January 17, 2017

           The Kent and Tammy Beardall family did some traveling around during the holidays to spend it with their out-of-the-home children. Along for the ride were Heather, Ty and Nicole. They spent time in Grand Junction, CO with Michelle and Gary Wall and their little ones, then to Spanish Fork, UT, to be with Shawn and Callie Beardall and their foursome. Their son Kyle joined them in Spanish Fork, ready for uncle craziness with the nieces and nephews in Shawn's family.

          Our grandson, Sam McKague, attending BYU/I, didn't go home to Washington for Christmas due to his college employment. Grandparents, Bob and Claudia Erickson, were happy to have him join us and the Jody Janke family for a couple of days.

           Richard and Vickie Free enjoyed having family back in their empty-nest home. Jacob and RaNette Free and their children, Denym and Zennedy, drove over from Pinedale, WY, to spend several days. They were joined by Heidi and Brendan Brown who live in Logan.

          Larry and Lillian Hansen were able to gather some of their family around them for a country Christmas. This was the first one since the Hansen's purchased the old Martin Christensen home close to the head of Bear Creek.

          A barn of long standing collapsed under the weight of the snow on the farm of Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen. Beneath the debris was their tractor and a truck. During the dark night they heard and felt an explosive force, however a quick check showed nothing amiss nearby. The morning hours revealed the source of the vibration of the past night, and the problems that go with the discovery.

          There are lots of plans for sleigh-riding parties and sessions of ice skating on the Longhust rink, if only the weather will cooperate. So far we are amassing piles of soggy snow, which is replenished with gallons of rain. Vehicles are getting stuck in their own driveways and the weight of the snow makes shoveling a mammoth task, literally a backbreaking activity.

          Many Mink Creek residents have been without phone service for nearly a week. This applies for those with land lines, cell phone service is always iffy in our little valley. It might appear that the whole place has gone to Hawaii for a winter break but that isn't the case. We are just waiting patiently, and impatiently, to get things up and running again.

           We have had several contests of man against the weather lately. Trying to clean off the heavy, deep snow from roofs has proved to be a dangerous job. Four of our residents have fallen or slipped while attempting to clear roofs of either homes or out buildings. So far only one has ended up in the hospital as a result, but there has been plenty of solid bruising. Jeff Olson has been in Eastern Idaho Med Center for the last week. We are hoping to have him a little closer to home in just a day or so.

           Another storm is expected to arrive later this week. Our old-timers are saying, “Remember the winter of '49? Well...” I am sure there will be some memories that go with this one of 017.

A soggy day in MC, Jan, 2017

              This week's column must begin with gratitude. How terrific are the men who operate the snow plows in our neck of the woods! Both county and state employees, Thank You! They keep our 'main street' (Highway 36) open, working in darkness both before and after midnight. Our side roads are a constant challenge and the county plows do a great job. Another vote of appreciation for all the residents in this little village that hop on their tractors, trucks, and 4 Wheelers and spread throughout neighborhoods, clearing driveways and farm yards. If not for them we would be socked in solid after the recent storm.  And it just keeps coming, one variety or another.

              The family of Hugh and Bonnie Hansen gathered round at a wedding reception for their granddaughter Abigail Beutler, daughter of Roxanne and Wes Beutler of Dayton, ID. Wes Hansen brought his mother, Bonnie up from Layton, UT. Sid and Geraldine Hansen drove over from Richmond, UT, Pat and Dirk Bowles live in Fairview, ID and Sandra and Earl Kemp are down in Farmington, UT. A lovely time for a New Year's Eve reunion. Mink Creek roots go deep.

             Kim and Sam Daines and family spent more than a week of Christmas time in Mink Creek! It has been a long time since that happened and Kim's parents, Judy and Dennis Clark were more than ecstatic. The Daines bunch live in Tuckahoe, N Y, about 10 miles outside of New York City. While here they enjoyed home fun: swimming at Riverdale Resort, sleigh riding, farm things with Grandpa. On Christmas Eve all of the Clark family were able to be together, children and grandchildren. Brenda and Greg Belew came down from St. Anthony, Casey's family from Layton, UT. Now the Daines family are ready to fly back east, doing some waiting because the recent storms have canceled several flights in that direction.

             Patti and Forrest Christensen have returned from a balmy cruise, soaking up the sun and beautiful surroundings that changed daily. Gone for two weeks,it started in Miami, sailing south, and wound up in Los Angeles. The ship took them to Columbia where they visited the old city Carte Enga and explored old Spanish forts and monasteries. The weather was 88 degrees, the humidity 95%. Going through the locks of the Panama Canal was a fun event. In Costa Rica they saw the rain forests, crocodiles, toucans, much exotica. The beautiful flowers and colorful birds always caught their attention wherever they traveled. Guatemala offered a tour of a coffee plantation, a visit to the 1541 city of Antigua and the monastery there with bells and architecture from that 16^th century, and a trip to a jade museum. From Nicaragua they went to gorgeous Cabo, the tip of the Baja peninsula. Patti says that as they traveled northward towards LA the chill in the air could be felt. Their flight home was delayed due to the holidays and they ended up getting back home to Mink Creek in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve. A bucket list wish was fulfilled for these two, and now it is nice to be home, cold temperatures and all.

            This winter stuff is keeping us on alert. Snow, rain, freeze, ice, warm, melt, mess. There are reports of water in basements. A long-standing barn has crashed with the weight of the snow, leaving equipment buried beneath the debris. People slipping on the icy slopes. Cars sliding into the barrow pits along the Highway and needing resident help to be set right, not to mention those of us who are getting stuck in our own driveways. The rain on top of the deep snow has turned Mink Creek into a giant  dripping sponge, or else it is snowing.

Happy New Year, 2017

             Snow depth up the canyon is good and it is loaded with wetness. The cross-country skiing and snowmobile crowd are enjoying the gift of snow that has been received. One skier reported that the snow is similar to the usual in the early spring. Due to the heaviness the avalanche warnings abound in our back country. Cliffs and smaller drop-offs are easily disguised to the unwary enthusiast.

              Kurt and Margret Iverson and their entire family, 6 kids plus one son-in-law, along with grandparents, Johnny and Jeaninne Iverson spent a 10 day holiday in Hawaii. They soaked up whatever the warm paradise had to offer, the food, the snorkeling, the sunshine, the beaches, the snorkeling, the overall beauty and time for relaxation. Snorkeling was high on the list of preferred fun.Totally unplanned, they ran into Elder Iverson, a grandson to Johnny and Jeannine, who is serving an LDS mission. That was a bonus, along with a trip to the LDS Laie Temple.

             Lana and Ivan McCracken traveled to Salt Lake City for the blessing of a great-grandson, Alonzo. He is the grandson of Brian Baird, Lana's son. Brian was here for this occasion, having flown in from Springfield, MA. The McCrackens have had a big family gathering over the holidays. Maria and Devin Flake and son Jude were up from Saratoga Springs, UT. Daniel and Heather Baird and their children came fro Sugar City, ID, and Tamara Taylor and her children drove up from Woods Cross, UT. LaRon and Liesa Baird's family live here in Mink Creek, just across the road. Put this bunch together and the McCracken home has been rocking. It worked as the perfect time to throw in a birthday celebration for LaRon and Liesa's daughter Katiana.

            Jeff and Leigh Knudson are back. They took some time off to visit Jeff''s son Cameron and Rebecca Knudson in Marysville, CA. The special event was the sendoff of a missionary grandson, Adam Knudson to the Argentine, Posadas, Mission. He enters the MTC in Provo this week. Cameron and Rebecca have another son, Dallin, serving a mission in Brazil.

           Connie and Adam Westonskow of Logan spent the holiday with her parents, Karen and Layne Erickson. The holiday time here included some with the Paul and Terrie McKay family.

           Happy New Year, to you all. It arrived in a timely fashion in Mink Creek. The teenage set were provided with a dance on Dec 30^th, in Preston. Since the New Year came in on a Sunday, celebrations adjusted themselves to be more agreeable. The community of Preston held a big party at the old gymnasium of Preston High School the night of Dec 31^st. Obviously there was plenty of activities available for some sane welcoming in of 2017.

           Looking around our snowy hillsides we are well populated with deer. There seems to be bunches in the fields in all directions. There has been some cougar hunting in the upper reaches of our village and that may explain why the deer are hovering closer to the humans. We aren't as threatening as those big cat predators.

Last of December, 2016

             With the chill of winter upon us it is noted that we have a number of new beards sprouting on the handsome faces of some of our menfolk. At a recent community gathering nine beards were in evidence, coming along nicely. One of these gentlemen commented that the biggest accomplishment to cultivating a beard was that of “getting it past the itchy stage.” Chances are, their wives feel the same way.

            The couple who purchased Sharon Moran's home, Chris and Christine Mueller, are getting their first taste of Mink Creek's winter. Sharon, in the meantime, has been enjoying her new life in Washington state, sharing pictures of the wonderful produce she has been able to grow this summer. She and her son, Willie Moran, drove back to Idaho to celebrate Christmas with her family in the Pocatello area.

            Kathy Jarvis is back home after having some serious surgery on her foot. She has been recuperating in Utah for several weeks and glad to be back in her own house. Her husband, Joe, is doing well after his knee surgery that took place not too long before Kathy's appointment.

            Our college-age population is coming home for their break from studies. Some are here full-time. Others who have jobs in Logan along with their USU student status are close enough to travel back and forth and still be gainfully employed.

            The youth of the community loaded onto hay wagons and went caroling, singing Christmas songs at the doors of homes. It was cold enough that their stops were a bit limited, mainly just around the center of our village. Blankets and warm layers of clothing were helpful, but their faces still felt the freezing temperatures. They were happy to head back to the meetinghouse, knowing that cups of hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls waited for their return.

           Snow began to arrive the evening of December 23. More came our way on Christmas Eve. Our dreaming of a white Christmas came to pass. The ice is still under the snow and our awareness is heightened, but the snow is welcome, not only because of the moisture it brings, but because of the wonderful feeling that comes. No complaints about shoveling just yet. Today, second day after Christmas, the temperatures have dropped again and it has been bitter cold.

            New Year's is a few days away, 2017. The positive approach will be good for starters. May it be a good year for all of us. Thank you for your continued reading support, feel free to make comments.

December 20, 2016, shivering days

            The Mink Creek community celebrated the Christmas season together with a Saturday morning brunch at the LDS meetinghouse. Those attending feasted on a breakfast casserole, a variety of sausages and a mixed fruit cup. Several crafts were offered, games played for the children. Memories of Christmases past were shared by Glen Jepsen. Joe Jarvis spoke on the Joys of the season. The narrative of the Nativity was given by Jimmie Olson. The group sang Christmas carols as they waited for the arrival of Santa Claus. The Elders' Quorum directed this activity, Royce Christensen is their president.

           The family of Sheldon and Candy Longhurst came home to find their perfect Christmas tree in our canyons. Jake and Holly Longhurst now live in Logan, and Tiffany and Spencer Wheeler call Parma, ID, home. With the other three children close to home they were able to get some good family pictures.

            Jimmie and Annabeth Olson enjoyed having Peggy and Jon Flinders and their little girls home for the holiday. Their son Jerry Olson and his wife Christine and their children came up from St. George for family fun while taking part in Preston's Rotary Christmas Concert. Annabeth is one of the directors of the vocal group and Christine was a featured guest soloist.

            Ivan and Lana McCracken have been doing some traveling here and there. They took a week to go to Alberta, Canada, welcoming Ivan's brother home and to meet his new bride who is from the Philippines. Their Thanksgiving holiday had a bit of an Asian flavor. After being back home in Mink Creek for a few days they drove down to Saratoga Springs, UT, to participate in the blessing of their grandson, Jude, the son of Devin and Maria Baird Flake.

            The water has been turned out of the Twin lakes Canal that begins in Mink Creek and the canal's winter path is now visible in the frozen jagged white line of ice that darts down the cliff on the cedar covered hillside to the Bear River.

            Not much to add this week. There have been neighborhood Christmas gatherings. Lots of potluck food and lots of visiting. The weather is on hold: cold, icy, little snow. Dawn comes and gives that cold steely feeling just to look outdoors.

            I understand that there are some plans for caroling among the teenage set one of these first evenings. They will surely need their warm woolen mittens and any other items to increase their comfort on these frigid nights.

            Today is the last day of school before the holiday break. Mink Creek's daytime noise level will increase tomorrow.

Decembeer 14, 2016

           Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen had a house full with three of their children and their families all congregated for fun at the same time. Annie and Steve Earl and their children arrived from San Jose, CA. Joe and Kate Jepsen's family and Jonathan Jepsen wall live in the Salt Lake City areaa. There was much hustle and bustle going on for several days.

           David Seamons, son of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons qualified for the Idaho All-State Orchestra that gathered, practiced and performed in Nampa, ID recently. Congratulations to this young man.

           We have two beautiful bald eagles in residence. They keep a close eye on all the happenings of man and beast in our community. What a lovely sight to see them soaring in the winter sky, enjoying the uninterrupted air space above us.

          The Wilcox family got together for the holiday, even though their parents are serving a mission in the Philippines. Jesse and Annavelyn are living in the Wilcox home and they welcomed most of the Wilcox siblings. Brigham and Jennifer Wilcox and children live in Idaho Falls. MaKenzie and Tyson Gunter are now located in Spanish Fork, UT. Elise and Jeff Hardy and family are in North Ogden, UT. The family of Ami and Tom Fenton are still in Tooele, UT, and Brittany and Matt Durrant and their little ones are currently in the Salt Lake City area. All were able to come except Lezli who lives in Texas.

         The Relief Society started off December with a night of warm food and warm friendship. The dining tables, set up in a U figure in the rec hall, were decorated by a living pine garland. Some of the women had brought their nativity scenes to share with all, making for a good variety. Twinkling lights and Christmas finery decorated the stage area. Things started off with a sock game, going right and left with a story until all ended up with a gift of a pair of socks. The menu was perfect: caramel soaked French toast, a fruit compote, slices of ham with a citrus slush beverage. The production committee for this event was Lacey Christensen, Jasmine Erickson, Laural Janke and April Rasmussen. All enjoyed a vocal duet by Terrie McKay and Candy Longhurst, a Christmas reading from Betty Jo Jepsen about the Keeper of the Flame, Christmas carols sung by all and watching the Light the World video.

          Two storms have moved in since the above was written. It has been a rather dry December so far. We received an inch or so a few days ago, followed by rain that washed it away at the lower levels. It seems strange to listen to avalanche warnings in this area when there is little snow on the ground, but the weight of the moisture in the snow higher up causes the threat. The last storm has brought more snow, a bit more in quantity as well as heavy with moisture. One needs to be very careful walking outdoors with all these icy surfaces lying in wait to give a speedy, beyond control fall to the unwary.

           Night comes early now, and the homes decorated with Christmas lights dot our hillsides. The full moon on the snow-covered hills adds to that feeling of seasonal joy,

December 6, 2016

              Tomorrow is a day to be reminded.  Dec. 7, 1941, the day Japan hit our military bases in Hawaii.  I will be writing more of my thoughts on my other blog, but just had to mention it here, so that you too, would remember, or if too young for that, to recall what the history books describe.
            And now, back to the original column, plus the additions of tonight.

          Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, they are being gathered from our mountain canyons, and transported down our valley to unknown destinations in large quantities. There are trees tied to the tops of automobiles, trees loaded into pickups, trees filling up large trailers. It makes one wonder, are the mountain slopes bare after all that have been hauled out this past couple of weeks?

           Angelo Crosland, son of Robert and Phee Crosland, has received his missionary call to the Indiana, Indianapolis, Mission. He will be leaving Mink Creek in the middle of January. At present he is in the Washington DC area enjoying some time with an older brother, Armando Crosland.

            Jeff and Kayleen Hill were up from Utah to spend holiday time with her dad, Vernon Keller along with her brother Kelton and Denise Keller of Alpine, UT.

           Laural and Jody Janke and their children drove to Vancouver, WA, for a week of fun with the family of Claudine and LaMar McKague. With a total of ten cousins in the McKague house there was limited time for peace and quiet. They reported that the weather in the northwest was “wet, as usual.”

           Karl and Marian Haws came to their Mink Creek home from Santa Barbara, CA, to have Thanksgiving with some of their family. Aaron and Heather Haws and their children drove over from Meridian, ID. Lauren and Ken Nash who live in Solvang, CA were here, as were several grandchildren and in-laws.

            Rocky Mountain Power sent out a crew to remove some ancient cottonwood trees from the bank of the Riverdale Canal that runs through Mink Creek. One of the trees had toppled, rather crashed, and had sent wood and debris rocketing in its fall, barely missing a power line. Rather safe than sorry, the rest of the group of trees were brought down recently. A hawk that has been in residence for years in one of the trees watched closely while his nest was being threatened and eventually went the way of the world of machines. We hope he doesn't move out of the neighborhood and builds again close by.

            Our days are getting shorter. Proof of this yearly time crunch is that the solar lights in our yards tend to loose their glow after just a few hours once dark descends. And dark comes early in this month of December.

           Add Bob Erickson's name to the list of Mink Creek shoulder surgeries. This happened almost three weeks ago and Bob is doing well. It is a replacement of the shoulder, not a repair. Amazing stuff, the possibilities of the modern medical world.