Thursday
No walk for us today - there are not enough hikers to go into the forests. We walk a few kilometers in the neighborhood instead.
Later in the day, Dr Ingrid invites us to celebrate her birthday at a Thai restaurant. Too soon, we are full. There is plenty to eat!
After a delicious meal, we pose together in front of the wood-burned dancer on the wall.
Dr Ingrid is an orchid expert. Last time in Seattle, I found a Kew Gardens' "100 Orchid Postcards" and thought of her. She probably knows every plant already but it's a pretty box of flowers.
She sends home some spices to make our meals taste better.
When we get home, the Porch is quietly shining in the night.
Friday
Afternoon tea with the book group is just what we need: girlfriends and conversation. I arrive a bit late, coming from language school. Marji has set a beautiful table.
Several of our famous cooks and bakers have added kitchen specialities. We sit near the inner courtyard to enjoy the breeze and good company.
Sunday
The morning is wonderful. Being in God's presence is healing. Friends pose at the hall for a picture after the Gathering. We're happy to have families join us from our sister churches in Jakarta (#IESJakarta #IESChristtheKing.) #ariwibowo_official
The flowers for today include grass picked on Friday's walk. I pluck some flowers from the "chandelier bush" along the porch and look for the pussy willow frame stashed since Chinese NY 2018 or -19. The coarse wooden branches of the shrub hang their beautiful 1-2' long flowers on short stems. I wrap-tie the flowers to the frame and anchor it into Titik's beautiful green base. It's over a meter high (40+").
People collect recycling for IESB friends.
JP's crew has refinished the office door. YAY!
We take a few people for lunch afterward.
Every week, the coordinator orders a simple lunch.
It's always fun to see who shows up. This week there are at least 26 young people.
After lunch, they play games and chat.
Lyong is one of my favorites; she may look 14 or 16 but this smart 20-something has just returned from her psychology internship in Malaysia. She is studying in a Bandung university. So proud of you, Lyong.
We start W's birthday with a double-loop walk. About 7 meters (21') above our heads, this dracaena tree is blooming with yellow flowers and berries. Who knew? I'd only seen a few leaves on the stick-stems we purchased at Home Depot or the other Seattle places. Here, you put a piece of the stem in the ground and it quickly becomes a tall tree.
While W heads home, I return to GG to raid the office fridge and chat with a friend.
W lets the dogs off the leash once he gets back. He snaps a picture of faithful mini-poodle Bailey, waiting a half hour for me inside the gate.
Yesterday's flowers wilt overnight. The stems are sticking up without water. I dunk them fully for a few hours in the kitchen sink and they revive for another day or two.
After 2 hours of language school, Frances sends flowers from her garden. "No arranging needed," she notes. They arrange themselves. (The vase is 18" tall, so you can imagine how big the leaves are.) We put the plants in the garden the next day.
W chooses #WindChime restaurant for his birthday lunch. The chef's brother said the food is not to be missed. We ask the chef's wife for her recommendations.
"Mushroom tart to start," she suggests. Hidden under a pretty salad complete with edible flowers, a mouth-watering pastry shell is filled with sautéed mushrooms.
W chooses hot romaine salad, which doesn't sound good ... until it comes. Wonderful.
W's main course is the beef roast with "perhaps the best mashed potatoes I've had." That's high praise indeed.
We take a picture together to send to mutual friends.
We are completely stuffed! "Nothing more," says W, not even considering the sweets on the menu.
But for W's birthday, the owner delivers a perfectly-ripe papaya and mango panacota to me ... and W gets a birthday brownie with home-made ice cream. Of course we eat it all - and it's the perfect ending to the meal.
Tuesday
We talk briefly to the chef, a true artist with a plate. He makes the food appealing. More than that, W and I agree we would change nothing in his recipes. The spices, salt, sweetness are in perfect balance. Nothing is overcooked, including my spaghetti. (That's rare here.) It's a meal to remember.
On the way home we stock up at the grocer for cookie baking tomorrow. Wow - I spot some American pancakes in the store freezer. They want $11 for one pack of Eggos? $1.50 per waffle? These must have swum over to Indonesia in first class.
DrH always treats the birthday person to Chinese noodles as part of their friendship tradition. How can we eat more? But they're enak sekali (very delicious.)
Walk. 2 hours of school. Then I have the rest of the week off school. Much as I'm learning, it's a relief to review for the week, rather than learn a lot of new words.
Some credit card thief stole our info in eastern Europe this time. W heads out to update the info with his new card. He's back by lunch. The cook has made something other than the nasi goreng I asked for. The rice is yellow: "In honor of W's birthday," says the cook.
The helpers are baking today - we're all out of fresh cookies, so it's time. We share them with the team that shows up for our meeting. The others "suffer" online and have to get their own treats.
Read more:
*God desires steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6
*Turn back to the Lord whom you have deeply betrayed. Isaiah 31:6
*The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15
Moravian Prayer: We confess to you, merciful Savior, that our sins are many. Daily we fail to live as your children and to obey your word. Forgive us, we humbly pray, and hear now our shouts of joy for the salvation we receive through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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