Hello Blog Friends!
I hope you had a chance to read this week’s bonus “Wednesday Words” post about the summer Team Gathering!
Since then, my office time has contained a mixture of –tech support for Day Camps host churches, Police Records Check scheduling for Junior Youth Camp Staff, the crafting of approximately 70 name tags for the JYC Staff, Campers, Young Leaders and Visitors along with a soupçon of work on the Day Camps 2024 Grant Application; quite an interesting mix and never a dull moment 😊.
Actually, the nametag task has been taking up a big chunk of time outside office hours as I first had to come up with a simple design to match their theme-“Walking the Walk Together”. I finally settled on a tiny drawing of bare feet, which I’ve tucked into the corner of the nametag. After creating a template I was able to print off a bunch of copies and am currently writing in the names (colour coded depending on the person’s role at camp) and also writing a tiny indicator of the role in the opposite corner of each.
When not going batty drawing teensy weensy feet I have been working on my summer jigsaw puzzle, sent to me a couple of Christmases ago by my friend Michelle and which has since made an appearance each summer on my dining room table.
I also sewed a linen tunic dress from the second pattern purchased with a gift certificate sent to me last Christmas by another kind friend and sewed some summer overalls using pieces of discarded church linens. The latter project included a new endeavour as I researched how to dye the linen (thanks Chelsea for some great tips) with turmeric using soy milk as a mordant. I am quite pleased with the results, although I was hoping for a deeper yellow and might overdye them a second time.
Evenings I knitted another pair of silk thread and bead earrings for a friend whose birthday was this past Wednesday and who is coming tomorrow, after church, for lunch. And, of course progress continues on the second Christmas shawlette.
There have been a number of rainy days, this week, culminating Thursday afternoon with a tornado warning and a brutally intense thunder storm. When there is very heavy rain combined with strong winds from the north water starts to leak into my living room. As the power also went out, we had quite an eventful afternoon and evening 😊. Thankfully the sun is shining this morning so, after our early walk I headed out and mowed the lawns. The Saturday Bake is next on my list so it’s time to close off with our recipe.
My last CSA box contained a favourite veggies- bulb fennel and so, Wednesday evening I enjoyed a tasty plate of:-
Caramelised Bulb Fennel with Feta
- 4 small fennel bulbs
- 3 Tbsps. butter
- 2 Tbsps. olive oil
- 2 Tbsps. raw cane sugar
- 1 tsp. whole dried fennel seeds
- ¾ cup fresh Italian parsley leaves
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 5 oz. Feta cheese, crumbled
- salt & pepper
- zest of 1 lemon
Trim the fronds and the hard base from the fennel then cut vertically into ½” thick slices. Melt half the butter and oil over high heat and sauté half the slices for 2 minutes on each side, turning once. Place the slices in a bowl and repeat sautéing the rest of them. Once all the slices are browned add the sugar, fennel seeds and salt &pepper to taste, to the skillet and stir for 30 seconds. Carefully place the fennel slices in the pan trying not to break them up. Cook for 1 -2 minutes until the undersides are caramelised but not burnt! Place the slices back in the bowl and toss gently with the parsley leaves and garlic. Divide between two serving plates, topping each serving with half the Feta. Garnish with lemon zest and a few pieces of fronds. Serves 2 as a main course or 4 as a side.