Hello Blog Friends!
Please bear with me if this post starts with a short “weather rant”!!! Over the past three days a total of over 50cms. of snow has fallen in Quebec and it has been pretty brutal trying to keep up with the shovelling. I have clocked over 5 hours since Thursday morning and it looks as if it will be continuing into tomorrow. End of rant; now let’s get back to the world of Day Camps, maybe talk of spring and summer activities will help me feel warmer!
It has been another full week around here! Progress has been made on the 2025 Extended Day program manual and it has been interesting to spend a bit of time researching for creative activities that loosely fit with our overall theme.
Wednesday morning Jillian came to visit and we were able to discuss the details of the 2025 Supply List, which will need to be shared, next week, in the Acceptance Package for the host communities, then yesterday, I finally sat down and entered the dance notation choreography on the pages I had printed for the 2025 Liturgical Dance.
Of course there has also been a bit of general office work; the tax receipts were emailed as was the contract for Junior Youth Camp. The latter document needed to have an insurance certificate but, fortunately CTM’s agent at the brokerage is always super helpful and was able to send me a copy on the day after I requested it.
Sadly, the main activity, when away from my laptop, has mostly consisted of shovelling, although I have made a start on my first 2025 Christmas gifts and finished making a birthday gift for a special friend.
Tuesday evening also included the monthly meeting of Diocesan Council so another couple of evenings were devoted to typing up the minutes and yesterday afternoon I joined one of the Zoom interviews, which are currently being conducted, with the candidates for Coadjutor Bishop.
One hopes there will be less snow in next week’s forecast as I am itching to start sewing the baggy pink overalls I have cut from vintage organic cotton corduroy. The fabric was ordered from this website and was gifted to me at Christmas by a dear friend. Jillian had kindly picked up some matching thread and 1/2 a metre of organic cotton that is needed for facings and pocket lining, so I’m all set to get going!
With Lent on the horizon, I have also been selecting the patterns for my 2025 Pysanky and will begin production after Ash Wednesday. Jillian has asked if she could come for a mini workshop and learn how to write a pysanka. She is talented at calligraphy so I know she will enjoy using a kystka.
Just a small bake today, due to the omnipresent shovelling, but I have timed it so I can make a Yorkshire Pudding for supper. It is now time to put the oven on and first bake some cookies, a lemon loaf and a boule. I have been tinkering with several recipes for Artisanal Boules and thought that might make a good choice for today’s recipe!
Easy Artisanal Boule
- 3 cups unbleached flour
- ¼ tsp. yeast
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1 ½ cups warm water
The day before you plan to bake your boule, combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and beat with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough is formed. Cover and let stand at room temperature for 18-24 hours.
2 hours before baking, flour a square of parchment paper and turn the dough out onto it. With floured hands, bring the dough together, forming a round loaf, place the loaf, with the parchment, in a round bowl or basket and allow to rise for at least 1 hour. Meanwhile, place a large lidded Dutch Oven in the oven and preheat heat at 450ºF. When ready to bake, carefully remove the pot from the oven and place a circle of parchment on the bottom, turn the boule over as you place it in the pot, so the underside of the loaf is now the top. Dust generously with flour, replace the lid on the pot and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for a further 20 minutes. Allow to cool on a rack for at least an hour before slicing.