5 July 2018 - Thursday

5 July 2018 - Thursday

The holiday week continued today with our assignment being at the Visitors' Center.  Our shift began at 11:00am and ended at 6:00pm.  That gave us a chance to walk together this morning on the three mile roadway.  It is always so much fun when we have time to walk together!

The colors in the sunrise were magnificent!

The first peek of the sunrise

This picture had the full yellow and red from the sunrise

This was looking at the full sun rising above the north mountains

We sure enjoyed our morning walk, and got home by 6:45am.  The morning was still young so we had breakfast, and I slipped in a morning nap!  The last few days have been crazy, and the little extra sleep helped prepare me for our shift today.  

The visitors came all day long with a variety of reasons for stopping.  Most were on an extended July 4th vacation, and were heading to Mt. Rushmore, and Chimney Rock, and other natural landmarks.  It is always a treat to find out where they are going and where they are from.  

I was just completing a family tour and history lesson when mom met a family from Fresno.  What added to this family was their connection to Ellen Draper Clason.  Ellen introduced me to the Church back in 1971, and Karen Jolly is the daughter of one of Ellen's best friends back in Fresno.  I got a picture of the family, and related, to them, the story about how Ellen introduced the Church to my sister, Jackie, and me;

Karen Jolly and her family from Fresno, California

The beautiful thunderhead clouds forming over Martin's Cove

As the afternoon continued, the thunderhead clouds began forming over Martin's Cove.  They brought temperatures down about 10 degrees and the blocking of the direct sun.  What a pleasant relief!  It seems that just the glare of the sun gives me color!

Look at the thunderheads with the beams of sun flowing down through them!

We have had a busy day at the Visitors' Center, and I did not sit down for several hours.  We had four couples working with us, at various times, and we all kept busy sharing the Gospel here at the Homestead.  I think serving at the Visitors' Center is as taxing as any six mile trek!  We try to greet every visitor and share with them any information they desire.  Mom and I love sharing the messages of the pioneers and the Gospel with all who come!

Another snake crossing the lawn at the Visitors' Center!

The snake population took on a different color today.  I had not seen this type of snake yet, and this one was trying so hard to get away from the people.  However, it was headed right toward the main area of the Visitors' Center so we took it out of the area.  The snake catcher we use does not harm the snake, and this was a good snake, but it allows us to safely remove the snake from populated areas.  No one can be hurt by the snakes in these open areas, because they stick out quickly.  When we see them getting too close to the busy areas, we just take them away and out of sight.  

And that is how our day went today!  Tomorrow we join another work crew and will have some outdoor assignments, hopefully working together!