Sunday, September 20, 2026
Listening to Daniel speak Indonesian while Della, his wife, translates into English, we learn new words. His encouragement goes straight to the heart.
We ask a few people out to lunch at #NaraPark. Yum for good lunch and good company. Danny beats us to the cashier. "You know what my uncles would say if I let you pay," he laughs off his generosity.
After a brief visit to the house, our guests head home. I snap a photo of the empty entry before we draw the curtains across the 8'/250cm windows. Some days are very peaceful. Being surrounded by tall trees helps filter out the noise of the main street and probably helps with pollution. The AQI (air quality) has been unsafe to toxic: 70-170 in the last week. There's paper and plastic trash in the driveway, tossed by yesterday's children. It will be collected or swept away in the morning. (We'll have to tell the kids that they're expected to throw their garbage in the garbage can by the gate.)
#TitikBadudu drops off the morning bouquet while we are out. Oh wow.
Week after week, I marvel at her fresh and artful creations. I pluck out a rose to take to Chacha's birthday party at 3PM.
She's the beautiful fairy godmother to her pastor's kids. I had an aunt like that. Memories of AuntieM are dear to my heart, many years after she passed on.
On the Porch, the orchids have fully opened. Some are on their second round of flowers. This one, from DrIngrid and IbuDhani, has been gorgeous since late August without dropping blooms. They brought it along on a visit after W came home from the hospital.
"Does it bite?" We pass a chameleon that's seen better days. I snap a photo: 2:1 tail-to-body length is the normal ratio.
You know your diet has definitely shifted when, instead of bacon and eggs, it's a luxury to have cinnamon apples (stewed this morning), porridge (without sugar or milk), and chia seeds soaked in cranberry juice. I cook quinoa while that's getting ready -> must think ahead when meals are cooked from scratch rather than thawed and heated, or prepped by others.
The yard seems barren of color though the transplanted shrubs look healthy after almost a year in the ground.
The yard man shows up every 2 weeks to tame the Project yard. He brings 10 pots of flowers from the nursery where he works. Once a month, we give him $17 to liven up the flowerbeds with pops of colour.
The leaves get swept away with a homemade split-bamboo broom. (They don't use rakes.) We don't actually have a lawn. Rather, it's a clearing planted with spreading green plants that don't need mowing. Everything has begun to yellow in the dry season, despite semi-weekly watering.
One of PakDa's jobs is brushing off the tile roof. He has fallen into the garden. OUCH. I rush over to see what's going on, but he insists he's ok and can repair the ladder. The top joint of the aluminum ladder has failed? The metal hinge is bent out of shape. How did that happen?
I call W from his speech therapy session to check on PakDa. Apparently PakDa - not the smallest of guys - opened up the folding stepladder and extended it to prop on the eaves. There's no supporting middle brace; he climbed up with the metal fold on the wrong side. The simple V-joint collapsed, sending him flying to the ground. He'll be sore tomorrow!
W brings a sturdier and taller ladder. It's common for locals to "make do" with whatever is nearby, whether that is appropriate or appropriated. They seldom "bother" us to ask for correct tools. PakDa finishes the job.
There's a lot of natural debris. We hear the swish swish of the broom as heaps of leaves are collected from the walkway and under the trees. You can't let the leaves pile up under the tree canopy either, because snakes and rodents will nest in it. It may be perpetual summer, weatherwise, but it's perpetual autumn with trees shedding leaves, branches, cones, and needles.
With a forest overhead, natural debris must be removed regularly from the roof. During the dry season, they sweep off easily. It's more difficult during the rainy season, when composting foliage meshes into wet clumps.
The garden waits to be discovered, wherever you look. This 8"/20cm x 1"/2.5cm cylinder has appeared in the shade of a thriving palm tree. Some plant is making its way into sunlight. It won't twist off. I cut it to add to my collection of natural wonders. (Don't worry, there are more!)
There's no way to keep up the Project alone. The staff works hard to maintain the inside and outside. We are grateful for each one.
Tuesday
We agree that oatmeal porridge is better than the quinoa leftovers from yesterday's supper. W dislikes the texture. It was savory, cooked in broth, and I prefer a sweeter breakfast.
We agree that oatmeal porridge is better than the quinoa leftovers from yesterday's supper. W dislikes the texture. It was savory, cooked in broth, and I prefer a sweeter breakfast.
The yardman has to sort the garbage from the compost piles. Locals explain to us their habit of throwing plastic, food, and other waste on the ground, wherever they are. "We used to live off the land, so whatever we threw away decomposed. We've just continued the custom of throwing down our garbage when we moved to cities." Some street sweeper picks or sweeps it up, burning it in toxic piles along the street.
Bottles, bags, and other debris have been mixed into the piles of leaves raked against our fences. Those must come from someone who worked in the yard. No one else has access. Today, one guy gets to clean it up. Looks much better when he's done.
I spend over an hour researching and sorting research for an upcoming book. I intend to walk down to the women's study but have left it too late. I catch a ride instead.
It's a full but quiet day, the best kind. W keeps working on the pool. It's not yet ready for water aerobics or water therapy, but we're getting closer.
Read more:
* Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you. Psalm 33:22
* May those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!” Psalm 40:16
* Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
* [Jesus said,] I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved. John 10:9
* For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Philippians 1:21
* The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18
Moravian Prayer: Gracious God, we thank you for the beauty of creation, a reflection of your steadfast love. As we place our hope in you, lead us through the gate of Christ to salvation, trusting in your mercy and eternal care.
Mighty God, you are our salvation and our strength. We rejoice in your love and proclaim, “Great is the Lord!” Rescue us from all harm and lead us to your heavenly kingdom. To you be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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