October 9, 2018

        The much anticipated rains have come. The arrival was announced with wind, lightning and thunder that continued for some time, occasionally flipping the electricity off, then back on. It made any TV watching or computer work impossible for an hour or so. Once the violence was past a gentle drizzle stayed for most of the night. Two nights later, the raindrops returned, but calm this time around. Our earth has received it as a sponge, soaking up the drops.

        Turkeys are back, invading yards and orchards as well as the harvested fields. They converse freely and the conversations often alert homeowners to their presence as they gobble and murmur amongst themselves. Drivers beware, they haunt the roadsides every bit as much as our deer, and give no more warning of their decision to cross the road.

         Sheldon and Candy Longhurst announce the birth of their second grandchild. A very little girl, just a bit over five pounds, was born to Holly and Jake Longhurst of Smithfield, UT. She will be called Allie, officially Alice. The Longhursts also have been hosting an exchange student this fall. She is Alara Polmak and calls Stuttgart, Germany her home.

          Dallon Baird, the son of LaRon and Liesa Baird, was ordained to the office of a priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His sister Juliana and Blaine Packer and their children were here to witness this event. They live in Heyburn, ID.

         Sid and Lisa Whitehouse are home after their honeymoon trip. They were involved in an accident during this time and are still recuperating. Sidney Eugene Whitehouse has since been ordained a priest in the Latter-Day Saint Ward.

          Our community has had several weddings take place in the last couple of months. It appears we have finished up the list with the wedding of Austin Straight to Ashlyn Seamons. Austin is the son of Avery and Pedro Gomez, Ashlyn, the daughter of Mary Beckstead. Currently Mink Creek has no more nuptials on our calendar. Congratulations to each couple.

          It has been cool enough to warrant an evening fire in the fireplace. Tonight was the first for covering our tomatoes, just not ready to give up on those yet. There simply is no comparison of a store tomato and a home grown variety.

           Our northern hillsides, blackened by the recent fire, are attracting visitors. Having heard about the fire from one source or another, they drive through for a look for themselves, marveling, as do we, that the homes in that area escaped damage. There is a horizontal slot of tan, dried grasses, dotted with houses along the strip in the middles of all that black. The untouched area takes a turn or two upward to the houses higher up the slope. It is understandable why people want to see if the reports were truthful.

October 2, 2018

         Two more wedding receptions held recently. Mario Crosland's open house, where all got to meet his intended, Amanda Webb of Eagle Mountain, UT, was held at the Mink Creek LDS Meetinghouse. Family from both sides were there to share in the evening and socializing. Mario is the son of Robert and Phee Crosland, Amanda is the daughter of Scott and Julie Webb. The couple were married the following day, September 22, and will be living in Hyde Park, UT.

         Haylee Hatch and Bryson Jensen were married a week ago. Bryson is from the Ogden area and the new Mr. and Mrs. Jensen will make their home there. Their Mink Creek reception was held outdoors at the home of Wynn and Cecelie Costley, friends of the Hatch family. Haylee's parents are Sam and Katie Hatch. Bryson is the son of Josh and Kacey Jensen. Family, friends and neighbors enjoyed the beautiful fall evening.

           Bob and Claudia Erickson took a few days to spend some time with the family of Jody and Laural Janke in Richfield, UT. They enjoy being part of the Janke grandchildren many activities.

            Mink Creek community has several houses in various stages of construction. Robbie and Taniesha Greene's home, adjacent to the main drag, is taking shape rapidly, as is the house for Casey Wilde, the son of Jay Wilde. Casey's home will be up Birch Creek Road. Brett and Jody Rasmussen's view from the slope above Ant Hollow is worth waiting for and they are hoping to be done before the wet turns their surroundings into mud. There is a new house nearing completion that is perched on the hillside above the Bear River in Riverdale. The Narrows Estates development just beyond Mink Creek's lower boundary has laid rather dormant for several years and now is seeing some action with several homes in various stages of construction, scattered over the available lots.

          Residents of all ages met at the parking lot in the center of our village and received assignments for our semi-annual highway cleanup project. Many hands lighten the load and it wasn't too long before many orange pickup bags were seen up and down our main thoroughfare, Highway 36. A good breakfast was served in the LDS Meetinghouse to the volunteers when all was completed.

          We are having a beautiful fall, the leaves are turning. The colors may not be as bright as some years, depending on the location, but we are looking good with the mix of oranges, reds, yellow and various greens. That dark green color of the evergreens is a perfect accent for those that change with the seasons. There are even a few trees that show nearly purple leaves this time of year.

           Bow hunting has been underway for those who are archers. Just a few more days before that season closes. There have been some successes reported.

           The longed-for rain has descended, right when I was trying to get this out. Lightning flashing, lots of thunder—and flipping the electricity on and off, which wasn't too helpful. It has been so very dry and the whole country for miles around is tan and crispy, unless there was some farmer or homeowner supplying water. When it comes to the matter of water, it is one more reason to understand why Mink Creek's founding fathers chose this little valley of many hills and streams. They were looking for a place to raise livestock, to farm and one of the first things they did was cut the natural feed that was available for their animals before they put up a cabin for that first winter.

          Fall is here and it is time to harvest our orchards' produce. It seems there are apples aplenty, up and down our valley, on trees both wild and domestic.

September 26, 2018

           

           Mink Creek has been on fire this past week, literally. No homes were lost thanks to the expertise of those fighting the fire. Smoke filled the air for the afternoon and night of the 19^th. Planes dropped retardant, bulldozers were all over the place, along with the brush trucks and fire engines and all those that operate them. Over a dozen homes lay in the path of the flames and miraculously none caught fire. The flames licked the edges of their lawns, heated the spaces, but were directed around. Many had their vinyl siding melted, so it was close. A 5th wheel trailer and shed were burned. Spots were still smoldering the next day, with trucks and fighters still around, checking things out. Mink Creek hearts are full of gratitude.

           Doug and Beverly Bruderer welcomed some friends made while Doug worked in the oil fields of North Dakota. They are Daulene and Jerry Williams from Dickinson, N.D.

Cliff and LaDawn Jensen are enjoying having a granddaughter living close by while working in Logan. She is Rachel Mackelprang, from Georgia, the daughter of Mercedes and Darren Mackelprang.

          The family of Sheldon and Candy Longhurst have been spending time in this vicinity. Sheldon has been in the Portneuf Hospital in Pocatello, undergoing chemo, and they are all keeping close tabs there. Justin Longhurst and Cynthia Zilles' wedding took place on Sept. 15^th, so all gathered with friends and neighbors for that special event. Earl and Barbara Craythorn, Candy's parents, came over from Declo, ID, to celebrate with Justin, and give family support.

          Karen and Keith Tribbett of Elk Ridge, UT, brought some friends up for a taste of Karen's childhood. Diana and Dan Steele also of Elk Ridge and Steve and Kathi Tanner of Payson enjoyed some time at Bear Lake and Mink Creek. Now back in Utah they are dealing with evacuation and problems with those fires in Utah County.

           Lori Muldner is home recuperating from her 'only' shoulder surgery. She spent a few days in the Franklin County Medical Center, needing a day or two of extra care since she is an amputee. A very talented, capable amputee, I may add.

Jarin and Brynlee McKague took a few days break from jobs and school at BYU/I to visit with his grandparents, Bob and Claudia Erickson. The two have decided Mink Creek makes a good get-away.

             Loads of fuel,in the form of logs, or portions of the same, are moving down our canyons. Pickup loads, trailer loads, whatever will haul. This activity must accompany the lowering of the temperatures. Spots that had water going overnight were a bit crystalline this morning, at least until the sun peeked over the eastern mountain tops.

September 19, 2018

          This is a day off of the arrival of the Citizen in your mailboxes, but not totally missed.  We had too much excitement around here with a raging brush fire for my brain to remember the blog.  More about that next week.

         The LOTOJA bicycle race pedaled its way up through our community and canyons on its way to Jackson, WY. There was a great deal of preparation for this race by the organizers. They set up outdoor privies every few miles, had signs of instructions for the bikers, etc. Much litter was left at various locations and our community is scheduling a highway cleanup soon to collect the trash that was tossed in areas not so designated.

         The whole family of Steve and Terry Mainini gathered to take part in the Cow Tag Ride held at Kelly's Ski Resort near Idaho Fall, ID. This is a fundraiser for dirt bike enthusiasts to help maintain the bike trails and keep them open in the state of Idaho. Cow tags are hung at various points along the trail adding to the name of the event. Steve and Terry had relatives from California, Oklahoma, Colorado and Utah enjoying the day with them, to the point that plans are to add it it to the family calendar.

         Steve and Terry Mainini have further reasons for celebrating. They have recently become grandparents with the birth of a beautiful baby girl to their daughter Angelina and Iyar Koren of Eagle Mountain, UT. She is a tiny thing, weighing 6 lb 3 oz, with a lovely head of black hair so similar to her mother's. They have named this little miss Ariella Koren.

          Jill Neitz and her children have returned to their home in Alberta, Canada. They live on a ranch north of Calgary. At the end of recent summers this family travels south to soak up some good grandparent time with Jill's parents, Betty Jo and Glen Jepsen, before their school year begins. Glen and Betty Jo are celebrating the birth of an new granddaughter, the first child of Kyle and StacyJepsen of Dallas, TX. She will be named Alexandra Emery Jepsen and was born August 23^rd, weighing in at 8 lb, 12 oz. Betty Jo was able to go down and enjoy those early days of a new baby in her arms.

            The two oldest daughters of Lacey and Kerry Christensen have ridden their horses to another win, this time at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. Jyllian and their mount Haida received 5^th in equitation. Greenlee and Haida got 2^nd place with the walk/trot competition. Who could resist those beautiful smiles of these young ladies!

           Ivan and Lana McCracken enjoyed a visit from Ivan's brother, Sam and his wife Roberta McCracken. They are from Raymond, Alberta, Canada They were able to stay for nearly a week and during that time did some fun thrift shopping and exchanging of kitchen creations.

           Our colors are changing on the mountainsides. This being a dry summer and fall the reds and oranges that are hoped for are rather muted. Those maples are looking more rusty, but still provide a break in the greens of our pine and junipers. The yellow of the quakies is dull as well, but it all indicates the changing season.

Never Forget, 2018

          Yes, it is 9/11, and I think the reminder a worthy one.  My recollections are crystal clear.
Sorry I didn't get the blog up last week.  You will read that I was dealing with the death and funeral of a great friend, one of my husband's cousins.  The blog just wasn't on my mind. Even the news of Mink Creek did not make the week's issue of the Citizen. What follows is this week's column, plus. Thanks for reading.

          The Mink Creek community was happy to attend the wedding of Sydney Eugene Whitehouse and Lisa Jean Blackmon on August 10th. The couple took their vows in a ceremony performed by Bishop Kurt Iverson. Missionary friends, David and Suzanne Ward, gave Lisa a lovely bridal bouquet. Friends and neighbors celebrated with the couple at a reception following the ceremony at the Mink Creek Ward recreation hall. It was decorated with fresh floral arrangements from local gardens. Refreshments of punch, muffins and fruit were provided by friends. Cecelie Costley decorated a beautiful wedding cake for the occasion. Out of town friends came from Brigham City, UT.

           Sunflowers, grain harvest and grasshoppers seem to go together. The happy yellow faces of the flowers dot the landscape all around us, heads searching for the sun. Some of these cloudbursts that have come our way have totally obliterated that sun. Those same storms have seriously depleted some of the grain that hadn't yet been harvested. A dry stalk of wheat takes a real pounding from those marble sized balls of hail that shucks out the kernels with such force, breaks the straw. The storms seem to have little affect on the insects. The yellow, red or black winged grasshopper creatures are everywhere. They do their share of gobbling up growth in their paths, giving us a reminder of the pioneer cricket invasions.

            Kent and Tammy Beardall have been kept on the road quite a bit this summer. They have been following the area rodeo circuit in support of their son Ty. Ty has been trying his hand, and all the rest of his jolting body, by participating in the saddle bronc events. His athletic prowess in other areas has discovered a new one to pursue.

            As befits the season, Mink Creekers enjoyed a water party as the fall days arrived. I am not sure if we were celebrating the beginning of fall, the end of summer, or that school was starting, all are a good excuse for getting together. It began with the adventurous set tubing the Bear River, starting from Red Point. A raft was available for those needing more security. All who wanted to stay dry assembled at our ballpark for dinner a bit later. Menu choices were hamburgers, hot dogs and slices of chicken, with whatever garnishes might be desired. A variety of chips went with the main plate along with glasses of homemade root beer. Brownies and ice cream topped off the evening. There was a good turnout for lots of fun.

             Bryan Erickson, Karen and Layne Erickson and Bob and Claudia Erickson traveled to Cedar City, UT, to attend the funeral of a cousin, Judy Spencer Larsen. She grew up in Mink Creek and married Ervin Larsen, also of Mink Creek. Judy passed away August 25^th, after a year's struggle with cancer.

           Margret and Kurt Iverson and family enjoyed a lengthy visit to the British Isles. Margret served as an LDS missionary in the England, Leeds, Mission, so much of this was familiar ground to her. They took a few days for Scotland and were able to visit two LDS Temples, one in Preston, England and one in London. They enjoyed the tourist attractions of the country and had fun renewing old friendships.

           We have survived another LOTOJA. Those letters represent the annual fall bicycle race from Logan, UT, to Jackson, Wyoming. Our Highway 36 is closed from 7am to noon on that day and our residents need a special pass to prove they have a true need to use the thoroughfare during those hours.

Blue Skies Do Exist!

           It is evident that the needs of irrigation for county crops is at the end of the season. A quick glance at the water levels of Foster Reservoir and Glendale Reservoir tells the story. A series of level lines show around their perimeters, dropping down, down, down. Now about all that is left is some mud and large puddles at the bottom of each. The water has been well used.

           The Robert Crosland family spent a few days in Texas for the happy occasion of naming a new granddaughter. Her parents are Marco and Christina Crosland. She was named Alia Mikelle Crosland. This new Crosland family live in Pilot Point, TX, north of Dallas. Robert and Phee spent some days helping them move into their home and getting things ready for a new chapter in their lives.

            We have had Haws family members dropping in for a few days here and there. Karl and Marion Haws were up from Santa Barbara, CA for a couple of weeks. Adam and Kamane Haws and their family and Peter and Gretchen Haws,with family, both brothers living in Solvang, CA, enjoyed some Idaho days and memory sharing.

          Johnny and Jeannine Iverson have had a summer full of relatives. Several of Jeannine's siblings have stopped by, plus children and grandchildren. The Iverson's have nine children so it makes for lots of coming and going during the summer when the grandchildren are out of school.

           New members of the LDS Ward are the family of Sam and Kim Daines. Kim grew up in Mink Creek, the daughter of Dennis and Judy Clark. Sam hails from Cache Valley. They have spent years raising their family back east, most recently in New York City. They are now in the process of renewing roots in the intermountain west. Sons Noah and Mathan Daines will be attending college at BYU/I in Rexburg, ID, and daughters Saige and Molly will be students at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

           The family of Dennis and Judy Clark were honored at the Livestock Sale at the Franklin County Fair. Dennis was killed in a traffic accident not long ago and his absence was felt in the management of the sales ring. He has been assisting in this position for a number of years. All of the Clark children were there for the presentation along some of the grandchildren.

              Finally a day with clear skies! It has been smokey sky so long that I have forgotten how lovely a blue sky, a vision of our nearby mountains, etc. can be. How that uplifts a person and helps the day start right! It has stayed that way the entire day. People have raved about the beautiful sunsets through the smokey haze, but the smell of burning wood, the constant haze diminishes the enjoyment of the sunsets. The brightness even seemed to enhance the green of the fields instead of the dry growth that exists this time of year when irrigation has pulled back.

August 21. 2018

            Happy First Day of School for the young set in our county, on both sides of the valley. The yellow buses arrived on time for excited kids.  They may complain in a week or two, but for now it is nice to get back with last year's friends.

           One of our young men, Dallon Baird, has had summer employment with the scouting program, serving at Camp Bartlett, just up and over our mountains on the Bear Lake side. For a couple of weeks a group of his friends, similarly employed, have traveled to Mink Creek to attend Sunday services in the LDS Ward. A good example of “get up and go,” since the services begin at 9am and Bartlett is definitely more than “a stone's throw” distance.

           Doug Bruderer ended up in a conflict with a horse, getting kicked in the face. Though his broken jaw is wired shut we are happy to have him home among us. Another resident in need of medical assistance has been Timber Christensen, small son of Kerry and Lacey Christensen. Between smokey air and the dust and dryness he was having trouble breathing and spent a few days in the hospital. We are glad to have that smiling face back at home up Birch Creek

           Sharla and Lin McKay have been on a biking vacation to the north. They took in Bear Tooth Pass on the Wyoming/Montana border and enjoyed the snow, the wildlife and beautiful scenery of Glacier National Park.

           Joseph and Rebecca Jones brought their young family home for a camping expedition in our nearby canyons. Though Joseph's parents, Austin and Kathy Jones, have moved to Gem Valley, Mink Creek is still home to Joseph.

            Patti and Forrest Christensen have been up north, all the way to Alaska on a fishing trip. They stayed at Boardwalk Lodge which is owned by Forrest's sister Raone and Brad Stuart. It is located on Prince of Wales Island. A friend of Forrest's, Laurance Leonhardt of Logan, UT, went with them for his first experience of ocean fishing. Patti reported that the weather was almost too great to go fishing. They saw bears and whales, both orca and humpback. One humpback put on a professional show for them, rolling and cavorting in the waves. Everyone had a great time fishing, catching mainly halibut and rockfish. As usual Patti caught the most and the biggest. Maybe they are attracted to her red hair.

           Hannah Singleton and her sons enjoyed their month of Mink Creek and family and are now back, ready for their fall season routine, in El Dorado, AR. The household of Wynn and Cecelie Costley has calmed down, with life resuming its normal pace.

            A garden fire that escaped brought the county Fire Department up to quench the hungry flames. The dry growth that covers all areas not under irrigation can provide plenty of tinder on occasions like this. Gratitude is expressed by the entire neighborhood and community to those men for their expertise and equipment.

            We were assaulted with a fierce cloudburst on Saturday past. It came with force and lasted longer than usual. Noise!!! and the results were piles of hail, new rivulets along the road as the swift water made its way down the slopes to the creek at the bottom of our valley. We got a real good soaking, and welcomed every drop. It was good to have the grain fields already harvested and tucked away. The deluge sank quickly into the cracks in the earth of those dry fields.