Hello Blog Friends!
Welcome to July 😊. This evening we will be logging on for our summer Team Gathering. It looks as if all our ducks (or should I say “chickens”?) are in place so I do hope that technology cooperates and things run smoothly.
This 4-day workweek has gone by quickly with, of course, the continued background drama of lead pipe replacement. Even though I knew there was much more to come, it was nice to have a bit of peace over the long weekend, although a lot of time was spent cleaning the basement pantry and the adjacent storeroom as everything was covered in a thick layer of grit from last Friday’s drilling.
This Wednesday, after another day without water and electricity, it seems that all the indoor work had now been done, however all my indoor work will be continuing for a while as I shall have to paint the whole basement pantry floor and one wall of that room. The plumbers have taken a couple of large chunks out of the foundation so I am hoping that a final inspector might arrange for the holes to be repaired but it’s probably a vain hope😊.
Of course the work of the office and Day Camps must go on. Early in the week I sent out a final round of Team Gathering reminders, plus the link to the Google Meet and then spent a WHOLE day printing, scanning, compiling and finally emailing the 5 Junior Youth Camp Police Records Check forms to the SPVM. So far radio silence from them, is this a sign of good news or bad???
All week I have spent some special time praying for the 2 Day Camps that have taken place, one here in a suburb of Montreal and the other in Alberta. Watch for a special “Wednesday Words” Post reporting on these camps 😊.
Wednesday afternoon at 4pm I took part in the third meeting of the Diocesan Search Committee almost immediately followed by a rather long and intense, special Day Camp Committee meeting around the topic of “the future of Day Camps”. We had invited several committee alumni and three of them were able to join us. Some very good ideas and suggestions were shared. Annie was our meeting scribe and Jeff also took some notes and I’m waiting for those to arrive in my Inbox so I can really process any “next steps” that need to be taken.
Following the important discussions the regular committee members and I briefly went over a list of potential dates for upcoming events and finalised them so that they can go into the CTM Google Calendar. I also wanted to make reference to these events during the “Notices” time at this evening’s TG so it was important to come to a consensus.
Outside of office hours (and extra meetings 😊) there have been a few visitors. Last Sunday’s lunch with Brenda and the “trio” (her 3 littles) went quite well. It was WONDERFUL to see all of them in person again. Unfortunately Thomason was VERY excited and did bark a lot, which was stressful, especially for the 2 small girls, but everyone managed to eat a hearty lunch and then I waved them off on their drive back to the Maritimes. Small children grow and change far too quickly and it was a year since they last visited so it was delightful to see how their individual personalities are developing and, of course wonderful, also, to chat with Brenda.
Thursday Linda came for lunch. She is a retired priest and preceded me as a former Day Camp Director, so we always have lots to talk about. She had commissioned me to make a summer bunting to hang in her country home, so she picked that up and has promised to send me a photo of it in situ 😊. I actually decided to make a second summer bunting for a dear friend whose birthday is coming up later this month, and who also has a country cottage, I hope she will be pleased with it.
Early yesterday I managed to mow what is left of my lawns, although I am very discouraged with the devastation caused by all the excavations. The Daylilies are starting to bloom and I am thankful that some rain is promised today as things are starting to dry up after prolonged heat.I’m now off to complete today’s Bake- Sourdough Sandwich Loaves, Digestive Biscuits, Chocolate Chip Scones, Lavender Shortbread & a Pear Butter Loaf. Post-Pandemic, not everyone is still keeping a Sourdough starter, but if you are do try these. They slice nice and thin, without crumbling, for fancy tea sandwiches, which is really useful 😊.
Sourdough Sandwich Loaves
- ½ cup softened butter or olive oil
- 2 Tbsps. honey
- 1 Tbsp. sea salt
- 1 cup active starter
- 2½ cups water
- 8 cups all purpose unbleached flour
Place all the ingredients in a large bowl, only including 7 cups of flour. Mix first with a wooden spoon and then with your hands then turn out and knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour to make a soft dough that is not sticky. Bulk rise overnight in the refrigerator. Next day shape into 2 long loaves, place in pans and allow to rise for 2-4 hours, until doubled.Bake at 375ºF for 40 minutes, or until golden.