Once again, I’m attempting to write this post with a sleeping puppy on my lap, however at least this time he has graciously arranged himself in a position so that both my hands are free for typing. Yay 😊
This week there has been a fair bit of activity both on the Host Communities and Travelling Team fronts and I even received the first Team Application WOOT WOOT!!!
We have also had news of several more Communities planning to apply to host a Day Camp, which is excellent. Here is our current schedule, the names in green are certain those in orange are still pending!
I think that all the sections of the Program Manual have been submitted (Hallelujah!!) and so are currently either with Arnee, for typing, or with Gillian for proofing. The goal is to distribute the Manual to everyone in April so time is running out but if everyone meets deadlines I think we can squeak under the wire.
Plans are also underway for 2 recording sessions, one for the Music files and the other for the Liturgical Dance video. I have been having trouble finding a copy of the lyrics for the song we have chosen for the dance, there is a great lyric video on You Tube but I’ve not been able to find the song on iTunes and so have resorted to writing to the band that created it and hope I might just get a reply!
This coming week I plan to launch into the advance baking and cooking for the Training Retreat. I’ve roughly divided the work up into 4 separate days and scheduled the next 4 Wednesday mornings to (hopefully) complete the task.
As you will see from the new colour scheme, I have managed, by God’s Grace, to finish “The Changing of the Decorations.” Considering I’m still running on about 3 hours sleep per night, it was amazing that I was able to get the job done while puppy-wrangling, but, miraculously, it came together in a shorter space of time than I had allotted.
It feels lovely to see “spring” inside the house when it is still -23ºC outside with giant piles of snow, but a couple of pots of hyacinths, bright floral prints and some forced branches of Purple Sand Cherry can make a huge difference in lifting one’s spirits during the eternal winter of the north 😊
Yesterday I had unexpected news that the Huyers would be coming for a short visit. They will be arriving late tomorrow afternoon and staying overnight into Monday morning. Victoria sang for several years with the Lakeshore Light Opera, one of several amateur dramatic societies in the city who carry on the tradition of annually presenting a performance of a Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta and so she would like to take the older two boys to the Sunday afternoon matinée tomorrow. Since Victoria stepped back from co-directing Senior Youth Camp the family isn’t in Montreal as often as in past years, it will be lovely to visit with my Godsons who I haven’t seen since Christmas 😊
Well that reminds me that I need to make up the double bed in the studio for two of the boys (Victoria will be bringing the inflatable “Thomas the Tank Engine” bed for little Andrew) so I had better wrap this up as I also will be spending the afternoon baking.
With Lent now underway it is time for the first batch of Hot Cross Buns, plus I want to make a cake for tomorrow evening’s dessert. I’ve made this loaf cake before and since it is maple flavoured it makes a great celebratory
“Springtime” sweet.
Maple Yoghurt Loaf Cake
- 1 cup dark maple syrup
- ¾ cup whole milk yoghurt
- 3 eggs
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- ½ tsp. lemon zest
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 2 tsps. baking powder
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ½ cup vegetable oil
In a large bowl whisk together the maple syrup, yoghurt, eggs, sugar, vanilla, lemon zest. In another bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl and stir into the wet ingredients. Add the oil and fold it into the batter. Do not over mix!
Pour into a well-greased metal loaf pan and bake in a preheated 350ºF oven for approx. 50 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes then loosen the edges with spatula and turn out to cool completely on a rack.