Hello Blog Friends!
My goodness, it seems that September is whizzing by at an alarming pace! The first half of the week was warm and “summery” around here so it was hard to come to terms with the dates on the calendar but by Wednesday night it had dropped to 8ºC and when Thomason and I took our early walk on Thursday morning I was treated to the semi-annual vision of a large skein of Canada Geese flying directly overhead. Autumn has officially arrived😊 .
It’s weird that I have spent time this week completing posters for the Christmas Cookie Cook-Along and Carols & Cocoa. As a firm believer in not rushing the Christmas season and savouring both Harvest Time and Advent it does go against the grain but if we want a good turnout for these activities it is only fair to potential participants to give them plenty of advance notice in the hopes they will make Day Camps events a priority. 😊
The Autumn Team Gathering is now less than a month away so badgering continues for that too and the last couple of days work has begun in earnest on the next issue of Networks. As is always the case, getting submissions of articles and other content has been challenging but at least the President has sent in his message and since that is the lead article in each issue, it is a relief to have that piece in place.
Progress has been a bit slower on finding people willing to take on the editing and rewriting of Program Manual content. I was very pleased, early in the, week to receive the MP4s of the Puppet Videos from their creator, Anna and it is really good to now have them in a Google Docs folder. Since I will be doing an edit/rewrite of the Creative Connection Chapter, I have been exploring the previous iteration, from 2015 and have been encouraged to see that there seems to be some good content, worth reusing once all the information and resources are upgraded to fit the new Manual format. As we have transitioned to offering the materials from a locally led perspective it is doubly important that all instructions are totally clear and that every single required supply is included on the master Supply List 😊.
Mid-week I began the daunting task of answering the 7 long questions posed on the Grant application that the Day Camp Committee has begun compiling. The form is 7 pages long so it certainly isn’t too soon to begin this task as we will be submitting it at the beginning of November. I will need help from the CTM Treasurer on the Financial section and he has already offered to assist with whatever is needed. The plan is for me to rough out all the other answers, after which I will circulate them to the DC committee asking for feedback and suggestions of any changes. It would be good to have those 7 answers finalised at our October meeting so that the work of filling in the form online can be done before the end of that month.
Outside office hours, Tuesday of this week included the first in-person meeting of Diocesan Council since March 2021. As Lay Secretary it was extremely important that I attend and I spent many weeks arranging for suitable dog-sitting arrangements for my furry friend, Thomason.By the previous Friday all seemed to be in place. My first sitter, Jenna, was unable to stay for the necessary 4 or 5 hours but Jillian came to my rescue, agreeing to take the second “shift”. Then I discovered that the weather forecast was looking very ominous thus derailing my plan to cycle down to and back from the Cathedral, sigh! By Monday it was becoming obvious that biking would no longer be an option as heavy rain and thunderstorms were predicted for the whole of Tuesday. I appealed to the Vicar General to see if he might be able to suggest anyone going to the meeting from my area who would be willing to give me a lift. He said he would get back to me and texted the next morning to say that all was well in hand for the Eucharist, Dinner and Business Meeting and that he would come himself and pick me up. As I have mentioned before, Robert is a Day Camp Travelling Team Alumnus so we go back a long way, and I have been so proud to watch his journey from Theological College through Ordination, several years as a Parish Priest and finally to his current role as Executive Archdeacon and Vicar General. Through all these years his humble heart combined with much kindness and compassion have shone through his ministry and his act of kindness towards me on Tuesday afternoon was much appreciated. I was even driven home by Bishop Mary, as the rain continued to stream down and was joyfully greeted by both Thomason and Jillian when I finally came through the front door😊, All of which to say that Wednesday afternoon and evening I spent over 3 hours typing the minutes of what had been a VERY long meeting and was able, by Thursday afternoon, to send the draft to my colleague, the Clerical Secretary, checking that one off my list!
There hasn’t really been any time for crafting this week although I am now well into the second sock of the Swedish pair I’m knitting as a Christmas gift and should be launching into a second pair by next week 😊.
And so today, after a good long morning of garden work (think beginning to put things to bed for winter ) I am now onto the usual Saturday Bake. When Jillian came to Thom-sit on Tuesday she also brought me 7lbs. of apples from the very prolific tree in her garden so today I’m making an Apple Pandowdy as well as a large casserole of applesauce. Sue’s GF loaves are already in the oven and a batch of cream crackers has been rolled out and is ready to go in next.
As we continue the month of “September Bowls”, this week’s recipe is for:-
Indian Spinach Egg Bowls
- 4 Naan Breads (or similar flatbread)
- 4 OR 8 large eggs
- 1 lb. fresh baby spinach leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 fresh red chilli
- 1 Tbsp. grated ginger root
- Salt & pepper
- 2 Tbsps. olive oil
- 1 cup plain Greek Yoghurt
- 1 tsp. turmeric
- 1½ tsps. Garam Masala
- ½ cup chopped cilantro leaves
In a small bowl, combine the yoghurt and turmeric and stir well. Lay the Naan on a baking sheet and toast under a broiler or in a 350ºF oven for 5-8 minutes. Meanwhile heat 1Tbsp. oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic, ginger and chilli and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the Garam Masala and stir until fragrant. Gradually add the spinach, a handful at a time, stirring as it wilts down, turn to low heat and keep warm. In a second skillet, heat the remaining oil and crack the 4 or 8 eggs carefully into the pan and season with salt and pepper. Fry until the whites are solid and the edges are golden. To serve- place a toasted Naan in each of 4 shallow bowls. Spread with an equal amount of turmeric yoghurt then top with an equal amount of the spinach. Carefully lay 1 egg or 2 eggs over the spinach in each bowl and sprinkle with cilantro. Serve immediately.