Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Today's the official start of summer in the American Pacific Northwest, according to meteorologists. A scientist on NPR explained that the warming of Alaskan waters sends cool damp air down the Pacific Coast from late May through early July. It burns off around this time and Seattle's 2 glorious months of summer kick off.
To celebrate not having to wait for summer, I eat yoghurt and a fresh local mango for breakfast. I spent much of yesterday reflecting on the privilege of living in Indonesia - and thanking God I don't have to think about an impending autumn.
Why even think about fall? I picked up the October 2021 issue of Victoria magazine. Once in a while, just for fun, I send a letter to the editor or a short article for publication. When they get published, I receive a free copy of the magazine. (They used to send me $100.) It's fun to browse the pages of feminine decor and ideas. Especially from the safe distance of eternal summer.
On my calendar, I've marked travels, talks, and ... yes, Advent 2022. Between, it's time to lay out events, speakers, and plans for upcoming projects.
My heart says, "Enjoy July," while my head is asking, "What about Christmas Eve?" I'm content to do both.
Along the driveway, alliums provide pops of red on long green stems. Outside the office window, the jackfruit tree has clumps of fruit.
We're 3 weeks away from restarting the monthly dinner-and-a-movie nights. Can't wait.
Because I slept only a few hours last night, I woke up with a headache that lasts all morning. I hear the swish-swish of the broom on the driveway, synched to the chirping of birds.
So many birds come through the yard: they sit on the decommissioned electric wires that swoop across the backyard
They pick up seeds scattered by the parrotlets on the porch and grub for worms in the gardens. Before we had cat-chasing dogs, there were seldom birds around. It's a different story now.
The vines we poked into the balcony planter form a lacy curtain along the porch, shading our bedroom from the hot sun.
Thursday
Wow - a good night's sleep makes me feel like a new person. We head into the mountains. The dogs are ready and waiting to leave! by the time we get into the car.
On every main road, goats are tied up for ritual sacrifices on Sunday. It's the annual Muslim feast of Abraham's obedience in offering up his son to God, assumed to be Ishmael locally. (The son's name is not mentioned in the Koran. The biblical account in Genesis 22 names Abraham and Isaac.
Read the story here.)
The plan is to hike down to one huge crater and then drive up to the main volcano. The trail is wet and slick but not bad. We have 8 new walkers for the easy stroll of 2 miles and 4500 steps.
It's shady and cool in the forest.
Tree roots grip the volcanic grit and rocks beside us.
The 5' (85cm) coconut fiber statue along the path has been updated with bottle-cap eyes.
At the crater, we soak our feet in the hot springs. See the plumes of smoke from the active fumaroles a dozen meters away? Some of the water is boiling; we avoid those bubbles. Every pool has different temperatures.
Some opportunistic Indonesians massage volcanic grit onto our feet and hands for $4.50. Others offer to sell us water-bottles full of sand for $7 each. No thanks. A busload of Hungarian tourists come down the hill just as we are leaving. Maybe they'll buy more than we do.
We hike back up to the parking lot and drive to the main volcano.
W and Kiki negotiate $2.75 for this 6" (13cm) vase. The peeled bark is damp (banana? palm?) but will dry out over the next weeks. I hope it retains its beautiful markings.
The upper craters are spectacular wastelands of rock.
Such views are a good backdrop for conversations and new friendships.
The younger walkers climb across the ridge to descend into the next crater. We've been there and decide to go for lunch instead.
It's souvenir central in the upper parking lot. One vendor sells "easy bonsai" assembled without years of training. Little plants are tucked into hollowed tree roots. They look nice.
On the way home, fruit stands are bursting with recent harvests.
We pass a house where old jeeps go to die ...
We shower and relax - and howdy with the 7 African students (most studying sciences) who drop by after the walk. IbuA and IbuS, about to leave for the day, wrap a package of freshly-wrapped cookies for each before everyone is on their way.
Today I only get a few spam calls: I usually get 4-10 a day, a con to repay "a neighbor's" financial debt. They hacked the community list and keep calling us to honor our neighbor's difficulties. Only works in a communal culture, I think. So far I've blocked a least 40 different numbers.
The frangipani is starting another round of fragrant blossoms.
And the champagne rose glows in the garden as the sun sets.
As dayside fades, I light the candles on the wire lamp (an IKEA blowout find - thanks Clau!) Yesterday, W hung 3 hooks around the porch for it. He also removed the electronics and short-circuited the stub of wiring so the "emergency" lightbulb shines with the press of a button. It lights up the outdoor supper table as night falls.
Read more:
*O Lord, it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 1 Chronicles 29:12
*Jesus took the children up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. Mark 10:16
Moravian Prayer: Gracious Father, give us endurance. Give us the strength to mount up with wings like eagles. Watch over our loved ones and allow us to grow in our daily walk with you. May your abundant love drown our doubt, so we become full with
your ways. Amen.
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