Saturday, October 18, 2025
W's joining two long pieces shade cloth. What a lot of work. I help him spread it out but that's the extent of my involvement. He wants it spaced precisely and I'm no perfectionist.
Black window clips arrive so I try out a few. The tablecloths from USA Ross ($6.99 clearance) look good as curtains.
They match the seafoam-colored cabinets being repaired in the project kitchen.
Sunday
Sun's up after 5 AM. Titik the flower genius is away this weekend so I work with what's left of her beautiful bouquet from last week. When the structure is this good, a refresh is simple.
We take our usual photo of volunteers and prayer partners before the Gathering.
Bandung is muggy. "So hot the last few weeks!" someone moans. "After 10 minutes of walking, my skin is wet." Even the dogs are drooping when we come back home.
We don't go out to eat: too tired. It rains shortly after we get home. "Good decision," W says about staying in.
It takes about 10 minutes to cook noodles, sausage, and green beans. I learned to make quick suppers while teaching music as the kids were growing up. Sometimes there were only 15-30 minutes between lessons. Cook. Eat. Back to work while the kids clean up.
Monday
We take the first (used-)sheet-curtains to the hall. W mounts them to the conduit "rod" he's put up in his office. Voila, professional-looking, neutral window treatments for about $5 - on a 13' X8' window. W specifically requests that the hem is above the floor for easy cleaning, storing things under the window, or putting his feet under a desk without getting the fabric dirty.
Meetings start. I catch Mom on a call; she's excited to have our daughter visiting. A few more calls and then Della drops in for a chat before lunch. (I love that gal!) W does his group study on the Porch while we sit upstairs.
Modesty is highly valued here. The work crew worried about us swimming without privacy from the neighbors who overlook the yard. W finishes clipping the shade cloth. The cover goes on loosely at first. It's conveniently high overhead because the pool is be 4 meters/12' deep.
No worries; you can't see a thing from above the shade cover. It's far from elegant but what an effective solution for catching leaves, offering privacy, and passively heating the water.
Masses of frogs' eggs are plastered around the waterline. A little vole has fallen into the empty shallow end and is teased back up onto dry ground.
The architect added every little thing the original homeowners desired. There are quirks in many corners of the project. Those have decayed and need repair, just like the main building. We decide on what to leave alone and what will be useful in the future.
This morning I flipped though project photos from 2 1/2 months ago in early August. Wow, the builders have made good progress! The crew fixes a gazebo in the far corner. Light comes through the polycarbonate but we leave the middle shaded by original shingles that were in decent shape.
We talk over details with the foreman as usual. "Make it nice for the most reasonable effort," is our mantra.
I go through cabinets to sort items as well as rediscover what we have. What on earth is this?
Google tells me it's a rose thorn stripper. Every household needs one. (?!)
Tuesday
It's back and forth. We've walked 8000 steps between project to home by lunchtime and 11,000 by supper. Construction has resumed; the electrical is being finished, the kitchen rebuilt, and curtains going up. Which finials to use? W holds them up so I choose.
Dina drops by for tea and to pray for God's blessings at the project, especially in the kids space where she hopes to tutor in English.
Gum picks up more bananas from Veronica and the helpers bake 8 loaves of banana bread. Two are split between workers, one is for the team meeting in the afternoon, one is for breakfast, another is shared by the workers at the project, and the rest goes into the fridge for an upcoming movie night.
The yardman is lifting plants from the garden for transplant. Many are packed tightly together because I love the look of an English border. Oh those interwoven colors and leaf textures! The hydrangeas, lavender, and dill move today.
There's a dead lizard in the driveway (a doggie gift?) and frogs are spotted around the yard.
Lunch is a "leftovers" soup with Rawon flavor. Very good - we're going through the freezer and fridge to empty what we can. It makes for an interesting hunt each morning as I plan meals. Typically, the helpers cook lunch for themselves and us. We eat whatever we find the rest of the day.
The team meets mid-afternoon. We'd planned in person but it's raining in parts of the city so we do a hybrid meeting. Fresh banana bread! helps the tea slide down easy.
We have an early pizza supper at #NaraPark.
It's raining when we finish so W walks home with a Nara umbrella and brings the car. He hands over the umbrella as we hop in for the short ride back.
* I will not let you go, unless you bless me. Genesis 32:26
* What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the
human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. Ecclesiastes 3:9-14
* Then children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. Matthew 19:13
Moravian Prayer: Comforter and Sustainer, we fix our eyes on you. While we travel on life’s journey, may we feel the shelter of your care. Bring the power of your hands upon us; let us walk forth in the world clothed in your blessings. Amen.
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