Honey harvesting and new(er) Associates

Br. David Bryan is on a vacation in England visiting friends for three weeks. Our postulant Raphael Okafor was on his pre-clothing retreat at St Mary's House up the driveway. He is back this Sunday to be clothed as novice at Diurnum. Our intern Jeremy Cannon is making a one month aspirant visit as he has chosen to discern a call to enter the monastic community. He will be living with us in the enclosure during this time. Br. Robert Leo is still in South Africa as part of his sabbatical.

Please hold Raphael and Jeremy in your prayers as they continue their respective journeys of discernment in the monastic life.

This Monday, Brothers Fancis and Jacob harvested a lot of honey from two of our four hives. Not to worry, they left the bees with ample supplies for overwintering. They processed the honey frames outside under the ambulatory (the semi-circular corridor that goes round the apse of the church, connecting the middle house to the monastic enclosure). Br. Jacob uncapped the honey with a serrated knife. Br. Francis put the uncapped frames in the honey extractor. It looks like they collected several gallons of beautiful amber honey. Look out for it in the Monk's Cell Gift and Bookstore soon.

Honey harvest. From top left, clockwise: Br. Jacob waving to the camera in his protective bee suit; Br. Jacob uncapping honey frames over a tub to not loose a drop of honey and collect the discarded beeswax; Br. Francis spinning the uncapped frames in the centrifugal honey extractor; our two apiculturists hard at work.

The foliage colors continue to evolve and change. There is no red foliage to be seen but lots of russet and yellow still mixed with a lot of shades of green.

This Saturday, we received two new Associates; wife and husband Erin and Steve Moore, from Syracuse, NY.

Outside scenes and new Associates. From top left, clockwise: winterberries are gaining color as they ripen in time to provide food to birds throughout the winter; new Associates Erin and the Rev. Dr. Steve Moore; hints of russet and orange on an ornamental cherry tree; wisps of fog rising from the Hudson river in the morning sun.

Please hold our recently received Associates in your prayers: Greg, Barbara, Erin and Steve.

Peace and all good to you.