May 29, 2024

 

What a season this is! Everyone is checking their outdoor thermometers regularly. Our village boundaries are long, about ten miles, and comparatively narrow. While it is cold and raining in the southwestern part of our community it will be cold and snowing at the northern end. It does keep things interesting, but perhaps not comfortable.

Long-time friends, Jeff Olson and Steven Westerberg, are local hikers and as they wander around mountains and canyons lately they have enjoyed both the bursting greenery and the remaining snow tucked up high.

Vickie Free joined her sister Kathy Jones and husband Austin Jones of Grace, ID, and some of the Jones kids for a family trip to the Orlando, FL, country. Good fun, some relaxation and shopping made for a good break before the growing and gardening season takes off with those demands.

Mink Creek is proud of their high school graduates for this year. Tom Henderson, graduating from Preston High is the son of Brady and Shoni Henderson. Tehya Nicholls, grand-daughter of Tom and Donna Nicholls, and Liberty Stanworth, daughter of Kaci Baldwin, graduated from Franklin County High School, all this past week. Congratulations are in order for these young adults.

Devin and Maria Flake and their son Jude came up from Utah to celebrate Devin’s birthday. Coming to see Maria’s mother, Lana Baird McCracken, is a continuing treat for the Flake family, particularly for Jude.

Our Young Women’s group had a great activity this month. They gathered at Bishop Paul McKay’s home for some lessons on car maintenance from one who had chosen that as his career. They played a game entitled, "Guess What the Indicator Light Means" and then learned first hand how to check for fluids. Another item for the evening was that of changing a flat tire, figuring out where the spare tire and the jack were, how to operate a car that wasn’t equipped with push buttons. It was a great hands-on car class.

A cloudburst visited Mink Creek on Saturday that went right along with the first paragraph. It hit in the middle of the village. Literally a torrent of water poured down and swept mud, rocks, planted seeds, etc with it as it headed to the base of our valley. On the ends of the valley the storm was less intense.

May 22, 2024

 

Skyler and McKinley Longhurst Stevens are back home in Franklin County. They have finished their educational pursuits in Raleigh, North Carolina and are now checking out opportunities for future plans. It is nice to be on their home turf. It has been a year of learning a new culture in the east as well as the schooling.

These two did some “house sitting”, along with Emily Longhurst and Tony Viviano, for their mother Candy Longhurst while she was on a trip to the British Isles. Candy is a hiker of our green mountains and she loved hiking in Scotland and Ireland, that are equally green right now. She spent two weeks roaming the spring beauty with friends. They took in Inverness and its history in Scotland, loved the beauty of the lochs (lakes). Then there was Dublin in Ireland and the Blarney Castle and gardens. Candy was able to kiss the famous Blarney stone.

LaMar and Claudine McKague drove down to Lehi, UT, to attend a surprise farewell party at Thanksgiving Point that was honoring Jeff and Christine Waddoups Rich. Jeff, Christine and Claudine grew up together, best friends during their high school days at Preston High School. They were joined by another classmate, Kim Clark. It will be President and Sister Rich this coming summer as the couple depart to serve in Thailand as the Missionary President and wife for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in that area. Jeff is the son of Larry and Dorothy Rich and Christine is the daughter of Jerry and Caroline Waddoups.

We are saddened to write of the death of Elaine Mikesell Larsen, the wife of Craig Larsen. She had recently spent some days in the hospital and was happy to be going home. She has lived in Mink Creek for nearly fifteen years and will be missed by many. A graveside service took place on May 17^th, at the Fairview Cemetery.

We hear of the “wind sweeping down the hills,” but this week we had the wind roaring up into our mountains. Local amateur weathermen recorded it at 32 mph steadily, with gusts at over 37 miles per hour. At least one barn roof was damaged and multiple loose outdoor garbage cans and furniture went rolling to new locations. The downpour of rain that was part of the blitz gave us a good soaking.

We got an unexpected freeze last night. Ice on the sprinklers this morning and any unprotected garden plants likely taken out. Around here the general rule is don’t plant until after Mothers’ Day—that was 10 days ago.

May 14, 2024

 

Ballroom dancing has taken the front stage for two of our families recently. Mink Creek had three young performers participating in Dancing With the Stars event at Preston High School. Jyllian and Greenlee Christensen are daughters of Lacey and Kerry Christensen. Hazen Baird is the son of Liesa and LaRon Baird. Greenlee and her partner, Dr. Hansen, were awarded 3^rd place for their fast-stepped dance. Beautiful gowns, dancing music and performers, what a great show!

Eldon and Danita Wilcox enjoyed a warm trip to Cloverdale, CA to reconnect with friends made while serving in Pennsylvania on their mission. While down that way they visited four new Latter-day Saint temples. Then they drove up the coast to Kennewick, WA, and the Tri-Cities to spend time with Eldon’s brother. On the trip home they managed two more temples, Twin Falls and Meridian.

Lorraine Christensen spent some time in Layton, UT, with daughter, Carrie and Ken Melton and their family. The occasion was that of Carrie receiving her Masters Degree from Weber State in Ogden. Later they were able to take in a tour of the open house at the Layton Temple, along with the Melton grandchildren.

ReNae Egley recently joined her friends Jill Hobbs and LeLan Daines for another trip abroad. This time it was back to parts of Europe: Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania. It was a mixture of scenery, architecture, statues, new foods and all sorts of long ago history. Monasteries, castles, the Danube River, multiple lakes, rose gardens, ancient Roman ruins and artifacts, museums, cities large and small. It was an amazing adventure for this traveling trio.

There are reports, with pictures, of moose moving around in Strawberry Canyon. It is amazing how those big creatures can pop out of the forest while crossing the highway in front of a vehicle.

Long before I had any idea I would spend most of life in Mink Creek, Idaho, a friend's father who had passed through this valley many times going from Star Valley to Utah  described it as an "apple valley." He had memories of smelling the blossoms on the trees as they drove thru in the spring, and again a more mature scent of the trees filled with apples in the fall trip.  Now it is the spring apple valley time in Mink Creek. Breathe it in.

May 8, 2024

 

Bob and Claudia Erickson and LaMar and Claudine McKague drove up to Newdale, ID, to take part in the celebration of the marriage of Abigail Janke to Austin Leas. These two met while attending classes at BYU/ Idaho in Rexburg. It was an outdoor party, blessed with lovely weather and plenty of space for the games, visiting, and dancing that had been planned. Abi grew up in Mink Creek and is part of the nursing program at BYU/Idaho. The family of Jody and Laural Janke now live in Teton, ID.

Courtney Carr was here for a few days with her grandmother, Mary Jean Rasmussen and her uncle, Kim Rasmussen. Courtney is finishing her first year in the graduate program at Utah State University.

Andy Olson, son of Jeff Olson, spent a few days with his father and Barbara Olson at their home near Station Creek. Andy has now retired from his career in the military where he has been headquartered in Ft. Collins, CO. He and his family are currently living in South Carolina.

Congratulations to Brooke Corbett Reichman on her graduation from Utah Valley University in the College of Health and Public Service. Now a Registered Nurse with the desired degrees she is looking forward to a new chapter in her life, as her husband Josh readies for more medical school. She was home to spend some time with her Dad, Shane Corbett and brother Austin.

It is always fun to see the high school prom attire and the floral arrangements that come out the morning after the Prom. Guys look just as great as the girls.

Jonia Jackson is the new water master for the Mink Creek area. She is assuming the position after the retirement of Reed Swann last fall. Jonia has recently had her sisters Julie and Jennie arrive for some fun family time.

The return of semi-winter days and temperatures is a bit discouraging, but we know it will not last. The blooming tulips look beautiful in a light blanket of snow. The winds have been pretty rough on any fruit tree that is in the blossoming phase, but it is part of Idaho spring. In the seed catalogs we are not listed in the balmy regions for a reason.