And the Teams are off from the starting line!
It is after 5pm and I have just made it home after clearing up from Team Training Day, then walking Wil and picking up a few groceries!
The past week has been the usual last minute mad rush…
-Monday morning I met with one of our Retreat Evening Speakers and then we packed Team Supplies followed by our final Committee Meeting before the start of Day Camps. There was time beforehand to talk with a couple of the committee members about configuration of the 2 Teams flying out West and to finalise their makeup.
– Tuesday I met with one of the Training Leaders to go over details and hunkered over the computer for 10 hours, contacting the families of those taking fights and then sending all the info to the Western Provinces so that tickets could be booked.
– Wednesday shopped for Team Training Day & Retreat Week groceries and made Curried Orange Hummus, iced 36 Spice Cupcakes and whipped up an extra batch of icing for Cinnamon Buns.
-Thursday was Baking Day for today’s lunch (Whole Wheat Pita) as well as the weekly gluten-free order for my friend Sue.
-Yesterday was more food prep over at Isaiah 40 plus setting up the Hall, which took quite a while as, unfortunately, no one else was able to help. Then at 10pm Alexander (aka the Day Camp Gopher) delivered Carmen, who was arriving from the UK (via a few days in Toronto) to join the Teams. Carmen spent the night and then…
This morning we left the house at 830am for the Training Session.I fear that I’m just not the best at remembering to take photos while also leading an event, answering emails and cell phone calls, prepping lunch, chasing the dog etc.!Thus only one rather poor image of Lamb doing Lamb’s thing this morning!
I’ve already heard from 2 of the Leader’s whose Teams have arrived safely at their Training Day Camp locations. The third Camp has a bit of a different start as the congregation is away at a Family Camp until tomorrow so some of the Team Members are spending the night with the family of another girl on that Team. Anna is the Leader and she and her little boy are staying at her parents’ house this week, so all my “chickens” are pretty well accounted for this evening.
Tomorrow they should call in to report on their set-up meetings and then Monday morning the 3 Training Day Camps begin. The whole week I’ll be humming this year’s Theme Song and, of course, preparing for the Retreat! We still need at least 2 more Team Members/Leaders. I’m speaking with one person at church tomorrow and interviewing another on Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile must get ready to make cardboard locusts for Children’s Ministry tomorrow.
Not much time for gardening this past week, but the Maple keys have finally stopped falling so now it is actually possible to see the lawn again and to tend the flowers.
Tomorrow my Godson, Tighe, will turn 2 years old. I am hoping his Mum will remember to put the Birthday crown I made him on his pillow so he will find it first thing in the morning! As per her list of his “favourites” the crown displays-an apple, a fish, a ball, a book and a tiger! along with T for Tighe and a small number 2!
The curried orange hummus we had for lunch today is a great summer sandwich-filling, picnic recipe and really easy to make. Here you go….
Curried Orange Hummus
- 4 cups cooked chickpeas (or 2 -15oz. cans), well drained.
- 1/3 cup Tahini
- 1 tsp. each-turmeric, cumin, coriander, paprika, ginger, dry mustard
- cayenne to taste
½ tsp. salt- ¾ cup orange juice
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp. soy sauce
- 3 Tbsps. cider vinegar
Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth, adding a bit more orange juice, if needed to achieve a good Hummus consistency. Serve with pita, cucumber slices, chopped tomatoes etc.Makes approx. 3 cups. Freezes well.