The feasts of Thanksgiving and Father Huntington

It's official, "The Holidays" have begun! We had a lot of guests throughout the week. Folks arrived early to enjoy a restful Thanksgiving and folks lingered to enjoy the beauty of the Mid-Hudson Valley. I've lived here over thirteen years and the beauty of our environment never gets old! In the morning, I get up and check through my window if the Hudson is still there. She's a faithful river and I love the ever-changing sunrise over the river. No wonder so many guests come back for more.

The sunrise over the Hudson from my cell.
The lower picture shows a parked tanker ship and is filtered.

Our chefs, Robert Morano and Lisa Chapin-Brett did us proud with luscious, yet conscientious and healthy Thanksgiving feast. I overheard a guest saying to another one over the weekend "I don't know if you can overdose on gourmet healthy meals!" Well the answer to that is "Yes. You can!" It's a joy to have such good food at home but we the monks have to watch it.

Nobody goes hungry here at Thanksgiving.

After the Thanksgiving feast, many folks went walking in the sun. Some of us headed out to Fanny Reese Park which overlooks the mid-Hudson bridge (which so many of our guests cross to get to us) and the city of Poughkeepsie. Frances Stevens Reese, was a founder and chairwoman emeritus of the environmental group Scenic Hudson and a veteran of the fight to keep a power plant from being built on Storm King Mountain. Thank you, Fanny Reese and thank you, Scenic Hudson for the many beautiful parks that stud our region.

A postprandial walk in Fanny Reese Park in Highland.
From top, clocwise, Br. John, Br. Aidan, Ms. Lindsey Briggs, Br. Bob;
wo Union Seminary friends; two brothers enjoying the walk.

We always enjoy seeing you again at the monastery or meeting you for the first time. This week there were groups of friends staying with us for a few days and folks looking for a quieter Thanksgiving or post-Thanksgiving time with us.

New and repeat visitors. From top, clockwise, me, The Reverend Cari Pattison from the Reformed Church of Bronxville, Tate Bushell from Westchester county, NY. Cari brought us many friends from her reading club and their children, this week; Erin Moore from Marcellus, NY, me, Joseph Cundiff from NYC, and Br. Bob.

On Friday night, we started chanting the office for the feast of James Otis Sargent Huntington, our Founder. We were happy to have many of our Associates with us to celebrate this feast of particular importance to the "Holy Cross family."

Asoociates and an Associate probationer. From top, clockwise, Chris Amy, AHC, from Toronto, Ontario,
Asa Coulson, AHC, from Lancaster, PA, Elizabeth Boe, AHC/Prob, from NYC;
Asa taking Br. Bear on photo shoot around the monastery.

 On Sunday, our neighbor, Sr. Shane Phelan, CMA, came down the hill for a post-dinner game of Quirkle. We are delighted that the Comapnions of Mary the Apostle are in the neighborhood again.

The clear winner of this Sunday's game of Quirkle, Sr. Shane Phelan, CMA, our next door neighbor;
the green double Quirkle that propelled her in the lead.

 Now, it's more fun to report on celebrations and fun things. But just in case you wondered, the monks and the staff are often hard at work to make it all possible. Below are a couple of proofs that "labora" features with "ora" in our Benedictine lives ;-)

It's not all games and fun. From top, clockwise, Brs. Josép and Joseph coordinating
the Guest House and the Monastery's calendars; me scything the beeyard in preparation for winter