Hello Blog Friends!
How has your week played out? This has been the “peak week” for Day Camps (a very small peak, but still a peak 😊) with 3 camps taking place, each in a different province.
Last Saturday’s Team Gathering was very lovely; we had a good attendance (with even a 3 month old 😊) and thankfully the various audio and video clips all played without any glitches. The predicted thunderstorm did not materialise and so I also did not lose power, which would have caused the ultimate fiasco! Later that evening ,and also on Sunday, several attendees messaged to say how much they had appreciated the Gathering, which was most encouraging. On Monday I sent off a flurry of “thank you” e-cards to all those who had taken on specific roles at the event.
Also, that day, I created the 2024 Evaluation Form using Google’s “Fillable Forms” and, on Tuesday, sent a link to the 2 communities that had hosted camps the previous week. It has always been our practice to request feedback right after a Day Camp has ended since, after that, all the volunteer leaders tend to disperse for the summer so it is best to catch them while the experience is fresh in their minds.
As there are only 6 camps on which to report, I have decided to wait until all of them are over before creating a Wednesday Words blog post, so watch for it later in August, as the last camp, happening here in Montreal, will only be taking place at the end of next month. The 2 camps that took place from July 1-5 have already sent in some great photos and I’m carefully filing them for that special post. There will need to be some “Photoshopping” on a few of the pics as there were children in the foster care system at one of the camps. At present the coordinators of both camps are still checking for image permission from parents and caregivers so it is just as well the post is not yet to be published.
Other office work is largely in support of Junior Youth Camp as one of their directors is away on vacation so I have been updating the registration spreadsheet myself. Camper fees are also being sent in via E-transfer so, as always, that spreadsheet has to be kept current.
It has been a blessing not to have the workday accompaniment of bulldozers on the side lawn as the contractors have finally departed, with the last of their equipment being removed on Tuesday. As predicted, no one has come from the city to inspect the work done in my basement and I’m afraid it is unlikely I will receive any help by calling the borough office 😊.
Wednesday Bishop Mary joined me for a quick lunch as she was heading to the Synod Office and then yesterday the young Theological student whom I mentor came for High Tea. He hasn’t been for an in-person visit for quite a while and recently started a part time job at a church within walking distance of my house so I suggested he come after work and we had a nice visit. Alex is also very fond of Thomason and doesn’t mind the general chaos! We actually made some progress as, before he left, he was able to stroke Thomason for about five minutes with no barking or jumping, albeit, Mr. T. was still restrained on a leash 😊.
Today, after our early morning walk I did a quick whiffle round the garden and have been baking ever since. With everything now under control, I thought I would finish up this post and get it published and so had better close off, now, with this week’s recipe. For yesterday’s High Tea I served Marble Cake, an old favourite from my Mum’s handwritten cookbook, do give it a try.
Mum’s Marble Cake
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsps. baking powder
- ½ tsp.salt
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp. hot water
- 2 Tbsps. raspberry juice
Cream the butter and sugar, then beat in eggs, one at a time. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt, add to the batter, alternating with the milk. In a small bowl, mix the cocoa powder, maple syrup and water to a smooth paste. Grease a 9” tube pan. Divide the batter into 3 equal parts leaving one third plain, adding the cocoa mixture to another third and the raspberry juice to the other. Place large spoonfuls of the batter in the prepared pan, alternating the 3 colours. Once all the batter is in the pan run a small knife through the batter in a swirling pattern to create the marble effect. Bake at 350ºF for 45-50 minutes. Invert the pan over a funnel and cool on a rack.
If desired ice the cake as follows:- In the bowl of a food processor combine 2 cups icing sugar with 1/3 cup cocoa powder, pulse to mix. Add 4 Tbsps. butter, cut into small pieces, pulsing until thoroughly combined. Gradually add 2-4Tbsps. whole milk and 1 tsp. vanilla extract, mixing to a smooth, spreadable consistency.