What a Blessing.....

     With the holidays behind us we march forth into the new year.  The days are now passing faster as we continue to adapt to the mission and it's operation.  We received an in-home visit from President and Sister Hall on Friday.  They make it a point to visit all the missionaries and become a little more acquainted with them.  They wanted to make sure we were happy.  I did hold my tongue about the miniscule vanity cabinet (surprisingly) as it still remains an irritant.  Sister Gibson has it on her agenda to take it up with the director of the FM when I get her a picture.  The highlight of the evening was a blessing on the home by President Hall.  Their visit and love for us was much appreciated.

     Each day that passes we are grateful for our time and assignments in Nauvoo.  There is a poignancy about the winter months.  We are more mindful of the hardships that were present here for the Saints in their day to day lives but is the memory of their forced exodus in winter's deep grasp that is the most telling.  Standing at the Trail of Hope and looking across the river causes a lot of pondering as to their commitment and willingness to follow the directions of a prophet. 

     Many had come from foreign lands to a new and promising country.  They had built their city from a swamp, fought off disease and hardship of building their town which was growing daily with new convert arrivals. They sacrificed and banded together to help one another.  Slowly, like a brewing storm, the clouds of darkness began to cloud their sunny lives, gathering together into a storm of darkness and destruction that would destroy everything they had come here for......except their faith.  That is what brought them here....and that is what powered them forward into the unknown wilderness while following their prophets vision of a better and brighter future. 

     We will be re-enacting that difficult day on February 4th which will be the exact day 171 years ago that the Saints began their journey west.  We will be preparing for that event during the month and look forward to it with great anticipation.

Noah Packard House....

       It's like a Dance Two Steps Forward.....

                                               .....One Step Back

     In the beginning of the Packard House project I was extremely frustrated with the "Nauvoo" way of doing things.  Since that time I have learned to cope with it slightly better and my frustration level has declined to the point I am only frustrated.  That means two things.....I have learned to cope with it better and I am a little bit more aware of some of the problems that arise in a project such as the Packard House.  I am also learning and re-learning that my opinion isn't the only one....in fact it is generally only my opinion and it really doesn't count for much....and that's ok.  The lack a plan and leadership in implementing the project continues.  Eventually everything seems to get where I thought it would be....or at least hoped.  Take for example the ceiling in the main floor bedroom.  The first directive was to tear off the existing sheet rock and leave the lath and plaster.  It was a dirty and filthy job.  A few days later the directive became....let's (that means me) strip the plaster off the ceiling but leave the lath...it was a dirty and filthy job.  There was a lot of plaster between the lath boards and so it was decided that it needed to be cleaned and scraped out before it would be sheet rocked over (that's me again.....getting really dirty and filthy...not to worry).   It required a breathing mask and safety glasses than continually fogged up a left me seeing little.   The next day it is decided to tear down the lath since we now have to level the ceiling (which everyone knew was a mess from looking at it).  Elder Sims...feeling my pain grabbed some hoes and we tore it all down.  And to think it could have all be done at one time.....INCONCEIVABLE.
      Since the beginning it has been know that there was a severe fire at sometime and there was considerable damage to the structure in the basement.  We shored up timbers to help with this.  As we have progressed in the demolition of upstairs we have found a considerable amount of fire damage and burnt wood.  It was scary what the condition of the ceiling joists in the bedroom ended up looking like when we had everything stripped away.  Two were cracked almost clear through and two had severe fire damage.  And then things STOPPED making sense.  The severely damaged and scabbed together boards had no other fire damage around them.  It now appears that the fire down stairs was severe and did considerable damage but not being able to find or afford good wood....the old burned and charred wood was used again wherever it would fit.  It's a mess.  We will solve the problem with the ceiling/floor as we will be strengthening them with 2x10's that will be above and below the existing (if Elder Sims figured correctly) and we will now have level and smooth floor and ceiling....WaaaaaLaaaaaa.
     In the Nauvoo tradition, however, progress has brought retrogression.  The plumbers and electricians who have been diligently working by our sides, even though there is a constantly changing  plan or finished framing in place, are now having to go back and tear out what was mis-directedly placed and wait until the framing is completed.....like should have been done in the first place.  I think we ought to give this dance a name........any suggestions?

Inventory Continues......and a Rocking Legend

                               ....quietly retires from Nauvoo

     Sister Gibson continues working to complete the inventory and cleaning.  It will go on for several weeks.  One of the stops along the way was the John Taylor home.  Here she shows off her handiwork cleaning a hickory cane that would have been similar to the one  John Taylor used to ward off the guns of the impending cowards who murdered Joseph and Hyrum Smith while incarcerated in Carthage.  He was severely wounded and from that time on he would require the use of a cane. Prior to that the cane he used may have been more for style than substance.

     One of the many emotional stories told here in Nauvoo has been John Taylor's grit and determination.  Unable to bear the tears and heartache of his young son he returned to Nauvoo in spite of the danger from the mobs that had forced the Mormon's out and retrieve a wooden horse he had made for the child.  Many of the missionaries have told this story but according to the Church historical department, this, and some other stories, lack historical evidence and are cataloged more as family legends.  They may be true....and then again....maybe not quite so true.  An effort is always being made to be correct and so the wooden horse story will only be told with what is factual...as a family legend....not as a factual story.

Suspenders are in Iowa but.....

              ...Do we really need a Horse Collar? 

     Our P Day on Saturday took us back to Cantril, IA.  The object was to get a pair of genuine leather suspenders for the Editor in Rendezvous.  The nearest place we can find them is a harness shop that is a little past Cantril in  Milton, IA that is run by the Amish.  It is called Countryside Manufacturing.   Lee Roy is the proprietor and in truth he reminded me more of a leprechaun than an Amish businessman.  We would have loved to have a picture to show you but the Amish do not prefer to be photographed...respecting their culture, we didn't.  The suspenders are a sideline and their main business is providing leather goods for horses and farm animals. We also purchased some delicious homemade chocolate/caramel/and peanut candies made by Lee Roy's mom.  He carefully explained the process to us.  And then  Sister Gibson found a horse collar that was a perfect fit for me and was ready to buy it.  I was ok with that but stopped short of letting her by reins so it is still hanging on the wall in Cantril. 

     While we were inside the shop, that by the way, is free from the clutter of electrical lights and is heated by wood burning stoves we noticed a couple of the horse and buggies the Amish are so recognized for parked nearby.  They do allow themselves the "luxury" of a full enclosed carriage in the winter I noticed, however.
     Stopping by Dutchman Store in Cantril and I replenished by supply of twisted butter pretzels like use to be available at Cabela's. The Lindeburg's purchased a tenderloin that didn't look all the appetizing until it was cooked and prepared and we shared it with them for our Sunday dinner at our house.  Sister Gibson made the rolls and her special frog-eye salad.

 
Rendezvous in ol' Nauvoo.......

    The Editor came to life again Thursday night.  While the role may appear to be difficult and daunting it is delightful to me to be able to be engaged with the audience as I try and narrate the storyline.  We are committed to providing a quality experience to the audience and there is always a question this time of the year if there will even one.  Here in Nauvoo and audience of one is as good as one hundred and the show goes on.  Thursday we had and audience of three.  Mom, Pop, and their eleven year old son.  One of the cast members asked me if it was easier or harder with few people.  I thought about it......it really didn't matter....the message was the same.  I was actually more concerned for them as they sat on the front row (three feet away)...what did they think?  I sure had their attention.  They did seem to enjoy it, however.