post-Thanksgiving

Mink Creek wasps are slowly retiring for the season.  A few still make drowsy visits, often meeting with their demise.  Box elder bugs are awaiting a good freeze, but their activity has lessened somewhat. Grasshoppers have left for warmer climes.  It is amazing how quickly the change can take place.

The community enjoyed a Harvest Hoedown, with a great variety of dances offered.  In addition to regular ballroom dancing, Wynn Costley directed dancers in the old fashioned Virginia Reel and Oh Johnny.  These made for some lively action and fun memories of performing in elementary school events.  The recreation hall was decorated as a barn dance and western garb was the style for the evening.  Refreshments were a variety of pie and ice cream, with nut cups on the side. Laural and Jody Janke were in charge of this event.

Thanksgiving Day in Mink Creek dawned bright and clear.  All day the temperatures were perfect, just a light jacket needed for outdoor activities.  There were some people who came up our canyons seeking the perfect tree to adorn their homes for the Christmas season.  The trees left----in the back of pickups, tied to the tops of cars, roped to 4-wheelers, whatever worked.  The next holiday season is beginning.

Alexis Iverson, daughter of Kurt and Margret Iverson, received a mission call.  She will be serving in the Texas, San Antonio, Mission, English speaking, leaving in early spring of 2013.  Alexis is excited, the first one from Mink Creek ward to receive her papers since the announcement of age change in LDS October Conference.

Kerry and Lacey Christensen and their three little girls took some vacation time in sunny southern California.  They managed to see several tourist highlights.  The favored spot for the girls was Sea World, visited over and over again.   There was much water splashing that they enjoyed.

Thanksgiving holidays brought visitors to Mink Creek.  At the Bob Erickson household were two families:  Jay and Kristin Collins and children from Lakeview, OR, including their daughter Bailey Collins who is attending BYU/Idaho, and Mark and Carla Nielsen and boys from American Fork, UT.  Laural and Jody Janke's family, Mink Creek residents joined the group.

There were plenty of other visitors over that past weekend.  However, those names will keep until the printed version of next week’s Citizen since I more than  met the 300 word limit for the paper’s column.   Those of you who read the online version get my  extra rambling thoughts.

Those Christmas trees are continuing to go down to the flatlands.  Every day there are outfits toting a lovely green tree. It is a tradition of long standing with many families.  How nice that we have those lovely evergreens in our backyard.

Leftovers from Thanksgiving were gratefully used by homemakers in our community.  Now it is time to get back into the normal routine of “What to fix for___.”  It is a question that never goes away.  How wonderful it is to have food to fix!

It has felt a little unusual to have a whole week of November left after the holiday.  Christmas lights are coming out, decorations starting to sprout, and it is still November.  Of course the businesses have been hawking Christmas gifts and décor since before Halloween.  Better not start on that topic!  The real December is just a couple of days hence and for many of us that feeling of “Get ready, set, go,” will keep us on an emotional run for most of the ensuing days.  Let’s enjoy it!

Thanksgiving Eve, 2012

There is no longer any question as to where the Mink Creek community begins.  A beautiful metal sign marks  the entrance to Mink Creek, just to the right as one crosses the bridge over  Bear River.  This is another village improvement resulting from Boy Scout Eagle projects.  The young man responsible is Justin Coleman, son of Tammy and Nelson Coleman.  

We have had several recipients of knee surgery lately---Marie Keller,  Sherrie Corbett,  Ron Norris.   There are quite a number of our residents who have needed this procedure in the past.  I would hesitate to start a list..  Do you suppose it is due to this living on hillsides and the old folk tale that all Mink Creek residents had one leg shorter than the other?  Or the challenge to a person’s gait while walking about?

The recently performed PHS musical, “The Music Man,” was well done.  There were four youths from our community participating:   Nicole Beardall as one of the costumed townspeople, Josh Greene working as stage hand, Abi Janke , a member of the stage band, and Spencer Wilde, playing in the pit orchestra. 

Mikel Beardall, son of Tammy and Kent Beardall , is now at the Mission Training Center in Provo, preparing to serve in the Russia, Novosibirsk, Mission.   He spoke to friends and relatives recently in an LDS Meeting.  Immediate family able to attend were:  Shawn and Callie Beardall and children from Spanish Fork, UT, Laura Beardall of Preston,  Michelle Wall and her two youngsters of Grand Junction, CO.  Kent’s brother, Dave Beardall, and his family drove up from Mapleton, UT.

Eldon and Danita Wilcox enjoyed having some of their family here for a few days, following the funeral of her brother, Lyle Christensen.  Brigham and Jennifer and their children were down from Idaho Falls, ID,  Ami and Tom Fenton and their family from Tooele, UT, and MaKenzie and Tyson Gunter of Pocatello, ID.

Bruce Crane of Logan was up with his son and a friend, checking out the Crane Cabin in preparation for the oncoming season.  Jim and Debbie Harrison were up from St. George again, now if we just could move them up for lengthier spells it would be great.

Some hunting is still going on.  Ducks and pheasants are not safe yet.  Occasionally I hear the boom of a shotgun, or my doorbell rings, someone requesting permission to hunt.

We have been the recipients of some moisture lately, sufficient to make it muddy for walking.  Leaves now decorating our lawns are soggy, challenging to chop as mulch or to rake into burnable piles.  No complaints about receiving moisture, we need every drop after this past dry summer.   Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and some relax time with it.

Nov 14, 2012

It isn’t just our strip of highway that holds hazards for deer population.  In a recent trip between Smithfield, UT and Franklin, ID,  I counted a total of seven recent deer fatalities, in groups of three, two and two.  In our area the collisions are generally only with one animal. Can’t help but wonder if the change from Daylight Saving Time had anything  to do with such a large number---crossing  the road at a time of unexpected heavier traffic?  Just guessing!

The days are a bit lighter when the school buses roll through our community in the mornings.  For the last week or so children have been picked up while it was still quite dark.

No matter the results of the recent election there is a feeling of relief in the air. Election tension has dissolved, and with it, the wearing affect on one and all.  Mail delivery can get back to normal. No more phone calls soliciting either funds or votes.  No more verbal bashing on the TV channels.  The voting turnout in Mink Creek District was very good.  Although our community and surrounding area are not over-populated there was at least an 87% of registered voters that cast their ballots in this election, 2012.  Great participation!

Marie Aupperlee is the newest member of the LDS Ward, baptized  and confirmed last weekend.  Her daughter Mona and Darren Bryson and their son Zack drove over from Rock Springs, WY, to witness the occasion.  Other special friends from beyond our boundaries were members of the Hugh Hansen family:  Bonnie Hansen of Preston, Dirk and Pat Bowles , Fairview; Roxann Beutler, Dayton; Sid and Geraldine Hansen, Richmond, UT.  The Hansen and Aupperlee families have been close friends for many years.

Lyle Christensen passed away on Nov 4^th. He was hospitalized only a short time, but has been suffering long-term.  His sons live here in Mink Creek, Phillip and Krysta Christensen and Bryan Christensen.  His two daughters live in Preston, Julie and Jim Cooper and Lyla Dettmer.

Lyle was only 70 years old and leaves behind many extended family members.  The Christensen family name goes back to some of Mink Creek's early  Scandinavian settlers.

            Another evidence of  the arrival of snow and colder weather is the return of the turkey flocks.  One can find bunches roaming up and down the length of Mink Creek.  They even frequent the Mink Creek church parking lot for some reason.  No food on that new pavement, but they show up there nevertheless.

            Weather wise we have had more snow, mornings usually greet us with a casting of white.  The sun  warms up the earth and things are dry by noon.  It feels like winter is being held off at arms length, few are ready to welcome it, still much to be done.  The canyons are already attracting the die-hard snowmobile set, but there isn’t much depth of snow as yet.  Speaking of that activity, Warren Wilde and Layne Erickson attended the Idaho State Snowmobile Convention in Boise recently.

Nov 7, 2012

Pheasant and elk are still on the lookout for hunters.  Our deer, however are feeling safe, happily grazing in fields.  Both bucks and does do check out a passing driver but go right back to the munching with little concern. 

October is the month for the annual program produced by the LDS Primary. This is always something to look forward to as attendees are both taught and entertained, children being a bit unpredictable no matter how much they practiced for the event.  Their theme this year dealt with choosing the right.  In addition to speaking parts children participated in a both a vocal choir and a bell choir.  They sang hymns and Primary songs.   Along with the Primary teachers, Primary president Candy Longhurst, chorister Melinda Jepsen and pianist Cecelie Costley worked with the children.  The Preston North Stake officers were represented by Jolene Tanner and Kathy Winward.

The Primary organization was also in charge of the community Trunk r Treat for Halloween.  This event began with a Harvest Dinner of a variety of soups, rolls and crackers, and brownies.   A parade of costumes went all through the dining area, looping around the table, up over the stage so that the audience got a good view.  The evening ended with children gathering treats offered from trunks of cars of all our neighbors in the parking lot.

Fred and Victoria Christensen drove up from their home in Provo for a weekend with his parents, Royce and Lorraine Christensen.  Fred is going to school at Utah Valley University.

Claire Jepsen celebrated an important birthday, 16^th, and moved into the Laurel Class in the Young Women’s organization.   James Baird, with a similar birthday, was ordained to the office of a priest.  He was presented with recognition for earning the Duty to God as a Teacher.

            The Christmas DI Drive is underway.  Items that would be good purchases for the holidays are requested:  gently used clothes, decoration items,  domestic upgrades, toys (also gently used, or now ignored).  Actually anything that comes to mind that might be needed or wanted for this particular time of year.

Some variety of a stomach flu is making its way around this area.  It seems impossible not to share, hitting one member of a family and moving on through most of the rest.  It is of short duration, but intense during the 24 hours or so that it afflicts an individual.

By the time this is published all the months of politics will be a thing of the past.  Some faces will be all smiles, other full of frustration.  No matter the outcome at least our phones will resume normality, the mail glut will decrease.  I keep telling me---there has to be some positive, regardless of which way it goes.

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.