The Nutcracker and a feast with friends

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

JOY! It's the topic we're working on for next week's Gathering. There are moments when I laugh aloud, passing by a shelf or table. This ceramic bell brings a smile.

At sunrise, we can see the distant mountains. The night rain has cleaned the air.

We walk by the Padma Hotel with its Christmas display in the foyer.

At the beginning of the week, our entry is set in red, green and white.

Breakfast is toast and the nut butter brought from New Zealand a few months ago by my friend Lisa. I consult with a few scholars and check in with mentors before leaving the table.

We need to shop for Christmas ... and buy groceries for tomorrow's movie night. We go downtown to the wholesale specialty street. A historic building catches our eye, between concrete apartments and shops.

This little 3-wheeled pickup is loaded, waiting for the driver.

I'm happy to find the red berries I couldn't find elsewhere. I strip the long stem into 6 separate sections and weave them through the wreath on the office door.

Another wreath hangs on the kitchen door, ready to welcome tomorrow's guests.

I wrap 20 gifts for those who will forget the White Elephant gift exchange on Christmas Day. The ready-mades stack up at the back of the tree, leaving room for what others bring.

W and PakG set up the main room for movie night. We try a layout that requires less work for the guys. The furniture is left mostly intact instead of piled up in my office. IbuS rolls up the rugs; the guys bring chairs from upstairs to existing tables. Let's see if it works. We have almost 100 signed up - only 70 can come but as usual, the list sorts itself out up.

Today stays dry into the evening. Will the weather hold tomorrow? W writes the talk for Sunday and we discuss it together. We work at the quiet dining table after the helpers leave for home.

Today the women made hard-boiled eggs and baked hundreds of cookies: ginger dipped in chocolate and peanut butter. W and I replenished butter, flour, eggs, and sugar during our errands.

W orders supper: pho (soup) for me, a bun (Vietnamese sandwich) for himself. It's our comfort food on a cool dark evening.

Wednesday

At 5 AM, cooking starts, which means the food prep is done by 9. I wrap the huge pots in towels to keep them warm before setting out cutlery, trays for cookies, and tablecloths.

We pause with an early lunch at Miss Bee, which has just finished renovations. They built the first restaurant glass house in town, which has been copied many times since.

This year's color scheme is pastel.

The 5" (12cm) pods of the cocoa tree are ripening beside the staircase.

The helpers arrive at 3 PM to cut fruit and salad, cook rice, and bring supplies from storage. We start to reheat the food at 5:30. Indonesians don't care if their food is hot or lukewarm but expats do.

These two women are such a blessing. Our guests love to say hi to IbuA and Ibu S, too. By the time they go home about 10 PM, most dishes are washed and the garbage put away. They take leftovers to their families, sparing our overflowing fridge. 

Young people start arriving after 6 PM and it's a full house. Many have never seen a house decorated for Christmas or attended a Christmas party, which is fun. Various ones read a part of the Christmas story and we listen together. We pause at the middle of the film for dessert. (W nearly always finds a cliff-hanger to bring us to the break.)

Someone brings donuts, which I cut into pieces. Others bring cakes, fruit, and other treats. The rule for dessert is to limit the first round to "4 choices plus a fruit-and-yogurt," which most attendees honor. Everyone is welcome to come for seconds once the line has gone through. The sweets disappear in no time!

We combine home-baked treats with food gifts.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is a story of good vs evil, of doing what is right when you don't feel like it.

On the screen in the house or on the Porch, the movie is well-received. It sparks discussion about leading change from our inner transformation. The last guests leave at 11 PM so W and I tidy a bit before falling into bed at 11:30.

Thursday

We head for the mountains at 7:30 AM. Much of today's trail is overgrown. We follow the dogs who run ahead, or the path disappears from view. We watch our feet carefully to avoid snakes or big lizards. The dogs clear the path with their 4-legged romps.

Most of the hike is shaded, which keeps the heat off our heads. It's the best decompression we could  imagine.

We pause for a picture, overlooking tea fields and volcanic mountains. The rainy season brings vibrant new growth.

Even 50' (15m) palm trees put on a show, like this one whose 4' (1.3m) "flower" mop hangs from its trunk.

Greens we used to barely keep alive as houseplants flourish in the shaded forests.

We eat at a place we haven't visited for years, saying goodbye-for-now to a few who are traveling for the holidays and "see you next week" to the rest.

The house is back in place. Oh that was easier. We'll definitely minimize moving the furniture next time. This layout worked well! We learn something each time we host an event.

Friday - W's mom's birthday

We call and wish her a happy birthday. We're thankful to have our moms!

With a few more tweaks, the house is ready for the next guests. Ruth sends gifts for us to distribute to her friends. I drop them at the hall and write everyone to pick them up Sunday. This cute birdcage lights up on the entry table.

It's time to stock up again. I make a quick trip to the supermarket - well, not that quick. Halfway down the hill,  I remember, "Oh, I need money." We turn around and are soon on our way again. We need butter and eggs to make next week's cookies!

I count the cookies in the fridges. Oh goodie ... we need another 1,400 cookies. (What?!) The women have 2 or 3 baking days left. Let's see if that happens.

This cute little Wuling parks beside our car at the grocer. The Chinese electric cars are cheap and efficient, perfect for negotiating narrow city streets. We see more and more of them in town.

I call our kids to check how their Christmas season is going. Then there is a tablecloth to track down.  "I think two tablecloths were borrowed for a potluck while you were gone in October," remembers the helper "and maybe one was returned?"

We share the hospitality items used for our own events. I occasionally rethink these loans. Getting things back can be a pain and time-waster. Stuff sometimes comes back with stains. Occasionally an item is broken or damaged by use. That's to be expected but who replaces it? Sigh. Time to get everything back for inspection before our Christmas guests come over.

There are letters and calls to check off the list, updates to write, chapters to edit, and more. It's a typical day when nothing is on the calendar but a to-do list writes itself as we go along. I edit this post and think, "JOY! it's coming up this weekend." hehe

Read more:

*Love truth and peace. Zechariah 8:19

*Your sun shall no more go down or your moon withdraw itself, for the Lord will be your everlasting light. Isaiah 60:20

*And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

*For it is the God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

Moravian Prayer: Light of the world, our lives are illuminated by grace. Your light goes before us, and your presence shines in all the good we do. We follow you, hoping to drive out the darkness of this earth. In your name, we pray. 

Understanding Savior, you are able to comprehend the message of our hearts, even when words fail us. We rejoice to be seen, heard, and known by you. Amen.

"My kingdom for a sandwich?"

Monday, April 1, 2024

The seamstress comes by with a few blouses. I reluctantly shelled out Rp.40.000/meter for cotton fabric while at a conference in Bali. (Then I remember, cmon! that's under $3/meter.) The new blouses aren't exactly like the original. The little tweaks of the cutters mean a garment mostly fits, just not as well as the one you sent over. I already returned the blouses once to have the hems re-cut but I'll wash and wear them into a true fit.

I choose 2 linens (Rp100.000/$6.50 for the fabric) from the seamstress's stash and pull out a tablecloth I hemmed last week. It's not quite big enough for the table but the perfect size for a blouse. We forget to choose the buttons from my Mom's collection, so she returns and we quickly pick out some to match.

In mid-afternoon Angela serves tea and cookies at her place. Oh my, her house has a wonderful overlook from the other side of our mountain. It's been ages since a visit and I've missed her. I snap the wrapper of the cheesy cookies we both enjoy. But I forget to take a pic of us.

Supper is homemade lentil stew and baked potatoes. IbuS volunteers at a neighborhood clinic until noon. She works 5 hours and tidies the house. She's washed the tablecloths from the Easter Potluck; the dishes are done; and the cutlery, trays, and cups have been put away. She's a gift from God for us.

Tuesday

On our walk, a healthy rusty-brown bush catches our eyes, a contrast to the green all around it.

 I sit in the sunshine on the Porch, watching three frogs climb the tall stems of the plants to sun themselves. One frog is yellow; the other two are brown. Can you spot them?

W and I meet at 9:00 with Nancy, who gives us good counsel.

Today's a big day for Muslim Indonesians. Their THR or "religious money" is due. It's an extra month's salary required by the government for every Indonesian employee. THR is a hardship for many employers unless they've set aside the amount over the year's time. A few months before, I start collecting food and small items for a bag of goodies in addition to the 13th month of pay.

Christians get their THR before Christmas; I'm not sure when Buddhists and Hindus get theirs. Muslims are given the mandatory bonus 1-2 weeks before the end of Ramadan so they can buy food and presents for their family. We bought IbuA an almost-new washing machine in January as her THR so she got a few months of early benefit.

I sew a cover for this lounger. One side panel around the armrest is the only complicated measurement. The rest is just straight seams to form a top-bottom loop with a zipper in one end. The Bali tie-die fabric is the only 5-meter piece I have. So ugly on its own, it was intended for the back of a blue quilt. At least it covers the original cover's holes, torn by sharp objects in someone's back pocket.

I like mixing textures and patterns, so I sling Kim's quilt over the back of the sofa. I grab the throw when I sit on the porch on cold mornings (70-75oF/21-23oC).

The mass of yellow flowers are torn out - their 8' (2.7+m) stems have been shading the roses and other sun-loving plants. The garden feels red today.

This 4' (1.3 m) shrub offers its own spectacle with variations of browns, reds, greens, and yellows.

Wednesday

I watch a few BBC videos on pruning a lemon tree. Over the past 4 years, our tree has become a total mess of criss-crossing branches, filled with worms, ants, and scale. The yardman has lopped off outside branches when they get too long. There are a lot of water sprouts and tiny offshoots inside the canopy. I show him a how-to video and tie off the branches we want to keep (20%?) He prunes it and carries away the excess.

W's in the mood to treat me to something. I'd be happy to stay home but decide to accompany him - he has to run an errand anyway. It turns into some of my favorite things. We start with "fish street" where saltwater fish and exotic corals hang at a few sellers.

I love this bustling market along a 6-lane divided street. Well, it's marked for 3 lanes on each side but in reality, 4-5 lanes of cars, trucks, and people compete in each direction.

I'd be surprised if there are 30 traffic lights in this city of 5 million people. Traffic edges through the changing lights until they are solidly red and other vehicles are near. The motorcycles line up in front (cars stay back 1-2 car-lengths to let it happen) and soon there are scores or hundreds of cycles and cars at the stoplight. 

Freshwater fish fill bags and tanks between huge ponds of koi and goldfish, and small aquariums filled with gerbils and turtles. There are bags of bloodworms and plants and more ... 

The current fad in freshwater fish is glow fish in neon colors. This is a patented process, but they're in every shop @15-25c (instead of $6.50 and up per fish in the USA.) They live as long as their plainer types but I skip them for now. I choose 5 betas (for different ponds @65c each). They're good for eating algae and bugs.

I grab 2 bags of red barbs (10 fish@14c each, replacing the fish killed by organic fertilizer swished into their pond by rain. We finish with basic fish food and 2 turtles @$1.75 each for the back ponds to keep the tadpoles in check. We'll see if the turtles head off or stick around. W says it's less than $20 altogether for a lot of "fishing."

My choice for a late birthday meal is a sandwich from Mom's Bakery. 

We step out of the car beside this beautiful hedge.

I'm in the mood a plain Western-style sandwich. Actually, I'd eat anything that isn't slathered in oil/butter or deep-fried (the norm here). I choose teriyaki chicken on whole-grain sourdough, crammed with vegetables and very hot chilis. It's satisfying and just what I want. My Grandpa Schmidt used to say, "Kinder, esst was euch gut schmeckt (kids, eat what tastes good to you)." He believed that our bodies would crave the nutrients and tastes it needed.

I like a little sweetness after savory, like this black chocolate cake. I hand W the icing and mousse layers since I also dislike those pure-sugar-n-fat layers. We can't finish our shared piece. Unfortunately, the takeaway box is left on the counter overnight instead of in the fridge. By morning when I get to the kitchen, it's swarming with ants. Toss!

In late afternoon, this "catwalk" is my path to our beloved dentist, Dr Gati. She lives on a hillside, so the entry, parallel to the street, is a flight higher than the ground floor. Her view over the green valley and hillsides is soothing - and the story I'm listening to on headphones distracts me from the whir of drills and brushes.

Gati trained in Colorado and has the gentlest touch I've ever experienced in a dental chair. It's been 5 months since my last cleaning, better than the 4-year gap last time.

Thursday

They're reconstructing three houses in our neighborhood. Today, two men offload a pickup truck of bricks for the new walls of a remodel.

I'm finally well enough to make a hospital visit. Keep praying for Ofly, whose heart is going wild (slow!) so that docs can find out the root cause.

Read more:

*Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. (Psalm 94: 16-19)

*They shall know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke and save them. Ezekiel 34:27

*God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

Moravian Prayer: God of salvation, thank you for seeing the tears in our eyes, and for bearing our burdens. As we wait for the day when your peace will reign, give us patience and strength to endure. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Mrs. Liz and Mr. Jim

On Saturday's trip to Costco, I encountered a time warp of the best kind. ... bump. bump. My cart tapped another, pushed by––can it be Mrs. Liz?!!! Wow, she has the same beautiful beehive hairdo, except it's now a crisp white instead of blond. Her face, as unlined as ever, stretches into a familiar warm smile. She asked about our kids, and remembered the details of what they were doing years ago, when we last ran into each other.

"What are you doing now?" she asked me, I told her I was finishing studies.

"Wow! I'm nobody. I bake cookies!" she exclaimed. My oh my. This influencer and neighbourhood fairy godmother is hardly a nobody!

Mrs. Liz was the loving cookie mother-lode of our street (our 31 year old son was in Grade 1 about 1987). Jeremy and Kirsten came in the house one day with big homemade cookies in hand. "Where did you get those?" said their sugar-rationing mommy, a bit enviously.

"A lady named Liz in the other house," Jeremy said. He pointed vaguely to the neighbourhood.

"That would be Mrs. Liz to you!" I firmly countered. We walked down the street to meet Mrs. Liz.

"Oh dear, I hope I haven't done something wrong, said the stunning 35-something, tall blond who opened the door. "I love to bake and thought your kids might like a treat."

No problem. We got to know Mrs. Liz well in the few years we lived in our little college house by the freeway. Our children visited her nearly every day. She was kind, friendly, and always immaculately dressed. Her husband Mr. Jim was extremely shy and moved out of sight when someone knocked on the door. Mrs. Liz always answered with a smile and friendly word––and best of all for kids, she always had cookies or treats. "Here you go, Love," she'd say, handing over a homemade goodie.

While I sighed over the sugar, I trusted Mrs. Liz completely. She baked, volunteered all over Kirkland, and became the heart of our street. Mr. Jim stayed behind the scenes, maintaining a manicured lawn, working in his shop, keeping up the yard for a paralyzed neighbor, and trimming the hedge for the widow a few houses down.

She became "Mrs. Liz" to everybody "because of what your kids called me," she told me a few years ago, and she remains that to today's kids. I goggled her last name once and forgot it immediately. She'll always be Mrs. Liz to us.

On Saturday, I invited her to lunch with our kids and us on Sunday. She refused, smiling off any offense: "Oh, Jim would never come. I have to stay home and fix him lunch. He's still busy and happy. Today, he clipped Mrs. Smith's cedars. This afternoon he's pruning an apple tree for Paul. You know Paul, don't you?"

Yes, I know Paul and the others she mentions from our old neighbourhood, but I didn't know Jim was the reason Paul's yard is kept neat and fresh. (Paul can't do yardwork; an accident left him unable to walk.)

I felt utterly refreshed as I wheeled away. Mrs. Liz and Mr. Jim are heroes from a gentler era. They look out for others, expecting no recognition or applause. They've lived near the university for nearly 40 years. Mrs. Liz still has a kind word and home baking for their neighbors and the little kids from the college housing that popped up a stone's throw from their house. Good news of a "pot of gold" or a jar of cookies spreads fast! Over the years, Mr. Jim has helped students repair their cars and showed up––tools in hand––to do minor repairs up and down their street. He would be appalled if someone noticed.

There's always a place for good manners and neighbourly care. Between all of us, we can be inspired by the model of Mrs. Liz and Mr. Jim. They're ordinary people doing good day after day, year in and out, with consistently kind words, the right tools, or a fresh cookie or two. Whom can you bless today?

Read more:

*Genesis 41:17-57; Psalm 22:29-31; Matthew 14:15-24

*We also will serve the Lord, for he is our God. Joshua 24:18

*A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. Isaiah 11:1

*Christ says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

*It is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 4:2

Moravian Prayer: Father God, thank you for the earthly lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ! As we study his life's journey, may his words abide within us as we gather fruits worthy to be harvested in his kingdom! We worship the beauty of your holiness. May our love and service to you be honorable as we spend time in your presence. Amen.