Last of December, 2016

             With the chill of winter upon us it is noted that we have a number of new beards sprouting on the handsome faces of some of our menfolk. At a recent community gathering nine beards were in evidence, coming along nicely. One of these gentlemen commented that the biggest accomplishment to cultivating a beard was that of “getting it past the itchy stage.” Chances are, their wives feel the same way.

            The couple who purchased Sharon Moran's home, Chris and Christine Mueller, are getting their first taste of Mink Creek's winter. Sharon, in the meantime, has been enjoying her new life in Washington state, sharing pictures of the wonderful produce she has been able to grow this summer. She and her son, Willie Moran, drove back to Idaho to celebrate Christmas with her family in the Pocatello area.

            Kathy Jarvis is back home after having some serious surgery on her foot. She has been recuperating in Utah for several weeks and glad to be back in her own house. Her husband, Joe, is doing well after his knee surgery that took place not too long before Kathy's appointment.

            Our college-age population is coming home for their break from studies. Some are here full-time. Others who have jobs in Logan along with their USU student status are close enough to travel back and forth and still be gainfully employed.

            The youth of the community loaded onto hay wagons and went caroling, singing Christmas songs at the doors of homes. It was cold enough that their stops were a bit limited, mainly just around the center of our village. Blankets and warm layers of clothing were helpful, but their faces still felt the freezing temperatures. They were happy to head back to the meetinghouse, knowing that cups of hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls waited for their return.

           Snow began to arrive the evening of December 23. More came our way on Christmas Eve. Our dreaming of a white Christmas came to pass. The ice is still under the snow and our awareness is heightened, but the snow is welcome, not only because of the moisture it brings, but because of the wonderful feeling that comes. No complaints about shoveling just yet. Today, second day after Christmas, the temperatures have dropped again and it has been bitter cold.

            New Year's is a few days away, 2017. The positive approach will be good for starters. May it be a good year for all of us. Thank you for your continued reading support, feel free to make comments.

December 20, 2016, shivering days

            The Mink Creek community celebrated the Christmas season together with a Saturday morning brunch at the LDS meetinghouse. Those attending feasted on a breakfast casserole, a variety of sausages and a mixed fruit cup. Several crafts were offered, games played for the children. Memories of Christmases past were shared by Glen Jepsen. Joe Jarvis spoke on the Joys of the season. The narrative of the Nativity was given by Jimmie Olson. The group sang Christmas carols as they waited for the arrival of Santa Claus. The Elders' Quorum directed this activity, Royce Christensen is their president.

           The family of Sheldon and Candy Longhurst came home to find their perfect Christmas tree in our canyons. Jake and Holly Longhurst now live in Logan, and Tiffany and Spencer Wheeler call Parma, ID, home. With the other three children close to home they were able to get some good family pictures.

            Jimmie and Annabeth Olson enjoyed having Peggy and Jon Flinders and their little girls home for the holiday. Their son Jerry Olson and his wife Christine and their children came up from St. George for family fun while taking part in Preston's Rotary Christmas Concert. Annabeth is one of the directors of the vocal group and Christine was a featured guest soloist.

            Ivan and Lana McCracken have been doing some traveling here and there. They took a week to go to Alberta, Canada, welcoming Ivan's brother home and to meet his new bride who is from the Philippines. Their Thanksgiving holiday had a bit of an Asian flavor. After being back home in Mink Creek for a few days they drove down to Saratoga Springs, UT, to participate in the blessing of their grandson, Jude, the son of Devin and Maria Baird Flake.

            The water has been turned out of the Twin lakes Canal that begins in Mink Creek and the canal's winter path is now visible in the frozen jagged white line of ice that darts down the cliff on the cedar covered hillside to the Bear River.

            Not much to add this week. There have been neighborhood Christmas gatherings. Lots of potluck food and lots of visiting. The weather is on hold: cold, icy, little snow. Dawn comes and gives that cold steely feeling just to look outdoors.

            I understand that there are some plans for caroling among the teenage set one of these first evenings. They will surely need their warm woolen mittens and any other items to increase their comfort on these frigid nights.

            Today is the last day of school before the holiday break. Mink Creek's daytime noise level will increase tomorrow.

Decembeer 14, 2016

           Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen had a house full with three of their children and their families all congregated for fun at the same time. Annie and Steve Earl and their children arrived from San Jose, CA. Joe and Kate Jepsen's family and Jonathan Jepsen wall live in the Salt Lake City areaa. There was much hustle and bustle going on for several days.

           David Seamons, son of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons qualified for the Idaho All-State Orchestra that gathered, practiced and performed in Nampa, ID recently. Congratulations to this young man.

           We have two beautiful bald eagles in residence. They keep a close eye on all the happenings of man and beast in our community. What a lovely sight to see them soaring in the winter sky, enjoying the uninterrupted air space above us.

          The Wilcox family got together for the holiday, even though their parents are serving a mission in the Philippines. Jesse and Annavelyn are living in the Wilcox home and they welcomed most of the Wilcox siblings. Brigham and Jennifer Wilcox and children live in Idaho Falls. MaKenzie and Tyson Gunter are now located in Spanish Fork, UT. Elise and Jeff Hardy and family are in North Ogden, UT. The family of Ami and Tom Fenton are still in Tooele, UT, and Brittany and Matt Durrant and their little ones are currently in the Salt Lake City area. All were able to come except Lezli who lives in Texas.

         The Relief Society started off December with a night of warm food and warm friendship. The dining tables, set up in a U figure in the rec hall, were decorated by a living pine garland. Some of the women had brought their nativity scenes to share with all, making for a good variety. Twinkling lights and Christmas finery decorated the stage area. Things started off with a sock game, going right and left with a story until all ended up with a gift of a pair of socks. The menu was perfect: caramel soaked French toast, a fruit compote, slices of ham with a citrus slush beverage. The production committee for this event was Lacey Christensen, Jasmine Erickson, Laural Janke and April Rasmussen. All enjoyed a vocal duet by Terrie McKay and Candy Longhurst, a Christmas reading from Betty Jo Jepsen about the Keeper of the Flame, Christmas carols sung by all and watching the Light the World video.

          Two storms have moved in since the above was written. It has been a rather dry December so far. We received an inch or so a few days ago, followed by rain that washed it away at the lower levels. It seems strange to listen to avalanche warnings in this area when there is little snow on the ground, but the weight of the moisture in the snow higher up causes the threat. The last storm has brought more snow, a bit more in quantity as well as heavy with moisture. One needs to be very careful walking outdoors with all these icy surfaces lying in wait to give a speedy, beyond control fall to the unwary.

           Night comes early now, and the homes decorated with Christmas lights dot our hillsides. The full moon on the snow-covered hills adds to that feeling of seasonal joy,

December 6, 2016

              Tomorrow is a day to be reminded.  Dec. 7, 1941, the day Japan hit our military bases in Hawaii.  I will be writing more of my thoughts on my other blog, but just had to mention it here, so that you too, would remember, or if too young for that, to recall what the history books describe.
            And now, back to the original column, plus the additions of tonight.

          Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, they are being gathered from our mountain canyons, and transported down our valley to unknown destinations in large quantities. There are trees tied to the tops of automobiles, trees loaded into pickups, trees filling up large trailers. It makes one wonder, are the mountain slopes bare after all that have been hauled out this past couple of weeks?

           Angelo Crosland, son of Robert and Phee Crosland, has received his missionary call to the Indiana, Indianapolis, Mission. He will be leaving Mink Creek in the middle of January. At present he is in the Washington DC area enjoying some time with an older brother, Armando Crosland.

            Jeff and Kayleen Hill were up from Utah to spend holiday time with her dad, Vernon Keller along with her brother Kelton and Denise Keller of Alpine, UT.

           Laural and Jody Janke and their children drove to Vancouver, WA, for a week of fun with the family of Claudine and LaMar McKague. With a total of ten cousins in the McKague house there was limited time for peace and quiet. They reported that the weather in the northwest was “wet, as usual.”

           Karl and Marian Haws came to their Mink Creek home from Santa Barbara, CA, to have Thanksgiving with some of their family. Aaron and Heather Haws and their children drove over from Meridian, ID. Lauren and Ken Nash who live in Solvang, CA were here, as were several grandchildren and in-laws.

            Rocky Mountain Power sent out a crew to remove some ancient cottonwood trees from the bank of the Riverdale Canal that runs through Mink Creek. One of the trees had toppled, rather crashed, and had sent wood and debris rocketing in its fall, barely missing a power line. Rather safe than sorry, the rest of the group of trees were brought down recently. A hawk that has been in residence for years in one of the trees watched closely while his nest was being threatened and eventually went the way of the world of machines. We hope he doesn't move out of the neighborhood and builds again close by.

            Our days are getting shorter. Proof of this yearly time crunch is that the solar lights in our yards tend to loose their glow after just a few hours once dark descends. And dark comes early in this month of December.

           Add Bob Erickson's name to the list of Mink Creek shoulder surgeries. This happened almost three weeks ago and Bob is doing well. It is a replacement of the shoulder, not a repair. Amazing stuff, the possibilities of the modern medical world.