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!