Feeling full - of love and work

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Though we miss our walk, we get in plenty of steps. Between dogs and company at the Project, we run the stairs and go back and forth. Sundanese religion combines Islam and animism. Nature is considered a residence for spirits so cutting down a tree - or even trimming it - is a big deal. There's a flock of men working to reshape the leaning trees along the street. They've blocked it off for the procedure.

PakG tells us where to find simple and cheap handmade furniture. We're ready to leave the house when IbuA points out a flat tire on the car. PakG fixes it before we zip down the hill to bargain for wooden beds. We end up with two for $60. "They'll be ready in 5 days," says the seller. "Come back Tuesday."

The walkers come over for lunch. It's been a rainy muddy slog but they and the animals had fun. They tie up their dogs in the driveway and carport. Each time a hiking dog barks, the dogs next door respond with a chorus.

Each person orders food from Nanny's Pavilon across the street. Nanny's servers kindly bring the food over. It's delicious: pasta, salad, and bread. Everyone seems happy with their choices.

Afterward, W and PakG go to buy a replacement for the one that wore out (or was slashed, we can't tell.) They also find reinforcing slats for a single bed that a friend found for us last week. We haven't quite figured out the mattress supports for the antique teak 4-poster but are getting closer. And there's no IKEA loft hardware to be found in Bandung to replace what was lost in the move. That will have to wait for W's next trip to the USA.

All in all, we're getting closer to furniture completion. We're almost ready for a full house of people. The helpers match linens with mattresses and clean the floors upstairs. W and I complete some writing before it's time to pick up our watchdog. She sounded very fierce last night; whether a person or cat was in the yard, we don't know.

Friday

We're starting the next round of Indonesian public holidays so the house is blissfully quiet without helpers. I make a slow cooker stew and W hangs a lovely batik from DrH near the tea station.

The flowers from Sunday are almost gone but I rework what's left into 2 bouquets. With the help of the top of a shrub, one is 2'/60cm tall. Meanwhile the roses barely peek over the edges of their bowl.

Which side of this looks better? This?

Or the other side of it?

The bowl of deep pink mums and roses is pretty, too.

The day flies by. While W brings over more of his things, I catch up on work and writing. The stew bubbles away all day and makes a wonderful supper. W hangs more shelves in bathrooms. 

Somehow it feels like Saturday, a bonus weekend day, which we don't mind at all. We're hungry for Ethnic's rice oncom and sambal and it hits the spot.

Saturday

We start with a walk and W's study. Today's a big morning at the Project for a young couple. Alice prepares the marriage certificate and makes sure the documents are in order. G and K are married in the company of a dozen friends. It's the first wedding held here, a nice setting inside or out.

Their guests sign our guestbook; we take a photo for the happy couple. These are the verses we choose for them.

They do a quick tour of the Project. One gal volunteers to do marketing and booking if we want to use it as a rental. I can't imagine bringing in more people; it's filling up quite nicely on its own.

W logs 25,000 steps, walking to town. While he's away, another young couple comes for premarital counseling. Their wedding is in a few weeks and they're almost ready. W and I walk another thousand steps with the dogs before night falls.

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* O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Psalm 95:1

All nations will come and worship before you, for your judgments have been revealed. Revelation 15:4

Moriavian Prayer: At the dawn of each new day, gracious Savior, may we rise with praise on our lips and gladness in our hearts. May such praise become hope for those who hear it, and may our gladness bring courage to those who walk silently and with heavy hearts. Amen.