May 5, 2021

 

At this time of year there is always the procedure of getting the irrigation ditches and canals ready for receiving the water that they carry for the spring and summer months. Kent Egley is involved in this work all around northern Cache Valley and even beyond in Caribou County.

Some of the family of Eldon and Danita Wilcox gathered together to spend two weeks in Puerto Rico. This included Jesse and Annavelyn Wilcox and son from Mink Creek, Jeff and Elise Hardy and children of North Ogden, MaKenzie Gunter and her two little ones of Arimo, and Brittany Durrant from the Salt Lake area . All sorts of exciting adventures and family fun: airplanes, boats, soaking up sunshine on beaches with the ocean stretching into the distance, and sharing moments with those closest to you. A highlight was a visit to El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the Caribbean. Once the senior Wilcox couple returned to Mink Creek they welcomed Eldon’s brother Mike and Marrea Wilcox. The brothers grew up in Tacoma, WA, and now Mike has retired to St. George, UT.

Carl and Carol Egley just needed to “go for a ride” when they left their home in Kansas. This venture brought them home to Mink Creek and some time spent with Carl’s brother, Kent and ReNae Egley. Both are full-time farmers and much of the conversation centered around the spring work that is part of their lives no matter where they hang their hat.

The community of Mink Creek met at the ballpark for the semi-annual road cleanup day, starting at 8 am. There was a good turnout and people received their assignments and their garbage bags and spread out, covering the roadsides of approximately ten miles of our main drag, Highway 36. The action started at the Bear River bridge on the southern end and stretches up to the boundary of the Caribou National Forrest.

Autumn and Tibby, aka Tabitha, Taylor were the lucky girls who spent nearly a week with Grandma Lana McCracken. They do online school at their home in Woods Cross so this made a longer visit possible until their mother, Tamara, could come and retrieve them.

Joe and Kathy Jarvis are back among us. Joe had knee surgery and they have been on the mend, staying in St. George with a more agreeable climate for some weeks.

We have received some wonderful, much needed rain. Several streams empty into our main water route, Mink Creek, and all of them are running lower for this time of year than even the old timers can recall. For a community with agricultural fields and livestock connected with a fair percentage of the residents this is not a good thing. The spring rain makes us happy and thankful.

April 27, 2021

 

Armando Crosland spent some long hours behind the wheel in his car as he drove from his lliving quarters in Washington DC all across the nation to visit family. His first stop was in Texas to see his brother Marco and his family. Next stop was in Colorado where his sister Arianna and Ben Hofstetter and their children live. By now he had added two passengers, one on his way to school in Rexburg, but the three spent some days in Mink Creek with Armando at the home of his parents, Robert and Phee Crosland. Armando has been employed in DC for several years and this is the first time he has used the trip home as a road trip rather than flying.

The members of the congregation of the Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been able to gather in their chapel with lessened COVID restrictions for the lat two week, even using the hymnals for the joy of singing. It is good to feel unified once again, rather than separated.

Danalee and Gene Abernethy came up from Alpine, UT, bringing with them technology equipment and cases and folders of ancestor information for several days of being steeped in the past. Danalee is the daughter of Bob and Claudia Erickson. Many family pictures and documents were preserved during their stay, with promises to continue on this project.

The Relief Society organized a night for the community to learn about the “History of Mink Creek.” That was the title that Bruce Crane, retired history teacher of Logan, UT, and his wife, Shauna, attached to the presentation they gave to our residents. Bruce spent the early years of his life in this community and developed a deep love that has only grown as he learned more about it. Many people attended, those with deep Mink Creek roots and those barely moved into the village. Crane finished up with a challenge for all to research the history of our homes, back to the original owners. For some that will be a short task, for others it will go back several generations. The night finished up with much visiting while enjoying a plate of strawberry shortcake.

The storm that moved in for a couple days did a wonderful job of greening up everything the rain touched. The outdoors has been so dry, just not our usual spring, or even close to it.  This won't alleviate the drought, but it will certainly help those seeds that have been newly planted to get a start. 

April 20, 2021

 

On the night of April 13 our valley was assaulted by a ferocious wind that continued for several hours. Windmills were going so fast that they looked ready to take off into space. Pets were clamoring to come indoors. Anything outside that was not anchored was relocated, and some even disappeared, having traveled some distance. The noise ceased about a bit before 1 a.m.

The walls of the foyer of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building look a bit bare lately. Gone are the historical plaques adorned with pictures of all the past Bishops since the organization of this ward, in 1871, Gone are the postings of the awards in scouting and young women earned over many past years. These things have been stored, not tossed on the scrap heap. The plan is to replace them with suitable art work with the theme of Jesus Christ that will assist those attending to be mindful of the purpose of the structure, centered on Christ and His teachings.

Terrie McKay and her daughter Morgan Curtis flew down to Queen Creek, AZ, during the spring break. The oldest McKay son, Cody and his wife Kevyn enjoy the Arizona life style and Terrie and Morgan soaked it up. Cody works in sales for a roofing company and Kevyn has a photography business specializing in small wedding groups.

The spring break in Richfield, UT, provided some days for the family of Jody and Laural Janke to come home to Mink Creek. They spent Easter weekend with Laural’s parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson.

The LDS Wards of Mink Creek, Riverdale First and Riverdale Second have joined together for some Fireside meetings. It is great and feels like the unity from years long ago when this was a frequent occurrence. These have taken place in the Riverdale building.

Tractors are busy in fields and the smell of fresh dirt is part of the season. There is a mix of sounds on our airwaves: the engines of the machinery, the call of both Canadian geese and sandhill cranes as the come back to the valley, the twittering of the smaller birds, the call of cow to calf, or ewe to lamb. These things enrich life “in the country.”

There are big plans for the spring roadside cleanup this coming Saturday morning. Everyone is invited, it begins at 8 am, meeting at the church house and getting an assigned area. Breakfast will follow the activity at the ballpark. Hopefully the weather will be in our favor.

April 13, 2021

 

There has been much Eastering going on. Family gatherings, hiking the slopes, picnics for the brave wearing jackets, dying of eggs to be hidden then hunted. Some of our residents have eggs naturally colored due to the various breeds of chickens in their flocks. The result is eggs of various shads of tan, pink, green, blue, even some speckled.

Johnny and Jeannine Iverson enjoyed a pre-Easter visit from their daughter, Rebekah Jones of Washougal, WA. They tackled several spring projects during those days, including some holiday traditions. Two other daughters have spent some time here lately. Cherie Shillig comes from Virginia and Teresa Russon from Colorado. Each one has pet projects to assist their parents.

Kent and Tammy Beardall were able to gather part of their family and soak up feelings of spring. Nicole and Nathan Denny celebrated their daughter’s birthday and it was a plus to have cousins to share it. Michelle Wall and her children of Grand Junction, CO, joined in the fracas. Many of the plans each day were aimed at the younger set: merry-go-rounds, zoo visits, lots of sunshine. Just keeping up with the kids was a bonus activity.

With the arrival of some dry, warmer days the field work for our farmers has begun. When the ground is stirred up with plowing or harrowing a flock of seagulls follows the equipment, eager for any tidbits that rise to the top. Since Mink Creek is not located near a large water source they must come a fair distance. Perhaps these are from Bear Lake and their scouts reported the bird’s-eye view, west of the dividing mountains.

Canadian geese are making a prolonged stopover at the Mink Creek ponds. The sandhill cranes have moved back in for a summer’s lodging. Each have their own voices and one can hear them up and down our valley. Things are starting to green-up---especially at ground level. A less welcome  sign of spring  is that of the slumbering box elder bugs waking, an annoying fact of life in this part of the country.

April 6, 2021

 

Spring is always welcome, but usually brings some craziness with it. So true for the current season. After getting some Nursery catalogs in the mail and seeing pictures of the greenery in other areas on our internet, people are in the mood for digging in the dirt and all that goes with it. The weather does not move along as quickly as our inclinations. We have had snow, we have had rain, wind, just not inviting to be putting those plants or seeds in the ground. But, the sunny days in between the squalls let us know it shouldn’t be too long before there can be some outdoor action.

Brad and RaOne Stuart of Bountiful, UT, Gary and LaMoyne Jeppson of Provo, Vance and Connie Christensen of Vernal, all spent some time together in Mink Creek at the home of Eldon and Danita Wilcox. It was a sibling reunion for the children of Carl and Lenna Christensen. Gary and LaMoyne will soon be leaving for Pittsburgh, PA, to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lin and Sharla McKay held a wedding celebration for their daughter River and Hunter Morgan. The Morgans were married during the days of the COVID-19 shut down and this is the first opportunity that friends and neighbors have been able to gather to extend best wishes. The event was held at the Old NorthStar Building in Preston. Hunter is the son of Jubel and Shannon Morgan of Layton, UT.

Candy Longhurst has a new grandson, born to Jake and Hollie Longhurst of Smithfield. Not-so-big sister Alice is excited to have a baby brother.

Kristin and Jay Collins dropped down from Lakeview, OR, during the school spring break of that state to spend the week in Mink Creek with her parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson. Kristin teaches English in Lakeview High and was needing the break as much as the students. Their daughter, Claire Collins, attends BYU/Idaho in Rexburg and was able to come hang out for part of that week. There are some advantages of online classes and this was one of them.

The appearance of some green grass in the orchard of the Roy Smith place has the turkeys and the deer sharing the space , deer with the greens and any dried fruit that might still be available, turkeys with the dormant insects and worms that are responding to the warmer weather.

March 30, 2021

 March has been a month of fitful weather, no  guessing what the next day might bring, regardless of what the weatherman on TV had to say about it.  One day left and although it has been cold and windy, the sun has shone.  Just that brings a feeling of cheer.  The predictions for the rest of the week are favorable, maybe the neighborhood Easter Egg hunts will be able to take place outdoors. Fingers crossed!

The youth of Mink Creek participated in a food drive for the County food pantry. They toured the whole village looking for food placed on doorstops to add to the goal set for this group. They gathered up donated food on a rainy/snowing morning and delivered 907 pounds of food.

Eldon and Danita Wilcox are home from a trip to Florida and a family visit with Danita’s brother, Forrest and Patti Christensen in Wellborn, FL. The Christensens have a beautiful place in the northern part of the state. Florida was experiencing a “cold spell” while they were there with the temperature at 70 degrees, plenty warm for Eldon and Danita. They met up with their son Brigham and Jen Wilcox and their four children at Disney World, and all of the adults got a good workout keeping up with grandkids. Brigham’s family live in Idaho Falls so this took good family planning to make the connection so far from home.

The Young Women of the LDS Ward have been making treats to share with families when they make a surprise visit. All of the youth of the village were invited to Bishop Paul McKay’s home for a Missionary Zoom meeting.

Davanie Ostler and Liberty Stanworth as members of the Preston High School Cheer Squad, placed 1^st in show at the Idaho State Cheer Championships. The competition was held at the Ford Idaho Center in Boise.

Samuel Seamons, son of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, married Ana Mae Buenavista last month, with an April appointment at the Manila Temple for their sealing. Ana Mae is from the Philippines and they are living there at this time. Their current plan is to take up residency in the States in a few months.

The newborn calves and lambs are prancing about this spring no matter the weather. It has been a variety lately, bits of sunshine, glooms of rain and flurries of snow, totally unpredictable.

That constant hum that fills the air when tractors are on the move is starting in Mink Creek. It is time. I have seen a set of harrows stirring up a mild cloud of dust and wondered how that was possible after the damp days we have had recently.

march 24, 2021

 

Lin and Sharla McKay have been having family in and out at their home. Their son Josh and Sarah Newby and their three boys were up from Spanish Fork, UT, for a weekend. After those busy days, daughter River and Hunter Morgan spent a few days helping her parents prepare for River and Hunter’s open house, that was put on hold when they married during the early months of the COVID restrictions. That date is coming up on March 27. For now the Morgans live in Mill Creek, UT, but are soon changing their location to Centerville. They are lucky to have Lin and Sharla helping them with the moving procedures.

Steve and Amy Baldwin enjoyed a visit from their daughter Erin and Nate Lundburg. The Lundburgs live in Logan.

The young men of the village enjoyed participating in the Preston North Stake basketball tournament. This sort of event is so welcomed after so many month of limited activities. Ryan Buttars of the Oxford Ward was in charge of organizing the tournament. Win, lose, or draw, it was fun!!

After having been canceled last summer due to the pandemic, the effort to have the yearly Mink Creek School Reunion is making plans for a June gathering this year. It is no longer called the School Reunion, since it has been a good many years since anyone attended any school within our boundaries. The reunion is to be known as Mink Creek Originals, people whose roots reach back to Mink Creek soil in one way or another. The person in charge this year is Karen Olson Tribett, who grew up here, the daughter of John and Edith Olson. In an effort to circumvent some of the COVID limitations it will be an outing at the Mink Creek Ballpark with plenty of room. Instead of a potluck affair box lunches will be provided. The welcome mat is planned to be rolled out at 11 am on June 19^th, a Saturday. There will be a reminder closer to the official date.

Days have gotten warmer so some of the ice dangers have melted away. It all depends on location, the north sides of buildings, or places in the shade may still offer a slippery surface for a few more days.

Green shoots of desirable plants are poking up through the soil that , only a few days ago was covered with snow. Weeds are already proclaiming their presence. Somehow they are always wanting more than their share of attention. It feels good to think that the real spring is unfolding. We aren’t suffering from warmth, in fact had another day of snow flurries in the past week, but the air is feeling promising all the same.