Feeling the seasonal change

Thursday, March 5, 2026

I do a loop with the dogs. Before we head out the gate, they are calm and obedient. If not, that dog gets unclipped from the leash and doesn't get to walk. Later, they can walk with PakG. Anton got left behind 2 days in a row.

Today he runs to the potty area, then sits down and obeys the "wait" until I'm out the gate. Then he trots along on a loose leash without pulling. Is this the same creature that yanked W all the way around the block 2 months ago? 

It's a day of editing. I need to whittle off another 200 words, though new information is still coming in from around the globe. I can't decide what else to jetison - so I'll leave it until the next day.

The dogs are easily bored and their digging is hard on the yard. Yesterday, I froze water containing a few pieces of kibble and sweet potatoes. Today I cut off the bags and the dogs work their way through the "popsicles" - it drains off a lot of energy. I find a plastic basket with a lot of holes and tie long scraps of fabric through the holes. Tomorrow I'll toss in some food in for a snuffle mat.

Madelyn drops by for a chat, taking one of my books with her.

There are many DVDs in a box, left over from our daughter's visit years ago. I advertise them in the Yard Sale group.

The wind picks up and there's a crash. A 4m/12' limb has fallen off a tree at the back of the yard. Luckily it didn't hit anything.

Which reminds me: a tall tree is leaning toward the house, with two long branches stretching over the roof without balancing weights on the other side. When that falls, it will crush part of the roof. I send a note to the owner.

Friday
After an uneventful walk, IbuS comes to give me a massage. "You are sore today," she notes. True. I've been sitting for hours between walks and hard physical work.

I'm finishing off leftovers from the week - some eggs in 1/4 of a takeaway rösti from Ethnic is breakfast. Lunch is the rest of a pizza that's been sitting in the fridge. Eva comes by to deliver a stuffed duck from Robbie. It's 3X the size expected, so it becomes a seat for kids studying English at the Project, instead of a dog toy as expected.

W has been presenting his new book along with other work in the USA and Canada.

He hands out advance copies provided by the publisher.

He texts just after midnight. His flight from Seattle is delayed. He'll have a long layover in Singapore Airport before boarding the final flight for Jakarta. That's not the worst place for a layover: they have good rest areas and he has a lounge pass. Good thing he enjoys traveling: 13 flights in 3 weeks is not my idea of a good time. He arrives home in the early morning hours.

Saturday
It's a quiet morning. W lets the dogs out at 4AM when he gets back. He sleeps for 2 hours before a hearty breakfast on the Porch. I get to sleep in for 20 minutes until my body says, ok, you're done.

Off to one side, mushrooms sprout from a tree stump. We keep stripping off the young shoots that emerge from the trunk. It's too close to the house to let it branch out again. But in Indonesia, everything wants to grow.

W has brought a suitcase full of treats and an old-but-good cover for our Beddinge sofa. I must have 20 covers for the thing. It's how we mark seasons: from Christmas and Valentine's reds...

To the gentler colors of fall (southern hemisphere) and spring (northern hemisphere).

The kids arrive in force, despite the rain. The first arrivals show up 1 1/2 hours early, at 12:30. The dogs let us know they are at the gate. The kids are terrified of the dogs. We ask the volunteers to remind the kids, "We tie up the dogs at 1:30. That's a half-hour before it starts."

The dogs don't mind the yard: they get a bone to keep them busy under the trees. They snooze between the hard job of chewing. It's wet and rainy so they look like dirt-toys after frolicking and digging in the back. Juno offers her happy face - she loves the mud.

With W back home, supper is back. I'm rarely hungry in the evenings but I eat to accompany him. His choice is Homeground and spicy food.

Someone planted sticks of "crown of thorns" a while ago to keep people from parking in front of their house. It's worked. Now the sharp-thorned stems are adorned with blooms.

Sunday
The weeks at IES Bandung are counting down. This is our fourth-last Sunday as team leaders. We don't have a replacement pastor yet . We're asking our friends to pray with us about who should come.

We talk about loving the way God loves - by praying for others, but noticing their needs, and helping out.

Oh, look - they've repaired a huge pothole in the asphalt with cement, except that it wasn't properly roped off and set before several vehicles put their permanent imprints on it.

The orchids continue their months-long splendor. They're just starting to lose some blossoms.

Read more:
* The righteous know the rights of the poor. Proverbs 29:7

* When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Luke 18:22

Moravian Prayer: God of abundance, all we have is yours. Help us to rid ourselves of the excesses that lead us away from you and from your call to serve. Help us relinquish that which separates us from seeing others’ needs and rejoice in all you have given us. Amen.