Memorial Day and Corpus Christi

Sunday, May 29. Memorial Day weekend: the unofficial first day of summer vacations, and something more serious. I've talked about that before. (This Season: Memorial Day)

The other big deal this weekend, for folks at the two Catholic parishes, is the Corpus Christi procession from Our Lady of the Angels to St. Paul's.


Starting out, near Our Lady of the Angels. (May 29, 2016)

A spot of sunshine on the way. (May 29, 2016)

First stop. (May 29, 2016)

And - arriving at St. Paul's. (May 29, 2016)

That's all I had the energy for this week. The family is (slowly) getting over whatever this bug is, and I'll end on that 'up' note.

Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 27, 2015. Merry Christmas!


Christmas morning at Our Lady of Angels. (December 25, 2015)


Neighbors: the view from our front porch. (December 26, 2015)

That's all I've got for this week. I hope you had, and are having, a good holiday season.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like - Easter?!

Sunday, December 13, 2015. It's beginning to look a lot like: Easter, actually. The week's rain melted our snow, and it's been unusually warm: nothing record-breaking, but above freezing on occasion.


St. Paul's addition is taking shape. (December 9, 2015)


Christmas yard display in the neighborhood. (December 9, 2015)

We may get more snow Wednesday: or not. Either way, Christmas is about two weeks away.

More Snow, and Holiday Humor

Sunday, November 29, 2015. It's the first Sunday of Advent, and I haven't taken any pictures this week. I did, however, to a holiday-themed picture for Apathetic Lemming of the North, one of my blogs.



The first winter storm of the season should be here Monday and Tuesday. Mywebcam will give you a look at Sauk Centre, near the corner of Ash and South 9th: assuming there aren't technical issues, of course.

The three Catholic parishes around here, St. Alexius, Our Lady of the Angels, and St. Paul's, did something new this year: 'stewardship fliers' for each household, letting us check off or fill in what we could do for the parish and community.

More than 20% of the households in each parish turned in fliers: more than 32% in St. Alexius. That's a remarkably good response, I think.

Neighbors east and northwest of us had their Christmas yard displays out, and lit, by the end of this weekend. Those will look nice, with the coming snowfall.

End of Summer

Sunday, September 20, 2015. - - - Three weeks later, not one: but I'm back with two photos.


Construction at St. Paul's: foundation in place, some work showing above ground. (September 16, 2015)


Another construction site in Sauk Centre's south side. This was a vacant with a children's park 'rider' for many years. (September 16, 2015)

I'd say 'see you next week,' but maybe it'll be 'see you later.' Either way: enjoy the end of summer-like weather while it's here.

St. Paul's Construction, Re-Roofing the VB Building, and a Raffle

Sunday, July 5, 2015. There's a severe thunderstorm/flash flood watch on for a swath from eastern South Dakota to Minnesota's arrowhead region. One line went over a bit earlier, but it looks like there's more behind that one: so I'll be up for another hour or so, at least. It's an 'abundance of caution' thing.

St. Paul's construction/expansion continues. That's a huge project.


Construction at St. Paul's continues. That "Road Closed Ahead" sign was on the street west of the church. (July 1, 2015)


I'm glad to see a new roof going on the old Vocational Biographies building. (July 1, 2015)


Sign announcing/advertising a Holy Family School fundraiser. The drawing will be at Greenwald Pub, August 14. (July 1, 2015)

I was glad to see a crew on the old Vocational Biographies building roof, putting a long-overdue new set of shingles on. That's a fine old mansion/funeral home/office building: with a remarkable fraction of the original woodwork intact.

That Holy Family School fundraiser sign caught my eye. It's in the Our Lady of Angels parking lot: a logical place, since the St. Paul's lot is part of the construction project. Folks in the two parishes cooperate pretty well.

That's all I've got this week: and more than I remembered, when I started writing it. Next week: who knows?

Sun, Rain, and Road Work

Sunday, June 28, 2015. It's an old joke. Minnesota, the land of four seasons: fall, winter, spring, and road work.


Construction at St. Paul's. The house that was in that lot has been moved: where to, I don't know. (June 24, 2015)


Construction St. Paul's, most likely. Probably setting up new connections to utilities. Or maybe something else. (June 24, 2015)


The mural downtown is nearly finished. (June 24, 2015)


One of several days with rain. (June 26, 2015)

I see that next Saturday is the Fourth of July. Oddly enough, Sauk Centre's big fireworks display is during Sinclair Lewis Days.

Construction at St. Paul's

Sunday, June 14, 2015. I'm taking it easy this week, so there's just one photo.


Construction around St. Paul's. (June 10, 2015)

The parking lot behind St. Paul's church, and the lot next door, is a construction zone. I'm told that will continue through the summer, at least.

Corpus Christi Procession, 2015 Sauk Centre

Sunday, June 7, 2015. St. Paul's church had a groundbreaking ceremony for an addition: earlier this week, I think. The construction site was occupied by heavy machinery today, when I stopped by to take photos of the Corpus Christi procession.


Today's Corpus Christi procession, approaching their first stop. (June 7, 2015)

A larger version of that photo, and eight more, are on A Catholic Citizen in America, one of my blogs.

The parishes in town will have a second collection next week, for Catholic Relief Services -- helping with disaster relief in Nepal. Those folks are going to be a long time, recovering from the earthquakes earlier this year.

Blessing a Billboard

Sunday, April 19, 2015. We got a little rain this morning: but not as much as forecast, or hoped for.

I've heard that Nick's, downtown at the corner of Sinclair Lewis and Main, has a new owner.


Monday afternoon, Sauk Centre public school. (April 13, 2015)


Blessing a billboard last Sunday, from the Sauk Centre Herald. (April 12, 2015)


Billboard blessing got pretty good coverage: front page, and back of the 1st section. (April 12, 2015)

The 'Divine Mercy' billboard near Interstate 94, east of town between here and Melrose, got blessed last Sunday. I wasn't there, but the Sauk Centre Herald did a pretty good writeup on the event.

And yes, that's a slingshot they used to deliver the holy water: in a balloon. That billboard is a long way from the ground.

Christmas 2014

Sunday, December 28, 2014. It warmed up a bit, so Christmas came with some grass visible: again.


Christmas Eve at Our Lady of Angels. They hadn't turned the tree lights on at this point. December 24, 2014.


Still Christmas Eve. As usual at this point in the Christmas season, the wise men haven't quite arrived. They're on the floor, to the left of the poinsettias. December 24, 2014.


Okay: Now the tree's lit. December 24, 2014.


Christmas lights. December 28, 2014.

That's it for this week. I'll be back with more, or less, next Sunday.

Halloween, 2014: Missed it, Mostly

Sunday, November 2, 2014. We set the clocks back an hour overnight: so it's darker earlier now. We'll do the same thing in Spring, going the other way.

Happily, my computer checks the 'official' time for me, so the 'clock' at my desk is 'legal,' whether I pay attention or not.

I've been feeling under the weather this week: nothing serious, just enough to make me look forward to not feeling this way. That limited how much I got out and about: so I missed the Friday night/Halloween Mass at St. Alexius in West Union - I was looking forward to that.

Next week there should be more here. That's the plan, anyway.

Polka Mass and an Owl-O-Lantern

Sunday, October 26, 2014. Our Lady of Angels church had our yearly polka Mass today. I hope Nathan's Oldtime Band comes back next year.

Nathan's ... Band know their polka: and have the good sense to keep the tempo 'up.' They describe themselves as "Minnesota's youngest and most energetic polka/country band."


Before the polka Mass at Our Lady of Angels. October 26, 2014.

Halloween/All Hallows' Eve is this Friday. I'm looking forward to the trick-or-treaters.


An - owl-o-lantern? October 26, 2014.


Sunset. The sky lit up: just after I got back inside. October 26, 2014.

That sunset was mildly spectacular: right after I got inside and had the camera stowed. Oh, well: it's nice to know I've still got the old sense of timing.

Garage Sales and Bowling

Sunday, August 10, 2014. Sauk Centre's bowling lanes are closing. The Sauk Centre Herald article quoted the owners as saying that there hasn't been enough use of their facility, since the recession started. It's not the end of bowling, of course: places are still open in other towns.

On a happier note, we haven't had as many mosquitoes this summer: which made the mild weather a lot more fun to be out in.


Marian Garden by Our Lady of the Angels Church. August 5, 2014.


Flowers, grass, and ivy in the garden. August 5, 2014.


Garage sales: part of summer. August 8, 2014.

Our household teamed up with another this summer, with two rummage/garage sales. These were the third and fourth we've done. They take more effort to set up and run than I might have thought: not that I did much of the work.

Father Statz: 13 Years in Sauk Centre

Sunday, June 29, 2014. The household's Internet and phone service was out for most of the afternoon. Happily, Charter realized that something was wrong in this area, and we were connected again before supper. Then, a few minutes later, we weren't: but service was restored shortly afterward, and stayed that way.

I took advantage of the isolation to putter a bit with something that uses software and data in my computer: and even read a little of a magazine that came this week, Sky and Telescope. That was a Sunday afternoon well-spent.

Today was the last time we had Father Statz at Our Lady of Angels. He's been here for 13 years, quite a long assignment at one parish.


A crew from Charter, fixing Internet and phone lines. June 29, 2014.

I found some old photos while writing a post for my A Catholic Citizen in America blog: "'Just Routine, Nothing Special' — Thank You, Father Statz." Two of them, at least, don't seem to have fond their way into this Sauk Centre Journal. There's a larger version of the photo from 2004 in that post.


Procession of the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Fr. Statz. June 14, 2003.


Mural in Our Lady of Angels, by Tom Kane, adapted from Tiepolo's Immaculate Conception. July 14, 2010.


Sunset: but not the colorful kind. July 22, 2010.

I don't have much more to say this week, so this is a good place to stop. I'll see you next week.

Rain, Ducks, Old Song Lyrics: and a Corpus Christi Procession

Sunday, June 22, 2014. It's summer: the season for rummage sales, sunburn, and the occasional tornado warning. We've had quite a lot of rain lately. After a little checking, I learned that July is the only month that hasn't seen snow in Minnesota: since we've been keeping records, anyway.


Conservation Park. I thought the river looked high - - -


- - - and I was right. June 18, 2014.

I saw this anatine pair Wednesday afternoon.


If I see two ducks, is that a paradox? June 18, 2014.


"Love is a many-splendored thing" - - -


- - - "and the world stood still." June 18, 2014.

On a more serious note, our Corpus Christi procession didn't get rained out.


Corpus Christi procession: first leg. June 22, 2014.


Not everybody participated, of course. June 22, 2014.


I'd say "we're approaching St. Paul's" here: but I was across the street, taking pictures. June 22, 2014.

I put other, larger, photos of the procession on my A Catholic Citizen in America blog.

Distractions on Mother's Day

Sunday, May 11, 2014. Mother's Day. Kids had their first communion at Our Lady of Angels church, and I've been a bit distracted by #2 daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter's visit.


Elizabeth Grace (in a dress bought by her great-grandmother, for #1 daughter: and now in its 2nd generation). May 11, 2014.

That's all I've got this week. The distractions are going home soon, so I'll probably have more next Sunday.

Cold Weather and Me

Sunday, January 5, 2014. It's cold outside here in central Minnesota: and quite a few other places, too. Public schools in Minnesota won't open tomorrow, thanks to a decision by the Minnesota Governor.

I've been staying inside quite a bit recently, for a variety of reasons. I took these photos on Wednesday.


The eighth day of Christmas at Our Lady of Angels church. January 1, 2014.


They're hard to see from this angle, but those wise men got closer this week. At least, I assume so. January 1, 2014.

My wife told me to stay inside today. I had no problem with that idea. Like I said, it's cold outside.

Related posts, in this and another blog:

• "Break Time"
  Through One Dad's Eye (January 5, 2014)
• "Just Touching Base"
  Through One Dad's Eye (January 4, 2014)
• "Fifth Day of Christmas, and Crisp Weather"
  (December 29, 2013)
• "Winter Storm and a Webcam in Central Minnesota"
  (December 28, 2013)
• "Spilled Coffee, Reality, and a Wind Chill Advisory"
  Through One Dad's Eye (December 9, 2013)

Golf Courses, Toppling Trees, and Chow Mein

Sunday, October 27, 2013. The Sauk Centre Country Club's changing hands. An article on WJON-AM's website says that a developer bought the Country Club property and plans to build homes along the 9-hole golf course, and a marina on Sauk Lake.

I drove by the Country Club Wednesday afternoon, to see what was happening.


Sauk Centre Country Club's southeast corner, Main Street and Country Club Road. October 23, 2013.


The Country Club's east side. October 23, 2013.


North side of Sauk Centre Country Club. Those trees have already been toppled. October 23, 2013.


A crew was pushing trees over on the west side of the golf course Wednesday afternoon. October 23, 2013.


Sauk Centre Country Club's clubhouse, and birdhouse. October 23, 2013.


Sauk Centre Country Club's current course layout, from the Sauk Centre Country Club's scorecard. Used w/o permission.

My guess is that the new owners looked at those trees, saw how old they are, and decided to push them over before one fell on someone. That makes sense, but I'll miss them.
aThat article says that the folks who owned Sauk Centre Country Club bought GreyStone Golf Course. Apparently folks who like to golf on that 18-hole course won't notice much difference, since the place will still be open to the public.

Assuming that the developer keeps a 9-hole golf course there on the north side of Sauk Centre, that'll make two 18-hole courses and a 9-hole course in or near Sauk Centre. Folks who like to play golf may have trouble deciding where to go, but I don't think they'll mind having options.

I did a little checking, and all three golf courses have websites, or are supposed to. I'd provide a link to the GreyStone course, but when I tried using their Internet address, the website's software started doing very odd things to my browser. It's probably a technical problem, related to the place changing hands. Searching Google or another search site for GreyStone Golf Course should give you some information about that place.

Here's where to find the other two online:

• Sauk Centre Country Club
  (www.saukcentrecountryclub.com)
• Lynx National Golf Course
  (www.lynxnationalgolf.com)

Finally, my parish's chow mein fundraiser went well: and Fr. Statz said that, contrary to what someone heard someone else say, he's not retired, semi- or otherwise. Today was one of those beautiful October days that poets and writers get excited over, and I'll be back next week. That's the plan, anyway.