June 16, 2020

          The fierce winds of last week, coupled with some hard rain took some of the brightness from our yellow and copper rose bushes that dot our landscape this time of year. Many of these bushes grow where once there was a pioneer home, now years gone, but the flowering bushes remain for reminders of what was.

         Trying to ignore the wet weather it is still haying season for our local farmers. The weevil have been producing a cloud of greyish white as they eat the hay that is ready for harvest. The rain storms flitting in and about keep the mowed hay, lying in windrows, too damp to bale, so it is a continuing battle to harvest this first crop this spring.

         Our Naomi Wilde has made it, one more year. She turned 105 on June 6. Although she now lives in Pocatello in an assisted living facility, she will always be a Mink Creek resident. Her wit and musical talents have enhanced our lives for a long time.

      

        Due to an overlook with the usual Mink Creek News in the Preston Citizen, last week and this week has ended up combined in the paper printed version. In an effort to keep the blog somewhat on the same page as the paper version this read is limited to what was added, plus a few.

         Today has been nearly a day-long drip of rain, starting before the sun got a chance to rise. The rain fell on acres and acres of mowed hay, so the day has had a shroud of gloom for those hoping for a choice first crop of alfalfa. Not sure who won this round of the battle—weevil or rain, but definitely not the farmer.

          There are still plans being made for the annual July 4^th celebration, but at the same time we are trying to stay within the restrictions and follow guidelines set up with the COVID-19. That said, there are bound to be some limitations, the usual feast is intended to be scaled back. It is pretty difficult to estimate how few, or how many, people may be in attendance. Trying to place some 'normalcy back into our lives is no easy task.

June 10, 2020

         Our River McKay Morgan, daughter of Sharla and Lin McKay, has graduated from Utah State University. She has a Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Product Design and Development. She isn't just adding a new chapter to her life, this step into her future will be a whole new section, recently married, now has a new job where she will be creating motorcycle gear in a new location. Adventure as life unfolds.

         Phee and Robert Crosland are announcing two new grandchildren. Malia and Jason Kunde of Rigby, ID, had a baby boy on May 18. He is a first and is welcomed by four excited sisters. Dr. Giovanni and Kristine Crosland, now of Tremonton, UT, added a little girl to their family, now numbering three boys, three girls.

         Many thanks to our sextons who take care of the beautiful Mink Creek Cemetery. Over the holiday the colorful flowers, decorations and photos of some of the cemetery residents made it a spot where visitors wanted to come, linger and browse. The field of golden mules' ear blossoms that flow up the slope east of the cemetery only makes the place more attractive. Our founding fathers chose the perfect spot for their resting place.

          Laural and Jody Janke and their children drove up from Richfield, UT, and spent the holiday weekend with her parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson. Even the rain and gloom that arrived one day couldn't dampen the fun of being together for the first time since Christmas.

          The annual Mink Creek School Reunion, previously scheduled for June 20 at the church recreation hall, has been canceled for this year, due to the restrictions of the COVID 19. It has been postponed to take place the summer of 2021. Karen Olson Tribett, now living in Payson, UT, has been planning this and will continue to be in charge for the next gathering. She asks that all those planning to attend keep their memories intact and just put them on a shelf, ready for a year from now.

        Some of you may recall some years ago when we had a snow storm on the 4^th of July. We are hoping that doesn't happen again. This past week we have had rain, some cold, some a little warmer. We have had thrashing winds. No damage that I know of. For at least two nights it has been advisable to cover up our infant gardens and tomato plants. Not exactly ideal weather for haying season.

June 2, 2020

         Sherrie and Ernie York are back in town after having a great time in warmer climes the past few months. For these two retirees from Hill Air Force Base they were located in a spot with many things relating to their interests, near Bouse, AZ. It was close to where General Patton had a training camp for his soldiers during World War II. The Yorks took side by side rides to ghost mining towns. They learned about navigational aides for women pilots ferrying planes during the war. They are glad to be home in Mink Creek, but miss the new friends that they made down south. In some areas a welcome mat is red, but in Mink Creek it is certainly green during this time of year and that is welcoming the Yorks.

          Maria and Devin Flake and son Jude were up from Utah to spend some time just being 'home.' They all needed some time with Maria's mother, Lana, and Ivan McCracken and the open spaces of the surrounding mountains.

            A new tiny girl has arrived in Mink Creek. She was born to Cynthia and Justin Longhurst on May 14. Tiny is the right word for her, weighing in at 5 pounds and only 18 inches long, but round and doing well, bringing much happiness with her.

           Elder Walter Iverson is now back in the mission field. He is the son of Kurt and Margret Iverson. He was the first missionary to be reassigned from the Preston North Stake and is now serving in the Alabama, Birmingham, Mission. He flew there on May 15^th. Elder Iverson had been serving in the Dominican Republic and now needed a few changes made in supplies, clothing, etc. that he would need in this new location. He particularly needed new shoes, which is a positive sign for a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had been speaking Spanish in the Dominican Republic and that may, or may not, be part of this new assignment. Depending on the COVID-19 situation there is still the possibility of his return to his first field of labor, as he continues to serve. He got home on March 24, and self-isolated for two weeks with his family. Prior to that he had been quarantined for six days before his flight home. On May 14 he was set-apart for his new assignment.

          Parents, children and teachers are welcoming the release from their online school situation. It has been a learning experience for one and all. They are all looking forward to the change of pace that comes with summer, including nice weather.

         Warm days have arrived, along with active ants, pill bugs, renewed box elder bugs, and other tormentors for the average human. Air conditioning is appreciated already. Have yet to hear the activities of the county mosquito controllers, but hopefully they will be active again this summer. Irrigation in all forms is a top priority, whether it be for the lawn of field.

        We are still under the COVID-19 rules, but rumor has it that things will be loosening up soon. People are hungry for a bit of social interaction.

May 26, 2020, Graduation

         The village of Mink Creek has four young men graduating from high school this year. It is a year like no other and their lives have shifted in unexpected ways. Each one has missed being with friends and being in an actual classroom with teachers for one on one assistance. All the hours that they have needed to spend in front of their computers at home has been a challenging experience but also created some learning in areas unplanned. Some online stuff was slow slogging with computers not always being user friendly. All the senior plans of the big prom, the special privileges given to the senior class, no yearbook signing, etc. went out the window for the entire student-body and there has been some disappointment with that. Senior Projects that were moving to completion were suspended.

          Andrew Iverson, son of Kurt and Margret Iverson, had high expectations this year fortrack season, having done very well in his events last year. He managed to get in some practices with family and friends, but missed having any type of competition to conclude their season. Andrew has received a mission call to Queretaro, Mexico for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His current plan is to leave for Mexico on July 7, 2020, where he would be in the Mission Training Center for several weeks before assignment to his first field of service. Here too, it is 'wait and see' because the MTC there is still closed due to the COVID19 virus.

         Calvin Henderson is planning on going into a computer coding and game design program. His parents are Shoni and Brady Henderson. He loves photography, video editing, photoshop, graphic design, and making hilarious videos! He has actually really enjoyed doing school online, but misses his friends and teachers. Calvin says that it still doesn’t seem real -- that he’s actually done, but hasn't been 'at school!' Although he is bummed that he missed prom and the rest of the year, he is still excited for the future. He has a great attitude to be a part of the class of 2020 “The one with the pandemic.” It is a history lesson he didn't expect.

           Austin Corbett, son of Shane and Sherrie Corbett, is an amazing young man who has dealt with some extra challenges during these school years. He has grown in many ways over the last few years in high school. One of his interests is heavy equipment, the big stuff. He loves to see how they work and make them even work better. This summer Austin will be working with his grandpa doing construction. Beyond that, he hopes to go off to trade school to get more skills. He dream is to own his own company in construction. Austin was so sad to have school moved to home, missing friends and his school teachers. He has an amazing heart for others! He looks out for others in ways a person would never guess!

           One of our seniors, David Seamons, left for summer work in the middle of April. He is part of a sales crew selling pesticides in the Vancouver, WA area with Rico Crosland and two more Seamons brothers, Sam and Ben. David is the son of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons. He is finishing school online while on the job. His plan is to earn money for his mission, attend BYU in Provo, UT, in the Fall and then go on his mission. He has missed lot of senior activities, but he felt good about getting on with his life and starting to work.

         This 'news' is not the usual. We are proud of these four, we are always proud of our graduates. The last few months have turned everyone's lives around and our expectations, our routines, have been a bit like the game “fruit basket upset.” Almost from day to day, there is that feeling of suspension and we gingerly move forward to move out. Hopefully before too long a semblance of normal will return, and at the same time we will have learned some important lessons as to what really matters in our lives.

May 20, 2020

         Rock picking can be an activity: rocks being traded some needing them to shore up a slope, other needing their absence to enlarge a space on the property. Rocks to decorate a flower garden, or the smaller variety to paint and create. Yes, rocks can be in demand. Mink Creek has a history of rocks, they seem to grow in the fields, just ask any local farmer who has plowed a new field, or an old field for that matter.

        Before the recent blustery storms that have come our way there were flowering trees in all directions. Wild trees, tame trees, trees in the orchards—pink blossoms, white blossoms, rose-colored blossoms, ivory ones. Those winds and the rains have deblossomed some of those beautiful trees, and scattered the pretty petals. The chokecherry trees were just heavy with white hanging clusters

        Patti and Forrest Christensen are back home from their travels in Florida during the chilly weeks. They have dived right in, planting their garden, enjoying the beauties of the surrounding mountains while they listen to the waters of Mink Creek as it hurries past their home.

         Evidenced by the traffic families were taking a break and camping out in our canyon's campgrounds over Mother's Day weekend. We have made the semi annual transition from snowmobiling to camping as the weather warms. I have heard of some earlier 'pretend camping' going on in our home-bound youth. It has ever been a fun thing to build a tent-like structure within the walls of your house and have a place for escaping reality for just a little while.

         Our McKinley Longhurst has been selected to be one of Idaho State University’s Ambassadors during the next school year. Pocatello and ISU are lucky to have her in their midst. McKinley will be a Junior next year. She is majoring in biology and hoping to go into the medical field as a career.

         Julie and Jeff Workman have been up to their Idaho home from their home in Utah to enjoy these spring days in beautiful Mink Creek. These two love these green hills.

         Members of the Pearson family were here getting their Leghorn Lodge ready for some serious family time during the Memorial Day weekend.

          Several of the 'summer homes' are in the process of readiness for off and on visitors before too long. All of this is evidence of the desire to be able to see each other again, it has been a long two months of isolation. Happily we have no positive COVID-19 to report.

May 13, 2020

        Mink Creek is a place of echoes, a valley where sound bounces off and back down. When a neighbor is using a hammer, or chain saw, others are aware of the activity, or any other that is similar. A lone motorcycle heading down the main street can be followed audibly for miles. When a stack of bikers travels through the roar of the machines slashes the air, back and forth, until they are well past.

Construction on several homes has continued to go on during these past winter months. Sounds of hammers, pounding, even some shouting of instructions, or interesting comments, go beyond the sites.     

        Eldon and Danita Wilcox report that they will soon have water in their home-to-be. They have been living in the house where Danita grew up while working on their new home. Those extended family who use the house as a summer bungalow will soon need that home. Neighbors and friends have contributed some of the labor and the new Wilcox house is nearing the stage to welcome occupancy.

       Laura Cheney brought a small herd of cows with her when she moved to Mink Creek. She is in the process of getting a barn built for these critters. Again, some of the labor crew lives within miles.

        Dean Wilde's home has an imposing perch on a northern slope above Birch Creek. The view must be terrific. It is located just west of the entry to our beautiful cemetery.

       Kade Nicholls, who earns his daily bread working with his brother-in-law, Brady Hensdersen, in his painting business, has turned his know-how onto his own house. When the Nichols couple moved in the siding on the house was creamy in color. Kade has turned it into a pretty green that snuggles right into their orchard and garden.

        Raphael Arnsworth now has a beautiful deck added to his 'little house' and a partial wrap-around porch. He seems to have ongoing building projects on his place. He is putting in 21^st Century expectations.

        If a person is a resident of Mink Creek the color of green had best be a favorite color because everywhere one looks it is green, in one shade or another. This will only increase for a few more weeks as the season gets firmly rooted into our slopes. Here and there are splashes of yellow or gold. Dandelions perk up their saucy heads across a field. The golden color of the Mule's Ears, often mistaken for sunflowers, slides up the untended slopes. All of it makes for beautiful surroundings. This is written to pluck the heart strings of any ex-Crikker who may read this column. A bit of homesickness is a good thing, especially when being shut in by the COVID 19.

        The irrigation systems up and down the valley have been up and running. One often hears, “A good rain wouldn't hurt anybody.” It has been that kind of spring. The comment must have been heard because we had a couple of quick cloudbursts in the last few days, and then last night it rained for the better part of the time. We awoke to snow on our mountaintops again. Hopefully any infant gardens survived

May 6, 2020

           It is that time of year when our canals get a cleaning before the water is turned into them. I heard the chugging along of a back hoe nearby and looked up to see one coming around the corner, lifting our winters debris and mud to provide a way for free flowing waters to irrigate from here to Preston. Some ducks and muskrats were probably disturbed as the equipment moved them out of their comfort zones. There are several canals in Franklin County that originate in Mink Creek.

          There has been some spring cleaning happening on our main drag, Hwy 36. The State Highway Crew has been up with a sweeper clearing off the shoulders of the road, sprucing it up for warm weather travel.

           One more big area cleanup that needs to take place on our roads is the winter litter. No matter what road one might traverse there is lots of litter, large and small, just waiting for volunteers with their orange pickup bags. Safe distancing should not hamper that event.

         The Aaron and Heather Haws family from Meridian, ID, has come down for a COVID-19 break at the Haws home in Mink Creek. They loved having plenty of space to be outdoors, enjoyed the creek that runs by their place and just the overall feeling of freedom. They put in some hiking and walking time and dropped a line in the waters.

        Garden and yards are putting on a little pressure for getting into shape. Several of our residents have greenhouses to get a jump start on the growing season. Families have gathered to get seedlings started and some more hardy seeds are already in the ground. The apricot trees are in bloom and the cherry trees are coming close. Hopefully there will be no killing frosts, it is an annual risk.

       Jeff and Jennifer Seamons have announced the graduation of their son Joseph Seamons and his wife Diana Bolanos from Brigham Young University. They have been in BYU's Mechanical Engineering program.

          The valley is so beautiful now, dressed in some of its finest robes. May 1^st marks water going in the irrigation canals, ditches The water in all of our creeks is rolling, thrashing around in a frenzy as the snows above us keep melting. Our main drag regularly has a motorcycle parade as people take advantage of getting out of their houses into the spring air.