Stepping toward the future

Friday, May 17, 2024

We walk through a property with the owner, checking out future possibilities. Then IbuSI pummels the kinks out of me before heading over to Lisa's to administer the same treatment (or was that torture?). To save her hands from carpel tunnel, she's found a wooden "scraper" that shoves deep into muscle tissue. Ouch and very effective.

It turns into a quiet day of general work.

Saturday

We walk. The street seller has jicamas today. They evolved from a kaki lima (pushcart) to a little stall - into a shop and eating area that's attached to a 2-room house.

There's great squawking in the neighborhood. A big parrot sits 10 meters up on the tall tree in the next lot; it looks like a yellow-crested cockatoo. It has a million-dollar view of the hillside and neighborhoods from there. Every morning it comes by and every evening it returns to its owner for food in its cage. 

Our birds should be so lucky. The lovebirds have a big cage (+ 100 x 80 x 50 cm/39X32X20") on the Porch. As they scatter seeds, sparrows and pigeons come for free food. 

When the wild birds perch on the furniture, they make a mess. We moved in to a yard without birdsong due to the domestic cats. But our dogs chase cats away. So the birds have happily returned and sing for us all day.

 

W joins his weekly study while I make calls. Someone knocks at the gate: she told us earlier that it was her birthday, so she has come to ask for money. We check with mutual friends and her special day is not until August. Hmmm. No birthday gift today.

Meanwhile Bailey lays down at my feet. Wherever I am, he's nearby until the dogs bark. Then he's off like a shot to "help" guard the gate. It's a poodle thing.

I'm in the mood for thought-less work. Shall I make some yogurt? I mix milk and "live" yogurt for the bread maker on the 8-hr yogurt setting. Ugh - what's crusted on the bottom of the appliance? I scrape it clean before adding the yogurt mix into the cooking bowl.

I boil potatoes for a quiche-like lunch. My recipe is easy to make and tastes good. We serve this with hot sauce on the side, but barbecue sauce or ketchup works, too.

---------SKIP DOWN IF YOU WANT--------

RDK Eggy Brunch Recipe

Ingredients

• 1T oil or butter
• 2-3 large or 10 small potatoes, skin scrubbed or peeled. Cut large potatoes into 1.5"/4cm chunks.
• 6-8 eggs
• 1/2-1 c each, ricotta cheese and plain yogurt (or sour cream)
• 1 T salt, plus 2-3 tsp spices
• 2-3 c chopped vegetables (onions, garlic, mushrooms, green peppers, etc. - your choice)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350F/175C.
2. Thoroughly grease a baking pan* with oil or butter.
3. Cover potatoes with water. Add 1 T salt and boil 10-15 min until soft enough to mash but not mushy. Drain and flatten them into small-ish chunks. Spread them like a "pie crust" in the oiled baking pan.
4. Heat oil or butter in a pan. Saute chopped onions, green pepper, garlic, and sliced mushrooms, letting each ingredient fry a little before adding the next ingredient on the list.
5. Season with herbs and salt. I used 1/2 tsp each: salt, pepper, sun-dried tomato powder, Greek seasoning, and a French mix (rosemary, thyme.)
6. Spoon the seasoned vegetables over the potatoes.
7. In a medium-sized bowl, beat the eggs with ricotta cheese and yogurt. Pour them over the vegetables in the baking pan.
8. Bake 25-40 minutes, depending if *your pan is flat or deep. (Deeper takes longer.)
9. Cool 5 minutes, then dig in. Or cover and freeze for up to 3 months. 

Freezer tip: Precut leftovers into 3" squares and freeze them overnight, separated on a cookie sheet. Store the pieces in a freezer container. Lift out as many pieces as you need when there's no time to cook. Microwave the piece/s, covered, for 1:00-2:30 minutes. (Adjust time, depending on the microwave strength and number of pieces.) Let sit 1 minutes before serving so it heats through.

----------END OF RECIPE---------

We walk up and around to the Art Deco building to see if their restaurant has a good menu. "We hired a new chef 2 months ago," says the server. "That means a new menu." And it looks good. We'll have to try it when we host someone.

Sunday

Daniel speaks today, his first time in front of a congregation. Great job! with his wife Della interpreting.

We share a celebration lunch at #Maxis, a short walk from the hall.

It's special to have their family and friends gather round.

While I walk home, W drives the car from the hall with the flower arrangement Titik made. He sets them in the back hall for watering.

Two guys are working atop a wall, high above the street. "Hati-hati (be careful!)" I call to them.

Read more: (A prayer for the wanderer)

*Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.

Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears. Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth—then my judgments go forth like the sun. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:1-6)

Prayer: God, we are faithless. We come close and then wander away. Help us to return to you with our whole heart. Help us to revel in the love you provide, in the forgiveness that washes away our sins, and the mercy to others that we learn in your Presence. Teach us to trust you, no matter what is happening to us or around us. In the name of Jesus the Messiah we pray. Amen.