MENTAL MEANDERINGS!!!

These are the wonderful missionaries we get to spend time with. They spend most of their time, however, keeping the place looking spectacular.

They are from left to right, Elder Vernon, Sister Vernon, Elder Starley, Sister Starley, Sister Charchenko, and my twin...Elder Charchenko. Actually, I guess we aren't twins, but quadruplets!!!! The sisters keep the flowers and shrubs looking awesome and the men do just about everything else.

These folks are just leaving church on Sunday. They are leaving for the south any day now, and won't be back until next spring. We hate to see them go, but know they must.

Since coming on this mission, I have done a little drawing...something I used to do many years ago. I guess it is a talent and I figured I had better use it or I'll lose it.

BEAUTY AND THE BEASTS (CHAINSAWS)

Time has taken its toll on the huge trees that stood where the original cabin stood in 1805 where Joseph was born. They were rotting inside and were threatening to do severe damage to the office building, or the monument. I don't believe Heavenly Father would have allowed the tree to fall on and damage the monument, but the office is another story. This first picture is of one of the tree before the chainsaw did its work. This is what it looked like today after it fell. But let's not dwell on that...let's look at the beautiful Plume Gorge we saw on our last "P" day. It is about a two hour drive from the site and we had a beautiful day to take advantage of. (You should never end a sentence a preposition with, but I did anyway.) The pictures that follow are all of the Gorge...aren't they beautiful?!!!

SOME FUN THOUGHTS AND FLOWERS ETC.!!

Well, folks...I would like to introduce you to Solanum lycopersicum or we know him by his nickname...'Luigi'! I found him hanging around outside our front door. He makes great salads, sandwiches, and salsa. He is good to get to know. He isn't as mature as he will get after having been with us for awhile. He was in the prime of his life before I picked him to be our chief salad, sandwich and salsa maker.

The flowers at the site are more beautiful than ever. The 'flower sisters' keep them blooming better and better each day. Sisters Charchenko, Vernon, and Starley work on them continuously. I call them the "flower sisters"!! Without them these would never look this good.

Incidently, the large flat stone in this last picture is the original front doorstep to the cabin that Joseph Smith Jr. was born in.