September 15, 2021

 

The End of Summer event for the Mink Creek community was a night themed around cowboys and the agricultural way of life. It took place at the Mink Creek Ballpark, there were plenty of western hats, cowboy boots and shirts with a western cut in evidence. Corrine Larsen had decorated the stage area with Cowboy posters, hay bales and saddles. Items on the menu were Tri-tip beef and chicken, Dutch-oven potatoes and BBQ beans, rolls, with a bit of rice pilaf if desired. Choice of beverages were lemonade, chokecherry lemonade and Mink Creek water. Traditional ice cream sandwiches were dessert. The reported fixing committee was Clare Christensen, Stuart Ostler, Jody Rasmussen and Terrie McKay, with the rolls from an outside source, Gerry Crookston of Preston.

After the feast the program commenced featuring Johnny Iverson with some cowboy poetry, then Billy Wall of Morgan, UT, with guitar and western songs and the main event being Kristine Lloyd, a multi-talented young lady—guitar, songs, gun spinning, roping exhibition and some bullwhip cracking. Her background was a mix of Bear Lake country and Heber Valley, UT, and she related well to her audience of about a hundred people.

The Young Women enjoyed an old-fashioned tea-party at the home of Claudia and Bob Erickson. The objective was to become acquainted with Claudia’s vintage hat collection as part of the ‘way things were, back when,’ and after trying on a few chapeaus, each chose one to wear while partaking of a plate of cucumber sandwiches, English scones and a fresh fruit salad, sipping from dainty crystal cups filled with a fruit punch. Emma Rasmussen had chosen this occasion and her mother, April Rasmussen, and leaders Jody Rasmussen and Amy Baldwin provided the refreshments.

Robert and Elizabeth Hawkes are announcing the birth of a grandson. He made his entry into this world on August 28. He is the first son of Lauryn and Zach Robb, of Gooding, ID, and is named Owen Levi Robb.

Members of the Jimmie and Anna Beth Olson family gathered in Meridian, ID, to enjoy remarks by their grandson, Charles James Peterson, the son of Charles and Dana Olson Peterson. C.J. will shortly be leaving Idaho to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Carolina.

It has been a somber week with another funeral, this time for Kent Egley, a gentleman much esteemed throughout this corner of our state. The enemy was pancreatic cancer. More will be said in a column to come, but his passing is so on all of our minds that I could not postpone mentioning it is this post. It was a beautiful service, tears and all.

The community survived another LoToJa bike race. As the riders rode through this year it was cold, with some cross winds and rain. I am always amazed at their dedication to complete this challenge, most of them riding simply to beat their own time record from a previous performance.

September 7, 2021

 

 Hope you had a good Labor Day weekend. This is another of those holiday weekends when the publisher of The Preston Citizen (and other small town papers in our corner of the world) decides not to have a weekly edition. So, those of you who are blog readers won’t get the usual recounting of people’s activities by names, places.

It is the time for the last picking of  late green beans, for making pickles, including pickled beets, some even trying pickled eggs. Raccoons are invading the corn patches in our gardens so residents are trying to beat the critters to the ears. If one has strawberries or raspberries that pick up again in the fall, that is one more thing to add to the list of harvest activities. Not quite time for winter apples, but the late summer ones are falling from the branches.  Just made a tasty apple cake tonight with some of my Wealthy apples, an old tree that has been on our farm longer than I have, and that is a long time.  

Rain showers are unpredictable and seem likely to descend when the last crop of alfalfa has been mowed and is waiting to dry in the windrow. This third crop has been looking promising in irrigated fields, but to get it all the way from growth into the bale and barn is always a challenge. The fall monsoon weather moves in just at the peak of readiness with the hay.  The beautiful heads of fall grains are being swept off the straw with the blades of the combines, loaded  to trucks from the full bins and hauled to storage, either a farm silo or the mill down in town.  It is a good time of year.  Unless the machinery breads down and frustration rears its ugly head. 

For the readers who live some distance away, yes, our skies are still filled with the smoke from the California fires. Some days it is more dense than others and we are grateful for shifts in weather that clear the smoke out even for just a day. Eyes and lungs are all feeling the effects of the smoky air.

August 31, 2021

 

Jeffrey and Jennifer Seamons and their family moved to Caldwell, ID, in the fall of 2021. Sister Seamons has a teaching position at Nampa High School, teaching orchestra and German. Previously she had been employed at the Soda Springs, ID, high school. They have 3 sons still at home, David who is serving a mission at this time, Jonathan, and Jacob. Three older sons Joseph, Sam and Ben are married.

The new baby of Ben and Mollie Seamons was blessed and named in the Mink Creek Ward. This tiny boy was given the name of Andrew Hart Seamons. Mollie’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Collins from North Carolina were able to be here for the occasion, along with the Mink Creek grandparents, Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, and great grandparents Scott and Cathy Seamons and Joe and Kathy Jarvis.

Our community has had word of the passing of Iva Lou Christensen Morgan recently. Iva Lou grew up here, a daughter of Lloyd and Rena Christensen. Her brother Lee, and Sandra Christensen are the only immediate family still in residence in Mink Creek.

Kevin Olson has passed away. He loved growing up on the Station Creek farm of Delmer and Velda Olson. Kevin has dealt with many health issues during his life, but maintained a positive attitude and great sense of humor. Three of the Olson siblings have homes in Mink Creek: Nate, Jimmie, and Jeff. Kevin’s sisters have kept their Idaho roots, ReNae Mellor in the Boise area and Millie Mower in American Falls.

With the smoke from fires to the west of us flowing in and out we have some days that our valley shrinks visually and our mountains nearly disappear from view. We have received several cloudbursts in the past couple of weeks and the moisture has given our landscape a boost of greening, warding off the feeling of an early descent of fall. However, some leaves are already in the process of color change.

I hope you have noticed our beautiful roadway sunflowers. They are everywhere this year, along the roads, off in the edge of a field. And since the highway maintenance crews have recently given the highway lines a new paint job, that yellow of the sunflowers matches the center lines perfectly.

August 25, 2021

 Sorry about missing last week, it was a bit much for me and I totally spaced posting it.  Death, illness, friends---all took precedence over the blog, as well they should. 

Eldon and Danita Wilcox have had family members on the doorstep much of the summer months. The David and Lesli Evans family live the furthest away in the Dallas, TX area and this summer were able to come for a lengthy stay. They took in a trip to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks and Lesli’s siblings dropped in and out all through the stay for family fun: mostly local small town stuff and a trip to Lava Hot Springs. Siblings are Brigham, Elise, Ami, MacKenzie, Brittany, and Jesse. Jesse is the only one who now lives in Mink Creek.

Jeannine and Johnny Iverson have done considerable entertaining lately. Jeannine’s sister from Herriman, UT, a brother from Colorado and another brother from Delta, UT, has all come by for some good time with the Iversons.

Brooke and Josh Reichman, students in Provo, UT, are staying with her parents, Sherrie and Shane Corbett, while anticipating the start up of college studies this fall.

Robert and Phee Crosland embarked on a cruise to Alaska. This was to celebrate their 40^th Wedding Anniversary, but a year later, due to last year’s restrictions. They enjoyed the beautiful country, did some hiking and discovering. One discovery was to notice the fragile economic situation of the Alaskan tourist industry with a number of things shut down.

Our youth combined with those of the Riverdale 1^st Ward to have a Spartan Race at the Erickson pond. They made up four teams of five individuals, each team required to overcome various obstacles, being timed as they proceeded. Obstacles were: a rope climb on a cliff made of three stacked hay bales, trudging through knee-deep mud, swinging on a rope across a large mud hole, carrying a 5 gallon bucket filled with water a specified distance, throwing a spear at a target, running up a hill to reach the water slide that would bring them back to the starting point. Organizers were Bishop Paul McKay, Bret Rasmussen and the young men of the priest’s quorum.

We have had a quick, sharp change in weather. Much needed rain came through the smoke filled skies and continued in various degrees of intensity for a couple of days. The temperature dropped significantly and reminded us that the fall season is approaching.

Be aware, it is zucchini season, at least in this area.  I am not complaining because I like them, but such  vegetables are apt to show up on your doorsteps, unannounced.  Neighbors have shared these, cucumbers and  beans with me, perfect for this year of no garden for our place. 

August 11. 2021

 

I am running a race this week that is a little more loaded than some.  Sorry that this post is half a day late.  All things considered, that is pretty good, from my viewpoint.   It is mid week and so far I have added a funeral and my husband's hospital stay for shoulder surgery and getting him home into the 24/7 routine.  Bob is doing well, and working toward being as independent as ever.  Both a blessing and a curse. 

The last few days are feeling more like the end of August rather than the beginning.  Days still overly warm, all crops, gardens ahead of schedule that seems to go with this year of 2021.  Canning endeavors a little crazy because lids are hard to come by, and when found seem a little inferior.  But, one continues on.

Karen Olson Tribett suggested we include this Mink Creek blog site on the Originals, and so you may be a new reader.  This blog has been going on for several years and came about when I  was limited by the past editor of the Preston Citizen to have 300 words in the weekly rural column of the paper.  I generally had a bit more to "say'" so started the blog using what was in the paper, plus a bit more, just a bit.  I found it worked well for readers who were serving missions somewhere in the world and they liked keeping up with the usual Mink Creek palaver.  Now I can write more than 300 words, but a few readers have said they like the blog and so I have kept it up.  If you already get the paper, printed or digital, you will find it a bit redundant.  Please consider it a letter from home to those with Mink Creek roots.  

Elder Walter Iverson has returned from his mission service in the Alabama, Birmingham Mission. His family, that of Dr. Kurt and Margret Iverson made the trip to travel home with him. It was a good excuse for a family vacation with lots of memories to share and time for strong reconnecting. Elder Iverson reported to the Mink Creek Ward with family from out of town present to enjoy his remarks. They were his grandmother, Sharon Knapp, and Sid and Marlene Jensen of Cub River, siblings Johnny Iverson with wife Gabby and daughter, of Rexburg, ID area and Alesis and Scott Strong and son from Colorado.

The Iverson family had no more gotten home to Mink Creek than they got back in their cars and drove north. There was a gathering of a larger Iverson clan in Island Park, ID, an Iversosn Renion for all of the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Johnny and Jeannine Iverson, also of Mink Creek. This took place at the Wilderness Edge with accommodations for more than 150 people. All of the lilving Iverson children and their spouses were able to attend. Jeannine reported that there were 90 great grandchildren there, six babies younger than six months of age. The compound had a stream of water centralized that was perfect for water play, about 6-8 inches in depth of wading. Games of one sort or another were available during the daylight hours and the family held a program each night.

For some of the cousins it was the first time they had met and large name tags were provided. These family members came from Washington, DC, California, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina, Utah, Washington state and Idaho. For the Iverson senior couple it was a dream of unity and togetherness come true.

The family of Liesa and LaRon Baird have been busy with scouting activities. Liesa, LaRon and their and their son Hazen have been on staff for a summer camp At Camp Keisel, UT for nearly a week of July. It is part of the National Youth Leadership Training program. In their absence from home daughter Juliana Packer came down from Eugene, OR to keep things running smoothly in Mink Creek.

Our village is still dealing with smoky skies 24/7 and an occasional cloudburst of rain during afternoons. The rain is pretty spotty, it may hit in Bear Creek, and leave just a sprinkle over the hill in Station Creek.

August, already--the 3rd, 2021

 

Terry and Steve Mainini are pleased to announce the birth of their second grandchild. Their daughter, Angelina and Iyar Koren had a little girl earlier this month, making two granddaughters. Terry is spending some days in the Salt Lake City area with the Korens, enjoying her grandmother role.

The teen set of our community had an afternoon of playing in the water. They went to the Glendale Reservoir, equipped with water stuff, rafts, and a motorboat. The leaders for the event were Jody Rasmussen, Amy Baldwin, Lacey Christensen and ReNae Egley and they brought sandwich fixings, chips and drinks for the party. The boat that was originally planned for the event had some difficulties but Raphael Arnsworth obliged with his boat and all had a good time.

The Erickson side of the family of Julie and Todd Kunz of Idaho Falls were happy to attend the wedding reception of Kamri Kunz and Steven Lords. This includes Julie’s parents, Layne and Karen Erickson, plus Paul and Terri McKay, Mark and Carla Nielsen of American Fork, UT, Connie and Adam Westenskow of Logan, UT, and Bob and Claudia Erickson. Steven is the son of Paul and Nancy Lords also of Idaho Falls. The newlyweds will continue their education at USU in Logan, UT.

Jonathan Seamons, has been rounding out his summer of wrestling contests. He spent some time in Boise for the training camp of Team Idaho, where they were preparing to compete at the Marine Nationals in Fargo, N D, this past month. Two of Jonny’s older brothers, Ben and David, competed in the Fargo challenges in years past.

The Costley family has been home, even though their parents are serving at the Salt Lake Temple Mission. Hannah Singleton and their boys, Samuel and Grey, annually spend a summer month in Mink Creek. Her husband, Spencer Singleton comes up from their home in El Dorado, AR, near the end of the visit, getting a break himself before they all head back to the heat and humidity of the south. Costley brothers and sisters have been in and out and around during some of this time, always good for reconnecting family ties and making cousin-friends.

Summer in Mink Creek means that we have visitors in town nearly every week. This past Sunday we had more visitors filling the pews than we did residents. It was Rodeo weekend, that explains it, but how great that they not only come home for the festivities, but to be with the village on Sunday to renew and remember the days of their past.

We had an entry in the Rodeo parade this year---some of the Mink Creek Cemetery board of directors rode in the back of Clare Christensen’s pickup with the sign Mink Creek Cemetery running the length of the pickup bed, Clare at the wheel. He is the pres of the board. I cheered as they drove by, it was one of a kind.

July 27, 2021

 

A power outage that lasts for several hours surely does throw a monkey wrench into the daily plans. Mink Creek community, and likely others, was off the grid on July 22. Rocky Mountain Power attributed the cause to be that of wildlife. Totally acceptable when one lives with wildlife 24/7. One just restructures the day, or night, whatever is the case and is grateful for the guys on the crews who remedy the problem.

The Peter Haws family were up from Solvang, CA for some not-so-cool days in Idaho. Hopefully these over-warm days did not ruin the reputation of summer days in Idaho with the guests that accompanied the family.

Laura Cheney and Cindy Hanson have had visitors on a pretty regular basis. Laura’s sister Wendy stops by and her sister-in-law, Kristy Cheney checked in one weekend. Cindy’s parents, Bob and Carla Hanson got acquainted with the Mink Creek life.

A source of some of the local smoky skies was a fire up Mill Canyon, in our Birch Creek area. There are lots of pine and maple up there and it is a dry year. The Franklin County Firefighters responded to the call and got it extinguished. This kind of year puts everyone on alert, or should.

The household of Bob and Claudia Erickson has been injected with activity for nearly a month running. Carla Nielsen of American Fork, UT, was the first to arrive. While she was pulling some yard weeds she discovered the hiding place of some orphaned kittens whose mother had been a traffic fatality a few days prior. Mothering the three-week-old felines was the perfect project for the next visitors, Drew Erickson and his children Spencer and Paige from Tempe, AZ. Baby cats and summer tasks made up their agenda. They were joined by Drew’s wife Hilary and another son, Conner, for a day or two. This group has been making an effort to escape the hot days of Arizona, only to find the days in Idaho warmer than anticipated. As the Ericksons made ready to depart, Kristin and Jay Collins and daughter Claire of Lakeview, OR, arrived. The chore list continued to be worked over, along with trips to favored places like the Preston Golf Course and Big J’s. Again with an overlapping departure/arrival date, Claudine and LaMar McKague and daughter Elsie came from Vancouver, WA. On a farm there is always work to be done, and fun was interspersed with work. Both the Collins and McKague families intend to spend their retirement years in Mink Creek and those plans are in the process of development.

On July 23rd the family of Naomi Wilde combined with the Mink Creek community to host a birthday party for Naomi, celebrating her 106 birthday. It was held in our favorite good weather gathering spot, our Ballpark.  Her birthday was June 6, but after 106 years no one minded that it was a bit off schedule.  Those attending enjoyed a breakfast/supper of scrambled eggs, sausage patties, bacon, pancakes, orange juice, with fresh raspberries and whipped cream on the side.  Her three sons, Ross, Van and Dean  were ready with memories and questions for their mother.  Naomi, with her usual spunk was ready with comebacks and memories in response.  It was a delightful evening and well attended.  If you read the Preston Citizen a lengthy article with more detail should be in this week's paper, along with a picture of Naomi.