Hello Blog Friends!
Oh my! Ascension Day is only 2 weeks away, when the season of Easter will come to an end. As Easter was quite late this year, the Feast of Pentecost will fall on June 8th (10 days after Ascension Day, and 50 days after Easter).
The 2025 Day Camp program, begins with the Acts passage about the day of Pentecost, so in many ways, those of us closely involved with producing the Program, have been focusing on Pentecost since last September!! This week some more pieces have been added to the program packages. ALL the Creative Activities sample photos are now neatly saved in folders and can easily be accessed by the host communities, which is a big chunk of work completed. Still waiting for a number of audio recordings and the Liturgical Dance Video, but I am seeing Mae Anne today and hope she can give me some updates on progress.
We have been anxiously awaiting 2 more application forms and both of them were submitted this week, and so the Acceptance Package has been shared with the coordinators. It is a big relief to have now received all the forms we have been expecting, although, sadly, nothing new has appeared on the horizon. Last week I sent messages to over 50 Team alumni and two of them did actually reply although neither was in a position to host a camp. Sigh.
With Pentecost around the corner, this week also included reminders to the Board members that we are on the hunt for content to fill the next issue of CTM’s quarterly Newsletter, “Networks”. I’m going to see if Mae Anne would be willing to write a couple of paragraphs about the FFBCM service project and am also hoping to cajole one of the DC coordinators into writing something about their Day Camp Preparations.
Yesterday I pulled together a flyer, advertising the upcoming online Team Gathering, Friday July 4th. We still need to find a speaker for that event and, in the next few days, I need to see if Miriam and Donna will be up for preparing the worship music.
Squeezed into other “free” time slots was Thomason’s annual BATH. This activity requires careful planning so as not to go off the rails!! It took place Tuesday, outside on the deck, and went off fairly smoothly, (ie nothing got broken, he got cleaned, and the soapy, wet mess was contained outdoors!)
Thursday morning we had a special “nature experience” on our 6:30 am walk.afternoon, As we headed down the lane, Thomason and I both saw a RABBIT!! Now ,if one lives in the countryside, or even the suburbs, seeing a rabbit is no big deal but in an urban neighbourhood it was pretty exciting! Thomason froze, I froze and the rabbit froze, which made it possible for me to whip out my phone and get a photo (see above), then the rait hopped into a backyard and the magical moment was over, It sure made my day!!
That afternoon, I made time to sew a fabric drawstring cover in which to “wrap” a birthday gift for a special friend. I also hoped to start production on a number of baby gifts but that will need to wait until sometime in the coming week as this weekend also includes “The Changing of the Decorations” to the Pentecost/Summer décor. This mammoth task in taking place a bit early as I planned to take advantage of Monday’s Victoria Day Holiday, in order to blitz the house and gardens. I would have started today but, as Mae Anne is coming for lunch it seems best to confine myself to some “behind the scenes” prep work. The original intention was to roll my sleeves up after church, tomorrow, and really get to work but Thursday afternoon brought a message from Victoria to ask if it might be possible for her to drop off the 3 boys (my Godsons) with me on Sunday as her elderly father would like to attend his 75th!!!!! High School Reunion and children are not wanted at the celebration. Of course, I said “yes” but it has rather sidetracked other plans, especially as I will need to provide lunch for two hungry teens and one tween!
This morning is the weekly Bake alongside lunch prep for Mae Anne’s visit, so I think is now time to close off with our recipe. As the weather is FINALLY hot and sunny, one evening, this week I made a spring salad for my supper. It is so lovely to enjoy crispy fresh veggies again!
Shrimp and Penne Salad
- 8 oz. penne, cooked and well drained
- 4 oz. small cooked shrimp
- 1 hardboiled egg
- 1 avocado
- a handful of cherry tomatoes
- 1 green onion
- ½ a red pepper
- 1 Lebanese cucumber
Bagna Cauda Dressing:-
- 2 Tbsps. Asian Fish Sauce
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 Tbsps. lemon juice
First prepare the salad dressing. Crush the garlic and place in a small saucepan with the fish sauce and olive oil. Simmer for a few minutes, but do not allow to brown. Transfer to a jar and stir in all the other ingredients until smooth and blended.
Place the cooked pasta and shrimp in a large bowl. Cut all the veggies, and the egg, into generous bite-sized chunks Toss everything together with a wide spatula then pour over the dressing and gently toss again. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Serves 3-4.