Hello Blog Friends!
It has been a very hot week around here, which makes me think back to the many sticky, HOT weeks when our Team Members were undergoing training at our annual Retreat.
Oh my! Some years there were heat warnings (just like we have just had this past Wednesday and Thursday😊) when about 20 young adults were obliged to stay cooped up indoors as the weather bureau was cautioning about heat stroke; thankfully we all survived.
Monday was a strange day as some people were enjoying the Canada Day holiday, while others had the previous Friday off. I still put in my usual work hours as, with the committee meeting on Wednesday evening and the summer Team Gathering this evening, there has been plenty to keep me occupied (if not at the same fever pitch as in pre-pandemic summers). It was also an extra special day as former committee member, (and dear friend) Jillian’s, baby was born. Welcome Amelia Rose Zampino😊.
Tuesday I sent an email out to all the host communities, checking in to see if anyone needed help and also double-checking everyone’s Day Camp dates so that we could pass on that important info to our prayer support group, asking them to pray, specially, for each camp on the week it is being held.
Of course each day also brings some general office duties like sending “Thank you” cards to donors, entering expense and income information on spreadsheets, answering emails etc. I’m still trying to sort out the Police Records Check forms for some of the Junior Youth Camp staff but it is frustratingly difficult to find a convenient time for us all to meet. Since these forms have to be mailed to the Montreal Police Force (SPVM) it is extremely important that no one make even the slightest error when filling them out as then the forms get returned to us and we have to start all over again- AGH!!!
I am looking forward to this evening’s online Gathering. 15 alumni have registered, which is a pretty good turn out for an event in the middle of the summer. Jessica will be leading a Lectio Divina on the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Gospel of Luke, Miriam and Donna are in charge of the music worship and Mae Anne will be leading the prayer time so things have shaped up nicely 😊.Watch for a special “Wednesday Words” report.
Outside of office hours, despite the heat, there has still been a fair amount of gardening, mostly early in the morning before things get too sticky. Thursday morning I started mowing the lawns as soon as Mr. T and I got back from our early walk but even at 730am the humidex reading was 35ºC. Evenings I’ve continued knitting Christmas shawlettes but digressed, for a couple of days, into knitting silk thread and bead earrings as a birthday gift for a friend. It was actually way cooler to knit with silk rather than wool!
Fortunately it has cooled down a bit now and so today I am still keeping to my weekly Bake schedule. Today I shall be making dog biscuits, baguettes, chocolate chip scones, oatmeal raisin cookies and a pan of Rhubarb Crunch.
This last recipe is an old favourite so I’ll close off by sharing it with you:-
Giant Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- 12 Tbsps. butter
- ½ cup raw cane sugar
- 1 cup turbinado sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsps. water
- 2/3 cup unbleached flour
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp. sea salt
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup raisins
Beat together the 2 sugars and butter until fluffy. Beat in the egg and water. Whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and oats then stir into the sugar mixture. Add the raisins and mix well. Using an ice cream scoop, place balls of dough on prepared parchment-lined baking sheets, do not crowd as cookies will spread! Flatten slightly then bake in a preheated 350ºF oven for about 15 minutes, watching they do not burn 😊. Cool on baking sheet then transfer to racks. Make 12-15 giant cookies.