A birthday and an electric car

Br. Josép came back from his Cottekill, NY, vacation online to turn around and fly off for a family visit to his mom in St Petersburg, FL.

This week, Br. Jacob got a visit form his dad and mom, coming all the way from Western Missouri, coinciding with his birthday.

After the installation of two extra chargers last week, we were ready to expand our fleet of electric vehicles. Br. Ephrem needed to buy a new car for the office of the Superior. He is a big proponent of EV's. He got a great deal on a Ford Mustang Mach E SUV of 2021 but with little mileage.

From top, clockwise: Br. Jacob sitting in the guest court with his dad and mom for Eucharist; neighborhood daisies on a desk; our newest electric vehicle a.k.a as "the corp. car" (owned by OHC Inc. instead of HCM Inc.,  the monastery).

With this new acquisition, the West Park fleet of cars is 50% full EV's, one third hybrids, and only our sixth car is a simple internal combustion engine vehicle.

Below are a few early morning shots when there is a mysterious cohabitation of light and darkness.

From top, clockwise: lacy clouds over the trees; projected shadow of the altartop crucifix in the St Michael Chapel (our crypt under St Augustine's Church); the guesthouse and belltower before the sun peeks over the horizon.

Peace and every good to you.

Saint Mary the Virgin

This week, Br. Robert Leo was on vacation in the Poconos, PA, and Br. Josép was on vacation in Cottekill, NY. Br. Josép was house and pet-sitting at the house of friends of the community just a half hour drive away from the monastery as he has done for several years. It is his tradition to invite groups of Brothers to come and visit him and the dogs for lunch (the cat usually remains out of sight when there are visitors).

Luncheons in Cottekill at Br. Josép's invitation. From top left, clockwise: the sun room; Bros. Bruno, Francis, Rob, Ephrem and Josép enjoying the meal in the sun room: a few days later, it was the turn of friend Dave Coppola, Br. Bernard, postulant Jeff and Br. Jacob; Lucy was on her best behavior throughout; some of the home cooking delicacies on offer; the koi pond in the garden.

But jus in case, you thought it all sounds like hard work, he also knows how to take it easy. Oh, and he's really good with dogs; attentionate, loving and firm at the same time.

Dogs and rest. From top left, clockwise: Br. Josép and Molly (two pictures); Br. Josép not making much progress on his reading (two pictures); Br. Josép with Lucy.

This past week, our electrician has installed two more electric vehicle charging stations in the monks' parking lot to accommodate our expanding fleet of EV's. The new OHC corporation car will be an EV for the principal use of the Superior.

This Friday evening and Saturday, we celebrated our Blessed Mother, Saint Mary the Virgin in style.

Celebrating St Mary the Virgin. From top left, clockwise: our electrician installing two new EV charging stations; statue of the holy Mother and Child in St Augustine church (details; 2 pictures); just above that statue, a stained glass window depicting Jesus crowning Mary in heaven; the refectory part of the feast (four pictures, including one of Bros. John and David patiently waiting for the festive meal).

And on the blooming front, we noticed a lot of different mushrooms coming up.

The blooming report. From top left, clockwise: Russula (?) mushrooms a.k.a. brittlegills; an amanite species (flavoconia or jacksoonii ?); view of the monastery from the driveway; Pluteus (?) mushrooms a.k.a. deer mushroom; Hackberry tree and its paraiste Hackberry petiole gall (at first I thought the hackberry fruit was strangely positioned but it is not its fruit).

Peace and every good to you.

Quiet days of August

These past two weeks, a lot of cleaning and repairing has been taking place in the guesthouse while we are without guests for the month of August. August is a good time for monks to go on vacation or family visits. This Sunday, Br. Ephrem is preaching and teaching at Bethesda Episcopal Church, in Saratoga Springs, NY.

On the last Sunday of July, Br. Randy organized one of his popular "Jazz Classes" in the St Augustine meeting room. We gather for an evening of enjoying a playlist curated by Br. Randy (with input from Br. John). We enjoy drinks and snacks and commenting on what we are hearing. This "class" focused on Cool jazz.

Cool jazz emerged in the late 1940s and hit its stride during the 1950s and 1960s, defined by a relaxed tempo, lighter tone, and sophisticated arrangements. Key artists of this style include: Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Bill Evans.

Jazz class. From top left, clockwise: saxophonist Gerry Mulligan; a resident buck near the enclosure; Br. Randy and Joshua Reinke, of NYC on the last week of his aspirant visit; Bros. Bruno, Raphael, Josép and Randy enjoying popcorn and jazz; trumpetist Miles Davis; Bros. John, Daniel and Bruno listening to cool jazz; the back of St Augustine church in the rising sun.

Br. Bernard took a week of vacation in Manhattan by the grace of friends who lent him their apartment while they were on their own summer vacation. Another generous friend treated him to a Metropolitan Museum pass. He took in a lot of exhibitions at the Met over four daily visits...

He visited the 9/11 Museum. He used to live near the World Trade Center when living in NYC (1998-2004). It took him 25 years to gather his courage and face this emotional experience. The museum is well worth visiting but intense. He also attended Evensong at the Cathedral of St John the Divine.

Br. Bernard's Manhattan vacation 1. From top left, clockwise: Central Park west: a mural art installatioon at the 9/11 museum; Jean Arp sculpture: The Visitation attributed to Meister Heinrich of Constance; "The Grief of the Pasha" by Jean-Léon Gérôme; "Bashi-Bazouk" by the same French painter; the Reservoir in Central Park looking west; Alberto Giacometti sculptures shown in the Temple of Dendur (two pictures).

 Br. Bernard's Manhattan vacation 2. From top left, clockwise: Axel Salto Royal Copenhagen stoneware; Richard Orpen self-portrait; Br. Bernard in front of the Cathedral of St John the Divine: Paul Cézanne "Laurette in a green robe"; evensong at St John the Divine; Willem de Kooning "Landscape at Stanton Street"; Osman Hamdi Bey "Man meditating of the Q'uran"

This past Tuesday, nine of us went on an excursion to the Center for Bioregional Living in Ellensville, NY. We got a tour of the premises that are managed along the precepts of permaculture. Andrew Faust was an enthusiastic and highly informative guide. Helped for fun by his goat sidekick, Jack.

 

Learning about permaculture. From top left, clockwise: Andrew Faust, permaculture designer with ovine friend Jack; Andrew showing us one of the permaculture buildings on his property; Andrew second from left and Bros. Raphael, Will, Bernard, Jacob, John, Daniel, postulant Jeff and Br. Josép: tomato sandwich with heirloom tomato from Br. Jacob's vegetable garden: Jack the goat "weeding."

We hope you are enjoying the graces of the season.

Peace and every good to you.