The day of work bega at the sound of a bell 4:30 a.m. in summer.

530 in winter.

15 minutes after rising and kneeling for a moment of silent prayer.

The brethren were off to their morning chores.

As the sisters moved through the dwelling, closing windows, making beds and putting the rooms in order by breakfast, fires were going in the workshops.

Cows were milked and fed, and preparations for the day's work were complete.

We little girls would get up and dress and get ready to go to breakfast.

And so the day would begin like that.

And of course, the brethren.

They'd get a whole day's work done before breakfast.

So they were ready for a nice, good breakfast.

Pie.

Apple pie in the morning.

Always.

And so they were really hungry.

You know, our work was rotated by the month.

And so we did not work at one task all the time.

It gave us opportunity to learn every trade and to be able to change with somebody if they were not able to continue doing that.

Work was worship with the shakers an act of piety?

It was the practical side of religion.

It provided a specific daily opportunity to serve God by caring for what they did.

Daily labors aimed not for products or profit, but for perfection.

All labor was consecrated, and even the most menial tasks were dignified in the service of God.