We're, as they say in Arizona, back in the saddle again

It doesn't take long, in a manner of speaking, to get back in the saddle and into the routine we put behind us when we left Holy Trinity Monastery last spring.  For Joe this means helping in the office.  When we first came eight years ago, Fr. Henri had a list of projects in mind when we met with the volunteers.  Most of the men signed up to work on maintenance projects: repairing fences, painting guest houses, dredging ponds, shaking the pecan trees and running the nuts through the cracking machine. "We need help in the office, too," he said.  Silence.  Finally good-hearted Joe said, "I guess I could help out there." That was all the prior needed to hear and that's where he's been ever since, filing reconciling charges with receipts and anything else that needs doing.

For me, returning meant joining with my 'Dough Dough Sisters' yesterday for a planning meeting.  Let me explain.  Five years ago the Monastery built a new bakery.  It's beautiful; commercial counters, ovens, sinks, everything one needs to turn out baked products.  It happened that it was used simply to make the Monk's Bread and during the four days of Spring and Fall festivals to prepare a spaghetti dinner. Practical lot that we are, looking the situation in the eye, we asked Fr. Henri, "Why not let the RV women sponsor Bake Sales every Friday in February and March?  We all know how to bake and it would be a way we could add to your coffers."  He's a cautious sort and wasn't sure about the whole idea, but was finally convinced.  After the first sale, when the tally was $456.00 for four hours of sales, he became a believer!

And so it is that for the last four years - with sales increasing every year - we don our aprons, get out the baking utensils and ingredients and get to work.  In a very real way it's like celebrating Eucharist in the Domestic Church - the aprons are our vestments, the utensils the sacred vessels, and the aroma wafting from the oven as the goodies bake, like incense rising to heaven.  The products themselves serve as sustenance to all who come. And do they come!

Our meeting yesterday was centered on getting the publicity out.  Four teams will take flyers that give date, time and location, as well as mentioning the fact that 'every batch is made from scratch'  to some 20 RV parks and businesses in the area.  

This morning Marilyn (from Wisconsin who's our fearless leader) and the two Nancy's (one from Iowa, the other from Minnesota) and myself  met in the bakery to check out recipes and make a list of ingredients that will be needed.  It was quite a list! 

We'll get to work next week, as the first sale is set for February 1st.  The goal is to reach - if not exceed - last years profits...$7,000.  Not bad for eight weeks and some eight or ten ladies, most of whom are well on the other side of 60!