Hello Blog Friends,
Welcome to 2026! It has been quite a peaceful week as most of my little “world” hibernates in the space between Christmas and New Year. I’m sure many of my friends are tired of hearing me say that I celebrate New Year on the first Sunday of Advent and not on January 1st, but I will concede that is the first day of the first month of the calendar year!
Despite the office (aka my laptop, which is still languishing on the kitchen table as I try to find the best way to replace it) being technically closed, there are always a few, welcome, end of year donations to process and for which to send thank you cards and, for the past couple of years, I have made a point, at this time of writing to all the donors who regular support the ministry of Day Camps and my role in it. All of which is to say that the laptop has not been lonely on the kitchen table as I keep it company for a good portion of each day!
Since the Day Camp committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month, there has also been the agenda, Meet link and December Minutes to circulate. If all of that correspondence lapses for a full week, it means most of the following days are spent playing “catch -up” so it is really best to spend a few hours dealing with keeping the wheels turning so I can step into the coming week with a clean slate. This will be especially important as, following the Feast of Epiphany comes another “Changing of the Decorations”, this time from Advent/Christmas to Epiphany/Winter.
As of Thursday, I have had a houseguest! Guylaine (Team Alumnus, former Office Worker, Director of Communications and, most importantly)-FRIEND, asked if would be possible to bunk in for a few nights. Since she works, in Ottawa, for the government, she has a couple more days off than does her husband and decided to come to Montreal to visit family and friends. Her parents live in a suburb, south of the city but, several of her siblings are also home for Christmas and so she really needed somewhere else to stay. It is many years since she occupied the Blue Bedroom, when serving as a Day Camp Training Team Leader, but she has definitely stayed in that bed before! Of course, she has been out quite a bit but it has been nice to catch up with her at breakfast each morning and she was also in for dinner on Thursday and wiull join me again tonight.
During the early part of the week, we also experienced a mini-Ice Storm with a huge amount of freezing rain and high-velocity winds. Many areas lost power but, thankfully this neighbourhood was spared although getting around on ice covered streets has been extremely hazardous. Monday morning, I did my best to de-ice the front path and a brave friend was able to make it to my house for brunch and Wednesday afternoon another friend made it over after work and ended up staying for dinner, but, other than dangerous excursions to put out and retrieve the recycling and compost bins, or spread more .Eco-Friendly de-icer, it has been impossible to venture further afield, even though I do have crampons to attach to the soles of my boots. AGH!!!!!
While hunkering down, I have managed to complete a lovely Alpaca and silk cardigan that a friend had given up on. As I had no pattern to follow, it was quite a challenge but I am very happy with the final result. And, for Christmas, my friend, Jeanne Marie, who visited Norway last summer, has given me a lovely knitting kit for a pair of traditional mittens, which have already been cast on!
Today, is the usual “Bake” day, with GF bread for Sue, who plans to pop in tomorrow afternoon for a belated Christmas visit. She also wants to see, in person, the crazy complicated pinecone garland I put together from a crafting kit, she had passed on to me, after being completely defeated, herself, by just reading the instructions, Ha, Ha!
Today, Mae Anne is coming for her monthly lunch visit. She has worship practice on Saturday mornings, at her church and so usually does not arrive until nearly 1pm. I’m timing my Bake so I can end up with a Cheeseburger Pizza for us to share.
In a few minutes, the GF loaves, a batch of Digestive Biscuits and a banana loaf need to come out of the oven but, before signing off, here is this week’s recipe, which, last Monday, I served to my friend for our brunch visit.
Smoked Salmon Kedgeree.
- 300g. Basmati rice
- 4 hardboiled eggs, roughly chopped
- 225g. smoked salmon, flaked
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 3 Tbsps. unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsps. olive oil
- 2 tsps. Madras Curry Powder
- 4 green onions, shredded
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 Tbsps, each, chopped cilantro and flat leaf parsley
Put the rice in a large pot and add 2 ½ cups water, stir, cover and bring to the boil. Remove the lid and keep over medium-low heat until the water has absorbed (about 15 mins.). Cover and remove from the heat and let steam until dry. Heat the olive oil and half the butter in a large skillet. Add the curry powder and stir until fragrant. Add the onion and sauté until lightly browned. Now add the cooked rice, eggs, green onions, and salmon, gently fold together until everything is warmed through. Sprinkle on the herbs, small cubes of remaining butter and the lime juice. Serve immediately in warm bowls. Serves 4