Leila in Sunset - July

The first two pictures are of the Polka number.  The sisters were paired with energetic young performing missionaries.  Their challenge was to keep up with them.  The second two pictures were of a comedy number where the sisters are a temperance group, singing about the horrors of alcohol.

Eric and Emma Anderson Visit - July

The first picture was taken in Carthage.  The second in the Women's Sculpture Garden behind the Visitor's Center, here in Nauvoo.  The third is the Outdoor Stage where we watched Sunset by the Mississippi.

John Deere Pavillion

This is the John Deere Pavillion and Lagomarcino's Restaurant.  We visited the Pavillion where we saw historical farm vehicles, film loops of farm and construction equipment doing their jobs, and a delightful hostess who answered our questions.  We were most impressed with a tree harvester that had six legs instead of wheels or tracks.  It looked like something out of Star Wars.  It works.  It goes into the forest, cuts down a tree, grabs hold of it and takes it to a truck.  They only have one because it is too expensive to build.  We asked where there was a good place to have lunch and our hostess suggested two restaurants nearby then she suggested an "unusual" restaurant that was only two blocks away.  We loved it.  It is very small.  It started out to be a candy store.  They make their own candy and ice cream.  There are tiny tables and it was very noisy, but the food was wonderful.  If you are ever in Moline, go to Lagomarcino's.

John Deere

I learned that the law requires all construction equipment to be painted yellow.  There were hosts and hostesses in all of the locations, who were retired John Deere employees.  Above is a picture of memorabilia collected over the last 100 years.  It is some "shadow box".  It was pretty and interesting to look at.  When we went to the John Deere Store, we learned that John Deere is almost a religion.  Farmers love John Deere.  During the depression, many farmers lost all of their money.  John Deere never repossessed a single piece of equipment.  They said, "We need the food you produce and you need what money you can earn.  Pay us what you can, when you can."  That was the beginning of an extreme loyalty. 

John Deere World Headquarters - July 2012

We drove to Moline, Illinois (the Quad Cities) to visit the John Deere Pavillion, John Deere Store and the World Headquarters.  Wayne loved it.  I enjoyed watching Wayne.  They had models of everything they build at the World Headquarters.  We were allowed to climb up and see (if we could get them from the kids).  Wayne is standing next to a tire.  The tractor is enormous.  They had combines and tree harvesters and everything in between.

Pageant

This is a picture Wayne took last year of the pageant cast.  There are hundreds of people.  We are watching rehearsals and stage preparation and chairs being put out.  The pageant opens next week and you can feel the excitement.

Fireworks

We traveled to Canton, Missouri to see Dave's Fireworks Warehouse, the largest fireworks distributer in the world.  We believed it!!  We did not buy any fireworks because they are illegal in California, but we did stroll up and down the aisles, marveling at the variety of things available.  People were filling shopping carts with fireworks for their 4th of July celebrations.  This last picture is of a box of stuff that cost $200.  It would probably take you a week to set it all off. 

Talent Show

We had a dinner and talent show two weeks ago.  There were skits, singing, comedy and a lot of fun.  The highlight of the evening was this skit.  The tarp represented a swimming poot.  The guys did synchronized swimming with their arms, pretending to dive to the side.  I was laughing so hard, I only got this one picture.