Shadows......
Can a shadow be more beautiful than the object that casts it? I think so......
An object is stationary, whereas a shadow is ever changing.......just like Life. It is a reminder that life is beautiful, and temporary!

Shadows are full of mystery......
They are full of possibilities.......
Can you ever possess a shadow, as you can an object? I dont think so.........!!!

Colors and Textures.......

An accent wall in my dining area thats in an apple green color.....

Experimenting with my current favorite color combination- green and pink:

A rose smells as sweet, whether in pink or in sepia.....

Another favorite combo of colors and textures:

Good Morning......
The holy Basil invokes feelings of blessings at the crack of the day......

So what else do you need to have a good morning besides these......a steaming hot cup of chai, a newspaper and the remote..........indispensable!!!

Maid for each other........

I never thought I would be one of those who'd fret over a missing maid. After all, I've managed the show on my own (with a lot of help from hubby, ofcourse) in the U.S., so why cant I achieve the same results in India?..........Boy, was i wrong!!!!!!!!

My maid/woman Friday/indispensable manager of my home is on leave following a broken arm (incurred during her divali vacation), and my entire world has fallen apart. The one time supermom who was unfazed by any messes that her kids made, has now been reduced to a screaming control freak (i'm talking 'bout myself, ofcourse!)

I've realized that when you're caught up in the basics of life...... beauty, creativity, spirituality all go out for a toss.

Well, on the brighter side though, i've bonded with a lot of people who've sympathised with my situation....

friends offering me the services of their own maids in their free time,

neighbours acting as very efficient HR personnel to find me a substitute,

family sympathising with my situation....

Every little grievance that i had with my woman Friday have disappeared and i've included her well being in my prayers.........and not just for selfish reasons!!!

Divali happens to be my most favorite part of the year.....

The nip in the air, the aromas of goodies being fried, the colors of Marigold flowers, rangolis, lanterns, meeting people you'd not met since last divali!! This year we visited my hometown a few hours away from Pune. Small town Divalis are something else!!!!

This is Tanaya's and my joint attempt at rangoli.......love the colors........

Something about marigold flowers that invoke festive memories.....

have water, will float them......

We lit very few fireworks this year, just enough to get the flavor........ my family has made a pact not to light em up again coz of what it does to our planet...

bizarre pic, but i like it! looks kinda like a painting :-)

this ones not in the middle of a jungle, actually in the middle of a village. sad to see all that wood all cut up :-(

poor little small town boy who couldnt afford fireworks, lights up a fire instead.

bye-bye small town, we're on our way back home!!!

Things I love about India~

* Each morning holds a myriad of possibilities

* Each day is different from the previous one

* Every day ends up like my Lasagna.....different than what I'd planned for it to be

* No decision is ever final. A "No" could mean a "Yes". You just have to find creative ways to turn the verdict in your favor

* I dont have to sweat over whether I was politically correct or not

* hired help....for almost anything (dont have to nag hubby about taking the trash out anymore!)

* I dont get a smirk with an "Of-course", everytime I ask for water - without ice!

Finding Beauty in the mundane~
There is something very beautiful about a painter's ladder against a yellow wall! I'm getting a few accent walls in bright colors painted in my home......a great way of creating the mood without too much of a commitment! The major part of my home remains white~ great to reflect all that sunlight. The last fruit.........the joy of parenthood~ should i eat it?! Maybe I should just leave it for the kids:-)

If someone said that I dont have a green thumb.........they would be right! This would all be my lady-gardener's magic:

I guess I could take credit for this one growing in an old Dabur Honey bottle:

My favorite place~ my Patio......

The other side of it:

A little bamboo screen for privacy. I love to add little elements of whimsy, like the windchimes hanging from the Jhoola. They make a pretty sound when the Jhoola is swinging!

There is something very artistic and meditative about the Plumeria / Frangipani / Lei plant. I feel like dedicating an entire blog to this nature's creation!

Beautiful in a state of Nirvana (def.:~ freedom from the endless cycle of personal reincarnations, with their consequent suffering, as a result of the extinction of individual passion, hatred, and delusion):

These days.....

These days I spent my time~

* Solving puzzles in newspapers

* Waiting for the kids to come home from school

* Creating a positive "India" experience for my kids

* Looking for ways to bring beauty and creativity into my life

* Acquiring new hobbies like gardening and photography

* Driving around town for errands, dropping/picking up kids to/from classes, and to discover new avenues