In a flash of family-history curiosity, I pulled out my parents' letters mailed from Nauvoo, Illinois. Some were typed, and others were handwritten in the late 80's. Janath Cannon, accomplished writer and missionary, found time to type this on March 31, 1988, describing signs of spring there:
"March is going out today like a somewhat shaggy lamb, with mild air but a threatening rain. ... Yesterday was lovely here. The squirrels, cardinals, woodpeckers, bluejays, blackbirds, and assorted other birds patronize Ted's tree-side feeder in ever increasing numbers. We have plenty of corn for them -- we shoveled up several boxfuls from a bunch that was spilled on the road to the grain elevators. Some tulips and violets are showing promise in our yard, and the grass is turning green all over the park. Barges rumble past our front yard again and occasionally tie up by the granary."
"Gorbachev the Cat has become a wanderer and sometimes fails to come home at night. Ted frets a little about that, and leaves the porch light on to entice him home. (I think Ted misses that warm body on his chest during the morning news.) But at least it's not like worrying about children still out after midnight."
"... Nonie and Maynard Sorensen are settled in. The woodcarving studio is set up in the basement of the Cultural Hall and Maynard is scheduling evening classes open to the public, as well as his regular tour for tourists. Nonie is working on her new production."
spring 2020, Ogden Utah Temple
closed temporarily
back cover, Nauvoo Panorama, c.1991
by Janath Russell Cannon
