~ a report by Megan & Ian
On Tuesday, May 29, 2007 we visited the Abbey of the Holy Trinity in Huntsville, Utah. We decided to take the scenic route (it was a couple hours away). A lot of the drive was on a dirt road. Mom spotted a huge gopher snake crossing the road! Megan jumped out and tried to catch it, but the snake hissed and tried to rattle its tail at her. A bit further along the road, Mom saw another huge snake! Again Megan jumped out to try and catch it. This snake also hissed, but she was able to catch it without getting bitten. She grabbed at it five times before actually catching it (see the video here). Soon we were back on the road.
We got to the monastery three minutes before None, their afternoon prayer. They didn't sing it in Latin like we thought they were going to. We could kind of understand what they were saying. The prayer session was about ten minutes long.
On Tuesday, May 29, 2007 we visited the Abbey of the Holy Trinity in Huntsville, Utah. We decided to take the scenic route (it was a couple hours away). A lot of the drive was on a dirt road. Mom spotted a huge gopher snake crossing the road! Megan jumped out and tried to catch it, but the snake hissed and tried to rattle its tail at her. A bit further along the road, Mom saw another huge snake! Again Megan jumped out to try and catch it. This snake also hissed, but she was able to catch it without getting bitten. She grabbed at it five times before actually catching it (see the video here). Soon we were back on the road.
We got to the monastery three minutes before None, their afternoon prayer. They didn't sing it in Latin like we thought they were going to. We could kind of understand what they were saying. The prayer session was about ten minutes long.
After that we went to a little shop where the monks sell creamed honey. They make the honey in a variety of different flavors. We got five containers of it. The monk behind the counter was named Father Patrick. He told us that he had been in the monastery since 1950. He is 79 years old. He let us watch a movie about their life in the monastery. We learned about the different things they have and how they live.
The monastery was founded in 1947 by Trappist monks from Kentucky. The monks are vegetarian most of the year, but every year in July, they celebrate the day that they were founded. One of the monks will go and pick up 100 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken and they will have a feast. The word monk comes form the Latin word monachus, which comes from the Greek word monos, meaning "alone."
We had a good time at the monastery. It was a fun field trip.
The monastery was founded in 1947 by Trappist monks from Kentucky. The monks are vegetarian most of the year, but every year in July, they celebrate the day that they were founded. One of the monks will go and pick up 100 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken and they will have a feast. The word monk comes form the Latin word monachus, which comes from the Greek word monos, meaning "alone."
We had a good time at the monastery. It was a fun field trip.
THE END
4 comments:
Hi Megan and Ian,
Thanks for the great report on the monistary. I have had their honey, but have never been there. I'm glad you took some pictures so I could see what it was like. That was a big snake you caught. I'll let you in on a little secret . . . when the critters run and hiss and shake their tails at you and try to bite you, it means they really don't want to go for a ride with you!
So be careful out there!
Love Grandpa Young
I've just caught up on several posts. I feel very educated about animals and nature, and very neglectful as a parent, because my son does not have opportunities to catch reptiles. He does beep robotic and cardboard dogs on the nose, though. Excellent reporting, love the field trips!
Janell
Somewhere I heard (maybe from Father Patrick the last time I was at the monastery) that the unflavored honey actually comes from Cox Honeyland right here in Cache Valley, and then the monks add the flavoring. That would explain why they sell different flavors than the folks at Cox. Seems like I heard that Cox has tours sometimes...
Grandpa Young--Don't worry, the children catch critters under responsible, guided, parental supervision. Plus, we didn't keep this snake. It crawled away after the photo shoot.
Janell--We need to send you a copy of Last Child in the Woods for more inspiration to keep taking Scotty outdoors. He gets to kayak, which our children have never done (yet, that is). You just need to take a net along next time to catch the turtles and frogs easier!
Chris--Yes, they do purchase the honey from an outside source (he didn't specify whether it was Cox's, however). The monk who used to maintain the hives passed away a few years ago.
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