Mennonite Meal

We went to Kalona to Ila's home for a meal.  She is a Mennonite woman.  She and her three daughters prepared and served us a delicious meal.

There was cheese and two types of salads on the tables when we sat down.  Then the bread was brought out.

Then the real meal began.  Ham, meatloaf, potatoes and gravy along with green beans.  Each dish was passed down each side of the table and collected by the women at the other end.  They gave us a chance to eat and then brought the food out for another pass down the table.

We finished off the meal with either apple or pumpkin custard pie.  Everything was delicious and it was $17 per person.  I know I didn't eat that much food but being with the others was priceless.
 

Creepy Things

A few weeks ago we went to Kalona, Iowa for a meal with a lot of other missionaries.  On our way there we stopped in a little hole-in-the-wall town called Swedeberg.

Their little Swedish museum was closed but this large horse-like thing stands outside.  We stopped at a "junk store" there where we actually found a couple of treasures.

We stopped at another junk store and I saw this picture.  It is something to hang on your wall.  It was beautifully framed.  I think it is just plain creepy.  The face on the left looks evil.

Then there was this box of dolls.  They are all cracked.  Worn is one thing but cracked faces is another.  Why would anyone want these "antiques"?  

Our First Snow

Last week we had our first dusting of snow.  We were working at the Engel home so I took this picture on the Carlson's deck.

I took this picture as I couldn't see across the Mississippi river.  The river is approximately 1 1/2 miles across so it was snowing pretty heavy at that time.

It, of course, was all melted before the day was out.  It was a cold week.  Glad that's over for now.

Safety Meeting

Last week we had our first official "Safety Meeting" with the people that typically attend their daily safety meetings.  Their companions were invited to attend.

I couldn't believe that Sister Carlson and her cohorts were able to transform the shop into a dining space.

We had brisquet as a main dish with all the sides.  It was delicious!

The saw table was pretty high compared to the chairs.  Now I know how little children feel when they sit at the table.  Cheers everyone.  See you next month for another "safety meeting."

Cabinets

There have been several FM auctions since we got here.  This time my companion put in a bid of $38 for the cabinets that came out of the Bistro.

I looked at the pile of cabinets (that will go in our back shop in the garage) and wondered how we would ever fit them all into our little trailer along with the myriad of other things that NEED to go in that trailer.

We got them in.  Hopefully everything else will fit as well.

Carpets

Two weeks ago, the gentlemen from Utah came back to Nauvoo and installed the carpets in the new temple district houses.

It's amazing to me that the early saints wanted carpets in their home and it didn't matter if they flowed from one room to the next.  These two definitely do not match. This is the Hunter home.

This is the Weeks home.  The first room doesn't look too bad but it surely clashes with the second room.  It makes me glad I didn't live back then.

Caps

Once all the Smith Family fencing was installed, Elder Porter made all these caps to put on the posts around the cemetery.  

Once they were painted, the carpenter shop installed them.  We went back to the fence and did all the caulking and needed painting.  I'm so glad that project is done!  By the way, the fence looks  FANTASTIC!

Windows

These windows are in the Land and Records office.  The old one is on the right and the new one  on the left.  Elders Howard and Schmidt along with Lon Simpson constructed them last fall.

Jared painted them before I was even part of the paint crew.  I help move them into storage where they sat for almost a year.  My companion began installing eight windows last week and finished the project this week.  I'm quite impressed how great they look!

Mechams

Mark and Patsy Mecham left us in March but came back later to finish out their mission. He is a teamster.  She gave tours. 

They served as our zone leaders from last September until they left in March.  Such kind, gentle people.

We were informed that she was diagnosed with Covid-19.  They've only gone from Nauvoo for about 10 days so I surely hope she didn't get it before she left here.  

My Backpack

I bought this small backpack the first week we were here.  It holds snacks and water bottles and tissues and Ibuprofen and whatever else I need to have.

Last week, the magnetic clasp gave up.  I could not fix it any longer and it had to make it's way to the trash.  The interior was also held together with some duct tape so it really was time.  Goodbye old friend.  You served me well as I served the Lord!

 

Cambry House Painting Project

Last week we prepped and painted the Cambry house.  This is a place where the YPMs usually live.  Since they never had the opportunity to come this summer, YSMs were able to move in.  The house was yellow and we painted it green.  It's quite a large house with the original brick in the middle so the thought was that the green would camouflage it. 

When Jared went to spray next to the brick, we needed to hold up a shield to keep the paint off of the brick.  Sisters Odum and Chestnut did what they had to in order to keep the shield in place.

Sister Chestnut said it was like playing vertical Twister!

We were pleased with the result.

I'm not a fan of green but I have to admit that this color helps to minimize the size of this ginormous house.  Hopefully the green of the grass and trees will help hide it.

Engel House

We had an absolutely beautiful day on Wednesday.  It was very windy, but the temperatures were in the high 70's.  That was the day we went over to the Engle home where the Carlsons live.  We began preparing for the job of painting it.  

 Sister Odum and I began taping the windows and covering the A/C units and such.  When we had the east side complete and part of the south side, Jared showed up and we painted the first coat on the parts that were ready to go.  

On Thursday we had some very wild wind coming straight off of the Mississippi River and it was COLD!  We finished the first coat on the rest of the house and put the second coat on what was already painted.  Today we went back and painted the rest of the second coat.  Then all the plastic and paper came off and we cleaned up everything and went back to the shop.  

It looks so great!  Next week the Maxwell house.

My First Meme

I was very impressed with some of the things spoken at General Conference.  With so much emphasis on being prepared, this was my favorite quote from the entire weekend.

It's my first meme.

 

Live Virtual Tours

About two weeks ago we decided that we would begin giving virtual tours.

After a bit of training with the technology, we, I actually, chose the Riser Boot and Shoe Shop to give tours.  I had been driving past that cute little home for a few weeks and had the feeling that I needed to give tours there.  We figured out how to create a dialog and then went to practice it.  

We've given our first tours and I was so satisfied to do so.  We went yesterday to the Browning Gun Shop and did some research so we could get ready to do that tour.  This is fun!
 

Getting Rid of the Pink

We have a row of four homes on Young Street which are known as Widow's Row.  That's because when there used to be senior single sisters, they lived in these homes.  Apparently there were a pair of Sisters who wanted wanted their trim painted pink.  

The color is actually called Rosy Tan.  It is not my favorite by any stretch of the imagination.  The front door as well as the bedroom door were also painted the same horrible pink.  

A new couple was coming to move into that home and when Sister Carlson and the other conservation Sisters were there cleaning, she asked if she could paint over the pink.  I told Sister Carlson that I would help her paint it. We were able to paint one day with the help of some of the other sisters. This pale yellow is a much better color.  It even made the walls look like they were freshly painted.

We painted the living room and the master bedroom.  We did not paint the office room.  When I went back to look at it, I was aghast at how horrible it looked.  I decided I would go the next day after work and paint it.  Sister Odum heard what I was doing and volunteered to help.  Between the three of us, we had it finished in no time.  The final coat of paint went on the next morning.  The Hokensens showed up later that day.  Not a moment too soon!

Birthday Flowers

I had a very nice birthday.  No gifts, just love from those who love me.  

About a week later Sister Rizley stopped by with this bouquet of flowers.  She said everyone gets a birthday card and she forgot mine.  She was embarrassed that “of all people to forget” she forgot mine.  I don’t think I do anything special in this mission.  Both of us just do what we’ve always done.  Apparently it is appreciated.

Still enjoying these beauties.

 

Finding Humor

We went out to dinner to the Hawkeye a few weeks ago and this is the sign that greets you on the door.  I'm so glad people can find the humor in all this craziness.

Feeding YSMs

Last summer we were able to have these beautiful faces in our homes for meals.  Covid 19 has ruined that.  On this day I had to make something gluten free; dairy free and red meat free!  So chicken tacos it is!

  We still love being able to take a meal to these hard working Sisters.

How we love them!

Turning Eight

Evelyn turned eight years old last week.  That means she is old enough to be baptized.  She's quite excited to do so as well.  But, uh oh, there was a bump in the road.  The Gourley family has Covid-19 in their home and would not be able to attend.  Since they had been together, the Fillmores made the decision to hold off and quarantine just in case.

Sammi had Cierra make the painting below.

Evelyn is such a tender hearted little girl.  She desires to be helpful and she also wants to do what is right even when it is difficult.  How we watching all of our grandchildren grow and mature and become such good people.  

When we take the opportunity to be baptized it really is like taking the Savior's hand and letting him lead us.  He is with us through the most difficult things in life and stays with us even when we feel we are all alone.  He makes it possible to go where he wants us to go.

We won't be attending Evie's baptism in person but we will be there virtually.  What a blessing that technology makes it possible!

Friends in Nauvoo

When we came to Nauvoo for this mission we met Rick at our morning meeting.  He was there every day unless he had some other appointment.  He is not a member of our faith but rather a member of the Community of Christ church.

Rick is good people.  I didn't really take the time to get to know him in the beginning but my sweetheart did.  In October I asked him if he had people in his congregation that would like to sing in the choir for the Christmas Walk.  He pointed to his wife and told me that Sherry is a singer.  So I went to talk to Sherry.  

When she came to the first rehearsal I introduced her and she and Eloise Carlson made fast friends.  I went to sing alto as there were way too many sopranos so I didn't get to sit by her any longer.  Since then, we have become such wonderful friends. The MacGregors, Carlsons and us have had many a meal together.  We taught them how to play bocce ball and they invested in their own set.  

I didn't expect to make friends with people in Nauvoo who were not working in the FM group.  I'm so glad we did!