A new season

Sunday, June 8, 2025 Pentecost Sunday

Anton and Juno walk 2 loops on one leash. I pray that there are no cats for Anton to lunge at - and God's "small mercy" is that we see not a single one! We have a peaceful 2 mile stroll, with sturdy Juno as the anchor. She trots along happily, no matter what.

In the front planter, the two-toned leaves pop.

Cika helps out with the worship team. Pentecost is the fresh wind of a new season.

Tota leads and W's on his way to a scholar's conference so I speak alone. We expect the Spirit of God to be at work among us on this day when we celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Read the story by clicking the link.)

The lilies are blooming at Green Gate.

We turned last week's silk&fresh arrangement from front to back this week; there was no time to make a new bouquet.

When I cook for myself, meals are sporadic - made when I'm hungry. They usually include lots of vegetables and noodles, too. Same today.

Monday

W often walks the dogs but Anton behaves for me without pulling at the leash. No cats, once again - or at least he doesn't see the three that we pass. After a walk, I have a few meetings, and then it's down to work.

The huge leaking "pond" pot was drained, repaired and painted last week. Today it is being refilled. The plan is to put the plants back later today and return the first in a few days after the water quality stabilizes. 

It's almost full when I notice that it's still leaking a bit. PakG drains it partway and repairs the cracks with aquarium glue. The pot is ancient. The ugly red color will fade to terra-cotta in the sunshine.

I have stamina for academic work until noon, between international calls back and forth. Then I take a break by playing fetch with the dog and checking social media.

FB tells me that 16 years ago, I was writing Alumni News for NU alumni around the world. Seems like a lifetime ago. I loved connecting to alumni, sharing their stories, university events, and projects in what one coworker called the university's "gossip rag."

At least a year before that (+17 years ago), W heard about something called Facebook and told me to get NU as an institution and NU alumni on it. I opened an account in my name over office protests of, "What's Facebook?" and "It will never work; no one wants that."

W was right. Shortly, I had almost 1000 "followers" and 5000 "friends" between real friends, alumni, and students. That was the permitted limit for a personal account. After a while, I was permitted to set up NU pages, including alumni decades and parent groups. If you're connected to NU, look 'em up. There's always something happening there and on IG.

By 2:00 PM I'm almost hungry enough for lunch. And I think I'll pack it in. I have almost 50 PPT slides and notes organized - with at least that many to go, tomorrow. After that, I'll have to check every reference in the updated editions of the textbooks and make sure the links are correct.

I walk out for a 5:00 dinner with a friend who is asking about God-with-us. 

What a treasure it is to be invited into God's presence with those we care about.

When I get home, Melvi warns me that a bench leg has given way. We usually sit on that bench to pull our shoes on and off. In the dark, I might have slid right off the leaning side. Termites must be in the bench wood. That will have to be replaced.

When we tip the bench on its side, we see the extent of the damage. The top of the leg is eaten away and the leg itself has been hollowed out. Frass pours out of every gap in the upholstery, like dust pellets.

Tuesday

Dawn is breaking as we head out the gate. Oh oh. Someone has left flip-flops on the Porch. Anton like to chew those! I put them away.

We pass 3 cats without incident. Waaaha! Helps when Anton wears a prong collar that puts pressure on him if he pulls hard. The past mornings, he walked nicely on a shared leash with Juno, our solid brick of a Labradoodle. Juno trots steadily and doesn't look one way or another = straight ahead, ignoring cats, chickens, and other dogs. Good girl.

I talk to Mom and Keelee before 8 AM and then it's time to work some more on next week's class. I listen to Blinkest books as I coordinate PPT slides with teaching notes.

I get the seasonal itch to redecorate. I'm inspired by the spring and early summer photos of friends up North.

The room gets updated from black and green to creams and blues. The rug needs swapping before we land in a new season.

Melvi and I walk Anton and Bailey to the corner, talk to PakIyan, and walk back. Someone asks if we want a fire pit. They have cut wood from a tree they chopped down. What do you think? (It's a lot of wood.)

Some guys have unearthed a half-gone giraffe statue under a tangle of vines. I remember seeing it years ago when we visited, but never could find it again. I assumed someone had stolen it, along with the doors, plumbing, and electrical wiring on that property.

It's a baking day to replenish what was eaten last weekend: oatmeal cookies with Kopiko coffee candy and smashed chocolate from a Trader Joe Dark Chocolate Almond bar. Thanks, IbuA and IbuS! And thanks, Adam and Jenn, who delivered the chocolate on their visit a few weeks ago.

Breakfast is half of the leftover noodles and chicken. I chop the other half into little pieces and covered it with water. The dogs happily gobble it down atop their kibble.

IbuS bakes bread so I make an egg salad sandwich for a late lunch. Supper-ish is tea, a piece of IbuA's pumpkin pie, and an apple. On my own, I'm rarely hungry at mealtimes. I don't feel obligated to eat until I feel peckish.

It thunders a bit and the sky is dark. Gypsy cowers in his doghouse but the other dogs ignore the weather and relax in the yard until bedtime.

Wednesday 

The pot-pond is still leaking when PakG fills it up. He goes back to the hardware store for cement and another can of paint. After our walk, the dogs relax and I spend the entire morning on my class notes. The leaves we picked up a few days ago are almost dry.

We change the dining room from green and pink 

to blue as well.

The rain starts at lunch and the fresh smell of gardens and green leaves wafts into the house.

Read more:

*O Lord, in your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you. 2 Chronicles 20:6

*You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation! Psalm 89:26

*Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11

*They drove Jesus out of the town and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. Luke 4:29-30

Moravian Prayer: Holy God of our salvation, we praise your holy name. Provide us with our daily bread, as we trust in your provision. We give thanks for your steadfast love and faithfulness.

Gentle Shepherd, your power and might are always on display. Help us to remember that this power is funneled through your great love for us, and that you love us fiercely and powerfully as your chosen children. Amen.