Michael Coleman

When I was at the Nauvoo Temple a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a beautiful painting and made a note of the artist's name.  Michael Coleman is a prominent Southwestern artist from Utah, and his work is reminiscent of the Hudson River School.  This one is similar to the one in the temple.

Scovil Bakery Gingerbread Cookies

It's that time of year again!  I'm getting ready to make some gingerbread cookies using the recipe from Scovil Bakery in Nauvoo.  Visit this post from 2009 for the recipe.

Happy Pioneer Day!

Every time I make the trek out to Utah I think about the pioneers.  It can be a difficult journey by car - I can only imagine what they went through on foot with all of their belongings and their families.  This home in Nauvoo once belonged to one of my ancestors (Winslow Farr).  I'm so grateful that they weren't afraid to leave all of their comforts and make a new life where they could put their beliefs into practice.  Yea, pioneers!

Replica Embroidery Scissors

The last time we were in Nauvoo I picked up a pair of embroidery scissors at one of the shops.  They were actually from the Victorian Trading Co.  They're going to make the little cross-stitch I'm working on a lot more fancy!

Beehive Stained Glass

We went on kind of a spur-of-the-moment trip to Nauvoo this weekend.  We drove down after church and then stayed into Monday (Memorial Day).  It was nice but rainy...  At one of the shops, my husband found this pretty replica beehive stained glass.  I'm still deciding where to hang it, but I'm really excited to have it!

Emma Smith's Quilt

We went on a day trip to Nauvoo for our anniversary on the 12th.  It was a very lovely day.  While we were there, we visited some of the Community of Christ sites, which include the Smith family properties.  Although we did not see the quilt, their gift shop has a kit with a pattern for making a wall hanging of Emma Smith's quilt.  It looked like a fun project.

Friday Featured Etsy Seller: Nauvoo Quilt Company

I recently discovered the Nauvoo Quilt Company Etsy shop. It's so fun that it's a Nauvoo shop, and I love their shirtings and reproduction fabric. A great new resource!

Nauvoo

We went to Nauvoo over Labor Day, and it was so beautiful. Every time we're there I am so grateful that they rebuilt the temple. It is fabulous.

Friday Featured Art: Lane K. Newberry

When we were in Nauvoo last month, we visited the Cultural Hall. The upstairs ballroom is lined with paintings by Lane K. Newberry. He studied at the Art Institute in Chicago and painted numerous scenes of Nauvoo. I really loved his work. It is very difficult to find images of his work online. Here is one (there's kind of a glare on the painting) with President Hinckley as the Nauvoo Temple was being reopened in 2002.

Emma Smith's Necklace

When we were in Nauvoo a couple of weeks ago, we visited the Community of Christ visitor's center. They had one of the beads from Emma Smith's golden necklace shown in this portrait. It was a beautiful, round, metallic gold bead. So interesting.

Nauvoo Legion Button

When we were in Nauvoo a week or so ago, I saw a little lapel pin that said that it was made using the mold from the buttons that were made for Nauvoo Legion uniforms. I wish I would have got one - I loved the image. Here's a picture that I found of the original molds. They say "Life Guards N.L." I really like the beehive.

Gingerbread Cookies

Last week I made gingerbread cookies for the neighbors. I love to use the recipe from the Scovil Bakery in Nauvoo. You can find the recipe below.


1 cup sugar
1 cup molasses
3/4 cup oil or lard
1/2 cup hot water
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ginger
6-7 cups flour

Combine sugar, molasses, oil, and water. Add eggs. Mix dry ingredients together, and then add to wet ingredients. Refrigerate dough overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll out and cut with cookie cutters. Bake for 10 minutes. These cookies freeze well and are softer and more flavorful after freezing.