Hello Blog Friends!
It has been quite a full week around here as the Junior Youth Camp staff ramps up for their Camp week, starting today for the staff and tomorrow for the campers.All day yesterday and all last night we had heavy rain and winds and they messaged me this morning to say they have no water or power at the camp site. Fortunately the children do not arrive until tomorrow but today is an important set up and training day for the staff so, ever since receiving the text, I have been praying the power will soon be restored.
Early in the week I was trying to keep abreast of requests from various JYC staff while also prepping for our August committee meeting, that happened on Wednesday evening. Fortunately, now they are at Cedar Lodge, things should start to calm down, although there are always minor crises during the actual week of camp that require attention from the Office end 😊. I wish I could be of more practical help in the current power outage but all I can do is offer up prayers.
At our Wednesday meeting we, sadly, accepted the resignation of Annie who has been a faithful DC member for several years and is about to take up her first full time teaching position after recently completing her Master’s degree. I have a certain proprietorial feeling about her placement as I provided one of her references when she applied, so I hope to keep in touch and will be anxious to hear how things go. She was unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting but has already said she plans to join as many of our online gatherings as possible and since I also follow her on Instagram it won’t be too hard to stay connected, although we will certainly miss her at the meetings.
We also had some fruitful discussions around plans for the coming months and took an initial look at the “job sheet” for the 2025 Program content. The next program, in rotation, is “On Fire!”, which, due to the pandemic, has not been mounted since 2017.I have started to look through the Manual and realise just how many elements of the program have evolved and/or morphed since it was last used so it looks as if there is plenty of work ahead for everyone 😊.
At the meeting I put forward my ideas for funding in the coming year. During our July meeting Jessica had given us a short review of the “Say Yes to Kids” program, run by the Anglican Foundation. This is not a Grant program but is a resource offering support to children’s ministry organisations who need to fund specific projects. They provide tools for creating campaigns and those participating receive 80% of the funds raised while the balance goes to other needy ministries. It does not seem like the best “fit” for us and so we are considering planning our own initiative and several of us feel it would be really great if we could allocate a portion of donations to First Nations communities with whom we have had ties for the past 15 years. It will take extra work to organise this project “in-house” but, if successful, we hope to be able to stabilise the Day Camp finances as well as keeping up our ties with the children of Indigenous communities.
Yesterday morning I reached out to several of the people who the DC committee has suggested for working on aspects of the 2025 program or for roles at some of the other events we are planning over the coming months. In the afternoon Sharon and I FaceTimed to discuss ideas for the Advent Study Program. Following the committee meeting, she had sent me a link to one possible resource and I have a few books myself, that might be helpful in coming up with a plan for that series.
Outside of all the Day Camp work and office duties there have been some spaces of time for early morning gardening. I had to switch the by-weekly lawn mowing and flower arranging day to Thursday as yesterday the heavy rain and thunderstorms were predicted. This morning it was necessary to wear wellies while working outside, as everything is still extremely soggy 😊.
Evenings, when not attending meetings (there was also a meeting of the Search Committee for the Coadjutor Bishop this week 😊) I have almost finished the second fingerless glove of the pair I shall be adding to my Christmas stash and today, before my usual Bake items go on the oven, I shall be baking the polymer clay earrings, destined for birthday and Christmas gifts. After baking, the findings will need to be added and I think I will give them a coat of varnish, hopefully at some point tomorrow!
I delayed today’s Bake until the afternoon so that I can make myself a pizza for dinner. I have made a sourdough crust for it, which rose in the fridge overnight so, after baking the earrings, 2 GF loaves, a batch of scones and some Pennsylvania Dutch chocolate cookies, I’ll cook my pizza.
Prior to yesterdays storms, we had several hot and muggy days. One evening I made a favourite supper of Korean Temple Noodles and thought I would share the recipe since, sadly, there will not be too many more weeks then hot weather dishes are on the agenda 😊.
Korean Temple Noodles
- 9 oz. thin udon or ramen noodles
- 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
- ½ an English cucumber, cut, with a peeler, into long “noodles”
- 2 Tbsps. Korean Chile Crisp
- 1 Tbsp. Balsamic vinegar
- 2Tbsps. apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsps.. raw honey
- 1 Tbsp. Tamari
Cook the noodles and rinse under cold water, divide between 2 serving bowls and toss with the sesame oil to prevent sticking. Stir together the sauce ingredients and pour evenly over both bowls of noodles. Top with equal portions of the cucumber. Serves 2