HOME SWEET HOME….

So this is standing in the kitchen looking into our living room.  It is cute and sweet and I am making some changes here and there much to Richard’s chagrin.  I got some of the maroon curtains, pillows, table cloth, shower curtain and thankfully, our bedspread matches perfectly.

This is our little living room.  As wide as a love seat!  Our computer things are in here.  We are supposed to have our district over next month, but there is not enough room.  I will provide the food and we will be having it at the Openshaw’s.

Standing at the front door and looking toward the kitchen.  You can pace the whole room off with about 10 steps.  We have a cute little table and a desk.

This microwave is older than dirt!  I am sure that whatever power it is using is not legal anymore, but oh well, we are serving the Lord, right?

Kitchen sink with a modern dish drainer!

Laundry room with matching front loader programmable washer and dryer!  Yea right! But they work.

Looking from our bedroom into the bathroom.  I made a few updates and the shower works really well.  Someone at FM has retiled the bathtub so I am not afraid to get into it.  Small mercies!

Looking from the bathroom into the bedroom.  This is a full sized bed…..Think about it. A room as wide as all that!

The doors here are spectacular and non-dentable!

Door for our cupboard in the bathroom, early American…..So anyone is welcome to our little home.  Actually it feels pretty homey and it only takes me a whopping fifteen minutes to clean the whole thing.  Now that’s what I call a blessing.  You all come!

I THOUGHT THE SABBATH WAS A DAY OF REST…..

Today Richard and I worked together in the Lyon Drug.  They were called apothecary’s in the l840’s.  An apothecary was a druggist, or pharmacist, and a physician as well.   Windsor Lyon was a botanist and believed in making a lot of his own medicines. You will see his Herb garden at the side of his house.  Anyway, the blue and red SHOW GLOBE you see in the window was an important signal.  If it was all red then that meant there was a sickness in town and it was best that you move on.  Green meant everything was well.  It was a universal signal in English speaking countries. 

A lot of goods were bought and sold on the barter system in Nauvoo.

Guess what this is?  You are right.  The beginnings of the early washing machine. 

Pelts and skins as well as homemade blankets were bartered.

The early toothbrush made from bone and twigs that were beaten and formed into bristles.

This is the famous bee box.  It is where the saying came from ,”To make a beeline.”  The children would put petals into the top of the box.  Then when a bee landed on them they would slide it closed.  Take it to their mom who would turn it over and coat the bee with flour.  They then slid the top back and followed the slow flour coated bee to it’s hive.  They would build a fire under the hive and smoke the bees to the top, taking the honey from the bottom of the hive.  How ingenious.

This is the rotisserie oven.  The block next to it was heated by the fireplace and then when you put your feet on it, it kept them warm.

You could get your meat here but I am sure my mother would have been a vegetarian.  She won’t even eat cooked chicken if it has set out 10 minutes.

The white handled instrument was used for pulling teeth, and the other knives were used for “blood-letting!!!”  And I thought I was scared of the dentists now.

An early microscope used by lighting a candle.  Amazing.

These are called sugar hats.  The forerunner to the sugar cube.  Most people could only afford to buy a very small portion of one of these hats and it lasted them a long time. 

Shoes that would fit either your right or left foot.

Spices weighed by the ounce.

The apothecary would make his medicines with a pestal and mortar.  He would then form it into a dough and roll it out.  He then laid it on this machine and slid the bar over it making “pills.”

Hair dyes, used by men only to dye their mustaches and beards!!! So we had a good day.  I have changed my clothes four times and am ready to quit.  We were at church by 7:30 (insane) and Jill had saved us a place in the soft seats.  I told Kyle, I would not be there at 7 AM to save him a seat, the back was fine for me………Then worked in the Lyon Drug, then came home and changed our clothes and went to a wonderful fireside put on by the singles sisters.  Such beautiful voices and so sweet.  I am now in my “MOOO_MOOOO” and I know why Mamaw loves them so!

BLESSINGS FROM SERVING A MISSION………PRICELESS!

I HOPE WITH TARYN’S PERMISSION TO SHARE THIS.
Dear Elder and Sister Jardine,
I almost lost Tucker today.  I was playing the computer with Tucker on the desk.  I got bored and left.  Then Charlotte and Heather came by and Gibson hit Charlotte.  She cried. trying to make Charlotte feel better, I decided to get Tucker out for her to see.  I opened the lid and realized, “Hey! I didn’t put Tucker back!”  I bolted upstairs and searched everywhere.   In the printer, on the printer, around the printer, on the computer, around the computer, by the desk, in the desk, around the desk, I couldn’t find my little gecko.  Knowing my motto, “in time of crisis, kneel and pray,” I sunk to my knees in a five minute prayer.  “Please, please, Heavenly Father, help me find Tucker.  I love him more than Anything anyone has gotten me for Christmas.  Nonna and Poppa got him for me.  I promise to keep track of him forever and ever if I find him.  Please, don’t let Tucker die.”  Over and over I said, as if the more times I said it, it persuaded him a little more.  I walked downstairs to check the cage again.  No sign of him.  I then got a prompting , a small quiet one that was hard to hear, but easy to feel.
“Taryn, check upstairs again.  Under the printer, Go.”
Not needing another invitation, again I bolted upstairs.  I ran to the printer and lifted it up.  There, sleeping, all curled up was my cricket-eating, poop-on-Nonna, and perfect gecko.  I grabbed him and hugged him and promised not to lose him.  I put him on my shirt and knelt again.  “My sweet Heavenly Father, my gecko, Tucker is back in my arms again, of course you already knew that.  I don’t know what to say other than, “Thank you.”  I ask a ton of things from you and still you love me and guide me and help me through life.  You’ve helped us both today.  Me and Tucker.  I can’t survive without my Tucker or family.  Tucker wouldn’t last a week with an empty stomach, thirsty tongue and Gibson romping around this place. Thank you.  I love you.  Thank you.”
I can’t help but think the blessing came from you two.  Mom said that we would be blessed because Nonna and Poppa went on a mission.  I believe every bit of it.  Your choice has affected us all for the better.  Ryan and Jacqui, Jamey and Janae’s marriages were about your choice.  Thank you for that.  You technically saved Tucker.  Tucker and I both miss you and wish you luck on your mission.
With the greatest respect and love,
TARYN, YOUR ELDEST GRANDDAUGHTER,
TUCKER, YOUR ELDEST….UH…GECKO
As I dry the tears from my eyes I also get on my knees and thank a loving Heavenly Father for the best family in the world! If me being here blesses you then I am willing to make the sacrifice, but in all actuality a great blessing for us all.  Love Your Nonna

PREPARATION DAY..FREEDOM FOR A FEW HOURS…

So because it is our P-day, we are supposed to get the day off.  But that only started after going to the President’s house and having breakfast at 7:30 this morning.  I swear is everyone here supposed to be a morning person.  It is really taking a toll on me.  He had made biscuits and sausage gravy so that was a plus but my stomach doesn’t do well that early.  Their house is beautiful looking out over the Mississippi and it even has a grand piano in it.  Ate as the last time as the group that came from the MTC together.  Now we are being split up into different casts and that is how we will stay.
So Richard and I headed out on a field trip.  We had to go into Mennonite country to find the appropriate hats, suspenders etc .  We drove into Cantril to the Dutchman General Store.


I got salt water taffy from where else but SLC!  Fresh home grown tomatoes already that I had for dinner.  I definitely would like to make my own salsa but goodness who has time?


Over the bridge to Bentonsport for a little shopping at some very old stores.



These little towns are the river are so beautiful. 
Stopped in Burlington and went to JC Penney’s looking for some more work shirts for Richard.  I picked up two blouses because I am burning up!!!!!! Needless to say, I am not the best dressed here.  Then went back to another performance from our group at Rendevouz.  Not going to be able to watch very much longer.  They are ready to throw us in.  Now to bed and up for church at 6:45in the AM!!!!!

OFF TO WORK WE GO!

These are his site clothes, but we got him some suspenders today and he won’t have to wear the extra layer of the vest!  It is stinking hot here now and that humidity has come in full force. As for me……….

I will be cool as a cucumber in my six layers of breathable cotton! And ugly shoes to boot.  This is a little view of the front room in our house.  I am looking for a few more knick knacks and then will post the tour of the WHOLE house….

Today I worked for the second time at the Brigham Young House.  It really is a special place to work. I have enjoyed just being in it.  Yes Jonathan, I really called you from Brigham Young’s House. 

A “mamie” rocker, notice the railing where the baby lays and mom can sit and rock hands free.  When the child gets older, just remove the rail and it becomes a settee.  This is Brigham Youngs.


This rocker and mirror were both made my Brigham’s brother Phineas. 

Hat belonging to Mary Ann Young.  They wove reeds from the river through the hat to lift it off of the hair for coolness……………{(

Baby cradle with a rattle…..

Master bedroom with a trundle underneath.  Notice also the little “Potty!”

Largest collection of artifacts found in Nauvoo were found in Brigham’s house They were in his root cellar and in 1990 there was a missionary serving here who restored all that he could.  These are them as well as,

Many he brought from his mission in England.


This is the council room.  It has a very special feeling about it.  This is where many important decision about the saints were made with Brigham and the 12 Apostles. 

An oil painting of him that hung in the Salt Lake Temple, now hangs here. He was recognized as the greatest colonizer in American history.  He helped plan and orchestrate the settlement of over 400 communities from Canada to Mexico.  In 1950 the American government recognized him as such and put a bust of him in the rotunda of the capital.


Biggest bees ever on some of the beautiful plants and trees in the yard.



These pictures don’t actually do this beautiful place justice. So green…….