Exploring the Back Roads

Yesterday we took part of our P-day and went exploring. The postmistress at the Nauvoo post office told us we should visit Canril, IA which is a settlement of Mennonites. Canril is a very small town in southern Iowa about 60 miles from Nauvoo. There is a store there called The Dutchman's Store. It has a HUGE fabric section and quite a large food section. I enjoyed browsing through all the fabric - Glenn endured! I think they must buy their dry foods in large quantities and then repackage in smaller packages. The food items were in smaller clear plastic bags with labels. Shelf after shelf were full of these bags of pasta, beans, flours, nuts, etc. We bought some red popcorn seeds and a yummy dried raspberry/nut mix. The people working in the store wore the traditional Mennonite hats and dresses.

We drove on further to a place (can hardly call it a town) called Rutledge (another suggestion from the postmistress). We got a bit lost trying to find our way there and we even had a map and our GPS! Our GPS didn't recognize the town so we were on our own! Once there we were a bit disappointed because all we found was a much smaller version of the Dutchman's store in Cantril. What amazed me was their HUGE fabric section. The Mennonites sew most all of their clothing so I guess the people who live in the surrounding area must come there for their fabrics. Just seemed strange to be in the middle of "no where" and to have such a big fabric store.

The country side was beautiful - lots of green rolling hills. The farms were quite small and not real prosperous looking. Sure quiet and peaceful!

Last Sunday afternoon we visited the Pendleton home and school in Nauvoo. Brother Pendleton had a room at the back of his home where he taught school. Sister Smith gave us the tour through the home. How would you grandkids like to have this for your classroom?! Notice the little blackboard and eraser that each student had. This

was used instead of paper and pencil.

On the road between Cantril, IA and Rutledge, MO we saw this one room school house. I'm sure it is being used because the school was very well kept and the grounds mowed and clean. The sign above the door said it was built in 1980! Now this is real back country!!

Glenn found his "dream home" yesterday! The back of the house is over the water. He wouldn't even have to leave the house to go fishin'! Many of the homes we saw had their own little ponds. But no one had a home situated like this one!