Dec 29, 2015

            Lana and Ivan McCracken took a few days off to travel to Allen, TX. They were there to witness the baptism of a grandchild. Two of Ivan's daughters live in this area near Dallas. It is a Big state.

            The Mink Creek Community Christmas Party was full of fun. Wynn and Cecelie Costley were the organizers of the event and the night started off with a rousing game of Hotcha. It is one of those that gets people moving and becoming better acquainted. The recreational hall was full with three tables running the length, covered with red and green tablecloths, as befitted the occasion. After the icebreaker game those attending were served a light dinner : a pulled pork sandwich, potato chips, olives and pickles, quickly followed by a dish of mint ice cream and brownies.

            The program started off with songs from the children, accompanied by Macy Jepsen. Christmas songs filled the air. Ty Beardall was the narrator of Cecelie's script that wove the various numbers together. Liesa Baird, Terrie McKay, Jody Janke,and Eldon Wilcox were a vocal quartette. There was a violin solo by Joseph Seamons. Friendly Santa arrived to listen to wishes and requests, passing out popcorn and candy canes, along with some words of wisdom for the older set. Of course the help in the kitchen made much of this night possible. They were MaryAnn Jepsen, Kim Christensen, Sandy Wylie, Terrie and Paul McKay and Jeff Olson, plus a bunch of teenagers from the Young Men and Young Women groups.

            With Christmas we are missing our residents scattered around the globe on LDS missions. Tyson Hall is in the Chile, Antofogasta, Mission, James Baird in North Dakota, Bismarck, Johnny Iverson in Japan, Kobe, Joe and Kathy Jarvis in South Africa, Johannesburg, and Leon and Katherine Noorda in Vietnam, Hanoi.

           The shortest day of the year has come and gone and it is amazing how quickly the days start getting longer. Even the solar lights that adorn yards and houses take note b y lasting a little longer with increased daylight hours to up their power.

           Mink Creek has been full of family returning to be home for Christmas. License plate from Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Canada, California and other attest that many enjoyed having a white Christmas in familiar places this year.

Dec 23, 2015

          Any fat geese around here had better be careful---hunters are about this Christmas season. I haven't heard anyone singing the song about the goose getting fat, but I have heard one or two blasts of a shotgun .

         A missionary calling has been announced for Bryce and Terry Stromberg, a pair of our summer residents. They are headed to Salt Lake City, UT. Bryce will be serving on the LDS Temple Square Security and Terry will be working in the Family History library.

          The Relief Society members gathered for a Christmas evening. The dining hall (better known as multipurpose room) was filled with six beautifully decorated tables, full of color appropriate for the season with lovely place settings of pretty dishes, goblets, and elegant centerpieces. The food on the board gave two selections of green salads, rolls and three choices of soups: cheesy broccoli, creamy potato, or clam chowder. Two large carafes were full of citrus water. The dessert which followed the program was a raspberry topped wedge of cheesecake, the smoothest ever tasted. The program for the night was a holiday reading by Lana McCracken, Christmas carols sang by a duo, Tate Bradfield and Corey Swainston, and a medley of holiday songs played by the Seamons Strings. For this evening the Seamons group was comprised of four brothers, Joseph, Samuel, David, and Jonathan. Generally there is a fifth brother performing, but due to Ben injuring a shoulder while wrestling he enjoyed the music as a spectator on this occasion.

           It has been carpet cleaning time for the LDS Meetinghouse this week. That translates into the need for all in the community to be mindful of scheduling activities on more suitable days.

            The newest member of the Mink Creek LDS Ward is Jyllian Christensen, daughter of Lacey and Kerry Christensen. She was baptized and confirmed just last week. Jyllian has had a hard time waiting for this big day.

           Beware of the turkeys that inhabit our area. They have been known to cause vehicular accidents. There are so many of these creatures and they are spreading their feeding grounds further north along Highway 36. They congregate in the fields near the highway and have no traffic sense whatsoever.

          We are still anticipating a white Christmas, just like the ones we use to know. Last year was so dry. The recent storms are received with gladness. The driving around in them, perhaps not so much.   Merry Christmas to all readers, may the day gladden your hearts and bring a few moments of peaceful reflection.

Dec 15, 2015

          Johnny and Jeannine Iverson hosted a big family gathering over the holiday. Forty people surrounded their bounteous table. Their eldest son Steven and Jessie Iverson came up from Argyle, TX and their six children and their families came from all across the continent: Virginia Wisconsin, Utah, Idaho, and students going to BYU in Provo, UT. Family guests were arriving for three days. Cousins of all ages enjoyed getting reacquainted as they played games and did crafts. Add the family of Kurt and Margret Iverson who live here to this mix. In spite of all the hubbub that goes with this sort of thing, it was also very rewarding.

           The family of Jeff Knudson are regularly in and out these days. A fair sized group were here for a few days. Tony and Camille Knudson and family come from Stansbury, UT. Shawn and Ginger Knudson are at home in Provo. We are glad to see these good people often..

            Jimmie and AnnaBeth Olson gathered all their family. That means: Lydia and Jason Stucki and family from Moscow, ID, Jerry and Christine Olson and children of St. George, UT, Peggy and Jon Flinders and their bunch from Rigby, ID, Dana and Charlie Petersen and children of Meridian, ID and Michael and Amy Olson and family of Brigham City, UT. That area on Station Creek Road was kept humming for a few days, especially a recently remodeled granary/dormitory.

            Another full family platter was that of Sheldon and Candy Longhurst. Jake and Holly Longhurst drove up from Logan, UT. Tiffany and Spencer Wheeler came down from Parma, ID. In addition there are the three still home, Justin, McKinley and Emily, and a good time was had by all.

             There has been a change in the Young Women's Presidency in the Mink Creek LDS Ward. The new president is Laurel Wilde, her first counselor is Mary Ann Jepsen, second counselor, Dawnell Greene, the secretary is Annevelyn Wilcox.

            A beautiful snow storm moved in on Sunday night and it stuck around most of yesterday. We are now the picture postcard village with white mountains surrounding us and a winter blue sky above. Let the winter activities begin! Kids are dreaming of sledding, skating, skiing, snowmobiling...and it isn't just the younger set with these visions dancing through heads. Of course, there is also the changing of driving habits, the possibility of becoming stuck, falling down, etc. There always is some bitter with the sweet.

Dec 9, 2015

             Kent and ReNae Egley traveled back to Huntington, IN, attending the wedding festivities of their grandson, Bryce Nielsen. Bryce has recently graduated from army training at Ft. Huachuca, AZ, and is now moving to a new chapter in his life and new bride, Emily Brown. He is the son of Jeff and Tara Nielsen. Bryce will be deployed for a hitch in Afghanistan, later making a home in Colorado Springs, CO. Kent and ReNae hosted a wedding open house in Mink Creek for the new couple on their return from the Midwest.

             Kathy Jones has recently had surgery on a foot. With her husband Austin's broken leg they are a matched pair as they each work to move about on their individual scooters. Their positive attitude balances out the problems they encounter.

             We have had some visits from branches of our Haws family. Kasey and Julie Haws took a  bit of retreat in their Mink Creek home as they prepare to begin a calling to serve as mission president couple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Loren(Haws) and Ken Nash came up from Solvang, CA, with some of their family to enjoy the last days of fall, Idaho style.

             Our community has grieved with two funerals this past week. Three funerals in one month has served to shake us at our roots.  Marlene Christensen, widow of Orvid Christensen, passed away after many months of suffering with cancer. Her family members and friends gathered here to bid farewell. Teresina Crosland, daughter of Robert and Phee Crosland, passed away unexpectedly while living in Arizona. She is now at rest, back home with loved ones.

            Thanksgiving holidays took some of our residents great distances, others not far, but most stayed near the coziness of home. The families of Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen and Kerry and Melinda Jepsen were able to spend a week together in the balmy paradise of Hawaii. Ramona and Jerry Hatchett went down to West Jordan, UT, to a gathering hosted by Ramona's daughter, enjoying the company without the pressure of preparation.

             The small amount of snow that has managed to stay for the last week or so vanished in a warm rain that arrived the night of Dec 7^th. It felt rather strange to wake up the following morning and have our lawns all green again.

            The local Deseret Industries store in Preston had a drive for Christmas items early in the month and from the display on the shelves the whole county answered the call generously.There is a great selection.

December 2, 2015

          There are flocks of turkeys, alive and well, up and down the valley after the feast of Thanksgiving Day has come to a close. These wild birds are enjoying whatever leftovers they can find in our farmers' fields.

           Three canals in the county claim water from Mink Creek as their source: Twin Lakes, Riverdale, and Consolidated Irrigation. Our community has some other waterways that provide nourishment to our fields. Some now are dry, others with their depths are down to not much more than a trickle with the end of the growing season. Any movement is slow and sluggish in this season of the year.

            Mink Creek has had three young men playing on the Preston High School varsity football team. They are Sam Seamons, Ben Seamons and Travis Greene. Now that the season is over these three will be moving on to winter sports.

             Maria and Devin Flake have been up from their home in Saratoga Springs, UT, to visit with her mother, Lana and Ivan McCracken. They were introducing their tiny son, Jude Bryan Flake, to the Mink Creek community. He sports a cute thatch of black spikey hair. Daniel and Heather Baird and their four children from Rexburg gathered here too for the Thanksgiving weekend. LaRon and Liesa Baird live across the road from the McCrackens, Nathan Baird is close at hand. The families enjoyed being together and sharing memories and good food.

            During the last part of November there have been all types of vehicles headed out of our canyons with their prize Christmas tree in tow. The harvesting of the chosen tree is evidently a tradition in many families. The first few days the area would have been dry and chilly, then a storm moved in on Tuesday of this past week so those seekers would have some snow to navigate and add to the excitement.

           Our summer population has dwindled a bit. Cold weather has arrived, the various hunting seasons are to an end, a beautiful fall has turned into a biting winter. Those residents needing warmer temperatures have headed to other locations: St. George, California, Las Vegas, Arizona among them.

          One indication that pheasant season has closed is hearing roosters crowing now and again. They are also more visible along the roads and in the fields.