Crandell Reunion/Vacation part 7- Smith Family Farm

Katie and Kyles site was the Smith Family Farm. This was one of my favorites. I love when the homes that we can see how they put them to use and let me tell you that the way we use our homes today does not hold a candle to how efficient homes to the saints were. They were built with love and thought and everyone in the family did their part. They built a home just big enough to do the job with absolutely no wasted space. Every room was setup just perfectly to share with the brother or sister, or multiple siblings, friends, or neighbors who needed a place to stay. The beds were all hand made and there were no mattresses that one could buy like you can now days for $4000 for a "tempur-pedic" something or other. They slept on straw covered by a blanket sewn together and put over rope strung from the headboard to the foot board. Don't get me wrong, if i had to go from what I'm used to living with to that, i would not like it. While i was there i just kept thinking of how awesome it would be to have lived back then (minus the killings of families and persecution just because one was LDS). I just know that if we had to do half of the things that our saints had to do to SURVIVE, our world would be a better one:)

Original wall

this is so cute!

 Most homes built back then had a basement used for multi purposes and most were SMALL

 The barn outside, all the tools they used daily

 This was an actual fireplace with original soot

 Where they got their water from...

My Mother in law is a great gardner and most of the kids have been taught the trait as well, i have not tried yet but am excited to be able to have my own garden. A garden was pretty much a non negotiable back then, if they didnt do what they were supposed to they had no crops. There was no luxury of going to frys and just picking from a who lot of whatever your heart desires. When we move to Heber, I WILL garden:)

Crandell Reunion/Vacation part 6- Sacred Grove

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.”

The Sacred Grove plays a very important role in my faith. Not only does it hold a sacred meaning to the members of the church, but it is still available for anyone to go visit the amazing spirit it holds and to stand amongst trees that are still standing now, as they were when Joseph smith knelt in prayer. I am grateful that Joseph,  at such a young age of 14 went into a grove of trees on his family’s farm to ask God which church he should join. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and as a result the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth. To think of the events that happened after this moment is bittersweet. How amazing it is today to be a latter day saint and not have to go through the persecution that the saints went through to defend their religion.

 This was Brightons 2nd trip out of state and he was only 5 months old! He was so much fun, (except for him sleeping) he is particular about where he sleeps and he prefers to be in a bed, with us on the go go go all day this was the hardest part, but I am so glad we took him with us to experience this trip with us. He is so stinkin adorable.

The spirit felt here was like none i have ever felt. The whole family ended up in a area with benches. I don't know if it was planned but a testimony meeting was held there, where not a single person came down the trail until everyone who wanted to boar their testimony. It was really neat, and lots of tears!

Crandell Reunion/Vacation part 5-Martin Harris Farm

Martin Harris Farm- Troy and Jenny

I am grateful for Martin Harris and the role he played in bringing about the book of mormon. I don't know if i would have the faith to mortgage my home like Martin did with part of his farm to pay for the printing of the book of mormon. Martin Harris was also one of Josephs first scribes and he was one of the 3 witnesses. Even though he was persecuted he never denied the truth of the Book of Mormon and bore testimony of it until his death on July 10, 1875. The greatest lesson that kept coming to my mind while seeing all these historical places was faith. Faith was what the pioneers thrived on. They were so in tune with the spirit and KNEW that if they just had faith that they would be okay, even if death was the outcome, they still had unwavering faith.

 All hand work during construction

 The farm Martin Harris owned is now a private residence and is not open for tours, although visitor's can walk on part of the grounds and read plaques that have been put up by the Church. The original home of Martin Harris was a one and a half story white frame house, which was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1849. There is now a home where the original house stood that is known as a Lake-Stone building. It was built in 1850, by the same skilled laborers that had worked on the Erie Canal. Most of the stones were taken from the shores of Lake Ontario to be used on the house.

 These are the stones in the front of the house, they are said to be the best quality of stones.

 these were a step down from the best of quality stones, they put these on the sides of the home.

 On the back side of the house were the poorest in quality of stones.

 Although the home is not open for tours, they were doing some work on it that day and they allowed us to look inside and take a few pics! This is some of the original work on the inside that was not destroyed in the fire.

 In the bedroom was a very small washroom with a toilet and a sink

 The front door, double the size of what "our" normal doors are today.

 stonework

At this point i am starting to forget all of the info about each stop so I may hev to go back later and add a few things. :)