October 26 or 27, 2016

        This week I have lost track of what day it is.  That tells you, my readers, why this is late.  Unexpected company arrived so the schedule juggling got things stirred up a bit.

         The turkeys are back. Not just in small flocks, more like herds of turkeys. A hundred here, another hundred there, give or take a dozen or so. For anyone driving our roads it is well to remember that all turkeys seem to think they have the right of way when it comes to navigating automobile traffic that invades their domain.

          Karen and Layne Erickson drove up to Idaho Falls to witness the baptism of their grandson, Creighton Kunz, the son of Julie an Todd Kunz. Other family members that joined with them in the event were Connie and Adam Westenskow of Logan, UT, and Bryan and Shannon Erickson and their boys of Mt. Sterling, UT.

          Our Naomi Wilde, 101 years young, is doing well after her surgeries and has now moved to Pocatello to an assisted living facility near her son Dean Wild eand family. We now welcome a new young family into the Wilde home. Jasmine and Miles Erickson and their daughter Madelaine are from Logan. They definitely have Wilde connections. Jasmine is the daughter of Laurel Wilde, wife of Ross, Naomi's son, who built a home not far from where he grew up here in Mink Creek..

         Laural and Jody Janke and their family and Bob and Claudia Erickson traveled down to Alpine, UT to listen to Mikell Abernethy speak about her time spent in the Oakland/San Francisco Mission of the LDS Church, as a Spanish-speaking Hermana. Mikell is the granddaughter of the Ericksons, the daughter of Danalee and Gene Abernethy. With the Abernethy siblings gathering for the occasion from Boston, MA, and California, this event turned into a small family reunion.

         Angelo Crosland was ordained to the office of an elder, prior to his plans for serving a mission in the future. Prior to that he is headed out to Washington, DC to spend some time with his older brother Armando. They are the sons of Robert an Phee Crosland.

         With various hunting seasons open at the present time our community has people coming and going. Pheasant season, deer season, and elk season serve as reasons for lots of excitement and frequent visitors.

         It has been an interesting fall weather-wise. A very wet October has produced fresh green lawns, after looking a bit on the dry side just a month ago. The leaves are falling off the trees, but they still retain moisture. There has been some stunning sunsets following bright days, then clouds gathering on the western horizon just prior to the sun's descent. It is getting darker each morning as the school buses come through to gather up the kids waiting at their stops. Please, normal time, return soon so we can have a little light in those early hours.

October 18, 2016

             The headline for this column should be that of the barn burning. This barn has a history and has been a part of the Mink Creek scene for more than 100 years. It has stood by Highway 36, an imposing structure as one travels to and from Strawberry Springs. Currently owned by Richard Free, the former owner was Delmer Keller, and Delmer's parents before him. Richard was not at home at the time, but luckily his wife, Vickie, was. Neighbors, seeing smoke rising, came and got their horses out of harm's way. The flames were reported to the Franklin County Fire Department around 3pm, Oct. 11^th, and there was quick response with multiple trucks, equipment and firefighters. The barn burned to the ground, but the other farm buildings close by escaped injury. As of this writing ( the 14th) the pile of blackened wood and hay is still smoldering, awaiting a possible rain storm to help further extinguish the heat.

            A Fall Social titled a “Cider Fest” was held at the Mink Creek Ballpark for the adults of the community. Even though it was a cold night around sixty people attended the event. "Bundle u" goes with planning outdoor activities at this time of year. A nursery was provided at the LDS Meetinghouse for those parents who had small children.

           A milk can dinner was prepared by Glade Larsen and Mike Jepsen and their ever helpful spouses. Reports are that it was delicious. There were layers of corn on the cob, red potatoes, cabbage, carrots, celery, ham and other lovely morsels of food. Rolls were part of the menu and the ladies in attendance brought various fruit desserts to share. Cider pressing was a main part of this activity and the planning committee has been collecting apples from around our village in preparation for the event. Three different ciders were produced this evening: apple of course, pear, and plum. The group enjoyed the warmth shed by a bonfire in the pit and people stayed and visited even after dark.

            The Cider Fest event is replacing two community events of past years. For several years in the past our town has had an outing on the shores of Bear Lake to celebrate the end of summer. Also, this year the Harvest Social that was combined with a trunk n' treat in the past is no longer on our calendars.

          We have snow on our mountain tops, but a friend from Bear Lake reports that they had 3 inches over there. We are still green within the community boundaries.  It has been several days of rain, rain and more rain. A rather soggy October thus far. It has helped to douse the Free barn embers. No complaints.

           There has been some frost. It is a bit patchy, hitting here, missing there. Alas, lawns are still in need of mowing.  After two dry months we are re-greening with all the wetness.

Columbus Day, 2016

        I hope you all know who Columbus is and why we should recognize his contribution to the world, as well as this nation.  It was a big day in school rooms of the past, but no longer.  Happy Columbus Day yesterday.   I had some friends remind me that it was the Canadian Thanksgiving, but no one mentioned Columbus.

          It is the time of year, just before Daylight Savings Time shuts down, that our children are getting on the morning school bus while it is dark. The return trip deposits them at their various stops while is is still light, at least for now. Our thanks to Mink Creek's two bus drivers for this school year, Shelly Bray and Glen Smedley.

         Ivan and Lana McCracken took a drive to Burley, ID, for some family celebrations. Ivan's grandson, Dallyn McCracken is leaving to serve on an LDS Mission in an Argentine area at the tip of South America, Terra del Fuego. He will be speaking the Spanish language. This area is mountainous and has a subpolar oceanic climate situated so closely to Antarctica. Chances are, Dallyn won't be warm again until he is back in the United States.

         Bill and Myrna Despain traveled to Colorado to see multiple family members in several different locations. One objective of the trip was to help Bill's brother finish building his garage. Another was to attend the open house of the LDS Temple in Ft Collins, CO. Both were accomplished along with much visiting.

         Sherrie Corbett and Melida Jepsen have returned from an adventure in New York. They were running in a relay race, such a challenge to run fourteen miles over a period of 48 hours. Lots of fun things came up on their agenda, such as sleeping in a barn, a tour of downtown New York City, beautiful countryside, congested populations. Just naming a few, but so proud of these two friends meeting this undertaking together.

          We had three days of rain and cold. The night with the most wind must have been frightening to our wildlife as well as to our residents. There were branches blown out of the trees, even the evergreens. Three deer were hit and killed along the highway during the storm that night.

          Hunting Fever has hit this area. Both  the hunters and the deer are feeling the pressure of the opening of the season. By this coming weekend this little valley will likely sound like a battleground from the past.

          Two other types of wildlife are putting in an appearance now that the weather is changing. The turkeys have dropped back down to the easier feeding grounds of farmer's fields. The pesty box elder bugs are accumulating in numbers, on outside walls, around doorways, windows. The people residents are doing their best to reduce the bug population.

October, already

          Our beautifully colored foliage is rapidly fading in intensity. A drive up our canyons is still rewarding, but the season is progressing rapidly. Our resident deer are invading our orchards for any fruit to add to this diets, this includes what has fallen to the ground and any other within their reach. One lovely buck even took time to have a nap in my backyard.

           Dallon Baird, son of LaRon and Liesa Baird, was ordained to the office of a Teacher in the LDS Ward. This ordinance took place in Franklin for the convenience of family members. Recent birthdays affected two young ladies in Mink Creek as well. Celina Crosland is now a Laurel and Emily Longhurst is a Mia Maid, both in the Young Womens' Program.

           Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen have been enjoying some family time in San Jose, CA, with their daughter, Annie and Steve Earl and their children. Annie's oldest daughter will soon be leaving to serve a mission in Norway so there is much excitement being shared.

           Brayden Avery, son of Heath and Kaci Avery, was recently baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. He was baptized by his brother, Kamren Avery.

            Juliana and Blaine Packer have a new baby girl. This little one managed to arrive while Juliana's mother, Liesa Baird, was traipsing around Europe with the maternal great grandparents as they were released from an LDS Mission to Albania. The timing was unexpected, but babies have a way of doing what is best for themselves.

           Elder Tyler Gibbs, son of Tracey and Michelle Gibbs, spoke in the LDS Ward to his “new neighbors”, the community of Mink Creek. The Gibbs family have moved to our village while Tyler was serving in the Texas, Houston, Mission. We are happy to have him arrive to this new home.

           We have three young people competing in equestrian contests. They are Austin Corbett, son of Shane and Sherrie Corbett, and Tara and Ella Jepsen, daughters of Melinda and Kerry Jepsen. They all participated in the Eastern Idaho State Fair events. Tara is involved with High School Rodeo.

           Weatherwise it has been an exciting few days since I wrote the above paragraphs. We have had some tornado warnings for southeastern Idaho. We had a couple of days of heavy storms with lots of lightning crackling about. The strong winds broke off some branches here and there , other than that , all is well. My lawn that had been looking a bit dry is as green as it was in May.

           We have a return of the turkeys. Swallows return in the spring and the turkeys go to higher elevations for a time. Our local wild turkeys drop down to easier grazing when it turns cooler.