Halloween, 2012

The colors of our canyons have faded.  The recent winds have whipped off whatever leaves were sufficiently dry to rip off the branches.  There are still many leaves yet to crisp up and fall into the yards and hollows.  The first snow of the year arrived during the night and we woke to a white countryside the morning of Oct 23^rd.  The heat of the day erased that white blanket at the lower levels but the mountaintops are still covered.

Mario Crosland is on his way to the Mission Training Center in Provo, UT.  He has been called to serve in the Philippines, Bacolod, Mission.   This is a single island in the Philippines with a language all its own.  Mario will  stay at the MTC for two months while learning to speak Hiligaynon.  Friends and family were here this past week to give him their best wishes.  He is the son of Robert and Phee Crosland.

Mink Creek’s matriarch, Naomi Wilde, has recently undergone the scoping of a knee.  She is 97 years young and is now enduring physical therapy twice a week.  Naomi says she is considering using some WD 40 on all of her joints.  All things considered, she is doing well.

Dennis and Judy Clark have enjoyed a whole week of catching up on the life of their daughter, Kim Daines.  Kim flew out from her home in Maryland for some good R&R in Mink Creek where she spent her growing up years.  She has loved the calm of our surroundings, soaking up the fall season and just getting the boost that is part of “coming home.”

Matthew Hawkes, son of Robert and Elizabeth Hawkes, is the newest member of the Mink Creek LDS Ward.  He was baptized and confirmed, surrounded by family, in Logan recently.

            The full moon of this week is perfect for the Halloween festivities.  I find it interesting that this month’s moon goes by several names.  The weatherman recently called it a “Hunters’ Moon.”  The newspaper referred to it as the “Harvest Moon.”  I wonder what it was called when the beginning of Halloween stuff first took place.  Maybe I need to do some research into the Druids to find that out.  Happy Halloween, online readers.

            We have had a sale of the Bybee homes here in Mink Creek.  The couple moving in already live in Mink Creek, but for the winter months Ramona and Jerry Hatchett will find being in the Bybee homes much more to their liking with roads being plowed, closer to the center of our village, closer to the highway, etc.  Just all sorts of positive features.   I would think both the buyer and the seller would be happy with this arrangement.

            To begin this week’s column there was mention of the first snowfall.  We have had several nights since bringing similar amounts, also disappearing once the sun got up an took over the hours.

            Hunters are still out and about in this community.  Some seasons have closed, or at least changed gender.  It won’t be too long before this activity is winding down.

Oct 24, 2012

Rain!  We got a downpour, a badly needed downpour, from the tops of our surrounding mountains, all through the boundaries of the community and out into Riverdale below us.  No one complained about the drenching. Chances are more will be coming, probably a more solid variety.

Vehicles have been parked out in fields, along sides of the canyon roads, any place where hunters can get access to the area of their search.  Deer hunting has begun and the season is open for antlered elk as well.   Pheasants are running for cover.

Bob Erickson has returned from a trip to the northwest.  He and his brother, Gary, plus some friends of Gary’s, have been fishing for salmon on the Columbia River.  They came back with smiling faces, caught 5 fish over their four-day sessions on the water.

Crews of experienced fire wood harvesters gathered here and there in our canyons for a community wood cutting project.   This year Jeff Knudson was supervising. All ages were represented and entered into the effort with gusto. Logs went from trees, to blocks, to split pieces, to nicely stacked and stored fuel for the cold days anticipated.  Many in our community are unable to get wood they need for winter and the goal of this project is to provide for that need.  A worthwhile project when considered from all sides.   Busy workers were fed lunch by the Relief Society under the direction of Danita Wilcox, Liz Hawkes, and Sharla McKay.

The semi-annual Highway 36 cleanup was undertaken this week.  Some stretches along the highway were full of rubbish tossed from passing vehicles, other areas virtually litter-free.  We have no signs that indicate this is the space to litter.  “Do Not Litter” covers the whole length of our community, and beyond.  Our youth do a great job of pickup and orange bags dotted the road the following morning. 

Jim and Debbie Harrison have been up for their fall visit, battening down the hatches at their off and on home here for the advancing season.

Bryce and Terry Stromberg have headed back to California.  Hunting season is coming to a close and that is Bryce’s favorite time of year in Idaho.  They will be missed because they get very involved in our community when they are here.

There has been a change in some of the LDS ward boundaries in Preston, but Mink Creek is not affected by the shift. 7^th ward was dissolved and the people from that area now part of 10^th and 3^rd, if my information is correct.  One woman said she walked into her meeting and decided that there were nearly half of those present that she planned to get to know as friends.  That is the way it should be, love that attitude.

Oct 17, 2012

Wildlife carnage on Highway 36!!  Just what got hit I do not know but there was much evidence of impact and the results.  A deer, one or more turkeys, a stack of raccoons, someone’s cow?? It is a reminder that all need to be vigilant, drive to our best ability, no texting or cell phones, while we are meandering down the road, powerful motor and machine beneath us.

Members of Relief Society enjoyed a fall evening sharing ideas for approaching holiday seasons.  Decorating and gifts on a shoestring budget was covered by Laural Janke, Lacey Christensen, and Hilary Checketts.  Loads of crafty ideas were presented, along with websites for more information.   Terry Stromberg shared her recipe for coconut cupcakes while giving a demonstration which included improving baking techniques.  Candy and treats ,  plus a bit more baking, took place in the kitchen under the direction of  Colleen Wilde, Julie Egley, ReNae Egley and Melinda Jepsen. Recipes and a tasting table followed, along with friendship.  In charge of the entire session were Tammy Coleman and Betty Jo Jepsen.

The latest report is that Andy McKay is home in Mink Creek, enjoying the luxury of sleeping in his own bed.  After nearly a month of hospital beds, Andy was more than ready.  He is doing well and now is working on catching up on life events that he has missed since his accident.

The October Pack Meeting of our Cub Scouts was a fun family affair. The theme for this  session was Zoo Animals. Cubmaster Dawnell Greene was assisted by James Baird with scout cheers.  The Bear Den, leaders Ivan and Lana McCracken, performed skits, sang songs, and told jokes.  Young and older enjoyed  zany games.  Matthew Hawkes was welcomed into the Wolf Pack, leaders Avery and Pedro Gomez.  Awards were presented to: Michael Hawkes, Charles Iverson, and Bryce Egley. David Seamons completed his Arrow of Light and will be moving on to the Scout Troop.  Refreshments of cookies wrapped up the night.

‘Tis the time for the final sharing of the bounties of neighbor gardens---squash,(so many varieties), pumpkins large and small, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes.  A couple of families in our community even have a bumper crop of kittens they are hoping to give away.

This fact will be a surprise to some of you readers.  The Mink Creek  LDS Ward will have 10 missionaries  actively serving in various parts of the world by the end of 2012.  Ten, and of those ten one is a retired couple, just being counted as a single.  They are scattered over the globe, east, west, north, south.This isn’t a very big ward, it isn’t a very big community.  All of the addresses in this little hamlet go under the Preston, ID, umbrella.  Our population increases during the summer by a few,  holidays bring the numbers up for a few days, but we settle back to normalcy with around one hundred homes humming.  Many of that number are in the empty nest and retirement stages.  Just thought that little tidbit  might be an update for some of my readers who called this home at some stage of their lives and now live elsewhere.

Oct 10, 2012

The true Fall has come in on the wings of an icy wind.  It is time to clean up to garden remains, at least anything above ground.  If not, start wrapping multiple blankets to ward off the dropping temperature from those still frail plants.  Beautiful mums, all set to bloom this fall, are threatened.

Mink Creek’s LDS Ward enjoyed an autumn Linger Longer.  The menu was potluck, with mainly salads, desserts, and a casserole here and there.  These are popular events and give residents a chance to chat and relax with their neighbors on a day when there is less pressure from employment.

The parking lot for the LDS Ward is completed.  New black top is adorned with new yellow parking lines, and the entryway has officially moved a bit easterly.  There are more designated slots for vehicles and an additional handicapped space. 

Austin Straight has had a milestone birthday.  The son of Avery and Pedro Gomez, Austin was ordained to the office of a teacher in the LDS Ward.  His Mink Creek grandparents are Beverly and Douglas Bruderer.

Noel and Jeff Hadley came up from Plain City, UT, to introduce their baby to Noel’s hometown.  She is named Mia Taylor Hadley.  Grandparents, Wynn and Cecelie Costley, enjoyed being able to have some “getting to know you” time with this latest addition to their group of grands.  Other family members came by to join the fun of a new baby.

We are still having the battle of the bugs, particularly the persistent box elder.  This one arrived early and by now is present in hordes.  There is little that deters the creatures as they adhere to all surfaces, including hair and clothing.

A bit short on news this week, no guarantees for the online version to change, but it will still be posted for those readers.

I note that the Halloween Treat Ghost is making the rounds in our community.  Any knock on the door  or a ringing doorbell on a darkened evening might mean there are goodies awaiting somewhere in the area of the door.   Just don’t look too hard for the delivery person, sometimes it is hard to hide when that door gets opened.  Instructions will be left so that each recipient can have a chance to play the role of the friendly ghost.  All this turns out to be a fun way to connect with neighbors.

           

Oct 3, 2012

Fall colors are filling the canyons of Mink Creek and Cub River.  The mountainsides are a blend of orange, red and green, with an occasional splash of yellow.  In both locations red is the predominant color where the maple trees are in abundance.  I understand from a friend that the Oneida Narrows is worth a tour.

A Boy Scout Court of Honor was convened at the home of leaders Jeannine and Johnny Iverson recently, a time for rank advancement and merit badges.  Three boys made Tenderfoot:  Carson Christensen, Jacobi Johnson and David Hawkes.  Braxton Nye advanced to First Class,  Travis Greene, Ty Beardall and Ben Seamons were awarded Star rank and Andy McKay earned his Life rank.  Ten merit badges were earned throughout the troop.  With families having been invited, seventy people attended.  All enjoyed sloppy joes, gelled salads, veggie salads and a special Dutch-oven carrot cake that had been prepared by Kurt Iverson.  It would be true to say that “a good time was had by all,” the younger set enjoying recreational activities that Johnny and Jeannine have around their home for Iverson grandkids.

People from this end of Preston North Stake attended the televised Brigham City Temple dedication at the LDS Ward Meetinghouse in Mink Creek.  There were three sessions throughout Sunday, Sept. 22^nd.

Will Moran is now living in Brighton, UT.  He is employed by the ski resort. While biding his time for the snow season, Will is tutoring students in English, his college major.

As of this writing the progress of Andy McKay, son of Paul and Terrie, is very encouraging.    On Sept 15^th Andy had a motorbike accident, as mentioned last week.  He was recently moved from the intensive care unit of Primary Children’s Hospital and physical therapy is already more than once a day.  Even though they know his total recovery will take some time his parents report that his responses thus far are surprising the doctors.

  People, local and otherwise, are feeling the nip in the wind.  I see truckloads of winter fuel (in the form of logs) headed down to the flatter lands on a regular basis.  Harvest season is bringing in the crops from the field but it is also preparing for that time when there are no crops.

            Just have to give a little information about the lives of Elder Jimmie and Sister AnnaBeth Olson who are serving a mission in England.  It is interesting to note that these two are also teaching English. One wouldn’t consider that particularly because of their location.   If you are among the Brits everyone speaks the language.  Not so, it seems that many of the friends that they have made there are Asian and benefit from the instruction that the Olsons can give.  I like that idea.

Sept 26, 2012

Our skies are full of smoke from fires to the west of us.  There are days when we cannot see our mountains. The mountains I am referring to are nearly in our backyards.  We will welcome some wind to blow this smog out.  Mink Creek residents are not accustomed to bad air quality.

Andy McKay, son of Paul and Terrie McKay, is in intensive care at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, due to an accident on his motor bike.  It happened as he was traveling homeward on the dirt road between Bear Creek and Station Creek.  This report is most likely unnecessary because, judging from inquiries the family has received, the entire county populace is already aware, and beyond.   Word does get around, Debbie and Jim Harrison checked up on Andy, they live in St. George. Elder Jimmie and AnnaBeth Olson had even heard about it, and they are serving a mission in England.

The Fall plowing of our fields is underway.  On the irrigated land the tractor and plow go fairly smooth. However, on the dry-land fields the ground is rock-hard.  It is like breaking up concrete.  This is just further evidence of how little rainfall there has been this past summer.  The wild sunflowers are at their peak, another indication of the warm season starting to wind down.

By now those who graduated from high school last spring have moved on with their lives.  Some have found jobs, two are ready to go on missions shortly, others gone off to college in one direction or the other.  It has been interesting to hear comments from the college bound group of being concerned about getting lost on campus, after feeling secure and confident at PHS.

Several of our residents reported attending the High School Version of Les Miserables recently on stage at the Ellen Eccles Theater in Logan, UT.  All reports were expressed surprise and delight at the expertise of the cast members.  Age was no deterrent for the quality of voices or the ability of acting.  Laural and Jody Janke, of Mink Creek, were part of the pit orchestra for this production.  They seem to be sought out to perform on their trumpets in various parts of Cache Valley.

Weatherwise, we no longer have the intense heat experienced this summer. Nor have we had a freeze that has wiped out our gardens, so no complaints.

Sept 19,2012

Mid-September , is it time to drag out the blankets to cover tomatoes?   The dip in daytime temperatures is a relief after the baking of summer, but no one is ready for winter.  Now that school is underway everywhere there is a slow-down of visitors to Mink Creek.  The routine for the next nine months is getting set in place.           

Wynn and Cecelie Costley have been on the move with family matters.  In Plain City, UT, they were present for the blessing of a new grandchild, the first child for Noel and Jeff Hadley.  Then Josie and David Hulme’s oldest son was ordained to the office of a deacon in their LDS Ward in North Ogden and Wynn and Cecelie were able to be there.  Lastly, they drove to Salt Lake City to celebrate the birthday of Cecelie’s father, Bill Allen.  All of this in one weekend!

Many residents have enjoyed driving down to Brigham City to attend the open house of the Brigham City LDS Temple.  Marie Aupperlee was able to go with Bonnie Hansen and the family of Dirk and Pat Bowles of Fairview.  She loved the art work particularly and is grateful to them for that opportunity.  Many have made the drive over:  Bryce and Terry Stromberg, Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen, Layne and Karen Erickson, Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen, Glade and Corinne Larsen, Nate and Dana Olson, David and Judy Wilde, the Sheldon Longhurst family, Terrie and Paul McKay.  I am sure there are others of whom I am not aware. Our Erickson family made the event a family outing, three families went together, us, the Janke family and the McKague family of Vancouver, WA.  Simply the whiteness of the edifice makes it standout against the backdrop of the mountains, just beautiful!

Mink Creek residents---don’t forget the DI Drive this coming Saturday morning!  By 7 am have your “stuff” either on your porch or by your mailbox.  If your Stuff is the large variety give Camille a call for arrangements.

Bob and Claudia Erickson headed south to Salt Lake City for a previous appointment and then took in the Utah State Fair for a few hours.  Lots of things and people to see, but no carnival rides, please.  Then they drove on past Point of the Mountain to Alpine for an overnight stay with Gene and Danalee Abernethy.  The next day was filled with visiting and going to the BYU football game.  Is anyone surprised?

Bryan and Shannon Erickson of Woodland Hills met them in Provo with great pre-game food and a great time was had by all.

Doug Wilcox came up from his place in Salt Lake with a pickup load of veggies.  He drove around Mink Creek handing out the produce:  boxes of tomatoes, peppers of all descriptions, cucumbers, etc., and no zucchini!  He could have started a farmer’s market!  Thanks for stopping here, Doug.