Jul 23
I am in the pavilion and a Nursemaid Antelope is outside the window with five of her charges for the day.  We see them as they train the little ones in hiding, running, watching out for danger, and taking them to good eating spots.
The trek-ers last week left us with large amounts of food that they could not take home.  There was sufficient chili for 30 couples, pulled pork sandwiches, bags of potato chips, all types of condiments.  It is a struggle for some to stay at their desired weight.
After last night's rain (abt. 20 minutes) the air is clear and hopefully it subdued the fires to the east of us.  It is off to Casper this morning to do the shopping at Sam's, WalMart and Smith.  We can't miss the second hand stores for neat things.  Have to be back by 1 PM to start our shift until 7 PM.  Maybe there will be someone who needs just the two of us to make a change in their life.
Have a great day. JAG

Jul 22
Wonders of all wonders; the internet is accessable tonight. After a great potluck dinner today, and my poppyseed cakes receiving accolades, we had an evening of Broadway show tunes sung by Dean Lorimer, accompanied by his wife. It was a great evening, the kind of music that is kind to the ears and mind. At one time, to give Dean a break, the audience sang Do Re Me from "Sound of Music". I will be singing "If I were a Rich Man" most of the night.
Lightening has struck and the prairie south east of us is on fire. The strong winds do not help at all to control the blaze. The highlands of Wyoming get very little moisture, the clouds come over us, but will not let lose of precious sprinkles.
Bernice and I were Ephraim Hanks and Thisbe for the Declo 1st ward Friday evening. While the ward was sitting around the propane fireplace they asked their bishop if he would perform the Shoshone raindance. He did and within a few minutes some sprinkles fell, not enough to make any difference. While we were performing our skit he did the raindance again and this time we got wet enough to cool us off.
On the way home tonight from the homestead we stopped to watch a rattlesnake by the side of our road. It had seven nice buttons and it went off through the sagebrush to find supper. I did not have my snake stick in the car and didn't want to just pick it up by the middle. Good choice.
Wow, the rain just started and I am on my bicycle with my Sunday clothes.  I will have to wait this out.  Every little bit of rain that falls here is well worth and extra wash for a white shirt and slacks.  We found out that Wyoming is the capitol of music with La-Re-Me being just east of here by three hours.
Talk to you all soon. JAG

Sorry about the delays:  The Internet is very sporadic on the highlands of Wyoming.
Jul 11Last Friday was our Preparation day and we went to Casper, as usual, and had lunch at KFC where we met a missionary couple. It had been a long time since I had a piece of KFC chicken. After that we went to PETCO and bought a seven pound bag of crushed English Walnuts. They are to go into needle bags for weight. On top of that, they will not dull needle points. We then went to Sam's Club for guest shopping, to WalMart for a couple of lawn chairs (since we left ours home), fill up with gas, then on to Smith's Food Center, the used Hostess bread store, and then for the 70 mile trip to our "box" at Missionary Village.
Saturday we had a call from Joseph Harris and they were going to stop by on Sunday while on the way home to Salt Lake City. They had been to Loveland visiting her folks. Sunday came and after the block we sat the table in the "barn" for our expected guests. This is the only time that we sat as the only couple at a table and when the random numbers were called, we were the first ones to go and fill our plates. All the missionaries had a good laugh about that. The kids did not show, but we called them in late afternoon and they were already by Evanston, WY and did not have time for a stop. Martin's Cove is about 120 miles round trip out of the way.
Monday we were again at the visitor center with lots of people wanting to learn about this place. We then had a family who were direct decendents of Levi Savage, what a privilege. The McBride's were also represented by family. Bernice's cousin and his wife, Carol, came by and she is related to Henry J. Newman and his wife Maria Louisa Penn of the Hunt Freight Wagon Company. Every day some individuals come by who are related in some way to pioneers of the Willie, Martin, Hunt or Hodgett companies.
Bernice and I are getting real good at telling the stories we are asked (by the travelers) to tell. We get to visit with many young and older people, from all walks of life, who come here to experience in a small way what the pioneers went through. We find that some come here ill prepared for the rigors of trail travel. Many fall by the wayside of heat exhaustion and their own medical people have their hands full with them. Several in the last weeks had to have IV's administered on the trek which is difficult at best and requires others of their trek group to aid and assist. Some are very serious situations. In fact we have had heart attacks and have also had two death's on the trail.
In the last few days we have had clouds building up during the afternoon, but none let go of any moisture for us. Casper had sufficient rain to cause flooding, we are in a drought situation.
Jul 17Just returned from Idaho Falls last evening after attending the funeral for Leora Anderson Bratt, my friend for many years (adopted grand mother). Funerals are a time when families get together who have not seen each other for a while. Thus was the case here.
One of our daughters (Nancy I.F.) with two of her boys (Nick and Seth) came to visit on the 11th July and they/we had a good time doing some trek-ing and Nick helped me with a broken pitcher pump at one of the posts. The pump and the lift pipe had to be repaired and we worked until 12:30 AM so that trek-ers could fill up their water jugs for their hike to Martin's Cove in the morning. That post supplies water for as many as 800 people per day. Water is a must before we feel comfortable to let people make the hike into the cove on hot days. A body gets dehydrated rapidly at this altitude and lack of humidity. While they were here, we went to the Pathfinder Dam to see the magnificent display of millions of gallons of water coming through the turbine shute. We counted twelve Pelicans and some of them were as close to the maelstrom as possible to pick up bits of fish that came through the turbines. We watched as several Pelicans attacked a seagul that ventured too close to their feeding grounds. The seagul got away, but it was a close one for the seagul.
Friday noon we left for Idaho Falls and as we climbed out of Jackson 1 1/2 inches of snow and hail made driving interesting. A couple of accidents involving motorcycles caused a back-up in Jackson and it took almost and hour to get through there. However, the rain that followed as we decended into Victor was very welcome. We had not seen rain of that magnitude for some time. The windshield wipers had a difficult time keeping the glass clear.
Today, Tuesday, we were attending the Veil Crossing Bridge Post and had several family groups with their little children who stopped by for us to tell them a story or two. While one of the families was stopped by our post a three ft. Bull snake came by on her way to her hunting ground.
She was a beautiful specimen and she came by a couple of times to show off her markings. About noon a small group of blackbirds shows up and they strut back and forth looking for a handout. It is so interesting how they approach a morsel within just a few feet from us. They hunker down, almost a crawl, grab the piece of bread or apple and hop a few feet away to taste their treat. Some fly off to take the food away and then come back for another free meal.
Also we had a magnifiscent four point mule buck come by our little hut. People don't seem to bother any of the wildlife here. This buck and another live on the little island just down from the Veil Crossing Bridge. Antelopes are a daily show with their little ones as they play in the shallows of the Sweetwater River. The ranch abounds with rabbits even tho we hear coyotes most of the night and morning hours.
All is well at Martin's Cove Historic Site.
Jul 21
So many women had lost their husbands, had sick husbands and children. Yet, there faith and inward strength brought them to the Valley. This women's pull is to honor all pioneer women and their dedication to the Gospel and foremost the New and Everlasting Covenant which was available to them in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. This little family accomplished so much amid shed tears by those of us who prayed them up the hill. Two little girls and a sore kneed grandmother. Angels were helping them.
Also we had two trek groups come and cross the Sweetwater. One group had the Aaronic Priesthood carry the women across. The young man who carried the Bishops wife fell and dropped her into the swift flowing current. I am sure that it was unintentional, but that also happened when four young men carried many across in minus ten degree weather and blowing snow, November fourth 1856.
Today I was working on a water truck centrifugal pump which we better not tear down until all the trek-ers have left for the season. It will take several days to rebuilt this pump after we get the right spare parts. We use this truck to spray the gravel roads and camp sites so that the dust is manageable. After the middle of August the trek-ers will slow down since school starts for many.
Time goes by so fast that we lose track of "what day is this?" The rain clouds still go around Martin's Cove and the heat is oppressive, just wears a body out.  We still have to bake a cake for tomorrow's potluck.
We will do our level best to represent our Stake here. Have a great day,Your Martin's Cove Missionaries A very busy schedule was had for the last four days. While we were stationed at the "Foot Bridge" a small family group came with their covered hand cart. They had already covered about five miles and were now going to cross the river in commemoration of the crossing on November 4th, 1856. That done, we thought that they would now return to the "homestead" by way of the sand trail. Grandmother had two bad knees and the grand children were abt. : girl 11 and 6, boy 8 or 9, and their decision was to do the steep women's pull. As Priesthood we could not help them, but we could stand on the sides at the top and watch, take pictures, no cheering, just pray that the women are up to it.

Jun 30

It has been a very busy few days.  This evening the Canadians are treating us to a great dinner to celebrate Canada Day.  It is actually tomorrow, but that would not sit well to have that celebration on the Sabbath.  Then on the fourth we have the typical Independence Day Hurrah and then in the evening the fireworks on the lake in Alcova.  We do have a fireban, but we don't know if that includes the lake.

The sprinklers are all done and just the sod is missing.

During this time we went to the Alcova Dam and watched as the Pelicans made their approaches into the spillway churning waters.  Those birds are so professional in their flying skills.  Their wingspan was easy five feet.

During the the time that we were Camp Hoasts here at Ranch 66 we helped teach the visitors, and there were lots of them camping in tents or travel trailers,  the fine art of square dancing.  It was quite a sight with fifty percent being small children.  The main thing is that everyone had fun for the three days that we danced here at the Missionary Village.  Ephraim Hanks came to tell his story to all who wanted to hear it.

We also had another angry rattlesnake under one of the camp trailers and it was removed to the other side of the fence.  We are sure to check every day under the motorhomes and trailers since the snakes like to lay next to the warm tires during the night.

President Lorimer from the Riverton Stake came to give us a fireside about the process of creating a visitor center, walking trails, and bridges across the Sweetwater River.  There is a Veil Bridge to commemorate the Rescue and a footbridge at the water crossing site so no-one has to go through the water again.

We are the recipients of smoke and dust frfom the fires in Utah and Colorado.  At time we can not see the mountains which are not that far away.  A little wind does help to thin out the smoke, but it is mostly a small gale when it does blow.

Last evening we had a water mellon bash under the few trees that are here and most of the missionaries were able to come, sit, and swap stories of other missions served.  It was a good time until the weather turned into a dry thunderstorm.

This afternoon Bernice and I will serve at the visitor center (VC) which covers the VC, the Blacksmith Shop, The Simones Store (Fort), the Prairie Park and the Martin's Cove welcome log cabin.  Sometimes visitors just stop by to use the facilities which are the cleanest this side of New York and Los Angeles.

We wish all a great fourth of July and may you have a safe celebration.  Solong, Shalom, L'chaim, until next time.

Much later:

We had a wonderful day at the visitor center.  Lots of young children came to the blacksmith shop and I made Prairie diamonds for them.  The custom made kind.  No-one came to the Fort while I was on watch, but they sure made up for it at the blacksmith shop.

We were home, in our box, by 7:15PM and finished the cupcakes.  Then off to the Canadian Day celebration at the pavilion.  We had a wonderful time and the food was outstanding.  We even had Canadian water to drink.  Now it is time to call it a day.

Jul 1

Closing out the fast was another too much food, too many choices affair.  Since we celebrated Canada day yesterday, a day early, it just spilled over into today.

We had an overflowing crowd in our three hour block and they came from all over the US of A.  Some came to be with parents or g. parents and some passed by on the highway and thought to stop.  All are welcome and the more the merrier.

This last week we had several General Authorities come and visit, talk to the trek-ers, and see for themselves the various posts here and at Sixth Crossing.  Everyone visiting here seems to be impressed with the Spirit and the friendliness and dedication of the MHHS (Mormon Handcart Historic Sites) Missionaries.

Surprisingly there were no serious injuries this last week.  One can not discount a few sprained ankles, or a few sore muscles. 

Jul 2

We had a great Home Evening with one of the couples being the host and facilitators.  When we first arrived here, a list was generated for all the Mondays while here at MHHS (Mormon Historic Handcart site).  We drew the short straw and ours will not come up until the first week in October. It was an interactive H.E. and that way all could participate.  The treats or refreshments were ice cream sandwiches, chocolate or vanilla.

That was such a nice way to finish an otherwise stressful day.

Bernice is continuing to work on the pamphlet inventory and that certainly is not an easy job.  Besides the pamphlets for this site, we have pamphlets for most historic sites in Wyoming.  She has to make sure that the brochures are ordered in a timely manner so that we do not have shortages.  Bernice also serves in the Museum and has sewn a couple of skirts to fit into the theme of pioneer costume.  With both of us sewing and computing, sometimes we even get to see the top of the motorhome table.

Jul 3

The third of July already, my, how the time does fly.  Yesterday I was working on a new lift station and while lifting out the effluent filter a couple of us almost fell into the open hole of the effluent storage.  We had a good laugh about it and then we covered up the hole.  The preventive maintenance at the homestead is a constant concern.  Up to seven hundred people stop by per day, including Trek-ers, and the hygene facilities have been at maximum capacity.  We are changing the pump system and leach fields so that the system can handle the daily requirements.  The Lord has blessed this historic site with people who have just the kind of expertise needed here at any given moment.

Today Bernice and I were stationed at the handcart parking post.  That is where trek-ers or anyone who pulls a handcart has to leave it before going into the Martin's Cove area.  Oscar was there as usual with his adopted trek group from Elko, Nevada.  Then several families came with their little children who enjoyed pulling and pushing their cart.  We were asked to tell stories which we did and the "pilgrams"  enjoyed them.  It ads so much to the Spirit of the trek to know what our pioneers went through and how they handled their dire situations.

Jul 4

What a blast we had today.  First, we were on restroom detail and 400 plus people do not leave clean restrooms.  I almost got tired cleaning up after the trek-ers.  Bernice had to call me to repentance several times.

Then at 7:00PM we got dressed into our pioneer garb to play Express Rider to a trek group.  When we arrived at their camp site, they were no where ready for any activity other than fixing their evening meal.  So we went back to the Missionary Village and joined the festivities there.

There were tables of various dishes, salads of all kinds, BBQ'd sausages, hamburgers, weeners.  Anything you wanted, was there.  Lots of water melon, ice cold to the touch and taste.  We made a three bean salad with onions slivers, vinegar, oil and sugar with seasonings.  We brought  some of it home and will have it tomorrow when we get off in the afternoon.  After  the meal we danced to the Golden Oldies and one of the brethren brought his Kariokee? machine to which we sang and danced.  A good time was held by all.  All this after a day of managing three trek groups and several family reunion groups.  Oh yes, Oscar has been around and adopted the trek group from Hurricane, Utah.

The air was very smokie for most of the day, but that did not lesson the sun doing its thing on my face.  Today I did not wear my hat, but then  the hat does very little to lesson the sun impact.

Time for a well deserved rest; good night.

Jul 5

Today we served in the visitor center which comprises the center, the blacksmith shop, the fort, the museum, and the humanitarian center.  We have two hour shifts adn walk from one to the other.  Sometimes we are very busy with explaining the various features of each place and the spirit that goes with each place.

The were some hotdogs and hamburger left from last night and after our shift we had lunch in the barn with all the trimmings.  Now it is rest time before we have to go and square dance with a group from Hurricane, Utah at 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Maybe it will cool down  some before the dance time.

It is later now and we just returned from dancing in the wind.  It was hard to hear the caller with the wind taking away the words and music.  Then we stopped at one of the "boxes" close to us in circle "C" and listened as an Elder and Sister told the story of Ephraim Hanks and Thisbe Reed.  It was in a little circle with their visiting family.

We started to go to the Pavilian and try to go on the Internet when we were stopped by a camper sister and invited to have a fresh scone with honey butter.  She insisted that we take more scones and share them with other missionaries.  We did share them with Eph. Hanks and Thisbee Reed.  They had not eaten since this morning and were overjoyed to have warm scones with honey butter.  There are lots of campers here for the next two days.  Most all of the camp sites are filled and the cars and vans are parked such that they protect the tents from the high winds.

Outside the wind and sky are threatening.  Clouds are billowing, the wind is starting to be cool, campers sit around their simulated camp fires with blankets on their laps.  Maybe the Lord will bless us with some much needed rain.  We haven't washed our car, so maybe it will not rain.

As missionaries left the camp this morning a rattle snake was coiled up along our road, being disturbed by the passing cars, and not wanting to waste her poison she just waited till all of us were gone before slithering along her way.

The restrooms at the "Womens Pull" attracted a rattle snake a couple of mornings ago and the "Bumble Bee" restroom cleaners made sure that this snake would not harm anyone.  So far we have been very fortunate with this type of incidents.  There are quite a few scrapes, ankle and knee soreness, some shoulders from putting them against the wheels, and sore tummies from eating too much and not drinking enough water.  The altitude and dryness of the prairie dehydrates a body much faster than one would suspect.