It's a bit overcast this morning here in the Carondelet Garden in South Saint Louis.  The sun is trying to peak through the clouds.  The weather prognosticators are calling for rain and possible thunderstorms later this morning and into the afternoon.  Of course, we can use the rain, but not heavy storms, thank you very much.

We were gifted tickets from our wonderful neighbors to The Muny last night to see the Carole King musical:  Beautiful.  Sadly, we have not been to The Muny for many years and they have really upped their game technologically.  The sets and lighting and projections were amazing.  We enjoyed the music, of course.  The weather was almost the star of the show as it was the perfect evening for a production under the stars.

It's a day to relax, renew and rejuvenate.  Exactly what Sabbath was intended to do.  A bit of prayer and meditation this Sunday morning.  The coffee is ready.  The @nytimes has arrived.  Life is good.  I hope you have a chance to do the 3R's for yourself this Ordinary Sabbath.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

We are having another perfect beginning to the weekend here in the Carondelet Garden.  Yesterday we visited @stlartmuseum to tour the Monet exhibit.  What a glorious afternoon.  The incredible garden paintings inspired us to scratch off a couple more plants off of our wishlist.

We headed out west to visit our friends @greenscapegarden_stl and were thrilled to find these four beautiful perennials.  They have a beautiful selection of plants, trees, shrubs and supplies.  Their staff is also incredibly helpful.  We had a great visit.  

You now know how my Saturday morning is going to be spent.  We are heading out to plant our new babies.  We also have the fun of puppy-sitting our neighbor's doggo.  That will be so much fun!  We love the sweet girl.  

A busy Saturday on tap for the old gardener from Carondelet.  I hope you get the chance to commune with nature.  A little garden prayer and meditation on a sunny Saturday in June.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

A busy day on tap for the old gardener from Carondelet.  We are heading out to see the Monet exhibit at the Saint Louis Art Museum.  What a privilege it is to have such an amazing art museum here in our own city.  I know I take so much of what Saint Louis has to offer for granted.  With all of our problems, we have so much to take pride in.  

It's a good day for a good day as they say.  Be kind to yourself and others as you travel about this Ordinary Friday.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.  

It's a lovely start to the day here in the Carondelet Garden in sunny South Saint Louis on this Ordinary Thursday in June.  The watering is done for now.  I'm trying to get everything watered very early to prevent any issues.  We had some trouble with Rust on our Hollyhocks last year.  This year they are doing well for now.  We learn from our mistakes, hopefully!

It's going to be a warm one today with highs in the low 90s so watering has become crucial once again.  I enjoy the ritual of watering the plants by hand.  I do use a sprinkler on occasion, but the solitude and mindfulness of watering by hand is meditative and prayerful for this old man.  The simple, repetitive, quiet routine of watering.  Not unlike our lives in many ways.  The routines we create to live a life of faith, hope and love are also quiet, repetitive and simply ordinary.  

I'm thinking of, and praying for, friends who are mourning loss this week.  We know the process all too well, but it is still difficult for the loved ones remaining.  Loss is hard.  Grief takes time.  Faith, hope and love sustain, and memories provide a bit of solace.  They say time heals, and it is true to a certain extent.  Yet, healing is a process.  Grieving is a process that shouldn't be rushed or hurried.  Faith, hope and love endure.  Amen.

It's another beautiful beginning of the day here in the Carondelet Garden in South Saint Louis.  It's a slow start to the day as I'm a bit tuckered after two long days of planting and moving plants.  I think I'm going to sit back and enjoy the morning with another cup of coffee and the @nytimes. 

We visited several garden centers yesterday and are ticking off our wish list.  The words came out of my mouth once again, "I want this one.  I'll find a place for it!"  Of course, I did.  I can always find room for one more plant.  

The watering has begun again after the lovely rainfall of last weekend, but that's just life as a gardener.  We do the repetitive things.  We put in the daily work to reap the rewards of a bountiful harvest, hopefully!  A bit like prayer and mindfulness.  It can sometimes feel like you are just repeating yourself and doing the same thing over and over but the results happen.  

Take some time for yourself today if you can.  Even a few minutes to just sit and listen and quiet the soul.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It is a gorgeous morning here in the Carondelet Garden on this Ordinary Tuesday in June.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the music is playing in the background.  What a great way to begin the day.

Yesterday was one of those great gardening days.  The weather was so perfect to get out and weed, mow, move plants, harvest beans, and just putter around.  I am a world-class putterer.  There's nothing I love more than just puttering around in the garden.  I accomplished so much of my list of "to-do's" yesterday.  I feel so accomplished.  

The ornamental alliums are ready to burst into flowers any day now.  What a glorious sight they are with the white and blue flowers that last and last and last.  What a fun addition to the flower garden.  We are heading out to pick up a few things at the garden center this morning.  Who knows what we may find?  

It's a good day for a good day!  Be good and be kind to yourself on this Tuesday in June.  You deserve it!  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

It's a cool start to this Monday morning in June here in the Carondelet Garden.  The thermometer read 55-degrees when I stepped outside to water the hanging baskets.  An old, big bear like me enjoys the cool beginning of the day.  A gorgeous start to the week here in South Saint Louis.

This weekend's lovely rains have made such a difference here in the garden.  Everything simply looks happier and much less thirsty!  A perfect rain came down here in Carondelet.  I couldn't have planned a better, soaking rain.  True grace!

I read a book once that described Grace this way, and I paraphrase because I don't remember the exact quote, "Grace means there is nothing you can do to make God love you more... AND there is nothing you can do to make God love you less."  Powerful!  We all need to remember that definition of GRACE.  

Here's to a wonderful week filled with Grace.  Filled with love unearned but abundant and free.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

"Heaven came down and Glory filled my soul!" the old hymn goes.  I feel it this morning as the lovely rains from heaven are soaking the garden with much-needed moisture.  It is indeed a beautiful morning here in South Saint Louis.

It's been a bit of a week here in the Carondelet Garden.  Isn't that how it is sometimes?  It comes in waves.  Now the rains have come.  It feels a bit like grace falling upon the garden this morning.  My hope bucket is filling up as the rain falls.  It's a good day to relax and renew.

Isn't that what sabbath is all about?  Relax and renew for the coming week.  This morning is about the next cup of coffee.  A bit of music playing on the old smart speaker.  A real, old-fashioned newspaper sitting next to my chair.  Relax. Renew. Recharge.  

I hope you have an opportunity to relax, renew and recharge this Sunday in June.  I hope your bucket of faith, hope and love is being filled as well.  We all need to have a bit of reserve for when the drought comes again.  A bit of grace in the form of a rain shower.  Amen to that! 

It's a lovely morning here in the Carondelet Garden.  We finally had to replace our Winter Pansies this past week.  They lasted from late October of last Fall until early June.  Pretty good bang for my buck!  We replaced with some lovely Wave Petunias in dark blue.  They are doing well.  The entire garden could use a bit of heavenly moisture which is, hopefully, on tap for late this evening and into tomorrow.  

It's going to be a good weekend.  We get to attend a one-year-old's birthday party tomorrow.  Sweet little girl is just as happy and healthy as can be.  Looking forward to visiting with friends and spending a bit of time with some wee ones!  A true joy and privilege.  

Here's to a bit of gentle rains upon the gardens and lawns of South Saint Louis this weekend.  A bit of refreshing water to wash away the smog and renew the soil.  Here's to a bit of faith, some hope, and a outpouring of love this weekend.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others!  We could all use a bit of that right now.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.

The sun is shining, and the birds are singing, and the Lantana is blooming here in the Carondelet Garden on this Ordinary Friday in June.  Another beautiful day in South Saint Louis.  The sunshine is lovely, but we could still use a bit of heavenly moisture here in the Garden.  The watering regime continues but there appears to be some relief coming this Sunday.  

The work continues.  The healing is ongoing.  It has been a week this week.  Friends who have lost family members and dealing with health issues for aging parents.  Healing for this old gardener. We pause and pray.  Life happens in the most unexpected ways.  The good news is we are loved through it.  A bit of faith, a smattering of hope and the love of a creator who cares about the tiniest things.  We don't go through the struggles alone.  

It's Friday in Ordinary Time.  A simple, ordinary Friday for a simple, ordinary old gardener in South Saint Louis.  Be good and be kind to yourself and others as you travel about this beautiful day.  That's all the news from here in the Carondelet Garden.