Fifth week of Eastertide

Brother Josép had to bring the geraniums back indoor from the porch early in the week because a polar vortex was bringing us near-freezing-point nights. Eventually, the geraniums returned to the porch (hopefully for the whole season now).

Brothers Luc and Aidan planted some vegetables in the kitchen garden (tomatoes, peppers and basil for starters).

New blossoms are appearing. Lately, the redbud trees have sprouted their pink flowers and our first irises have bloomed.

Garden blooms. Our first irises in purple. And one of our redbush tree in bloom.

On Friday night, we got a weather alert that a possible tornado was coming our way. We gathered everyone in the monastic library and waited out the twister. It never materialized on our side of the river and we looked at the weather system as it moved east toward Dutchess county on the other side of the river.

Waiting out a possible tornado. From top left, clockwise: gathered around a table in the monastic library, checkin phones for weather updates; Br. Josép was already ready for Compline when the alert struck; swapping stories of tornadoes some of us have lived through; after the alert is over, checking out the weather system leaving to the other side of the river.

The church painters fulfilled their promise to complete their work in two weeks. St Augustine is entirely repainted in a "linen white" off-white color that adds warmth to the clean look of our walls.

What a morale booster this has turned to be. A fresh coat of paint will often do that.

Inside, the monastic enclosure we are renovating five cells that needed some tender loving care before welcoming new occupants. Fresh coats of paint are going up there as well.

Painting the church (second week). Br. Randy took a lot of pictures to share on Facebook as the painting progressed. Center right and bottom: a before and after of the belltower wall.

By Saturday, the monks went back into St Augustine church to clean up, put the icon cross back up and move the furniture back into place. Everyone was put to work and in an hour or so, we had the church ready for vespers. We relished coming back to our choir stalls in the church to sing first Vespers of Easter 6 in the smell of fresh paint.

Moving back home. The painters vacated the church on Friday. On Saturday, we moved back in. From top left, clockwise: moving the choir stall back to the sides; everybody gets involved; Br. Josép giving our Lord and well needed dusting and wiping clean; Br. Bernard goofing about for the photographer; Br. Richard coming into the statio after our first office back in the church.

You'll have to come and check this out some day (we don't know yet when that day will come but we live in hope of welcoming guests again someday).