Last of Feb, 2014

One day it feels like spring may be on its way, the next day we are certain that winter is in a lingering mood.   Our mountains still hold enough snow to attract the many snow mobile enthusiasts that crowd the canyons over weekends.

John Warburton has been in Utah with health issues; now he is back in the county.  He is not at home in Mink Creek, but staying at Franklin County Medical Center in transitional care.

Karla and Chris Jensen of Logan came up to check on her dad, Vernon Keller.  He has had quite a bit of company lately.  He happily claims that his friends and neighbors are supplying him with food that ”is way more than adequate.”

The Young Men and Young Women had fun doing a service scavenger hunt.  Small groups scattered throughout our village with a list of activities to be checked off by homeowners after the team completed cerain tasks.  Some were big:  vacuum a room, dust, clean a toilet, wash a window, etc.  Some were small:  sing a song, read a favorite scripture, sweep the porch, bring in firewood, etc.  Which classification the task of ‘change a diaper’ fell under might differ according to the contents of said diaper.  Another task that could be risky was labeled ‘homeowners choice.’

This was a timed event and each team was given a bag of candy, with the winners receiving more candy than the others.  Refreshments of ice cream and brownies were provided by the leaders.

            Jimmie and Anna Beth Olson took a road trip to Salmon, ID.  Their objective was spending time with their daughters:  Dana and Charlie Peterson and kids in Meridian, and Peggy and Jon Flinders and family in Salmon.  Enjoying scenery along the way, up and back, was a bonus.  They reported that many places across Idaho are devoid of snow in this latter part of February.  

            Two long-time Mink Creek people are in the hospital.   Neither live here now, but their roots are deep in the community.   Darlene Jepsen King, of Fairview, has been hospitalized for quite some time, rallies and then struggles some more.  Leness Keller of Preston, moved around in hospital stays for the last couple of months and he is now at the Franklin County Transitional Center, enjoying visits and sharing memories, but not able to walk.  His nurses are good at  giving him tours through the County med facility, checking to see if there are any Mink Creek friends in residence from day to day.

            Robins are popping up and down the village, singing about the coming of spring. They are probably a tad early.  Some storms are still in the forecasts so they may get their feathers ruffled a mite, but it is good to hear those cheerful notes of song.

Feb 18, 2014

Recent storms we have been having caused some interesting visual affects.  Snow fell for 5 days, then a day of rain, followed by one with winds.  As a result we had ripples in the snow.  The surfaces on the hillsides appeared like vertical waves, on the few, flatter areas it was like a wind chopped lake, all frozen in white.  It made for fascinating shadows when the sun light was slanting downward.

 The Mink Creek LDS Ward held its annual Conference on Feb. 9^th with stake officers from the Preston North Stake attending.  The membership was particularly please to hear from President Dax Keller and both of his counselors, Richard Swainston and Blayne Rounds.   A special musical number, Love One Another, was sung by the ward choir under the direction of Jennifer Seamons.  Three of the Seamons family, Ben, Samuel and David, provided a string trio as part of the selection.

On a dark and icy night a southbound car slid off the sloping Highway 36 down into a pasture.  This was near milepost seven. A young couple who had been visiting friends in Bear Lake were on their way homeward, back to college in Utah.  Emergency outfits arrived, along with law enforcement; the couple was found to be ok and able to continue on their way.

Kathy and Austin Jones took the opportunity of a wedding anniversary to take a five night cruise of the Caribbean.   They love those blue, blue waters.  The ship docked at Belize and Cozumel and the Jones’ climbed ancient ruins, did some shopping, and just had fun in general.  Their 35^th anniversary happened in December, but the celebration was delayed until February, because they received a new grandbaby in December. 

Josh and Judith Newby drove down from Rexburg for a weekend with his parents, Sharla and Lin McKay.   Josh is a student at BYU/Idaho, and a break from studies is a good thing.

Sister Macy Jepsen has headed to the MTC in Provo.  She now gets to tackle the learning of the language of Cambodia where she will be serving her mission.

Two Mink Creekers got together while having a stay at the Franklin County Hospital and reminisced about their “old days.”  Both Bob Erickson and Leness Keller enjoyed their growing up years here.  The stories they could tell---but I promised not to put them in print.

Mud season may come early this year, we have been getting rain, to the point that my backyard is nearly bare of snow.  I can hear a mourning dove that must be winterized calling from across the valley.  He is a bit off the time table, but welcome all the same.

Happy Birthday, Abe, 2014

Birds of prey and coyotes are competing for any animal that has met its demise.  Whether the carcass is found along a road or out in a field, these creatures gather to argue about feeding rights.   Turkeys, raccoons and deer are top items on their menus.

Stan Keller is now at home with his father, Ben, and Marie Keller.   Stan is looking for employment and working as a handyman around the house in the meantime.

It is looking like we may have enough snow for the annual youth tubing party after all.  The year’s snow accumulation has been scanty until this week.  So far the snow has fallen for a good part of the last five days, and it has been welcomed with open arms.   Occasional winds blowing have caused some drifting, but it has been manageable in this community of tractors and pickups with snowplows attached.  Every home owns at least one snow shovel.

Abigail Janke, daughter of Jody and Laural Janke, recently qualified for the BYU/Idaho Middle School Honor Band.  A 7^th grade student, she auditioned with her trumpet.  Ten middle school students from the Preston School District were chosen and traveled to Rexburg for a day of practicing as they prepared for a concert to be given that evening.  The concert was performed in the Barrus Concert Hall on the BYU/I campus, the music being directed by faculty members Diane Soelberg and Daryl Brown.

The wrestling season is drawing to a close.  Mink Creek has four young men involved in the Preston High wrestling program:  Kyle Christensen, son of Phillip and Krysta;  Justin Longhurst, son of Sheldon and Candy;  Travis Greene, son of Chad and Dawnell; Sam Seamons, son of Jeff and Jennifer. Tyson Hall, an alumnus of that program a few years ago, has been an assistant coach this past year.  He will soon be leaving to serve a mission in South America. 

The snow storm lasted most of last week so there was an accumulation and today we get a thaw., drip, drip, drip!  Water running, ice melting, and yet this is not a Chinook, just a warmer day. We are happy to be anticipating more snow this week.  Glad to have that bottom layer of ice disappear.

Some people  ask the question, “What do farmers/ranchers do in the winter time?”   Judging from my front row observations, the answer is:  They go to Agricultural Expos, they attend classes about hay production, they hang out at auctions of used farm equipment, they repair their own machinery, they take upon themselves the task of neighborhood snow removal, and in off moments they plan and dream about what crops they will be planting and harvesting during the next growing season. All of this in addition to the daily chores of caring for farm/ranch animals. These are just a few of the things that occupy the “down time” of an ag man’s life.  

Happy Valentine's Day, it is a great day to do a kind deed, share some of  the goodness we have.

Feb 4, 2014

We have had some snow this week, not a whole bunch, but every bit counts in a dry year such as it has been so far.  How much did we get?   A few inches, sufficient to make the roads slick enough for a car to slide into the barrow pit on Highway 36.  The ice underneath the snow makes walking a bit tricky.

Macy Jepsen, daughter of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen, spoke in the LDS Ward, prior to going to the MTC in Provo on Feb. 19^th.   She will be serving in the  Cambodia, Phnom Penn, Mission.  Family and friends gathered for this occasion.  Dan and Jean Jepsen and their son came from Bountiful, UT.  JoAnn and Kevin Auger drove up from Woodland Hills, UT. Shawn and Becky Jepsen and their six children  live in Pocatello.  Lanny  and Sandy Checketts, plus three children, came from Nampa.  Jana and Matt Musgrave and their five children are in North Ogden, UT.  Linda Winn, a teacher of the Jepsen family when they lived in Germany, is now in Salt Lake City.  Past roommates and friends also made the journey to show support in this new chapter of Macy’s life.

Bob and Claudia Erickson took a long drive out to Lakeview, OR, for a few days visit with their daughter Kristin and Jay Collins and their family.  Their grandson, Davis Collins, will soon be leaving for the MTC in Mexico City.  His area of service is in the California, San Diego Mission, Spanish speaking.   While at the Collins home they enjoyed a drive down into Modoc County,  in northern California, and had a sumptuous Chinese dinner in Alturas.  This area of the country is currently in a state of drought and badly in need of some good winter storms.

            Snow again!  Yea!  It may seem unnecessary to report every time we have a snow storm, but it is that kind of winter.  So dry that each flake counts, excitement is felt when a few flakes start drifting down.  Some arrived yesterday, more today.  No blizzards, but it has to be accumulating in our mountains.

            A small picture  of a young lady was found in some excavating being done at the LDS Meetinghouse.   This building was built, finished in 1929.  Now we have the fun of identifying the mystery girl in the picture.  No prizes for the answer, just intrigue and satisfaction.

January 28, 2014

Traveling in the early hours of the day, when the sun is at just the right angle, makes the snow covered fields sparkle in the cold air.   It is as though the Master Sower had broadcast the land with diamonds for the enjoyment of the earth’s inhabitants. 

There has to be something good about this cold weather.   One of our residents was watering his skating pond the other night, putting on layers to freeze into a nice smooth surface just waiting for fun.

The family of Mark an Karen Arnout were gathered in force:  Lance and Tosha Arnout with daughters Remi, Ashlyn and son Trey of Midway, UT.  Kelly and Adam Jensen with Sydney, Riley, Emma, Michael and David from Rockland, ID. Travis and Amber Arnout and children Maci, Krissy, and Brayden from Heber City, UT.   And, from Dallas, TX, Dustin Arnout and a girlfriend, Jessica Rogers.

Tamra Taylor and her two youngest girls were up from Woods Cross, UT.  Tamra is the daughter of Lana Baird McCracken.  Lana and her husband, Ivan, enjoy having some grandparent days with this family.

We are happy to announce the graduation of Katiana Baird from Preston High School.  This event took place at the end of this last semester, the beginning of January, 2014.  Katiana, daughter of LaRon and Liesa Baird, is still doing lots of learning, some at home with her mother, others at the LDS Institute classes held in the Preston Seminary building.  Her smile adds much to this village.

Jeff and Camille Knutson enjoyed a weekend visit from their son Tony and his wife, Camille Knutson and their three children, Simon, Porter and Lucy.  The family lives in Stansbury Park, UT, and enjoyed having sleigh riding not far from the Knutson home.

Mink Creek has quite a big group of young people involved in ballroom dancing this year.  Three guys dance with the Preston High School teams:  James Baird, Ty Breadall, and Travis Greene.  Strictly Ballroom teaches eleven teens:  Angelo and Celina Crosland, Jacobi Johnson, Haylee Hatch, Nicole Beardall, River McKay, Shelby Larsen, Johnny Iverson, Andy McKay, and Clair and Clay Jepsen.  They all look so graceful and upbeat it the performances.

            We are concerned about lack of moisture we are receiving this winter, and rightfully so.  However, I have just returned from a visit to southern Oregon/northern California, and they are in a time of drought.  Their need for some wet weather is greater than ours by far.  People in this part of the nation who are happy with a mild winter don’t realize how important those winter storms are to our well being.

            Our southern slopes are bare of snow; the northern slopes still retain a little. The temperatures are still plenty cold, too cold for a good snow storm.  So far we have had very few gloomy, bad air days, one of the perks of living a bit above the lower part of Cache Valley.

            The Mink Creek LDS Ward has been involved with one of the Heritage Homes branches for the month of January.  Members have taken Sunday meetings, Family Home Evenings, Relief Society and even some Mutual activities to those residents.  One of the latter was a take off from the TV show Family Feud that they called Ward Feud.  They had taken a survey of answers to specific questions of the entire Mink Creek Ward.  Sounded like fun.

January 21, 2014

Due to winter’s cold there are frost bumps across Highway 36 all through our village.  No signs give warning as drivers approach, just remember the things are frequent. They are not only visible, but certainly big enough to send vibrations to the passengers of the vehicles as they are crossed.  Even with the dryness, it is winter, though our snow is limited.

We report the death of Phyllis Jepsen Steneck, age 94, of Holladay, UT, on New Year’s Day, 2014.  She was born on Christmas Day, 1920, and raised in Mink Creek, the eldest daughter of Hyrum and Agnes Watson Jepsen.  Hyrum (Bud) Jepsen, her youngest brother, lives in Riverdale, ID, just a few miles down the road from the family home in Mink Creek.  Her brother-in-law, John Warburton, lives at the Jepsen farm.

George and Judy Rasmussen have been traveling to visit children.  First they spent some time in Las Vegas, NV, with the family of  their daughter Sarah and Gordon Thomas.  Recently they have been down in Bountiful with their daughter Lynn’s family.

Winter temperatures have caused some challenges to some of our residents.  Frozen water pipes can alter the life  of a family in many ways, taking us back to pioneer lifestyle.  At least one family has endured having their source of water, the nearby spring, froze up.  Hauling water from a flowing source to their home has been a major endeavor.  All of this isn’t fun, but it does increase a person’s appreciation for the ease of modern living.

The youth of our community are playing basketball on Wednesday nights. Generally they play at the Preston North Stake Center, with a few exceptions.  Both the girls’ team and the boys’ team are coached by Kerry Christensen.   There are a good amount of kids that show up for both teams, with plenty of family and friend support in the cheering section.  

            My cry for histories of Mink Creek’s past is being heard.  I have received copy of Rula Bell’s thoughts of her life growing up here, from an interview conducted by her nephew, Jay Wilde.  A good neighbor sent down a copy of notes taken by Frank Jensen, in 1929, about the construction of the LDS Ward Meetinghouse that year, under the direction of Bishop William Crane.  There was a knock on the door this week, standing on the other side was a young man from Smithfield who is enthusiastic about his Mink Creek roots, and he is willing to share. Happiness!!  Keep it up, dear blog readers!  I know that there is at least one other history in existence somewhere, I recall knowing of it when I first became a Creeker.  At that time I didn’t know how much this place would come to mean in my life.  Family journals contain history, I would love those as well.

            Weather condition is much the same:  no snow, iffy on day time temperatures, some slightly warm, other bone chilly.  Today was the latter.  Looking on the bright side, the cold could make it possible to get down to ice skating.  For now, walking outside can be dangerous.

January 15, 2014

I am still needing to concentrate on the 14 rather than the automatic 2013 as I write.  Only two weeks of it thus far and I am hoping I have been paying my recent bills with the correct date.

Bunches of deer, six or so in a group, are pawing through snow to graze in the fields. It is a traffic hazard as they roam over our terrain.  Hazard #2:  turkey flocks, small and not so small, pecking along sides of the roads.  Beware of the curve near the Smith/Gilbert fields near LeAnn and Clyde’s place.  There is a large number of birds coming and going in that area.  Turkeys seem to wander up and down the community.  Several were the chief greeters at the LDS Ward parking lot recently, with a gobble, gobbler here, and a gobble, gobble there.

Jacob and Ranette Free and their son Denim spent some time with his folks, Richard and Vickie Free.  They were able to go to the annual ski party while they were here.

Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen loved the visit of their daughter Annie and Steve Earl and their children from San Jose, CA.  A highlight for the kids was sleigh riding down the slope behind the Jepsen house, an activity not offered in California.

Mink Creek LDS Ward has twelve young people serving on missions around the globe.  East to west they are scattered from Novosibirsk, Russia, to Singapore and China; north to south, from frigid North Dakota to hot Uruguay and New Zealand.  Families have anticipated the fun of talking with their missionaries during the holidays.  Some were able to Skype on the internet, others loved to hear those familiar voices on the phone, both  methods very rewarding.

The Ward combined with Preston 4^th ward for an annual night skiing party at Beaver Ski Resort recently. A head count indicated around 80 participants from Mink Creek, all ages.  This is where many residents learn to ski through the past years. There were also a few snowboarders enjoying the slopes.  Everyone brought a potluck food to share.  A goodly number of people traveled to the resort just to stay in the lodge and visit, waiting for those on the mountainside to tire out, ready to go home.  We drove home in a blizzard, but all was well with only one injury, a twisted ankle for Tristan Greene.

            Doug Bruderer was home for the holidays.  He works in the frozen north, the oil boom in North Dakota.  His wife, Beverly, is here keeping their place up and doing in his absence.

            Since the last post we have had some snow, breaking the very cold temperatures.  With it has come some strong  winds.  The drifting snow has had some residents blocked in until a good neighbor goes to their rescues with a snowplow.  We have also had rain  that has frozen, hardening the tops of the fallen snow in some places, after some melting.   It hasn’t been a great season for ice skating just yet.  Soft, slushy surfaces do not make for good skating.

            Various family members of Eldon and Danita Wilcox’s family have been around lately. Brigham and Jennifer Wilcox and their children were down from Pocatello.  Brittany Durrant and her little one have enjoyed some time with the grandparents.