April 25th 2022

More Travel

I did not intend this blog to be a travel log of trips here and there but with the temple being closed and our mission being temple work it makes it difficult to record mission experiences. 

We were back in Nauvoo for three days and we were taught how to make the Nauvoo bricks! Nauvoo is gearing up for a very busy summer and wants to have lots of bricks to give out to people who visit here so we get to help with that. There are 19,000 already made but we need to make thousands more. 

Then we were on our way to Wisconsin to visit our friends, the Murphys from Bountiful who had moved there over a year ago. We love this family and were sad when they left our neighborhood. So, being only 7 hours away made it possible to have a visit. 

On our way to the Murphys, we stopped in Galena, Illinois. It's a charming, picturesque little town with darling shops and restaurants. Then we went on our way to see the Wisconsin Dells. It's an area where a gorge has carved lovely trails into the rock similar to the Narrows in Southern Utah. We only touched the surface of what is available to enjoy there. It is a beautiful drive through Wisconsin. Lots of wooded areas, large fields and rolling hills with homes, red barns and silos spotted here and there. It hasn't totally awakened from winter yet but imagine it would be stunning in the summer and fall. Originally, the Nauvoo temple as well as the Nauvoo house were built with Wisconsin pine which was floated down the Mississippi river. 

We arrived at the Murphy's beautiful home that is surrounded by beautiful woods and has a stream in the back. We had a wonderful visit with this delightful family! 

Now, we're back in Nauvoo and will work on making bricks!

The process of making bricks. Lubricate the molds.

Put in the plugs. 

The clay is mixed there from the mud dug up in 

Nauvoo mixed with sand.

Press down the molds with the hydraulic machine. Of course, the pioneers did not have these machines but it's helpful when you are making lots of bricks.  

Scrap off extra clay being careful not to gouge the bricks

Place them on a rack to dry for three days, then the edges are cleaned and then baked in a kiln for 15 hours.

Beautiful Galena...pictures do not do it justice and the leaves aren't all out yet either.

Another view

Wisconsin Dells in the gorge area. 

It was a lovely mile and a half walk.

Another view

Beautiful jutting rocks and crags

Madison, Colleen, Steve and Aliza Murphy 

with their dogs Kylo and Cypher

Loving on this family!

Resident eagle's nest here in Nauvoo with the mother eagle

Magnolia blossom. It is spring in Nauvoo!