September 19, 2018

          This is a day off of the arrival of the Citizen in your mailboxes, but not totally missed.  We had too much excitement around here with a raging brush fire for my brain to remember the blog.  More about that next week.

         The LOTOJA bicycle race pedaled its way up through our community and canyons on its way to Jackson, WY. There was a great deal of preparation for this race by the organizers. They set up outdoor privies every few miles, had signs of instructions for the bikers, etc. Much litter was left at various locations and our community is scheduling a highway cleanup soon to collect the trash that was tossed in areas not so designated.

         The whole family of Steve and Terry Mainini gathered to take part in the Cow Tag Ride held at Kelly's Ski Resort near Idaho Fall, ID. This is a fundraiser for dirt bike enthusiasts to help maintain the bike trails and keep them open in the state of Idaho. Cow tags are hung at various points along the trail adding to the name of the event. Steve and Terry had relatives from California, Oklahoma, Colorado and Utah enjoying the day with them, to the point that plans are to add it it to the family calendar.

         Steve and Terry Mainini have further reasons for celebrating. They have recently become grandparents with the birth of a beautiful baby girl to their daughter Angelina and Iyar Koren of Eagle Mountain, UT. She is a tiny thing, weighing 6 lb 3 oz, with a lovely head of black hair so similar to her mother's. They have named this little miss Ariella Koren.

          Jill Neitz and her children have returned to their home in Alberta, Canada. They live on a ranch north of Calgary. At the end of recent summers this family travels south to soak up some good grandparent time with Jill's parents, Betty Jo and Glen Jepsen, before their school year begins. Glen and Betty Jo are celebrating the birth of an new granddaughter, the first child of Kyle and StacyJepsen of Dallas, TX. She will be named Alexandra Emery Jepsen and was born August 23^rd, weighing in at 8 lb, 12 oz. Betty Jo was able to go down and enjoy those early days of a new baby in her arms.

            The two oldest daughters of Lacey and Kerry Christensen have ridden their horses to another win, this time at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. Jyllian and their mount Haida received 5^th in equitation. Greenlee and Haida got 2^nd place with the walk/trot competition. Who could resist those beautiful smiles of these young ladies!

           Ivan and Lana McCracken enjoyed a visit from Ivan's brother, Sam and his wife Roberta McCracken. They are from Raymond, Alberta, Canada They were able to stay for nearly a week and during that time did some fun thrift shopping and exchanging of kitchen creations.

           Our colors are changing on the mountainsides. This being a dry summer and fall the reds and oranges that are hoped for are rather muted. Those maples are looking more rusty, but still provide a break in the greens of our pine and junipers. The yellow of the quakies is dull as well, but it all indicates the changing season.