March

We have been waiting to visit the Lyon Drug Store since it has been closed for some renovations. It is special to me since it belonged to Winsor P Lyon and Sylvia Sessions. Sylvia was my 3rd G grandmother with her 2nd husband  Ezekiel Clark. It was the 1st store built in Nauvoo and the biggest, I believe. 

Winsor was a pharmacist of the day(not necessarily formally trained), selling herbs and things that were used in medicine. His mother-in-law, Patty Sessions also had a knowledge of medicine, being a mid-wife throughout most of her life. I bet it was a family effort to grow, harvest and bottle the plants.  In the summer, the missionaries grow a garden around the store that represents what they probably would have grown. 

This is a pill maker

We also learned that Sylvia and Winsor buried 3 small children while they were in Nauvoo. We drove up to the old cemetery and were able to find their burial place. They had not only head stones, but foot stones as well. The stones were about 3 feet apart.

The headstone on the left is for 2 of the children.  The one on the right is for Marion. Right after she died, Joseph Smith was speaking at a meeting and changed his talk to speak some comforting words to the family and congregation.  So many of them had to bury babies and young children, including Joseph and Emma.

 This was in a little gazebo at the cemetery. On the walls are the names of those buried there.

On the way to and  from Keokuk we drive along the river and so we see it freeze and then melt and refreeze.  The frozen waterfalls are kind of fun.

On fast Sundays we gather in groups for dinner. This month we got to go to President and Sister Smith's, 1st counselor in the temple presidency.  They have a home south of town with a beautiful view of the river. Above is from the living room.  I never get tired of sunsets on the Mississippi.

On the first of March I looked out my kitchen window and thought I saw a hint of green. It was still pretty cold so it was probably my imagination.  Today is the 7th and there is a new blanket of snow on the ground. Winter isn't giving up yet!