Week 15--Dec 1-7, 2019

This week has been a week filled with Christmas activities. We went to the Vaile Victorian Mansion located right here in Independence.  This three story mansion was built in 1881 and was very different from the other homes around it. The home was all decked out for Christmas. The 31 room mansion includes 9 marble fireplaces, spectacular painted ceilings, flushing toilets, a built-in 6,000 gallon water tank, and a 48,000 gallon wine cellar. This mansion is one of the best examples of Second Empire style architecture in the United States.

We needed to stop for a picture before entering the house.

The  first room had a tree decorated with handmade dioramas.

The tree from a distance with all of the dioramas.
There were chandeliers in the two parlors on the first floor. On parlor was the Gentleman's Parlor and the other the Ladies where they guests would retire to with Vailes after dinner.  The chandeliers were designed for the White House and were refused, so Col. Vaile purchased them for his house.

The mirror in the Gentleman's Parlor was made of diamond dust. It was much clearer than mirrors made today. The lady reflected in the mirror was our guide.

She told us that the Vailes spent $150,000 when a mansion of similar size at the same period would have cost about $2,000. Col. Vaile, was rich and wanted everybody to know it.  Of the original 2,000 acres surrounding the mansion, only two remain.  The rest was sold off  by the heirs and later developed. The mansion is now owned by the Missouri Historical Society.

In the music room was a Music Box which still worked. Each copper disk (about 12" across),  could only play one song. Also in the room was a piano and an organ.

 Throughout the house were dresses on manic ans. This dress was a wedding dress. It wasn't worn just on the wedding day but after also. The women wore colored wedding dresses until Queen Victoria wore a white dress to be married in. After that, all the women wore white wedding dresses.















The ceilings all had hand painted murals on them like the Sistine Chapel.

A fireplace screen. While the men talked about politics in the gentlemen's room, the ladies (who were unable to vote) sat in the ladies' room and did hand work.  Their makeup at the time had a bees wax base and would melt if they sat too close to the fire.  Hence, the need for a fireplace screen, so they could be warm without their faces melting.

Preparation of biscuits took some skill and stamina. The cook would arise early to mix the dough which would be dry and crumbly. Using a flat iron, the dough was pounded, then rolled with a wooden pin for an hour or so until it was as shiny as satin. It took less time and effort if the cook was fortunate enough to have a Beaten Biscuit Machine to do the work for her. The procedure took about 45 minutes of rolling the dough through the rollers. When the dough reached a quarter-inch thickness, it would begin to make popping noises and to take on a smooth, glossy look. After that it was turned out on a floured board, pricked with the tines of a fork, and cut into biscuits. The dough was then left to rise before being baked in a slow for over an hour.  They were still dry and hard when done.

The stove that the biscuits would have been baked in. This stove had doors on both sides.

The kitchen sink with running water.















These beautiful dolls were on display. They reminded me of my Mother and her love of dolls.






A wreath made of human hair. There is a Hair Museum here in Independence that we will have to check out.













Another dress on display at the mansion.

 A wreath made of cups and saucers. I thought of all the cups and saucers my Mom had collected from the places she visited or that other had visited and brought one back to her.

 One of two bathtubs in the mansion. It was lined with copper to help hold the heat of the water longer.

The door was made of pine and then stained with different colors to make it look like it was made of a variety of woods. The section of the door to the right of the door handle had faces painted in it like the one on the right.

The Independence Stake hosted a dinner for all of the missionaries who serve in the Independence Stake. Sister Salois (on the left) has her plate loaded with lots of wonderful food. Sister Penrose,  Sister Durfee, and Sister Mickelson are making their choices.

Sister Barajas, Sister Herrin, Sister Flindt, Sister Spencer, Sister Durfee, Sister Ireland, and Sister Nabhan are ready to dig in.

 Sister Smith, Sister Holdeman, Sister Morenegg, Elder Hansen, Sister Salois, Sister Price, and Sister Michelson are all smiles.

The elders are eager to get their food.

Sister Smith, Sister and Elder Larsen,
Sister and Elder Garner, Elder and Sister Dunn, and Sister Nackos.

Elder Harrington, Elder and Sister Storer, Sister Phinney, Sister Keeler, Elder and Sister Penrose.

The elders are all smiles after getting their bellies full.

 The program was fun and spiritual also. The elders performed 'Twas the Night Before by Christmas that was read by President Love.

 The Stake Presidency and the High Council did a skit to Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer.

The sisters performed serveral songs they have been practicing for their performance later in the month at the Visitors' Center.
Front row: Sisters Barajas, Price, Durfee, Ireland, Salois, DeLeon, Nackos, Smith.
Back Row: Sisters Holdeman, Nabhan,  Flindt, S Herrin,  Morgenegg,  Smith,  Spencer, Mickelson.
Sister Cannon is the conductor.






The sisters and elders concluded the evening by singing together "Silent Night".

These Grey Percheron horses and a horse drawn hearse were in the parking lot of our church. A member of our ward had passed and we think it was for transporting the body to the cemetery. 

This beautiful, horse-drawn hearse has been completely restored.  The visitors' center is in the background.











On Saturday we went to Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City where we watched a puppet theater perform The Nativity. Our favorite part was when the camels went down the aisle and spit on everyone (they only pretended to spit, but it was very comical). Each of the puppets was about 9 feet tall.  A single person inside each puppet used dowels to move the arms.  The performance, put on by the Catholic Church, was a fund raiser for the church. The story was true to the story we all know and was fun to watch.

 In the evening we went to the Countryside Church in Overland, Kansas, where we observed the reenactment of the Journey to Judea. This was a mile and a quarter walk where we started with Moses who reminded us that God had promised a Redeemer and ended at the empty tomb. At this station Mary and Joseph hear the announcement from the Roman soldiers about the need to go register for the census in their hometown.

They travel to Bethlehem where it is very busy with all of the travelers. Many wares are available for sale.

 The costumes and buildings made us feel we had gone back in time 2,000 years.

 This woman is selling her fresh baked bread.  We weren't able to purchase anything because we didn't carry the right kind of currency.

 Mary and Joseph arrive at the inn where they told there is no room available.

 The wise men have seen the star and have traveled to Bethlehem to worship the Christ child.

Mary and Joseph with the Christ child.

Peter at the empty tomb.
We never found out the denomination this church belongs to, but they've been performing this free tour for several years. The production runs for three consecutive nights on two weekends; the weekend before Thanksgiving and the weekend after.  It was a beautiful night (especially for Dec. 7), but it was cold enough for us to wear our winter coats.  The actors seemed unphased by the temperature.  There was a burning, wood fire at each station, so we had to wash our clothes afterward to get out the camp-fire smell. We appreciated the dedication of each of the performers and we enjoyed the show very much.