May 29, 2019

        We didn't plan on a monsoon season in Mink Creek, but judging from the water received the last few days it is here. The rain comes down so powerfully, so much of it, that it is carving small ditches along the sides of our dirt roads as the water finds it way to the bottom of our valley. Planted crops may be getting washed out of the soil on the sloped fields, in the few areas that are flat the seeds may be drowning. The snow line on our mountains is bouncing around, up and down with each storm.

         Apple blossoms are thick, both wild and domestic They are also taking a pounding with the rain and hail. The golden flowers of the Mules' Ears plants are in abundance on every slope, particularly noticeable in the field above the Mink Creek Cemetery, just in time for Memorial Day, welcoming the family members that come home for a brief visit.

         Marie Keller has returned home to Mink Creek and husband Ben Keller. She has spent the last several months back east, caring for a family friend. She is glad to be home and back among the Mink Creek Ward family.

         The wedding of James Baird to Rebekah Wilmes brought family members home for the occasion. James is the son of LaRon and Liesa Orton Baird. Baird uncles and aunts came to celebrate: Devin and Maria Flake and son Jude were up from Saratoga Springs, UT, Juliana and Blaine Packer and family of Jackson, ID, Brain Baird from the Provo, UT, area, Tammra and Jason Taylor and family of Woods Cross, UT, and Daniel Baird and family from Sugar City, ID. Liesa's parents are serving a mission, but her siblings represented the Orton family with Katie Lund of Herriman, UT, Karen Ziegler of Centerville, Tanya Orton of Iona, ID, and Miles Orton of Preston. The reception took place at Castle Manor in Hyde Park, UT, with three hours of fun,dancing, and visiting.

         This very wet weather has most of our wildlife in seclusion. However, the black birds are enjoying their free rein as they march about, hunting through the wet grass and fields, heads bobbing as they perform their imitation German goose-step.

          Dandelions are in profusion, adding large splashes of yellow color to the local landscape. The current rains only seem to encourage them. Of course they are still considered a weed, but at least they are a cheerful weed, one that a child can easily pick and present as a bouquet to a smiling mother as she recalls doing the same thing in her own life. Not many weeds fall under that classification.

May 22, 2019

       Our farmers have been busy preparing ground and planting. Follow that with the hope of a good harvest that is what keeps them loving what they do, year in year out. The rock picking 'parties', and rolling of the lumpy fields has all been done and it won't be long before irrigation will begin.

         River McKay,daughter of Lin and Sharla McKay is on the move. She has been a student at Utah State University and part of their Outdoor Product Development Program. As a result she has the opportunity to begin work with Backcountry.com, an outdoor product internet distribution company. She will be their new technical designer. The company is located in Park City. River has been working 3 jobs while a student and has a 4.0 GPA. She will finish her degree online, living in Salt Lake City, commuting to Park City.

         Mink Creek has had two young people graduate from college, USU this spring. Nick Christensen, son of Wally and Kim Christensen, majored in computer science. Morgan McKay Curtis, daughter of Paul and Terrie McKay, studied in the field of graphic design.

          Challis Jensen has been enduring the results of a serious injury. He met with an accident while riding his motor bike at the shell pits near Dayton, slicing into a foot. He has had. three surgeries since that time, each one requiring some recovery time. It has been hard being relatively still for a young man who is accustomed to lots pf activity.

           It is time for graduation from high school. This year we have two young ladies, Tara Jepsen and Hayden Egley, and four young men, Walter Iverson, Izac Greene, Jacobi Johnson and Carson Christensen. Best wishes for their futures.

          Jonathan Seamons, son of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, was recently ordained to the office of a teacher in the Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Both sets of Jonathan's grandparents are Mink Creek residents: Scot and Cathy Seamons and Joe and Kathy Jarvis.

           Mothers' Day was recognized in the LDS Ward. The program was tributes to mothers, written by the young men that are serving as missionaries, and of course particularly their own mothers. Elder Samuel Seamons is serving in the Philippines, Legazpi, Mission. Elder Noah Daines, in the Michigan, Lansing, Mission, Elder Matthan Daines, the Georgia, Alabama, Mission, and Elder Walter Iverson, soon to be in the Dominican Republic Mission. Treats of Alvey's candy bars were distributed to all the women within Mink Creek boundaries to celebrate the day. Phones were busy in the afternoon and evening as distant children called home to talk to “Mom.” The sunshine and blue sky smiled from above, a lovely day.

          It has been a soggy few days. When the weatherman told us we would have a week of storms, this time he was spot on. Rain and hail, wind to match. Our network of creeks were settling down but with the recent storms they are back to roaring as they make their way first to Mink Creek, which carries the accumulated waters into the Bear River. This excludes Station Creek which dumps into the Bear on its own.

May 14, 2019

         The days are not overly warm, but rushing waters and blooming flowers still indicate spring. Depending on how far up or down our little valley on may notice daffodils, narcissus, the bright red and yellow tulips, blossoming fruit trees wild and domestic. Some gardens are already planted, some growers still waiting on what is hoped to be the 'final frost.'

        Ty Jepsen, son of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen, was ordained to the office of priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Grady Stansworth, the son of Kaci and Heath Avery, was recently baptized and confirmed a member of the Church.

         Bret and Jody Rasmussen have returned from a trip to Texas. They took their daughter, Cheyenne Lloyd and her new baby to the Shepherd Air Force Base where husband, and new father, Kaden Lloyd is currently stationed.

          Two of our 'in and out' residents have been in their Mink Creek homes recently. Both are Utah located in their daily lives: Nancy and Kevin Alder and Sam and Sylvia Stanger. We look forward to warmer weather when they will stay around longer.

         The community helped Brint and Brittnee Phillips get moved into their home high on the slopes above Strawberry Creek. The family has been an active part of our village, but have been living in Preston while the Mink Creek home was under construction. Many hands in the moving process helped to shorten the labor time and was much appreciated.

          Sherrie and Shane Corbett are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter Brooke. She will be marrying Josh Reichman, a young man from Colorado, this coming June.

          Jyllian Christensen, our 11 year old equestrian, has been crowned the Princess of the War Bonnet Roundup Rodeo, Idahos oldest rodeo. This first daughter of Lacey and Kerry Christensen has always loved horses and most everything connected with being a cowgirl. Her interests are broad and varied, she competes in ballroom dancing, sings, plays the violin and is an avid reader. She loves all things rodeo and is looking forward to this opportunity that has come her way.

         Sharla and Lin McKay spent a weekend in Springville, UT, with their son Payton and Judith Newby, blessing a new baby girl, named Adalind. While there they celebrated Sharla;s birthday with strawberry shortcake, minus candles.

          No warm spring breezes wafting through our community lately. Instead a constant wind, hours on end, carrying a definite chill, but still drying things out as only a wind can.

The season is moving along and most days have been warm, even to the point of not wearing jackets. Everything is beautiful, Mink Creek picture perfect. It warms the soul just to look outdoors. Clean air, clear skies, a spat of rain on occasion. Each fruit tree is blossoming according to their timing. An added bonus is that the turkey marauders have headed to higher ground for the summer, at least it appears so.

May 7, 2019

          It was a beautiful morning for the roadside cleanup project of Mink Creek. All hands were on deck by 8 a.m., the sun was happy to see the activity, and the highway through town was absolutely delirious. It has been a trashy winter along our 'main street.' After the orange bags were filled, all participants met at the LDS Ward for breakfast, nicely prepared for the hungry crew by Clare Christensen and his assistants.

           Last day of April, and big flakes of snow covered our green world with a white blanket. Idaho Spring in the mountains! One wonders how our blooming tulips, daffodils and narcissus feel about this, not to mention the apricot and peach blossoms on our fruit trees. It is all well and good to know that “this too shall pass.” The countryside is filled with the lacy green of leaves just starting to burst on the bare branches of winter. We are a place of many shades of green, a bit behind the lands of the lower valleys.

           Patti and Forrest Christensen used Spring break and then some, for a trip to Florida to check on the lives of some of their children. In their drive of over 5,700 miles they went from winter season of Idaho to spring in Independence, KY, where they spent time with Zane Christensen and his family. Time was spent enjoying Zane's new home and the two grandchildren. Then the Christensens headed south, enjoying the countryside that was leafing out around Lexington, and on to Lake City, FL, where they connected with the parents of a Mink Creek friend, Nelson Coleman. The warmth increased and they landed in Naples, FL, with Patti's daughter Sarah and her family. Naples is situated low on the western side of the peninsula. Feeling like they were now in the tropics they enjoyed the beach, the ocean, tropical fruit, a boat ride in the Gulf of Mexico. After a couple of weeks of moseying about Patti and Forrest retraced their travels, ending up back in not-quite-winter Idaho.

         Eldon and Danita Wilcox are happy to announce the arrival of a baby girl in the family of their daughter MaKenzie and Tyson Gunter. She was born April 18, in Pocatello.

          Sandra Wylie has sold her house, the Aupperlee home of her mother, and has relocated to Rock Springs, WY. Her daughter, Mona, and family live there and are pleased to have Sandy closer.

          For those of you in the far distance, remembering....Foster Reservoir is full already, and the birds that inhabit that area are having a party. Love to see the hawks in their usual warm weather perch as I drive by. The turkeys apparently have taken to higher ground, I call it Turkey Vacation. Our planted crops could sure use a good rain, particularly if they are on dryland fields rather than irrigated.