July 11, 2018, what a week!

              With the big day of the 4^th this is a lengthy post. One can hardly talk about July 4^th in the middle of August, it must be now. Please bear that in mind.

             Shout for joy! We have another new family in our boundaries. This is Brint and Brittnee Phillips and their three children Henry, Clayton and Abigail. They come to us from Buckley, WA, and are building a home on our slopes.

            The LDS Ward sustained a new Sunday School Presidency recently. Pedro Gomez is the President with Royce Christensen as his 1^st Counselor and Ivan McCracken as the 2^nd counselor.

          Melissa Colvin, daughter of JoAnn and Drew Ford, flew in from her home in Iowa to be with family for the funeral of JoAnn's mother in Bountiful, UT, and Melissa was able to be here a few days following. She is hopeful of a little longer visit not too far in the future.

           George and Bobby Garr are at home in Mink Creek. Those days in California have gotten too warm and the cool nights of Idaho were beckoning. Their son John, who also has a home in Mink Creek, is glad to have them a little closer for a while.

           Two Mink Creek couple have been traveling abroad recently. Rico Crosland has been planning this trip to Italy with his parents Robert and Phee Crosland for at least a year. The longer Rico planned the more activities he threw into the itinerary. Another son, Mario, joined them for the first two weeks and then he returned. This trip across the pond took them to England, Austria, Italy and in between. They covered 12 countries, in the month plus that they were gone. Beautiful sights, interesting and educational. Imagine biking in Paris, France. Imagine all the German castles, the British Isles in all their greenery. Imagine Robert and Phee, tired and ready to come home, and so they are back. Recuperating but with memories of great things.

           Patti and Forrest Christensen had a lengthy vacation spending time in their favorite spots on earth, Portugal and Spain. The couple takes this trip quite reguarly to visi relatives and friends formed over the years of their traveling. Patti's ancestral roots lead her back to villages in Portugal.

          Thee family of Kent and Tammy Beardall gathered around at the passing of Tammy's mother, Doreen Wells. All of their children were able to attend the services, Michelle Wall and family from Colorado, Shawn and Callie Beardall and children from Spanish Fork, UT, Kyle Beardall of Logan, Heather Beardall and Ty Beardall of Mink Creek and Nicole Denney of California and Mikel and Rebecca Beardall of Preston.

           One might say that July 4^th went off with a bang, its usual style in our village. The cooking crew got an early start including Clare and Linda Christensen and her son , Glade Larsen, Ross and Judy Young, Brent Sharp, Stuart and Stetson Ostler, Kent and Tammy Beardall, Royce and Lorraine Christensen and Jesse Christensen. They were brewing Dutch oven potatoes, chicken, roast beef, tossed salad, western beans, all that went with fresh rolls, followed by a piece of 'birthday ' cake from a beautifully decorated American flag cake. By the end of the day ticket dispenser, Wally Christensen, had tallied 275 partakers of this great meal.

           In the morning hours a plane flew over with a candy drop. The first drop was an announcement as it rattled down the roof of the pavilion and through the nearby trees. The other passes scattered the goodies across the ball diamond and park and the rush was on for those gathering. It was great, thank you, John Kezele. There were all sorts of activities offered: horseshoes, gaga ball, paint ball, games tailored for the younger kids, swimming pool/kick ball and of course the favored water slide in the afternoon.

            A patriotic program began with the raising of the flag by veterans of our village. The audience closely as our newest American citizen, Pedro Gomez, described his path to American citizenship. The crowd retired to the pavilion for a presentation of the veterans that enlightened all on the 13 folds in the flag as it is retired plus the significance of each fold, narrated by Warren Wilde. Following this a swinging musical duo,dubbed the “Keller Sisters' Band” kept the feet thumping with patriotic music from Caysi and Chey Keller, whose ancestral roots go back to Mink Creek's founder, James Morgan Keller.

           Eldon and Danita Wilcox headed up this celebration and kept the enthusiasm high with prizes and interest throughout the day. Decorations enhanced the whole area provided by Sherry York and her assistants, TK Bullock and Brittnee Phillips. Nearly 300 people enjoyed this day together at the beautiful Mink Creek Ballpark.

          A neighborhood deer has discovered the cherry tree in our yard and is visiting regularly. He keeps an eye on the activities within the house through our patio door. I am hoping he gets a belly ache from the green apples that he consumes. But he is beautiful, that lovely color they have this time of year and his antlers in velvet. Living amidst the wild critters has a price, and sometimes it is the fruit and vegetable you are hoping to harvest.