September 17, 2019

        The annual LOTOJA Saturday has been and gone. The weather, cloudy and cold on Friday, brightened up and was in the bikers favor for the race. No snow on the summit of our canyon this year. The riders filled the highway in the morning hours, some singly, some in pairs or small groups, and others in droves, pedaling almost synchronized as they ascend to Copenhagen and beyond.

          With the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Mink Creek ward getting a new Bishopric a couple of months ago, there was also a change in the Elders' Quorum presidency. The president is Clare Christensen, his counselors are Clifford Jensen and Brint Phillips. Miles Erickson is secretary for the organization. The former bishop, Kurt Iverson, has just been called to serve on the Preston North Stake High Council.

          Justin Longhurst was recently ordained to the office of an elder in the priesthood. Family gathered to witness this occasion. His brother Jake and Holly Longhurst and baby Alice drove up from Smithfield, sister McKinley Longhurst came from school at ISU in Pocatello. His mother Candy and sister Emily live here in Mink Creek. Grandparents, Earl and Barbara Craythorn of Firth, ID, attended. Justin's wife, Cynthia, had family visiting as well, her brother Quentin and Nikki Zilles, and her parents, Lori and Ross Zilles, all of Weston. Long standing friends, Bill and Myrna Despain cam up from Preston.

           Kaden Loyd is now stationed at a military base in Japan. His wife, Cheyenne, and baby girl flew over to join him. She is the daughter of Jody and Brett Rasmussen. Cheyenne had her hands full for the trip—besides bags she had baby necessities like a stroller and carrier, plus the babe. It was great that other passengers gave her a helping hand. Japan seems a long distance at the Rasmussen household.

            Kent and ReNae Egley are often on the road, along with other members of the Egley clan. They are following their son Matt Egley in his car racing competitions that has recently gotten underway. Matt has come in with the checkered flag a few times this season. Not to say that this racing life doesn't have some moments when big-time repair is needed. He has a great crew.

           We have had some fierce wind and rain storms this past week. The whipping trees could match up with Harry Potter's tree. Rivulets cut down through the dirt on the sides of driveways and roads as the swift water showed how much force it could produce, leaving behind small canyons. Any fruit near the stage of ripeness in our orchards was flung to the ground, not dropped, but flung, and now smushed and fodder for the wasps and bees.

          With the temperatures following a zigzag pattern lately, it is time to think about those nights which will soon be coming when we need to cover tomato plants, or anything else that might need protection from a freeze. So far I have heard no reports of garden disasters. However, snow has touched the tops of our mountains a couple of times in the last two weeks. No two ways about it, it is time to prepare.