Ever been to a Dutch war fort?

 Thursday, July 17, 2025

Our best hike in a long time? The path is rock-free and wet but not muddy.

There are four of us and four dogs, the perfect size to explore new trails. We finally rediscover the track we used to take by going backwards to the old Dutch forts in the mountains, and returning the same way. We've missed the turnoff so many times and ended up on a cliffside. Now we know which fork to take.

It's a short distance, just over 4 miles (7 km), but the first half is uphill. That means a descent to the pickup point. Hurrah.

We try Kilogram, a new concept cafe: picnic tables inside tents. You pay $8 to get in, which is applied to whatever you choose from the menu. That keeps kids from lounging for free wifi without purchases. The setting is nice - forest and 4-sided open tents, but the food is not great. The soup bowl comes half empty. I send the tea back because it's barely warm ... and the small cup is 2/3 full. Disappointing.

On the way home, the one-lane road has shoulders wide enough that passing traffic only has to take one set of tires off the paving.

W drops me off at home while he does a pick-up from the Yard Sale group. When the contractor calls, we walk over to the project to discuss next steps. You need imagination to think of it as livable.

We sit outside on our Porch until the mosquitoes chase us indoors. The garden's beautiful bromeliads collect water and mosquito larvae. The adult mosquitoes "bug" us before sundown.

Friday

We walk - only Juno the labradoodle comes along. Gypsy the mutt refuses the leash. Anton the poodle is a mess of high energy and brings me a ball to toss. We're limiting his exercise until next week but he has the poodle zoomies.

I start grading papers before a pause: those leftover crepes are a breakfast reward. After a monthly check-in with an advisor, I fill another mug of tea and get back to grading. I'm done for this round by 1 PM. It's time for lunch!

Saturday

We walk all 3 big dogs on a single leash after Anton threatens to pull my arm off on his own leash. He's quite happy to trot in the middle of the pack. 

It's nice to talk to Mom after trying for 3 days; she gets so tired she doesn't pick up the phone. On our end, IbuS comes to massage out the travel kinks. Afterward, W and I sit on the Porch and read through tomorrow's talk.

The birds are chirping, the dogs are resting, and the fish are swimming in their bowls. The hum of neighbors and motorcycles on the next hill completes the background music. All is at peace.

We have a late lunch at Saka Bistro. Even after living here for 11 years, I marvel that it's possible to eat outside all year. We're under cover in case of rain or hot sun. The pesto gnocchi is good.

Their Vietnamese-style Pho is as tasty as any in town.

The kids' English class is going well on the next hill. We hope to offer the same for our neighbors next year.

Sunday

Our first grandchild is 14 today! We call her to find out what's new and to wish her a Happy Birthday. She gets a trail ride on a horse as part of her celebrations. Her siblings chime in with their own updates about a stay at our Montana cabin and their other fun activities.

We go to the hall and set up for the Gathering as usual. Today we speak about being citizens of heaven who are strangers and foreigners to the worldly systems (1 Peter 1). We share a wonderful lunch and conversation at Maxis.

There are things to wrap up, dogs jumping around happy to see us, and a quiet time-out in late afternoon as we prepare for the week ahead.

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*This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

*Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved. Jeremiah 17:14

“So that you may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—Jesus said to the one who was paralyzed—“I say to you, stand up and take your stretcher and go to your home.” Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. Luke 5:24-25

Moravian Prayer: Healing God, often we are gripped by feelings of unworthiness; too often, we are paralyzed by fear. In these moments, there is nothing left to do but ask for your healing strength. Heal us, O God, and make us whole. Amen.