Hello Blog Friends!
Note:- So sorry this post comes to you a day late. The final push of completing the change of decor continued all day yesterday and today, being Sunday, I try to limit my screen time. Now as the weekend comes to a close it is time to hit the “publish” button.
Here we are already at the last weekend of August 😊. Next weekend North America celebrates the Labour Day long weekend, which marks the unofficial end of summer, even though the autumnal equinox does not occur until later in September. Children will be heading back to school this coming week, which always seems rather silly just before a long weekend, however maybe it helps them ease into the work routine when they have a short week after Labour Day Monday.
With Day Camps 2023 over I started the past week by sending off the final evaluation form, The response appeared yesterday filled with interesting feedback and since committee member, Mikaela, was in charge at that camp she was very thorough in collecting comments from the other volunteers and submitting the form in a timely fashion 😊. With that last response collected I should be able, next week, to prepare the “Postcards from Day Camps” blogpost.
In the meantime I have spent time this week writing my annual report. This document will form the basis of the report I submit to the foundation that provided us with our 2023 grant. My plan is to send it in early September, after first asking a couple of the core committee members to read it over and offer any additional suggestions.
More progress has also been made on 2024 content, as I have started to put together some ideas for the registration time crafts and have added more ideas to the Creative Connection Chapter. I still need a couple of “extra activities”, these are simpler crafts that are kept on hand for campers who whiz through the bigger projects and will cause mayhem if left to their own devices 😊. More importantly we need 1 more of the main connections. The ones I have already written are all group projects so I would like this one to be a personal item that a camper can make and actually use in some way after Day Camp week is a thing of the past. We also are committed to using sustainable materials, and of course most Day Camps run on tight budgets so the cost of supplies must be kept to a minimum. All of those considerations, plus the importance of having the project fit well with the weekly or daily theme, makes quite a challenge for the content creator 😊.
Of course there has also been plenty of general office work as the wrap up of Junior Youth Camp continues. Most of the loose ends seem to have been tidied but I think there are still a few of the staff members would will need to be reimbursed for some expenses so I’m waiting for the CTM treasurer to send me those requisitions.
Since mid-week, every moment of spare time has been spent “Changing the Decorations”. Wednesday afternoon I made a start by exchanging my summer clothing for garments that reflect a more autumnal palette. That day I also opened the big barrel that holds autumn bedding and other linens such a tea towels, cushion covers and a selection of seasonal bandanas for Thomason 😊. I attached the autumn ironing board cover, switched summer cookbooks for fall ones and exchanged the table linens.
Thursday the process ramped into top gear as the beds were stripped and changed, soft covers exchanged, china packed and unpacked and the whole house enjoyed an intensive dusting and mopping from top to bottom.
Friday the seasonal ornaments were arranged and fresh flowers cut and put into various containers. I have ordered a few hardy chrysanthemum plants from the neighbourhood florist and will soon be displaying them outdoors.
With almost everything now in place it is my custom to go through the house and gardens sprinkling holy water (prepared for me by Bishop Mary) and praying God’s protection and blessing over every area.
So, needless to say, I have not embarked on any other crafting projects this week but on Monday, when she came for a lunch visit, the Bishop brought a large shopping bag with a variety of mending tasks for me to tackle so those have been added to next week’s to-do list 😊.
Back to the kitchen now as there is GF bread in the oven and other buns, cookies and a ginger cake, waiting to be baked.
Here is this week’s recipe to close off…
Brown Rice Noodles with Bok Choy and Egg Drop Gravy
- 12 oz. brown rice spaghetti
- 2 medium heads Bok Choy (about 12oz.), trimmed and cut lengthwise into inch-wide strips
- 3 Tbsps. olive oil
- 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- 3 Tbsps. Tamari
- 1 Tbsp. tapioca starch
- 1 tsp. raw cane sugar
- 1” piece of fresh ginger, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 eggs, beaten
- handful of fresh cilantro leaves
In a small bowl, combine the vegetable stock, tapioca starch, and sugar and set aside. Cook the rice noodles, drain and rinse under cold water, shaking off as much water as possible and toss with sesame oil. Over medium high, heat a large well-seasoned skillet, add 2 Tbsps. of the oil, 1 Tbsp. Tamari and the drained noodles and fry, tossing gently for 3-4 minutes until slightly charred. Transfer the noodles to a serving platter. Wipe out the pan, add the remaining oil, bok choy and remaining Tamari and toss. Stir the tapioca starch mixture and pour into the pan. Stir until is comes to the boil and thickens, 1-3 minutes. Very slowly add the beaten eggs in a circular motion and cook until they are just set. Pour the bok choy and gravy over the platter of noodles, garnish with cilantro and serve immediately OR divide noodles into 4 individual bowls and top each with n equal quantity of vegetables and gravy, garnishing each serving with some cilantro. Serves 4.