Finding Ohio

I found Ohio today. On a map, that is. Not in person.

I got Ohio and Iowa mixed up again. I started reading a book about a man-eating tiger and got sidetracked by curiosity. I read about an exotic animal farm in Ohio where 18 tigers, 17 lions, 8 bears, 3 cougars, 2 wolves, 1 baboon, and a macaque were shot in 2011.  They'd been uncaged before their keeper committed suicide.

(Photo from Wikipedia)

In Ohio (wherever that is.) I was vaguely thinking Iowa, middle-ish, right-ish on the American map, isn't it? Wrong. Not the same place.

For someone who grew up in Winnipeg and near Vancouver, the USA is a mysterious wash of states, once you get beyond South Dakota, whether east or south. On a blank map, I can pick out North and South Carolina (if I don't get confused by Georgia). I can find New York, Maryland, Hawaii, Alaska, Florida, Texas, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and our 30-yr resident state of Washington. (Probably. Maybe. With some luck.)

W and I flew to a conference in Tennessee after living in the USA for 10 years. I was flying across the lower continent for the first time. I remember wondering where Tennessee was and where Atlanta was; we had a short layover there. Nashville and Knoxville? They were a complete revelation on the airplane map.

(Photo from 10 Tips of Architectural Drawing)

As a child, I learned the Canadian provinces and their capitals. Canadian schools didn't teach much more about the USA beyond its long border south of us. We knew American fought each other in a civil war in the last 200 years and still talked abut it. The country had a complicated history of constitutional documents and owning other humans. And Americans were not Canadian, especially when it came to politics and war.

Diversity is good, Canadians are taught. And it's good to know where you come from, no matter where in the world that is. Canada. USA. Asia. Europe. Africa - and beyond. "Treasure your past as information and valuable heritage."

(Photo from Living Big in a Tiny House)

I still feel that way. Most of our adult friends are Americans, and they are as diverse and wonderful as can be.

How are your ancestors and family of origin still shaping the way you think and live today?

Read more:
Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might. Ecclesiastes 9:10

Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Romans 12:11

Moravian Prayer: We stretch out our hands, Lord Jesus, seeking the work that will serve and please you. Place that work within our reach and inspire and strengthen us in our labor. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Slow days, fast weeks

"The days are slow but the years go quickly." I've thought this many times while raising children, whether working from home or job sites, or when reflecting on memories.

The dogs watch from the porch as I work at my desk. I close the office door so I don't have to wear a mask while the helper sweeps outside.

Gypsy casually walks over. He stands on hind legs, leans on the lever, and reopens the door. He lays down again and gives me the stink-eye. He doesn't take his eyes off me for quite a while, like "I dare-you-to-do-that-again!" I put on my mask.

The helper closes the door so she can sweep behind it. Gypsy tolerates it for 5 minutes and then opens it again, slinking back to collapse in a watchful heap. He makes me laugh. Sure knows what HE wants.

The third time he opens the door, he circles around a few times, giving me "the look." Don't mess with me, is what he seems to say. And when he lays down, he never takes his eyes off me through the doorway. I love that dog. He's funny and willing to get what he wants. The door is open - for now.

Friday, April 24, 2020

After a half-hour walk with the dogs, I make myself tea. Today I don't just steep a teabag in a mug.

I heat a clay pot the way WuJin taught me, first rinsing the green tea leaves brought from China from Chen. I dump the water into the sink.

After the next infusion, the water is boiled just a little warmer than the right temperature and stored in a pre-heated thermos. I can't keep running back and forth to refill the little clay teapot, can I? There's work to do!

Each time I fill the pot with hot water, the leaves unfurl a little more. I fill the pot, steep the leaves, and pour tea into the cup, overflowing into the tray.

"You can do this many times, not just 2 or 3," WuJin told me. The leaves offer up a subtle new taste with each infusion.

This morning, it's just me and the tea, looking over my computer to the orange bougainvillea that drapes the neighbor's entry. Vines are swallowing his gate. Beautiful.

W is wrapping up a 2-week class for Singapore. The college asks if I'm willing to do a class with 3 weeks of night school and long Saturdays. Oh my.

Our internet is sometimes flaky at the house. I'm not walking a few blocks alone at night to and from the office. However, tech offers options. I may pre-record a video for each hour. Students could watch and then discuss it instead of a live info-class that may skip in and out.

I slather bug lotion on my feet this morning. The mosquitoes ignore it and bite my ankles anyway. How annoying. The tea is soothing though.

--

One of the rewards for training kids to cook when they're young is their creativity when they grow up. At our house, cooking was an ongoing chemistry experiment and part of homeschool. Sure, W learned to make basic meals.

But our 3 boys and Kirsten? They experimented with food combinations. Some lab trials may have been more successful than others, but  the kids learned to find their way in the kitchen beyond starvation to inventive meals. (Our daughters-in-law are also fantastic cooks. Lucky sons!)

Last night, Kirsten made a mean taco combo that W and I practically inhaled. I don't think I've had a hard-shell taco for years. (Maybe on our annual trip to Seattle?) The homemade pineapple salsa, with a hot pepper from our garden, tasted perfect.

Saturday and Sunday
It's been a quiet weekend. We do BIC Online (replays here), which saves a lot of going back and forth.

W made pizza in his pizza oven yesterday - and that was good. He's getting the hang of it.

On our Sunday night, the grandkids are up early, 14 hours behind us. They call before 9pm (our time) as we wind down for bed. One snuggles in her blanket and talks to us from there. Her brother takes us on a tour of the house, his books, and what he's doing.

Their little brother is building as usual. He shows off his marble runway and gets right back to work with intent focus. Meanwhile the toddler demonstrates her new jumping skills, learned from the bouncy house inflated in the living room. (Now that was a wonderful useful-for-4-kids!-gift from friends.)

W drifts off to sleep, but I'm awake and reading for another hour. Happy.

Monday
It's the end of rainy season. Ramadan has begun. There is chanting day and night, reading the Koran and saying ritual prayers. After 7 years of the holiday cycle, we hardly hear it most of the time. Muslims are fasting set hours, food and water. The sick, the aged, and the youngest are exempt. The feasting begins in the evening; you can hear the wake-up call about 3am, when women start to cook breakfast for their families. As you can imagine, most people are exhausted during the day.

The first year we were here, Ramadan fell during the driest part of Dry Season. We were in hot hot hot Jakarta (90o+ every day). People moved slowly and minimally, conserving body hydration. It's cooler in Bandung and we're still in wet season so it's easier on the body.

Some areas of Indonesia have lifted the fast entirely. In general, Indonesians are not healthy or resistant to illness. The government has banned domestic travel by train, plane, and in some areas, cars and motorcycles to slow the spread of the virus that leads to Covid-19.

The 12' (4 meter) hedge by the gate has burst into 1' flower plumes. Quite spectacular though few people stop to admire it. That kind of beauty is everywhere - sometimes I pluck a few huge clusters for the house.

"Bloom where you're planted" takes on a deeper meaning here. At the sides of the roads, I spot multiple beds of "weeds" (impatiens, philodendrons, and others) that would have delighted me years ago when trying to grow houseplants.

The fairytale cottage is still empty. I admire it every time I pass but we have a 3-yr lease already ... the property is as big as our yard but it's surrounded by restaurants (= extreme noise from loudspeakers during events). It's falling into disrepair. The tropics are hard on a house and yard. You need to do constant maintenance as things fall apart, are eaten away, or baked by the sun.

Most larger houses have a tower for water storage talks. City water is turned off most of the day, coming on only in the morning. The city has long ago outgrown its infrastructure. We shower when we have water pressure.

In the office, the paludarium plants get a trim. They are growing well - all the little-leafed weeds and ferns that I plucked from the side of the street.

The fish seem to be doing just fine with a daily feeding and water change. Mind you, the one fish that jumped out during the night lies very still. It misses the morning food.

Read more:

*“I pledged myself to you and entered into a covenant with you,” says the Lord God, “and you became mine.” Ezekiel 16:8

*I called to the Lord out of my distress, and he answered me. Jonah 2:2

*Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him. Mark 5:22-24

*In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. Galatians 3:26

*You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:23

Moravian Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are a comforting presence. Let us feel you ever beside us, going with us into situations that cause us pain and fear. In darkness, let us find your light; in death, let us find your life.

Great God, as we remember our covenant with you, let us covenant with one another to love and serve you. Bless your followers wherever they gather today in fellowship and faith. Amen.

Some questions for your day

The house is filled with perfume. I put the Vanda orchid in the doorway this morning - it gets the light, we get the fragrance.

 Vandas are pretty, but I got one because of the sweet scent that is between jasmine and gardenia.

Are you tired of staying in? Missing your friends and coworkers? This was the consensus of those I met with Thursday on Zoom: "I know my people are out there, but I don't know how to connect. We're all tired of online calls."

They shared a few questions they're asking. One or two might help you, going forward, too.
Work:

• Do you still have to be productive? If so, what does that look like?
• What can you just drop? Put on pause? 
• What do you need to do this week?

Stress:

• In what ways can you admit that you're tired, discouraged, or scared?
• What has reduced your stress in the past? How can you use that now?
• What are you grateful for? Gratitude balances a stressed heart.

Spiritual care:

• Do you have a trusted person or group you can talk to, repent to, or ask for feedback?
• What still really matters? What should you do now for the future outcome/s you want?
• Are you drawing closer or withdrawing from God and spiritual mentors?

As I watch the fish swim round and round the planted cylinder on my desk, I marvel - God cares for his creatures and they don't worry. Can I trust him as much as they do?

A bit foot-loose and happy

Sunday, April 19, 2020
I love spinach in white sauce. Why? don't know - I just do. It's my comfort food. When W was off working and the kids and I were home alone, I sometimes ate a half-bag of Costco (3 lb) spinach for an evening snack.

I cook spinach for lunch, along with baked potatoes. W sears beef cooked last month in his suis vide (food aquarium). Freezer to stovetop to table. Delicious.

We started the morning on Facebook with online church (BicBandung14). We celebrate communion each week, but what I have on hand are cookies and tea. It's a different kind of Communion as I think about all the people eating around the Lord's Table. Some  have some rice crackers with soju, some unleavened bread with wine, some cake and juice ... it reminds us of his death, until he comes returns.

I've been enjoying Jessica Abel's Growing Gills book club. "Do one thing on your list this weekend," she advises. I tackle a small shelf in my office that holds fabrics, birdseed, dog meds, and the fish-water-changing-pail. It's so tidy when it's done that it makes me happy.

Until I look over at my cluttered desk. It holds things from the shelf, scraps for sewing face-masks, a writing project, some business, art, and a paper pile waiting to be filed.

I try to keep my desk clear and clean so that I can get right to work when I get into the office. Not this time. Ugh.

When I'm done, I'm content. Tomorrow's work is ready on my standing desk. I can tell what needs doing. Thanks for the booster, Jessica.

Someone sends a GoSend (motorcycle delivery) to pick up my Merrill shoes, a favorite brand. They're water-to-trail, sized 7M. That's my size. But they're huge! maybe 8.5 or 9 so perhaps they were sized for men. (Would a guy wear this color?) The bright leather and webbing will cushion bigger feet. The gal sends me a picture later in the day - a good fit for her. Yay.

Monday 

Monday is my turn to do BIC's FB livestream. I have 15 minutes before my 7am meeting. No problem: I sit down and start the livestream. The house is quiet.

Then W and K come downstairs, chattering and walking through the office as I wrap up. Oops, the livestream is still running as I follow them onto the porch and sigh, "This is the quiet time of day. What are you doing up already?" haha - W reminds me of their grocery run while there are the least number of people in the food aisles.

"Ok, see ya." I'll redo.

Someone lets me know that the livestream is still running. I finally figure out how to shut it down (at 9 minutes - 4 after I'm done!) delete, and start again. Oops. I'm late to my first meeting. My online friend is patient and kind about it.

I snip a beautiful wild plant that's come up in the garden and put it in the entry.

The tiny flowers are exquisite, almost orchid-like.

We have Mondays off when teaching 2-week classes based in Singapore. W's in the middle of one on Church History. On Zoom, he leads our 9am Monday study. I mute my mike and video, listening in while I roll up my sleeves.

I cleared off my desk and one shelf yesterday. Today, we mess everything up again to deep-clean the big shelf (5' across, 2' deep, 7.5' high). First, I tackle one side, from tip-top to base-bottom. I can't believe how much fits on it.

I sift out what I no longer use. Some things will go to others, some to the other office. The obsolete gets tossed. Then it's time for the other side - the pic is about 3/4 of the way! Making progress.

Sumi and I vacuum away the lizard poop that falls off the shelves onto the carpet. She washes down the painted wood. I dust books, files, and boxes. We're almost there.

It's very dusty here: the windows and doors are custom-made so they're not airtight. Wind and storms push soil and soot through the house every day. It's a "love-to-clean" nut's dream. (Smiles. I'm a "I-love-clean" nut, but sadly not an "I-love-to-clean" one.)

By evening, I can work at my desk again. Maybe one more day for the office cabinet and it will be done.

Some treasures appear as I sort. Anyone want to play in a band? Here are the basics.

By 7pm, I'm exhausted; the day started at 5am, After a quick shower, I confirm the Zoom link for an 8pm meeting, set the alarm clock. and take a quick nap.

The MasterMind of 4 (a think tank) meets at 9am, American East Coast time. It's only our second round, but it's WONDERFUL to see the women. The goal is to have them lead masterminds of their own. For a few months, I'm their facilitator. Across the USA, several friends are also MM trainers, enjoying their own groups.

It's good to wrap up and get into bed before 10pm. I love the quiet of the night with insects buzzing in the trees and lizards chirping as they catch them.

The dogs lie outside our door, guarding and snoozing near us, day and night. From the porch, they follow me around the house. When I'm in the office, they're at that door. When I walk to the bedroom or living room, they peer through the floor-to-ceiling windows and trail me to the next place. Good doggies! Sometimes, Gypsy leans on the latch and opens the door so that he can see me. (Bad doggie.)

Tuesday

W's off to teach online. He sets up at the office before 7. The dogs and I drop him at the gate and then walk the long neighborhood loop, mask on.

It's deserted. The big tourist attraction is gated. Across the street, a patchwork of pop-up food stalls for drivers and workers stands empty.

A few GoJek (motorcycle taxi) drivers wait to be called into action but not many people are going anywhere.

A sign appears over the entry to our neighborhood: "Stay away if you don't wear a mask."

The government has curtailed non-essential errands and jobs. We must stay home, starting tomorrow. Most people have been furloughed, laid off, or quarantined for 3-4 weeks already. It may be a long two weeks ahead, while Indonesia evaluates their response to Covid-19. In a social culture, it's hard to stay apart.

As I approach our gate, I notice the red flower stalks on the trees. We usually just walk by, accustomed to their showy display. When we first moved to this country, I was astonished by the variety of flowering trees, more spectacular than garden flowers.

We chopped the shrubs back a few weeks ago but now they're overgrown again. They beautify the gate and snag the side mirror of the car.

Lunch is a delicious flavored rice and chicken from our friend, who caters Ruth's Ribs #ruthsribs. Each meal is about $3.50 and comes with stunning roses, one for each of us.

In the afternoon, I leave my work waiting. We need to record some segments for BIC Online. Instead of a simple task, it takes a big chunk of time. The audio isn't working. I read and catch up on email for nearly an hour, while W tries to figure out what's happened. It's a simple click, of course. He has to redo his morning talk as well.

I'd made pasta for lunch so we eat it for supper instead. The spaghetti noodles with creamy tomato sauce, chicken sausage, mushrooms, and kale are MMMM good. I've forgotten what it's like to cook all the time. At least cooking is quick, once I know what I'm hungry for, based on the ingredients in the fridge.

Wednesday
W's gone when I get up at 6:20. No walk for me this morning. I usually leave when he leaves - and today he snuck out at 6:15am. Before his class, he finishes up a few chores in the office. He's happy.

I may tuck into the reading chair for hand-quilting. I brought an almost-done quilt from MT a few years ago and found it yesterday when I cleared the office ...

Better still, I find some Costco brownie mix in the cabinet. A balanced brunch coming up: brownies and tea.

On the porch, the fish swim and the birds sing. Actually, the lovebirds are squawking in their cage. When we make calls from home, people remark on the loud bird conversations. For survival, we block out the racket. The constant hiss in the yard is from cicadas: one or two work like a white noise machine, with the bark of far-off dogs and crowing roosters as accompaniment. "Let every creature praise the LORD."

Wait, I smell brownies. See you later.

Read more:
*Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. Daniel 6:23

*Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

Moravian Prayer: Alert, firm in faith, courageous, strong: all these things we pray to be, today and always, through you, risen Savior. In the face of all hardship, all grief, all fear, keep us strong for your service. Amen.

Peace like a river

Another surreal week spins by.  I feel God's peace swirling around and over us, like a river.

There's art: I'm working on a miniature library.

And scrubbing - I clean one of 12 stove burners to show the helper what SOS steel pads can do on brass.

I bake and cook: one lunch is chicken on  peanut butter bread with steamed bok choy, apples,,and sweet mustard. W's sandwich has mayo.

One day, I learn how to make sourdough pizza crust - and there's enough left over to freeze for another day. We find out that roti parata makes a fine dough as well.

I'm still prepping the toppings but hoping W will be doing it all soon. This time (3rd try) is a winner - individual pizzas with tomato sauce, cheese, green peppers, olives, mushrooms, and pepperoni. Just because I'm in the mood for salsa, I also make some with tomatoes, peppers, onion, cilantro, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Tastes great on our pizzas.

We're intent on serving the community during the covid-19 crisis though. One of the giving projects through the Bandung International Church (BIC) is providing funds for hazmat suits. One of our members works with medical teams and knows how much they need help. If you want to contribute, please do! (Check out this page on how.)

The LR is in blue - at least the pillows have gone blue. It's still restful, but I move a lamp to the reading chair that's always been too dark for reading. When life is quiet, I move the house around.

The problem with an old house is that there may be only one or two electrical outlets in a room. We have 2 in the LR and nook (at either end of one wall). And 2 in the kitchen. Anything to plug in elsewhere needs a long extension cord. We used to see those cords, but now we're so used to them cluttering the floors and counters that they're almost invisible.

I do a few online seminars and catch up on a lot of blogs on leadership, art, and design. I remind myself how to properly set a table, among other reviews.

My favorite two courses are in process: Growing Gills by Jessica Abel #growinggills, a seminar about defining and finishing projects. The other is about managing transitions and crises: Michael Hyatt's Leading Through Crisis. #leadingthroughcrisis #michaelhyatt. Two completely different subjects, from business and artist points of views. Fascinating. And the information overlaps in my head. Synthesis. That's what I'm processing.

We walk every day, with masks on. The dogs are happy every time we leave the yard.

Work from home is especially lovely with the drapes open during a lightning storm. The dogs cower in a covered crate while we watch the flash and count off the bang of thunders.

One day, we order food from #ruthsribs - excellent meat and rice.

I'm not in the mood for rice so save mine for later. I want Spaetzle, German noodles. I find a recipe with turmeric. It's delicious with the ribs. As usual, I put a salad underneath and eat it together.

 Ruth sends roses with every order. These are still blooming beauties 5 days later.

Every day it seems like we have several Zoom meetings - friends, work, family meet online. Our 8-yr-old granddaughter draws a sweet heart for us on a family call. She already knows WhiteBoard techniques that we're still exploring.

We have chatted with hundreds of people on Zoom the past weeks. That's more socializing that I may be wired for. I love our peeps - family, friends, and those dear ones we serve.

But is anyone else happy to stay at home? And happy when night falls and we can go to sleep?

Read more:

*The Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing. Deuteronomy 2:7

*As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. 2 Samuel 22:31-34 NIV

*Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” Isaiah 12:2-6 NIV

*As servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:4, 10

Moravian Prayer: We are often tired and discouraged, Lord. Like the saints before us, may we be strengthened and supplied by the beloved community. In your name, we pray. Amen.