Hello Blog Friends!
This week has seen three Day Camps happening, each one in a different Province! Only one of the Coordinators has been in touch with me, and that was to acknowledge receipt of the link to the Feedback form and to thank us for praying for their Day Camp, but I’m going with “no news is good news” and hoping all the camps have gone well, despite high heat and humidity across Canada. Since I have much less contact, without the liaison of a travelling team, I do not even know who was planning a Friday Closing Worship and who will be having one tomorrow. I do hope all the Coordinators take time to fill out and submit the Feedback form!
Here at the office, progress continues, slowly, on the Junior Youth Camp nametags. Jillian visited on Thursday morning and gave me a tutorial on EXACTLY what I need to do to successfully print them as I was having difficulty setting the margins to conform with the images on the tags, despite the fact that I was using a preset Word template. Sigh.
In more positive news, I am slowly approaching people whose names have been suggested to either write/edit chapters of the 2026 Program Manual, to take on some of the big tasks directly related to the assembling of the 2026 Resource Packages, or to coordinate/co-lead preparations for some of the other Day Camps events and activities scheduled to take place between now and the end of 2025. When first set up, the “Job Sheet” contains a lot of names in orange font, indicating they are either still to be asked or who’s replies are still pending. Only when someone agrees to take on a task does the font get changed to blue! At present there 13 names in blue and 9 in orange, which is pretty good for mid-July 2025.
Wednesday morning, I heard from another potential Cook-Along Chef, which, theoretically gives us the three names needed for the November “Cosy Harvest Recipes” series. Having said that, two of those three people are in the “back-up” category, but I know they will both jump in if no new recruits come forward in time. Another BIG task for which it would be great to find a volunteer is a coordinator for the annual “Carols & Cocoa” fundraising concert. Most years the task falls to me and I don’t mind doing it but feel there must be someone who has more contacts in the world of music and who could persuade them to make a video recording for the event. Once that person is in place someone is also needed to serve as MC on the day. Last year our CTM President, the Rev. Chris Belle took on that role and did a great job but it is best not to ask the same person two years in a row, as most people like a break in between. Watch for updates in the weeks ahead!
Yesterday morning, a very special family came for a “morning snack” visit. I used to babysit Josiah and his sister, Charlotte, when his family belonged to St. Matthew’s Church. Subsequently, he served as a Day Camp Team member and leader, committee member, content writer for our programs and, most recently, hosted Day Camps at a church in Windsor Ontario where he was a curate , and now he has been called to Pastor a Parish in the suburbs of Montreal. About 10 years ago, I attended his wedding, to Alicia and they now have 3 darling little girls, ages 7years, 2years and 5months. All three behaved so well, and the older two really enjoyed the various snacks! In between, while the adults talked and caught up on all sorts of CTM news, they explored my living room and ventured outside on the porch, returning for “another piece of cheese” ! The family stayed for two hours, but the time flew! Before leaving, Josiah prayed for me and I prayed for this young family as they begin a new ministry.
Early this morning, I mowed the lawns. As I was mowing a, text came in from family friend and mentor, Brian, saying he was on his way over to see if he could fix the leaking kitchen drainpipe. He first had a “reconnoitre”, then went off to a hardware store for some supplies. While he was gone I managed to finshi the lawns, jump in the shower and make a start on the baking (still unable to let any water run down the sink drain!!) Fortunately, yesterday afternoon, I had done the bulk of prepping, including- biscuits for Thomason, a batch of Tea Cakes (to freeze in preparation for visitors who will be staying for five days in early August), an orange/date loaf cake and some Peanut Miso cookies.
Brian departed just after noon and promised to return “later on” it is now almost 5pm, the baking is cooling on the counter, more washing up has been done, in a large dishpan, the water from which gets flung outside, over my herb garden, and I think I will start work on a salad for supper. Who knows whether Brian will return today but as he is probably saving me a couple of hundred dollars in plumbers’ bills, I really do not mind a bit of inconvenience!
We have had another week of heatwave temperatures so several nights I opted for a cold supper idea. This Tuna Mayo Bowl is super easy. I made it with some of the Asian-flavoured cooked rice, I was using up after last Saturday’s cancelled tea party, and it made a quick and tasty, weeknight meal.
Tuna Mayo Bowl
- 1 tin tuna, well drained
- 2Tbsps. mayo (preferably homemade)
- 1tsp. toasted sesame oil
- ½tsp. Tamari
- 1cup cold cooked Basmati rice (tossed with 1 Tbsp.each Tamari and Rice vinegar)
- Toasted sesame seeds & strips of Nori, for garnishing
Plce the rice in an individual serving bowl. Flake the tuna over the rice, add the mayo and sesame oil and toss well with a wide spatula. Garnish with sesame seeds and Nori. Serves 1.