7 years is a new lifetime

Friday, August 13, 2021

And yet more change. Another expat is leaving the city, shedding bookshelves, kitchen items, exercise equipment, and a car. His Kallax shelf makes a good room divider.

It settles in by nightfall. I've been eyeing a plant at the back of the yard. Its leaves unfurl to 4'-5' long but there's finally a "small" leaf on it, a mere meter (1') wide and long. Perfect. Needs a tall vase, like the 80cm (30") cylinder.

It's time to try a mayonnaise-on-wood trick suggested by stagers. Our battered entry table was left behind by the last tenant. I've wanted to move the anklung ( a local instrument made of bamboo) from the tea cart to the front. Angklung music has enjoyed a revival the last decade, especially among culture seekers. Listen to it here.

The table is so damaged it looks terrible. How can we lose? It's already a wreck, with its chipped leg and watermarked surfaces. I smear mayonnaise over it from top to bottom.

"Why did you use my expensive mayonnaise?" W asks as he walks by. "Cheap stuff would have worked just as well. Or you could have used vegetable oil or my furniture polish." Oh well, mayo is less expensive than his good oil and mayo was recommended.

When I lift the greasey mayo off with a rag after a half hour, it's like magic. The surface glows and the water rings have disappeared. The table is now a perfect spot for our little angklung.

On the side table, two leaves sit in the Bali blown glass vase. Who needs flowers when the greens are this interesting?

The coffee tabletop empties (sorta) as the teacups migrate to the tea cart. They join a handmade tea set gifted by another friend. 

At last there's more than a tea box on the cart! The black box of tea samples is a relic from 10 years ago when W wholesale-d tea. At a tea exhibition, a vendor offloaded the box on us at the end of the day.

Pak Danny sends a text: could we pass along vegetables to needy families? They have extras from their organic aquaponic farm. Surely! They're freshly picked and bagged. Danny's worker drops off 24 packages of greens, beets, and peanuts in the early afternoon.

"Make sure they're distributed to people who cook. Who will actually eat vegetables," we caution those handing them out. There's no sense in giving the gift to people who will let it spoil.

"We will," they smile and quickly send the food into the neighborhoods. What a lovely treat from our friend. In general, people in Bandung eat few vegetables. Salad is virtually unheard of except among expats and Indonesians who have lived abroad. We have a weekly subscription for tilapia fish and vegetables - any kind is good and we love trying new varieties from Tanikota Farm.

Our days have shifted so much. We often read for a few hours in the middle of the night. By 5:30 or 6:00, it's light and feels like high time to get moving. That's when we walk and pray over the neighborhoods and the people who pass through them. God knows what every one of us needs so we ask for his mercy and favor.

Saturday

It's been windy all day with clouds scudding by. The sun's out, the dogs are tired from a few morning walks, and there's probably a storm coming this afternoon. The birds are restless, chirping and cackling in the morning light. Sky the rehomed budgie ignores her carrot and toy ladder. She's strictly a perch-to-perch flier and a picky eater. (Except for the taste of her mate, whom she cannabalized early on, according to her first owners.) She's wild and pretty.

From the porch where I work, I can see the lemon tree at all stages - from its fragrant flowers and budding stubs of fruit to the greening lemons. 

There must have been at least 150 lemons from that tree so far and it shows no signs of stopping. If anyone knows anything about citrus trees, the leaves have recently gotten white powder on them and the fruit peel grows calloused. Help! What to do?

There are big bees here. They're up to 2" long. One gets inside the house and buzzes up and down the window.

The staghorn ferns thrive on the green wall that separates the neighbor's yard from ours.

When we first started to explore the garden, we also found stubs of bird-nest ferns under the back trees, discarded on foam mounts. We wired the foam onto the wall. The fronds grow up to 3' (1 meter) long, capturing rain and funneling it into the fern's heart. Magnificent.

Monday

The coleus is stunning beside my balcony desk. A friend of a friend sent shoots over a few months ago and they've grown into beautiful plants.

Tomorrow is the Indonesian Independence Day or Hari Merdeka. In our neighborhood, flags and banners are up in the lane and main thoroughfares. Nearly every house has a flag up as well. The red and white flutters proudly.

I have to stop for a photo of this cluster of flowers on the neighbor's gate.

The dogs don't care about any beauty but their own. After they're groomed, they run around and pose for us. Cocoa gives us a happy grin, ready to go for a walk anytime.

Bailey gets so excited about being groomed that he runs circles around the living room. I snap a photo when he stops between circuits. His clean hair is as soft as the softest lambswool.

As we walk out fo the lane, we see new footings that haven't been pressed down to the base. There's exposed rebar in the recent pour for a new house. In light of the condo collapse in Florida, we hope the builders cover the metal withs solid concrete before the next rainy season.

7 years ago today we moved to Bandung. How is that possible? Yet in that short time, it feels like home. We'd choose to come here again. Would you pray with us for the peace and prosperity of Indonesia during this special week of celebration? Thanks.

Read more:

*Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight. Proverbs 9:6

*Job answered the Lord: “See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.” Job 40:3-4

*[Paul writes:] I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10

Moravian Prayer: Holy One, we are but the work of your voice: a unique whisper amid your vast creation. May we find strength to return to you, our source, that we could amplify your word throughout the world. Amen.

Chocolate, color, and enduring love

Sunday, August 8, 2021

Today's the first wedding anniversary for my mom without my dad. It would have been 68 years: when Dad passed away last December, they'd been together most of their lives. When they married, Dad was a few days shy of 21; Mom turned 18 earlier that week. Their relationship was the bedrock of the family, a model of falling in love and staying in love. Today we miss Dad all over again.

My mom's Canada china is on the coffee table. I curl up with a cup of tea and think of days ahead when we will see her and our friends freely. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it will ever be possible again. Surely a new day is coming ... 

The contrast in pruning catches my eye each time I work from my desk. That's an 8' ladder propped against the melinjo tree.  One tree (right) was pruned back to branches. By the time the other was chopped, it was late afternoon. The workers were hot and tired. They cut straight across. I'm curious to see how they'll grow back.

The frangipanis spread their fragrance across the yard and drop their blooms near the terrace. I pick one up and let the perfume drift toward me during the most difficult calls.

2 decades ago, I tore out a magazine picture of a room I loved and glued it in the notebook for my Family Therapy and Counseling class. It offered a quick visual retreat as needed. (Some things people go through are unimaginable.) Only God can help us survive trauma and grief. A diversion of senses provides a non-distracting balm for me.

I like to cook breakfast after we get back from a walk but today we have leftover casserole. Eggs, cream and milk, sausage, mystery greens, stirred with sautéed onions and mushrooms. I like it better each time I eat it. W sticks to his muesli and yogurt.

Dr W asked her daughter to send tea in her package from Malaysia. 3 months later, it arrived and it's still wonderful. Thank you! Boh Gold is my favorite regional tea. (Thanks, Randy Martin for introducing it to us.)

Later in the day, I heat milk and add some of Chacha's chocolate to it. Is it ever good!

The chocolate softens at room temperature. I leave one bag out of the fridge until it warms enough to spread on a cookie sheet. After putting walnuts on half, I stash the sheet in the fridge overnight to harden. Then I cut it into small bars.We can use them for making cookies or eating like fudge. (Will have to be quick so they don't melt! Maybe more tempering will help.)

The next day, I press hazelnuts into the other half. That further gets divided into two parts: one quarter sheet gets dried cranberries and the other gets chopped dates.

Which will taste better: hazelnuts with cranberries or dates? As I smell the chocolate, I'm thinking about combinations of tastes.

• Perhaps chili powder and apricots. Sweet and spicy.
• Apricots with sunflower seeds or pepitos? That would be mild and light.
• Maybe pumpkin seasoning with pipitos? Like a pumpkin pie.
• How about cinnamon and nutmeg with dates? Cookie-like sweetness.
• Black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom? Chai flavor.

I'm sure it's all been tried before but that's what my nose wants mixed in right now. Tomorrow will ask for other flavors as soon as I breathe in the scent of chocolate

I cook by smell. "This goes with that." "This might enhance that." As long as it doesn't get too complicated, an impromptu by smell recipe always tastes good.

I have only one caution ringing in my ears. "An artist knows when s/he is finished," said my first painting teacher. That goes for cooking, music, writing, and the fine arts.

Monday and Tuesday

It's hard not to be able to be at memorials and events that severely limit attendees. As 60-somethings, there are further restrictions requested by government for "old people." Our driver got his second vaccination shot so is under the weather with predictable effects (fatigue, headache, and other aches) this week.

Should we leave the yard without them, the dogs try to stare us into compliance: "Take us along!" Doesn't work on mornings when we need to record though. Melvi and Gum walk them as well, so they're out 2-4 times every day. Any time we leave them at home, we get the stink-eye.

When we get to the office, we record the weekend video bumpers. Hard Merdeka is coming on August 17. So Sunday is BIC's annual International Day. We acknowledge our varied heritages as a faith community and celebrate Indonesia's Independence Day.

8 families from around the world have sent in videos. Hope it's a blessing to the international and local community who tune in each week. Here's the link if you want to join in sometime.

When we're done we put the camera away and open the door to the outside. That's where we hold most of our meetings.

An open door feels like endless possibilities, doesn't it? I hear rustling in the vines that cover the fence beside the table. 2 lizards - 12" long bodies with double-that-length tails are sunning themselves and chasing each other through the vines. Can you spot the one snoozing at the top center? (Look for his eye and you can find the body. Unless they move, they're hard to find.)

I spread out my art journal while I think through what's coming up. The spread doesn't have to be pretty - the process frees the mind to roam.

Wednesday to Thursday

I'm working from home. So many calls. So many concerns and heartbreaks this week. We trust God to provide and spread his lovingkindness over it all.

On a morning walk, it seems like everything is blooming at once. Some flowers are subtle, like this coleus.

The day lilies last one day. If you want them in an afternoon arrangement, you pick them early in the morning and put them in the refrigerator until just before you need them. Otherwise, they're lovely and GONE by evening. So much temporary extravagance, lavished on the world.

Some flowers are quirky: these bloom on zig-zagged stems in our garden.

Friday

Some restaurants are open on a limited basis so we go for a breakfast date. When we tried to eat at Pino on Tuesday, it was still closed. It's a lovely setting to drink tea and wait for food. Across the courtyard to the hill where the kids love to run and slide, I spot a flash of color. I have to see what it is ...

A group of shrubs is thriving along the Dutch-style pointed stone wall.

I go closer for a better view.

On the way back to our table, this grouping catches my eye. It looks like a path to somewhere quiet and private, maybe to a secret garden.

Breakfast at Pino Terrace in Nara Park is usually yummy. I order their bihun (thin noodle) special. W tries a beef and mayonnaise bread. He likes fatty sauces and spreads. (I typically scrape sauces off salads and sandwiches and hand that extra to him.) #pinoterrace #narapark

We try a new dish: shrimp fritters with hot sauce (sambal). It's hot, crisp, and tender at the same time, practically perfect. It's a nice variation of my favorite shrimp balls. "It's new on the menu, Ibu," says the server. "We've only had it for 4 days." Well, glad we tried it!

We walk back to the house through the village behind our neighborhood. Since covid restrictions and several break-ins, new gates have been installed to keep people from moving freely in and out during evening hours and at night. The gates, like most laws, are in response to lawbreakers.

Close to home, new fruits are forming. This one will be sweeter than honey and swarming with ants who skim off the dripping sugars when it grows a few more inches and is ready for the table. As long as there are no worms inside, we wash it off and enjoy it, too.

Our neighbor's fence is hidden under a spectacular flourish of fragrant purples and lilacs vines.

The red and purple plants below are popular in graveyards but also found in gardens. What's that? I can't remember seeing the blooms before.

At the heart of the new growth is a starfish bloom.

Another neighbor's poinsettia shrub is displaying its semi-annual red flags next to her door, just in time for Indonesian national day next week.

Amid the grief and pain, there is so much encouragement and beauty. But will you pause to see it, to take it in, to enjoy it?

Read more:

*You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:1-4

*Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. Isaiah 43:18-21

*May my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he rescue me from all tribulation. 1 Samuel 26:24

*That night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Keep up your courage!”Acts 23:11

Moravian Prayer; God, you were with us before we existed. You blessed the meal and ate with us. Now you help us see as you see, and work as you work. Thank you. Share through us the presence of your love, always. Amen.

Mostly garden.

Thursday, August 4, 2021

How we miss the Thursday walks in the mountains. Still, every morning we haul ourselves around the neighborhood. Sometimes Melvi takes the dogs. W and I can certainly walk faster without their stops to "sniff-this and sniff-that."

Because Bandung has 12-12 sunshine (daylight on -> nighttime dark), poinsettias bloom all year long. This one offers a pretty splash of color along the neighbor's house.

We read about the volunteers in a nearby city who bury those who die at home. The hospitals are crowded; city managements are overwhelmed and can't get to all the dead. God bless all those who serve. Every religion has a protocol for burial so volunteers are trained for a variety of funerals. We're still on lockdown.

It's a pleasant afternoon with a visit from a dear friend. She takes a few clipping from the garden and a bag of cookies. Another friend stops by later in the week with two bags of chocolate from her factory. I love sharing.

Friday

My views are similar whether I work at BIC or at home. The long green spaces have places to sit and a table for work. Alas, there are few or no humans hanging around during the lockdown.

above: office; below, home

To mark the transitions of summer, fall, winter, and spring, I track seasonal progress on social media around the world.

In the summer zones (north), the gardens are blooming, the vegetables are ripening, early harvests have been canned or frozen, and people are on vacation. They're having fun, enjoying the warm growing seasons. Soon it will be autumn - already anticipated on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. (borrowed photo below)

In the winter zones (south), friends are shivering, their gardens are asleep, and a few cities are on virus lockdown. "Like prison," say some. "Like a long stay-cation," say those with another perspective.

As we walk past her gate, a neighbor's helper offers us a 15-banana bunch from their yard @$3.50. Why not? That's expensive for locals, a bonus for her, and a bonanza for us. W carries it home and we cut it up to share with others. The bananas are 10-12" long, way too much for us alone - even if IbuA will make banana bread on Tuesday ...

With dry season upon us in Indonesia, there are fewer mosquitoes and pests. We water the garden to keep things alive. The flowers have slowed but not stopped.

It's life-giving - relaxing - to know I won't be torn from the warmth and greens I crave in the next month or two. How I used dread the inevitable pull into the gray cold days of Pacific NW winters. (On the other hand, my college roommate tears up when the last snowfall melts near her place in Alberta. Apparently, God has a settler for every location, eh Bonnie?)

Mind you, the swish-swish of brooms on grass and pavement reminds us that autumn-like leaves fall here all year. There will be a little respite when rainy season starts as new life recoats the trees, but most days we sweep or rake. The bamboo along the wall sheds enough to cover the ground daily. The paper-thin leaves of dry season will be replaced when the rains come. Fresh, lime-green shoots will fill in any gaps and we'll prune off the old stalks to use for garden stakes and poles.

The mosquito-repellent shrubs along the porch rest in dry season. Their leaves emit an acrid almost-citrusy smell when you brush against them.

There are all kinds of stems and leaves in the side yard, too. It's a dumping ground for ailing plants and crumbling pots. The sun breaks down plastic and wood alike. Every once in a while I check it out - what a variety of interesting orchids, climbers, and rooted plants. They're speckled, spotted, striped, and colored. We'd pay a fortune for these kinds of "houseplants" that don't thrive in Seattle or Vancouver. I know. I've tried.

This beautiful red-black pop of color catches my eye.

One shrub produces little pink triangles at the tips of the oddest zigzag-gy stems. This bush grows 4' high until we chop it back into shape.

Along the house, the little leaves planted earlier have grown to 1-2' long. These look amazing in design magazines, a single leaf carefully placed in a vase. Every once in a while I cut one for a side table, too.

Most often, I find scissors and chop back any soft stems that overhang the walkway. We toss them on the compost heap. Such is the abundance of the tropical garden.

The dogs eye me with a sigh when I point my phone at them, like kids reluctant to be caught in yet another photo. It's too warm for them to be active. They've had 2 walks already this morning. The little dog runs in and out, wanting to be near his person but also too curious to stay still. The big yard dogs happily sprawl on the cool porch tiles.

If someone comes to the gate, they'll be in full cry. No one comes in without notice - and only then with an escort. The standard, with her light-chocolate eyes, is ready for grooming again. I haven't brushed her this morning but she's comfortably flopped down for her nap in a shady corner away. Let her be until we're ready.

One house overlooks our yard so we've hung Spanish moss along the roofline. It fills in nicely and blocks the neighbor's views as we sit on the porch.

My mom got a red anthurium for her birthday earlier this week. It's exotic, gorgeous, and expensive in its pot. My brother ordered it from a Chilliwack florist. 

Here, there's a tall hedge of it along the driveway. My friends come by a few times a year to cut the the stems for their floral arrangements. I use them to fill in bouquets, too.

W likes to do some things hands-on as a break from academics. Here, he sprays against mosquitoes. Earlier this week, he borrowed an electric trimmer and clipped the hedges.

Bromeliads are the worst plants for mosquito breeding - their leaves capture and cup water. "Please don't plant tomatoes along with bromeliads," W grumbles. He can't spray one without hitting the other. (Skip that one, pls)

Admittedly, I tied the red-blooming bromeliads to the fragrant frangipani (both are in bloom today, below). The tomato plant and the coleus at the base of the soil? Not my work.

Who knows how plants migrate? Sometimes a bird drops the seeds or there's a stem in the compost that the yardman piles in the pot. When they ripen, we pluck tomatoes for our salads as though that was our plan all along.

Saturday

The biennial national conference of our organization took place in Florida this week.  Some of us missed it because of distance; others because of known exposure to the virus. We see pictures of meetings and meals, of display booths and lectures. People are hugging, chatting, singing, talking, and eating together.

The last time such gatherings took place in Indonesia, Covid-19 flared up across the country. With better nutrition, more vaccinations, and readily-available healthcare, the USA seems better-equipped to deal with any outbreaks. We pray over them all.

This morning, the study group reads the story of Stephen (Acts 6-8). He was a good man who administrated a food program and preached Good News. The religious leaders called him in, listened to his account of God with them, and killed him for it. Very sad.

I'm in the mood to eat but not to cook something elaborate. Has to be quick. While I wrap up a document, W heats a pot with a film of oil in it. My timer's set for 5 min. 

Ting-a-ling ting-along. Ok ok ... to the kitchen to fry breaded chicken found in the freezer. I spot the egg casserole (sausage, peppers, onions, red pepper, cheddar) that we froze yesterday, too. Why not? I pop the egg dish into the microwave, cover the "chicken pan" with a lid so it cooks through, and mix up a salad with sesame dressing - lettuce, pineapple, sunflower, walnuts. 

It's 10 minutes from desk to table. That's today's limit of kitchen patience.

Why do I even bother to serve things separately? I line my plate with salad, cut the chicken into little pieces so they spread evenly on top, and put a piece of egg casserole over that. With a few stripes of Bango sweet soy sauce and sambal (red-hot spicy sauce), it's a feast. 

W tries it separately and then together. Somehow the sunflower seeds, walnuts, and fried chicken, the pineapple and sesame dressing, the crunchy salad and cheesey sausage, the hot sauce and creamy eggs ... are more than the sum of their parts. Every spoonful is uniquely tasty.

DrW sends a special treat around lunchtime: fermented cassava cake. It's hot from the oven and the best one we've tasted to date. There's enough to share with Melvina upstairs.

After making some calls, we rest up. It's been "a week." Most of the food parcels have been distributed. The regular work is mostly done, though W and Angie will go back and forth to finish the tomorrow's talk for BIC Online.

I'm refreshed by a quiet meditation and reflection, a "Thank-you" to God for the beauty of nature.

What are you thankful for today? Look around to notice what's beautiful, noble, lovely, and of good report around you. Who can you bless in the coming week?

Read more:

*I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. Genesis 17:1

*Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. May those who fear you rejoice when they see me  for I have put my hope in your word. I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.

Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands. I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you. Psalm 119:73-77, 164-168

*Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

*Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:6-8

Moravian Prayer; Lord, we stand together before you. Show us the way, so that the love with which you created us, may resound throughout our lives as we carry out the calling you put before us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.