Diocesan Synod – Crosstalk Ministries Day Camps

This afternoon I’m attempting to start today’s post while at lunch break on the floor of our Diocesan Synod.

You probably will not be reading this before tomorrow because Synod runs, today, from 830am-6pm and, as Lay Secretary, I need to be here taking Minutes the whole day so will undoubtedly be cross-eyed by this evening and find it impossible to compose a single sentence!

But let us review the week in the world of Day Camps!…

Of course it was a short “business “ week because Monday was Thanksgiving Day. Our Christmas Baking has always been started on Thanksgiving Weekend so this year’s cookies were begun on Monday afternoon, after a morning of raking. My theme this year will be cut-out cookies (I make 12 kinds and package them as gifts for family friends) The first 3 are-
Pennsylvania Dutch Giant Chocolate Wafers, Iced Sugar Cookie Christmas Trees and Gingersnaps with Candied Ginger.

When the last of the cookies came out of the oven I popped in the piece of organic turkey breast I had been able to procure, along with a sweet potato, steamed some broccoli and set a festive table in the living room, where Thanksgiving Dinner was enjoyed by myself, along with two furry friends!

Tuesday was back to work and the first job was to send out the Agenda for the Day Camp Committee meeting taking place this coming Monday.

With that out of the way the next order of business was to begin putting together our Program Flyer, now that Rebecca has completed the final colour design. Along with the flyer there needed to be a letter to Clergy of prospective new churches, so Wednesday that piece of work was completed and the flyers have now been emailed to a number of communities who expressed interest in hearing about our 2014 Program.Over the last couple of days copies have also been sent to some of our 2013 churches since the flyer was not ready when the Feedback Forms went out in early September.

A bunch of “non-office” time has been spent in completing 12 brooches for the Crafts Table at the Coffee House, – they’re done!!

Of course plenty of time was also spent raking! But the weather was still pretty warm so it has been a really enjoyable activity…….

Well that is how far I got yesterday! It is now early Sunday afternoon. I enjoyed the luxury of staying in bed until 745am (really late for me!) this morning, then read the Morning Office, caught up around the house, took Wil for a long walk, raked and generally resettled into the home/office environment. At lunchtime I headed to the CO-OP to pick up my weekly chocolatine order, having asked that it be saved aside, only to
discover the baker had not delivered yesterday. This was very sad so my lunch of Latté and fruit was accommpanied by (homemade) Swedish Rye Bread with honey; tasty but not as special as a chocolatine! Soon the Navy Beans will need to start soaking as we are going to haveBaked Beans, Red Cabbage Coleslaw, Homemade Brown Bread and Caramel Apples with
Hot Cider, for the Committee meeting tomorrow.

The Season for mulled cider is definitely upon us so here is my
favourite version

Weathersfield Wassail

1 cup orange juice
1 gallon fresh apple cider
¼ cup lemon juice
½ cup brown sugar
2 sticks cinnamon
½ tsp vanilla
1 orange,halved
8 whole cloves
¼ tsp allspice
1 apple, cored & sliced (peel left on)

Place all ingredients in a large crockpot, stir well. Set at Low and leave to heat slowly for 3-4 hours. Serves 10-12 .Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated as needed.