Hello Blog Friends!
Another icy cold and SNOWY January week is coming to an end. My CTM workweek began last Sunday afternoon with the aforementioned Board Meeting. It was quite a short meeting, as the Director of Communications had sent regrets so there were fewer reports.
First thing Monday morning I got the draft minutes typed up and sent off to our President so he could approve them for circulation. As we only meet every 2 months in the fall and winter it is important that members are able to refer to the minutes and see if they have any follow-up responsibilities between meetings.
With that task out of the way, much of my time has been spent on Day Camp planning as I have continued to create all the activities for the 2023 Extended Day Program, prepare for tonight’s online Team Gathering, send out info about the next Cook-Along series (2 families have already signed up 😊), and forward Manual content to Jessica.
As for the Manual content, I do always read the incoming chapters and sections before sending them on as there are frequently a few questions or suggestions that first need to be discussed with the authors and/or editors, which sometimes saves extra proofreading changes in the next step of manual production 😊.
This week I have also been chasing down the 2022 Day Camp coordinators as we would very much like to have them be part of our proposed information webinar, which we have tentatively booked for March 18th. I have heard back from 2 of the 3 churches, and both have expressed interest so hopefully we can move forward with the idea. Since the deadline is fast approaching to send in a revision of my Day Camp article to the editor of our Diocesan Newspaper I really want to establish a firm date so I can include that info.
Initial thoughts are also coming together for an Alumni Day Retreat on the Saturday of Palm Sunday weekend. Last year, one of the alumni suggested we do a Lenten Retreat that included the baking of Hot Cross Buns so I have been digging around and find a first mention of them connected to St. Alban who lived in the 7th century, I think unpacking that story, suitably bolstered up with some pertinent Scripture passages, will make for an interesting Retreat. When Jillian visited on Thursday we talked about potential speakers and she agreed I should approach Robert Camara. Robert was on Team 21 years ago, and is now the Vicar General of the Diocese of Montreal. I emailed him yesterday and he has already accepted the invitation, which is fantastic! We will meet next month to look at how best to arrange a schedule for the Retreat and to discuss other details. I am chuffed to have found a speaker on my first attempt. Woot! Woot!
Success has finally been achieved in helping the CTM Treasurer get some answers from our bank branch in response to his enquiries about our account. It took an email and two voicemails but we have now made contact with the assistant branch manager. Yay!
Outside of office tasks I have had two very pleasant visits this week; dinner, on Wednesday, with Jessica and lunch, on Thursday, with Jillian. Emmanuel was supposed to come for breakfast yesterday but, as has happened twice before, he ended up having to work a double shift so we are now waiting until he gets his next schedule so we can work out a new plan 😊.
Some progress has been made on the olive green socks I have been knitting, although the cable pattern is very challenging and thus requires a lot of concentration. During the week I also embroidered a cuff bracelet for a friend who’s birthday is fast approaching. I must confess that more than a few hours of spare time has been taken up by reading a couple of books, generously lent to me by Jessica. The one I’m reading now is so good, I’m rationing the chapters so I don’t gallop through and finish it too quickly! a few weeks ago I read another novel by this same author and have found both of them delightful.
This morning I have already done a brisk round of shovelling and so now am ready to launch into the weekly Bake. There is quite a long list so we had better have our recipe and I’ll get down to work. PS- I got so engrossed in the baking that it is now mid-afternoon and so have included a photos of the finished products!
When Jessica came to dinner on Wednesday I made a delicious Chicken and Wild Rice soup, which we both enjoyed very much. The original recipe came from this blog, but here is my version, with a few adaptations 😊.
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- 2 Tbsps. butter
- 2 cups carrot, chopped
- ½ cup celery leaves, chopped
- 2 cups leeks, sliced
- Salt and pepper
- ½ cup wild rice
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp. each dried rosemary, thyme & celery seed
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 deboned chicken thighs cut into small cubes
- 3 Tbsps. lemon juice
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup whipping cream
- To Thicken: ¼ cup each butter & flour
Melt the 2 Tbsps. butter in a large stockpot and sweat the leeks and carrots for 10 minutes, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the rice, chicken, herbs, and broth. Simmer for 20 minutes or until the carrots are just tender. Combine the ¼ cup each of butter and flour in a small saucepan and stir for several minutes until smooth and golden. Whisk the mixture into the soup, along with the milk and cream. Heat gently and serve. Makes 6-8 servings and freezes well. Do not allow to boil when reheating.