Crooked seams and snakes

Friday, October 16, 2020

As I'm about to run down the stairs behind the hall, I stop to wonder why there's an electrical cord wound around the stairwell. I take a second look. It's not a cord but a 2 meter snake.

From the security shed, Pak Edi grabs his snake hook. He walks into the hall with a smile.

He calmly lifts the snake from the railing, put the hook halfway down its body, grabs the tail, and pulls the snake toward him. The snake clamps its fangs on the corner of a rug and the rug starts to curl up. Pak Eki reaches for the head, releases the fangs and picks up the snake.

Saturday

Oh this is exasperating! One minute, it feels like I'm almost done. And then suddenly I'm a long way from finished. For a few hours, I sew on the quilt top. My mind is free to ponder; how can we best connect and serve, even in this time of COVID?

I make good progress, so ... what about the back? Should I continue? It also needs piecing.

I grab a page of paper and a pen to do my calculations. The central patterns of the two main batiks have been cut up for the front of the quilt, but their three-sided borders will frame the back of the quilt. So what's the big deal?

Every batik border is a different size. Depending on the border lengths, a number of strips will be added to match the size of the front to the back. Once I have total size of front and back, I'll cut fabric to fit between the batik borders.(What size is the insert? I won't know until I have the final dimensions for the quilt top.)

That means math. Multiple pieces, colors, sizes. Precise measurements between 3 surfaces. And I can't think about anything else when that happens. My carpenter tape, pen, and paper engage in a dance. Almost there. Almost there.

I'm getting to the last of the calculations when someone interrupts me with an unrelated question. "Did you read the WhatsApp about --?"

Nope, I didn't.

And there go the numbers, which had just started to settle in my head. A half-morning of math is undone. I'm too tired to continue. So frustrating! I fold up the fabrics from the floor and put them away for another day.

Our normal visitor load has shrunk with COVID, which affects Indonesia like everywhere else. We have a few people over every Saturday for pizza night. But mostly, the big round table sits empty. I like the Indian cloth on it, though.

There's time for a quick dash into the garden before our guests arrive.

There are a lot of fragrant blooms, perfect for the bathroom and nooks where they'll be noticed most.

For supper, W pre-bakes the pizza crusts. We eat pizza on the porch with our guests. Everyone chooses their own toppings on their own crust before W pops them into his pizza oven.

Sunday

On our walks, we can't look up for long. Paving is done around established trees.

The durability of the road depends on who did the work, if someone skimmed off materials for other jobs, and whether the road has been maintained.

We were pretty happy when the city put concrete slabs put over the drainage ditch along the main road up the hill. A sidewalk makes a hit from a car or motorcycle less likely as we walk to the store.

Earlier this week, our friend Angie taught Ibu Apong to make German pretzel buns. They're delicious. I sacrifice one for IbuA to taste. "What do you think, Bu?" I ask her.

"Needs sugar for Sundanese tastes," she replies. No no no. Please no sugar in them ... they are delicious.

Thursday, we walked in Lembang. W is still off his twisted foot, but I take the dogs along. The driver has forgotten the leash so Veronica cobbles together string and we tie the string to the collars whenever we're walking through villages.

One of the walkers drops her glasses into the creek, gesturing while on a bridge. She wades in after them.

We have two long uphills to master after a long slope down to the creek. Ugh. my heart rate goes to 160 climbing each. It's hot, we drink a lot along the way, and we are happy to make it back to the car.

In our neighborhood, men are clearing vegetation from the roadsides. At lunchtime, they sleep on the plastic sacks they will fill with garbage, litter, and leaves.

Everyone is doing something. what's your part in the world?

Read more:

*Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar. 

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands. Psalm 138:6-8 NIV

*Turn now, everyone of you, from your evil way and wicked doings. Jeremiah 25:5

*But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,  or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:21-26 NIV

*I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Romans 7:22-23

Moravian Prayer: God of grace—keep us from doing evil and wicked things. We feel bad when we do wrong. Teach us the way to be obedient to you. Amen.

Fishing and piecing

Monday, October 12, 2020

Well, though we're working, W and I spend some creative energy between meetings and obligations. He researched travel and hotels for an upcoming conference.

Moi? After an early meeting with another right after, I think today is the day to piece the first of two quilt tops. My mind wanders freely when my hands are busy, or that's the theory. I have some options to think through - shall we do this or that - so I turn on zoom and get to work on everything but the options.

By the end of the day, the center of a twin-sized quilt top is done. I just lay the border around the outside to make sure it will look ok before folding it away. As usual, handwork and math also clarify other issues. Some of the puzzles in my head work themselves out for the week ahead.

Some quilters use patterns, but I like to play. The blocks were cut out of two pieces of batik a few weeks ago.

t took me a few tries to get a layout I liked.

 

The blocks were then stacked in a neat pile, along with fabric scraps. (Those fabrics will be inserted between the blocks. Maybe. Depends on what I like when I'm in the flow of sewing, right?)

For me, the math takes longer than it used to. I made a loose sketch and a B&W printout of the blocks. All I need is the approximate placement and width for the strips between blocks.

 

The quilt top has to jell in my head before I can start. Today, I have a fluid picture of what might happen. So I'm ready to start piecing and experimenting.

My office becomes a mess of clipped threads, possible layouts, trimmed fabric, and cutting tools.

The trusty Bernina machine churns through a lot of seams. I keeping sewing and ironing. (You can't sew intersections until the seams are flattened.)

Why not just "go for it," sewing blocks of strips together? I cut and sew strips to fit between blocks.  The tails of the longer strips hang loosely at the ends of sections. The strips are all different lengths but can be reconfigured into new patterns, right? (and that's what happens.) The rows of block are sewn together with extra strips inserted as needed. The seam ripper comes in handy if I don't get the order right. Or if I just plain don't like it.

About suppertime, we have dear guests drop by. After they leave, I do a few tests of the border, sending pics to my artsy friends for their vote. I'll attach the border and sew the backing another day. (Disgarded option #2 below. The one chosen is above.)

Tuesday

About 7am, I make Dutch Babies (oven pancakes.) Sometimes you're just hungry for a certain taste. While they bake, W and I record sound bites for the next few weeks online. 

I head to the office for a 9:00 team meeting. We're still online, but I have better focus when I'm in the office. After answering emails and phone calls, it's lunchtime. W fortuitously drops by with a mango juice. He's just picked up Kirsten's passport. Yay! I hitch a ride home to eat Vietnamese spring rolls. They're among my favorite foods. (I made extra noodles and chicken on Sunday so it would be a simple "roll" inside the rice wrapper today.)

*Thanks for all those who prayed: K got her visa renewal ... and her passport is back. It's always slightly freakish for foreigners to leave our passports in other hands, somewhere in an immiration office.*

When I get back to the office, there are a few calls waiting and a few chores. Done.

And yes, today I have time for another cleanup. The "fish pail" (designated for aquarium water changes) has been sitting in the office since before the weekend. I have to build up energy and enthusiasm for cleaning, regardless what is being tidied.

The office aquarium needs a deep clean. Since it only happens once or twice a year, it's a small chore between months of pleasure and relaxation. Ok, ok, today's the day.

Algae on the glass obscures the view, the soil is poking out from under the gravel, and the water is never clear even with water changes. The moss on the back panel is muddy grey from filtering fish waste, too. 

It only takes 2 hours to catch the fish, drain and scrub the tank, and clean and rinse the gravel, sand, and rocks. I trim and reattach the plants, stack the volcanic rocks, and refill the tank.  The filter works hard: within an hour, everything is crystal clear. Finally, plop: in go the fish from their little holding bowl.

The sun sets early - I want to be off the streets before dark, so I clean up, clear out, and do a final walk. Saya sedang pulang. I am going home.

Read more:

*David said to Solomon, “The Lord God will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.” 1 Chronicles 28:20

Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. 1 Corinthians 4:1

Moravian Prayer: We are your servants, Lord. Stand by us, as you did with Solomon, as we do your work. We know that with your guidance and protection, we can accomplish more of your work. Amen.

Roots on the ground

 Monday, October 5, 2020

Kirsten orders masks for children, which we'll have on hand for our BIC gatherings.

Walking to the office, I spot this amazing and big bug. Maybe 2.5"' long?

Tuesday

The neighborhood flowers are lovely, on long spiney stems. They make good security fences - no one will climb over them without severe damage.

Over the tall neighbor's gate, there's a mass of flowering trees and vines.

There are "16-yr-olds" driving bikes up and down the residential streets nearby. 16? (I know, right?!)

The red-stemmed palms wave overhead.

And other palms are dripping with fruit.

I review a few books this week - this one is a joy to explore.

And Ibu Apong finds some blooms in the garden. The whites are highly scented.

And the amaryllis flowers are a deep red, lasting days in the back hall.

Thursday

It's another day of walking in the hills. Waldemar is home - he sprained his ankle yesterday, walking on a foot that fell asleep while we were sitting at the table. Ice and rest are his treatment.

We have a good group walking today. The root systems along the trails and streets are breathtaking. They extend as far as the tree is high.

We walk to two waterfalls, along quiet streams, through rice paddies, and up mountain paths.

One waterfall is 125 meters high.

This is one of the better bamboo bridges. There are many, in various conditions. We have to carry the dogs across - Cocoa falls through one to the bank below. Luckily he is on a leash so we can haul him up.

The special rice harvest is black rice - the seeds are just starting to darken in the paddies.

Some of the trails between rice fields are narrow, with drop-offs on either side.

The first waterfall is on the distant hill.

There's some up and down between dozens of banana trees and other "wild" plants and trees.

There are acres and acres of rice in all stages, from clumps of seedlings that are being planted, to young seedlings, to rice almost ready for harvest.

A lady smokes red sugar and dries them in cylinder forms in her little shed.

The second waterfall is tucked in the mountains - we take a short detour on the way down from the first waterfall.

Along the way back, a jockey takes his horse up the hill, holding the reins as he rides his motorcycle.

Friday

Office day - I spend hours online with people at their desks in Germany, India, Australia, and Korea. I'm making good progress on Book 2 - almost ready for publication.

I'm also about halfway through the first edit of a book about our stay in Cambridge. There are hundreds of letters to sort: which ones to keep and which ones to leave out?

I hop on my elliptical between sessions, pedaling backwards and forward as fast as I can, making my heart pound and moving my legs out of a sitting pose. I'm not able to do too much: my legs ache after a few minutes but it's good to keep moving.

Saturday

After all the hours of desk work this week, I stay home. This is going to be a morning of play. I cut strips of colored cotton and begin to piece together the quilt top. I like having the iron handy - I press the seams as soon as they're sewn.

In the evening, Ruth and two friends come over. She's moving to Jakarta to marry and work. We'll miss her on our team. W's pizza is getting better and better.

The dogs run after the crusts we throw into the garden. We've taken to putting some of the dry pellets in separated bowls and the rest on the concrete to slow down their gulping food. Gypsy is strategic: he eats everything outside the bowls that he can lick up quickly. Then he starts to work on his bowl.

Meanwhile Cocoa hunkers down, feet around her own bowl so no one can steal her food. They're each clever in their own way.

Read more:

*The desert and the parched land will be glad;

    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;

    it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

    the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the Lord,

    the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the feeble hands,

    steady the knees that give way;

say to those with fearful hearts,

    “Be strong, do not fear;

your God will come,

    he will come with vengeance;

with divine retribution

    he will come to save you.”

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened

    and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

 

Then will the lame leap like a deer,

    and the mute tongue shout for joy.

Water will gush forth in the wilderness

    and streams in the desert. Isaiah 35:1-6 NIV

*The Lord spoke and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. Psalm 33:9

*Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. Mark 4:39

Moravian Prayer: All powerful and mighty God, when you speak, it is done. Open our ears and hearts to hear your words and obey them. Praise God! Amen.