August 29, 2017

               As with all roadways heading to Idaho Falls the traffic on Highway 36 through Mink Creek increased in the days surrounding the solar eclipse. Jackson Hole held its usual allure as a bonus for those on this road. The solar eclipse was felt here in Mink Creek, but not at 100% as it was further north. We felt the temperature dip considerably, thinking a jacket might be in order. The sky darkened a bit, not quite dusk, but with that feel. At least one group took advantage of having family living near Idaho Falls. The Robert Crosland family, plus some extensions, went up for a visit with their daughter Malia and Jason Kunde in Rigby, ID.

             That heavenly event postponed the arrival of our school buses to start the new year. The very next day those yellow carriers were on schedule for the excited youth of the community. And so the more regular routine for the residents of our villagae has begun, again. The time for Fair princesses, Rodeo Royalty and beautiful modeling of clothes by those seamstresses has closed out and the volleyballs, soccer balls and footballs are claiming priority of 'leisure time.'

              Orin Baird, son of LaRon and Liesa Baird, was recently baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. With this he becomes officially the newest member of the local LDS Ward.

             Joshua and Lizzy Greene and their sons, recent members of our community have moved to North Dakota. They are now living in Williston, where Josh is employed.

           The family of Jeannine and Johnny Iverson has had numerous visitors lately. With nine children of theirs, plus the children of those children, it seems their doors are open much of the summer months. They have had some from as far away as Virginia and Texas, others closer to home. Not long ago a group of Iversons participated in their annual camp trip, hiking to the Wind River mountains of Wyoming. Kurt Iverson reported that there were no injuries of a serious nature.

Jim and Debbie Harrison have been up from St. George. It is always great to see lights in their Mink Creek home.

            Imogene Stein dropped in for a visit with her brothers, Bob Erickson and Layne Erickson, while she was up this way attending a Class Reunion. Emmie currently lives in Saratoga Springs, UT close to a couple of her children.

             The community got together for a shared outdoor movie night at the Mink Creek Ballpark. All attenders were encouraged to bring comfort in the form of blankets, lawn chairs, to enjoy the evening. Popcorn, brownies and homemade rootbeer filled in the concessions offered. This was a first time event and the weather was a bit threatening, but held off for the evening.

            When the thought comes that rain would be welcome here, the immediate impression is that of all the rain that friends in Texas are experiencing, their concerns and problems. Our hillsides are dry, brittle growth, so grateful for the water here to keep crops and gardens green and growing.

            Our summer folk ares sparse as fall approaches, school and cooler routines take them back to the winter destinations. Now it will be just occasional visits to their Mink Creek oasis.

August 22, 2017

          We have our share of river runners at the lower end of Mink Creek, close by where the creek empties into the Bear River. It is a sufficiently active spot that a little area now has blacktop for the parking area, be the users fishermen or river runners.

            Several Mink Creek residents were part of a group that took on the watery ride down the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. One participant commented that “it is an amazing white water rush.” The water craft were five rafts and six kayaks. Good food, good fishing, natural hot springs, wildlife and perfect weather, all pieces that make this trip great fun. Especially the great people. Our participants were: Lin and Sharla McKay, River McKay, Paul and Andy McKay, Brian Westerberg and his son Kayson.

           Arianna and Ben Hostetter and family of Colorado Springs, CO, have been vacationing on the banks of Birch Creek at the home of her parents, Robert and Phee Crosland. Actually Arianna gets a bit homesick now and then so this visit is a temporary cure, until the next time. She and Ben are fixing up their home in Colorado, getting it ready for the scheduled arrival of a new baby.

           Reunions continue to abound in Mink Creek, The descendants of Oscar and Martha Wilde met together. Two Fairview Wards have used facilities up this way for a ward reunion or a youth activity.

         Hannah Costley Singleton and her two boys, Samuel and Grey, of El Dorado, AR, have been soaking up time at her parents home on Strawberry Creek. This is an annual event and grandparents Wynn and Cecelie Costley consider it a highlight of their summer months. All sorts of projects develop when family members from around the area gather. Generally Spencer Singleton, Hannah's husband, takes some time off and heads west for some days before the Singleton bunch head back south for school and the change of season that comes with it.

          Bug battles are ongoing, spiders, earwigs, wasps, hornets, garden pests  There is always extra interest this time of year to find a specimen that will be just right to become a part of the bug collections needed for the Jr. High School science classes. How about a praying mantis, or a gorgeous moth, a red winged grasshopper? The whole county knows to be alert for these.

          There is that hint of fall approaching, just a hint. Things are still growing, no frosty nights yet, but that special feel is in the air. Walking outdoors, even a short distance during daylight hours, brings on an attack of grasshoppers as they bounce about. The yellow seem to dominate, but there is plenty of those big black winged ones with the yellow strip on their wings, the red winged are in the minority. They all pack a wallop bigger than their size.

           Today was that first day of school in our district, new duds, new friends, new supplies, reconnections, old friends, new teachers, old teachers. Sigh, back to the normal routine, more or less.  Hopefully the beginning of a happy year.

August 16, 2017

            Fremon and Ada Jepsen's family were gathered at their place on Bear Creek the last of July. Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen live in a home on the family homestead at the head of Bear Creek. The original Julius and Della Jepsen home, later that of Fremon and Ada, became the center of activity. Marilyn and Robert Godfrey arrived from Mesa, AZ along with some children and grandchildren, totaling 15. Add 8 more with  JoAnn and Keven Auger from Woodland Hills, UT, and their family. Dan and his wife,Jean Jepsen came from Bountiful, UT, bringing three more family units of 16.Glen and Betty Jo had two daughters, Jill Neitz from Alberta, Canada, and Jana Musgrave from Ogden and their children at their house. Kerry and Melinda Jepsen, Mink Creek residents, with their children added 22 to the happy gathering. Since more accommodations were required than the three Jepsen Mink Creek homes could provide, the family borrowed the house recently purchased by Larry and Lillian Hansen for extra beds and bathrooms, tents on the farmhouse lawn and pasture nearby.

           One night they enjoyed the use of the Mink Creek Ballpark. In a special activity willing members participated in what they call "The Speedy Creeker," a run from the homestead to the Glencoe road crossing, approximately 2 miles, albeit mostly downhill. This year the winner of the adult run was Clay Jepsen, who has been relentlessly training since being edged out last year. Their family service project was evidenced in paint-spattered individuals as they painted the picket fence around the original farmhouse. Saturday activities centered at the dam and the water of the Oneida Narrows. Sunday found the family reconnecting with community friends at the Mink Creek Ward before they all headed home in various directions to Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Canada, saying goodbye to Bear Creek for another season.

           The family of Mike and Jessie Morris and their daughter Ella relocated a few months ago and another family has already purchased their home. Julie and Jeff Workman come to us from Stansbury Park, UT, and are getting moved into the large home bit by bit, enjoying the feeling of life in the country.

          Our community had three weddings on August 5^th, perhaps setting a record. Morgan Mckay, daughter of Terrie and Paul McKay married Eli Curtis, a young man from Young Ward, Wellsville. Christoper Wilde, son of David and Judy Wilde, claimed Heidi Morgan, as his bride. Brody Carter, grandson of Warren and Colleen Wilde, tied the knot with Analise Barlow.

            There was a collision of some kind on Highway 36, between markers 2 and 3. The guard rails on both sides of the road are bent and smashed. Doubtful that it was just someone trying to avoid the meandering deer or other wildlife.

            This isn't the only evidence of collision. A totaled deer was in a barrow pit along this same roadway, plus a crumpled raccoon . One collision was evident from the scent, yep, a skunk.

           Not sure what it says about the approaching fall season, but my backyard squirrels are certainly busy shredding my pine cones and littering the ground below.

           The county fair is getting in high gear and the pace will only continute as the week slips by. There was a lot of judging today with ribbons distributed, other projects still coming in for display. Spectator time will be more official from Thursday on through Saturday night.

August 8, 2017

          Rodeo time in our area seems to be the perfect time for families to organize family reunions back at the home grounds. Several have taken place in our little village.

           The descendants of Harley and Lima Jepsen kept things active at the Rasmussen park. Jonathan and Portia Jepsen of Salt Lake City, were in charge this year. All of the siblings were able to attend and most of them included children and grandchildren in the family package. Eleanor Kirkbride lives in North Ogden, Carolyn Hill in Pleasant Grove, UT, LeAnn and Garth Walton are in Logan, Susan and Charles Auger in Layton, Mike and MaryAnn Jepsen in Mink Creek, the only ones still in Idaho. Fifty-three were there and several were absent while serving missions for the LDS Church. They enjoyed a water slide, a train, all sorts of games, good food and good conversation.

           A Wilde bunch got together at Jay Wilde's home in Mink Creek this past weekend. Katheryn McCarrel, four children and some grandchildren came up from Lehi, UT. Two of Jay's children and his daughter-in-law were there to assist him. Warren and Colleen Wilde, of Mink Creek were pleased to have their daughter Bambi and some of her family from Amalga, UT, and their son Randy and Robin Wilde from West Jordan, plus some grandchildren

          John Garr is in residence on his mountainside perch in Mink Creek. John makes lots of trips back and forth between California and Idaho keeping track of his parents George and Bobby Garr, and his grandchildren.

           Abigail and Sophia Janke drove up from Richfield, UT, for some Mink Creek time and reconnecting with Franklin County friends before the school year starts for them down in Sevier County, where they will be the “new kids.”

           Wynn and Ceclie Costley are back in the United States and Mink Creek, enjoying their family full time. They have been in Qingdao, China, a coastal city across from Korea. They have enjoyed teaching English there at the Ocean University of China.

            Smoke from the fire near Twin Lakes on the west side of the valley filled our afternoon hours. The beautiful sunset had that muted orange glow surrounded by lavender haze.

           Since I wrote that we have had more smoke, this batch from a raging fire between Blackfoot and Pocatello. We got a little rain today and that has thinned out the smokey haze. It is nice to be able to see our mountains again.

           Not only is our Mink Creek Ballpark busy with reunions of one kind or another most weekends, but some of the parks our residents have get occupied for out of town reunions. We live in a beautiful place.

August 2, 2017

           Just turned the calendar over and it is August already.  It feels like August, but July felt like August too.  What is up with that ?!

          Our raspberries are on, but the anyone picking needs to get to them quicker than the neighborhood deer. Those critters even enjoy the leaves and stalks. The local robins have enjoyed every cherry that saw fit to develop after a late freeze this spring.

           Charles Iverson, son of Kurt and Margret Iverson, was ordained to the office of a teacher in the Mink Creek LDS Ward recently.

            The Young Women's group held their annual Girls' Camp. This year it was at Emigration, under the direction of Melina Jepsen. In their nature walks they learned about various plants and some of the uses of those plants. Even though one young lady described their hiking experience as “a bit grueling”, the girls felt it was a lesson teaching that they can do hard things. Different aspects of this camp helped each person realize their own strengths and those of the others that worked together for a successful camp.

            Congratulations are in order for Chris Egley, son of Jaren and Juli Egley. He has earned his Arrow of Light award from the Order of the Arrow in Cub Scouting.

           Jyllian Christensen, young daughter of Lacey and Kerry Christensen, and an absolute horse devotee, is currently reigning as the Jr. Queen of the Bancroft, Idaho, Rodeo this summer. She is having plenty of horse fun, waving at friends and making new friends.

            Afternoons seem to attract thunderheads and thosse clouds have given our ground some good soakings. The timing varied one morning last week and it poured for nearly an hour not long after breakfast. The farmers in our village are in the middle of their second crop of hay, some freshly mowed, some just raked, others into the bale, so we greet this moisture with varying emotions when it arrives.

          Taking a short ride the other day revealed the tawny glow of big fields of grain nearly ripe, with bright green splotches of alfalfa tucked in among them. Beauty to an agricultural heart. It won't be long before those golden fields will be harvested and trucks are loaded for the haul to storage.

           Our 4H members and leaders are gearing up for the fast-approaching county fair. Horseback rides into the mountains, feeding animals, learning some cooking skills, all things to be crammed into these last few remaining days.

             The sprinklers and water guns are kept in operation. The result is a green valley, contrasting to the dryness of our hillsides, the cheat grass that jabs into our socks and many pricklies that are here and there on the ground as we walk about. Backyard squirrels are dropping bits of pinecones to add litter to the neighborhood. The summer heat is pushing our farmers towards grain harvest before too long.