We are just whizzing ahead around here! I’m sure it is some sort of a record that all but one of the Day Camp Program Manual Chapters has been received, and the deadline was only last Tuesday! Yay!
Arnee is now in the UK but she has her laptop with her and is working away at her end. If we do decide to attempt French Translation of some of our materials it will be a huge help if the whole Manual is in a state, say by March,from which translation work can be done.
There has been progress in other areas as well. More Applications are coming in from host Churches and there have been a number of enquiries from new Churches asking which dates are still available. We have also heard from contacts in New Brunswick and at least one Camp is booked for that region.
Anna has finished work on the new Prayer and Share Package and we are hoping to have that up under the “Team” tab of this Blog. I’m also hoping to start inviting occasional Guest Bloggers,including Travelling Team, Coordinators, Clergy and others with a passion for Day Camps. Watch this space!
There is going to be a ton of stuff to report on at our Day Camp Committee meeting tomorrow evening, and there will be many issues to discuss, I do hope everyone is able to come. January is so iffy in Montreal. Fortunately the Committee is composed of a group of keen and hardy individuals who are not put off by -22C temperatures!
The weather today is really weird. There are terrific winds, so one moment the sun is blazing and then 5 minutes later there are horrible snow squalls and one cannot even see across the street!
I got some sewing done this week; a smock from a Folkwear pattern, using a remnant of wool plaid which someone had given me. I also had a nice visit with Jill and got some advice on a Spring lap quilt I’m. I even managed to do my Saturday baking and made some most successful Norwegian Crispbread.
I was not able to make it to church today. Things have been a little rocky around here since Thursday. That morning, on our walk, Wil picked up something totally inedible and would not drop it. Another dog-walker came past and, seeing the situation, offered me a treat in the hope that I could tempt him to take that instead. Foolishly I took my mitten off to give it to him and in his excitement he both swallowed the object and bit 3 of my fingers while grabbing the treat.
It was really cold out, my hand was dripping blood on the snow and there I was several blocks from home. I had to ease my hand back into the mitt and walk home hanging onto Wil, one-handed. When we got home he did not want to come into the house because he knew he was in trouble. Trying to coax him in, again with only one hand, was quite a job! He was terribly contrite and spent the rest of the day close by me, occasionally licking my sore hand. The last few days he has been quite ill, vomiting and needing to be taken out many times in the middle of the night. To top it off I have caught some sort of flu bug and have been equally ill!
I was so worried that Wil might have to have surgery but I think the worst is over now. He is on a diet of boiled rice and yoghurt (my holistic vet always recommends that) and I’m on tea and toast. We make quite a pair!!
Needless to say there has also been a fair amount of (one handed) shoveling to deal with, which has not helped.
Because I was nervous as to whether whatever I’ve had is contagious and because I was not sure if Wil could make it through the morning alone, I stayed home today, so I have no “extra” Sunday thoughts to share, however, I checked in with this blog which I have recommended before and I love the way he often has a short reflection on a passage of Scripture, always using The Message.
So, after reading both that and the Morning Office and putting in an hour of shovelling, I turned my attention to making the food for the meeting tomorrow. I always do a “meal-in-a-bowl” thing with bread and a dessert.
This time we are going to have a butternut squash, bacon and potato soup (on which one sprinkles grated Swiss Cheese), with homemade sourdough pumpernickel.
And for dessert…….. prune mousse.
Prunes never seem to get good press, but I think they are great, particularly in Winter. In France they have lots of lovely prune dishes and they are also used creatively in Middle Eastern Cuisine. This recipe comes from my Mum’s handwritten cookbook and it is delicious, do give it a try!
Prune Mousse
(serves 4 but multiplies easily)
- 1 ½ cups pitted prunes
strip of rind from half a lemon- 1” strip of rind from an orange
- 1” piece cinnamon stick
- 2Tbsp sugar
- 1 egg white
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup heavy cream
Cover prunes with hot water and soak for 2 hours. Place prunes and water in a medium saucepan with lemon, orange and cinnamon. Bring to the boil and simmer 20mins. Stir in the sugar and simmer a further 20mins. Remove from heat and discard rind and cinnamon stick. Purée in a food processor or blender. Cool.
Whip cream to stiff peaks. In another bowl whip egg white and salt to stiff peaks.
Transfer prune purée to a large bowl, fold in cream and egg white. Place in individual dishes or one serving bowl, cover and chill for at least 1hr. or overnight, before serving.