"Come to the prairie burning demonstration. Free hot dogs, chips and water. Don't be late, or it will be over." The community gathered for the annual event. Families crowded around on all four sides of the city block, preparing themselves. Then, poof! The prairie grass lit up in a fierce blaze, and two minutes later it was over. Out of the blaze came several frightened rabbits, running in circles, dodging people - confused at the interruption to their peaceful life. Like the rabbits, I can only imagine the hysteria pioneers might have felt if they saw a grass fire heading towards them. |
The second night in our first apartment was disaster. The sewer backed up in the tub and toilet and I didn't have anything with which to clean it up! I called for help at 9 pm! Our distress call was answered within an hour, but I had reached my limit. I was exhausted and emotional. What a mess. Yuck! We moved the next Saturday to this apartment. Ours is on the second level. Air conditioned, but no dish washer! Oh no! Who washes dishes by hand these days? We do! | One of our first assignments was to go to this Amish store and purchase a black hat and suspenders for Tom's costume. We drove through miles of not-yet-planted corn fields for 1 1/2 hrs to this general store!. Fifty-five dollars later we scored. |
Every twenty minutes, nine or ten different teams of Belgian draft horses pull wagon tours around Nauvoo. The oxen teams are still being trained by the teamsters, and I'm told they are very ornery animals. When the tourist season starts there will be oxen teams that pull cart rides for visitors too. |
Meanwhile, the grass grows, and Tom mows! Tom has been assigned to this John Deere mower! He is a part of the crew that mows hundreds of acres of grass every week. Notice he has on his winter coat, gloves and hat, because it's still very cold in the morning when they start. Last Sunday we both were assigned to work in the Lion Drug Store in the afternoon. Tom decided he'd rather be outside mowing lawns!! |
This building is another original building dating back to the Nauvoo period of 1844-46, repurchased by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can attend live performances here today (as perviously mentioned) and you can dance on the very floor where Emma and Joseph Smith might have danced. You can feel the spirit of those who left so long ago. It is wonderful to give tours in this building. The second floor is filled with beautiful old quilts of the Nauvoo period. (No wonder I enjoy this building!
Some days, like today, I pinch myself in disbelief. "I'm actually a part of Nauvoo, and I'm walking the streets of my ancestors. I'm loving that I'm immersed in the history of the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." I hope you, too, through my blog can feel a part of the Nauvoo spirit. I'm inviting you to come. Come see the pageant in July. It will blow your socks off. http://www.nauvoopageant.org/