Hello Blog Friends!
Advent Four has arrived, which means there are now, only 4 days, before Christmas!
Thankfully, all my gifts are completed and wrapped and my Christmas e-cards have been selected and post-dated to “send” tomorrow. The week has been full, with lots of loose ends to tie up. My computer woes continue, with more bad news- that my 2017 MacBook Pro is now considered “vintage” so Apple does not have the battery, which I desperately need, and of the two authorised service centres to which they referred me, one cannot get the part and the other said it would cost 626.00$ but, as the model has other problems, they could not guarantee what additional costs would be so, basically, it looks as if I will need to replace the device. Obviously, a new one is out of the question (they start at about 2,500$) but even refurbished ones are over 1,000$.
Meanwhile, the plumbing woes continue, as it has now been discovered that a maple sapling is growing in the roof drain with its roots contributing to the blocked main drain issue.
Adding to the general mood of gloom, last Sunday afternoon I set up everything for the Advent Three session of the Alumni Study Program and NO ONE turned up. A couple of people had told me they would need to miss that episode but several others had forgotten to let me know they had other activities that day. It is hoped we get a decent turn out for tomorrow’s final session!
Wednesday morning, I logged onto Chrome and discovered that the slides for Advent Four were still lacking the Reflection recording. I immediately messaged Michelle and, thankfully, she rectified the situation by Thursday; catastrophe averted!!! That day I also started the creative activity sample for tomorrow, the theme being “Love”. I cut out a number of tiny polymer clay hearts and, once baked, they will be hot-glued onto a clear glass jar, in which the votive candle will be placed. Actually, this morning, they were the first thing to go in the oven, but they are still cooling off before the sample can be completed,(see photo!)
Thursday, the workday starting extra early as, Michelle had finished uploading the reflection and journalling questions, so I was able to go in and edit the slides. Yay!! Then, around 11am Bishop Mary and her husband, Mark, stopped by to exchange Christmas gifts and have some coffee and Stöllen before they headed to the airport to pick up a cousin who was coming to stay for Christmas. Just after they left, my bi-weekly groceries were dropped off and it took such a long time to put everything away, as the small, local, organic grocer, where I shop, will not be delivering again until January 8th, so the order has to last nearly a month. That diversion also included preparing a gallon of yoghurt, as the milk and culture need to be warmed for 7 hours; first heating and then cooling to exact temperatures. Fortunately, the timing worked out so that the lids could put on the jars and set in the fridge by 830pm that evening. In between, another friend dropped by, after work, so tea was made and more Stöllen served!
Yesterday was also pretty chaotic as a friend had arranged to come for breakfast, at 930am and the young Deacon, whom I mentored until his recent ordination, was coming for lunch, since Friday is his day off and we wanted to squeeze in a visit before he is “sucked up” in the complex series of Christmas Services at the Cathedral, where he has been assigned during his Diaconate.
Fortunately, there are no visitors planned for today, so I can finish up the Christmas baking and also complete the candleholder for the Advent Program session, tomorrow afternoon. Christmas Eve, I’ll be making a traditional fish chowder, as, in many cultures, fish and seafood are always eaten for dinner, that night. Along with the chowder we always serve soft dinner rolls and hope you will try this recipe for them.
Soft-Sided White Rolls
- 2¾ cups milk
- ½ cup butter
- 1Tbsp yeast
- ¼ cup warm water
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup raw cane sugar
- 1 tsp sea salt
- Approx 7-7½cups unbleached flour
Scald the milk, add the butter and cool to lukewarm. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Stir in the milk mixture, eggs, sugar and salt. Gradually beat in 3 cups of the flour to make a smooth batter, then beat in the rest of the flour, as needed, to make a soft, but not sticky, dough. Turn out on a floured surface and knead for approx.10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in a clean, greased bowl, cover, and let rise at room temp. for 1½ hours or overnight in the fridge. If the dough has been refrigerated, remove from the fridge 2 hours before shaping., otherwise, proceed with shaping after rising. Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces and subdivide each piece into 9 small pieces, shaping them into smooth, round balls. Place 9 rolls into each of 3 greased, 9” round, baking tins and allow to rise for 30 minutes. Brush the risen rolls with a small amount of milk. Bake at 400ºF for 20 minutes, or until golden. Cool on racks. Makes 27 rolls (these freeze well!)