April 27, 2021

 

Armando Crosland spent some long hours behind the wheel in his car as he drove from his lliving quarters in Washington DC all across the nation to visit family. His first stop was in Texas to see his brother Marco and his family. Next stop was in Colorado where his sister Arianna and Ben Hofstetter and their children live. By now he had added two passengers, one on his way to school in Rexburg, but the three spent some days in Mink Creek with Armando at the home of his parents, Robert and Phee Crosland. Armando has been employed in DC for several years and this is the first time he has used the trip home as a road trip rather than flying.

The members of the congregation of the Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been able to gather in their chapel with lessened COVID restrictions for the lat two week, even using the hymnals for the joy of singing. It is good to feel unified once again, rather than separated.

Danalee and Gene Abernethy came up from Alpine, UT, bringing with them technology equipment and cases and folders of ancestor information for several days of being steeped in the past. Danalee is the daughter of Bob and Claudia Erickson. Many family pictures and documents were preserved during their stay, with promises to continue on this project.

The Relief Society organized a night for the community to learn about the “History of Mink Creek.” That was the title that Bruce Crane, retired history teacher of Logan, UT, and his wife, Shauna, attached to the presentation they gave to our residents. Bruce spent the early years of his life in this community and developed a deep love that has only grown as he learned more about it. Many people attended, those with deep Mink Creek roots and those barely moved into the village. Crane finished up with a challenge for all to research the history of our homes, back to the original owners. For some that will be a short task, for others it will go back several generations. The night finished up with much visiting while enjoying a plate of strawberry shortcake.

The storm that moved in for a couple days did a wonderful job of greening up everything the rain touched. The outdoors has been so dry, just not our usual spring, or even close to it.  This won't alleviate the drought, but it will certainly help those seeds that have been newly planted to get a start. 

April 20, 2021

 

On the night of April 13 our valley was assaulted by a ferocious wind that continued for several hours. Windmills were going so fast that they looked ready to take off into space. Pets were clamoring to come indoors. Anything outside that was not anchored was relocated, and some even disappeared, having traveled some distance. The noise ceased about a bit before 1 a.m.

The walls of the foyer of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building look a bit bare lately. Gone are the historical plaques adorned with pictures of all the past Bishops since the organization of this ward, in 1871, Gone are the postings of the awards in scouting and young women earned over many past years. These things have been stored, not tossed on the scrap heap. The plan is to replace them with suitable art work with the theme of Jesus Christ that will assist those attending to be mindful of the purpose of the structure, centered on Christ and His teachings.

Terrie McKay and her daughter Morgan Curtis flew down to Queen Creek, AZ, during the spring break. The oldest McKay son, Cody and his wife Kevyn enjoy the Arizona life style and Terrie and Morgan soaked it up. Cody works in sales for a roofing company and Kevyn has a photography business specializing in small wedding groups.

The spring break in Richfield, UT, provided some days for the family of Jody and Laural Janke to come home to Mink Creek. They spent Easter weekend with Laural’s parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson.

The LDS Wards of Mink Creek, Riverdale First and Riverdale Second have joined together for some Fireside meetings. It is great and feels like the unity from years long ago when this was a frequent occurrence. These have taken place in the Riverdale building.

Tractors are busy in fields and the smell of fresh dirt is part of the season. There is a mix of sounds on our airwaves: the engines of the machinery, the call of both Canadian geese and sandhill cranes as the come back to the valley, the twittering of the smaller birds, the call of cow to calf, or ewe to lamb. These things enrich life “in the country.”

There are big plans for the spring roadside cleanup this coming Saturday morning. Everyone is invited, it begins at 8 am, meeting at the church house and getting an assigned area. Breakfast will follow the activity at the ballpark. Hopefully the weather will be in our favor.

April 13, 2021

 

There has been much Eastering going on. Family gatherings, hiking the slopes, picnics for the brave wearing jackets, dying of eggs to be hidden then hunted. Some of our residents have eggs naturally colored due to the various breeds of chickens in their flocks. The result is eggs of various shads of tan, pink, green, blue, even some speckled.

Johnny and Jeannine Iverson enjoyed a pre-Easter visit from their daughter, Rebekah Jones of Washougal, WA. They tackled several spring projects during those days, including some holiday traditions. Two other daughters have spent some time here lately. Cherie Shillig comes from Virginia and Teresa Russon from Colorado. Each one has pet projects to assist their parents.

Kent and Tammy Beardall were able to gather part of their family and soak up feelings of spring. Nicole and Nathan Denny celebrated their daughter’s birthday and it was a plus to have cousins to share it. Michelle Wall and her children of Grand Junction, CO, joined in the fracas. Many of the plans each day were aimed at the younger set: merry-go-rounds, zoo visits, lots of sunshine. Just keeping up with the kids was a bonus activity.

With the arrival of some dry, warmer days the field work for our farmers has begun. When the ground is stirred up with plowing or harrowing a flock of seagulls follows the equipment, eager for any tidbits that rise to the top. Since Mink Creek is not located near a large water source they must come a fair distance. Perhaps these are from Bear Lake and their scouts reported the bird’s-eye view, west of the dividing mountains.

Canadian geese are making a prolonged stopover at the Mink Creek ponds. The sandhill cranes have moved back in for a summer’s lodging. Each have their own voices and one can hear them up and down our valley. Things are starting to green-up---especially at ground level. A less welcome  sign of spring  is that of the slumbering box elder bugs waking, an annoying fact of life in this part of the country.

April 6, 2021

 

Spring is always welcome, but usually brings some craziness with it. So true for the current season. After getting some Nursery catalogs in the mail and seeing pictures of the greenery in other areas on our internet, people are in the mood for digging in the dirt and all that goes with it. The weather does not move along as quickly as our inclinations. We have had snow, we have had rain, wind, just not inviting to be putting those plants or seeds in the ground. But, the sunny days in between the squalls let us know it shouldn’t be too long before there can be some outdoor action.

Brad and RaOne Stuart of Bountiful, UT, Gary and LaMoyne Jeppson of Provo, Vance and Connie Christensen of Vernal, all spent some time together in Mink Creek at the home of Eldon and Danita Wilcox. It was a sibling reunion for the children of Carl and Lenna Christensen. Gary and LaMoyne will soon be leaving for Pittsburgh, PA, to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lin and Sharla McKay held a wedding celebration for their daughter River and Hunter Morgan. The Morgans were married during the days of the COVID-19 shut down and this is the first opportunity that friends and neighbors have been able to gather to extend best wishes. The event was held at the Old NorthStar Building in Preston. Hunter is the son of Jubel and Shannon Morgan of Layton, UT.

Candy Longhurst has a new grandson, born to Jake and Hollie Longhurst of Smithfield. Not-so-big sister Alice is excited to have a baby brother.

Kristin and Jay Collins dropped down from Lakeview, OR, during the school spring break of that state to spend the week in Mink Creek with her parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson. Kristin teaches English in Lakeview High and was needing the break as much as the students. Their daughter, Claire Collins, attends BYU/Idaho in Rexburg and was able to come hang out for part of that week. There are some advantages of online classes and this was one of them.

The appearance of some green grass in the orchard of the Roy Smith place has the turkeys and the deer sharing the space , deer with the greens and any dried fruit that might still be available, turkeys with the dormant insects and worms that are responding to the warmer weather.