This week has felt as if the page has finally been turned on summer. After completing my Annual Report and filing it away in the “AGM” folder I was ready to dive with gusto, into Day Camps 2014! In preparation for “the dive”, the white board was washed off and carefully re-lettered with 2014 dates, old computer files were deleted and others generally tidied up and then began the detailed reading of the previous version of “Follow the Leader”.
Since this coming Monday evening, we will be holding our first Committee meeting of the new Season it has been important to prepare a “job-list” on which,(amongother types of Committee jobs), each section of the Manual is included so that eager volunteers can sign up for rewriting and editing duties!
The Chapter closest to my own heart and the one I greedily snap up each year, is the Creative Connection. I hope to be excused for this snaffling because this chapter, or really its predecessor, “Crafts” was my original door into the world of the Day Camp Planning Committee. The Chapter has evolved into the Creative Connection under my direction as I identified the need for a component in the Program that would give Campers both a creative outlet for their imaginations and a vehicle through which they could bring these creative offerings into Worship. The ultimate goal also being to challenge churches to see that the type of creativity children bring into worship can spill over into regular Sunday Services and is not just a “cutesy” wrap-up to Day Camp week.
I am already excited about the Creative Connection Chapter for 2014!! The outline is beginning to take shape with a combination of old and new and I have ALREADY found THE Best song for the Liturgical Dance- woot woot!! So most of this week has just been all about diving in, writing, listening and researching. All new stuff for a new season and a new Day Camps year.
On the home front there has been a bit of gardening, although the week has been pretty darn wet, and the last two days have also been cold, ugh! Better get used to it!
Some intensive planning of Christmas gifts is well underway and yesterday, I made a sample fabric brooch, which will become a birthday gift for one friend and hopefully the prototype for Christmas presents for others.
I have been leafing through my favourite “100 Idees” magazines, collected in the 1980s, and still my “go-to” place for inspiration. I actually found a skirt pattern, which I plan to sew for myself in the coming week.
This weekend I will be welcoming the Huyers for an overnight stay and a “Sunday go to Church” visit as they have travelled down from Ottawa for the Senior Youth Camp wrap-up meeting and will stay over to attend Crossroads Youth Service tomorrow evening. The September Service always includes a reunion BBQ for SYC Campers and a Speaker whose topic ties in with that of Camp. I’m looking forward to seeing my Godsons this evening, as it is a whole month since I saw them on my visit to Camp.
In preparation for our breakfast tomorrow, some Multi-Grain English Muffins are currently cooking in the electric frying pan, so I thought I would share that recipe.
Multi-Grain English Muffins
½ cup lukewarm water - 1Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp. yeast
- 1 tsp. margarine
- 2 cups unbleached flour
- ¾ cup Whole Wheat Flour
- 2 tsps. flaxseed
- ¼ cup rolled oats
- 1 tsp. coarse salt
- ½ cup plain yoghurt
- ¼ cup coarse cornmeal
In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the water with the honey and margarine.When it is foamy, stir in the yoghurt, and then mix in all the dry ingredients, except the cornmeal. Once the dough comes together, turn it out onto a floured board and knead a few times, then place in a clean, greased bowl. Cover with a tea towel and let rise for 1 hour. On a lightly floured board, roll out the dough to ½” and cut into 3″ rounds with a floured cutter. Place on a baking
tray lined with parchment and sprinkled with the cornmeal. Leave to rise for ½ hour.
tray lined with parchment and sprinkled with the cornmeal. Leave to rise for ½ hour.
Heat a large skillet or electric frying pan set at 325F. Working in 2 batches, cook the muffins for 10 minutes on each side, or until dry and lightly browned.
Cool completely before splitting and toasting. These freeze very well, if there are any left over!
……As promised at the beginning of the month, “Sunday Reflections” will return tomorrow, as a separate Post………