The Mechams in Nauvoo

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Button Museum

This week on Prep day we enjoyed a field trip up the river to Muscatine, Iowa where the National Pearl Button Museum is located. This was a very interesting place of history. Our tour guide taught us much about what happened there, what led up to it's beginnings and how it faded into the past. It started with a German immigrant, John F. Boepple, button maker. He made buttons in Germany from all kinds of things, such as deer horns, bones and sea shells. He knew a lot about mussels, how they grew in slow moving fresh water rivers in abundance. Supplies were low in Germany so he studied waterways in the United States, and migrated to the Mississippi river near Muscatine. He was right in his predictions when he found an abundance of mussels. So he set up shop harvesting the mussels to make beautiful pearl buttons. Others caught on to his venture and business boomed for a time. The industry became the "gold rush " or in other words the mother of pearl of the Midwest. This all happened between 1890 and 1950. Eventually the mussels were all farmed out and the invention of the plastic button ended the era of the button factories in Muscatine. Here are a few photos of our tour.

A depiction of how they would fish for the mussels on the river.

Machine that punched out buttons.

These are called pearl slugs. Pearls were in the mussels. It was just very rare to find a perfect pearl, due to the conditions of how they lived in the river.

The buttons had to be counted. Someone invented this tool for scooping up buttons and counting them, speeding up the process.

Buttons were an indication of wealth.

Artistry

We then went on to Iowa City. Nearby we found the camping area for the handcart companies, where they would assemble their handcarts and make preparations for the trek west.

Family happenings

Sister Jan is on an adventure. She stopped here at the Singapore airport. It is know as the Jewel. I see why. Very beautiful.

Jan went on to Myanmar with a group enjoying the culture and seeing the sights. She kept me posted of her experiences and shared some photos.

So back at home things that were happening. Wayne and his brother bag this buck in Wayne's backyard. I'm sure it was one of the many that live there in the hayfields year round.

On Sunday Ellie attends the baptism preview and David the Priesthood preview. Growing up kids.

Rest in peace Tucker. Lonnie's family said good-bye to their family dog. We had a lot of good memories with him. He was in heaven roaming our farm land hunting for rabbits. But not so in heaven encountering skunks. He was a good dog.

New Angel Moroni

This week a new Angel Moroni was installed on the Nauvoo temple. Earlier this summer we had a storm when Angel Moroni was struck by lightening. It made his face and head blackened and part of the horn was broken away. I understand that they will fix the damaged one and store it away for another day when needed. It is good to have him looking all shiny once again.

Beautiful full moon
Thanks to E/Cornwell for his great shots.

I am so thankful for temples and the ordinances we participate in there. To me this is another manifestation that God loves us.

5 gifts of receiving your temple endowment

1. Greater knowledge of the Lord’s purposes and teachings

2. Power to do all that God Wants us to do

3. Divine direction and protection as we serve the Lord, our families and others.

4. Increased hope, comfort and peace

5. Promised blessings now and forever

Young Sister Missionaries 2019

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Snowy Halloween

On Halloween day we awoke to 3 inches of new snow. So we stayed in that evening and played one of our new games, Qwrikle.

Thanks to our kids for sharing their fun times this week. Crazy hair day.

Ellie the cute witch.

David the scary clown.

Ainsley the lovely butterfly.

Daphney the mermaid.

Capri the wizard.

Stacy the tin man.

Baking bread in the beehive oven.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Boo-ti-ful Nauvoo

Early morning view. Credit to S/Pleshek

On my early morning walk I discovered this very strange mushroom growing on the side of a tree.

Credit to Matt Townsend

Here is a sample of my quilt that I'm working on, done with applique. Lots of hand work but it gives me something to do on the down time.

I love the fall time of year with all it's beauty.

Bob and Bev Thurgood stopped by Nauvoo. We along with E/S/Thurgood did a session at the temple together. After we went to lunch and had a great visit.

Later we hitched up a team to the surrey and went for a ride around Nauvoo. The weather was a little rainy but it was still fun to do. Bob so enjoyed the horses, barn and stories.