February 12, 2019

         We have had whiteout in plural this past week. Heavy, wet snow falling off and on for several consecutive days. There was no horizon, it was white from the bottom of the valley up into the heavens, even when the falling flakes had ceased. Lots of water in these storms. It makes for very heavy shoveling of walks and much gratitude for tractors and pickups that have plows for our driveways. Thanks to both the state and county highway crews for keeping our roads open.

         Wayne and Jackie Olsen went to Paradise, UT, for the baby blessing of their 14th grandchild, a baby boy named, Jared Evan Erickson and to celebrate our granddaughter's 6th birthday.. We had a wonderful time despite the bad roads to travel. The following Sunday, January 13th, the Olsens traveled to Morgan, UT, for our grandson, Davis Erickson to be given the Aaronic Priesthood and be ordained a Deacon.

          Pedro Gomez and LD Larkin have had fun with ice fishing this winter. These brothers-in-law have a nifty little shelter that helps break the cold while they dangle those hooks through the hole in the ice. Pedro's son, Austin and Ashlyn Straight are getting involved too. This makes for a cold family outing. They have tried several locations, Blackfoot Reservoir and Chesterfield among them.

          Justin and Cynthia Longhurst have moved to Mink Creek. They are remodeling the yellow home on the Longhurst farm. They made the move a little earlier than was planned when their Utah digs sold quicker than anticipated. Part of their family is their dog Mocha, who is enjoying

freedom in the snow.

         Bob and Claudia Erickson had an active weekend when there was a family gathering here to witness the ordination of Keenan Janke to the office of a priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Janke family of Richfield, UT, drove up to share this event. Danalee and Gene Abernethy of Alpine, UT, were part of the group. Celebrating the birthday of Laural Janke the same day made for perfect timing.

         Devin and Maria Baird Flake and son Jude were celebrating Maria's birthday just a day later, by joining with her mother Lana and Ivan McCracken. The Flakes live in Saratoga Springs, UT. Through their growing up years Maria and Laural had fun with back-to-back birthdays.

           With the heavy snows most our local wildlife are hunkered down. It pays to be alert to their possible whereabouts because there are times when they might claim an old barn or shed and present an unwelcome surprise to the human who enters unexpectedly.

         The deer are out and about, I nearly hit two on my way home from Preston this evening. They are really scratching for food with this deep snow. Earlier I saw 14 head of deer moving up a southern slope that had some bare spots with a little feed, the next day that same slope was snow-covered again. That is the story of the storms moving in and out in our neck of the woods.  Birds are struggling too.  I had a magpie working on a 2nd story wasp nest under the eaves and he was diligent.

          Don't forget Valentine's Day coming up this week.  We have the ability to make someone's day a little nicer with just a kind comment.