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Scarecrows Scaring Schmidts

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The Nauvoo Scarecrow Festival is about to begin for another year.  Talented folks are getting their models ready to compete.  The shapes are placed in many spots all along Mulholland Street which is the downtown area.   This family of Batmen are easy to pose with and could be my own little loved grand children about to get a big hug from me.  Allan tried to follow this vested worker up the ladder to see if he needed some help.  "No, Sir, I can do it just fine without your assistance!"  I wanted to see what it would feel like to sit on a bench and pretend to be a scarecrow, but I was't as cute as she was.  I had no gourds, had or moptop head.  I wish when I'm as old as this little granny, I could be just as adorable.  Her dress, hat and jewelry were to die for, not to mention her assessories.  O that we could be as scary as the scarecrows this year. Come see us on October 26th in Nauvoo, Illinois for the Scarecro...
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Getting Grins as a Grandma

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 I was lucky enough to be a grandma again this year for the song, Grandma's Feather Bed in Sunset by the Mississippi.  I chose the cutest  sunflower apron, because I knew from last year you have to be first to pick and not wait.  I danced with Elder Paepke of South Jordan, Utah.  He was fun to perform with.  In the photo below I am acting like I'm dizzy from dancing around in circles.   Elder Paepke is trying to direct me to sit in the rocking chair.  Notice that it is green.  I chose that color, too.  How fun to be silly and perform for an audience in such a way.  The other sister grandmas were:  Sister Weldon, Sister Munns & Sister Julander. Here Elder Paepke and I are prancing out on stage with big smiles after all the grandmas have had a pillow fight and been twirled about on the big feather bed.   I pretended to get motion sickness and grabbed the bedpost to hold on.  Unfortunately, t...
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A Day of To Do's in Old Nauvoo?

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What would it have been like to walk the streets of old Nauvoo in the summer of 1843?  Let's take a peek to see what it was like back then:   If we had an errand to perform we would have taken the horse, buggy or walked.   On this crisp, cool morning the birds would be singing, frogs croaking, and crickets chirping.  We would have noticed the root cellar door open in Brigham Young's yard; seen children feeding the calves being raised for future oxen; and said hello to Elder Nash, as he opened up the Browning Gun shop.         Next we would have taken a round-about route past the wagon ride to see how the men were doing at the Quarry.   Perhaps we were taking lunches to the men.    At the quarry we would have been encouraged by our father/brother or uncle to hurry up, since we finished our task and get home quick to help Mother.   We would have wanted to watch the men selecting and chiseling ...
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Boating on the Big Mississippi

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It's been my dream to go for a boat ride on the Mississippi River ever since we arrived.  My bucket list prayer was answered one evening as we walked down to the river.  Our FM manager and a few employees pulled with his boat at the same time we were there.  He asked if we wanted a ride.  "Yes!" I shouted. with exuberance.  It was just going to be a little spin out and back, but the boat wouldn't start. After thirty minutes the motor finally fired up, with lots of prodding and the truck battery.  We took off. Someone said they wanted to go under the Ft. Madison turnstile bridge eight miles away.  We headed north with Jordan's children, Ben Bedard, Barant Hasek and us.   What fun it was to fly over the water making a wake behind us.  It was a perfect evening.     We passed a tugboat and barge along the way, several islands in the river and watched the homes on Sycamore Haven Road go by as we headed further north...
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Concrete Close Call at the Condos

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 Allan & the construction crew had a seven yard pour of cement scheduled for August 20th.  It was threatening rain, but they started at 6 a.m. hoping to beat it.   We had had other storm warnings that never materialized.  This time the rain came in buckets and didn't stop.  The concrete had to be saved.  A big roll of plastic was spread over the entire length of the eight foot wide by one hundred twenty feet long project.  Twenty or more missionaries and employees were asked to help hold the plastic over the workers that were finishing the job.  This was right up against the apartments, so the four homes were opened.    Some in their stocking feet helped hold the plastic from inside each place through the open windows so as not let any rain or water ruin the job.   Coats, umbrellas and buckets came in handy as they waited and waited and waited.  It was several hours of hold and finishing before the rain le...
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Indian Artifact Museum in Bentensport

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 Bentensport is a small historic town in Van Buren County, Iowa, with a few of antique shops, one wood shop and fabric store, a museum, old church and such.    The The tiny town is just a blip on the road from Bonapart to points north.  The old Mormon Trail also came through this town.  There is a sign posted by the park's gazebo.  Close to the park is an old train bridge turned to foot bridge that spans the Des Moine River.  There are many bed and breakfasts and the old church on the hill is really intesting too.  It is definitely worth stopping to check out the Indian Artifact Museum built, owned and operated by Tony Sanders.  The wood work he has done to display the indian arrow heads is out of this world beautiful.  Even the ceiling is finished in designs that take your breath away.   He opens on demand and lives next door to the museum.  It is well worth driving through or to Bentensport if you are in the are...
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Shorty, the Scottish Sheffield Sheep

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Elder Ervin Schmitt built two sheep, a large one and this small one for the Family Living Center and Pioneer Pastimes this past winter.  His wife, Sandra, Sister Schmitt, did the larger sheep but ran out of time before they went home to do this small one.  After he stood in Conservation for six months, I looked up black faced sheep and discovered they weren't around in the 1800's, but the Scottish Sheffield sheep were.   I painted his legs, head and feet, but couldn't quite see how to do his face.   Elder Ned Sweat covered her with a real sheep skin from New Zealand.  Sister Cabuquing from the Philippines is serving here in Nauvoo, came to assist us in Conservation last week.  She offered to paint his face on.  What a beautiful job she has done. We think he will be the most popular attraction in the Family Living Center.  The missionaries that were serving there when he was delivered were certainly excited.
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