September 28, 2022

 

The Fall Party for the Mink Creek community took place at the Mink Creek Ballpark. There was a sumptuous feast and an entertaining program. The Elders’ Quorum was in charge and it was a nice night. The food was plentiful--- beef brisket and roasted chicken prepared by Clare Christensen and Bryce Stromberg, Dutch oven potatoes by Jan & Necia Seamons, baked beans by Alan and Nelada White, creamed corn by Terrie McKay, tossed salad, done by the Relief Society, rolls & butter. Serving crew was volunteers who always step up---wonderful people of our village: Dana Olson, Sam Stanger, Linda Christensen, Terrie McKay, Sherry York and Phee Crosland. Sherry and Ernie York decorated the tables with cowboy bandannas topped with a glass- enclosed candle. The entertainment was Kristine Lloyd with a cowboy country program of great variety including singing, violin and guitar. There was a crowd to fill the pavilion tables with overflow in lawn chairs. There was fun to go around and the dessert of ice cream sandwiches was nearly forgotten.

The McKague family, LaMar and Claudine, and their daughter Elsie, arrived in Mink Creek with the beginning of the month. Claudine grew up in our ward, the daughter of Bob and Claudia Erickson. The McKagues come from Vancouver, WA. Elsie is attending BYU/I in Rexburg this fall semester. The McKagues have five children, with three now in the Idaho Falls area. Elsie is the youngest. They have purchased some acreage on the Erickson family farm and will start building a home in Mink Creek while working online.

It is time to batten down the hatches of our homes. The drop from over-warm temperatures has the insect population seeking refuge for the winter ahead. The box elder bugs are turning fruit into black globs as they suck the sweetness out. A praying mantis greeted me in my garage this week, looking for invaders. He is welcome to any he finds.

The leaves are changing. Evans Hill on our south is blanketed with red maples. There are some yellows and oranges. It is a beautiful time of year, but it may go quickly, leaving a crunchy path for hikers in the area. October is on its way in just a couple of days so this is expected and we’ve yet to get a frosty night.

September 20, 2022

 

We can put another LoToJa bicycle race in the books. The race has been going through our village for many years, as the racers head up to the top of our Strawberry Canyon, to Copenhagen Basin and down to Montpelier before the next leg of their journey. This year’s weather was kind to them, but there is never a guarantee.

Kent and Tammy Beardall had a wood harvesting party for winter fuel. They were assisted by their son Shawn and Callie Beardall and their children. There is something special about a work project that can take place in the nearby canyons. Grandkids are great, and even more so when they can haul wood. Shawn’s bunch live in Spanish Fork, UT.

Sundance and Anna Watts and their little girl have moved from Mink Creek. They are now living in the Ogden, UT, area.

RaNae Mellor drove down from her home in Meridian, ID, to spend a few days with her brothers and their families. She is a sister to Nate Olson, Jimmie Olson, and Jeff Olson, who all have homes in our Station Creek area.

Leon and Katharine Noorda have been able to spend nearly a month at their digs in the Keller Apartments. We enjoy their being here for however long time permits from their schedule.

It has been quite a while since Mink Creek had a visit from Wes and Heather Hansen. They are part of the Hansen children who have built a retreat home on the banks of Mink Creek on the Hugh Hansen farm and it serves for reunions, parties, etc. so they can get together. Wes and Heather live in Ogden, UT.

Elise and Jeff Hardy were up for Labor Day weekend, bringing at least twelve others with them. The Hardy’s come frequently and live in North Ogden. Elise is the daughter of Eldon and Danita Wilcox.

Residents are checking on their gardens in terms of what produce has been spoiled by the deer sampling this or that. Root veggies stay safe from the marauders. There have been no freezing night time temperatures as of yet, but it is anticipated before long.

This past week has been the Homecoming Week for Preston High. The football game against powerhouse Burley was a bust, but the beautiful dresses and fun of the Homecoming Dance the next night will still provide good memories of teenage years.

September 14, 2022

 Due to my skipping last week's Mink Creek news you readers will get a double dose this week,  First was the column from September 7, just after Labor Day  and then this week's news will follow.  Life carries me off occasionally and I fall through the cracks. 

Daniel and Casey Christensen and their daughters Josie and Annie have become members of our community this past summer. They come to us from Weber County, UT and are making a home for themselves and their horses in the upper part of the village on Strawberry Creek.

Fall is coming so this will change before too long, but we have had a flock of sheep on summer grazing in our canyons. They arrived with livestock trucks loaded with the sheep, a horse trailer and a sheep wagon for the herder. The herder is a young man from Peru. We hope both sheep and herder have enjoyed our mountains and canyons.

Dawnell Greene’s brother, Paul Bodily, came down from his home in Blackfoot, ID, to hang out with the family of Chad and Dawnell for a weekend. He was welcomed with open arms.

There was an Allen and Pearl Christensen Cousin Reunion at the Mink Creek park. The older group grew up in Mink Creek, but they are now pretty scattered and it was extra fun for them to get together. Royce and Clare Christensen still live in Mink Creek. DeeVirile Christensen has called Dayton home for a lot of years. Dorothy Christensen Sheard calls Colorado home. Clarice, Clair’s twin, now lives with her husband in Centerville, UT. Verneal Lowry is in Toole, UT. Jeanette Christensen lives in Preston. Dan Aldrich lives in West Valley, UT. The next generation down was well represented but they, more in number, also are more scattered. Those able to attend were Dawna Christensen Hall, Burt Lowry, Shawn Lowry, Sherry Emerine, DeAnn Asay, Colleen Carter, Carrie Melton, Janna Small, Melissa Hugie and Karen Roberts.

Glen Jepsen was glad to have an annual visit from his daughter, Jill Neitz, down from Alberta, Canada. She brought two daughters with her, Josie and Taite. The Neitz family live on a ranch, but Jill teaches school and the approach of the new school year called them north after a couple of weeks with Glen and other Jepsen family members.

The alert is out that the Birch Creek Culinary water system is going to be interrupted on Sept 6 while maintenance and repairs procedures take place. Hopefully those homes involved have been notified well ahead of the date.

Lin and Sharla McKay are fitting in time for some road trips recently. They did one to Nevada to visit with former neighbors, George and Judy Rasmussen. The Rasmussen’s moved away some years ago to be nearer to their family in Spring Creek. Later trips took Lin and Sharla to their grandkids, beautiful mountain scenery, celebrating birthdays and even a long river ride, nice on these hot days.

Dane and Rebecca Jones and their daughter, Clara, have moved to Mink Creek to be closer to Rebecca’s parents, Johnny and Jeannine Iverson. They come to us from Washougal, WA. Clara will be in high school. They have visited here often over the years and already feel a measure of comfort in this new location.

McKinley Longhurst and her husband Skyler Stevens have moved across the county, for further schooling and employment in North Carolina. Now with their college days at Idaho State a thing of the past they are moving forward. McKinley is the daughter of Candy and Sheldon Longhurst.

Danalee and Gene Abernethy, of Prescott, AZ, spent the weekend with her parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson. They were on a road trip north, hoping to avoid the hot temperatures of Arizona’s summer, only to find the heat had moved up the globe. They also visited with family, Carla and Mark Nielsen, in American Fork, UT, then with friends in Burley and Sun Valley in a traveling loop before going back to Arizona.

Summer squash, yellow and zucchini, are being shared around the community. Green beans are also a part of seeing their last days in the gardens. The neighborhood deer are making their nightly presence known by taking one bite out of each winter squash, along with other annoyances.

Nothing extra this time, but you are all caught up with the publications.  Thanks for holding on.