First full week of November

 On Sunday Elder Barrow and I served in one of the funnest sites in Nauvoo - The Family Living Center.  We only had two families come by, but they stayed a long time exploring the 7 centers.  One family came from Colorado and the other was a local family, whom we met during Bootiful Nauvoo.  We had regional conference that morning, and their kids didn't want to go home yet, so they came to the Family Living Center. The mom is French and it was fun to hear her talking to her girls in her native language.  I explained the spinning and weaving centers, and the candles.  Sister Cornwell explained the bread baking and part of the weaving.  I had a lot of fun. Elder Barrow did some rope work. He's getting quite expert at rope making.  On Sundays we don't produce anything in Nauvoo, but we can demonstrate how to make things.  And we don't dress in costume, but just in our Sunday clothes. 

As winter approaches there is a lot happening behind the scenes in Nauvoo this week, but not much to photograph.  For instance, we planted the last of the 30,000 bulbs! Richard requested that we remind him next September to not order so many.  When I first heard we were going to plant that many bulbs, my muscles quaked.  After the first day of planting they went into total fright. The first day we planted in a very rooty garden and it was difficult to get a hole dug the required 6" deep.  But that was the worse day.  After that we planted in well-tilled beds and I learned to slip those bulbs into the ground without much pain and suffering. And now that is done for another year. And Spring promises to be splendid here in Nauvoo.  Come and see.

We also put a few more gardens to bed for the winter.  We aren't done with that project yet, but taking the gourd arbor down was sort of fun, even though I ended up with lots of itchy things in my hair and down my shirt.

We start undoing the gourd archway.

Sister Grigsby and Sister Archibald inside the arch.

The grounds crew - all done. 

The harvest.  There were three large buckets of gourds.

Just like the bulbs, no one sees the holiday preparations going on.  December 1st is the Christmas Walk. The whole mission is preparing to sing "Light Up the Tree", which requires lots of practice to get our flashlights to light up at the right time.  A live nativity and stories about the Christmas carols in several sites will round out the night.  Dee and I are singing in the angel choir for the live nativity. Practice is every Friday morning at 7:15.   That is great for the FM missionaries, but hats off to the few site missionaries who show up, because they don't have to report to their site until 9:45.

We are also making bows for the garlands on the fences.  Currently we are out of ribbon, but by next week we will be back in full bow production.  Sister Dare grew up on a flower farm and florist shop. She is teaching us the art of bow making.  I've been a slow student, but I think I have the mechanics now. The artistry still eludes me.

And today I received a golden ticket.  It didn't come with a Wonka Bar, but rather a package of M&Ms.  Our assignments to speak in church, or teach a lesson, come on gold paper, delivered by always good-natured President Williams. These little notes are called Golden Tickets.  He delivered mine while I was raking leaves on Main Street. Dee and I are to teach Elder's Quorum and RS, respectively, in two Sundays.  Teaching this group of well seasoned members of the church is a little intimidating, but I just have to come up with the right questions to ask that will stimulate thoughtful discussion, and they will take care of things from there. I hope.  One thing I'm interested in - the Young Sister Missionaries are now gone, and they made most of the comments.  Sunday will be our first Relief Society without them. Will the Senior sisters step up?  Stay tuned.