"P" Day in Nauvoo

Today 4/23/12 was Preparation Day for the Nauvoo missionaries. Gramma spent her day happily playing family history with Marilyn Rose, her best friend from high school (continuing on). Gramma had ancestors who were members of the church here in Nauvoo. Their day was fruitful.
Tom Rose graciously spent the day with Becca and Papa

 The three of us began our day driving south along the Mississippi River to the town of Keokuk, Iowa to shop at their Walmart. (Nauvoo's biggest store is Casey's General Store and Service Station)

 Back in Nauvoo,Becca and I came home, put away the "frozens" and went over to the visitor's center. The lady missionary was also named Becca. The girls posed by a large statue of Joseph. We picked up tickets for tonight's Rendezvous musical production.

 Bro Rose took us next to the Browning museum. This gunsmith was a member of the church and a skilled and later to become famous maker of guns of every sort. He later moved with his family to Utah

 Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about Browning and his life. When he took us through the residence he showed us the bustle oven, so called because it stuck out the back. It was used to bake bread. The tour guide said the Family Living Center baked bread daily and we could get a slice if we went over there.

 Next stop--the Family Living Center, where they demonstrate many of the pioneer skills such as barrel making, candle making, weaving and much more. But we were there for the bread.

 The lady in the center was our bread guide and she gave us freshly baked in their bustle oven bread with honey butter (ono). As we visited I learned they were from Hayden Lake in Idaho. I said I knew a couple from there who were in our family home evening group in Mesa. Not only did she know them well, her husband, pictured next to her was employed by the guy we knew. Small world in the church. To remember them I asked her to write down their names--Elder and Sister Meier (Jerry and Pam). 

 Next we went to the functioning blacksmith shop.  Elder Dahl was a skilled "smithy". As he gave his discussion, he worked the forge and crafted a tiny horseshoe.

 When he finished it, including "blacking" done with black oil (thus the name of his trade) he gave it to Becca. He also gave her a "prairie diamond", a ring fashioned from an actual horseshoe nail. 

 Joseph and Brigham are gazing west across the river.

 A few feet from that statue is where  the road from Nauvoo enters the river. It is here so many saints began what was once called the "Trail of Tears". President Hinckley renamed it the "Trail of Hope"

 Off to the side sits a full size wagon on a raft that was used to ferry the wagons across.

 This evening we went to Cultural Hall for the musical.

 Through songs and skits, highlights of the story of Nauvoo are portrayed. The cast and crew are all missionaries. It was interesting, informative, skillfully performed, with a sprinkling of humor. (Thumbs up)

At the end of the performance the cast waited outside to greet the audience. Becca said to this guy, as she does sometimes to people wearing hats, "I love your black hat" The guy said."Here wear it for a photo". Fun way to end a very full day.