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.