Mink Creek is a place of echoes, a
valley where sound bounces off and back down. When a neighbor is
using a hammer, or chain saw, others are aware of the activity, or any
other that is similar. A lone motorcycle heading down the main
street can be followed audibly for miles. When a stack of bikers
travels through the roar of the machines slashes the air, back and
forth, until they are well past.
Construction on several homes has
continued to go on during these past winter months. Sounds of
hammers, pounding, even some shouting of instructions, or interesting
comments, go beyond the sites.
Eldon and Danita Wilcox report that
they will soon have water in their home-to-be. They have been living
in the house where Danita grew up while working on their new home.
Those extended family who use the house as a summer bungalow will
soon need that home. Neighbors and friends have contributed some of
the labor and the new Wilcox house is nearing the stage to welcome
occupancy.
Laura Cheney brought a small herd of
cows with her when she moved to Mink Creek. She is in the process of
getting a barn built for these critters. Again, some of the labor
crew lives within miles.
Dean Wilde's home has an imposing
perch on a northern slope above Birch Creek. The view must be
terrific. It is located just west of the entry to our beautiful
cemetery.
Kade Nicholls, who earns his daily
bread working with his brother-in-law, Brady Hensdersen, in his
painting business, has turned his know-how onto his own house. When
the Nichols couple moved in the siding on the house was creamy in
color. Kade has turned it into a pretty green that snuggles right
into their orchard and garden.
Raphael Arnsworth now has a beautiful
deck added to his 'little house' and a partial wrap-around porch.
He seems to have ongoing building projects on his place. He is
putting in 21st Century expectations.
If a person is a resident of Mink
Creek the color of green had best be a favorite color because
everywhere one looks it is green, in one shade or another. This will
only increase for a few more weeks as the season gets firmly rooted
into our slopes. Here and there are splashes of yellow or gold.
Dandelions perk up their saucy heads across a field. The golden color
of the Mule's Ears, often mistaken for sunflowers, slides up the
untended slopes. All of it makes for beautiful surroundings. This is
written to pluck the heart strings of any ex-Crikker who may read
this column. A bit of homesickness is a good thing, especially when
being shut in by the COVID 19.
The irrigation systems up and down the
valley have been up and running. One often hears, “A good rain
wouldn't hurt anybody.” It has been that kind of spring. The
comment must have been heard because we had a couple of quick
cloudbursts in the last few days, and then last night it rained for
the better part of the time. We awoke to snow on our mountaintops
again. Hopefully any infant gardens survived
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