Sunday in the Family Living Center

     The week began with our assignment to serve in the Family Living Center on the site.  The Center is comprised of several stations that tell of some of the skills and activities that would have been used and practiced by the residents of Nauvoo.  It is pretty much a show and tell site where visitors can actually see demonstrations of skills and trades that would have taken place during the period.  When there are few visitors, like our Sunday, then it is not near as exciting to be there.  But then, being who we are we did manage to investigate and Sister Gibson got right into rope making.  She made an eight foot rope and using skills that would have put any of my scouts to shame cut them into smaller pieces and whipped the ends so they wouldn't fray.  Those little ropes now adorn our Christmas tree in the apartment.  The barrel making demonstration is fascinating but it provide more of a picture opportunity rather than perfecting a skill.

Old Habits Die Slowly........

                     ....So Tree Making Lives On!!

     I can't exactly say the "Devil made me do it"!  But when my grand-daughter(s) called and wanted an instructional lesson on tree building I couldn't help myself and started plotting on how I could make trees in our tiny apartment.  It became quite a challenge to round up the necessary tools and supplies...we are still missing the cinnamon sugar shaker that helps in the production of a successful tree.  There isn't a lot of time to do these since we are both involved in our daily activities...not to mention that it is hard to drive around and find where people live.  We decided to keep it small and only do those who came with us in our MTC group.  Our first batch was three trees which we delivered in the Gibson tradition of being fresh out of the oven.  The results were predictable...the reports came back that they had only lasted twenty-four hours and no one would admit to eating the most.

   

         And Molly Leads the Charge........

Trail of Hope...The View to Montrose...

                                                                                 ......High +6.....Low -8

     After our quick (4hrs) shopping trip to Keokuk I dropped everyone off (no one else wanted to go) and I went down to the end of the "Trail of Hope" to look at the frozen wasteland of water between Nauvoo and Montrose.  This is not the view the Saints who were forced to leave Nauvoo faced would have seen.  The dam in Keokuk has  made a lake of where the crossing took place but the emptiness and bareness would have been the same and initially the river was not frozen over.  Only eleven wagons crossed on the ferry that first day.   I was alone in the cold as I pondered the effort and resolve that it would have taken for them to make this giant and was overwhelmed by the commitment required.  It was all I could do to hold the selfie stick for the picture.

      Jump ahead to December 18, 2016 there is 2" of snow on the ground and the temperature is 0.

All church meetings have been cancelled  and sites are closed today (Thank Heavens).  Need I say more? 

A New Village Arises......

     We made a stop at the Allyn House, a gift and souvenir shop on Mullholland (Nauvoo's Main Street)

I started spending money immediately when I found some reproductions of paintings by Al Rounds which thought would be great for the Apartment.  There is one in particular that I had wanted to get over the years that depicts a single woman pulling a handcart in the frozen wasteland of Wyoming.  It reminded me of Mary Carmichael Kelly (third great aunt) who was a part of the Martin Company. 

    Rounding the corner with a handful of pictures I ran into small replications of buildings here in Old Nauvoo.  I just couldn't resist myself.  Well, I could a little...I only bought the ones that we had visited so far.  So I am sure that by the end of the mission we will have bought the whole set.  Adding to the set were some small trees we pick up a WalMart.  I can envision bigger and better things for next year.  Maybe a wagon train on tracks?  Remote controlled handcarts?

And a Tree is Decorated....

    We have pretty much completed the decorations on our gi-hugious 4' tall Christmas tree.  We keep adding the daily items from the Advent Decorations hand painted by our lovely grand daughters Molly and Elle.  The G on the top is a gift from the Texas Gibson's. I'm sure Eric hand picked it along with the other gifts that were sent.  The cards and letters were appreciated.  Thank you Kristin!  I love the picture as it makes it look like a real tall tree.  It is a bright spot in our home as we are missing the this time of year with our family.  I hope they understand the importance of this sacrifice.  We love them all.  They are all so special.