Sunday, May 19, 2019

NAUVOO DAILY SIGHTS 

I've decided to show you some of the things that we see on a daily basis and perhaps take for granted...the vegetation and animals. 

First....at the corner of the highway 96 and Parley Street (where we turn to go home) is an old power pole that looks like a tree because of the climbing vine that is so thick on it.  It turns out that the vine is poison oak.  It grows on lots of things....up tree trunks, etc. and the vine eventually becomes woody and looks like a tree trunk that is attached to a real tree.

Example of the vine growing up a big , mature tree

Power pole-tree .  There are no longer any power lines attached to this pole.

Right across the street is the sign for the State Park that extends up the hill and is across from our house.

As you continue up the hill, you will see this small vineyard of grapes that is just beginning to blossom.  In the fall, we are allowed to go into this particular vineyard and pick grapes for free.  Nauvoo has several vineyards in and around it that the farmers harvest and market grapes.

Then, just before our house, you will see some beautiful trees.  I have shown you the magnolia tree in our back yard that has blossomed and fully leafed out but this is one that is just beginning to blossom.  I don't know what kind it is and neither does anyone else that I have asked but it is still pretty!  Then, just randomly, in the ditch across from us, these Iris are blooming .  They are mixed into the native grass, etc. in the ditch.....bloom where you are planted, I guess!!

Next, on to the wildlife / animals.  Like I have said before, the Canada Geese have claimed the baseball field at the bottom of the hill.  Sometimes, it looks like "stake conference"...haha!

And then, Facilities Management has acquired some sheep for the summer.  An Amish gentleman has agreed to have them pasture here for the summer.  They have built split rail fence enclosures with electric wire  to keep them safe.   They have some of their lambs with them.  Apparently, we will also be getting a couple more baby oxen .  Everyone had so much fun watching the ones that they acquired last summer!  They are yearlings now and have been trained to pull a small wagon. Having animals here adds to the authenticity of Nauvoo....especially as they are trying to restore it to the way it was in that time period.  They are restoring 4 houses this summer that have been marked as original....some have been lived in and remodeled so they are gutting them and restoring them to as close to original as possible.  It has been interesting to watch so far.  On the William Weeks home, they are taking some of it down brick by brick and shaving each one so that they can use them in the rebuilding of this home.

Well....that's about it for this week.  We are looking forward to having David & Jill arrive here at the end of the month for a visit and would gladly welcome any and all others anytime!  Love you....be good and stay happy!  This gospel is true and brings happiness as we obey.