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.