Retreat

My week of study leave begins today and I am so thankful for this time to dig deep into my connection with God through reflection, prayer, silence and outdoor walks. I arrived tonight on Bowen Island, the place of sanctuary that I so love.

I am staying at Rivendell, a place of retreat up high in the mountains. I have my own room and bathroom. It`s a sacred space.Let the creativity, prayers, dreams and reflections begins....

Fairhaven

Mom and I spent the day in Fairhaven, Washington yesterday. It`s one of my favourite places to visit in the area. This isn`t surprising considering there is a bookstore, gardening shop, cooking school and pottery store. The only thing missing is a fabric shop! We had great tasting lunch in a British-styled tea room followed by a great walk in the sunshine. It was a mild and beautiful day and the ocean was gorgeous. Mom and I had a great time. The added bonus being that the border waits in both directions were just twenty minutes. Photo: Standing on the corner in front of the double decker bus. A place to visit in the summer for great tasting fish & chips.

Apple Jam

2011 has begun with vacation time! Last week I was in Toronto to visit friends and to reconnect with a city that I love. On one of the more snowy days we decided to stay at home and make apple jam using apples from around Carmen`s cabin property. I had never tasted apple jam before so it was a new and exciting thing to try. We filled two dozen jars in a matter of hours. It makes for a delicious treat on crackers or toast. Here is a similar recipe I found online so you can try it out.

Apple Jam

Ingredients:
•2 kilograms of apples, cleaned
•3 cups water
•1 lemon
•1 1/5 kilograms sugar
•1 tablespoon cinnamon (optional)

Cooking:
Wash, clean and chop apples and put them in the water with lemon juice.
Pour 1/2 kilogram of sugar in water with apples and cook them till apples soften.
Pour rest of the sugar in boiling apple mix and cook it for 10 minutes more. Stir cinnamon in apples and remove them from the heat.
Pour warm jam in clean jam jars, seal them and process for 10 minutes in boiling water bath.

Winter Fun!

Winter Market

Today is the first Winter Farmer's Market and I am looking forward to filling up my kitchen with all sorts of delicious food. I expect there will be many perserves which are great for upcoming Christmas parties; pickled beets, peppers, relishes and chutneys. I am also on the hunt for a wreath. I'll see what I can find.

Cheer!

Hip!Hip! Hooray!! Dad arrives today!!

I am sitting on the couch waiting with excitement for his arrival. He took the red eye from Hawaii and landed in Vancouver early this morning. After having breakfast with a friend he'll be driving out my way. I haven't seen him in nine months and I can't wait to spend the next week with him.

The house is clean, the muffins are baking in the oven and I have the next 48 hours off. Yay!!

My paper is in!

I finally handed in my paper to presbytery (regional church body) tonight. It was due on Wednesday. I have just been sooooooooooooooooooooo busy lately and tomorrow I will lead my second memorial service within a week. Last week it was for a friend's brother who died suddenly (just 28 years old) and tomorrow it will be for an 85 year old retired police officer. It's going to be a big service. Anyways, back to the paper. It's about 15 pages long and it is a detailed portfolio of all the work, classes, education and accomplishments I have done over the last sixteen years. A committee will review it and then interview me next Monday. Fingers crossed all will be well and I will be recommended for Recognized Designated Lay Ministry. Right now, I am in the unrecognized category. Wish me luck!