Beauty in Bloom

Great weather for ducks! The ducklings in the courtyard hatched over the weekend. This morning Mother Duck, named “Clare,” and her 11 little ones were escorted across the hallway to freedom. The men, with umbrellas and raincoats, walked with them to get them across the highway and on to the parking lot at First United Church. From there on they were on their own to get to the Mississippi River which is about a block away. We’ve had this event happen for many years and it is fun to watch.

Last week Tri-County Paving used their trucks to deliver 4 truckloads of compost to the two-acre -convent garden. The gardens will grow organic vegetables to serve both the convent and the Little Falls Community High School in the Garden-to-Cafeteria program. This is the second year of the program. Sister Ruth, a horticulturalist, manages the Franciscan Sister’ organic garden and works directly with students and their supervisor. Sr. Ruth said that the project tripled the previous garden area. Vocational Agriculture Teacher, Doug Ploof, said, “The garden project has been a wonderful opportunity to teach sustainable agriculture to our students in horticulture and plant science.”

Over the weekend, too, St. Francis Music Center had the 2014 Dance Recital, coached by Trista LaFontnaine. Some of those girls are REALLY good. I particularly enjoy the youngest students. Each one does their own thing to their own timing—and they are so cute! Each dancer received a certificate and a medal.

Sunday afternoon I rode around campus looking for beauty. I found a lovely patch of blooming, yellow tulips in Deb’s Garden. And one tree in the orchard had a couple branches of white flowers.

Today is not a work day for the man fixing the leaking roof. He did get in 1 ½ days of work last week. After today and tomorrow, the weather should be good for work.

We had a retirement party for Carol Isder who had worked at Clare Residence for 19 years. Thanks, Carol for you wonderful care of our sick Sisters, god bless you.

I’m hoping next Sunday will be sunny and dry. That is the day for the program at the Veteran’s Cemetery at Camp Ripley. I’ve been there a number of times and so appreciate the beautiful job they do. Always the grounds are so lovely and well kept. I think my sister will be coming to join me. Her husband was a veteran.

Have a safe weekend. Let’s all pray for our Veterans, living and deceased.

My blog will be short today because, my computer is ill and after lunch will get TLC from Lisa and Elsie.

God bless you.

Sister Mary Lou