Sunday, January 31, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, January 15, 2010
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!
Monday, December 28, 2009
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!!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
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
Monday, December 14, 2009
THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER AND COPENHAGEN CONFERENCE
Yesterday my LOVING AND PROTECTING CREATION had fifteen persons present. Many of the group belong to the Pax Christi group in our Hudson River area. I got many good ideas from them on where to go with my workshop: ideas for community gardening, taking my talk to schools and churches. I am so grateful for the feedback. I need to keep studing. I include here a good video on the now cotinuing Copenhagen Conference on Global Warming. There are many who deny it. But as the Irish say about the faeries, "I don't personally believe in them....BUT THEY'RE THERE!!!!"
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Awaiting Winter Benches at Shaupeneak Ridge
These two benches await YOU. Come and enjoy the peaceful Lake Louise on Shaupeneak Ridge in Esopus, NY. It is a great piece of God's handiwork here in Ulster County. Take the White Trail which begins across the railroad tracks from the Esopus Town Hall and Fire House.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Don Kennedy on Climate Change
As I prepare for the 2nd workshop of mine, LOVING AND PROTECTING CREATION, I share this interesting interview with Don Kennedy who is on the Sierra Club Climate Recovery Project. Sierra Club Radio host Orli Cotel talks to Stanford President Emeritus Don Kennedy about climate change and his role as the campaign chair for the Sierra Club Climate Recovery Project. The program is 25 mins. (You can "skip ahead" if you like to other items as Sierra Magazine Advice columnist Mr. Green reads your laundry list of questions about green cleaning your clothes. Greens Restaurant Chef Annie Somerville is absolutely wild about mushrooms, and after these recipes so will you! Owen Bailey raids the kitchen in search of energy gobbling appliances. And Sierra Club Executive Director Bruce Hamilton talks public policy for an environmentally prudent public.
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THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER
Don Kennedy on Climate Change & Sierra Club Green Tips cleanskies.comPosted using ShareThis
Sunday, December 6, 2009
ROAR (Religios On and Around the River (Hudson)--Part Three
ROAR Statement of Commitment
Recognizing the importance of having both a local and global awareness of issues, and in the context of its mission statement, ROAR is committed to:
• Living out its mission statement, especially in our relationship with the land that we “own” where land seen as subject, not object, fosters decisions based on respect and rights of all, including non-human communities of life
• Networking and partnering with environmental groups and people of faith around key Hudson River Bioregion issues
• Sustainability, especially around Earth’s natural resources, such as water, air, land, and, in particular, with properties “owned” / or used by our Congregations
• Focusing on the following three areas (to be evaluated periodically)
1. River issues, including pharmaceutical concerns
2. Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant
3. Land Use issues
Target Population:
• Leadership of Member Congregations, and through them,
• Member congregations of ROAR who then disseminate information and educate their membership. Membership is requested to advocate and address issues.
• Interested people of faith, places of worship, and environmentalists.
Partners who have philosophy and goals similar to ROAR (partial list)
• Hudson Riverkeeper
• Sierra Club Lower Hudson Chapter
• New York State Interfaith Power and Light
• Sustainable Hudson Valley
• Scenic Hudson
• ROW (Religious Organizations on Water)
• Clearwater
• Garrison Institute
General Statement
ROAR and its member congregations have been gifted to live along the majestic Hudson River and / or in the beautiful Hudson River bioregion rich in beauty, natural and spiritual resources. We strive to promote right relationships among all God’s Creation, especially in this area which we call home. The Hudson River calls us to respond to the pressing issues and needs that it and the communities of life, including the human, face and that must be addressed if we are to go into a future that is life giving for future generations. Specifically, we will:
1. Continue to work towards educating ROAR member congregations and their leadership on land use, conservation and easement rights with the goal of preserving land that is owned
2. Inform, educate and advocate for local issues that address: rights of land, water and air; water quality; safety of Indian Point Nuclear Plant; sustainable practices; use of land “owned” and / or used by ROAR member Congregations
3. Strengthen partnerships and collaborative efforts with appropriate national and local environmental groups and people of faith on above issues
4. Plan periodic educational and inspirational programs / workshops / retreats that bring together the membership of ROAR congregations, people of faith and environmentalists on above issues and in celebration of the Hudson River and its bioregion and the Great Work that is being done.
Methodologies that are / will be used:
• Rituals and Celebrations
• Assessment of issues and needs
• Networking
• Advocacy
• Education including experiential intuitive approach
• Ongoing development of and education on “Grounded in the Gift of Our Lands: A Resource Book for Land Use
Celebration of ROAR’s 7 Year Plan
ROAR will celebrate its work and commitment to its 7 Year Plan in a ritual celebratory ceremony during 2010.
Approved by ROAR committee at September 17, 2009 meeting
Religious Organizations in ROAR (Religious Organizations Along River)
Carmelite Sisters
Catholic Worker Farm – Marlboro
Dominican Sisters of Hope
Dominican Sisters of Sparkill
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
Maryknoll Sisters
Passionist Brothers and Fathers of Riverdale, NY
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary
Sisters of Charity of New York
Sisters of the Divine Compassion
Sisters of St. Dominic, Blauvelt, NY
Society of St. Ursula
Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union, Eastern Province of the US
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