REMNENTS OF THE 500 YEAR FLOOD

 As we came through Gulfport, Il to cross the bridge over the Mississippi to Burlington, Iowa, I was astonished to see this little town still covered with water from the flood almost 2 months ago. The water went over the levee to get it in, then the levee would not let the water back out.
 You can see how high the water was on the buildings. So sad these people still have not been able to get into their homes.
 In the back you can see the water being pumped out.
 There were many pumps along the river pumping full blast! I took these pictures so fast from the window of the truck as we were speeding along. Pretty good, huh! I wish there was something that could be done for these victims as quickly!!!

The rare Corpse Flower and other beautiful scenes!!!

 

After proving ourselves keepers of plants, Durell Nelson, the horticulturalist here brought us a very strange looking plant and said it was 11 years old and it might bloom for the first time. It came to Pioneer Pastimes on Aug. 3, 2008. We sang to it, loved it, watered it and low and behold it bloomed!

 

It is a very rare blossom. It bloomed Saturday morning August 16, 2008. The horrendous thing about it is the stench it puts off after it blooms. It lives up to it's name, "Corpse Flower". We feel very privileged however to be entrusted with this phenonenom!

 

Another Nauvoo phenomenon, another fantastic sunset! So wonderful to see!

 

We had a meeting in the Nauvoo Visitors Center one morning and it was so humid we could almost cut it with a knife. Then we looked and the window to the Women's Garden was covered............ with humidity.

Nauvoo Pagaent and the Coleman's

 

Nick and Marsha Coleman looked us up, they had a break from the Nauvoo Pagaent. What a treat it was to see them.

 

Near the end of the pagaent they were part of the Celestial Family.

 

In this scene they build the Temple and Nick and Marsha are entering in.

 

Silly ones after the pagaent is over. Costumes look a little different

More Nauvoo updates 4 Pics at a time! : (

 

"Lo and behold a rumor did fly, that a golden bible been dug from the earth. And I had a neighbor who testified, of this bible's worth" I also know of this golden book's worth!!!

 

This is the Relief Society scene.

 

I shoooed this little bunny right out of our corn field. In fact I shoooooooed him several times. Then one day I was out there and the corn looked so wonderful, I thought I'll give it one more day, but to my HORROR a little racoon got it first!!! He left only a few runts for us.

 

We went to see "Baloons over the Mississippi". It was a wonderful sight.

UPDATE FROM NAUVOO.....

On 7-7-08 Dan Rush and his family visited Nauvoo. They stayed in an absolutely gorgeous home right across from the Temple called the Hart House. It was fun to see them!

7-10-08 This is my friend from high school Donise Sarger Price and her husband Lloyd. They are on a mission in Adam ondi Ahmand. The couples of their mission had a Temple excursion. It was so fun to see them!

The next few shots Donise took of us in our Rendevous performance of Noah and Sophia Packard.
We are testifying that we read the scriptures and believed we could be lead astray.

Chapter 7 OUR FIRST VISITORS CONTINUED!

Kekoa and I were exploring. He had such a manly smile as he looked through the fence at the Browning Home.



As we walked down the sidewalk he just stopped and started dancing. He must had songs running through his mind.



Fun father and son games. ( The things we do to keep kids quiet at the restaurant.)



Kekoa loved playing with the bubbles in the front yard of our little place and the back door of the Print Shop.



Here were are right in the front part of the John Taylor Home. It is so fun to share this special place with Yuya, Jill and Kekoa.



Kekoa seemed to love the peas as much as AmyJo and Mark used to!



Look at those long eyelashes!




I just could not keep him from the catepillar. He was so intrigued by that fuzzy little white thing that kept moving away from him, for some reason.







Kekoa was playing peek-a-boo with me on Main Street across from the Jonathan Browning Home. What a cutie!


Jill and Yuya look so cute as I look into the window of the Brigham Young home to see if Dad is ever going to take that picture. Finally I see the flash.




We gather and I see another flash. Cool picture of the backyard of the second prophet, Brigham Young's home, through their bedroom window.



I shed tears as they left the Brigham Young Home. This was our last view as they made their way to our little home, got in their black Nissan (not a Toyota) and headed for Kentucky. We had such a good time getting hugs and kisses from Kekoa. Please come back soon!!!!!

Chapter 7 Visitors Continued!

 We had a very special visitor last Thursday and Friday. Do you recognize Pres. Uchdorf? He, his wife, their daughter and twin grandsons visited Nauvoo last week. Of the 3 casts they watched our "Y" cast for both Sunset by the Mississippi on Thurs. and our Redezvous cast on Friday night. What a privilege!!
 The wagon tour brought them by Pioneer Pastimes and I quickly took a picture. The two grandsons are leaving on a mission to Tawain soon. They will be in 2 different missions in Tawain, how nice to be able to learn the same language!
 

Do you reconize Tracie, Donnie Crandell's wife and their son Porter. An older son attended EFY here and she had been in St. Louis to spend time with her dad. She had come to pick her older son up and recognized us! Then of course we knew who she was!


 

Last Wed. we recognized some fellow Arizonans. We had a fun visit with Mesa High friend and Queen Creek friend, Laura Wheeler ? (can't remember her married name) and family. They sure have a cute family!!! Yeah, matching shirts, my kind'a mom!!!!!