FALL IS HERE, WINTER TO FOLLOW

Brief video of fall colors at Conception.

I am writing this blog on Thursday afternoon, October 22, and it is quite a day. We have had close to two inches of rain, the wind is blowing and it is getting colder. It is still raining right now so it will again be a while before farmers can get back in the field. I myself grew up on a farm near Brunswick, MO, so I guess I still have a little bit of the farmer in me. I had one brother who farmed, and although he is deceased, his son Kenny still farms. Last weekend it was nice with the sun shining and on Monday the sun was shining and it got up to 70 degrees or so. This week I'm attaching some pictures of the leaves turning so I guess fall is definitely here. Unfortunately we know that winter will follow. But, then there is beauty about the winter also. I always say I like the winter as long as I don't have to drive.

We had an electrical outage last night. It was not any of the new work we have had done but an older cable that was put underground some years ago already and was thought to be in good shape but it shorted out and so there was no electricity in St. Michael Hall. The electricians came immediately and got the lights back on in St. Michael's about 12:30 AM. They will in the next few days or so have to replace that underground cable.

Last weekend I was at St. Mary's Parish in St. Joseph for the Sunday Masses. Then I came back home and left soon after for Des Moines. Karen Ceckowski and I went up to meet with the oblates in that area on Sunday evening. We returned to Conception about noon on Monday.

God bless all of you and take care.

To go to Father Kenneth's photo site click here.
To go to Conception Abbey's web site and then to the oblate site click here.

CONCEPTION GOES UNDERGROUND

---with electric lines now underground on campus ---

Tuesday, October 6, 2009, was they day they began transferring all our buildings over to the underground cables. Yesterday the electricians changed to the new lines for the monastery, basilica, St. Joseph Hall, St. Michael Hall, St. Maur Hall and St. Raphael Hall. The other buildings will be changed over within the next couple of weeks. And then all the above ground lines on campus will be removed. They have been working on this project for the past couple of months. The work was done by RS Electric from St. Joseph. They are also doing the electrical work on the renovated infirmary. During the bad ice storm in December, 2007, two or three electric poles on our own property broke off so we will at least not have that happening anymore. Of course we hope we do not get anymore ice storms like that one.

Taking out the old transformers near St. Michael Hall

Preparing to install the new transformer
(click on pictures to enlarge them)

Workers are also preparing to change our water system. Our water which comes from the Maryville and Nodaway County rural water district, was coming to our propery and buildings from the south part of campus. With new pumps etc. the new system will come through St. Michael Hall and then to the other buildings.

Work on the infirmary continues to make good progress. We are hoping to be able to move in sometime shortly after Thanksgiving.

Heat is now on in the buildings. While I don't think we have as yet had our first frost the temperature has been getting down into the 30's at night. Frost and snow will come soon.

That's about it for this week.

To read the oblate blog or other oblate information click here.