January 29, 2019

          A flock of trumpeter swans were bedded down for a few days on a field near the Bear River, taking a rest in their travels. Some days they appeared as a dozen or so big white lumps in the snowy flatness of the pasture. But when their elegance stretched out there was no mistaking the identity of these beautiful birds. When another storm blew in and then snowmobiles invaded the field the birds decided it was time to move out. Some have returned and all is well. We are pleased they like this area.

          Even the turkeys moved out for a few days with the biggest storm. Perhaps the depth of the snow makes it harder to get around and find food. As things have settled the black gobblers are returning and spend lots of time scratching and pecking at the sides of the roads. A few have met their demise in that location, particularly if they find themselves between guard rails when a truck zooms by.

         Brint and Brittnee Phillips are building a home on our Mink Creek slopes. They come to us from Washington and Brint is employed by Stotz, the local John Deere dealership. Their three children, Clayton, Henry and Abigail are a most welcome addition to our shrinking “small children” population. Brittnee's parents, Jonia and Ken Carlson from Oregon are also becoming part of our community.

          Sandy Wylie has taken a few days off to stay with her daughter, Mona, and her family in Rock Springs, WY. Mona had been visiting in Mink Creek prior to this.

           Brandi and Jake Allred and their three children of West Bountiful, UT, were up for a family gathering at the home of Bret and Jody Rasmussen. Another daughter, Cheyenne and Kaden Lloyd, formerly of Fairview. ID, were there too. At the present time Cheyenne is staying with her parents full-time. Kaden has been called elsewhere by the U.S. Air Force and Cheyenne will be in Mink Creek until his return.

           Sunny, bright, beautiful and cold.That is how it is, but not nearly as cold as the reports of the Midwest. Should I report that Mink Creek is balmy, comparatively speaking?

            I made a check on those swans today and they were not in the field, but might have been just moseying around nearby in the trees bordering the field. My bird knowledge is limited and I have no idea how long they might stay before moving on.

January 22, 2019

         January marches on, not a whole lot of January thaw so far.  Things are slippery on our slopes.

         Johnny and Jeannine Iverson have had visitors in and out, but as the parents of nine children and resulting many grandchildren this is not surprising. The family has enjoyed the snowy hills near Glencoe Road, once they ascend the driveway to the Iverson home.

         JoAnn and Drew Ford were pleased to have all their family home over the recent holidays. It was like a family reunion with cousins getting reacquainted and sharing their lives.

         The community held their annual skiing party at the Beaver Ski Resort up Logan Canyon. Families gather and a variety of ages hit the slopes according to their abilities. For many of our young residents this is the first place that they start a love of skiing. Pot luck food is shared and the participants can grab a bite whenever the mood strikes. This event is a favorite community tradition.

         The family of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen have been vacationing in one of their favorite places. Hawaii is a great place for anyone at this time of frosty weather at home in Idaho.

         The Preston North Stake is into their basketball season. It is happening on Wednesday nights. Jeff Olson is Mink Creek's coach for this year.

         With the new ordination policy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints several young men have recently been ordained. Hazen Baird, the son of LaRon and Liesa Baird, and Conner Iverson, son of Kurt and Margret Iverson were ordained to the office of deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. Another Iverson son, Charles, and Ty Jepsen, son of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen, were ordained to the office of a priest. All were welcomed by their respective quorums.

          Two young ladies were also moved forward in the Young Women organization of the ward. Jyllian Christensen, daughter of Lacey and Kerry Christensen joined the Beehive class and Miranda Chatterton, daughter of Heidi and Eric Chatterton, moved into the Laurel group.

          Kristi and Brett Hall are happy to announce the engagement of their son Tyson to Ashlie Leishman. Ashlie is from Tremonton, UT. The date they have selected is April 6.

          Here is a report on the snow depth up Strawberry Canyon. The  big rotary snowplows get started not far past the cattle guards as you meet the Caribou National Forest sign. So just try guessing how much they are needed up at the summit before heading down the Bear Lake side. Wow, no wonder the snowmobiles are flocking up there!

A cold January 15, 2019

          Weather affects our lives all year long. Farmers are so award of this. Right now we have some in the middle of lambing season for their sheep, calving for the cattle. There is the clearing of snow to access buildings, supplies. This past week our LDS Ward canceled their Sunday meetings when snow overnight filled the roadways from homes to the center of our community. The next morning a blizzard was in progress and schools declared a snow day, fit for hunkering down at home rather than braving the elements. Each day might present an unexpected challenge when one lives in a country of changing seasons.

           Eldon and Danita Wilcox had children and grandchildren keeping things going around their place.. MaKenzie and Tyson Gunter and son drove over from Arimo, ID,  and Brigham and Jenipher Wilcox and children came down from Idaho Falls. The others are all Utah based: Tom and Ami Fenton and their crew of Tooele, Brittany Durrant and her girls of Bountiful and Elise and Jeff Hardy and their family of North Ogden.

            Bret and Jody Rasmussen took their whole family to New York City a few weeks ago. Their main purpose was to spend time with their son Zach who lives in the city, but all had a good time seeing the sights and experiencing a few days in that rather hectic environment. Quite different that Franklin County, Idaho.

          Matt and Haylee Westerberg have been hanging out at his parents home, Terry and Wendy Westerberg, for a bit before moving to a new job in South Carolina. From the hills of Station Creek in the winter to the south will take a bit of adjusting, likely all to the good.

         The home of Steve and Terry Mainini was a fun place during the holidays as Angelina and Iyar Koren and their little girl arrived. The Mainini's son Anthony took a few days off from his winter skiing to join the rest of the crew. Living in Pocatello, Tony is within easy driving distance of lots of ski slopes.

           Bob and Claudia had noise and activities in abundance when three of their children dropped in during the days after Christmas. Their visits barely overlapped. Drew Erickson and children from Tempe, AZ, arrived first, then Carla and Mark Nielsen and boys from American Fork, UT, followed by Laural and Jody Janke and their six children of Richfield, UT. Everyone enjoyed the snow in one way or another.

           Basketball season has started in the Preston North Stake so our youth can add that activity to their schedules if so inclined.

           Enough time has passed since our last storm that our lower hills are showing brush and juniper, with bares pots here and there. The forecast looks encouraging with four days of storm coming up this week. Hopefully this forecast is believable. Our canyons are always full of snowmobiles along with the roar and excitement they produce this time of year. The trail groomers are kept busy.

January 8, 2019

           Jared and Juli Egley and children spent part of their Christmas break in New York City with its extra sparkle for the holidays. They soaked up a performance of the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall,checked out the Empire State Building and the Rockefeller Center and the Statue of Liberty. It was braving frigid cold temperature with the additional humidity from the nearby ocean.

           JR and Elaine Rasmussen and their boys, William and Luke, came up from Riverdale, UT, for Christmas doings with JR's parents, Mary Jean and Larry Rasmussen. Later Terry Carr, daughter of the Rasmussens who now lives in Centerville, UT, was able to spend the long weekend here and helped with putting away of all the Christmas decorations. That is an extra holiday gift most appreciated.

           California lost one couple for the holidays. Adam and Camene Haws and their four children spent their days in snowy Mink Creek at the Haws home. They live in Solvang, CA. Camene's parents, Kim and Richard Morrison of Riverdale, UT, joined them for some family time.

           The holidays attracted Lillian and Larry Hansen and some of their family up from Utah to enjoy winter life in Mink Creek as opposed to the fun summer month visits. Another pair of 'in and out' Mink Creek householder was Jeff and Julie Workman of Stansbury Park, UT.

           Five young men of the community enjoyed three days of a Winter High Adventure recently with a trip to West Yellowstone. For some of them it was the first time they had ridden snowmobiles. They rode through the winter creations and recognized the source of all that beauty. They increased in avalanche awareness, always a good thing in winter mountains. In preparation they had to focus on the goals of the trip and what they might learn from the experience. The three Iverson sons, Charles, Walter and Andrew, Dallon Baird and Austin Corbett, were accompanied by leaders Shane Corbett, Sid Whitehouse, and Bishop Kurt Iverson and their advisers, Lin McKay and Bret Rasmussen, both with years of snowmobiling activities under their belts.

             Marie A. Keller has moved to Pennsylvania. She has been a teacher and nurturer of our young children and will be missed. She has also had a menagerie of pets that are surely aware of her absence as new owners are found.

            Our college age kids have scattered to their various institutions of learning. I may miss a few, but recall seeing River McKay, Clair and Clay Jepsen, Celina and Rico Crosland, Ben Seamons, Brooke Corbett, and McKinley Longhurst.

New Year's Day, 2019

           The Mink Creek community gathered for a Christmas celebration. It was a banquet of roast beef and roast chicken, potato casserole, tossed salad, rolls, with a choice of a variety of desserts. Three long tables stretched the length of the Recreation Hall, beautifully decorated in holiday fashion, greenery, lights and ribbons. A program was presented by the children expressing their thoughts about the Nativity. In such circumstances it was a bit unpredictable, but still enjoyable. After singing a few Christmas carols, the jolly red gent arrived and listened to concerns of the younger set.

          Matthan and Noah Daines, sons of Kim and Samuel Daines, have received their mission calls. Matthan will be serving in the Georgia, Atlanta, Mission and Noah will go to the Michigan, Lansing, Mission. They are currently attending BYU/Idaho in Rexburg and will enter the MTC in February.

         The song “It's Always Fun When Grandpa Comes” can have its lyrics reversed. Fun for Grandpa with the kids come home. This was the case in several Mink Creek homes just lately. Jake and RaNette Free and their children came over from Pinedale, WY, to enjoy Christmas with his parents, Richard and Vickie Free. Connie and Adam Westenskow of Woods Cross, UT, spent the holiday with her parents, Layne and Karen Erickson and the family of Paul and Terry McKay.Bryan and Shannon Erickson and sons, Seth and Jesse all of Wellsville. UT, joined the group for Christmas Eve fun. Eric and Rexanne Nielsen drove up to listen to their daughter, April Rasmussen, perform a flute solo during the LDS Christmas program.

          Ben Keller traveled to Pocatello recently for the blessing on a new grandchild, the son of Becky and Josh Oliverson. He was given the name of Carlyle Oliverson. Other family members witnessing the event were Dustin and Doug Ayotte who drove up from Utah.

          Our snow may not be any great depth yet, but it is winter in Mink Creek. With both snow and ice outdoor activities can be both fun and dangerous. We also have the wildlife population who are also dealing with winter and its challenges. The ever present turkeys, the deer, the raccoons, pheasants, owls, ducks ---not all birds fly south for the winter.

         Happy New Year, remember to put the correct year on any documents you might need to write in the next while.  It always takes some time to shuck the past year and be settled on the new one in those instances. I assume I am not alone.

         Snow, and wind, and temperatures below zero. Enough wind for drifting, but could be worse. One report was -10, but that isn't official. It is fitting for the first day of January.

          Most of the holiday visitors to our village have headed home, to jobs or to school tomorrow. The college-age set, who don't really qualify as visitors, are still hanging around since most don't have to be back in their classes until January 7, some a bit later than that.