October 23, 2018

         Mink Creek has had several of its teenagers involved in high school sports programs this fall. Walter Iverson, Andrew Iverson and Stetson Ostler have been on the Varsity football team. Charles Iverson, Bracken Christensen, and Ty Jepsen played with the Freshman team. Emily Longhurst took part in the JV Volleyball program and Hannah Greene worked with the JV Soccer team. Hayden Egley is a tall willowy blond on the Cheer Squad.

         Kelton and Denise Keller were up from Alpine, UT, to check on his dad, Vernon Keller. They got to have a first hand view of the fire blackened hills, some of which are on his ground.

         Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen had a fun fall weekend when Joe and Kate Jepsen and their two little boys came up from Salt Lake. It is always a good time at these grandparents home. Playing in the outdoors of Mink Creek is quite a change from their life in Salt Lake City. Natalie, another granddaughter, who attends USU in Logan joined the bunch and added to the activities.

         Terry and Steve Mainini are happy to have his father, Ted Mainini, finally move in with them. They have wanted him here for years. Ted is from Santa Maria, CA, an area around Ventura where Steve spent his younger days. Welcome to Idaho and Mink Creek.

           Kim and Dianna Keller drove to Logan to witness the baptism of their grandson, Dean Keller. He is the son of Austin and Allison Keller.

          Several deer fatalities have happened on the length of road from Mink Creek to Preston. These bodies are off to the side of the road. There is also the remains of a skunk, it remains on the blacktop and efforts are made to avoid contact, but the odor reminds drivers of its presence. It is hard to ignore a skunk!

          There were lots of chokecherries left on the trees this year, both domestic and wild. This fall the birds are having a heyday eating the dry little orbs still left on the branches. There are times the trees look alive with all the action taking place, limbs bouncing up and down as the birds perch and then take flight with a morsel or two.

          We have been having some late October rains. Several mornings have presented wet lawns and walks, even though it wasn't announced during the night. Today we have been getting dampened, off and on, all the day long. It is that time of year, and in just a week Halloween will be knocking on our doors, in the form of kids in costumes with smiles on their faces. The community is having a Ciderfest the night before and the goblins and ghosts are invited. It will be at our ballpark, weather willing and I will report more on the activity next week.

           Deer hunting season is still upon us. Two young men, dressed in camo, knocked on our door, needing to borrow our phone.  They had expected to be picked up after climbing up the mountain slope on the Bear River side of our  domain and descending down Ant Hollow in the dark, a dim path in the daylight, let alone when the sun has gone down. Connections were made and it was a happy ending.