Hello Blog Friends!
Here we are now officially in the calendar season of autumn and, in the liturgical lectionary year, still plodding along through the many weeks of Pentecost. I really don’t mind the “plodding” part (although, the weekly titles are not very interesting) I have no desire to rush through autumn, as it is my favourite season. The golden light and cooler temperatures make for lovely brisk days, and the garden, although sparse, is green again.
This has been a typically “full” week in the world of Day Camps. Since, next week, we will be holding our monthly committee meeting, I have felt compelled to get as many of my “ducks” (or possibly “chickens”?) in a row so that reports can be made about progress on the 2026 program and also about all the activities happening between now and Christmas. Many emails and texts have been sent and there have been a few encouraging responses. The areas where I still feel behind are those of the various sections in the 2026 program for which I’m personally responsible. Oner price of progress for the Creative Connection Chapter was deciding on a Liturgical Dance Carol (side note-the 2026 program centres around stories of Jesus’ birth and childhood, hence the “Carol”!!). As of yesterday, I had roughed out some other sections of that chapter but am yet to design the five “Registration time Activities” for which I am also responsible, hopefully inspiration will strike VERY soon!
On a couple of brighter notes:-Tuesday, an alumnus agreed to do one of the Advent program reflections and onThursday, an email came from a talented young vocalist who has offered to contribute some recordings for Carols & Cocoa, YAY!!
This week, we have had some rainy days, so there hasn’t been a huge amount of garden work, however, early Sunday morning, I managed to mow the lawns, thus beating the rains. I am gradually working my way through the flowerbeds, removing more of the shrivelled plants, which succumbed during the summer drought. It is still a bit early to be cutting so much down, but it really looks better than crispy brown leaves! I was, also, finally able to sew the pinafore dress, which I hope to wear on the day of Synod (on a stressful day, one always feels more confident when wearing something new!). The “Good Grandpa” cardigan is taking longer than hoped, since knitting was off the cards for a couple of days, due to an unpleasant “bite” incident. We are back on track now and I’m just completing the first sleeve, the question being- can I knit the second sleeve and button band, block the cardigan and sew on the buttons BEFORE next weekend, hmm….
The stream of visitors, is now “flowing” again with Mae Anne here for lunch, last Saturday, Syndi-Belle coming for dinner on Wednesday, Jillian with new baby, Clara Violet (I got to hold her for the first time!!!) on Thursday, and, yesterday, Alex for afternoon tea.
Today, just after lunch, I have a Zoom meeting with a grants committee from a church in Alberta to discuss the possibility of a grant for the Day Camps Ministry, more of this in our next! Due to the timing on the meeting, I thought it prudent to do the Saturday Bake, yesterday afternoon (before I knew Alex would be coming for tea). There had even been the possibility of not baking at all but, with the Synod events next weekend it seemed best to try, especially as Sue (who is currently on a short vacation in the UK) has requested I bake and freeze her GF loaves, ready for her return. So I bit the bullet and produced- Dog Biscuits, the GF loaves, a batch of Cinnamon Buns and an English Currant Cake, which is destined as a gift for Brian, who spent most of a precious summer Saturday squashed under my kitchen sink, attempting to fix the blocked drain!
As I do not need to bake this morning, I did the usual garden whiffle and have just finished making Kimchi with a very large Napa cabbage that a friend kindly left on my doorstep, just like the “little grey rabbit” (if you are a reader of Beatrix Potter, you will recognise this reference).
Since, in the past few days, the weather has “turned” it seemed like a good time to haul from the freezer a 4lb. beef blade roast, which had been gifted to me over the summer. I settled on recipe for a modified version of Slow Cooker Beef Stew, found on the NYT app. It was quite task deboning the roast but the results were well worth the effort. Of course, the stew can be more easily assembled, using a boneless cut of beef.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- 5 carrots, peeled and cut into 1½” chunks
- 6 small potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1½” chunks
- 1tsp dried thyme
- 2 rosemary sprigs
- 3lbs. deboned blade or chuck roast, cut into 2” chunks
- ⅓cup beef broth
- ⅓cup maple syrup
- 4garlic cloves, chopped
- 1tsp onion flakes
- 1tsp garlic powder
- 3tsps balsamic vinegar
- Sea salt and black pepper
Place all the ingredients in a 4-6quart slow cooker. Mix well, preferably using your hands. Cook on LOW for 10-12 hours, stirring, midway, if possible. Serves 8.