December 14, 2021

 

Dana and Charlie Petersen and their family drove down from Meridian, ID, just before the holiday to spend some time with her parents, Jimmie and Anna Beth Olson. Then they headed to Rigby, along with Mike and Anna Olson’s family of Brigham City, UT. The majority of the Olson family met together for Thanksgiving at the home of Peggy and Jon Flinders in Rigby, ID. Jimmie and Anna Beth had previous commitment to be in St. George over the holidays with their son Jerry and Christine Olson and family. This Olson bunch had good weather fun touring some of the national parks located in southern Utah.

Has anyone noticed the beautiful swans that have been visiting the northern end of the county? The flocks have been seen in fields near Banida and Winder, and, appropriately on the Swan Valley lake.

Walter Iverson, now a student at BYU in Provo, UT, and Johnny Iverson, his wife Gabby and their daughter Emelia from Rexburg, ID, came home to be with Kurt and Margret Iverson over Thanksgiving. Grandparents, Jeannine and Johnny Iverson were there. Kurt had also invited a niece, Erica and Steve Mannowitz and their 5 children from Newton, UT, to spend the day.

Maria and Devin Flake and son Jude were up from Orem, UT, taking in these last few days of warm fall at the farm. Maria’s mother is Lana Baird McCracken and the Flake family love to come to Lana and Ivan’s place for lots of grandparenting. Joining them for a belated Thanksgiving were Daniel and Heather Baird and family, Savannah and Danny Wells and baby Damien, and Joshua Coats, all of Sugar City. LaRon and Liesa Baird’s family, living across the road, were part of the gathering.

Thanksgiving meant a household of 20 at the home of Bob and Claudia Erickson. Dinner was served in the garage, swept and warmed. Overnight guests were the Jay and Kristin Collins family from Lakeview, OR, and the Jody and Laural Janke family from Rexburg. Day-only arrivals were Jarin and Brynlee McKague of Idaho Falls, Carla and Mark Nielsen family of American Fork, UT, and Ethan McKague of Provo, UT.

Our slopes are getting several inches of the white stuff tonight. The weatherman had said this should happen and we are happy to see it delivered. Earlier the wind was sweeping through bringing the snow behind it. It is time to hunker down and find a good read. It is a challenge to keep the TV discs swept clear in order to watch whatever might be on during the storm. 

December 7, 2021

 

The Primary organization furnished the program for our Sacrament Meeting. It was delightful, even though we only have nine children active in the group. Their songs were beautiful, their parts well delivered. Each child chose a favorite song and then explained why that was their favorite. The Primary president is Brittnee Phillips with Terrie McKay, the chorister and Linda Christensen playing the piano.

Carol Gaines Wilkinson, mother of Wendy Currie of Mink Creek, was stricken with COVID-19 the first part of November. She was transferred by life-flight to the Veterans Hospital in Boise, ID. She passed away Nov. 15, in Boise. Her funeral was held in the Mink Creek Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on November 27, 2021.

Armando Crosland has been enjoying a two week visit with his family members who live in this area. With his occupation in Washington DC taking him to various places around the world it is a treat to be able to come home to Idaho for this length of time.

Bishop Paul and Terrie McKay had a houseful for Thanksgiving. Their son Cody and Kevyn McKay were up from their home in Queen Creek, AZ, another son, Andy up from Logan and Morgan and Eli Curtis also Logan. Add Connie and Adam Westenskow of Logan and Layne and Karen Erickson, Terrie’s parents and the McKay’s had a full house.

Clifford and LaDawn Jensen were happy to have daughter Mercedes Mackelprang home for a few days around the holiday. Mercedes lives in Statesboro, GA, and it has been four long years since her last visit home.

It is a time for celebration. Angelo Crosland has graduated from Bridgerland Applied Technology College in the field of welding. He is looking forward to a job using these talents.

Jodi Free Loveday passed away unexpectedly at her home in Logan. She is the daughter of Richard and Vickie Free and Wayne and Susan Ivison. There was a graveside service for family and friends at the cemetery in Wellington, UT.

We are expecting some snow. Hoping for it! Farming country, growing country, needs good moisture bearing winters. It seems so strange to go into the month of December with brown hills and mountains and sunny skies, all the color of fall, not the changes that the winter months bring. We do have the longer hours of darkness to remind us that the holiday of Christmas is less than 3 weeks away. Tonight our community Christmas tree will be decorated in our only public building, the LDS Church meetinghouse.

November 30, 2021

 "Thirty days hath September, April, June and November"---and here we are in 2021.

Jesse and Celina Groesbeck spent a week in Hawaii, just having fun. The ocean, sightseeing, the gentle warmth, the beaches, just beauty of this wonderful vacation place, perfect for a break from the rigors of new parenthood.

Hunting season has wrapped up and there are many happy faces and photos to prove the success of the pursuit. The thought of full freezers of meat is also comforting in this time of escalating grocery prices. Our local deer are back to grazing leisurely in the fields and roaming around at all hours.

Michael and Mar Ann Jepsen headed to St. George, UT, for some family time with children over the Thanksgiving holiday. With their families in Utah and California, St. George is a central spot from all directions. Also it had beautiful golf courses, always a magnet for the Jepsens.

The home of Raphael Arnsworth was full of good food and good people. The good reviews of his culinary efforts has not gone unnoticed. Relatives and non-relatives enjoyed the hospitality of Raphael and ReNae over the holiday, along with the beautiful scenery of Mink Creek.

Claudia Erickson took a trip to Richfield, UT, with Jody and Laural Janke, now of Rexburg. Their son, Keenan, was performing in the Richfield High School’s musical, “Oklahoma” in the role of Will with its production this past weekend.

Nicole Denny and children were down from Rexburg for a visit with her parents, Tammy and Kent Beardall. The warm weather made for fun outdoor activities.

As you read above I was out of town last week on my usual blog day. It was great and I did play the role of the proud grandmother for Keenan’s job well done. Kicking up one’s heels in cowboy boots is not an easy task.

It may be the last day of November but our lawns are still green. Outdoor vehicles have frosty windows first thing in the mornings. It is certainly jacket-wearing weather, but we are still hoping for some good storms to arrive. There seems to be a cold-bug making the rounds and it is helping us to consider getting the flu and booster shots that are available.

November 16, 2021

 

The parents of little Desmond Wilcox had a birthday party when he turned one recently., and the whole community was invited to share in the fun. The community involvement is traditional in the Philippines,. His father, Jesse Wilcox, served an LDS mission to those islands, and Annavelyn, his mother, is Filipino. Annavelyn’s sister, Haydee and her husband Keith Moore came up from Casa Grande, AZ, for this event. The family had planned to do the celebrating outdoors but the day turned rainy and cold. The Filipino food smelled wonderful and the flavor matched the aroma. Mink Creek has a number of residents who have spent years in the Philippines.

The Syringa Camp of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers met this month at the home of Ramona Lower-Hatchett. This camp have members who live in Mink Creek and Preston. They enjoyed a light lunch and Ramona shared a story about her ancestor, Patty Bartlett Sessions. Mary Ann Jepsen is he Captain of Syringa Camp.

The Jared & Juli Egley family, Hayden, Bryce, Chris and Ryan, plus Jared’s mother, ReNae Egley were down in St. George for some southern Utah relaxation along with bike racing. Bryce rides with the Green Canyon High School team and this was the State Finals of Utah high schools mountain bike competitions. While there they enjoyed a birthday party for Ryan at a fun park. It was a few days of family fun with pickleball, races, sightseeing and just being together.

Reed Swann took a hunting trip to the Cheyenne River reservation in South Dakota. He and Mark Mitchell, a friend from California, traveled there and met Mark's son, Brett, who lives in Kansas. The group were pheasant hunting. On their return trip they stopped at the Martin’s Cove Visitor Center on the Sweetwater River west of Casper, WY.

For me, a sure sign of approaching winter season is that of crickets making their way indoors. It seems like there have been more than usual. Hopefully that is an indication of the type of winter we need to replace dwindling water sources.

Bugs, bugs, I do understand that they are seeking protection, warmth for the winter, but could they try the barn or the woodshed instead of the house! Everyone is dealing with this, hoping that a good hard freeze would solve some of this problem, particularly for the box elder bugs, so persistent, in all rooms. Earwigs have gone dormant for the most part, a big beetle of one kind or another shows up, spiders, but the box elder bugs are on everyone’s “hit list.” Not Mink Creek news exactly, but a top mental priority for the author at this time. Wonder what plagues (other than COVID) some of you readers living in other places have at this season.

November 9, 2021

 A Christensen Cousin’s Reunion seemed like old home week when this group got together. A few live here in Mink Creek: Clare and Linda Christensen, Royce and Lorraine Christensen, Eldon and Danita C. Wilcox, Forrest and Patti Christensen., Lee and Sandra Christensen. Clare’s twin sister,Clarice C. Feichko, came up from Centerville, UT. Verneal Lowry is from Tooele, UT. Brad and RaOne C. Stuart have homes in both Mink Creek and Bountiful, UT, Jay and Joyce Christensen are located in Pocatello. Vance Christensen and Sonja C. and Melvin Rae are now in Vernal, UT. Two cousins live in Franklin County, DeVerl Christensen in Dayton and Jeanette Christensen in Preston. Carolyn Younger came over from Caldwell, ID. Three came up from Utah’s Davis county, Marlene Elgin, DeAnn Childs and Roy Christensen. More cousins were unable to come due to conflicting dates. The connecting links for this bunch are their fathers, Allen, Lloyd, Jewel, and Carl Christensen, all Mink Creek residents from days gone by. The cousins are planning to make this an annual event.

River and Hunter Morgan are beginning a new chapter in their lives, locating in St. George, UT, buying a house, settling in. They were here staying with her parents, Lin and Sharla McKay, for some fall Mink Creek fun.

Paul and Lisa Auger had the fun of a grandkid visit. Two grandsons, Derek and Draven Owens, spent some time at the Augers while their parents were at at survival course in Nevada. The young men were a great help during this cleanup time of year.

Our village held a Halloween party on Halloween Eve at the ballpark where there could be a bonfire. There were inviting activities: a fishpond with prizes, doughnuts on a string for those willing to get a little sticky, a cakewalk and a costume parade. The dinner for the evening was a baked potato bar with the fixings: chili, cheese, broccoli, bacon bits, sour cream, and of course butter and seasonings. Jonia Jackson’s sister, Virginia Burbank was visiting, and attracted lots of speculation in her witch costume—was she the “real deal?” “Jini” resides in Riverton , UT. (picture of witch)

Our fall colors are lasting. Such great golden leaves, just now starting to drop the blanket of gold, brown and green at our feet. What a great backdrop of blue skies the last few days! The moisture received seems to just brighten the environment and keep things looking clean and sparkling.

That last paragraph was changed overnight. A night and day of rain has sogged every inch and sodden leaves are off the branches and making for slick footing in our yards. It has been cold with a low cloud ceiling, likely hiding snow covered mountain peaks above.

November 2, 2021

 

The rainy weather, though not particularly comfortable for the hunter, has helped some of our residents bag their deer for this season. Several of our youth have experienced their first successful hunt and their smiles reflect that feeling of accomplishment. There will be stories to tell, to remember.

Michael and Mary Ann Jepsen have been called to serve in the branch presidency of the Legacy 3^rd Branch. Mike will serve as the 2^nd counselor to President Jay Jensen, Mary Ann is to be the 2^nd counselor to the Relief Society president, Nancy G. Jensen.

Angelo Crosland, son of Robert and Phee Crosland, and Karissa Weekes were married last month in Pocatello, ID. Karissa is from Archer, ID, the daughter of Suzanne and Jody Weekes, and is now teaching at Preston’s Pioneer Elementary. Angelo’s brother, Marco Crosland and his wife Christina were able to come from Texas with their family to attend this event. Mario and Amanda Crosland of Smithfield, UT, Celina and Jesse Groesbeck and baby Oakley of Mink Creek, Giovanni and Kristina Crosland and family of Franklin, and Rico Crosland of Mink Creek/ Rexburg (depending on the season), were all able to be there, a fairly big percentage of Angelo’s immediate family. Robert and Phee and Karissa’s parents held a feast for over 100 people following the ceremony as the families celebrated the occasion.

Several days of rain were enough to wash the blood stains that have been on our Highway 35 for at least a month, evidence of collisions with roaming deer as vehicles speed through our village during the dark night hours.

Mink Creek has to recognize the birthday of one of its daughters, although she now lives just south of our village boundary, in Riverdale. Arda Keller Smith is 98 years young, achieving that distinction on October 28, 2021. Even now, with family help, she has a beautiful yard and home, the envy of many. She is an amazing lady and has a memory bank full of the experiences she has had during the last century. She is the wife of the late Theo Smith, the mother of Sam Smith, LaDawn Hansen, Wendy Westerberg, and Kelleen Smith. Happy Birthday, Arda, another one celebrated by the many people she has influenced over the years.

We are looking forward to the end of Daylight Savings Time. For now it is mighty dark when the school bus comes our way in the mornings. The resident turkeys are still slumbering in their night-time tree perches.

Pre-Halloween, 2021

 

What a weather mix of days this Fall season has been so far. Heavy wet snow, buckets of rain, beautiful colors in the leaves of the trees as they decide to call it quits and get a rest, strong winds threatening branches heavy with snow. It continues: frequent frosty mornings, lovely blue skies. Our community has several residents who are dedicated hikers and they are making the most of these last hiking days that are available.

Florida has had quite a few visitors from Mink Creek. Richard and Vicki Free and Eldon and Danita Wilcox have closed out their summer travels with some balmy days in Florida. They connected with Sid and Lisa Whitehouse in Orlando and enjoyed the famous Myrtle Beach and the Kennedy Space Center.

The family of Phee and Robert Crosland put together a family reunion, taking place in Florida. Not all of their children, spouses and grandchildren were able to make it, but those that did enjoyed having a few days together. In these days of COVID and restrictions challenges inevitably arise. Part of the event was a Caribbean Cruise. Another was the adventure of Disney World. When the reunion wrapped up their son Armando Crosland headed north to his job in Washington, DC and the rest of the group made their flights to their homes in the western part of the nation.

Some members of the Mink Creek Ward filled an assignment at the Canning Center in Ogden, UT. Twelve workers, divided into two shifts. One group served in the production line of cream of mushroom soup and the other crew packaged beef chunks from the previous day’s production. Those on the crews were Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen, Jeff Olson, Drew Ford, Jonia Jackson, Kim Christensen, Linda and Clare Christensen, Corinne and Glade Larsen, Bishop Paul McKay, and Terry Westerberg. They put in hours from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and it was a full day.

After several days of rainfall our world looked gorgeous today. Bright sunshine on the valley floor, purple storm clouds on the horizons just accented the golden colors of fall and the brightness of the revitalized greens from the big drink of water they have just received. It was a strong reminder of how lovely our surroundings are and that we have the privilege of living in such a place. If we haven’t been filling up on feelings of gratitude in days past, remember that the Thanksgiving month arrives with the next flip of the calendar.

The community Halloween party is scheduled as an outdoor event and the forecast of a drier weekend is a welcome one. Happy, fun, Halloween!

October 19, 2021

 

The new baby girl of Celina and Jesse Groesbeck was named and given a blessing in the Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was given the name of Oakley Groesbeck and family members gathered to witness the event. Grandparents are Robert and Phee Crosland of Mink Creek, aunts and uncles: Angelo and Carissa Crosland of Preston, Dr. Giovanni Crosland and two of his children of Franklin, Rico Crosland of Rexburg, Malia Kunz and her children of Rigby, Mario and Amanda Crosland of Smithfield, UT. Jesse’s sister, Ashlye and Chris Sorensen came over from Lyman, WY, and a friend, Palmer Edholme drove from Logan.

Dallon Baird worked for summer employment in the area around Chicago, IL, in a pest control program. He is now home with his family, LaRon and Liesa Baird, and is helping Terry and LeAnn Orton, his maternal grandparents, in the construction of a home now that they have returned from serving a mission.

On a beautiful fall day Bryan Erickson was up from Wellsville, UT, to check on his parents, Layne and Karen Erickson. The colors of the Mink Creek mountainsides compared favorably to those near Wellsville.

Lana and Ivan McCracken traveled to Rexburg, ID, to attend the blessing of her new great grandson, whose parents are Daniel and Savannah Wells. Savannah is the daughter of Daniel and Heather Baird. The name chosen for the baby is Damion Leonidas Wells.

When the heavy snowfall came the night of Oct 11, our citizens woke up feeling glad to have cleared off their gardens, picked the fruit from the orchards, pressed the apples into jugs of cider, piled the squash and hoped the covered tomatoes were going to make it through the drop of temperature. The mountain tops were covered with white, and that color stretched down to the bottom of the valley, yards and driveways included in the sweep of winter weather.

With the forecast warning of dropping temperatures tonight, some hours of rain last night, the community has been battening down the hatches –again. It seems there is always a thing or two more to be done as the weather marches closer to delivering winter. A tarp to be thrown, a field to be plowed so that the moisture can penetrate when it comes, a bale of hay or straw still out in the field. One friend knew it was time to get her wood box filled, even if the cold isn’t here to stay. Life in a farming village of southeast Idaho!

October 12, 2021

 Brrrr!  today let us know that the seasons are changing. We have had our first snow storm of the winter season for 2021. It arrived the night of Oct. 11 after some heavy raining two days prior. We knew before going to bed that the morning would be one covered in white. One resident whose home is in central Mink Creek measured the white blanket at his place as being 4 inches deep. We are hoping for some warmth to return.

It was time for our annual community ATV ride, this year taking place in the mountains west of Station Creek. There were a mix of vehicles that arrived for the ride, starting at 1pm from the barn buildings at the Jimmie Olson place. All were motorized: 4-wheelers, Razors, single rides, double rides, and a variety of ages participating. They were organized into three groups. The countryside has undergone the change to fall leaves so that too was a mix---yellows, oranges, reds, evergreens, limes. It was a beautiful day for a wonderful ride and view at the top that takes in all of Franklin County. When all was said and done, servings of luscious cake were offered back at the Olson farmyard.

The family of Kerry and Lacey Christensen took a trip to Pendleton, OR, for the week of the Pendleton Roundup Rodeo. They were there in support of the Christensen daughters, Jyllian and Greenlee who have been active as rodeo princesses in this corner of Idaho this past summer.

Mink Creek has three new residents, Kenneth and Jeanie Ross and their daughter Lindsey Kay Ross. They have purchased the house owned by Richard Free, formerly occupied by Jeff Knudson. This new family comes to us from Eagle Mountain, UT.

The beautiful fall colors of our valley have brought several visitors to enjoy memories of their past years in this village. Devin and Marie Baird and son Jude of Orem, UT, spent some days with her mother Lana and Ivan McCracken. Brad and RaOne Stuart of Bountiful, UT, took some time at their home on Mink Creek’s shores. Bruce and Shauna Crane of Logan, UT, are frequent visitors in Mink Creek, one of their favorite places on the entire globe. Jeff and Julie Workman, once in Mink Creek have a hard time returning to their home in Stansbury Park, UT. Larry and Lillian Hansen enjoyed family members visiting at their Bear Creek home. I am sure there are others I have missed so please accept apologies.

October 5, 2021

 

With hearts full of gratitude for the produce raised this past summer, members of the Relief Society held their own version of a Farmer’s Market activity at the Mink Creek ballpark. Kathy Jarvis directed the event and had assists from several others: Jonia Jackson gave tastes and information for using coconut oil in making popcorn. April Rasmussen shared pieces of her goat milk soap , told about the making of it, and brought a pair of baby goats as accessories. Brittnee Phillips and Kathy Roy combined efforts on making use of elderberries for both health and goodies, sharing elderberry caramels. Jasmine Erickson had recipes for various vegetable dishes, while her mother, Laurel Wilde showed how to use herbs, both wild and domestic, for health benefits. Those attending brought excess produce from their gardens to share as well as ideas and recipes on the preserving of the bounties of our summer’s plantings and harvesting. There were handouts for health from A to Z (zucchini). Light refreshments went along with a tasting table.

With the cold temperatures at night there are still hopes of continued harvest for tomato plants, squash, and late blooming flowers as we cover those plants each evening. It is a yearly ritual to cling to the great tastes of ‘homegrown’ every fall.

Danita and Eldon Wilcox are very excited to announce that they have a new mission call! They will be serving in the New York and Pennsylvania Historic Sites Mission starting next March. They have invited us all to come visit them while they are serving.

Ken and Loren Nash have made a fall visit to the beauties of Mink Creek as the year moves along. They have ‘double residency’, being part of the Haws family, in California and Idaho.

The admonition of “Watch out for deer” as people drive through our village is one worth heeding. Lately we have had several instances of deer being hit during the night as vehicles go barreling down or up Highway 36. The evidence for blood all over the pavement and mutilated flesh to the side tells at least a portion of the incident. So, yes, when one hears that familiar “Watch out for deer,” it isn’t just a habitual comment. This is wildlife country---deer, elk fox, moose, raccoons, cougars, coyotes, possible wolves, even bear, live in our valley.

September 29, 2021

 The month is nearly gone.  Remember the rhyme, "30 days hath September, April, June....." So here we are tomorrow wraps up the month.

Summer is family time in our village. Lin and Sharla McKay have seen River and Hunter Morgan of Centerville, UT, on several weekends. Josh and Sarah Newby with Gage, Nash and Kace, came up from Spanish Fork, UT. Payton and Judith Newby and their four, Xander, Declan, Adalind and Ryland of Springville, UT, matched visits on a weekend or two so the cousins could get together and enjoy family camping, and rides on motorcycle and 4-wheelers.

Davis Collins, son of Jay and Kristin Collins of Lakeview, OR, is staying at his grandparents’ home in Mink Creek, Bob and Claudia Erickson. He graduated from BYU/Idaho in Rexburg, loved the Idaho lifestyle, and is now hoping to send down some roots of his own in this area.

JoAnn and Drew Ford celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary this summer in July, having missed the celebration last year due to the COVID restrictions. Nearly all of their five children, with spouses and grandchildren were able to come to Mink Creek for this occasion. The states of Iowa, Utah, and Iowa were well represented. Such fun and reconnecting on all levels took place, particularly with the cousins.

With the recent passing of Kent Egley, all of the Egley family have been home, gathering for the funeral and support of Kent and ReNae’s family. Kent has three brothers: Carl and Carol Egley now from Ulysses, KS, still farming but with huge fields on flat ground after being raised on the Mink Creek mountain slopes. Larry and Bunny Egley from West Glacier, MT, where they have a travelers’ resort near Glacier Park, Lynn and Shelley Egley from Benson, UT, just across the Idaho border. These, plus children and grandchildren in each family, coming from many directions, gave support in this trying time.

News of the death of Sandra Wylie was reported this week by her daughter, Mona. Sandy is the daughter of Marie Aupperlee and came from Texas to visit her mother here in Mink Creek. After Marie’s passing Sandy lived here for several years. A few years ago she moved to Rock Springs, WY, to be closer Mona and her family. Sandy suffered from health issues over this time and recently was dealing with an infection, then COVID-19 and pneumonia developed. She passed away on Sept. 22, 2021, after 10 days of hospitalization.

It is time to be homesick if you have Mink Creek in your family tree somewhere. This is a beautiful fall and each day it seems to get a bit better. The colors, oh my, the colors—the dark of our evergreens on the mountainsides just accents the reds of the maples as the trees have turned. Just turn on your memories of a vibrant fall season and imagine being home. The water sources however are at a small trickle as they make their way down to the main stream, our namesake.

Sept 22, 2021, First day of Autumn

 

Sherrie Corbett and Candy Longhurst are enjoying the fall weather while hiking various trails. Not all of them are nearby. Recently they were hiking on mountains in Colorado. This one was near Manitou Springs, with beautiful scenery that goes along with many of our nation’s National Forests.

The Christensen girls, Cassidy, Greenlee and Jyllian, have been exhibiting their equestrian skills at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. Cassidy and Greenlee came home with 1^st place ribbons for Walking and Trotting, and Western Pleasure in their age divisions. Jyllian placed 4^th in her age division of Western Pleasure. These young horsewomen are the daughters of Lacey and Kerry Christensen

George Garr, turned 90 years old on the 27^th of August. He and his wife, Bobbi had a nice birthday party at their son John’s home. About 40 friends and relatives celebrated with them. George reported there was great food and lots of dancing. The Garrs live in Lakewood, CA, and have had a home in Mink Creek for many years.

Eldon and Danita Wilcox have a new grandchild. MaKenzie and Tyson Gunter of Arimo, ID, brought a new little girl, Jillian Rae Gunter, into the world on September 9, 2021 in Pocatello. This little one has a fan club already with her ‘big’ brother and sister.

We have had some cloudbursts of rain lately, short in length but furious while it lasted. The winds lashing, trees whipping about like Harry Potter’s Whomping Willow. Occasionally there are tree limbs ripped off in the process, along with scattered pine cones and evacuated bird nests.

When the LoToJa bike riders made their annual way through our community last weekend some of the bike riders got a thorough dousing during a heavy rain storm. Rain jackets covered up their tag numbers, they had water streaming down themselves and the bikes, but the sogginess didn’t seem to deter these determined individuals much. A person couldn’t help but wonder what weather might they find, north up the canyon, when they got to Copenhagen at the top, or to Emigration.

It is harvest time for the potato growers around here. Gem Valley is a busy place right now, full of trucks and equipment in their fields. We took a beautiful drive over Maple Grove Road with the leaves changing colors. The scenery was great, but the road was lots of bumps and jiggles.

With a couple of freezing night temperatures we have to agree with the calendar that Fall is officially here.

September 15, 2021

 

The End of Summer event for the Mink Creek community was a night themed around cowboys and the agricultural way of life. It took place at the Mink Creek Ballpark, there were plenty of western hats, cowboy boots and shirts with a western cut in evidence. Corrine Larsen had decorated the stage area with Cowboy posters, hay bales and saddles. Items on the menu were Tri-tip beef and chicken, Dutch-oven potatoes and BBQ beans, rolls, with a bit of rice pilaf if desired. Choice of beverages were lemonade, chokecherry lemonade and Mink Creek water. Traditional ice cream sandwiches were dessert. The reported fixing committee was Clare Christensen, Stuart Ostler, Jody Rasmussen and Terrie McKay, with the rolls from an outside source, Gerry Crookston of Preston.

After the feast the program commenced featuring Johnny Iverson with some cowboy poetry, then Billy Wall of Morgan, UT, with guitar and western songs and the main event being Kristine Lloyd, a multi-talented young lady—guitar, songs, gun spinning, roping exhibition and some bullwhip cracking. Her background was a mix of Bear Lake country and Heber Valley, UT, and she related well to her audience of about a hundred people.

The Young Women enjoyed an old-fashioned tea-party at the home of Claudia and Bob Erickson. The objective was to become acquainted with Claudia’s vintage hat collection as part of the ‘way things were, back when,’ and after trying on a few chapeaus, each chose one to wear while partaking of a plate of cucumber sandwiches, English scones and a fresh fruit salad, sipping from dainty crystal cups filled with a fruit punch. Emma Rasmussen had chosen this occasion and her mother, April Rasmussen, and leaders Jody Rasmussen and Amy Baldwin provided the refreshments.

Robert and Elizabeth Hawkes are announcing the birth of a grandson. He made his entry into this world on August 28. He is the first son of Lauryn and Zach Robb, of Gooding, ID, and is named Owen Levi Robb.

Members of the Jimmie and Anna Beth Olson family gathered in Meridian, ID, to enjoy remarks by their grandson, Charles James Peterson, the son of Charles and Dana Olson Peterson. C.J. will shortly be leaving Idaho to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Carolina.

It has been a somber week with another funeral, this time for Kent Egley, a gentleman much esteemed throughout this corner of our state. The enemy was pancreatic cancer. More will be said in a column to come, but his passing is so on all of our minds that I could not postpone mentioning it is this post. It was a beautiful service, tears and all.

The community survived another LoToJa bike race. As the riders rode through this year it was cold, with some cross winds and rain. I am always amazed at their dedication to complete this challenge, most of them riding simply to beat their own time record from a previous performance.

September 7, 2021

 

 Hope you had a good Labor Day weekend. This is another of those holiday weekends when the publisher of The Preston Citizen (and other small town papers in our corner of the world) decides not to have a weekly edition. So, those of you who are blog readers won’t get the usual recounting of people’s activities by names, places.

It is the time for the last picking of  late green beans, for making pickles, including pickled beets, some even trying pickled eggs. Raccoons are invading the corn patches in our gardens so residents are trying to beat the critters to the ears. If one has strawberries or raspberries that pick up again in the fall, that is one more thing to add to the list of harvest activities. Not quite time for winter apples, but the late summer ones are falling from the branches.  Just made a tasty apple cake tonight with some of my Wealthy apples, an old tree that has been on our farm longer than I have, and that is a long time.  

Rain showers are unpredictable and seem likely to descend when the last crop of alfalfa has been mowed and is waiting to dry in the windrow. This third crop has been looking promising in irrigated fields, but to get it all the way from growth into the bale and barn is always a challenge. The fall monsoon weather moves in just at the peak of readiness with the hay.  The beautiful heads of fall grains are being swept off the straw with the blades of the combines, loaded  to trucks from the full bins and hauled to storage, either a farm silo or the mill down in town.  It is a good time of year.  Unless the machinery breads down and frustration rears its ugly head. 

For the readers who live some distance away, yes, our skies are still filled with the smoke from the California fires. Some days it is more dense than others and we are grateful for shifts in weather that clear the smoke out even for just a day. Eyes and lungs are all feeling the effects of the smoky air.

August 31, 2021

 

Jeffrey and Jennifer Seamons and their family moved to Caldwell, ID, in the fall of 2021. Sister Seamons has a teaching position at Nampa High School, teaching orchestra and German. Previously she had been employed at the Soda Springs, ID, high school. They have 3 sons still at home, David who is serving a mission at this time, Jonathan, and Jacob. Three older sons Joseph, Sam and Ben are married.

The new baby of Ben and Mollie Seamons was blessed and named in the Mink Creek Ward. This tiny boy was given the name of Andrew Hart Seamons. Mollie’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Collins from North Carolina were able to be here for the occasion, along with the Mink Creek grandparents, Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, and great grandparents Scott and Cathy Seamons and Joe and Kathy Jarvis.

Our community has had word of the passing of Iva Lou Christensen Morgan recently. Iva Lou grew up here, a daughter of Lloyd and Rena Christensen. Her brother Lee, and Sandra Christensen are the only immediate family still in residence in Mink Creek.

Kevin Olson has passed away. He loved growing up on the Station Creek farm of Delmer and Velda Olson. Kevin has dealt with many health issues during his life, but maintained a positive attitude and great sense of humor. Three of the Olson siblings have homes in Mink Creek: Nate, Jimmie, and Jeff. Kevin’s sisters have kept their Idaho roots, ReNae Mellor in the Boise area and Millie Mower in American Falls.

With the smoke from fires to the west of us flowing in and out we have some days that our valley shrinks visually and our mountains nearly disappear from view. We have received several cloudbursts in the past couple of weeks and the moisture has given our landscape a boost of greening, warding off the feeling of an early descent of fall. However, some leaves are already in the process of color change.

I hope you have noticed our beautiful roadway sunflowers. They are everywhere this year, along the roads, off in the edge of a field. And since the highway maintenance crews have recently given the highway lines a new paint job, that yellow of the sunflowers matches the center lines perfectly.

August 25, 2021

 Sorry about missing last week, it was a bit much for me and I totally spaced posting it.  Death, illness, friends---all took precedence over the blog, as well they should. 

Eldon and Danita Wilcox have had family members on the doorstep much of the summer months. The David and Lesli Evans family live the furthest away in the Dallas, TX area and this summer were able to come for a lengthy stay. They took in a trip to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks and Lesli’s siblings dropped in and out all through the stay for family fun: mostly local small town stuff and a trip to Lava Hot Springs. Siblings are Brigham, Elise, Ami, MacKenzie, Brittany, and Jesse. Jesse is the only one who now lives in Mink Creek.

Jeannine and Johnny Iverson have done considerable entertaining lately. Jeannine’s sister from Herriman, UT, a brother from Colorado and another brother from Delta, UT, has all come by for some good time with the Iversons.

Brooke and Josh Reichman, students in Provo, UT, are staying with her parents, Sherrie and Shane Corbett, while anticipating the start up of college studies this fall.

Robert and Phee Crosland embarked on a cruise to Alaska. This was to celebrate their 40^th Wedding Anniversary, but a year later, due to last year’s restrictions. They enjoyed the beautiful country, did some hiking and discovering. One discovery was to notice the fragile economic situation of the Alaskan tourist industry with a number of things shut down.

Our youth combined with those of the Riverdale 1^st Ward to have a Spartan Race at the Erickson pond. They made up four teams of five individuals, each team required to overcome various obstacles, being timed as they proceeded. Obstacles were: a rope climb on a cliff made of three stacked hay bales, trudging through knee-deep mud, swinging on a rope across a large mud hole, carrying a 5 gallon bucket filled with water a specified distance, throwing a spear at a target, running up a hill to reach the water slide that would bring them back to the starting point. Organizers were Bishop Paul McKay, Bret Rasmussen and the young men of the priest’s quorum.

We have had a quick, sharp change in weather. Much needed rain came through the smoke filled skies and continued in various degrees of intensity for a couple of days. The temperature dropped significantly and reminded us that the fall season is approaching.

Be aware, it is zucchini season, at least in this area.  I am not complaining because I like them, but such  vegetables are apt to show up on your doorsteps, unannounced.  Neighbors have shared these, cucumbers and  beans with me, perfect for this year of no garden for our place. 

August 11. 2021

 

I am running a race this week that is a little more loaded than some.  Sorry that this post is half a day late.  All things considered, that is pretty good, from my viewpoint.   It is mid week and so far I have added a funeral and my husband's hospital stay for shoulder surgery and getting him home into the 24/7 routine.  Bob is doing well, and working toward being as independent as ever.  Both a blessing and a curse. 

The last few days are feeling more like the end of August rather than the beginning.  Days still overly warm, all crops, gardens ahead of schedule that seems to go with this year of 2021.  Canning endeavors a little crazy because lids are hard to come by, and when found seem a little inferior.  But, one continues on.

Karen Olson Tribett suggested we include this Mink Creek blog site on the Originals, and so you may be a new reader.  This blog has been going on for several years and came about when I  was limited by the past editor of the Preston Citizen to have 300 words in the weekly rural column of the paper.  I generally had a bit more to "say'" so started the blog using what was in the paper, plus a bit more, just a bit.  I found it worked well for readers who were serving missions somewhere in the world and they liked keeping up with the usual Mink Creek palaver.  Now I can write more than 300 words, but a few readers have said they like the blog and so I have kept it up.  If you already get the paper, printed or digital, you will find it a bit redundant.  Please consider it a letter from home to those with Mink Creek roots.  

Elder Walter Iverson has returned from his mission service in the Alabama, Birmingham Mission. His family, that of Dr. Kurt and Margret Iverson made the trip to travel home with him. It was a good excuse for a family vacation with lots of memories to share and time for strong reconnecting. Elder Iverson reported to the Mink Creek Ward with family from out of town present to enjoy his remarks. They were his grandmother, Sharon Knapp, and Sid and Marlene Jensen of Cub River, siblings Johnny Iverson with wife Gabby and daughter, of Rexburg, ID area and Alesis and Scott Strong and son from Colorado.

The Iverson family had no more gotten home to Mink Creek than they got back in their cars and drove north. There was a gathering of a larger Iverson clan in Island Park, ID, an Iversosn Renion for all of the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Johnny and Jeannine Iverson, also of Mink Creek. This took place at the Wilderness Edge with accommodations for more than 150 people. All of the lilving Iverson children and their spouses were able to attend. Jeannine reported that there were 90 great grandchildren there, six babies younger than six months of age. The compound had a stream of water centralized that was perfect for water play, about 6-8 inches in depth of wading. Games of one sort or another were available during the daylight hours and the family held a program each night.

For some of the cousins it was the first time they had met and large name tags were provided. These family members came from Washington, DC, California, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, Utah, Washington state and Idaho. For the Iverson senior couple it was a dream of unity and togetherness come true.

The family of Liesa and LaRon Baird have been busy with scouting activities. Liesa, LaRon and their and their son Hazen have been on staff for a summer camp At Camp Keisel, UT for nearly a week of July. It is part of the National Youth Leadership Training program. In their absence from home daughter Juliana Packer came down from Eugene, OR to keep things running smoothly in Mink Creek.

Our village is still dealing with smoky skies 24/7 and an occasional cloudburst of rain during afternoons. The rain is pretty spotty, it may hit in Bear Creek, and leave just a sprinkle over the hill in Station Creek.

August, already--the 3rd, 2021

 

Terry and Steve Mainini are pleased to announce the birth of their second grandchild. Their daughter, Angelina and Iyar Koren had a little girl earlier this month, making two granddaughters. Terry is spending some days in the Salt Lake City area with the Korens, enjoying her grandmother role.

The teen set of our community had an afternoon of playing in the water. They went to the Glendale Reservoir, equipped with water stuff, rafts, and a motorboat. The leaders for the event were Jody Rasmussen, Amy Baldwin, Lacey Christensen and ReNae Egley and they brought sandwich fixings, chips and drinks for the party. The boat that was originally planned for the event had some difficulties but Raphael Arnsworth obliged with his boat and all had a good time.

The Erickson side of the family of Julie and Todd Kunz of Idaho Falls were happy to attend the wedding reception of Kamri Kunz and Steven Lords. This includes Julie’s parents, Layne and Karen Erickson, plus Paul and Terri McKay, Mark and Carla Nielsen of American Fork, UT, Connie and Adam Westenskow of Logan, UT, and Bob and Claudia Erickson. Steven is the son of Paul and Nancy Lords also of Idaho Falls. The newlyweds will continue their education at USU in Logan, UT.

Jonathan Seamons, has been rounding out his summer of wrestling contests. He spent some time in Boise for the training camp of Team Idaho, where they were preparing to compete at the Marine Nationals in Fargo, N D, this past month. Two of Jonny’s older brothers, Ben and David, competed in the Fargo challenges in years past.

The Costley family has been home, even though their parents are serving at the Salt Lake Temple Mission. Hannah Singleton and their boys, Samuel and Grey, annually spend a summer month in Mink Creek. Her husband, Spencer Singleton comes up from their home in El Dorado, AR, near the end of the visit, getting a break himself before they all head back to the heat and humidity of the south. Costley brothers and sisters have been in and out and around during some of this time, always good for reconnecting family ties and making cousin-friends.

Summer in Mink Creek means that we have visitors in town nearly every week. This past Sunday we had more visitors filling the pews than we did residents. It was Rodeo weekend, that explains it, but how great that they not only come home for the festivities, but to be with the village on Sunday to renew and remember the days of their past.

We had an entry in the Rodeo parade this year---some of the Mink Creek Cemetery board of directors rode in the back of Clare Christensen’s pickup with the sign Mink Creek Cemetery running the length of the pickup bed, Clare at the wheel. He is the pres of the board. I cheered as they drove by, it was one of a kind.

July 27, 2021

 

A power outage that lasts for several hours surely does throw a monkey wrench into the daily plans. Mink Creek community, and likely others, was off the grid on July 22. Rocky Mountain Power attributed the cause to be that of wildlife. Totally acceptable when one lives with wildlife 24/7. One just restructures the day, or night, whatever is the case and is grateful for the guys on the crews who remedy the problem.

The Peter Haws family were up from Solvang, CA for some not-so-cool days in Idaho. Hopefully these over-warm days did not ruin the reputation of summer days in Idaho with the guests that accompanied the family.

Laura Cheney and Cindy Hanson have had visitors on a pretty regular basis. Laura’s sister Wendy stops by and her sister-in-law, Kristy Cheney checked in one weekend. Cindy’s parents, Bob and Carla Hanson got acquainted with the Mink Creek life.

A source of some of the local smoky skies was a fire up Mill Canyon, in our Birch Creek area. There are lots of pine and maple up there and it is a dry year. The Franklin County Firefighters responded to the call and got it extinguished. This kind of year puts everyone on alert, or should.

The household of Bob and Claudia Erickson has been injected with activity for nearly a month running. Carla Nielsen of American Fork, UT, was the first to arrive. While she was pulling some yard weeds she discovered the hiding place of some orphaned kittens whose mother had been a traffic fatality a few days prior. Mothering the three-week-old felines was the perfect project for the next visitors, Drew Erickson and his children Spencer and Paige from Tempe, AZ. Baby cats and summer tasks made up their agenda. They were joined by Drew’s wife Hilary and another son, Conner, for a day or two. This group has been making an effort to escape the hot days of Arizona, only to find the days in Idaho warmer than anticipated. As the Ericksons made ready to depart, Kristin and Jay Collins and daughter Claire of Lakeview, OR, arrived. The chore list continued to be worked over, along with trips to favored places like the Preston Golf Course and Big J’s. Again with an overlapping departure/arrival date, Claudine and LaMar McKague and daughter Elsie came from Vancouver, WA. On a farm there is always work to be done, and fun was interspersed with work. Both the Collins and McKague families intend to spend their retirement years in Mink Creek and those plans are in the process of development.

On July 23rd the family of Naomi Wilde combined with the Mink Creek community to host a birthday party for Naomi, celebrating her 106 birthday. It was held in our favorite good weather gathering spot, our Ballpark.  Her birthday was June 6, but after 106 years no one minded that it was a bit off schedule.  Those attending enjoyed a breakfast/supper of scrambled eggs, sausage patties, bacon, pancakes, orange juice, with fresh raspberries and whipped cream on the side.  Her three sons, Ross, Van and Dean  were ready with memories and questions for their mother.  Naomi, with her usual spunk was ready with comebacks and memories in response.  It was a delightful evening and well attended.  If you read the Preston Citizen a lengthy article with more detail should be in this week's paper, along with a picture of Naomi.