activities of these guests.

                The Sheldon and Candy Longhurst family traveled to Parma, ID, to participate in  an open house for their recently married daughter Tiffany and her new husband, Spencer Wheeler.

Sept 22. 2015

             Fall rains are upon us, and, at present, we have some snow crowning our tallest mountains. The tree filled slopes around our community are becoming a mixture of orange, red, yellow and various shades of green. It is a pretty palette. With all the wetness farmers are happy to have their third crop of hay in their barns.

             One night recently, during a lightning storm, an ancient cottonwood came crashing down. The tree had been perched on the side of the Riverdale Canal bank for more than fifty years. It buckled as it dropped, narrowly missing power lines in its descent. Upon investigation this particular tree was rotten in the core. Branches were cast across Highway 36 as it fell.

           Alexis Iverson, daughter of Margret and Kurt Iverson, became the bride of Scott Strong this past week . Scott, son of Jeffrey and Deborah Strong, is from Spanish Fork, UT. The Iverson family celebrated the occasion with a reception at their home on Station Creek Road.

            The infant son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Lizzy) Greene was given a name and blessing recently. He was named Bently Jay Greene. Grandparents, Chad and Dawnell Greene of Mink Creek and Dale and Charity Wallentine of Franklin, witnessed the event, along with great grandparents, Marlene Christensen of Mink Creek, Ron and Thelma Womack from Franklin, Eydie and Reed Wallentine of Lewiston, UT, and Carol Bodily of Pocatello. Aunts and uncles came from Mink Creek, Franklin, and Preston.

            Sister Macy Jepsen has returned from her LDS mission to the Cambodia, Phnom Penh Mission. Her parents, Kerry and Melinda Jepsen, traveled to Cambodia to visit people and places where Macy had served in the days following her release from service.

            Local bow-hunters have been enjoying the opening of that hunting season. There are reports and pictures testifying to the success of their endeavors.

             Seems like all living things are preparing to batten down the hatches for the coming season.  That includes spiders, flies,  wasps, mice, etc. Grasshopper season is slowing down, but wasps are filling the vacated air space. Box elder bugs are starting to cling to the south side of our homes. Bits of spider web, floating through the air outdoors is apt to come at you unexpectedly. The minute a door is opened, a fly feels like it is an invitation to enter and bring his friends.

September 15, 2015

           Labor Day presented a big traffic load heading south on our main thoroughfare. Judging from the amount of trailers and RV's the campsites in our canyons and beyond must have been busy. Some visitors spent this weekend in our community. Fred and Victoria Christensen were with his parents, Royce and Lorraine. Howard and Colleen Hawkes were up from Utah with family at the Pearson Lodge. Jeff Knudson's place was overflowing with guests. The parking area by the Crane home was full. Keller Apartments were occupied.

             Mink Creek had lots of visitors for the wedding of Tiffany Longhurst and Spencer Wheeler. The weather was great for the outdoor reception at the Longhurst home. Spencer hails from Parma, ID and the couple plans to call Parma their future home.

            Our children are boarding yellow school buses of Preston School District, arriving early in the mornings, four days a week. Shelly Bray drives the bus picking up the larger percentage of Mink Creek kids, residents along Highway 36 and the northeast end of the village. Glen Smedley is at the wheel of the bus boarded by the youth from Station Creek, Bear Creek and on to Riverdale stops.

           Bishop Kurt and Margret Iverson's family has had two moments of recognition recently. Their son, Conner, was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. An older son, Andrew, was ordained to the office of a teacher in the LDS Ward.

           The Relief Society held an autumn social, inviting spouses and friends to a potluck supper. It was held on the grounds of the home of Raeone and Brad Stuart, the end of Mink Creek Road. A dark and stormy cloud moved in with a downpour for a few minutes. The large porch was perfect for a quick tucking in of all the tables and the night of visiting barely stopped.

           Sept 11 ^has come and gone., 14 years past. I would guess there were many reflective thoughts on that day of the changes that have come into our lives as citizens of this nation.

            Hearing the clamor of a flock of Canadian geese, I looked skyward, expecting to see the familiar V pattern headed south for the season. The V was there, though a little scraggly, but the birds were headed northeast. They must have been a local domesticated flock headed homeward to their pond, having made a visit in our area.

           A friend reported harvesting all her ready tomatoes and peppers, trying to stay ahead of a quick overnight freeze. So far that hasn't threatened, but will be advancing towards our gardens soon. For now anything left in the soil is well watered. We have had two days of unexpected rain.

Labor Day, 2015

            Our section of Highway 36 has been an active stretch lately. The Idaho State Highway crew has mowed the long grass and weed growth that borders the road on both sides. Thank you very much, that service is so helpful when we are trying to avoid collisions with our local wildlife as they cross the road, whenever and wherever they want to. There is serious work going on reconstructing the bridge that crosses our Mink Creek waterway, located close to the Mink Creek Ballpark. There is still quite a bit of work to be done and only one-lane traffic for a short distance. A stoplight has been set up, causing a 90 second delay that seems to bother some travelers, but we hope it will all be worth what aggravation has been caused when we have the final results.

            We express another bit of appreciation to the Franklin County Mosquito Abatement crew. The sound of their night-time visits brings a smile. The results in this part of the county have been great, a big reduction of the pesky critters. Evening outings are a high point of summer.

            Brooke Corbett earned three outstanding awards for her equestrian skills in our County Fair a couple of weeks ago. She and her horse are a great partnership.  She also had some awards for her showmanship with her sheep. Now she is looking forward to competing at the Eastern Idaho State Fair during Labor Day week.

             Lana and Ivan McCracken are happy to announce the birth of a new grandson. This little bundle is the first child of Maria and Devin Flake, of Saratoga Springs, UT. Lana and Ivan have spent some time enjoying the roll of Grandma and Grandpa..

            Jim and Debbie Harrison have been up from St. George, UT. We are pleased that they haven't given up on their residency in Mink Creek.

            A bit of chilly weather moved in. It was enough to brush some of the garden squash and pumpkin vines with some frost in the early hours one morning. Tomatoes are a main canning item right now and I have heard a few homemakers reporting that their green beans just won't quit.

            We have had wind and lightning bouncing about during evening hours. A couple of rainstorms have slowed up the final stages of our third crop hay harvest. The fields were mowed and then the raking and drying process had to be extended a little longer than had been planned.

             Labor Day was traditional for a farming community---a day of labor. Tractors and balers busy, gardens yielding their wares, early loads of firewood heading down the valley. There must have been a serious accident on our Highway 36 because the complete set of emergency vehicles went past my yard this afternoon. Hope all my readers had a safe and enjoyable Labor Day, however you chose to celebrate.

September 1, 2015

             Eldon and Danita Wilcox traveled to Toronto, Canada,to join with MaKenzie Wilcox Gunter, watching their son-in-law, Tyson Gunter, participate in the Parapan Am Games in various track events. This is an international event for paralympic athletes from North, Central, and South American countries. Tyson received a Silver medal in the men's long jump and qualified to compete in the World Championships this coming October.

            Austin Corbett, son of Shane and Sherrie Corbett, was ordained to the office of teacher in the LDS Ward. His grandparents, Craig and Vickie Golightly, were here to witness this event. Josh Greene, son of Chad and Dawnell Greene, and husband of Lizzy Wallentine, was ordained to the office of an elder. His parents, siblings and Lizzy's parents, Charity and Dale Wallentine of Franklin and other family members met for this occasion.

          Another missionary from Mink Creek is headed to the North Dakota, Bismarck, Mission. James Baird, son of LaRon and Liesa Baird will enter the MTC at Provo in early September. Aunts and uncles, cousins galore, from the Baird and Orton families gathered to hear his remarks in the LDS Ward.

          Kathy and Austin Jones have enjoyed a visit from four daughters over the past few weeks. Katrina Hadlock brought her four children from Montroxe, CO. Kayleen and Spencer Joshnson with little Xavier drove from Provo, UT. Karenina and Michael Bullock and their four children live in Eagle Mountain, UT. This bunch made visits to the fourth sister KayDee and her family in Lewiston, UT.

            Vernon Keller has had some early fall visitors. His son Kelton and Denise Keller and their daughter Mauri came up from Alpine, UT. A nephew, Curtis Keller and Kathy Keller drove over from Soda Springs, expanding the family gathering.

           As summer eases its way out all this coming and going is bound to slow down. Nothing like the beginning of school to anchor families.

           We have the college-age set, having been home for the summer, headed off educational or employment pursuits. Chris Wilde has found his way down to Ephriam, UT and college. Marco Crosland is home from Jerusalem studies and back at it in Provo at the Y. Tawni Hall is moving down to Logan, going to school at Bridgerland Tech. There were several of that age bracket that stayed in their college towns and only came home for an occasional visit during the last months.

            This might not be the usual newsworthy item, but I have had a bunch of black cows loose in my orchard twice in the last week. They are taking a toll on my apple crop, not to mention the unwelcome fertilizer they leave on exiting. I am still trying to locate the owner of these critters. Life in the country is great, but it has some challenges that city-dwellers never get.