December 27, 2023

 

For the month of December, plus meeting in the Riverdale church, the Relief Society blended a lesson and activity, suitable for the month. There was much music. Danita Wilcox and Natalie Forbush performed a vocal duet, accompanied by Judy Wilde. A trio of Ericksons, Claudine E. McKague and Kristin E. Collins sang with Terrie E. McKay at the piano. The lesson was presented by Laura Cheney from the talk,“Love Is Spoken Here,” given by Elder Gerrit W. Gong at a recent church conference. Laura included a video of the song “And Can It Be?” done by BYU/Idaho University choirs and orchestra. With the “Be” in mind refreshments were some ‘’B” snacks: brownies, buttercups, blueberries, bananas, and each woman was given a container of bee honey labeled “Bee Kind.”

It is time for winter sports at Preston High School. Hazen Baird, son of LaRon and Liesa Baird is participating the wrestling program this year. This is an exciting step.

Like father, like son, Jared Egley is a pilot for Delta Airlines. Bryce Egley, son of Jared and Juli Egley, has been taking flying instruction. He is training with a school in St. George, UT. Bryce talks about his experience with a huge smile.

Raphael Arnsworth and ReNea Haddock , and his son Hawk, have recently returned from several days of the warmth and comfort of Costa Rica. Ocean, beaches, jungles, sunshine, ATV rides into beautiful country, the stuff dreams are made of. Then the return to Idaho and taking up the needed snow shovel, but glad to be home.

The neighborhood eagles are out and about, looking beautiful against the winter background and the clear winter skies. A nearby venison fatality on the highway has provided several meals and the local ravens wait for their turn “at the table.”

The last blog for 2023, Christmas Eve, Christmas, Boxing Day of 2023 are part of the past. There has been quite a few people come “home for the holidays.” Some were hoping for more snow than was the case this year. Even sleighriding needs a few more inches.

December 18, 2023

 

The Rotarian’s annual Christmas concert was an event to bring in the season. Several Mink Creek residents have been attending the weekly practices since October, particularly Anna Beth Olson who was conducting the music for much of the concert.

There are encouraging reports on the progress of the repairs taking place in the meeting house for the Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sheet rock has been installed and painting was planned for this past week. There is hope that the membership can be back in their building by the end of this month, with much appreciation to the Riverdale community for sharing their church house during these past weeks.

The Young Women of the village have done a couple of fun activities. They met at the Pop n’Pins bowling alley and competed in “skittles bowling” giving much laughter and possibly sticky fingers. The following week they were treated to a “breakfast for dinner—french toast, sausage, cocoa and cider” at the home of Claudine McKague, YW President. Activities were holiday decorating and sessions of ping-pong.

Due to the repairs underway, the community had considered canceling the annual Christmas Party, but opted instead to do a rather simple, spur of the moment gathering at the Riverdale Cultural Hall. It was fun and being together is important during this season. A variety of carols were sung, a skit using “Twas the Night Before Christmas” as the basic script—in a variety of languages brought out that the holiday was celebrated worldwide. Primary children portrayed the Nativity, with no pre-rehearsals. The three wise men, in costume, Jimmie Olson, Eldon Wilcox and Mike Jepsen dispensed treats. The evenings refreshment was a slice of delicious cheesecake. The last offering was the viewing a video of a silhouette Nativity, the reason for the season that brought the group together.

Highway 36 between Mink Creek and Bear Lake was closed to traffic for some time. Snow slides across the roadway in Emigration Canyon blocked any passage and time was needed to clear the road.

We are seeing small groups of deer, five or a few more, crossing the highway. Perhaps there is more safety in numbers. One report was of around 25 claiming their right-of-way and holding up traffic—this in broad daylight.

December 13. 2023

 

The McKagues, Claudine and LaMar, took a quick trip to Idaho Falls to see their most recent grandson, born to their son Jarin and Brynlee McKague. This makes two for this family. Within not very many more days they drove north again, this time to help a daughter, Sage and Nathan Ricks, move into a new apartment. Sage has recently completed her studies at BYU/Idaho in Rexburg.

Reed Swann and his daughter Penny went to Donnelly, ID, for the holidays. Reed’s son, Charles and Sarah Swann and their children live in that area. Gathering of family made the holiday complete.

Judy and David Wilde flew out to Maryland to spend time with their son Spencer and his family. The distance is great but getting acquainted with the Wilde’s grandchild is a top priority.

Cindy Hanson used the holiday time for a trip to Kansas and a visit with her brother. While in the vicinity she was able to tour Church History sites around Independence, MO.

For the past month our nearby canyons have been invaded by those in quest of the perfect Christmas tree. It would be impossible to estimate how many trees have been cut and hauled out, sometimes more than one at a time. Various methods of hauling: on top of a car, back of a pickup, on trailers, roped to a mobile home, probably some on horseback. There have been a few that needed a remount when the tree fell off, as seen on the side of the highway.

The Christmas season is beginning to be more visual in our community as the outdoors gets festooned with lights of celebration. Street lights are nearly zero and that only adds to specialty of the lights popping up on roofs and doorways. There is a star, high atop Bishop Paul McKay’s silo, announcing the reason for the season, to anyone driving along Highway 36. Our snowy terrain serves to accent the season.

The flu and Covid are still among us. Recently we have had some residents needing hospitalization. We are so glad to have a hospital within easy reach of a few minutes.

December 6, 2023

 

Terrence Olson, a cousin of the Olson family in Station Creek, came up from Provo to speak at the fall meeting sponsored by the Franklin County Historical Society. The topic of the presentation went along with Veteran’s Day, considering some of our local heroes from past wars. Olson’s father, Stanley Olson, was a pilot in WWII who lost his life in a bombing run, but saved the lives of his crew. The attendance of the event was good and several of the Olson family from out-of-town came to listen and share memories. Terry Olson spent many summers of his young life with the Olson family in Mink Creek because his mother wanted him to have that connection with his father’s past.

Mink Creek is happy to have two babies born the last part of November. Kaci Baldwin had a little girl to add to her family. Cade and Leigha Nicholls brought a little sister to go with their son Peter.

Another grandchild announcement. Layne and Karen Erickson are beyond pleased to have a tiny girl joined their family ranks. She is the daughter of Connie and Adam Westenskow of Logan. She decided to come a bit more than a month early, but is doing well. She is the first child for the Westenskows.

ReNae Egley has been traveling with her friends, Jill Baird Hobbs and Lelan Daines, this time to Portugal and included just one day in Salamanca, Spain. They found castle ruins, statues of Portuguese heroes, high rock walls, ornate buildings built long ago. The beautiful countryside, green and lush, lots of vineyards and gorgeous gardens. The Douro River Cruise was a great way to see Portugal. We are glad to have her home.

Up here in the mountains we see beautiful sunsets that stretch to the west side. Yet, each night we wonder if we will wake up to snow on top of the daily morning frost.

Bill Despain has driven over from his place in Fielding, UT, for a visit with us. He lived in Mink Creek for a lot of years and became a close member of the community. He keeps a close check on how we are doing.