TASTY "FUTURE OCCUPANTS" OF THE BIRDER'S GARDEN

THE GARDEN EXISTS IN MY IMAGINATION FIRST

Back in 1994 I spent a half year in Brazil and met Ruvem Alves, a most wonderful man, educator, story writer and "gardiner".  He was showing us his beautiful flower garden and said something I found quite profound, Long before my garden existed here in Sao Paulo it existed in my imagination".  I find that this is true of all dreams.  But, of course, without the effort, labor, hard work, heartache sometimes....the "garden remains in one's imagination"....Hopefull mine here at The Mount will soon exist in reality with what I plan to plant: SWISS CHARD, SPINACH, RADISHES, TOMATOES, BEANS OF SOME KIND, SUMMER SQUASH AND PEPPERS, BEETS, CUCUMBERS AND CARROTS.  My friend John Aponti from Esopus is helping me as I am just a novice.

I'D SAY THERE WERE MORE THAN A THOUSAND ROCKS HERE!!!

I may live "or die" regretting this.  But the salad bar at The Mount will be counting on me to produce some "produce" for the meals and to make this more than a personal hobby.  Wish me luck tomorrow!!

HUDSON RIVER "ORGANIC GARDENER"....TOO!!

I have a plot that is about 40 feet by 25 feet and have begun as an "Infant Organic Gardener"...what I think should be called the "Battle of the Rocks"...Anyone in the Ulster County Area that would like to help just give me a message here.  You would be "most welcome".. The "Battle" begins!!

THE "BIRDER" AT BOG MEADOW IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

BOG MEADOW IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

THE RISEN CHRIST "DRAWING ALL CREATION TO HIMSELF AND THE FATHER

This image of the Risen Christ is in our Redemptorist Church of St. Clements in Saratoga Springs, NY.  One thing that my study of Nature and the Planet and our Environment that has fascinated me is  what is the "relationship of God" of the "Blessed Trinity" to all that has been created, all living things,not just "human" beings.  What I have read makes me more convinced than ever that God is "related" to all that has been made.  The Bible, most especially the Book of Psalms is always saying that "the world reflects and makes visible the "glory and beauty of God".  I think this mosaic at St. Clements shows this.  Look and see how the arms of Christ, not not nailed to a Cross but reaching out in a "cruciform embrace"....Look how Christ embraces and hugs all that has been made.  I believe that Christ simply wanted, simply "wants" to bring all that has been made to both see, reflect and show the love of God for all of creation.....

NEAR THE ANCIENT OAK TREE IN THE APPLE ORCHARD

SPRING MIGRATION AND A MORE INCLUSIVE WORLD

DAY TO BE LIKE ADAM WITH CREATION

On Saturday, April 24th Joe, Gloria and myself did my SPRING MIGRATION AND A MORE INCLUSIVE WORLD day here at the Mount.  We must have walked at least three miles, although all I'd advertised was that...:"it would be an outdoors day".   We began next to our 200 year Oak Tree (more or less!) where we said the Morning Prayer of Praise.  Then we began to be like Adam in reverse.  By this I mean that we walked and tried to discover plants, trees, birds, insects and other creatures "by their proper names".   When we name someone or "any living thing" by their proper name we grow in respect for them and for all of creation.  I feel very sure that this is what the Genesis account of creation means to teach us with Adam getting the job  of naming all the animals, plants etc.  Adam learned to both RESPECT CREATION and to CONNECT TO CREATION.  Here are Joe and I next to our Purple Beech Tree which might just be 150 years old.

THE MANY LONG LEAFED ("NEEDLED") PINES IN NORTH CAROLINA

I have been doing my best to become a better "tree identifier" during my time down here in the Outer Banks. The most numerous pines are what you see here.  They have needles that are from 8 to 11 inches and many nearly six inch cones.  They grow, as do the Loblolly Pines to up to 110 feet.  (I learned that the Loblolly Pine is not too frequent here in the Outer Banks,  But in my trips to the home of my friend Evelyn Dabbs near Florence SC  there are many, many Loblolly Pines there.

SUNSET-2 ON THE OUTER BANKS AT COLLINGTON, NC

SUNSENT ON ABERMARLE SOUND-- COLLINGTON, NC

ORGANIC GARDENING ANYONE

THIS IS THE AREA WHERE I WANT TO BEGIN SOME "ORGANIC GARDENING" HERE AT MT. ST. ALPHONSUS.  THESE FIELDS WERE POTATOE FIELDS 50 YEARS AGO.  WE ALSO PLANTED AND HARVESTED TASTY STRAWBERRIES THERE.  DEPENDING ON WHAT I CAN LEARN MYSELF ABOUT ORGANIC GARDENING AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE IN OUR ESOPUS AREA THAT MIGHT OFFER TO "HELP ME"  WE COULD HAVE SOME GREAT CROPS HERE COME THIS JULY....THINK ABOUT IT!

OUR LADY OF THE MOUNT ALTAR

This is the place where we will celebrate Mass at 4 pm on this April 24th, 2010.  My Workshop, "Christ and Spring Migration" will be mostly outdoors because I want to show how ALL of God's Creation has to be included in our love and concern.  We daughters and sons of God have been named, since Adam got the job of being....Caretakers and Stewards of Creation

Spring Buds at the Mount

HERE ARE SOME OF THE BUDS THAT ARE BURSTING WITH LIFE AND BEAUTY HERE AT MT. ST. ALPHONSUS...ENJOY THEM!!!

More Magnolias from the Mount

MARVELOUS MAGNOLIAS OF THE MOUNT

We have four Magnolia Trees here at the Mount which are at least 70 years old.  And so they would have been planted somewheres around 1927.  Because of the high temperatures here in the Northeast this last week they reached full bloom yesterday, April 7th.  In earlier years they would bloom maybe at the beginning of May.  Ordinations to the Sub an Deaconate would happen here at the Mount close to the first Sunday after Easter (Low Sunday).  That Sunday had the Latin name of Domenicus in albis  (Sunday in White).  This allusion referred to the recently baptized adults at the Easter Vigil who would wear their white Baptismal garbs all during this week.

CHRIST IS RISEN TODAY

A HAPPY EASTER FROM THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER

Well, what a day yesterday was.  I have seen a few Tree Swallows swooping over our 412 acres.  The Juncos are clicking like crazy and seem to have their lighter spring coats.  I saw an interesting stand off yesterday with an immature Red Tailed "accompanied" on a branch below by two Fish Crows.  they just "waited" till it took off and tore at her up and down till she or he made it to the next "resting spot".  One of the adult eagles was flying out towards the river yesterday afternoon.  One tree in our area where Eagles have nested was hit bit lighting a year and a half ago.  But I am sure that they will find another "appropiate" and "safe" place.  Thank God that the "eagles are back".  It is not such an extraordinary sight anymore to see them on our river.

Song sparrows, Field sparrows, lots of cardinals and off course American Robins are enjoying this early spring as are we all.  The "Peter, Peter" of our local Tufted Timouses is with us too.  OH YES!!!! And this is a very content and excited OH YES for me.  I saw two beautiful  Eastern Meadowlarks yesterday on our unmown fields at Pells.  The truth is that, as much as a patient birder as I am the only time I have seen Eastern Meadowlarks was years ago down in Columbia SC with a great now deceased birder, Mr. Robin Carter.  They are truly large and beautiful birds.  It was my "Easter Gift".
HAPPY EASTER ALL

...AND THE LAST SUPPER...JESUS BRINGS PASSOVER NEW MEANING

I hope this is alright.  Just below this animation on the Last Supper is a very wonderful animation that shows what the Passover was that Jesus was celebrating with his disciples.  Of course most Jewish people, even though they know that Christians share all the history of salvation and all of the Bible texts that they love and live, do not believe that Jesus was the Promised one or the Messiah... But at this Easter/ Passover time we all try to be in deeper contact with our COMMON GOD OF LOVE, MERCY AND KINDNESS.  Enjoy this You Tube clip on the Last Supper which features the song, "Always Knew That I'd be an Apostle"  from the play and move "Jesus Christ Super Star".

SPRINGTIME AND THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

meone said to me recently, "Your site doesn't always have birds, and you call it THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER.   Well, yes, that's true.  But I am also a Roman Catholic priest and when springtime comes, sure I am excited about the birds.  Like for instance today was such a beautiful Good Friday.  It is warm.  There more robins than ever.  Yesterday, besides the many Eastern Wood Pewees I've been seeing I also heard a number of Phoebes.  And today, if I am not mistaken, I saw some Tree Swallows flying over towards the Pell Farm.  So, yes, I am the Hudson River Birder.  But springtime is also the time when we Christians believe that, just as the birds return North each April we celebrate the return of Christ to life after the sad mistake of his being condemned to death.  So I would like to share this very well done animated video on Passover.  It is a Jewish celebration.  But it explains a lot of what Jesus himself a Jew was trying to explain as he celebrated that very same Passover with his twelve apostles who were also very good and religious Jews.  ENJOY!!!

The Basin and the Towel for HOLY THURSDAY

ABOUT THE HUDSON RIVER WALKAWAY BRIDGE

I finally did the Hudson River Walkaway Bridge across the river from Highland to Pougkeepsie, NY.  It was a windy afternoon when our staff member at the Mount, Theresa and her friend Linda and I did the two mile jaunt which is supposedly the longest walkaway bridge in the country if not the world....
Here are some facts about it...from a New York Times article---(And I have added some of today's photos after the New York Times article...Enjoy!!)
The New York Times
Editorial
October 6, 2009
The View From 1889

The Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge, built in the late 19th century to link New York and New England to the coal beds of Pennsylvania and the West, is a marvel of Industrial Revolution engineering. It fills the sky over the Hudson River, a muscular lattice of trusses and struts on giant footings, a survivor from a long-gone era before bridge mediocrities like the Tappan Zee. Anyone who has ever gazed on it from the riverbank and wondered what it was like to walk across will now be able to find out. It has just been opened to the public as Walkway Over the Hudson, the latest example of the new kinds of infrastructure - for tourism and recreation - that are reshaping the Hudson Valley. The bridge was abandoned in the 1970s and sat for decades because it was too expensive to tear down. Volunteers made fitful efforts to repair it as a walkway, but the project took off only about five years ago with big infusions of ambition and money, including federal and state aid and a $2 million corporate grant. This year's 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's river trip helped push the $38 million project to completion.

The bridge is part of a bigger web of things to see and do up and down the Hudson River. There are trails and bike paths from both sides linking the nearby Mid-Hudson Bridge, downtown Poughkeepsie, and parks, historic homes and landmarks. To the many civic, environmental and historic organizations that look after the Hudson Valley - including Scenic Hudson, whose land acquisitions have given the region a wealth of public greenery - the bridge has two jobs: be lovely to look at (and from), and energize the economy.

The Henry Hudson anniversary sparked many plans for legacy projects, many of them - including land purchases as a bulwark against view-destroying sprawl - still unrealized. Maybe as the economic and aesthetic benefits of this once-dreamy, impractical vision - saving and fixing a big old bridge - become clearer, people will summon the will and means to dream even bigger.

THE HUDSON RIVER WALKAWAY BRIDGE FROM HIGHLAND TO POUGKEEPSIE, NY

SMITH CEMENTERY "OLD OAK"--ESOPUS,NY

SMITH CEMENTERY IN DISREPAIR AT ESOPUS, NY

SMITH CEMENTERY AT MT. ST. ALPHONSUS, ESOPUS,NY

THE SMITH CEMETERY AT PELLS

On the Pell Farm which is the northern end of Mt. St. Alphonsus right down from the silo has existed since the 1700's what is known to us as "The Smith Cemetery".  Some of the names are also Terpenning which is also an old family here in Esopus.  There are twelve graves.  Some of the stones are quite small.  One with the name "Amanda" written on it, seems to have been a twelve  year old child of this family who I understand were workers for Robert Livingston Pell,  the original owner who sold it to us Redemptorists in about 1905.  Above you will find some views of the cemetery that I have taken.
VOLUNTEERS ANYBODY:  We would be very happy if some boy or girl scout troup were interested in helping us restore and maintain the Smith Cemetery.  Or anyone who would like to help us do it just contact me through this blog..

THE 'BIRDER' ON ROUTE TO LAKE LOUISE, NY

A WINTER TWILIGHT MOMENT ON ESOPUS AVENUE

ESOPUS WINTER AND GREAT HORNED OWLS

I truly "love" winter.  One reason might be that I got into snowshoeing.  And of course you need winter...and you need "snow" for snowshoeing.  Last week the northeast got lots of snow.  We did "pretty well" here in the Esopus area, getting what I call a "refurbishing" of the snow layer on our pastures.  So I as able to have two good days of snowshoeing though all our pastures going over to the Pell Silo and back along the riverbank.  We have some coyotes, but I haven't seen any of them.  I HAVE seen their "four pointed" tracks in the snow.  Last summer I saw the largest one and it was a truly beautiful animal with about five different shades: brown, blackish brown, auburn, whitish grey and tan.  But it seems that they are not able to bring down the full sized deer.  So winters, with no small fauns to eat, is rough on them.  Do I seem "predatory".  Maybe so.  But that's the way I have come to see the circle of life in the sub human world.  There is a true "communion" there.  I NEED TO EAT YOU TO STAY ALIVE.  It's nothing personal.  If I were a human being fighting a foolish war in Iraq or Afghanistan, now that would be something different.  Because human beings have many other ways of living and living "holy communion" without hunting down and killing one another....

Was that a digression.  Yes and no.  Well let this HUDSON RIVER BIRDER get back to the bird world. I have "heard" a number of Great Horned Owls the last few days.  The first ones were hooting at one another like this--(HIT THE TITLE ABOVE) the other night when I walked along the road in front of the Redemptoristine convent. And today, Sunday March 7th I heard them hooting up on Shaupeneak Ridge.  By the way I have climbed from the Esopus  Fire House on the Ridge lots of times.  Today was the hardest.  Why?  First I did not realize how difficult the two feet of melting snow would be to climb further up the hill.  (Last week I went to North Lake in the town of Haines Falls and there were a total of 5 feet of snow on the ground!!)  So it looks like the higher elevations like Windham, Hunter Mountain, Haines Falls go a whalloping snowfall)
Anyway it was a really tough climb today.  And even coming down Popletown Road towards Union Center Road.  Because until Bea Moore's home it is not ploughed.  My socks go wet on the way up.  So I walked the four miles home "sockless" in my hiking boots.  Enjoy the hoots

ICED IN SHORE OF THE MOUNT ON THE HUDSON

Gullian Rug Repair/ Cleaning House-Popletown Road-Esopus, NY

The Sheep of Popletown Road-Esopus-NY

Any of my Redemptorist friends that are, sorry to admit this, 60 years or older will remember the old Gullian homestead at the top of Popletown Road coming up from Union Center and Hardenberg Roads. In those days "Mom" (as we used to call her) Gullian, had this very lovely homestead with a commanding view of the town and riverfront of the Hudson in Esopus. And there were sheep there because the Gullians had come here from Armenia, I believe in the 19th century and sheep, I imagine, reminded them of their native home. The family, among other things cleaned and I think "repaired" rugs for people in the community. The lovely little stone house where this was done stands alone and beautiful just below Shaupeneak Ridge. I have a photo here of that stone house. Bea Moore, the daughter of Mom, still lives in a house adjacent to their old homestead. Bea is a dear old friend of us Redemptorists at the Mount and witnessed many of us visit and eat great Armenian food at her mother's home so, so many years ago.

Mom Gullian's Old Homestead

Mt. St. Alphonsus and Hudson River from Shaupeneak Ridge

Another Trek to Shaupeneak Ridge/ Lake Louise

Around Dec 26th it was already pretty cold when my brother Dan and I hiked from the Esopus Firehouse up the "White Trail" to Shaupeneak Ridge and Lake Louise. It was "really" cold. There was one man out on the ice apparently fishing though a hole. We two, however, did not venture on the ice, but walked around the lake... Well, today, Jan 31st there were about 15 men on the lake, all ice fishing and some of them from New Paltz had this orange tent up. It was "only" about 20 degrees F. (Last night, Jan 30th it had dipped to 2 F, but my Weather Station only registered a low of 7 degrees F) So today, knowing that, should I go through the ice there was not just "one man" but another 15 hopefully ready to drag me out, I did venture out and spoke to them. They had some pretty good (about 9" perch) and I think some pickerel. It was a great hike. I also have some shots today of the old Gullian homestead at the top of Popletown Road, just below where the Shaupeneak Ridge area administered by Scenic Hudson begins.

Flaging for Ice-Fishing at Lake Louise-Esopus

Ice Lake-Fishing at Lake Louise-Esopus

WHERE HAS MY SNOW GONE?

I have weathered a "small bout" of some kind of flu. It wasn't SO bad. But now that I am better I find there is not a good layer of snow here in Esopus. I have only been able to snowshoe two times back in December. I guess this is what it means to "not live the rhythms of the earth". Today for MANY people snow is not a delight but a "problem", something to be endured until it can be removed. I have been reading TWELVE MOONS by Charles Frazier. It deals with a Will Cooper who lived with and came to understand the ways of the Cherokee people. Their winters were truly fierce. They only went out to care for their animals and for the basic necessities. BUT IT WAS A GREAT TIME FOR TELLING STORIES. Now TV and Cable have pre empted that. They tell us some great stories, of course. But how much better are our own, especially those we have lived. Let me tell you one of mine. It is a winter story:

SUN TELEGRAPH WINTER

When I was 11 till 13 yrs old I carried the Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph. We were called "Paper Boys" because, even there were boys (like the Walshes on Morrowfield Ave) whoes younger sisters often helped them and sometimes even took over on mornings or evenings when their brothers were too tired, girls did not get "paper routes" in those times. Winter was a tough time to be a paper boy. I remember some of the most severe winters when I actually cried as I lugged my 50 or so heavy newspapers on a cold windy evening. My toes would not get warm. (I guess I had carelessly not put on good woolen socks). Yes, I actually cried. It was a bit scary too. There was one spot where I had to cut through an old abandoned property with a dilapidated mansion with broken windows. I wondered if there were some old man in there waiting to pounce upon me as I slowly lugged my paper bag to the other street. But there were some very nice people who would invite me in for some warmth and hot cholocate. I remember one woman on, I think, Beacon St who was very kind to this cold, wearly paper boy.

The Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph eventually folded. The Pittsburgh Press's circulation beat us hands down. And the Press paper boys would have their entire routes in what was merely one of seven our eight streets and three miles that my route traversed. Eventually the only newspaper that survived in Pittsburgh, PA was the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Well, with blogs like this one, emails, online everything most newspapers will probably eventually fold. What will be the benefit of that? Well, even though I am somewhat nostagically said to say it, There will be no more weary and weeping paper boys like I was!

THE BIRDER AND THE RIVER

OUR "WAVERING WINTER"

The other day when NYC and most especially Suffolk County received so much snowfall I was a bit "jealous". We got no snowfall up here in Ulster County. I was sort of "hoping" that we would get at least 6 inches so that I'd have some surface upon which to...snowshoe. Considering the inconvenience that snowfall presents for traffic, local snow removal maintenance and expenditures...especially during this financial crisis, I guess my desire was somewhat "selfish". In the "old days" when people were used to living more "in harmony with the seasons and what they would bring" maybe my desire would have been more natural. One of the things that I most enjoy about Esopus and The Mount where I live is its closeness to the Hudson River (whose "Birder" I am!!) and this wonderful 400 acre piece of Esopus land that we bought from Robert Livingston Pell in about 1905. Our black Labrador, "Alphie" certainly enjoys living in harmony with nature. She explores our property constantly and is always chasing and "just about catching" squirrels, chasing deer and Canada Geese, learning what skunks "can do", barking back when she hears the distant coyotes yelping, You stay off my turf, she barks back.

Today we Roman Catholics celebrate the feast of the Holy Innocents which commemorates Herod's cruel efforts to rid the world of a king he did not understand or want. Today the battle for Health Care and most especially affordable healthcare for low income children and their families. I am beginning to think about not just talking about wildlife, animals, birds and trees on this blog. Or rather I see the need to relating the HUMAN TO THE LIVING NON HUMAN. My workshop, LOVING AND PROTECTING CREATION does not have a purely romantic purpose. We love and protect children, women, the poor...AND our environment for the benefit of all. I am sure our Black Lab Alphie would agree with this!!

THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER'S BROTHER ON SHAUPENEAK RIDGE, ESOPUS, NY

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM SHAUPENEAK RIDGE-ESOPU, NY

THE EARTH SEEN BY THE ASTRONAUTS

This is a YOUTUBE movie of 5 minutes that I just created. I will be using it as a meditation in my workshop here at The Mount

LOVING AND PROTECTING CREATION

WHEN?....Saturday, January 23rd

HOURS....from 10 am till 4 pm

file://