It's Been a Cold Winter

Blacksmith & Wainwright Shop

Those who live here say this winter has been colder than normal. However, I remember my missionary days out here in northern Iowa as being very cold with some days so cold we could not go out. Of course, this is not northern Iowa.

Along the Trail of Hope

The temperature for most days has not gotten above the low twenties and has usually been in the teens or lower for a high. The lows have hovered near zero or below with the wind chill being anywhere from ten to 25 below zero. That's why when we had the Exodus Walk and it was twenty and no wind, we thought that it was a very nice day. The forecast had indicated a minus nine for a low which would have been in the morning of the walk making it extremely cold for the activity.

I have included some pictures to give a feel as to how things look during this cold winter time.

Joseph Smith Mansion House

Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store
(where the Relief Society was organized)

Home of Patty Sessions

Patty Sessions was one of the most famous Mormon midwife. She delivered 3977 babies. Her son, Perigrinen Sessions was the one who was sent by Brigham Young to settle what is now Bountiful, Utah.

William Field Cabin

The field cabin was the home of Mary Field who lived to be 107 and the last living person to have known Joseph Smith. 

This year two young oxen were purchased to supplement the two older oxen. They are a matched pair. Training has been on going throughout this summer to get them ready for the ox cart rides. They have grown quite a bit this year. The picture below is of one of the young oxen lying in the snow.





There is a lot of wildlife that can be seen here in Nauvoo during the winter. It is during the late Fall and Winter that you can see eagles here along the river. When the warmer weather of Spring and Summer come, they move from the area. In the cities of Keokuk, Iowa and Warsaw, Illinois eagle watching days are part of the annual Winter activities.


Numerous Canadian Geese also spend the winter here along the river. They don't go inland very far but spend most of their time foraging in the corn fields.

Canadian Geese 

Bald Eagle perched in tree by river

The photo to the right is of a Cardinal which was perched outside of our window by a bird feeder in which we had filled with bird seed. It has its back to us and is looking over his back toward the window.

There are also lots of White Tailed Deer all around our homes. However, it is  difficult to get pictures of them.

Aerial view of the frozen Mississippi River

To the left is a photo taken by the Pageant missionary from his model helicopter prior to the last snow storm. He is able via WiFi to view what the camera sees on his cell phone as well as control the vertical movement of the camera. Horizontal movement is made by moving the helicopter.