Let go....

It doesnt matter
whether you whisper or shout,
I may be physically here
but I'm all spaced out.

I'm out there somewhere
building my riches,
but the shores of reality and dreams
are full of broken bridges.

This is not what life
promised and illustrated,
that is why I feel
let down and frustrated.

The inner world is where
blissful glimpses are revealed,
all I have to do is let go
of this world of make-believe.......

Just let me be.....

I will evolve,
but at my own pace.
Dont try to hasten me
I have footsteps to trace.

Allow me to linger
a little while longer
until my determination is firm
and my faith a little stronger.

Allow me to stay
blissfully unaware
that my hurdles are all inside
and not somewhere out there!
 

The journey within

I have miles to go
before I reach home.
I tread cautiously, carving footsteps
as I walk alone.

Sometimes its a trudge
as I go downhill.
A trudge as I
walk uphill, still.

Trying to negotiate my path
is the trickiest part,
I am halfway through my journey
or is it just the start?

Should I stick to the scripted route?
Will my path itself find me out?
Or should I let destiny deal
and allow my inner truth to reveal.....

My wish list

I wish for.......
-- A dslr camera. I've been saving up for one and it has replaced my wish for a diamond bracelet. Dont know about diamonds, but photographs are forever.

-- The ability to have chocolates whenever, wherever, howmuchever. Without worrying about calories, costs or social etiquette (sometimes you just gotta lick your fingers)

-- Being able to connect with anybody, anytime. Sure, technology has made it possible, but our egoes have not.

-- And last, but not the least - world peace ..............no, really.

The year of the famine......

The birds soar high

in the cloud dotted sky

a gust of wind comes by

and blows the clouds dry

The Earth stays parched

The farmers have arched

backwards in despair

this is their worst nightmare

The worst is yet to come

It can't be undone

Its going to be a long year

What we need now is prayer

Finally, just when hope was lost......

Heaven took notice of a little boy

who sat deep in meditation

he was free from all temptation

it is his prayer that brought redemption

It showered like never before that year

beautiful droplets falling, bringing cheer

for everyone else the year was finally over

For the little boy, he was free forever

The Kashmiri have it good - Houseboats, Pashmina, Saffron, and.......Kahwa!

I'd been introduced to Kahwa (Kashmiri Green Tea) a few years ago by a Kashmiri friend in the U.S. I've hunted high and low for this exotic tea in India ever since. The other day I find it, oh so casually, at The Bombay Store. Since then no weekend has gone by without its consumption.

It not only tastes really smooth, but also has a medicinal value. Its a great drink to have when you have a sore throat or a cold and is said to aid digestion. Works like magic everytime. It is made traditionally in a Kashmiri Samovar kettle, a large decorated urn with burning coals underneath. A pan on a cooking range works just as well!

A teaspoon of this potent tea yields around 4 cups worth of brew.

Procedure:

~Boil 4 cups of water, add sugar per taste, and a pinch of each - cinnamon powder and cardamom (i personally like less of cinnamon and more of cardamon).

~Add a teaspoon of Kahwa leaves and let the mixture brew on lower flame for an additional 10 minutes.

~Strain the drink and then garnish it with almonds slivers. (As a variation, you could also add a strand or two of Saffron, and garnish with Pistachios).

~Serve piping hot and enjoy!!!

A nice variation to the usual tea/coffee social offering, dont you think?!!

I have a ceramic fixation...

Everytime I go anywhere, I seek another item made of ceramic to add to my burgeoning collection (hubby just doesnt get it! It occupies too much space.....It costs too much....Why do we need it?....You dont even use the ones you already have....blah....blah....).

It is not the fine china that i seek. Give me the most colorful/almost kitschy/the cheaper the better/the one with the unusual shape - kind to add to my collection.

If you can mix and match them, their value goes even higher for me! If they come with a lid, thats exceptional value!!

Most of my prized possesions come from the local bazaars. For Pune, this would mean Tulsibaug and the likes.

Check out these priceless masterpieces....

Who let the pigs out?

Last few days have been spent marooned at home owing to the swine flu threat. This gave me an opportunity to indulge in a few things that I wouldnt have otherwise....

- Taught the kids how to play chess. Dint know what I was getting into.... now my son wants me to play chess with him all the time. Taught him to play it with himself as his own opponent. And guess what....... now he wins everytime!!

- Actually took the books out of the shelf and curled up with them.

- Baked a cake or two.

- Broke a glass or two.

- Spent an entire day in pajamas, with oil in my hair!! Even dared to open the main door in this attire. Felt very liberated after that!! (yes, this is what it has come to)

- Started with spring/divali cleaning

- Watched some really old movies, including Khoon Bhari Maang. Hadnt realized what a cheesy movie this one was the first time around in the eighties. I actually thought Rekha looked better before her transformation!

My vegetables have been growing rapidly.
Here's the Methi (fenugreek). Dont know if that clover leaf is a weed or not.


The Karela (bitter gourd) has been growing too fast for its own good...

Tomatoes and Eggplant. Will deserve a bigger container once they've proved their growth oriented ability.....(gosh, my corporate world experiences just came gushing out!!)

Monsoon is here, or is it?

गीली नहीं ज़मीन
पीली पड़ गयी अर्जी
बारिश की तो इस बार
ढीली पड़ गयी मर्जी
(The Earth aint wet
the requests have turned yellow (as in old paper eventually turning yellow)
the rains have, this time
lost their will to shower)

The elusive Monsoon has played truant this year. It started on a promising note, only to dry up, to show a late start, only to dry up again. Here are a few pictures I managed to click when it did rain like it usually does this time of the year......




My garden, a continuous work in progress.... The plants just love this season. They seem so much happier, in a state of celebration.

It has been one looooong break....

Well, I did a lot of things these last few months..... everything except for blogging. One of the highlights during this sabbatical was our Goa trip. Gorgeous beaches, wonderful Goan architecture, loads of greenery and tropical flavors. Check out some of these pics from my trip.....

Our trip started with some pakodas and chai on Amboli ghat. One of the best eating experience I've encountered on my travels. Beautiful scenery with the valley and hills all around, and lots of monkeys vying for food thrown their way by eager passersby.
And the most delicious pakodas I've ever had. All for Rs.5.00 per plate!!!!

Goa is dotted with beautiful churches....

Goan architecture is something else. A blend of European and South American flavors. Well, the Portugese left behind some beautiful influences. I saw some bold use of bright colors like canary green, sunset yellow, peacock blue, etc. Here's one interesting building with a beautiful shade of blue...

Pan anyone? This pan-wala had the most colorful assortment of condiments. Very attractive looking, even for the local flies!!

Flowerlady outside the Mangeshi Temple...

And ofcourse, the beaches!!!!!..........who needs footwear in Goa?!!
Sigh! I'm the designated caretaker :-(

Oh yes, a Kingfisher bottle cap, IS a part of nature in Goa ;-)
So long Goa.... gonna leave my beach slippers behind until next time...

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!!!