do you know

...what she did last summer? The darling accompanied her mother on walks and discovered with awe the 'touch-me-nots,' chameleons and dragonflies, and lots of flowers!


She enjoyed her afternoon jelly sessions as much as she loved helping her grandmother pickle some mangoes in brine. I have to add, this girl loves her pani puri, raw mangoes and imli... does that make me a bad momma?


excuse the poor quality of picture, please :)


Some one insisted on picking flowers everyday so that she could float them in her (grandmother) ammamma's large crystal bowl and other steel utensils. She loved this!


I am sure she hoped her brother who tagged along everywhere would do more than lend moral support :D


Sigh! so much time to to indulge in games by herself!


Some days, we went on an embellishing binge, first sticking sequins on the bird cage...


... and, then on the terracotta chimes...


...and, a play dough bead necklace for me!


And, this is how we left things on the morning we left. I wish I had remembered to click the fridge door, the "painting wall of fame," that was just overflowing with painted papers and crafts.

this time around

... I was lucky to catch a week of the bright summer sun before the monsoons decided to blow our way. As is the case in Kerala, there were power cuts galore and we, cut away from the town and civilisation, were treated to a full night of black-out. Mom's candles flickered through the night attracting lots of insects because who could sleep with the windows closed in the oppressive humidity there.


The phone lines, and as a result of which the Internet, conked out with the very first thunderstorm. My toddler was feeling up to walks this time around and we did manage several rounds around the house, watched the cows being milked, looked for the pet turtle that didn't show up (unlike last year), picked flowers and watched the dragonflies buzz overhead on cloudy afternoons. Of course, two large tubes of odomos were completely squeezed out for the purpose of 'bite-free' walks.


I am a malayali and my parents live in Northern Kerala. But, no matter where you live in this state, you find coconut trees, baby coconuts and really old coconuts. Be careful walking under the coconut palms! Here is a humble attempt to beautify the crop.


And, then the rains came. And, not without drama. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed for more than two hours before the dark clouds relented and the parched ground drank it all, enveloping us in the most pleasant smell and really good feelings - just to see the rain fall!


There always was a beautiful soundtrack surrounding us, only the rhythm of the raindrops changed. But, no change of pace deterred the children from splashing in the puddles or simply stand, face and palms upward to the skies, letting the drops soak them through. Did give me a case of the jitters thinking of the unhappiness that would follow if one of them caught a cold or fever, but all went well.


The mosquitoes lessened considerably, the kids were nicely settled in the routine there and we got lots of time to catch up with news of the family from mom and news of my friends and their families from me. Of course, mom missed the picture updates that happens when both of us sit for hours before the computer and she looks through pictures of my friends and their babies on orkut and facebook.


It was a neat break, though, a trip somewhere would have been nice. But, then, these were carefree days sans planning and itinerary, with a pace and cadence all of their own. The true essence of summer holidays - freedom and no set time for anything... oh! except probably for the daily power cut there :)

long time!

Its been such a long time and really nothing much has happened in between! Its summer no more, but, cool and wet monsoon season now. Its been less than a week that I've been back from the annual holidays spent with the parents and the parents-in-law. A long list of "things to do" awaits me, but, its now time to sit awhile and sip some tea and just BE. Let the chores wait :)

summer, pleasures... and quotes

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. ~John Lubbock



Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it. ~Russel Baker



I question not if thrushes sing,
If roses load the air;
Beyond my heart I need not reach
When all is summer there.
~John Vance Cheney



There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. ~Celia Thaxter



Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language. ~Henry James



In summer, the song sings itself. ~William Carlos Williams



I have always loved summer, maybe because I was born in this season :)

typing out loud

There are so many things happening around me and with me. We, now, have neighbours next-door. Actually, since November last. But, the neighbourly feeling started during spring break with the kids having company they liked.

That left me and the mother next-door enough time to drink tea and chat about everything and sundry and lament our heart about why our kids simply refused to eat anything edible or cooked by their respective moms!

There, really, is something heartwarming about having good neighbours. For one, it makes you want to be good neighbourly folks. Then, if you need just one green chilly for the raita and can't be bothered to run down to the vegetable vendor four storeys below, you have a door to knock at, so it shall be given to you.

This joy that I am revelling in is being shadowed by the utter dread (hand on my heart) I am feeling at the prospect of Abi starting school in April. He loves sitting for a moment or two in the school bus, whenever one of the other kids is late. My heart knows, it will not be the same once he does it for real!

I started him in playschool two weeks ago (cringing at my tardiness) and the first week was smooth sailing. Then , after having played with all the toys there, he got tired of the whole business and now, clings to me wailing at the top his voice every day.

Sometimes, in the morning, he hides behind the curtains so I can't find him in time for school. Ingenuous are his ways, but not cute enough to stop determined-mother-on-mission to get him an idea of school.

After a month of school, its summer holidays and we take off for Kerala where we spend time with both sets of grandparents. At the end of the carefree days there, it is almost always a culture-shock for me as every responsibility falls back on my shoulders and I am homesick to the core.

Apart from that, I am excited at the prospect of having 8.00 am to 1.00 pm as a child-free zone. I have an offer to teach part-time at a college. I am blushing as I write that I will, in case I take up the offer, be teaching journalism! My journalism guru, will probably resign from his post as dean of the institute I studied in, if he hears word of this.

Now, this job is guaranteed by my friend, who in addition to being an editor at a magazine, has been teaching next-gen journalists for three years. I have to admit, him teaching is not the same as me teaching at all. He has work experience and I got married soon after internship and until three years ago, only wrote emails.

Maybe, it would be better for humanity, if I took the year to revive myself. I do, do feel drained and my neck always hurts.

*smiles*

It would be so nice to have two hours to myself five days a week. I could read all the books I wanted to. Maybe, go wander around in the nearby malls. Explore a by-lane, a new street. Deep clean my house. Enroll in a gym to feel fit and good... and get rid of some of the cellulite.

I could take a nap, sighs! I could get me a massage... a facial, where I have time for the face pack to actually dry. I could sit and stare, without having my eyes poked at by sticky fingers. Learn to meditate. Think about something other than medicine doses and to-do lists.

Practice yoga. Start learning classical music. Maybe not. Organise the kitchen. I could just be and contemplate and mull and wonder and feel rested and... I could go on and on.



As the days of my so-called freedom come near, I feel strongly about staying put in the house with myself. To get to know me as a mother and wife and actually learn what it is I actually need to fill in my life.

It was my dream to be employed by 2010, when I will be thirty. That wish seems shallow now. I might never be employed ever (twinge and grimace. But, now whatever it is I do, I want to do so knowing I can do it best because I love it so.

Insha allah!

its summer when...

... you wake up to this!



... you swear you can't drink another cup of hot tea ever again!



... so, you drink glass after glass of iced tea and refreshing ginger-lime!



... breakfast is leftovers of a light sago-pineapple payasam straight out of the fridge. Originally made as a cool dessert for a summer night :)



... strong, dark shadows by 7.00 am.



... the kitchen window (reflected below) brings in orange-yellow light, which is so different from the creamish glow of winterlight.



... and schools will shut for holidays and our annual trip to Kerala. Can't wait :)

foot notes

I was wandering through the main road of Kalamboli, weighed down by the weekly stock of chicken, fish and vegetables. And, as always, I marvelled with glee at the variety of anklets and toe rings and shades of nail polish on other women's feet.

I am wierd that way, liking people for their hands and feet and, sometimes, judging them too harshly for their hands and feet or choice of nail paint! But, I can't help it if the sun is up and it helps to keep your head down and walk.



But, that day, I was feeling tired in spirit and wearied minds make you a wee bit reckless. So, I walked in the nearest silver shop and asked the teenager lighting agarbattis (incense stcks) if they were open.

I bought the first pair I laid my eyes on because it soon became evident that there really was not much choice. aren't they a dainty pair?



Though, I must add, I so wished I had stocked up on all those quirky toe-rings, enamelled and bejewelled, and especially the ones with jhoomars and little bells!! I regret those times I shook my head saying they're not my style :(

But, now I can be on the look out for the jhattak and mast styles. Oh! am dying for a walk through Hill Road or Colaba Causeway!!

... and, mere haseen feet ka secret ...



Ahem! Just in case, this feet-fetish-phase of my life ends too soon, there'll always be a place for these simple beauties in my life forever :)




PS
...all this drama over a pair of toe-rings??