This post is being started on a Friday morning for a couple of reasons: –
Reason 1- In about an hour the CTM “tech” support person (Wentworth) is coming to begin transferring all the files from this laptop I am currently working on to the new one I was given for Christmas. (Important note-I sure hope this post doesn’t get lost in the process!!!)
Reason 2- Last evening I had a phone call from my long-time former Boarder, Maria, to tell me she will be in Montreal this weekend and wants to see me so I invited her to Saturday lunch! During the 3 years Maria boarded here, while studying performance piano at McGill, the only meal she was almost guaranteed to share with me was Saturday lunch and that was because, coming from a farm in Saskatchewan she had not previously been introduced to such Montreal delights as Chocolatines and bowls of Café au Lait, but she quickly became a devotee! So I’m pretty excited to be seeing her after 2 ½ years and have already called the CO-OP to order extra chocolatines as the baker only brings a few on Saturday morning!
But let’s review the week: –
Progress is continuing steadily on the Program Manual as Arnee works away at typing and formatting and as I review all the drafts she sends and badger the people whose chapters are still outstanding.
Monday one of the recent Training Team Leaders came for a visit and dinner. We had a really good talk and she brought me up to date on some of the issues she has been dealing with and shared the good news that she is considering coming on Team this summer, which would be super!!!
Tuesday morning my #1 minion, Jillian, came to work on the music files and also to sort out some problems with the promo bookmark she had designed since Henry at the copy centre needed some adjustments to be made before printing. Fortunately these issues were soon rectified and by Wednesday the completed bookmarks were picked up and are now waiting for distribution. Yay!
Wednesday my friend Jill came over to take refuge for a few hours from round three of the exterminators. Her family has been having a really tough few months dealing with bedbugs that were unwanted stowaways brought home from work by her husband who is on staff at a homeless shelter where there had also been a serious infestation. I plied Jill with fresh coffee and cinnamon buns and we knitted for a while before she headed home to deal with the horrible mess.
That day I turned the afternoon into “office time” as I’m also into initial planning of our Team Training Retreat as well as doing some choreographing of the liturgical dance, which will be presented at the February Crossroads Youth Service. Yesterday the Diocesan newspaper arrived and as I leafed through therewas a lovely photo of the liturgical dance at the Christmas Crossroads, I’m not sure who took it or sent it to the newspaper but it was very nice to see it included.
This week I have also set up my comprehensive binder, which contains all the applications from host churches, and later on, all those from Team Members. Although there are none of the latter kind yet, we do have 5 host churches, which is quite a good start in January.
In-between all of this progress has been made on mastering the new sewing machine. I completed Pippa’s birthday gift and am gaining confidence. Next week I may be so bold as to attempt to alter a stole for a clergy friend or tackle the creating of appliqué anchors which I have been commissioned to make for several of the layreaders’ preaching scarves. And, my goodness! I’m already choosing patterns for this year’s Pysanka and checking my stock of egg dyes in readiness for the beginning of that annual Lenten production!!Well I guess I should wrap this up before Wentworth arrives but not without a RECIPE. Last evening Steven Craig from MCF joined me for dinner and I made a favourite winter dessert-
Stovetop Chocolate Soufflé
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup each icing sugar and cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
- 5 egg whites, at room temperature
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- Whipped cream for serving
Whisk together the milk, cocoa powder and icing sugar in a double boiler placed over boiling water, when smooth, stir in the chocolate chips and whisk until melted. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Place the egg whites in a large bowl and beat, with an electric hand mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar until stiff peaks form. Blend in the vanilla and ½ cup of the hot cocoa mixture. Transfer the egg whites to the double boiler. With a whisk or electric mixer beat the soufflé mixture for one minute in the double boiler. Place the lid on the pot and cook over boiling water for 25-30 minutes. Serve immediately with a blob of whipped cream. Serves 4