OSPREY---THE EXCELLENT FISHER

I think I am becoming, not a Blogger, but an...Embedder.  I don't know if that is the way it is spelt.  I took some great pictures at Franny Reese Park in Poughkeepsie NY last rainy, misty Sunday.  I will share some of them in a day or so.  But this great slow motion video of an osprey hunting is just so superb.  My friend Kevin MacDonald sent me it. It is just great.

THE REASON FOR EXISTENCE--A VIDEO

Today is my brother Dan's birthday. I sent him this beautiful nature video from VIMEO. So I hope you all enjoy it too.

ON MY FATHER'S SIDE--A VIDEO

As the White Throated Sparrows come back North, (the "Canada, Canada" call was immistakeable this morning), as well as the Chipping Sparrows that just love every corner of what is now THE MOUNT COMMUNITY, I post this nice Country Western song, "On My Father's Side" that dramatizes the 12 year old Jesus on his first ("of many") family journies to the Temple in Jerusalem.  This morning, as we see Thomas "finally believing" that Jesus had truly risen I see that, not just Thomas but ALL of us have to not just ASK.  We need to "go right out there" and FIND the marks of the wounds of Christ which are many in our world.  Thomas would ask us to "put our own hands into the wounds of Christ", but believing that each and all of us in the BODY OF THE TRULY RISEN CHRIST have the love, compassion and very power of God to heal, to alleviate and to pour the oil of our love into the many wounds of Christ in today's world.  This week is dedicated to Migrant Peoples.  Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles said yesterday in an interview that the first immigrants in the history of the world were Adam and Eve expelled from the Garden of Paradise...but invited to "find their way back to paradise" through hard work, pain.  In other worlds ...through FAMILY LIFE.  Enjoy this video.

A "SPRING ROBIN VIDEO" FROM FRED MARGULIES

My friend, Ronnie just sent me this quite fascinating video done on VIMEO by Fred Margulies, who, by the way, lives just a "bit" upstate in Margaretville, NY.  This video is one of Fred's many.  He does videos on social issues of the community.  And I am sure that, since the desvasting rains caused flooding and quite horrifice damate in that area of Margaretville, that Fred has used his skill to help and martial help for the community.  MEANWHILE, this video which he did a few years ago, starts with four beautiful "Easter eggs" in a robin's nest.  It is quite a commentary of what I'd call the "Full nest...and then the empty nest" that all parents love, serve and create.  ENJOY!!  And thanks, Ronnie, for this great video.  (I am not recently a "consistent blogger", but when something from the Hudson River like Fred's great video, well I just have to get working)



Robins: 4 Eggs, 4 Weeks from Fred Margulies on Vimeo.

REMEMBER FALL AT THE MOUNT

My brother Dan, who has come to love THE MOUNT as many of us, has an interesting album of pictures of it.  These are two of them for which I am most grateful

FALL IN THE MOUNT NORTH ENTRANCE

FALL SKY AT "THE MOUNT"

IT'S NOT ON THE TEST

Today I was going through my personal diaries which I began in 2007.  I found a phrase, I loved that song, IT'S NOT ON THE TEST by Tom Chapin.  I had no recollection of the song.  So I found it on YOUTUBE and share it with you.  Not to ruin the song for you, just let me say that the song is about all the so called "unimportant items" that back in 2007 were being taken out of school teaching, things like music, drama and, as the song says so powerfully.....rational discourseg.  With the great failure of diplomacy today, wars in Afhanistan, Iraq, and now Syria as well as the growing threat of a confrontation between Israel, Iran and the United States it is so very clear that songster Chapin certainly "knew what he was singing about". The video for the song, "Not on the Test," that Tom Chapin wrote with John Forster expresses their disappointment in the lack of arts education in public schools. SO LISTEN, ENJOY, UNDERSTAND....AND PRAY FOR THE RETURN OF RATIONAL THINKING TO THE WORLD...(and...be honest now!!!! if necessary...TO YOURSELF.

"FOR ALL WHO LOVE THE SEA" VIDEO ON CANARY ISLANDS UNDERWATER LIFE

Besides enjoying my missionary work with Hispanics here in North Carolina (town of Ashville) I still love to embed here some of the finest nature footage that I find on VIMEO.  This beautiful, graceful and fascinating under and "over" water film is by Raffa Herrero Massieu.  It was shot by Raffa last year, 2011 in the Canary Islands.

Another world from Rafa Herrero Massieu on Vimeo.

A WALK IN CANDLER, NC

Here in Candler, NC which is North Carolina mountain I took a walk along Asbury Road, then up to Holecomb Road to Mountainside Trail which is a steep road that goes up about five hundred feet with properties up and off each side.  There are beautiful Hereford cattle, black sheep as well as white ones and one or so horses.  It was a cold afternoon after celebrating Mass in English (Fr. Alex) and Spanish (myself, this "Birder").  Our soup and roll supper and social and preaching and night adoration and Rosary did not begin until 6 pm. So I had a nice two hours to discover the bright blue and sunny winter terrain of this northwest North Carolina town of Ashville/Candler. Here are some of the sights I captured.

.....And then some fine people from St. Joan of Arc Parish were with us as we preached the Word of God..My emphasis was "LENT...A TIME FOR PEOPLE TO ENTER, RETURN TO..AND BECOME STRONG IN THE BODY OF CHRUST.

BILINGUAL PRE LENT MISSION IN ASHVILLE NC WITH FR. ALEX

I am now in St. Joan of Arc Parish in Chandler NC which is quite close to W. Ashville NC.  Fr. Alex Ortiz my Redemptorist confrere and  I are giving a Pre Lent Retreat until this Thursday, Feb 16th.  There was high wind and snow yesterday.  Here is a shot of the Chandler sunrise with the bright sun coming through a huge, I think White Pine or maybe it's a Loblolly...Let me know.

LAST RETREAT AT THE MOUNT

Below is the picture of a very enthusiastic and beautiful group of Brazilian and Portuguese youth from St. James Parish in Newark, NJ.  (My dear friend and classmate from here, The Mount, ...Clement Krug is the pastor there). Actually the last retreat directed by one of us two priests, Fr. Tom Travers and myself...was directed the previous weekend with a group of seven men who were part of a Catholic university group in City College, NY back in the 60ties.  I directed their retreat and spoke on our Redemptorist spirituality of CRIB, CROSS, SACRAMENT and MARY.  I knew that soon, when the Bruderhof Community would become owners of the building there was a great probability that the wonderful statues might be removed from the chapel.   (This has happened.)  So I used all my love of our Roman Catholic arquitecture and the statuary of Joseph Sibbel to develop my themes on Christ's Paschal Mystery.....
The following weekend Fr. Celso, a most joyous and holy Brazilian Redemptorist priest brought our retreat work here to a close with this wonderful group of youth.

WALKING MY "OLD HOME"...AND "BEING HUMAN

Today I walked the perimiter of THE MOUNT which was my home for these last four years.  It will have been the home of our Redemptorist Semimary for 85 years and a Retreat Center for the last 25....On Feb 1st the Bruderhof Community (Christian Communities Inc.) will move here and create a Christian School...
I trust that they will love and care for these 413 acres as we Redemptorists have. ...Today, as I walked the perimeter scaring up the Black Ducks that winter along the streams, and snowshoeing out to my favorite Purple Beech and the Old Pell Silo, I prayed for this great piece of land to be loved, cherished and to continue teaching others to love God and one another.
....And speaking "loving one ano.ther" please enjoy this great video called..BEING HUMAN...... ..

THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER..."PINES A BIT"

I have not written anything for quite a long time.  Originally I created this blog to show the birds, trees, flowers, river scenes and many other beautiful and interesting historical and ecological elements that are found here in the Hudson Valle...here in Esopus where I live.  I still live here in Esopus. I still am roaming the 413 or so acres of what has been called MT. ST. ALPHONSUS since 1907.  I still take the two hour hike up the White Trail from the Esopus Firehouse to Lake Louise on Shaupeneak Ridge. But, as the title says this Birder has been "pining" for a while.  The reason is that, at the end of this month I will no longer live at Mt. St. Alphonsus, although I will be "close by".  Our chapel (shown here) will be occupied by the Bruderhof Community who will run a Christian School for High School children.  (In the LEFT of the picture there is a CROSS of five salmon colored tiles. In 1965, when I was only 26 years ago I was ordained a Roman Catholic Redemptorist missionary priest as I knelt on that "Tile Cross".)

I love the Bruderhof Community and have many friends among them, most especially Brenda, Ben, Lisa, Ben Jr., Micah, Joel and Sammy.  I wish them all well.  At the same time I will continue to enjoy God's creation both on the property of what we called THE MOUNT as well as along the Hudson River, up in Mohonk and Minnewaska and so many other beautiful places here in the Hudson Valley

HALLELUYA CHORUS FROM ALASKA SCHOOL PROJECT

This very well done video was forwarded to be by Ron Bonneau, one of my blog followers. Thanks so much, Ron!  It was a computer project meant to simply be shared with other people in the area, but has had over a million viewers on You Tube.

EAGLE OWL IN SLOW MOTION

With all the rain from last spring onward, the chore of keeping my garden going, I did not get to do much birding.  "Soundwise"  I am always capable, even with my hearing deficiency, of identifying bird calls and songs, even though I don't "always" visually capture the bird.  Even this last September and October, the raptor (hawks, falcons) season, the weather was not always good.   Even though The Mount (Esopus and the Hudson River) are "pretty much" on the "Atlantic Flyway", I did not see too many migrating raptors. Soooo......now that Fall has pretty much morphed into winter I have the hope of both hearing and seeing owls.  Here is a good Eagle Owl sequence in slow motion that my friend and fellow Redemptorist Missionary, Kevin MacDonald sent me.  Thanks, Kevin.

STEPHEN COLBERT'S TESTIMONY ON IMMIGRATION LABOR IN USA

It just so happened last summer that Stephen Colbert did a comedy sketch at one of the Corn Camps where I often visite to say Mass, prepare some of the Roman Catholic seasonal workers for their sacraments as are Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist and Marriage.  The program was funny.  But it also made some very important points in support of the reform of the USA's oftentime harsh and oppressive dealings with undocumented immigrants.  Stephen showed just how very hard and demanding agricultural day labor is.  He ended up by saying something to the extent of "You legislators really need to fix this Immigration Policy.  I certainly am not qualified or capable of doing that difficult work. But these people are.."  ENJOY STEPHEN'S HUMOROUS PRESENTATION TO CONGRESS.  (Some considered his presentation disrespectul and silly.  But one legislator I know said it was very good.  He thinks that legislators need to hear these kind of ideas).

THE LIFE OF FLOWERS

I thank Ronnie, one of my friends for this nice VIMEO film, THE LIFE OF FLOWERS.  I just LOVE time lapse films of nature!!...ENJOY!!

Life of flowers from VOROBYOFF PRODUCTION on Vimeo.

MULTI ETHNIC REGIONAL MISSION IN PERTH AMBOY

Since Saturday, Oct 15th I have been part of a "regional intra parish mission" by the Roman Catholic diocese of Metuchen here in Perth Amboy, NJ.  I am working in the parish of St. Marys which is, as is most of this town 80% hispanic.  Most, if not all, of the hispanics are from the Dominican Republic.  Many families have spent nearly 40 years here in Perth Amboy.  Since I spent close to all of my 32 years in the Caribbean working in the DR I am enjoying preaching the Word of God to my "old and new friends". The two pictures here are of me visiting various homes where there are sick people.  I thank Ramón, Deac. Barsilio and Rubén as well as Juan and Ramona for helping me find and visit the sick.

IRENE AND UPSTATE NEW YORK--VERMONT

 A week ago we had a group of United Methodists pastors here at The Mount.  There biggest concern was what had happened in the wake of Hurricance Irene and the following flooding in Catskill Mountain towns like Prattsville, Windham and Margaretville.  The flooding carried away entire herds of cows, an entire horse farm as well as doing damage to churches and parsonages in the area.  The pastors urged even seniors who had some time to come and just "encourage and support" the young people working in the disaster relief work.  Yesterday (Oct 4th) my brother and I drove up through Vermont which is still digging out from the enormous flooding.  Here are some shots I took in Vermont across from the blocked Highway 107 on the way into Woodstock VT.

TREE KNOCKING HURRICANE IRENE

This is my confrere, Fr. Tom Travers next to one of the trees Irene brought down on our road down to the Hudson.

IRENE AND MT. ST. ALPHONSUS'S DOCK

This is how our dock looked the day after Irene passed through.  Many huge trees, and even one large floating dock that had broken loose somewhere on the River came crashing or floating onto our own dock.  We were largely spared the damage and destruction of many people here in Ulster County who lost homes, animals and large pieces of their lawns and riverfronts.