Automotive progress and turning leaves

Last weekend, our Associate Nadine Revheim visited us to drop off a donation of books. She was accompanied by a puppy dog which is being trained to become a service dog. Each time she brings such a puppy with her, Br. Bede makes sure to visit with a new canine friend. This time it was a young black lab.

Br. Robert Leo is on retreat in Vermont for a few days.

This fall, Brothers Will Brown, Tom Schultz (and possibly Timothy Jolley who may come later) will relocate to our monastery from Mount Calvary Monastery in Santa Barbara, CA. We are preparing their rooms and some parcels from them are on their way. We are looking forward to welcoming "our Californians."

This past week, Brother Bede and I both had dental hygienist appointments in Kingston. We took our new plug-in hybrid car (a Toyota Prius). It was the first time I drove it. I am so happy that our short drives on that car will be fully powered by the battery. Since all of our electricity is covered by solar energy credits, our electric drives are carbon-neutral. After 25 miles, on average, the combustion engine is called upon to power the car. Luckily, 90% of our trips are below that milepost.

Br, Randy takes the car to his parish in Red Hook. That is a 20 mile drive. He recharges the car at the church while he works and gets back home on the electric drive. I have long dreamed of converting our fleet of vehicles to electric power. This is the beginning of our automotive future.

While one of us is seeing the dental hygienist, the other has to wait outside or in the car. I took the opportunity to walk around the Kingston neigborhood where we were. I came across an interesting "Vote" sign. I fully agree with its sponsors; do exercize your democratic right to elect our government.

From top left, clockwise: our new plug-in hybrid car sipping electricity in our enclosure parking lot; Br. Bede bonding with an apprentice service dog on a visit; the Prius plug-in; a large civically minded lawn sign in Kingston.

On Wednesday mornings, our Library Volunteer, Susan Barbarisi, comes to help Br. John in his job as Librarian. They are getting a lot of cataloguing done these days. I took a few pictures of their work.

I am getting a lot of reading done this year. I had set myself a Goodreads Reading Challenge of 30 books this year. I'm one book away from reaching my yearly goal. I am a member of the New York Public Library and the Mid-Hudson Library System. Both of them enable e-book borrowings. Our local Port-Ewen Library is also organizing drive-by book pick-ups now.

As a sure sign that autumn is with us, butterflies are browsing goldenrod and tree leaves are starting to turn. It's going to be a beautiful show once again.

From left, clockwise: a butterfly on goldenrod blossoms; newly catalogued books displayed for the community's notice; carts of books in process; some of the backlog (no library is without it); the beginnings of the turning of the leaves.

Stay safe, stay healty, wear a mask, save lives.

Peace!

Bede