Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories

Larry and Jared securing new deck for pier

Caution around water, especially ponds in rural areas is a good rule of thumb.  Therefore, when the deck of our pier was rotten and unsafe, we gave our workmen the task to replace it while the temperatures are not too terribly warm.  Of course, our dog, Maggie, and her neighborhood friend, have no use for piers or caution.  They don’t mind dipping into the dirty water and cooling off.  They may think differently IF they come up against the resident snapping turtles.

(from left) Sisters Nancy Rose, Marietta and Maria Victoria donned work clothes to move furniture back into the main building as renovations are wrapping up. Our dog, Maggie, hopped on for the ride.

We are on the move, using tractors, wagons, carts, vans, cars and anything else that will carry items back to the main house from various buildings we spent the past year living in.

The community is moving back in.  YES!  Not all of us are moved back yet, but we did celebrate Thanksgiving dinner in our refectory.  It was a welcome feeling to be back in our space sharing the duties of the daily monastic calling – prayer, work and praise.

Saturday  was a Free Day for us at the monastery. It gives us a chance to exchange our habits for regular clothes, put aside our usual jobs and enjoy the company of each other.

Some of us took advantage of the sunny day to have a cookout with hotdogs, veggies and s’mores.

Even Maggie, our dog, got in on the fun.

What a way to relax, enjoy the sunshine and the company of Sisters. Life is good.

Our sweet Maggie is posing as if to say, “Come and see my room!”

This ramp is something new.  Now everyone can get to the basement from our lower hallway – even those who are wheelchair bound.

We have to travel past Maggie’s room, and if she is home, she will greet you and make you feel welcomed to the neighborhood.  It is a good place to be.

On a day like today, entrenched in a massive heat wave, one needs to get out early to enjoy God’s beautiful day.  I saw this little fellow enjoying one of Sister Mary Edward’s beautiful flowers….

…and our sweet dog Maggie hanging out by the gazebo…probably looking for squirrels.

Then we can take a rest near the pond….

Take a stroll down this path, into the woods….

Where I’ll find this beautiful grotto tucked away under the trees. It’s a very special place for prayer and contemplation.

Afterward, we can take advantage of one of the many paths cut through the fields, which take us to a variety of places that offer quiet solitude and the simple enjoyment of being outdoors.

There is an abundance of nature found on these walks. Including gorgeous flora like these sweet little pink flowers. How I wish we had Smell-O-Vision so you could fully appreciate them!

All things have boundaries. God has promised that since the flood of Noah’s time.

Our dog, Maggie, is learning her boundaries are just short of the vegetable garden.

Here she is seen after being scolded out of the garden where, if you look closely enough, you can see the tender green stems of onions poking out.

Hopefully Maggie will not trample them when nobody is looking.  She’s just a dog, but we love her and know she is a good dog.