Monday, November 18, 2024
It's a work day. Casey-dog goes home after his weekend with us. He typically hangs out with the big dogs or snoozes nearby. We walk and have a few meetings before I crush through to-do lists. Later in the afternoon, W and I watch My Penguin Friend, this month's movie choice. The plot loses me a few times but we think our guests will enjoy it.
Look at this handwoven ceiling at the neighbor's gazebo. Indonesians are endlessly inventive with natural materials. Most homes have barbed wire or spikes around the property to deter thieves.
At night, Michael Hyatt's 5 Blind Spots webinar provides some clarity on my vision and leadership pauses. I am up 10:30 p.m. - 2:00 a.m., which isn't ideal.
Tuesday
It feels good to walk and stretch our legs. I leave with Gypsy-dog at 5:30 a.m., while W and Juno-dog join us for the second round. The night's rain tore leaves from the trees but has abated. I choose shoes carefully; the soles need to grip mossy and slick pavement.
We move the living room to movie night mode. I visualize where to store the shelves for the next 2 months.Christmas decorating starts when we clean up from movie night. If the guys don't have to move those heavy teak shelves twice, they are happy.
The helpers stash the grocery haul and bring down serving dishes. They'll cook rice, make mayo eggs, and chop the fruit and salad when they arrive tomorrow at 3:00. IbuS will also bake her famous cheese balls - if we skip those, we hear complaints.
Several of our team members are ill so we meet online instead of in person. The heavens let loose with such a great downpour that meeting in person would have been unwise anyway. A few times, the lightning strikes a mere second before the thunderclap.
Wednesday - Movie Night
W has the water for spaghetti boiling when I start work at 5:00 a.m. We've added roasted rosemary potatoes since it's a crowd favorite. The kids are hungry when they come and I'm cooking:
- 5 kg (11 lbs) slow-roasted baby potatoes with herbs
- 3 kg (6 2/3 lbs) spaghetti with tomato sauce
- 3 kg creamed spinach
- 200 breakfast sausages in curry sauce
- 200 meatballs in black pepper sauce
- 150 spicy chicken wings
For the first time, there are 2 convection countertop ovens, which halve the baking time. The sauces bubble between steaming spinach, boiling spaghetti, baking sausages and chicken, boiling and baking bakso (meatball-ish rounds). I rinse off the wooden spoons and pan liners in the spaghetti water, ending up with a thick rich broth. I'm done before 9:00 a.m. though the potatoes spend most of the day in the slow-cooker.
I love our monthly MasterMind group. A small group meets online this morning, so I listen in as I work. I finish cooking, shove the roaster with sausages into the oven for reheating later, and wrap the other hot items in blankets. I clean up and turn off the ovens before my turn to ask the group a question. I love that we pray over each other, too.
My first thought as I sit down is, "Where's a notebook?" because, as always, they offer things to ponder. My plan is to process their counsel as I relax this afternoon. I jump back into the kitchen at 5:00 p.m. to finalize prep, leaving space for the helpers to get most of their stuff ready.
W goes for a walk and then sets up sound and projectors during the late morning and early afternoon. He makes a last-minute dash for cookies stored in the office fridge. Almost 80 people have signed up, but we expect about 50 to show up.
W sets up sound and projectors during the late morning and early afternoon. He makes a last-minute dash for cookies stored in the office fridge.
The gardeners are on their third day of restoration. The overgrown yard is unrecognizable. The roses are trimmed, lawns are edged, and weeds are being pulled out by hand in the flower beds = flowers are still blooming, not mass-mowed. They've had to pause during daily thunderstorms but they're making good progress.
Today, the guys are working in the back section. The chomp-chomp of the hedge clippers alternates with the slap of branch clippings hitting the ground and the weed-whacker (in lieu of a mower). It's never looked so good - "like a hotel garden," says PakG. Yeah, these guys know what they're doing. What a relief, after fighting to be understood by other yardmen.
It's pouring rain in the afternoon and evening. The southern part of the city is under 50-100 cm (3') of water as the river overflows its banks. 45-50 enthusiastic and rain-soaked guests show up anyway.
They enjoy dinner and the movie -
and make new friends. Many hang around until almost 11:00 p.m.
There are a lot of newcomers but we love to see our longtime "kids" when they show up.
We fall into bed late.
Thursday
Of course we're still waking up early: I at 4:30, W at 6:30. It's time to refresh for Christmas. I strip pillow covers and slipcovers from sofa and chairs before the hike. It's timeto refresh for Christmas. I write the long list of cleaning chores for the helpers. The furniture stays in my office until the tree is up, other carpets have been brought out of storage, and the ornament boxes are downstairs. Last season's art is collected, carpets rolled up, and fall decor goes away.
With the unpredictable weather of rainy season, the hiking group decides not to drive into the mountains. We live on a mountain anyway so W and I walk down the hill with Veronica to do two loops of the university's Treetop walk. Riverside property is not desirable here.
We eat brunch at #Delaros, a Sundanese buffet, before walking uphill to our place. It's 12,000 steps and almost 5 miles, which is not bad. Our watches record 100 meters (310 ft) of total elevation, without noting ups and downs. Not strenuous but a nice walk to clear the body and mind of yesterday's efforts.
By the time we get home, the women have cleaned the movie night residue and done several loads of laundry. The sofa has a red slipcover and Christmas boxes are in the main room. I hand over red covers for the pillows. A few days of work, and it will be festive and tidy. Now ... not so much.
Read more:
*Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord. Isaiah 50:10 NKJV
The darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 1 John 2:8
Moravian Prayer: Jesus, you are the light of the world that casts out the darkness. You light the way that you would have us travel in our lives. We pray that your light will shine through us and draw people to you, Lord. In your name, we pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment