OFFERING SERVICE: SEPTEMBER 2007
With unseasonably hot weather for September, the guests who attended the ordination weekend give the Abbey projects a huge boost. With lots of laughter and team work, the planting around the Aspiration Buddha monument as well as the platform the Buddha house will rest on get well underway. The visitors come from as far away as Vermont and as close as Coeur d' Alene, Idaho and make friends quickly as they work side by side with the Abbey residents. The offering service weekends are some of the most enjoyable times spent practicing joyous effort, patience and kindness as a group.
 The guests provide Barbara, one of the Abbey gardeners, a lot of happy and experienced hands to harvest, weed and water the Abbey's flourishing veggie garden.
 The platform that will hold the Buddha house is beginning to take shape. A cinder block frame will be built that will be finished with sculptured stone and mortar. The house is being built in Portland, Oregon and will be made of glass, Trex, metal and wood.
 Morgan from Issaquah, Washington has a lot of skill in construction and has played an important role in getting a number of the Abbey projects done over the past 4 years.

Concentrating on their work, the platform crew doesn't notice the camera as they mix mortar and set the first row of block
Deb and Jane take a moment from planting the garden bed with a hardy, sun- loving groundcover for the Aspiration Buddha Garden Monument.
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Mary Grace recovering from recent surgery lends a kind and playful hand to the garden plantings.
 Tracy, a continual support to the Abbey since it's founding almost four years ago, sews a pair of Abbey work pants for the sangha to garden and firewood gather in.
 City slicker meets concrete pavers! Tom from Seattle who usually sits behind a desk at work looks forward to these opportunities to work outside doing physical tasks. He says he sleeps really well when he's at the Abbey!
 Jane and Diane provide skill and expertise in publicity, design and non-profit fundraising for the Abbey's Inviting Generosity committee.
 Venerables Saldon, Tarpa, Semkye enjoy a quiet lunch on the front porch with guest, Nancy from Anacortes, Washington.
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