A rainy morning...

* the photograph is blurry.

* so are things right at this moment.

* it's a rainy, grey morning.

* drinking some hot chai keeps me going.

* rather than complain about the weather, am thinking of ways to make today interesting.

* maybe catch up with some old friends.

* watch some movies on TV.

* bake?

* visit all those inspiring design blogs I haven't visited in a while.

* this blog is lovely.

what are you doing today?

oh those cookery shows....

..I watch them all.

nigella rules, kylie kwong rocks, sanjeev kapoor is fun, aditya bal is funny...

the latest in the list is 'jamie at home'

the new cookery show I have been watching, by Jamie Oliver.

* the rustic kitchen.

* those enamel pots and pans.

* cabbages, baby carrots, radishes, turnips pulled out fresh from his kitchen garden.

* go straight into that huge pot of boiling water.

* oh. its lovely.

* don't understand?

* just watch this:-)

November 1, 2009

* been away for 4 months. wow.

* hi there to people who still visit this space.

* where did I disappear?

* was very much here, but suddenly had nothing really to blog about.

* meanwhile, I upgraded my comp to an Apple Macbook Pro.

* got myself a new lens Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens

* cut my hair.

* attended yoga classes.

* was offline for more days that I ever could imagine.

Suddenly today I wanted to post. So here I am:-)

* winter sunlight just warmed my soft heart.

* those succulent, juicy tomatoes with all their green crowns intact lured me to pick my camera.

* the new chai masala, that I picked up...does have some magical ingredient.

* loads of lotion on dry, dry skin.

* the father and the daughter huddled in the kitchen, trying to whip up a Sunday dinner.

* some new chai cups.

Hope all of you have a serene Sunday.

sweet process...

Basic Cake Recipe
1 Cup- White Castor Sugar
1/2 Cup- Butter
2 -Eggs
2tsp- Vanilla Extract
1and 1/2 Cup- Flour
1 and 3/4 tsp- Baking Powder
1/2 Cup - Milk

* Preheat oven to 175 degrees C/300 degrees F
* Grease cake tin
* Cream together sugar and butter, add beaten eggs slowly.
* Add vanilla extract.
* Combine Flour and baking powder seperately and mix well with the wet mixture.
* Add milk.
* Pour in the greased tin and bake for 30-40 mins until a needle inserted in the cake comes out clean.

Do bake and enjoy the smell lingering in the house in the afternoon!( I decorated it with some chocolate chips)

simple pleasures~

* A bunch of wild flowers tied into a little bunch with a string.
* early morning cool breeze.
* sparrows chirping.
* white rangoli on wet pavements.
* children's laughter.
* fluttering pigeons .
* my favourite song on replay.
* amul roasted almond ice-cream in a tub.
* juicy litchis that don't last longer than few minutes.
* pulpy intoxicating mangoes.
* anticipation of the weekend.
* seeing my cosmos seedlings grow.

what are your simple pleasures?

Eyeing...

...some interesting stuff from people tree.

Today is special...

I receive loads of email everyday.
Spam mails, Lottery mails, query mails, forwarded mails...

I, like many others don't bother too much with forwarded mails, but this one mail from a friend completely appealed to me.

It is long.
If you have the time enjoy it.
If not, come back later to read it.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written." My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1.Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay cheque.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you no one else.
20. When it to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion, today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Enjoy!