January 27, 2015

        Don't talk turkeys with many of our residents! These huge birds have no manners and try to dominate wherever they decide to take up occupation. They eat the feed that our farmers have intended for domestic animals, they poop all over the place whether it be a barnyard, a feeding lot, a sidewalk or yard. Around here turkeys are increasing in numbers, it has been noted in the lower half of our community and they are scattered all over the middle of the village center.

         Brigham Wilcox, son of Eldon and Danita Wilcox, has been living back amongst us for a few weeks. He has been studying pharmacy at Idaho State University and is now doing a 6 week internship at Preston Drug with the Craig Haslam family. Brigham's wife, Jennifer, and their children are at their home in Idaho Falls.

          It is nearing the end of the wrestling season for the grapplers of Preston High School. Mink Creek has four young men on the squad this years. They are Justin Longhurst, son of Candy and Sheldon Longhurst, Ben and Sam Seamons, sons of Jeff and Jennifer Seamons, and Travis Greene, son of Chad and Dawnell Greene.

        This week there have been memorial services for Nathan Parker, prior to his burial in the Mink Creek Cemetery. He is the son of the late Pam and David Linton, former residents, a brother to Jesse Parker, now residing here. Another brother, Matthew, lived here previously. Nettie and Joe Linton, David's brother, also former residents, now of Logan enjoyed the return to our community.

         The Agricultural Expo, currently going on at the Holt Arena in Pocatello has attracted some of our farmers. It makes for good entertainment and information on these winter days when much of farming is at a standstill. 

           Still so dry around here, a dry winter.  Low lying clouds leave something akin to heavy dew on some mornings.  It is still cold, but cold and dry only make for lots of static electricity.  Even our fields are mostly bare of white patches.

           The cluster of winged scavengers along the roadsides makes a person aware that there has been yet another deer fatality as we make the trip from Mink Creek into Preston.  There are four such spots currently under observation.  Every so often the carcass of a racoon might add to the carnage.  Drivers beware, the critters come close to the highway seeking the salt from the winter road runoff.

 

January 20, 2015

            Kerry and Lacey Christensen are the happy parents of a baby boy. In addition to his parents this infant is welcomed into the family by three sisters who are determined to spoil him as much as possible. They are already working on teaching him the ABC's.

            David and Judy Wilde enjoyed a visit from Judy's sister, Susan Robison and her son from Elko, NV. Susan was here to celebrate the marriage of Judy's twin, Trudy. Trudy's son, Aaron Brown who resides in Kansas, stayed with the Wilde family for two weeks for this event.

            Winter, the season for basketball. Our community has both a boys' team and a girls' team. Richard Free is coaching the young men and Kerry Christensen will continue to be the coach for the young women. Both teams will be competing with other youth teams from the Preston North Stake.

            Marlene Christensen has welcomed a new couple, Josh and Elizabeth Greene, into her home. Josh calls Marlene “Grandma,” which is not quite biologically correct, and Elizabeth is better known as Lizzie.

             Michelle and Tracy  Gibbs are becoming part of our community. They have bought the Maple Grove Hot Springs on the Bear River. They are moving into a home with Mink Creek history, one that has been here for several generations. Most recently it was owned by Mark and Debbie Baird Heaton.

               The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' meetinghouse is in the process of a routine maintenance boost. Some of the rooms are being painted and upgraded, scuffed walls repaired, all that sort of thing. There has even been some changes in the artwork displayed. This building was built in 1929 and has some nice features still from that era.

              Mike Jepsen has recently had some back surgery in Logan. He is now home and doing well. In fact he is determined to undertake more tasks than advisable.

               I am too much out of the blog habit, sorry about this being late online.   I feel guilty when it dawns on me Wednesday morning after the Citizen is published that this blog is now one day behind for those who read the paper edition.  I will work on getting back into the swing of things.

             The winter is not going as hoped for.  It is strange to complain about sunshine, but  when a good snow pack is hoped for and the weather continues to be dry and sunny---well, complaints come to mind.  People  down across northern Cache Vally who are dependent on the waters supplied by Mink Creek  are beginning to ask questions about the coming year's possibilities.

             This situation is not discouraging the snow mobile crowd.  They flock to our mountains every weekend, indicating that there is sufficient white stuff to accommodate that activity.

January 13, 2015

         The Freeman &Ada Jepsen Christmas party of their descendents took place at the family farm over the holidays. JoAnn an Kevin Auger and family are in the area of Woodland Hills, UT. Dan and Jean and their bunch are in Bountiful, UT. Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen family have their headquarters here in Mink Creek. Melinda and Kerry Jepsen hosted the event. Kyle Jepsen took a break from his dental practice in Texas, Jana Musgrove and her children of North Ogden enjoyed the extended family fun.

          Payton and Judith Newby have a brand new baby at their house. Grandma, Sharla McKay, spent a few days enjoying some good cuddle time.

           Brittany and Matt Durrant and their little girl visited with her parents, Eldon and Danita Wilcox.  Matt is currently studying at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

           Karen and Mark Arnout had a home bursting at the seams during the two weeks of holidays. The couple have twenty-two grandchildren and all of them, plus parents, spent a few days with Grandma and Grandpa Arnout. Now the Arnouts are noticing the quiet at their house.

           Johnny and Jeannine Iverson have had a visit from daughter Rebeccah and Dane Jones and their four children from Washougal, WA. They loved some snow time, a change from the rainy northwest.

           Our community gathered for our annual Ski Party at Beaver Ski Resort up Logan Canyon. The event combined with the folks from Preston 4^th Ward. It is always a potluck affair for the food offerings and the variety never fails. There was a good turnout of all ages and the slopes were filled with skiers and snowboarders until it was closing time.

           Bill and Myrna Despain were happy to have his son Max and Jennifer Despain and theis children, Jordan and Jake, with them during the holidays. Max and Jennifer live in Lolo, MT.

           Mink Creek seems to be located on the edge of the northern Cache Valley fog line lately.  Most days we can look westward and see the fog lying in the lower parts of the valley, tendrils reaching in and out on the fringes.  This morning was a bit strange, with fog on the lower side of my home, but clear sky on the upper side.  (For readers unfamiliar with our local terrain, it is all slopes of one degree or another, the homes sitting on the slopes.)  One evening earlier this past week, it was fog all around, couldn't even see our farm buildings across the road.  That is the story of fog, ever changing, and one of the dangers that accompany moving through the stuff.  Please, drivers, turn on your lights when you find yourself surrounded by the stuff, whether thick or thin.

           We are still hoping for more snow.  Rain has been coming, but that doesn't store in the mountains for the times when it is needed this planting season.  At this rate we can't anticipate a "January thaw" since there is very little for thawing.

2015, #1

Happy 2015! Christmas morning arrived with a blanket of white snow for our village, It is picture-postcard beautiful! However the snow shifted around a few days later when a fierce wind visited all night and created drifts in some driveways while it cleaned other driveways out. The temperatures plummeted and we are now surviving in subzero degrees. Most homes are grateful for heat from wood burning stoves.

        Cody McKay , son of Paul and Terrie McKay, reported on his mission to the Alabama, Birmingham, Mission on the last Sunday of December. His extended family were all able to attend. Grandparent, Karen and Layne Erickson are Mink Creek residents. Bryan and Shannon Erickson and boys came from Woodland Hills, UT. Todd and Julie Kunz and children dropped down from Idaho Falls. Connie and Adam Westenskow drove from Logan. Parents of a recent companion, Elder Fredrickson, of Bountiful, UT, joined the congregation. Cousins, Carla and Mark Nielsen and boys of American Fork, UT, planned their holiday visit with her parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson, for this event.

        Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen have had daughter Annie and Steve Earl and children with them for some of the holiday. The Earls live in San Jose, CA, so snow time is a treat.

         Marie Aupperlee's daughter, Sandra Wiley, from Texas, has been visiting her mother. At the present time Sandy has traveled to Rock Springs, WY, spending some time with her daughter, Mona.

         Jake and Holly Longhurst were with his family, Sheldon and Candy, for a few days. Jake ha been working in Fiji, helping to cover the roof of the Fiji LDS Temple. Holly is still stateside, attending school in Orem.

          Steve and Terry Mainini were happy to have visits with their sons over the holidays. Mario came up from Richmond and Tony had a break from his job in Pocatello. Their daughter, Angelina, had been here not long before. 

          Sometimes  living amongst the wildlife is frustrating, but often there are special rewards that don't come to those in the citiesl  Our deer are showing up in small groups, snacking on southern slopes that have melted down enough to provide forage.  They  are still able to find food in the fields because the snow isn't very deep.  Turkeys can really make their presence known.  An entire flock took flight off a hillside, swooped over Highway 36, landing in the fields belonging to Sam Smith.  That wasn't a sight one sees every day.  Where is that camera when you want it, one of those kind of moments.

        The youth of the community are teaming up for some winter basketball, competition within the wards of the Preston North LDS Stake.   They play their games at the stake center in Preston, but the practices are at the recreation hall of the LDS Ward.  This is a weekly event and most years there is a pretty good fan support from parents and friends of the teams.  There is both a girls' team and a boys', so most everyone who wants to play gets the opportunity.
        I chose this new background for the blog  because it made me feel like the winter nights in Mink Creek.  A beautiful dark sky that is filled with stars,  headlights of cars traveling our length on Highway 36 that just happens to be our "Main Street."  I had to change the text color so I hope it meets with your approval.  

 

New Year's Eve, 2014

Neighbor hood gifts have been delivered, the celebrating now is more relaxed and peaceful. We enjoyed the caroling of our youth throughout the village. We are hoping for snow. So far we have had frequent dustings in the mornings, but only higher elevations seem to have any staying power. As with the rest of the world we are waiting for the arrival of 2015.

The LDS Ward had a beautiful Christmas themed program for the Sunday before the holiday. Scriptures were read, the choir sang, there were string instrument offerings, our primary and youth participated. All under the direction of Jennifer Seamons, ward choir director and it left us with the true spirit of the season.

We have more residents to add to our medical list. Beverly Bruderer has undergone surgery recently, Dennis Clark has had serious shoulder problems, Bret Hall has been in the hospital, Warren Wilde is getting some help with his vision. I repeat from last week, there still may be some of whom I am unaware.

Ben and Amy James and family have moved to Mink Creek, temporarily. They come from West Jordan and are renting the George Rasmussen home on Bear Creek Road. They have four children: twins Patrick and Adelle, Helen, and Sarah, the youngest, age 3. Amy is the daughter of Drew and JoAnn Ford of Mink Creek and these grandparents are loving having them so close for good visits. The children are enjoying the wide open spaces that compare so favorably to their small city yard. Ben works for Rio Tinto Mining Company, formerly known as Kennicott.

Brooke Corbett, daughter of Shane and Sherrie, is having fun playing basketball on Preston High Girls' team. Only four more home games according to the schedule so there will be lots of traveling for away games before the end of the season in February. 

If you are a new reader and feel like you have already read some of this you must be getting the Preston Citizen  newspaper.  I write the first paragraphs for the weekly print, but usually I have more to say than is needed for the issues so  I extend my thoughts about our little village each week in this blog.  It appears that I only have a few members that read, yet from conversations in the grocery store or other places around town, even as far flung as  California, I know there are more of you who check this out.  Welcome, glad to have you on board.

It has been a long time between blogging for the Mink Creek News.  I was on a "medical vacation" for three months, staying in Utah, and not knowing enough about what was going on in Mink Creek to make it worth your reading.  I  managed to keep up with the comings and goings to write the weekly column for the Citizen.  Now I feel like we are "back", hope you will feel that way too.

Mink Creek has been spoiled by that long fall with warm weather, not even any stayable snow until Christmas morning.  We woke up to the gift of a very white Christmas,  sufficient to do some sledding.   Enough so the neighbor would clear the area he turns into a local skating rink. Now he can start laying down some ice.  This isn't a process that happens in just one night. It takes layers and good freezing weather.  A strong wind  a couple of nights past moved the snow around, but it also dropped the mercury.  The temperatures reported today are in the minus 0 category-----a -6, a -10, perfect for getting the skate pond ready for fun.  See you next week, hope you have a good New Year's Eve.

August 12,2014

       We were visited with a deluge of rain, thunder and lightning. It lasted for quite some time and gave growing crops a good pounding as well as a very long drink of water. One thing about the terrain of our community, most of the water runs down to the bottom of our valley. This storm left marked trails on the dirt roads where the waters descended. As far as I know there were no flooded basements in our homes.

       Two babies were blessed and named in the LDS Mink Creek Ward. Tiny Quinton Keller Jones traveled here all the way from Michigan with his parents, Chelsea and Stephen Jones. Chelsea is the daughter of Glade and Corinne Larsen. Jacob and RaNette Free drove over from Pinedale, WY, to name their new little girl, Zennedy Nayvi Free. Jacob and RaNette just relocated to Pinedale with a new job. He is the son of Richard and Vicki Free.

       The Varsity High Adventure for eight scouts was hiking and camping in Grand Teton National Park. The leaders were Paul McKay, Marco Crosland, Kerry Jepsen and Eldon Wilcox. They hiked to the Lower Saddle in the middle of the Tetons. They hiked four miles with full packs, had a beautiful campsite and got to play in the snow still tucked away about the camp. Those mountains have lots of depth and it was hard, but fun, with many learning experiences along the way. One of those was being able to look to the east, as the sun was going down and see the shadows of those huge mountains in front of you. One member of the troop, Chris Wilkerson, had his 16^th birthday during the trip and everyone celebrated with him. Chris was later ordained a priest in the LDS Ward.

        Wally and Kim Christensen have spent some of our hot July days in Canada. Wally was attending professional meetings as an optometrist. Kim got in her share of shopping and relaxing.

        Chokecherries and summer apples are ready for picking now. There seems to be chokecherries in abundance this year, both domestic and wild. The limbs of trees near our farm are touching the ground they are so heavy with the black clusters of berries. If they are on your summer wish list now is the time.

         This may be my last minkcreek blog for two or three weeks. I am heading down to Utah with some medical problems and I am thinking it will be 2-3 weeks before I am ready to blog. Just thought I had best give you a heads up so you weren't wondering what had become of me.

August 5, 2014

       Cecelie Costley is once again amongst us, after a year's work of teaching English in China. Family members were here to welcome her home. Landon and Amy Costley came up from the Salt Lake City area. Hannah and Spencer Singleton and their boys are having a summer break from the Arkansas humidity and heat. Wynn and Cecelie spoke in the LDS Ward about their Chinese experiences. Kate and Eric Drake and their family were here and then the whole family of seven siblings and children gathered at the Drake home in Plain City, UT, to celebrate Cecelie's birthday.

       It is certainly reunion time in Mink Creek. The family of Ada and Freeman Jepsen held a Brother/Sister Reunion. Three came to the home farm: Dan and Jean Jepsen of Bountiful,and JoAnn and Kevin Auger of Woodland Hills, UT, plus families ended up with 51 family members joining Glen and Betty Jo Jepsen and family for a fun time.

       The Allen/Pearl Christensen family gathered, totaling 96 in attendance. The reunion was hosted at Clare's  newly erected shop and they enjoyed a dinner, with breakfast and lunch the following day. Clare loves to cook! Family activities kept the group going over the two days. Clare and Linda Christensen live in Mink Creek, and children were Devin and Shaundeen Christensen and 5 children of Layton, UT, Tiffany and Lee Kinder with 3 children in Smithfield, UT and William and Janna Wolfley with 5 children of Preston. Another son, Royce and Lorraine Chrstensen, also of Mink Creek, had Colleen Carter and daughters of Preston, and Kevin Christensen and 3 children of Phoenix, AZ. Son, DeVirile and Elizabeth Christensen came over from Dayton. Jeanette Christesen, Donald's widow, and his daughter, Dawna and Jason Hall are all in Preston. Two daughters of the family,Verneal Lowry brought 3 of her children from Tooele, UT. And Clare's twin, Clarice and  husband, Jim Feichko, came from Farmington, UT.

      Katrina Noorda Hunter and her children have been here the biggest part of the past month. Her growing up summers were spent in Mink Creek and it is a habit she does not want to break. Katrina lives in Las Vegas and was visiting her parents, Katherine and Leon Noorda, part-time Mink Creek residents.

       George and Judy Rasmussen have moved from their home up Bear Creek. They have taken up residence in Utah, around Highland and Lehi, to be closer to their children.

       Laural and Jody Janke and their troop of six children took a four-day camping adventure to Yellowstone Park. Seen again, through the eyes of children this park takes on almost magical qualities with its geysers, pools, and other thermal action, beautiful scenery, animals, and tourists of various languages from all over the world.