Obssessing over a cup...

I just can't get over this lovely green Ikea cup, that I pleaded my husband to pick up on his recent visit to the U.S.
The shape is beautiful and handle a little odd but I think that is what makes it so appealing to me.*Sigh*

Well, now you know the various ways of using a cup.;-)

sun, sand and the calm...

We are just back from a long weekend trip to coastal karnataka.
Lovely vacation with ~

* trips to the local temples
* lazying around in our tents
* long walks on the beaches
* collecting shells & pebbles
* building sand castles with my daughter
* watching the sunset
* the warm waves beating against my feet
* sweet fragrance of the cashew fruit
* rendezvous with the fisherwoman
* playing ball with the two very friendly labradors. All these simple activities put things back in perspective. Making grand plans for the future, the stress of daily city life just melts away and what remains is NOW. Just enjoying the present...

Colour, Smell & Taste.

A Melon is a delight to the senses. The sweet smell of musk melon, the refreshing taste and the colour is a great way to start the day.We are off for the long weekend of Ugadi festival. Will see you next week. Enjoy Summer!

:::Summer is here:::

*Mornings are beautiful.

*The cuckoos have started clearing their throats.

*Washed clothes come back crisp after drying out in the sun.

*Melons have started flooding the markets.

*The schools are going to close for summer vacations in few weeks time.

*Time for swimming lessons.

*Fresh strawberry milkshakes & cold ice-creams.

*Unwinding with loads of magazines.

Been away...

I have been off blogging for quite a while, will try and be back soon. Meanwhile you can check out my pictures on Flickr.

Colour of the Season!

I am completely spellbound by this beauty of nature.

Captured here are the Tabebuia Blossoms on the way to Nandi Hills. They brightened up the scene inspite of cloudy skies. Just LOVE it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Raisin Cake- Our Valentines Day Special.

Only Yesterday...

It seems just yesterday

*I was holding her in my arms and tip-toeing around the house lest she wakes up.

*Raffi's One light, One Sun CD was on replay the whole day because only his songs soothed her.

*She sucked all her fingers before settling for her thumb.

*Her tiny pink feet fit right within my palm.

Today

*She makes 'hot soup' in her kitchen set for me when she thinks I look tired.

*'Where's the party tonight?' is her favourite song.

*She draws everyday & wants it to be scanned and 'uploaded' on to her blog.

*She wants her toe nails to be painted pink.

~Orange~

I don't mind packaged fruit juices but nothing to beat freshly squeezed Orange Juice.

I love the orange colour, the refreshing smell and the taste & so does Mallika.

So, fresh orange juice anyone?

I'm Back!

Yes, Yes, I have just been plain lazy. Have been checking out all the interesting blogs, have been addicted to Flickr and more recently food blogs.
Do check out Mahanandi for cooking with consciousness. I tried out her recipe for Vegetable Pongal with Red rice. Delicious!
So next time, when you are stuck with the question at 4.30 p.m.'What to cook for dinner?"just check out her blog.

Other things that I am busy doing nowadays.
* Loving my Tetley Elaichi Tea.
* Planting mint and coriander.
* Listening to Radio Indigo.
* Spring cleaning.
* Cleaning my hob & chimney with 'Easy Off Bang' ( yes it works!!!, the grease just came off in a jiffy)
* Uploading loads of pictures on Flickr.
* Trying to balance the task of managing 3 blogs that I have started.

Rang-Decor Launched!

I have started a new blog 'Rang-Decor' dedicated to my love for Interior Design. Do check it out!

Dor-The Movie.

Dor- (String) How far would you go to save the one you love? (That's the tagline!)

I knew the film had to be good because it was directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and I especially liked the song 'Yeh Honsla', but what took me by surprise was the very interesting storyline about two women from two different parts of India and what binds them together.
Each frame in this film is so beautiful especially the ones in colourful Rajasthan. Great job by cinematographer-Sudeep Chatterjee.

I enjoyed it thoroughly. Go see it, if you haven't already!
(image from Sahara One Motion Pictures)

Flowers for the Week- Alstroemeria

Fresh flowers bring in colour, cheer and positivity. I pick up flowers every week from our local florist. The days I can't, I just pick up Frangipani flowers from this huge tree at the end of the road and float it in water.

Khurja Pottery.

I love ceramics mugs in various shapes, I instantly fell in love with these Khurja Pottery mugs. The blue, aqua and white combination is irresistible.(Also seen here are my favourite Frangipani flowers floating in water. Wish you could smell the exotic fragrance) Lovely!

I picked these up at the Cottage Mela held at Safina Plaza for Rs. 65/- each.

Yellow - Colour of Spring.

" Vasant is the season when nature is at its beautiful, bountiful best. Flowers are in full bloom and trees sprout shoots.
It is a season when nature regenerates and everything is fresh and new. The cool morning air is laden with the faint smell of Mango blossoms...
Mustard fields turninto a heady mix of yellow and green as the blossoms add colour, poetry and romance to life. The goddess Saraswati is dressed in yellow garments and people wear yellow-coloured clothes."
- Anita Thakur & Nalini Rao
( Some pics depicting yellow-the Colour of Spring. Don't miss the arrangement of flowers in the glass by Mallika.)

Rs.99/- Only!

A dollar=Rs. 99/-. Well, that's how it works in the Dollar Store in India. Everything is priced at Rs. 99/-
There are varied reactions to Dollar Stores. I personally have no problems in checking it out now and then for interesting finds.
Like this set of 3 ceramic bowls for Rs.99/-only! My succulents look great in them. What do you think?

Bead Doll Keychain.

I believe that you can bring folk art & craft into your home subtly. Yes, you don't have to buy enormously priced paintings.(Well, you could if you really like it!) but here is an example of intricate craftsmanship in the form of a keychain which I picked up from Dastkari Haat Crafts Bazaar.

I completely love it. I have my car keys in one of the keychains & everytime I turn the ignition on, I am reminded of a colourful India.

Elephant Motifs.

The Dastakari Haat had these colourful banners all around the bazaar. What caught my eye were these very interesting elephant motifs done in folk style.
(Click to enlarge)

Dastkari Haat.

Sankaranti Holiday, Winter Sunshine & Dastkari Haat. Life couldn't get better than this! Some lovely colours of the day!

Dastkari Haat Samiti's Craft Bazaar is on at Chitrakala Parishad. Dastkari Haat Samiti is an NGO that works with craftspersons from around India in showcasing their work. If you are in Bangalore do check it out...the bazaar is on till Jan 24th, 2007.

Next Stop: Kondampalli.

After much coaxing & pestering my dear husband has started his blog Next Stop: Kondampalli.

Our love for travelling, takes us to many off-beat places. Rang: The Colours of Life captures the images and experiences through the eyes of a designer.
Next Stop: Kondampalli will reflect the perspective of a 13-hour-a-day-worklife professional seeking refuge in offbeat travel destinations to bridge the balance between his professional and personal life.

Happy Pongal!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Pongal/Sankaranti.

The Bronze Sculptures of Kumbakonam.

Kumbakonam is famous for it's exquisite bronze sculptures made by the Lost Wax Technique.The history dates back to the Chola Period when these idols were cast for the purpose of worshipping in the grand temples.

Even today the Sthapathis or the Sculptors are carrying on the Lost Wax Technique for casting these sculptures. The technique involves moulding the figures with intricate details using beeswax and oil, the figure is then coated with clay and baked using dried cow dung. The wax flows out leaving an empty mould, into which molten bronze is poured. Once it cools and hardens, the finer details are added.

We were lucky enough to meet a great award winning 15th generation Sthapathi- Karunanithi Sthapathi.

Darasuram.

We were very excited to visit the heritage site Darasuram, known for it's Airavateshwara ( Shiva) Temple. It is a very old temple which is being restored by UNESCO.

The temple at Darasuram is known to be one of the three replicas of the world famous Brihadeshwara Temple of Tanjore. The architecture, carvings and frescos were breathtaking.

I came back with mixed feeling about Darasuram, a bit saddened by the fact that we as Indians haven't realised the value of such great architectural splendor and a little optimistic that the government is getting it restored. Better late than never!

Sterling Swamimalai.

Few kilometres from Kumbakonam in Tamilnadu is a beautiful heritage resort- Sterling Swamimalai. The ambience is that of a south indian village, with banana & coconut trees forming a lovely green backdrop. The swimming pool designed like a temple tank, the geese, ducks, turkeys & deer were Mallika's friends.

The in-house potter has created lovely terracotta murals and sculptures that are all round the resort. Great hospitality with foot-massages, ayurvedic massages. A very colourful & traditional holiday.

New Year, New Look.

I have decided on a simple, clean, white look for my masthead this year, to balance out my colourful posts.

It's still in the experiment stage, might revert to my colourful pictures. Let's see how it goes. What do you think?

Will be back soon, have loads to share.