Hello Blog Friends!
Let us take for granted that is has been a busy week around here, when is it not?) and I like it just the way it is! Life is short, and so precious, carpe diem!
Fortunately, the past week has not included the high level of stress anticipated in the previous week, as we awaited the Electoral Synod. With that major event now behind us, it is possible for me to devote 100% of my brain to pulling together all the last bits and pieces of the Day Camp Program packages and to scrolling, ad nauseum, through lists of alumni and church contacts, in the hopes of finding someone else who can help in the final push to find more host communities. Year in and year out, the same scenario plays out, in slightly different configurations.
It used to be the puzzle of “fill in the blanks” when our 6 Teams were locked into a tight 4-week itinerary, that did not match up with the number of applications we had received and/or the dates that parishes were requesting to hold their camps. Now, with no scheduling restrictions, it is simply trying to find host communities, eager to have a camp, sigh, I never was a good salesperson.
Many years ago, when I was simply a Day Camp minion, we used to have to turn away applications, because we could only host 20-30 camps. The world has changed, but we still firmly believe that what we are offering can be of great value to churches in introducing children to Jesus and nurturing their relationships with God, so we push on!
Wednesday evening was our monthly DC committee meeting. It is great to meet and talk with a group of people who have the same passion as myself for this ministry, to gain their insights and to be encouraged. Plans are really shaping up for the service project in the Eastern Townships. Mae Anne gave us a report on it and I have asked her to send me the details about each of the young people taking part, so I can relay them to Jennifer, who will be hosting them. We also discussed potential dates and venues for the training session we are planning, for the group.
Of course, I was also able to update the committee on progress with various program components and asked everyone to try and think of any additional churches that could be approached about hosting a Day Camp (sadly, not much input in that area). It is always cathartic to have a good “vent”, I hope I didn’t talk their ears off!! Thursday and Friday, I sent off more emails to individual contacts, in the hopes of finding a couple more host churches (we now have 7 and are praying for a total of 10.)
Outside of office hours, spring cleaning chores have continued, although the weather is still unseasonably cold and rainy, UGH. Early Thursday morning (the only day when it was just cold with drizzle and not steady rain!!) I mowed the lawns for the first time this spring. It took over 2 hours, because I kept stopping to dig out rogue weeds and also, because the grass was already super long and, since my mower desperately needs sharpening, it proved necessary to go over some areas more than once. Another evening, I was able to touch up the wrought iron deck railings and hope the paint was dry enough, because it rained that night, sigh. Originally today’s forecast was “sunny” and there were plans to stain the front porch floor and steps, but now rain is predicted so it seems that task will need to take place early tomorrow, before logging in for Sunday Service.
Due to the number of rainy days, I was also able to fit in a few sewing jobs. I resized a skirt for a friend and hemmed an alb for a priest who had also asked if I could put a piece of lace at the back of the neck on a stole, in order to keep the silk cleaner. I recommended attaching, with tiny snaps, a small rectangle of linen, which can easily be removed and laundered, as needed. That task actually took the longest, as all the teeny fasteners had to be sewn on by hand. Sigh.
Not being able to work outside today, at least I’ve been able to get the Bake done in good time! A boule, a batch of Tea Cakes, a batch of Breakfast Cookies and batch of dog biscuits, are now, all in process with the hopes of having some tea cake for lunch!
One day last week I made a container of Candied Ginger Ice Cream and as, one hopes, warmer weather should soon be upon us, thought I would share it today, so here goes!
Ginger Ice Cream
- 1/3 cup candied ginger, cut fine
- 1/3 cup raw cane
- 1/3 cup water
- ½ tsp. plain gelatine
- 1 Tbsp. cold water
- 3 egg yolks, beaten
- 1 pint whipping cream, stiffly beaten and chilled
Place the egg yolks in a double boiler. Combine the ginger, sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to 230ºF. VERY SLOWLY, whisk the ginger mixture into the egg yolks and place over simmering water, cook, stirring, until it thickens, remove from the heat. Soak the gelatine in the cold water for 5 minutes then stir into the hot ginger mixture. Cool in the fridge until really cold but not stiff, then fold into the whipped cream. Transfer to a container with a secure lid and freeze until firm.