Missing Nauvoo

Last summer when we returned from Nauvoo we planned to return in 2013.  But . . . life got in the way and we realized going back in 2014 was more realistic, so we put 2014 in our sights instead. 

I was straightening up around the house and came across a little folder with the schedule for the Nauvoo Temple.

I'm envious that our friends are already there this year and enjoying the work, fun, and joy of being in Nauvoo and helping visitors have a terrific visit.

We are planning to apply to be summer volunteers next year--I hope they accept us!

Every night we were in Nauvoo we attended the Nauvoo Pageant.  It's a grand play/musical about the history of the Mormons in Nauvoo.  It's a wonderful production.

You can see the Nauvoo temple in the background.  It was rebuilt ten years ago after being destroyed shortly after the Mormons left Nauvoo in the 1840s.  The outside is a near-exact replica of the original and many aspect of the interior are also the same as the original.  Modern conveniences abound, of course.  I like my air conditioning!

 The girls liked it almost as much as the adults did.  It's fun for everyone.

Pioneers!

Pulling a handcart--hundreds/thousands of poor European Mormon immigrants crossed the American plains to Utah pulling handcarts because they did not have enough money for a wagon and team.  Some of my mother-in-law's ancestors came to Utah by handcart.  A handcart this big would carry about 500 pounds of a family's supplies.  It was rare for anyone but tiny children and sick people to ride.  Almost everyone walked.

 Quilting for area charities.

 Our friend G.W.P.

 A braided headband like pioneers braided rugs.

The leader of the parade!

The brass band came by the pioneer play area and played in a quick parade that was for everyone.  The leader got to choose where the band went and you can see how delighted Elizabeth was to lead the musical parade!

 And Sophia brought up the rear.

My little pioneer girls

Aren't they sweet?

An important bit of Mormon history

In 1844 the Mormons were living in the area in and around Nauvoo, Illinois.  Joseph Smith, the prophet and leader of the Church had been arrested on some trumped-up charges, and was being held in this jail in Carthage, Illinois, which is about 20 miles from Nauvoo.  

He and some friends were moved to the jailer's own bedroom since he could see these guys obviously weren't a danger to anyone.  The bedroom window is the upper window.

A mob of local men came to "take care of" Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith, thinking that if the leaders were dead, the Church would go away or wither and die.

The mob did shoot and kill Joseph and Hyrum Smith that day.  Joseph was shot as he looked out the window and lore has it that he fell to the ground near the well, mortally wounded.

The local people expected backlash from the Mormons, but none came.  However, within two years the Mormons were under such pressure to leave, that they headed west under the direction of the new Church president, Brigham Young.  He's the one who led them to the Salt Lake valley in Utah.

Here are the girls with a statue of the brothers:

Camp Laffalotta: part final

Camp Laffalotta didn't go as well as I hoped this summer, but it was better than doing nothing. We learned about oceans, the solar system, dogs, dinosaurs, and now, finally, pioneers and ancestors. After our FANTASTIC visit to Nauvoo, Illinois, how could I let the summer finish without touching on pioneers and our family ancestors?

I checked out Little House on the Prairie and we've passed the halfway mark with my reading it to the girls. I have to laugh at how closely dh seems to be listening to the story when he happens to be around. :-) We listened to three of the others in the series on our trip and have already read a couple others, so we are just rounding out our experience with those books. I think we have just one left after this one, By the Shores of Silver Lake. Not my favorite one, which is probably why I've left it for last.

Today for lunch we are going to have:
Johnny Cakes

1 cup cornmeal
1 tsp salt
1 Tbl butter
1 Tbl sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup milk
vegetable oil or shortening
maple syrup

1. Place cornmeal, salt, butter, and sugar in a mixing bowl
2. Boil the water in a covered saucepan and pour it into the bowl.
3. Add the milk to the bowl. Mix thoroughly with a spoon to make a smooth, thick batter.
4. Use a paper towel to coat a griddle and pancake turner with a light coat of oil.
5. Heat a frying pan and reduce the heat to medium.
6. Drop the batter by spoonfuls onto the hot griddle, like you would with pancake batter. Use a pancake turner to press each spoonful flat to about 1/2" thick.
7. Cook the cakes two at a time over medium heat for about 5 minutes on each side. The cakes should be crisp and slightly brown when done. Flip them a second time, if necessary.
8. Serve the cakes hot with maple syrup.

Hay-time Switchel

2 quarts water
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/8 cup cider vinegar
1/2 tsp ground ginger

1. Heat 1 qt water in a covered saucepan. When the water is hot but not boiling, little bubbles will form on the side of the saucepan.
2. Stir in the sugar, molasses, vinegar, and ginger. Continue stirring and heating, but don't let the mixture boil. When all the ingredients have dissolved, turn off the heat.
3. Remove the mixture from the stove, and let it cool until it reaches room temperature.
4. When it is cool, add the rest of the water.
5. Pour the switchel into a pitcher and chill it in a refrigerator. Serve cold.


I wonder if we will be full or starving? Haha. That switchel looks too interesting to NOT try.

Here is a link to pictures of us in Nauvoo, Illinois:
link to pictures on Facebook

Edited to add pictures. The Johnny Cake batter wasn't nearly as thick as the recipe led me to believe it would be. It still made a nice eggless kind of pancake. The girls liked it. The switchel met with mixed reviews. We thought it was too sweet and would have cut the sugar by half.

Tiny notes

Travel with my three girls: surprisingly good. They are typically heck on wheels but have always traveled well. I borrowed some books on CD from the library before We left and they (and I) are enjoying them. They entertain themselves very well too.

Humidity: Awful!!! Claustrophobic!!!

The effects of humidity on the countryside: Fantastically beautiful--green fields, billowing deciduous trees everywhere, grass in front yards and everywhere else without thought.

Nauvoo, Illinois: A neat old town with deep meaning and history for LDS Church members and pretty interesting for non-LDS Church members as well. Great interactive displays of pioneer life in the 1840s, historical homes, rides, and shows, We loved The Nauvoo Pageant.

Seeing old friends: It was wonderful to see Ann and family and to see Wayne and family. I've been blessed beyond measure by wonderful friends over the years.

Dh: Delightful to have dh fly in to St. Louis to keep us company and to take on the driving and most of the pop up trailer set up. REALLY nice for me.

Oceans of Fun in Kansas City: Tidy, well-maintained, and, well, oceans of fun.

Sunburn: Ouch. I wish the sunscreen had worked as expected, but happy 90 percent of the burns were on the adults, not the girls.

Tune in the the update of the next few days.