Hikes and outings

 This past week, Br. Francis has been taking a staycation at St Mary's house up our driveway. Br, Ephrem returned from his retreat in the Catskills on Friday.

On Monday, Bros. Josép and Randy took their annual walk around Ashokan Reservoir, part of the New York City water supply system in Hurley, NY.

Our men in formation went to visit Rural and Migrant Ministries in Cornwall-on-Hudson, this week. They were welcomed by the RMM Executive Director, the Rev. Richard Witt who has spearheaded this ministry for decades.

Enjoying the outdoors. From top left, clockwise: Bros. Josép and Randy on their annual Ashokan Reservoir walk (2 pictures); view of the reservoir; the men in formation visiting Rural and Migrant Ministries (2 pictures).

The weather has been milder this week, allowing pleasant walks and sitting on the porches.

Grounds. From top left, clockwise: the guesthouse and the belltower before sunrise; the old oak and the church in the rising sun; drone picture of the monastery buildings; the vegetable garden and morning fog on the other side of the Hudson.

This Saturday, we received Daniel Weick, from Manhattan, NY, into the Associates program.

As for the garden blooms that grace the church it's lilies and hydrangeas for the moment.

In the church. from top left, clockwise: blue hydrangeas gracing St Benedict's icon (2 pictures); white hydrangea and russet day lilies gracing our Lady and Child statue (two pictures); latest Associate Daniel Weick and Br. Bernard.

It's slow news these days. In my native Belgium we called it "cucumbet times" when the nightly news would comment on the cucumber harvest for lack of exciting news. I wish we would have more cucumber times lately.