April 17, 2019

            Paul and Terrie McKay headed to the northwest during spring break to spend a few days with Kristin and Jay Collins of Lakeview, OR. They had a good time at the McKenzie Riverside Cottages. Golf was available, but not compulsory. They loved having some 'cousin time' that comes too seldom. Games, reading, lots of relaxing and just catching up, filled some days.

          Candy Longhurst and her daughter Emily enjoyed a few days hanging out with another daughter, Tiffany, and Spencer Wheeler and their son Hudson, also known as “Hutch.” They were at Canyon, ID, and soaked up the beauties of Jump Creek Falls and the warmer weather. Crazy costumes were adapted to participate in a fun spring activity labeled 'Adventure Hunt.'

         The family of Shawn and Callie Beardall of Spanish Fork, UT, finished off a spring weekend with a trip to Mink Creek and time spent with his parents, Kent and Tammy Beardall. Cousins arrived, they made cookies with Aunt Heather, cut some trees with Grandpa Kent, played “school” with Grandma Tammy. A good time was had by all, and then it was time to go home, where it is still fun, just a different variety. At Shawn and Callie's variety is the order of the day.

        Eldon and Danita Wilcox and Wynn and Cecelie Costley have returned from a trip abroad. It was wonderful, so many things to see and do. They went to Amman, Jordan, to various archaeological sites, to Jerusalem, touring the many sacred spots pertaining to the life of Christ. The olive groves of Israel were impressive. Egypt was another destination with its allure of ancient times and civilizations. It was a time to dress in some of the robes of the cultures, a fun feature. Just think of the different foods there were for sampling. Of course, it is nice to be home.

          The Ostlers, all of them, Alona and Stuart and four children, had the best time in San Carlos, Mexico. They flew to Tucson, AZ, then drove the rest of the distance. Their days were filled with activities: zip-lining thru the trees, swimming with dolphins, shopping, kayaking, the beach and the Pacific Ocean. The nearest market was one less touristy so it provided some true culture as well. Kayaks were rented at the Sea of Cortez, where they went to a pearl farm. Alona and Davanie made it home in time for Davanie's cheer team competition taking place in Salt Lake City.

           In spite of the “on again, off again” weather around here, the hibernating wildlife are becoming active. There are multiple skunk fatalities along the highway and back roads. They are hard to avoid, both in contact and scent. It carries through the air quite a distance.

           Sooo much water! If our fields or yards are of the flat variety, and, yes, there are a few of those in this mountainous community, water is sitting upon the surface, wondering where to go. Saturated is a fitting description of those areas. All waterways are full and flowing speedily.

          The high school prom has come and gone. The fancy attire was a joy to see, along with the nervous and happy faces.

           Greening up is taking place, but it needs some sunshine to offset the drenched appearance. The early daffodils and narcissus look a bit weather-beaten.

April 10, Or maybe not---

Spring is known for not being able to make up her mind, but it gets rather discouraging, doesn't it?

         We have had a group of youngsters learning the art of ballroom dancing. They are Jyllian and Greenlee Christensen, daughters of Lacey and Kerry Christensen, Hazen and Dallon Baird, sons of LaRon and Liesa Baird, and three Jepen siblings: Ty, Tara and Ella, children of Melinda and Kerry Jepsen. They have done well and enjoy the elegance of performing. They performed at the Gem State competition held in Idaho Falls at the Thunder Ridge High School recently. All participated in team dancing and in Open and Syllabus competitions. Their company team, Cache Valley Ballroom, did a novelty number called Lion King, and were awarded 3^rd in the novelty section.

           The elementary team got second with a Cha Cha in the Latin Division, the junior high group took first with a foxtrot in the Smooth/Standard section. Jyllian Christensen and partner Hazen Baird were awarded 4^th with a Samba in the Syllabus. Ella Jepsen was third in the Rhythm Open and Tara Jepsen was second in the Rhythm Open. What a fun weekend! Melinda Jepsen is the director of the group and her daughter, Macy Jepsen did the choreography and costume designs. Everyone is looking forward to a local performance in May.

           Cheyenne and Kaden Lloyd are new parents, with the birth of a tiny girl this past month. Cheyenne is the daughter of Jody and Bret Rasmussen and is living here temporarily while her husband is stationed at Shepherd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX. Kaden has been able to come home for a few days to meet his daughter.

           Angelo Crosland is engaged to Gracie Higginson of Caldwell, ID. She is the daughter of Kevin and Dana Haus. Their family, including a brother, Luke, came to Mink Creek to meet the Crosland family. Not all the Croslands were able to be here but Malia and Jason Kunde's bunch came down from Rigby, Dr. Giovani and Kristine Crosland and children of Tremonton and Mario and Amanda Crosland of Hyde Park were able to join with parents Robert and Phee Crosland and nephew Jacobi Johnson at the Crosland home.

           Kent and ReNae Egley and Lin and Sharla McKay took a snowmobiling vacation during Spring Break. They spent the days roaring around the Sawtell Park in the area near Island Park, ID. Beautiful scenery, time away from home stress and lots of cold crisp air. Just what the doctor ordered!

           Time marches on. We have moved from Dirty Season to Mud Season. It has rained all day today, and much of yesterday. There are still patches of snow and the closer one drives to our canyon entrances the more snow there is, still it is pretty safe to say that Mud Season is upon us. More snow is forecast but it comes and goes in repetitive fashion . We are holding tight to that season of promise---Spring.

April 3, 2019, maybe Spring

           David and Jonathan Seamons have been participating at the Utah Summer Games with their wrestling prowess. David took first in Folkstyle and second in Freestyle and Jonny took second in Folkstyle and second in Freestyle. This was in the high school bracket and Jonathan attends Preston Junior High. A big congratulations on these accomplishments!! That dedication pays off.

          Susan Hawkes has purchased the former Glen Keller home in Mink Creek and is happily raising goats and enjoying country life. She comes to us from Magna, UT, and is semi-retired. Sue declares herself a permanent resident of our village and loves the peace and sanity it offers.

           Connie and Adam Westenskow drove up from Woods Cross, UT, to help celebrate the birthday of her mother, Karen Erickson. It is always good to 'come home.'

          Robert and Phee Crosland have spent most of Spring Break at the home of Ben and Arianna Hostetter, welcoming their newest grandchild. He is Lincoln Albrecht Hostetter and schedules blended so that he could be blessed while the Croslands were there in Colorado Springs.

          Exciting news from the Iverson family. Walter Iverson, son of Kurt and Margret Iverson, has received his mission call. He will be serving in the Dominican Republic Mission. His departure date is in June.

           Lin and Sharla McKay enjoyed some time when two sons and families were up for some fun before the snow disappeared. Payton and Joshua Newby, both now Utah residents, were here for some Idaho fun time.

            The party's over---Spring Break has come to an end and our vacationing population has returned. The fact is, it is still cold in Idaho and while one day may feel like spring is around the corner, the very next day may remind you that winter has not left because there are several inches of snow that descended during the night. The returning robins are as confused as everyone else.

       

March 26, 2019

          Dirty Season has arrived. The rains expose the scars of winter, and there are many. Suddenly the trash that traffic has tossed out their windows on their way through our village is visible along the roadsides. Trash looks like, well, trash! Places where snow plows, both domestic and governmental, have grabbed some dirt along with the snow are no longer white, but have a dirt pocked surface on top of melting snow. Carcasses of the dead deer or turkeys that have been picked clean by local scavengers are part of the scenery. It all looks pretty grubby. It is one of the few times that our area is not beautiful to the beholder.

          We are happy to announce the arrival of Richard Hurst in Mink Creek. He is the grandson of George and Bobby Garr and has been visiting this area for years. He comes to us from Long Beach, CA, and is living in his grandparents' home. Richard is enjoying the advantages of “small town living.” He is employed by the Post Office. There is some anticipation of spring bringing more family back to their Idaho holdings.

           The family of Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen, all of them, gathered in Salt Lake City to attend a performance of “Wicked” together. This means some came from Canada, some from Texas, some from Utah, and of course, Idaho. A good time was had by all,particularly in getting acquainted with the new baby of Kyle and Stacy Jepsen, the Texas branch. It was the little one's first time in a land of ice and snow.

          We have had several reports of active wildlife within our village boundaries with the temperatures warming. Pheasants popping up in yards where some feed is visible. A trumpeter swan swimming in local waters, along with a pair of wild geese checking out nesting possibilities. A young cougar lounging in a yard that has some bare spots, minus the snow. This sort of thing is a constant reminder that our land is their land too.

           This winter has felt so very long. Now we have Spring Break with the schools. It started with a snowy day and many expressions of disappointment, but has since improved. Today it actually did some melting. Next week there should be lot of news because quite a few residents have headed out for winter vacations with the break. Our canyons still have plenty of snow and the snowmobile crowd are still loading up the parking lots at Copenhagen, Birch Creek and the smaller turnouts on the highway over to Bear Lake.

          Just a few days and March is behind us, with April and Easter in the offing.  Cheery thoughts. 

March 19, 2019

          The family of Warren and Colleen Wilde gathered for the blessing of two babies. Grandfather Warren was a little nervous, but all survived. Taiven Thaddeous Carter is the son of Brody and Analise Carter of Preston, and a great grandson of the Wildes. His grandmother, Bambi Bishop of Amalga, UT, was here to witness the event. Another little boy, Daxxon Wilde Chatterton is the son of Whitney Chatterton of Preston, and is a great-great grandson of Warren and Colleen. Daxxon's grandparents are Eric Chatterton of Preston and Heidi Chatterton of Mink Creek.

         The Relief Society enjoyed a winter evening activity entitled “Let Food Be Your Medicine, and Medicine Be Your Food.” Presenters were Kathy Jarvis, Jasmine Erickson and Laurel Wilde. The objective was that of strengthening body, mind and mood with the food we eat. About 25 women attended and enjoyed the interesting variety of foods available on the tasting table, taking home recipes to try at home.

          Kent and Tammy Beardall joined their son Shawn and Callie Beardall and their four children for a quick, fun vacation to Las Vegas, NV. They chose activities and places that all ages could enjoy and soaked up some warm sunshine while they were about it.

          Casey and Shelly Wilde are now Mink Creek residents. Casey spent his early years here, the son of Jay Wilde. They come to us from the Boise area. This winter the couple has kept busy keeping their driveway clear and watching the snow mobile population in the parking lot that is near their house as it moves in and out through the week.

          Winter revisited us a week ago,and stayed for a sleepover. Snow came down all day and night, light fluffy stuff, that made for a smooth white blanket covering up the scars that were beginning to show with those few warmer days. While Preston and the banana belt of Riverdale were suffering from icy cold winds, there seemed to be a white curtain hanging at the Bear River bridge that stretched northeast as travelers ascended into the Mink Creek region.

          Hopefully the season is past for the use of the state's rotary snowplows. It has been a good season for the building of snow caves and snowmobiling in our canyons. End of March now and it is almost heartening to hear house keepers complaining about the awakening of those miserable box elder bugs.

           March is also the month that Farmer Auctions are underway. Currently the flyers advertising such indicate they are being held around Burley, Rupert, to the west of us. Hopefully their ground is a little drier than ours is right now. We have no choice but to be patient, and hope that our spring runoff from the mountains is gradual. Feeling sympathy for the Midwestern farmers this week with their intense flooding.

March 12, 2019

          The Lamb and the Lion of last week?  Since then we seem to be getting two days of lamb, then two days of lion, etc.  The north side of buildings is still dealing with hard-unyielding snow pack while the southern sides are showing patches of grass with a mix of mud.

          Walter and Andrew Iverson, sons of Kurt and Margret Iverson, participated in the Simplot Indoor Track Games in Pocatello. Both are long distance endurance runners.

          Two sons of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, David and Jonathan, qualified to wrestle at the state events in their separate divisions. Jonathan, a middle school student at Preston Junior High, was awarded second place. He’s been invited to the Heartland National Duals in Iowa in April as part of the Idaho State team! Proud of these two grapplers.

           The infant son of Robbie and Taniesha Greene was blessed and given the name of Kolt Chalis Greene, by his paternal grandfather Chad Greene. Friends and family attended this event. Great grandmother Carol Bodily came from Pocatello, ID, others from Blackfoot, ID and furthest distance, North Dakota.

           Sidney Whitehouse was recently ordained to the office of an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ. He is a member of the Mink Creek Ward.

          Carl and Carol Egley just decided to go for a ride at their home in Kansas. It turned out to be rather lengthy, ending up in Mink Creek, with brother, Kent and ReENae Egley. They came to attend the funeral of Ida Bennett, ReNae's mother.

           There has been a flock of snow geese sighted in the lower end of our community. They seem to be taking a breather in their flight northward as they anticipate spring days ahead. Around sixty head of deer were grazing the bare slopes between the bridges across the Bear River on Highways 36 and 34.

            There has been some melting of snow and ice going on. It is not particularly beautiful, but still lifts the cold soul. After the hard grip of this past winter every little break from the cold encourages the thought that spring truly is on its way. The drip, drip, drip is a welcome rhythm and even the prospect of dealing with mud, indoors and out, seems less daunting.

           Daylight Savings Time, no matter how you feel about it, it has arrived. Along with it is that mixed bag of blessings and problems. I don't think our local wildlife realize that their human inhabitants are now marching to a different drum. A doe met her demise in the early morning not-quite-light as someone was hurrying somewhere.

Lamb or Lion March

          The Twin Lakes Canal is a bit ahead of its normal routine. Water in the canal is being released down the spillway above the Bear River. It is a cascade of rushing white, filling the slot in the cliffside, and matches the white patches of snow nearby.

          Adam Haws, plus his sons and his father, Karl Haws, came up from sunny California to have a Snowy Weekend at the Mink Creek Haws home. There was plenty of snow to take care of whatever winter activities they wanted.

          The community held a Mid-Winter Dinner, not quite Valentines, but in the same month. Perhaps we could call it a “Please Come, Spring Event.” The snow is starting to get to us. A committee of men were in charge and were assisted by their wives. Wally and Kim Christesen, Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen, Richard and Vickie Free, Glade and Corrine Larsen, Clare and Linda Christensen, Jeff Olson.---if I have missed anyone, my apologies. There was a great turnout, close to a hundred people. It was good food: mashed potatoes with two choices of gravy, chicken or beef, roast chicken or beef brisket, a vegetable medley, green salad, rolls, and a huge variety of desserts of choice. Wyn Costley and Clare Christensen had crafted some wooden bowls that were given as door prizes. The evening wrapped up with the game of Bunco as a send off.

           The herd of elk in our nearby mountains are coming down and invading farmers' hay stacks. The fences and other barriers that have been installed to discourage the local deer are no obstacle to the elk with their size and strength. Besides consuming the feed they leave behind a mess and an invitation for the deer to follow their lead. Local deer herds are looking pretty scrawny at this time of year. Quite a number of them seem to be camping out on the south edge of Riverdale flats, where they are close to the waters of Bear River.

            Several of our residents made the trip to Boise to be part of the cheering crowd for the Preston basketball team. Once again they managed to survive and play that final championship game. They lost in an overtime. After being the state champs for three consecutive years in the 4A division, it was a bit of a letdown, but all recognized what a great team this group of younger guys has been this year. They will benefit from this year's experience in their playing when next season comes around.

          Getting tired of snow. Some melting has happened, but the forecast is that we aren't done yet. Reminder: It is only March and March is only spring on the calendar for most years! It came in like a lamb, a beautiful day, if that is any indication what to expect for the next few weeks.  The Lion may be still to come.