Hello Blog Friends!
This has been a shorter workweek, with the Easter Monday holiday but since it also included our monthly Day Camp Committee meeting there has been plenty happening around here, culminating, tomorrow afternoon, with CTM’s Annual General Meeting.
Monday I had a very pleasant lunch visit with my friend Mary, who is also my Bishop 😊. It was a long time since she has come for a meal with me and, although Thomason made as much noise as usual, we were still able to have a good chat and she got to choose a pysanka to take home.
Tuesday it was back to work with our committee meeting also that evening. Unfortunately 2 members were not able to be present but we still had some good discussions and I was able to share updates regarding progress on completing the resource packages for the program. Since, that same afternoon Jessica had sent the final copy of both the main Program Manual and Extended Day Program Manual there was much rejoicing to hear that those important elements of the program are now finalised.
Over the past few days the Team Alumnae who have been making crafts samples have also completed their tasks and now the only sample missing is the loaf of Eucharistic bread that I am baking today. YAY!! All together there are more than thirty crafts made by the different age groups at various times throughout a weeklong Day Camp program and so assembling accurate photos of every single item can seem a daunting task. I am so grateful to the nine helpers who gave of their time and talent to make all the samples and to send in the photos.
Of course the search continues for more communities interested in hosting our programs. After some digging I found the email address of an alumnus who is now an Anglican priest on the Island of Jersey and have sent him an email with the promo information. I also found the address of the clergy person responsible for Youth and Children’s Ministry in the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, he is the former Rector of one of the many parishes in that is diocese in which, prior to the pandemic, we held Day Camps over a period of about fifteen years. Team leaders and members always spoke highly of their experiences in this particular church and of the generous welcome given to them by the Rector, who had also often billeted the Teams. Neither of these contacts has yet responded but, as I have done for many years as Day Camp Director,- I choose to live in hope 😊.
Easter Monday I also spent a couple of hours in the garden, continuing to clean up the debris left by the Holy Week ice storm. There are now quite a lot of spring bulbs blooming and the lawn is even starting to show signs of greening. In other odd pockets of spare time I have done some more sewing, making baby gifts for a little girl due to be born in a couple of months, as well as sewing furoshikis for the wrapping of several random gifts.
Yesterday, as the weather has now turned super warm, I decided it was time to stain the front steps. They always take a beating over the winter and look appalling when I take up the coco matting in spring. This task does not take too long but involves blocking off the stairs and using the back door entrance while the steps and porch floor are drying. It is important to actually unlock that entrance before starting otherwise I risk painting myself out of the house. EEK!! It has never happened but there is always a first time 😊.
And so this morning I did a whiffle around the garden and am now well into the weekly Bake. On the list are-2 Gluten-free loaves for Sue, Eucharistic Bread (to be photographed for the Day Camp resource package craft samples folder), a batch of Orange Chocolate Cookies and a pan of Raisin Scones and a batch of Crickets Biskets for Mr. T. Before I return to the kitchen let’s close of with the weekly recipe.
For Easter, Sue gifted me with two boxes of Black Oyster Mushrooms 😊 so one evening this week I used some of them to make a delicious noodle stir-fry.
Black Oyster Mushroom Stir-fry
- ¼ cup tamari
- 2 Tbsps. rice vinegar
- 2 Tbsps. maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp. sriracha
- ½ lb. oyster mushrooms
- 4 ounces noodles, cooked and drained
- 1 Tbsp. sesame oil
- 1 cup julienned carrots
- 6 green onions cut into 1” pieces
- 2 cups baby spinach leaves
- 2tsps. toasted sesame seeds
Heat 1 Tbsp. sesame oil and sauté the mushrooms for 7 minutes, until golden, transfer to a plate. Add the carrots, green onions and spinach a sauté for 2 minutes. Stir in the sauce ingredients then add the noodles and mushrooms ans toss until well combined and heated through. Divide between 2 bowls and garnish with toasted sesame seeds. Serves 2