Monday, June 13, 2016 – Work, “Sunset by the Mississippi”, BYU International Folk Ensemble

It’s been two weeks without rain and over a week in our current heat wave here in Illinois. We’ve been in the 90’s for over a week now. The heat has put some stress on the grass here at the Carthage Visitor’s Center. Today I discovered there are several brown patches of grass in the lawns. After further investigation with my boss, Scott Higley, and we discovered that there were four sprinkler zones turned off. We don’t’ know how long the zones have been turned off or how they got turned off but they are back on now and hopefully the grass will survive.

Tonight we performed in “Sunset by the Mississippi.” It was hot again and the men wear their “Historic Site” costume in the show. However we are given the option of not wearing a vest and we can wear suspenders instead.  I have a pair of suspenders but I’ve never used them before. So, tonight because it is so hot I wore the suspenders for the first time. This is a significant event in my life. This is the first time in my whole life I’ve ever worn suspenders.  Yah, really!

 

After our “Sunset by the Mississippi” performance, Sis. Johnson and I stayed afterwards to watch “Journey,” by the BYU International Fold Dance Ensemble. It was on the same stage we use for “Sunset by the Mississippi.” These are the very same young people that put on such a wonderful fireside last night, (oops, I mean “Sociable”) at the Stake Center. Of course the Sociable was different from tonight’s performance. Tonight they dressed in the traditional costumes of a dozen different countries and really put on a high energy show. It was a “Wow, did you see that?” kind of show. 

 

Visitors coming to Nauvoo this summer are in for a real treat. “Journey” is only the beginning of the summer entertainment schedule. The fun has only just begun and there is a lot to see and do. There are eight different shows put on at different time and on different stages, including two pageants. Plus 10 different special events like the County Fair and the “Martyrdom Commemoration” on June 27^th.There are 48 different sites and tours to take and explore. And that doesn’t even include the other historic locations outside of Nauvoo or the Community of Christ’s historic sites.