Four of us pile into the car afterwards. We drop J on a corner, D at doc appointments, and H at her home. It's all somewhat "on the way home" for me.
I cook spaghetti with homemade sauce for W and me. IbuS sets up the guest rooms and we check that all is ready for our first conference group. 10 or 15 people plan to spend their days in meetings and rest here at night. The last time we had a full house (+40 people!) was for a wedding.
What a privilege to provide a safe space for others. Our European immigrant grandparents and parents hosted many guests, whether friends or family. My brother and his wife do the same in Switzerland. It must be a clan thing.
One room has a queen fold-out sofa.
Another has two trundles.
One has enough floor space for a Korean mattress.
IbuS and I run up and down the stairs many times, but my unreliable tracker measures 0 flights climbed. The stairs are gradual and don't raise the heart rate? (Or it's tired of keeping track?) We put out flip-flops as house shoes. Those get washed after every guest leaves.
The library at the top of the staircase provides a quiet getaway for guests and visiting students alike.
Online, W found a 3000-watt drop-in water heater for our bathtub. He plugs it in, but we have room-temperature water after an hour. He checks: his meter reads only 1180 watts. Oh well. Any time we remember to plug in the heater two hours ahead of time, we can indulge in a warm bath. Our other option, which we've done until now, is hauling large pails of hot water from an upstairs shower and the serving kitchen. (Both have gas water heaters.) The bath is good anyway, even if it's an hour or two later than planned.
WednesdayWaking up is easy with a forest outside the windows. Our Seattle house is also the woods. Having tall trees around us soothes our souls in a busy city, there and here.
The wild checkerboard border is striking up close. There are 128 squares - what was I thinking? It took ages to quilt the whole thing.
This time of year, it gets light before 6AM and will be dark by 6PM. Steady 12-13 hours of daylight is easier on the body than the variables of daylight saving time in the West.
After a check-in with my monthly advisor online, I write down what I learned. After lunch, a young entrepreneur friend drops by. We share tea and treats.
Thursday
It's overcast most of the day without precipitation. The pollution index is at 160. Guests arrive in the morning and throughout the afternoon. "Shalom," they say to us. They rest up from their travels before heading out in late afternoon.
For lunch, I put some of the chicken sausages I made yesterday into a tomato-peanut-chili sauce. We eat them on top of glass noodles. Spicy kick! But ok with some yogurt to calm the spices.
We want a big pot moved upstairs to the guest balcony. "Wait until the other men are at the gate and have them help you," we suggest to the yardman and PakG. "And don't water it first. It will be too heavy to move."
Too late - they've wet it. They call over the 2 female staffers. The foursome somehow hauls the pot up and settles it in place. It's about as heavy as a Sundanese adult, sitting atop one of the concrete pillars. I don't want a tree - we have enough of those. It means taking out the tall supports. Maybe tomorrow.
The balcony and one side of the driveway are the only all-day sunny spots because towering trees surround the Project. The passion fruit vine should love the sunshine. Many flower pods appeared but didn't open in the shade where it sat before. Indeed, the flower buds start to open at once.
W's hungry at supper and we walk across the street. I like the corn fritters and kale.
Friday
This pickup is the same height as the woman on a motorcycle. I snap the photo too late to compare them.
W and I remove the bamboo supports from the vines dragged upstairs yesterday. It takes an hour to untangle and string them around the balcony supports. They'll grow quickly to cover the rebar crossbars. We're trying to keep people from leaning on the railings as they're not strong enough to support much weight.
Overhead, the matoa tree is full of fruit clumps. "You'll love the taste," our Papuan friends assure us. "A cross between lychee, logian, and other fruits." Can't wait.
For lunch, we head to HomeGround for a bowl of soup and some Szechuan green beans. The soup, which comes with rice, a salad, and an egg roll is $5.00.
A shared plate of spicy beans is $2.50.
In the HomeGround driveway, we are amazed by the line of yellow. The bees are as happy as we are to see so many flowers, buzzing overhead like an engine.
W braces himself for another therapy session. It's hard work. The staff cleans up after the guests and prepares for the kids coming to practise English skills tomorrow. It's the children's first time back in a few months, due to travels and school breaks.
I clip some lavender tips to replace 2 shoots that haven't rooted. The other 4 shoots are thriving. Some plants, including Hoya vines that broke off in transit, get potted and put on the kitchen windowsill. I'm not too invested in what makes it or dies off; there will regularly be new attempts. (Planning and planting are more interesting than maintenance anyway ... )
Read more:
* I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up. Psalm 30:1 * Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart. Psalm 36:5-10
* Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl stood up and began to walk about. Mark 5:41-42
* The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Revelation 22:21
Moravian Prayer: Faithful God, your steadfast love surrounds us, and your grace sustains us each day. We trust in your care and rejoice in your mercy. Bless your saints with your abiding presence, now and forever. In Jesus’ name, we give praise.
Almighty Healer, you lift us up when we are weary, restoring life with your gentle touch. Speak your word of renewal over us today. Strengthen our steps, awaken our hearts, and fill us with praise. We bless your name, O God. Amen.
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