A trip around the table, in a manner of speaking

It's our oldest grandchild's birthday. Happy Birthday, Kinsey. This is a big one! It's great to see all the pictures sent by her sweet mom. How we enjoy those, though it's less lively than in person.

When I wait too long to move things, I become hyper-aware of spaces. This week, we swapped living and dining areas in our big old room. That takes place periodically. But this time I thought about it for two months before it happened. I just didn't have the energy to do it. (I'm borrowing this because it's so funny)

Yep, I've probably waited too long. Usually things shift as soon as I figure out where they will land. Takes 2-3 days.  I don't always like the layout right away. It takes my head a while to wrap around the new configuration.

This time, to burn off creative energy before the major swap, I cut my hair, quilted, changed sofa pillowcases and slipcovers, swapped out the kitchen counter tiles, and set up a home patio desk. We cut  flowers from the yard and make a variety of arrangements. (Wouldn't you, if such marvels grew in your garden?)

I wrote and walked the dogs with W. That always helps.

"Do you maybe have ADD?" asked the therapist. "Not everyone has to move things around." Well, maybe, if creative alignments are a symptom.

I also browsed through pictures of people. We've lived in this house for 6 1/2 years. Whew. We've had a lot of friends around the table.

Even more have hung out on the porch.

 

Hundreds have sat on the floor.

 

Some have been here for special events. Those have been a lot of fun.

When I looked further back at childhood photos, I found pictures of people sitting around my parents' table while my brothers and I were growing up. So that's always been a family thing.

Mom taught me how to cook, bake, clean, change the bedding, and make people feel welcome. Thanks, Mom! Those hospitality skills have come in handy. This week we enjoy wonton soup early in the week.

If you're lucky, you have a friend like Alice with the gift of hospitality. She loves to cook and is willing to share her experiments. #rabenhouse #alicenurarif The Greek pie was full of flavor between the flaky crusts.

I make the easiest cookies ever on a day that feels like I should bake something. If you try this, warm the peanut butter and honey together slightly (20 sec microwave or stovetop) and then stir in the rest. Makes 8 balls, mashed with a fork. Refrigerate for an hour or more.

Wow - adding this to "easy standards". We freeze the leftovers, looking forward to 2 for breakfast another day.

Homemade waffles are easy, too. I find a good recipe and sharing and freeze the leftovers. (Thaw them in a toaster when you can't think of what to eat for sarapan /breakfast).

Asha sends a picture of herself with another project, a batik sails quilt. Her mother-in-law quilted the top we brought from Indonesia to Seattle, the city of boats.

You're never alone if you have dogs. And the dogs like to sit on the padded seats when they can. The striped chair comes inside each night after work is done on the porch.

I like the lap blanket, made from Bali rayon sarongs. (After tearing and sewing the strips together, I sewed the edges to another whole sarong, then zig-zagged the end fridges together. Easy peasy)

Even dogs want a break sometimes. The big dogs are "not allowed" in the house. So they flop on the porch and sneak parts of their bodies into the entry.

If one of us is coming down the street, it's all wags and watching - they are loyal creatures.

Friday

The neighbor is building a huge house. The footings for the supporting pillars are set on an old brick wall, 9' high. There's exposed rebar where the concrete and base meet. oh oh. Looking for trouble, we think. It will be nicely plastered over before occupancy.

On our walk, we check the fig trees. Last time we walked this way, the figs were small bumps. Now they are covered in figs, and some are reddening. Zoom on the tree trunk to see the masses of fruit.

I package cookies for the volunteers tomorrow. The cookie boxes are getting low - Ibu A will bake replacements next week.

Saturday

After a demanding week, we enjoy the afternoon with friends who volunteer to pack food for the hungry.

The reward is homemade pizzas. We socially distance as best we can ... What a relief to talk and laugh and eat together.

Oh oh! we switch seats. I look at my favorite tea mug on the other side of the table. I'm internally prompted many times to ask someone to pass it to me. But I don't want to interrupt the flow of conversation ... and down it goes onto the hard teras tiles.

W orders a few new ones. We've broken 3 so far. The cup is the perfect size for work and my go-to @20 oz: I fill it 5-6X each day. And at night, it's just the right size for peppermint tea before bed.

Sunday

The table is set. Curried sausages, mushroom chicken, and mashed potatoes are waiting. Doors are wide open back and front of the house so the wind can whistle through. Our friends will be here soon.

There's one thing in common. People. Around the table eating, teaching us new things, or relaxing on sofas and chairs.

Over the years, we've eaten with families and friends, hosted baby and wedding showers, and had neighborhood groups over. It didn't matter whether we were renting tiny apartments or owned a big house. We have pictures of guests hanging out with us in basement suites and falling-down-soon homes, as well as in the 2 houses we designed and built from scratch.

We carry the treasure of God (love and Good News) in earthen vessels, wrote the Apostle Paul. How could we keep his generosity to ourselves?

And think of all the fun we'd miss if we did! How could YOU share the hospitality of Christ this month?

Read more:

*Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power. Deuteronomy 8:18

No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. John 3:27

Moravian Prayer: Sustaining God, help us to see that we can only know and share your grace when we abide in your love. May we be humble enough to know that the best that we can give comes only from you. Amen.

A religious feast and a broken elbow

Monday, July 12, 2021

Luckily the broken elbow isn't on our bodies but under the sink. 

W crawls underneath and replaces the corroded part. "Only the chrome finish was holding this one together," he exclaims. "See the big hole? The pipe just disintegrated." The house is decades old so we replace what breaks.

W also unplugs years of grit from the drain in the sink: "Do you want to see this?" NONONONONO.

"But thank you for asking." Ugh. The owner can be grateful that W is a handyman. He repairs a lot around here, just as our kids do when they go to Montana each summer.

"What do we do now?" they message W. They fix plumbing, electrical wiring, and ceilings that have leaked with the heavy snow loads of winter ... Of course, they also send cute pics of vacationing at our family cabin.

Tuesday

I like the office balcony desk so much that we set up the same IKEA rig at home. Waldemar works mostly from home. I don't work from home very often but the dogs are happy when I do, sprawling nearby. The small wood-slat patio tables are topped by our last two "bargain bin" ceramic floor tiles.

Some coworkers are still in Bali after the conference. However, returning to Bandung has become more complicated. Direct flights to our city of 5+ million have been suspended so travelers have to detour through Jakarta. Then they have to shuttle back to Bandung, with limited seats available. After that, it's time to find a taxi to home. A circuitous process rather than the usual straightforward 1:15 flight and ride up the hill.

The women's conference gift packet included Color Street nail polish stickers. I peel the strips off their backing and press them onto my fingernails. The polish presses on evenly and sloughs off at the tip with a swipe of my thumb. Wow, that was easy. I rarely apply polish but these are still fresh-as-new a week later.

The garden offers up a mix of greens: zig-zaggy shrub clippings and fluffy grass heads that grow in the bathtubs out back. (The last tenant filled 2 nice stone tubs with mud, bulrushes, and assorted wetland plants and propped the tubs over the drainage ditch.)

I leave other 6" black-and-green UFO-style blooms on the shrub beside my new outdoor desk. I keep looking over to see if they real. Yes, and they're just as weird as upon first glance.

The neighbor tucks an amaryllis bulb into a little pot outside her fence to bloom in casual splendor. I almost walk by - it's such a common flower.

Thursday

It's amazing to see the everyday hazards that we avoid without thinking. These electric cables are strung within arm's reach of the sidewalk. People know not to touch them; they are danger-smart. Plus you couldn't sue someone if you were silly enough to try. A lot of the wires are borrowed and home-strung, patching in electricity or internet from official cables.

Friday

Our dear friend makes a legacy video of her home for family and friends. It's filled with treasures handed down by her parents and grandparents. The modern architecture highlights the antiques and her travel souvenirs. I watch it several times since I like decor. My eyes find something beautiful in every pass.

Saturday

Some younger friends come over to package 20 units of food for nearby families. We are so glad they care for others.

Everyone is masked and it's quick work with many hands - before a socially-distanced pizza supper where we all say farewell to Laurel.

Sunday

I like to cook on Sunday mornings before we meet for BIC Onlne. This morning, the initial pancakes on the griddle are black and burned. The helper has mixed (curved) spoon and (flat) spatula storage on the back rack. I pull out the flat bin - "nope not there" then scramble through the spoon bin for a flat "flipper," By then it's too late. Only a few survive in the cooler area between gas burners.

I send the helper a pic of the incinerated pancakes that get thrown out - along with a texted plea: "Spoons with spoons, flat utensils with flat please." (Below are the rescue-able pancakes.)

Parting tugs at our hearts, especially when we say goodbye to those leaving to faraway lands. Laurel's been here 2 months and we're sad to see her go. She graduates from university in the USA this December. She'd like to return after that.

We take a last selfie before she hops into the car, headed downtown to catch a shuttle to the Jakarta airport. Driving means a tangle of stops with documentation passed out at police roadblocks. The shuttle companies have worked it out. 

Her 52-hour journey home is mostly uneventful. We're glad she's in her 20s, not her 60s! You've "gotta wanna come," to get here.

Monday

It's a week of Muslim religious and family celebration. In Indonesia, it's mandatory to provide a space in shops and workplaces for 5X-a-day Muslim prayers. In the nearby garbage and recycling lot, a sign appears on a tiny new building: Masjid (mosque).

The streets are empty. We might meet 7 or 8 walkers on the mile-long route with the dogs. Usually there were dozens.

The Americana-style gelato place is deserted. Mom says my first word as a child was "wee-weem" (ice-cream). Despite that, I don't go to this cute venue very often. I'd need to walk a lot more loops if I indulged.

Tuesday

It's of great interest to me (my PhD is in Intercultural Studies) to see how stories are adapted within historical cultures. The Bible and the Koran both tell the story of Abraham being willing to sacrifice his son to God. In the Koran, the son is unnamed. In the Jewish scriptures (Genesis 22), the son is identified as Isaac.[Genesis, the first book in Jewish scripture and the Bible, is otherwise known as the First Book of Moses.]

As the story comes to Arabia and Indonesia, the celebration is about Ishmael. (In the biblical account, Ismael is the eldest son. He has already been sent away with his mother Hagar and is living in Egypt when Abraham sacrifices Isaac.) Regardless, it's a big religious festival here and in other Muslim-majority countries.

The prayers from the mosques start at sundown the night before and last for hours. The Islamic readings start in the early morning and continue throughout the day. The religious authorities have given people dispensation to pray from home rather than going to the mosques.

On our walk, the dogs are intrigued, sniffing the air and breathing out excited barks as we go by the kids' playground. About a dozen sacrificial goats are tied up, bleating quietly as we pass in the early morning light. Overnight, young men have slept nearby to keep the animals from coming to harm or disappearing.

Most neighbors buy a goat with another family or two and hire a Muslim butcher who follows religious protocols. The ritual slaughter happens later in the day. The Indonesian government has cautioned Muslims not to gather at the usual areas to get their meat. That interrupts the traditional interchanges and greetings, too.

This year, the raw portions will be delivered to minimize neighborhood interactions and the spread of Covid. During the travel season at the end of Ramadan (the previous Muslim holiday in May), Covid entered the population with a vengeance. (Ramadan travel restrictions would be like trying to keep Canadians from going home at Christmas, or Americans from meeting with family at Thanksgiving. Pretty much a lost cause.)

Everyone knows family or friends who have died recently. Many lie in critical condition in hospitals or - if their symptoms are mild - may quarantine in designated hotels. People return to die at home if they can't find a hospital bed (after trying 3-4 hospitals.)

Much of the country is on lockdown, which is even harder when festivals and holidays are special times to meet with others. It's just not possible today.

Please pray with us for the people of Indonesia! May God send healing and an end to this terrible illness.

And please pray for those who have lost their family's wage-earners or their own jobs. Families need resources to stay alive. If you want to help us provide sembako (food packages for the hungry), please contact us ASAP here. We put 100% of the funds into relief work. Next packets will go out in 2 weeks.

Read more:

*You are great, O Lord God; for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 2 Samuel 7:22

*Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1

*In Jesus Christ we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossans 1:14

*[John wrote:] He placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living one. Revelation 1:17-18

Moravian Prayer: Lord of the universe, we are awed by your power and might, yet thankful that you graciously make room for us in your great kingdom. Guide us to extend that same hospitality to others in Jesus’ name.

Gracious Savior, with thankful hearts we come to this day amazed by your grace. We begin life anew because of all that Jesus Christ has done for us. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Reentry - plus a bonus recipe for Blueberry goodies

Reentry is sweet when you love home. We're always happy to sleep in our own room. But we always have good memories of where we've been, too.

It's a difficult time for many families: several people died last week. Without the ability to gather, we can only send flowers and our heartfelt condolences. Still, we pray and ask God for comfort.

It would be so different if we could meet in person. But the city is locked down in a COVID emergency. No visits are permitted. That means families grieve with only their closest friends and family members nearby. Everyone knows someone who has died, and many people are mourning those in their inner circles.

As we are not permitted to gather socially for the next few weeks, it's hard on everyone. We zoom in for a wedding Sunday morning. 

Strange times indeed. Life is full of joy and sadness, and we celebrate joy. Somehow, sadness always takes us by surprise. We sense that life should be good. Some day, when we are with God, it will be perfect. "There will be no more crying, for God himself will wipe away the tears from their eyes," is the promise of scripture for those who follow Jesus.

Sunday, July 11, 2021

I am in the mood to bake when we come back from walking, I'm hungry. I whip up a big stack of pancakes for Laurel, Waldemar, and myself. The few that are left go into the freezer for another morning.

On the suspicion that it will take more than a batch of pancakes to drain my energy, I flipped on the oven the minute we walked in the door after our walk. Yup, it takes over an hour to heat beyond 325oF. I decide to make blueberry scones with the last of the freezer-burned blueberries. After a good rinse, the berries taste good as new.

It starts with a recipe for scone muffins that I've made before.  I'm on autopilot, thinking of scones not muffins. The batter looks thin. Ooooh, needs more dry ingredients? By the time I come to my senses about why the batter is watery, I've stirred 1.5 c more flour to the batter. They are almost the right texture for scones. (Wait, that's all it takes? What an easy modification.)

I pat the scones on a silicone baking sheet, slip them in the hot oven, and within the half-hour they're baked. We're full from the pancakes so will try them after lunch. Delicious. 

The gals upstairs taste-test as well, and then I freeze the rest. I often forget to eat breakfast or can't think of anything I'm hungry for. Now we have a dozen scones waiting ... and I have a new "adjusted" recipe, below as your bonus for reading today.

************

EASY BLUEBERRY MUFFINS (from #Kitchn). 12 muffins/18 scones

Preheat the oven to 425o (Mark 8). BAKING TIME: 25-30 min.

Stir together:

• 2 1/2 c flour
• 3/4 c sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

Cut in:

• 8 tbs cold butter, cut into 1/4"-1/2" cubes (or cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter until it is pea-sized. Or, if your hands run cold, just rub the butter into the flour mixture until it's grainy.)

Then whisk together:

• 1 c +2 tbsp buttermilk (or milk mixed with 1/2 tsp vinegar)
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp lemon zest (optional)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract (more if you want it)
• 3/4 tsp almond extract (optional)

Stir it together and then add about

• 1 1/2 c frozen blueberries. If you add frozen blueberries on the last stir, they won't turn the batter blue. [Of course, you can swap in any small-cut frozen berries or stone fruit if you don't like blueberries.]
• Pour batter into 12 muffin tins. Sprinkle with sugar for a crispy top. Bake for 25-30 min.

Prefer scones? Add another 1 1/2-2 c more flour before adding blueberries. Makes 15-18 scones. Spread and flatten the dough gently on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with a bit of sugar if you want. Bake for 20-25 min.

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We host BICOnline and join the morning wedding. It's great to cheer on the happy couple.

Monday

The dogs know they have to sit before they can go out the gate - it calms them. Bailey is back to walking on the leash and has learned to sit when we stop, like the other dogs do. Good doggies.

The week starts with a 7am meeting online. I've missed this friend and mentor.

We hold the regular Monday study, a friend visits me on the office balcony, and I record the next few weeks of talks. Soooo many texts coming and going, between condolences, agendas, and sharing resources - you name it, we exchange the info this morning.

I'm tired. By mid-afternoon, I'm ready for a snooze.

Read more:

*O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

*“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27

*And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

Moravian Prayer: Ever-present God, bless us as we seek to be your hands, feet, and compassionate hearts in our world today. When others see us, may they catch a glimpse of who you are. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.