March 27, 2018

           The Jimmie and Annabeth Olson duo have been traipsing about from child to child over the last month. First it was a visit to Rigby, ID, spending time with the family of daughter Peggy and Jon Flinders. During the state basketball tournament they combined sports and family going to the Preston High games but staying in Meridian, ID, at the home of daughter Dana and Charlie Petersen and their children. The most recent was a weekend jaunt to Brigham City UT, soaking up more grandparent moments with their son Mike and Anna Olson's bunch.

           Two of our young people participated in the spring concert of the Preston Junior High School orchestra. Jonathan Seamons, son of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, plays the violin, Bracken Christensen, son of Brian Christensen and Lisa Christensen, plays the bass.

            The community gave generously to the recent Boy Scout food drive. Early in the week the Cub Scouts delivered bags to each household and the following Saturday morning the Scouts toured our village seeking the yellow bags, now filled, that had been placed on door steps to be collected.

            The ladies of the Relief Society gathered on a March evening for an activity titled “Out of The Best Books.” Each participant gave an abbreviated book report of one of her favorite books. A list was compiled and now there is a local guide when one is wondering what might make for an interesting read. Light refreshments were enjoyed.

            Eldon and Danita Wilcox reported on their months spent in the Philippines, Quezon City, Mission. Most of their children and grandchildren were able to be here for this event. Four of their daughters live in Utah. Elise and Jeff Hardy and family live in North Ogden, Ami and Tom Fenton and children are in Tooele, Brittany Durrant and her girls live in Bountiful, MaKenzie and Tyson Gunter and their little boy are in Spanish Fork. Brigham and Jenipher Wilcox and children live in Idaho Falls and Jesse and Annavelyn Wilcox are home in Mink Creek.

             Spring is upon us, as is fitting for the end of March, much better than having it arrive in January as seemed very likely. The last few days have brought lots of rain, and a little snow. The dripping off of every structure, of every dry stalk of last years growth, every bare branch – sounds like music. Our underground springs are being refilled, and the creeks are rapidly rising. It is a nice season we are ready to welcome.

            The weather really is crazy. Left home in a heavy snowfall and the snow had been up and down all day---drove two miles, dropping in elevation, and into sunshine and blue skies, no evidence of what had been happening in our little mountain community whatsoever. No green on trees yet, but the lawns are greening up, still pretty wet to start digging around in the dirt—unless you crave wet dirt!

             It is Spring Break this week for our schoolagers and so quite a few families are off doing vacation activities. More about those in future blogs. Go ahead, dream about being in Mexico or Hawaii, then throw another log on the fire so there is warmth in Idaho.

March 20, 2018

           These heavy spring snow storms are adding more than just moisture. Driving in the thick huge flakes is a challenge, day or night. Car windows become covered before a person can make a complete round to clear them. One car during a heavy night storm pulled up under our yard light to clear the windows and it took two circuits before they could move on down the valley.

           The wildlife around us throw in another challenge, in good weather or bad. When the screech of brakes and tires is heard in the dark it makes a person wonder if there will be a deer carcass in the morning, or if it will be a knock on the door with someone needing the phone to report an accident.

          Larry and Lillian Hansen brought family up from Utah for a few days of being home at their place on Bear Creek.

          Kelton and Denise Keller and their daughter Maury of Alpine, UT, spent a weekend with his father, Vernon Keller, and other family members.

         We have some adult runners in this village. Three of them participated in the Ragnar Relay Race in Austin, TX, recently. Melinda Jepsen, Lacey Christensen, and McKenna Jepsen became part of the racing team of Tim Checketts, Melinda's brother. This is a 200 mile race and the teams are m ade up of twelve individual racers. This effort is a challenge in endurance and cooperation along with hours of exercise and teamwork.

          For those of us who raise cattle, this is the season for calving. With the fractious weather during the month of March, the owners need to be on alert twenty-four hours a day. A new calf born in the middle of a snowstorm can come with problems ready made.

           We have made it through the first week of Daylight Savings Time. Adjustments seem to be a bit sluggish this year for both man and beast. Farm chores are now a bit out of sync.

           The returning geese are parading around the ponds and in the fields of Mink Creek. When one drives through Riverdale on the way to town the turkeys are strutting their stuff down there. So glad we don't have as many geese as there are turkeys. To think that they arrived just 25 years ago when the Fish and Game brought in 10 toms and 10 hens. Ben Franklin's favorite bird has really reproduced during those 25 years, there appears to be at least a thousand, just in Mink Creek. And they have spread out considerably, arriving in Riverdale and now they are up our way and over the southeastern hills through Glendale and into Cub River.

           Hope you readers had a good St. Patrick's Day. The last several days have been typical March stuff---5 minutes of blustery snow, then a little rain, 5 minutes of sunshine, some wind, and then a repeat, all day long. Don't plan too much in the way of outdoor activities, flexibility is the key word!

March 13, 2018

           Elder Eldon Wilcox and Sister Danita Wilcox are home after serving the last year and a half in the Philippines, Quezon City, Mission for the LDS Church. It will take some time for them to adjust to the cold of Idaho after being in the warmer climate. Already their has been family events to take them elsewhere. They spent some time down in Spanish Fork, UT, for the blessing of their youngest grandson, Dryden Gunter, son of MaKenzie and Tyson Gunter. Jesse and Annavelyn Wilcox attended this event as well.

           Wynn and Cecelie Costley recently made a trip down to Plain City, UT, to be with the family of their daughter Kate and Eric Drake. There was a special occasion for this visit, son-in-law Eric was being ordained as the new Bishop of their ward.

           A fairly large group of Mink Creek residents have been faithful followers of the Preston High boys' basketball team this winter. Most of them continued to follow the team all the way to the State Championship games in Boise, where the team achieved a three-peat goal of being the 4A champs. The talk of exciting moments is just now, settling back to normal. In the coming days there will be track, baseball and softball games to keep these fans entertained.

            It has been a season for competitions amongst our young people. McKinley Longhust and Hayden Egley are on the Preston High cheerleading squad and part of their endeavors. Davanie Ostler, daughter of Stuart and Alona Ostler, participates in a cheer organization that has been at national finals.

          There are several youth involved with the Cache Valley Ballroom dancing at various age levels: Dallon and Hazen Baird, Jyllian Christensen, Walter Iverson, and three from the Jepsen family, Tara, Ella and Ty.

           Connie and Adam Westenskow came home to celebrate Connie's February birthday with her parents, Karen and Layne Erickson. It is a great tradition to keep, even though the Westenskows have moved from Logan to the Salt Lake City area.

            There has been some beautiful spring days in the last week. Our snow is melting quickly. For all reports we may get some more this coming weekend, but this time of year we know it won't stay long and we need whatever we can get, in whatever form it may come, rain or snow. The lat two days have been 'no jacket' days. At mid-March this is enjoyable, when it that way most of the 'winter', it is a matter of concern.

           Jeff Olson drove down to Utah to help his brother Kevin celebrate his 'getting older' birthday. If we think about this we all have these days, at least once a year.

           Jeff and Julie Workman have been in their Mink Creek home two weekends in a row. The last time they even brought some of their family. We are happy to see them loving this place.

March 7, 2018

            We want to claim two of Preston High School's state wrestlers. Ben Seamons, a senior, came home with the Championship crown for his weight division at 182 pounds. He was defending his title from last year. His brother, David, a sophomore is on the family wrestling path and did well at state with his first visit. Both are sons of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons.  Jeff had been a state champion of wrestling in his high school days at Preston.

           Adam Haws and his sons spent a few days at the Haws Mink Creek home. Living in California and hoping to find snow here, the guys did manage to get in some skiing time at Beaver Resort in Logan Canyon.

           Mary Ann Jepsen has been soaking up St George warmth while keeping up a family tradition. The woman side of their family all got together to enjoy the recent Tour of Homes that takes place each year in St. George. Later, her husband Mike and the family guys arrived where they enjoyed the Rhino Rally, a 95 mile race for dirt bikes in the southern Utah terrain. Mike and Mary Ann threw in some rounds of golf before heading back home.

            A winter vacation in Jamaica sounds like a dream come true. So it was for Wally and Kim Christensen when they flew to Florida and on to the island for a week of relaxation. Due to a rough ocean while they were there their resort canceled any planned water activities, snorkeling and such. Not too disappointed, the Christensens reclined in lounge chairs on the beach, soaked up the sun and indulged in plenty of comfortable reading time, away from the pressures of their normal routines.

            Down from the mountains, a cow moose wandered in to the center of our village. It was seen sauntering down the main highway, headed for who knows, maybe Preston. A red fox was checking out the remains of one of our deer fatalities, hopefully its nearness to the highway won't turn it into another fatality.

           Who would have guessed when the above was written and sent to the Citizen that within the next two days we would have received over a foot of heavy, wet snow!A storm was coming in, of that we were aware, but not that magnitude. We couldn't even see the mountains on either side of our location. This snow was perfect for assembling snowmen, not so perfect for shoveling walks or driveways. It felt like a true winter for over a week. Imagine the enthusiasm of the snowmobilers that spend weekends on our canyon trails.

           If you subscribe to the Citizen newspaper, or live in this vicinity this will be old news, but for my readers that live in far-flung spots I have to include this local news bit.  Our local high school, Preston High, has just been part of the Idaho state sports history.  Our boys basketball team just won the State Championship for the 4A category for the THIRD year in a row! A first in the 4A division, and we are one of the smaller schools of that division.  The team & supporters were greeted back home with an escort from our law-enforcement and cheering at-home fans.

Late, Feb 28 , 2018 post

I am so excited to see more readers, maybe there really is a reason for my continuing with this blog.

           Kim Christensen , her daughters, plus one son-in-law, and her mother enjoyed a “girls'vacation” in sunny California and had ample time at Disneyland. They picked a location in Anaheim just across the street from the famed amusement park and spent 4 lovely days. Kim's mother, Shirley Keller of Cleveland, ID, loved the warmer weather. Angelie Winwardof Garland, UT, and Rebekah and James Juhasz felt like they were kids again.

           Lana and Ivan McCracken were up in Rexburg, ID, to attend the wedding of a granddaughter. Elizabeth Lana Baird is the daughter of Daniel and Heather Baird, and married a young man, Josiah Coates, from Sugar-Salem, ID. Maria and Devin Flake and family drove there for the same occasion from Saratoga Springs, UT, then spent the rest of the weekend with Maria's family here in Mink Creek. Other family members at the wedding were Annette Batchelor of Rio Ranco, NM, Nathan Baird and LaRon and Liesa Bairld with all of their family from Mink Creek.

          The community enjoyed a Valentine Dinner on the very day, February 14^th , in the recreation hall of the LDS meetinghouse. There was a sumptuous menu of mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken, beef, green beans & bacon, a green salad, rolls with butter, all followed by homemade ice cream “snowballs” in a waffle bowl,with topping to fit anyone's fancy. The organizing committee was a frequent chef, Clare Christensen, Glade Larsen, Mike Jepsen, and Kent Beardall and they had the young men set the tables up, all ready for the decorating ladies to arrive. Sherry York was the director of this group with ample help from Linda Christensen, Tammy Beardall, Patti Christensen, Dixie Rasmussen, Mary Ann Jepsen, Kim Christensen, Corinne Larsen, Maureen Moosman and Anna Beth Olson. The rec hall became the “Mink Creek Bistro” with twinkling lights, beautiful Valentine runners, floral bouquets in the colors of the day, a bit of love poetry and bite of chocolate at each place mat. There was a drawing for each centerpiece, that is 8 table's worth, made of a wooden vase of flowers. Entertainment was in the form of sharing conversation. A lovely day, for a lovely night.

            February is also the month for Blue and Gold Banquets with the Cub Scout set. This year's event was a big birthday party, with a menu that appealed to the scouts: pizza, green salad, cake and ice cream. Decorations were confetti and Happy Birthday balloons. Lana McCracken presented a video that featured the history of Cub Scouts. The Webelo boys, with leaders Margret Iverson and Liesa Baird, had games to play for all ages. The attendance tallied up to around 40, including families, boys and leaders. Sharla McKay is our esteemed Cubmaster---er Cubmistress?

            The weather has been cold, and holding, with occasional snow skirmishes. Probably tiring to read  frequent weather comments but this year's winter has been so strange that it is uppermost in our minds. Keeping it cold enough to discourage trees, flowers from bursting into bloom and leaf too early and then getting hit again with a killing freeze. Every so often this sort of thing happens and if it gets two years in a row---well, we don't want the fruit shelves in this community (that still preserves fruit), to be bare.

          It is rather nice to look out and see the lawns and our mountains still covered with snow. The snowmobile bunch are wearing smiles on their faces.  Of course, we will still welcome spring, but would like it in its proper place and time.