Up the Hill

Outside our home is a small hill that we finally got around to exploring. It is as though we are walking through an old wooded forest. It is so quiet and peaceful out there and as we were hiking up we had to grab onto small trees and carry a walking stick in order to keep our stability. About 50 yards up we came across some stones that were set out in a circle (sort of like a fire pit) but there were two other sets of circles all next to each other.



There is a very old tree stump close by that looks like there might be some writing on it but then again, it may be really old moss that has long since disappeared. Anyway, using our imaginations we are trying to figure out if this might be the burial place for four of Joel Hills Johnson's siblings who died while they were living in Kirtland. These siblings would be Nancy, Seth, David and Susan.

The historic fiction novel series "A Banner Is Unfurled" has really given us a bit insight to the background of a family here in Kirtland and also, as I wrote in a previous blog, we are living in Joel Hills Johnson's home. It is fun to explore our surroundings and let our imaginations run at full speed. =o)



At the top of the hill, all of the sudden we came to a wooded ledge that dropped off abruptly. At the bottom is a small creek with some old tree bridges going across.

This and That

This past week has been a wet one! For a couple of days we have been slushing through the puddles doing tours. Last night just as we were taking a couple out, the heavens opened and poured. We only got about 10 feet out the door when they wanted to go back in. We ended up giving a picture tour that is set up for just such times. Not quite like the real thing but the pictures are great and the spirit can be felt.


Outside our house the water puddles up and seeps into the basement so the sump pump has to keep working along with the dehumidifier. Some of the older houses on site had to be pumped out because the water came in too fast. Sister Bell said she was having to go through 3" of water to get to her washer.


Speaking of humidity......Here is a comparison picture of some Ice Breakers I carry around in my pocket. Two days in my pocket and they start to dissolve. I have to figure out a way to keep them more dry.....perhaps a plastic bag will help. =o)




Today we had some interesting ways of transportation. The site was very busy being the day before the 4th of July. We looked out in the parking lot and here was a really old blue bus that had been converted. They drove all the way out from Utah! Then this really neat racing limo drove up with some more visitors. Even the driver was decked out in his racing uniform!




A few times now we have looked out and have seen a deer in our yard! They are so pretty and fun to watch.

Busy Day!

What a surprise! Saturday, June 6 was a super busy time! Sister Harris got on the phone and called all of the Senior Missionaries scheduled to come in the afternoon (even those who had a scheduled P-day) to come in earlier as there were five buses in the parking lot three of which were unscheduled. With buses,that means lots of people. When we opened our door to head over, there were two of the three in the entry road parked right in front of our door!

Along with additional people coming in, it was a very hectic time for a few hours! By 3:30, we had 499 visitors.




Elder Butterfield took charge of organizing the visitors and assigned the missionaries to each group. All of the Seniors plus all of the Sister Missionaries were on hand waiting for their assignment.



A little later in the day two more buses that the Visitor's Center was expecting arrived and by then things had slowed down a little.



After about 5:30, things returned to somewhat normal. But at the end of the day a total of 723 visitors were logged in the books. What a beautiful place this is where people want to come to learn of the history Kirtland has to offer and to build their testimonies of the Church and the sacrifices that were made here by the early Saints.

More Home Tour

Thought we would send a couple of pictures of the upstairs slant.
Looking in the bedroom, note the tilt of the dresser against the wall and the boards lifting the foot of the bed. It has taken a bit of an adjustment in the mornings. When I get out of bed, I hang onto the bed post so that I don't gain too much speed getting to the door. It is really a "down hill" feeling. =o) It is interesting that in the other bedroom, the bed is facing the opposite direction and also has to be propped up with 4 boards to make it level.



This door takes the prize!! =o)

They had to stretch the bottom hinge as far out as they could to make the door level.




I made bread the other day and when I put it in the oven, the middle pan started to slide. I couldn't believe my eyes! It slid back and to the right corner in the oven! However, the bread turned out great!

The inside of our home is roomy and lots of space. We are enjoying it very much, no matter how much we make it a "conversation" piece.

Our New Home!

We have finally received official notice of our transfer to Kirtland. Our move will be on May 21. We will be living in the Joel Hills Johnson home right by the Visitor's Center. No more "commuting" for an hour to the site! We are excited to make the move but at the same time a little nostalgic realizing the calm, peaceful and beautiful surroundings that we will be leaving behind. Our stay the the Johnson farm has been a wonderful experience! Serving out here with Elder and Sister Leavitt and the sister missionaries, testifying of our Savior Jesus Christ, has been the best! We have met so many guests from all over the world while we have been out here.

I am sure our stay at Kirtland will be a growing experience for us also for the last half of our mission so we are looking forward to new horizons. The home where we will be living is very intersting. It is from the early 1800s and has settled a bit........(a noticeable "bit") =o)

When our daughter Kristen and her family visited with us last month, we showed them our new "quarters" and when she got home she wrote back and said that all she could think of was the poem.....

There was a crooked man, who walked a crooked mile
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked style
He bought a crooked cat who caught a crooked mouse
And they all lived together in a little crooked house!

We are enclosing some pictures to show what she was talking about. But nevertheless, it is very nice inside and big! We are excited!

Dr. Seuss's Magical Orchard

The orchards by the Johnson Farm are really unusual. They have been pruned to look like they could be right out of a Dr. Seuss story. These are apple trees that have been purposely pruned somewhat like a Christmas tree in shape. The central leader goes straight up and is narrow on top so that every apple on the tree has equal exposure to the sun. Every apple from the tree is pristine quality.

When we first saw these trees I thought they looked a little like a hob goblin (whatever that is!) They are so unusual looking that many visitors ask us about them and just what kind of trees they are. We finally stopped at the home of Roger Monroe and had him explain the whole system to us. They have 140 acres of apples and pears. There are 22 different varieties of apples on the farm and each row is a different variety so that cross polination can take place with every variety. Whatever they do and however they accomplish their goal, we had the opportunity to enjoy many of these varieties last Fall. They have a little store in back of their home on Pioneer Trail that is right by the Johnson Home so we pass it every day.

Unwanted Visitor

When we got to the farm a week or so ago, Elder and Sister Leavitt told us about something getting into the home and really destroying some of the old artifacts. They took pictures of the damage and then reported it to Elder Butterfield. The summer kitchen had a broken barrel, animal droppings, chewed carpet. John's office was all messed up with tipped chair, part of the artifacts on the floor, the East parlor had the Book of Mormon open and pages flapping,the pantry had things scattered on the floor......All in all, it was a sorry sight to see.

When the Leavitts left and we took over, we could hear a banging noise like an animal trying to break out. I had a tour at that time so told the two visitors that if they saw anything to let me know. It was at the end of the tour, coming back down the stairs to the main floor when our visitor saw the varmint in the East Parlor. It ran around behind the china cupboard. In the meantime, Doyle had called the Leavitts to come back to help us try to get it out of the house. Now there were six of us!

I found an old broom, closed the door to the West Parlor and to the kitchen, opened the front door and took some of the boards from the destroyed barrel to try to block the stairway. Doyle took the broom handle and tried to poke it to force it out from behind the china cupboard. It took a lot of prodding.. Bro Hensley (one of our visitors) cautioned us that it could perhaps be rabid, especially if it entered a house. Here were, the six of us...me behind the kitchen door, Leavitt behind the front door, Doyle and Hensleys in the East Parlor and Sister Leavitt shooting pictures as fast as she could with her new camera!

All of the sudden it ran out from behind the cupboard and under the couch. A little more prodding and it bounded out the front door and ran into the field. It was a big ball of gray fur, a fuzzy tail with a black tip. Pretty good sized ground hog! That was pretty much the excitement for our time on the site that day. After cleaning up the mess all over the first floor, we finally left the farm an hour and half late.