This blog post may turn out to be a bit shorter than usual since I have a Skype call booked in an hour with one of our former Team leaders who is now married and living in Calgary. Gillian and I have not “seen” each other for quite some time so I’m looking forward to hearing all that is going on in her busy life as she works on a Master’s degree while her husband studies at MedSchool. For the second year in a row (applying the vortex principal 😊) we convinced her to write the “Lamb” Chapter for the Program Manual. It is lovely when people previously on Team are still willing to give of their time and talents to help make Day Camps happen and I enjoy so much being able to keep in touch.
It has been quite a fruitful week around here. We received a couple more applications (ones we had been expecting) and also had exciting news of 2 possible Day Camps in BC. Since the Team assigned to Alberta still only has the first 2 weeks booked it seems logical that we would send that Team on to do their second 2 weeks in BC. I’m really praying that things will work out for this, if it is meant to be, as it must be at least 10 or 12 years since we had a Camp in BC.
Still nothing much happening on the Team recruiting front although there is an older man from the UK with whom we had contact last year and who has just sent in an application. I’m not sure if things will work out, as he is only available for the 2 Training Weeks and Week 1 of our schedule. Fortunately our committee will be meeting in 9 days so there will be a good opportunity to discuss the situation and make a group decision.
Today did not turn out as originally planned as the Huyers were supposed to come down but sadly the grocery bagging fundraiser scheduled for today was cancelled due to a lack of volunteers plus 2 of my Godsons are not 100% healthy so the plan to come was called off. Having thought I would be spending most of this afternoon entertaining little boys, I did not schedule a “Bake & Blog” day, although during the week I fitted in two more baking sessions as I work through my list of advance baking for the Team Training Retreat. I made 3 dozen bagels, 2 loaves of Challah and 3 dozen Cornmeal/Cheese Scones. There is still a depressingly long list ahead but I feel good about making some steady progress.
I also managed to beat the CTM newsletter into submission after wrestling with the template for two long afternoons. It is now with Wentworth for proofreading and will hopefully be sent out to subscribers this week PTL!!! Another job I was able to check off was that of compiling an up to date version of the CTM history, which appears on our website. After meeting the week before last with Syndi Belle, who helps my former secretary, Guylaine, to maintain the site, I really wanted to get the job done as the Day Camps season approaches. Arnee is very busy working on the typing and formatting of the Program Manual and has lots of important questions that I need to keep up with. I’m hoping, tomorrow afternoon to do some more editing of various chapters although there is a short meeting of the task group planning CTM promotional visits so the first half of my afternoon is already filled.
Every day I’m trying to put in an hour or so on my second dozen Pysanky and last evening I finally finished casting off a pretty shawlette I’ve been knitting for ages since it is worked with a very fine part silk yarn. The Pysanky are still in the early stages but with Lent whizzing by I do want to complete them in the coming week so that I can move on to Easter gifts for Godchildren. Two of my Godsons also have birthdays coming up soon so this morning I made a start on their Birthday Crowns. Victoria was going to be delivering some orange felt that is needed on both designs, I guess I will need to see if she can mail it to me. The family will definitely be here on March 18th since that is the day of the CTM AGM but my hope was to have the crowns completed by then so she could secretly take them home and give them to the boys on their birthday mornings. Sigh, not sure how that is going to work out 😞
Well, looking at the clock I see my Skype call is on in 15 minutes so I had better wrap up. First we need a recipe. The Cornmeal & Cheese Scones I baked this week for the Retreat are really great to have in the freezer, they make delicious sandwiches when filled with sliced ham!
Cornmeal Cheese Scones
- 1 cup cornmea
- 4 cups flour
- 1 ½ tsps. salt
- 2 Tbsps. baking powder
- 2 Tbsps. sugar
- 1 ¾ cups butter, cut into small bits
- ½ grated cheddar cheese
- 4 large eggs
- ¾ cup whipping cream
- 1 egg beaten with 2 Tbsps. cream for the glaze
Stir together the dry ingredients and cut in the butter. Beat together the eggs, cream and cheese and stir into the flour mixture. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and roll out 3/4 “ thick. Cut with a floured biscuit cutter or drinking glass. Transfer to parchment lined baking sheets and brush the tops with the glaze. Bake in a preheated 350º oven for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned. Makes 2-3 dozen.