March 28, 2024

 

The bird population is exploding with the more definite coming of spring. Trumpeter swans have stopped by for a few days rest. The little twittery birds are scratching about in yards looking for any leftover morsels to eat as they check out nest building materials that will be needed before long. The local owls are enjoying the warmer night time hours for longer chatting sessions, echoing across our valley. Nearly every year I have lived here we have a flock of Evening Grosbeaks that visit for a few days, checking out the pine cones in our yard and any dried chokecherries that might be on the top branches of our tree. 

Several of our residents have undertaken the making of maple syrup from the local maple and box elder trees. The activity has been one encouraged by County Agent, Brackin Henderson and it has proven interesting. It takes gallons of the sap from the trees to boil down into usable, small containers of the sweet stuff, but the challenge has been inviting. It is no easy task.

The family of Stuart and Alona Ostler have taken a spring trip to San Carlos, Mexico, for a week’s worth of ocean-fishing and fun. The weather was perfect this year. Stuart and Alona took their whole family and then some more. Alona’s parents, Brent and Jody Sharp, went along and this was a first time for Brent.

March Madness and a love of basketball took Kim Rasmussen along with some other family to the bright lights of Las Vegas for the tournaments. It is an annual event for Kim.

The Relief Society held a social to celebrate the anniversary of the organization. It was a brunch held in the recreation hall entitled “Aren’t We Lucky!” There was meet and greet and some fun games. Decorations spoke of spring, mixed with some St. Patrick’s luck, created by Hollie Keller and Kim Christensen. The theme was that of having an Attitude of Gratitude, for blessings received. The food committee members were Barbara Olson, Kristin Collins, Lorraine Christensen and Robin Stephenson and they served French Toast Strata with blueberry syrup, bacon and sausage with ample amounts of fresh fruit and a festive punch.

It appears we are going to have a rather wet Easter weekend.  Get ready for egg hunts in the house and some good indoor games for entertainment.  Hiking and picnics outdoors likely won't be an option.   Don't forget to have some thoughts of the real reason we celebrate Easter, Christ's resurrection, and those things we receive because of Him.  

March 20, 2024, a day late

 I thought February was a short month, but this one is zipping by even faster it seems.  We've had the official first day of spring, according to this Leap Year calendar, and it has been measuring up to Spring.  People talking about planting gardens,  daffodil shoots pushing up through the earth.  And the weather talking about possible snow storms in a day or two.  That does sound like spring, hoping to avoid the freezing of the green.

Wynn and Cecelie Costley were able to go to Utah to witness the ordination of a grandson. He is the son of McKay and Lynsey Costley.

Lana Baird McCracken was surrounded by immediate family and friends for the funeral of her husband, Ivan. Her oldest son, LaRon and his family live in Mink Creek, as does Nathan Baird. Daniel and Heather Baird and family came down from Sugar City, ID. Maria and Devin Flake live in Saratoga Springs, UT, Tamara Taylor is in Woods Cross, UT. Twins, Owen and Brian Baird, are both Utah residents. Lana’s sister Loretta Goodwin and much of her family came down from the Downey area. Lana’s brothers, Arlon Bennett of Garland, UT, and Clell Bennett and his daughter Laurinda of Pocatallo joined the group. The Baird/Lindhardt family was represented by Mike, Paul and Barbara.

The Syringa Camp of the DUP met this month at the home of Terrie McKay on Station Creek. Lorraine Christensen gave a lesson about the families of the Mormon Battalion. Karen Erickson shared the history of her great grandfather, Elijah Knapp Fuller, a pioneer of Nauvoo who made the trek to the Rocky Mountains. The ladies elected officers for the coming year. Refreshments were served to the ladies by Terrie McKay and Kristin Collins.

The funeral of Lyla Ann Christensen Dettmer of Preston, was held at the Preston North Stake Center and she was interred in the Mink Creek Cemetery. Lyla grew up in Mink Creek, the second daughter of Lyle and Ruth Ann Christensen. Her sister, Julie Cooper lives in town and her brothers, Phil and Brian, are Mink Creek residents. A number of Christensen relatives were here for that memorial.

This weather that flips on a weekly basis is stirring up the wildlife. Perhaps you have had occasion to notice that the skunks are coming out of hibernation and making themselves known. Perhaps you are fortunate enough that you haven’t had reason to be aware of that seasonal outing.

March 12, 2024

 Happy St Patrick's Day, in a few.  I would bet that most of you who read this will claim a bit of Irish blood in your  inheritance.

Joe and Kathy Jarvis have returned from a lengthy vacation to St George, UT. Ancitiapating an early Idaho spring they were a little disappointed to find wind, snow and other Arctic weather awaiting in Mink Creek.

Another couple seeking warmer climes were Richard and Vickie Free. They have recently spent some time in Hawaii, soaking up sunshine and some down time after the ups and downs of winter and health.

Abigail Janke and her fiancé, Austin Leas, took a couple of days from school at BYU/I in Rexburg to spend some time with her grandparents, Bob and Claudia Erickson. The grandparents thoroughly enjoyed a great dinner produced by these two in the family kitchen.

The family of Marshall Clyde of South Jordan, UT, stopped in Mink Creek to view the art work of Clyde’s grandfather, Harold Helgesen, the Norwegian artist who painted several murals in the building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that was built in 1929. Helgesen shared his talents in several other churches in Franklin county as well as some businesses before moving to the St. Anthony area where he was commissioned for murals in a private hospital.

With the anticipation of approaching Spring the Thursday night Pickleball and Exercise activity will no longer be scheduled. With Daylight Saving Time and plans for gardens and yards, leisure hour activities will be shifted.

Sundance and Anna Watts and their children were up from Layton, UT. They are former residents and were here to see his brother, Shade and Brittany Watts.

The youth of the Mink Creek LDS Ward have joined with those of the Riverdale wards in an activity entitled, “Become A Missionary.” It takes a portion of each day to get a small idea of a few things that go into a missionary’s life. More details are given in the Riverdale rural column.

Deer are pleased to be finding some bare hills for browsing. Of course that condition also raises the chances of their being hit in the nighttime traffic as they move about. Also we have a cougar that has been sighted in our village. Of course with the warmer weather the skunks are making their presence known.

March 5, 2024

 

Claudine and LaMar McKague and their daughter Elsie drove to Salt Lake to take in a Utah Grizzlies Hockey game. They were meeting their son Ethan who lives in Lehi. It turned out to be a family weekend, back in Mink Creek for these four when another daughter, Sage Ricks joined them from Idaho Falls.

Jared and Julianna Egley and sons Christopher and Ryan have moved from their beautiful home in Mink Creek to another beautiful home near the Preston Golf Course. This switch will put Jared a little closer to his job as a pilot flying out of Salt Lake City.

When Bill Despain heard that his friends, Jeff and Barbara Olson, were speaking in the Sunday meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he drove over from Fielding, UT, to spend the day in Mink Creek among friends and neighbors. If he could split his time between his family in Fielding and Mink Creek, it would be good for everyone.

One of our residents, Ivan McCracken, passed away recently in a traffic accident on Highway 91 near Swan Lake. He had taken a trip to visit a brother who lives in Burley, ID. He is the husband of Lana Baird McCracken. The funeral will be March 7 in Mink Creek.  He will be buried in Blue Water, New Mexico.

Roxy and Mack DeVries felt privileged to be co-hosts for a Regency Ball, “a ‘Lady Danbury’ soiree,” with Chloe K. James of Smithfield featured at the Bullen Center in Logan. Roxy has a flare for design and loves creating costumes and floral pieces. Chloe is an author and they spot-lighted eight other authors. The theme centered around the Regency Era and how fun it was to be taken back in time with costumes of that day, live music from a Logan stringed quartet for dances suitable to the elegance of the occasion. Roxy provided refreshments and decorations and Jessica Pickering was available for photographs. The dance caller was Stephanie Wright Carstens, who helped to make the night a success. The group hopes to have workshops on poetry, writing, sewing, embroidery and other early 1800’s lady activities this coming summer.

A cougar has been out and about in our community. It is finding empty barns here and there as suitable resting places. Be alert for household pets and their safety.