Share..

Cakes can makes adults fight for their shares.. ! On Chirstmas, I bakes some plum cake and voila..!There you see, guys trying to find out whose share was big!!

The Christmas Tea

Wishing everyone Season's Greetings and a Merry Christmas..!

I am enjoying my Christmas celebration with some tea and home made cake..!

Fallen...

And we named her as "Fallen Beauty"

From the series Frangipani Love..!

Sip it...!

The World Tea Day was on 15th December and TOI dedicated a page to Tea-lovers..
Tea is a classy beverage, a poor' man energy drink, a house-wife morning chore's ritual, a tired man's stress buster... Every cup of tea has a story to narrate...!
Of course as the new article says "It's no lesser than coffee..!"
I am sure many of us who love this celestial beverage will agree to this.

While one enjoys tea in cups, mugs, glasses (steel and glass both), some love it in the dehaati style.. "in a steel bowl.. ! I had seen my grand-pa sipping his hot tea in steel plats and vessels (i meant bowls). And when I am in hurry, heading to work place and have least time to enjoy my morning tea, I follow the 'Grandfather' style of sipping Tea... (I do it most often on weekdays, in fact all  five days of a week :))

Say "NO Plastics"

 

Say NO to Plastics.

Plastics are non-biodegradable and have harmful on the nature. 

Lets join our hands for this noble cause to minimize the usage of plastics in any form (whether its a tea cup or a polythene bag).

Sundays are Tea days!

"No Sundays are worth without a cup of tea! "
~Amtrips

I love hoarding stuffs at home, whether its tea bags, or cups/mugs or biscuits...!
Well here you see some of my hoards~ an Auroville cup (from Sun-shine Pottery), Aurobindo Ashram's paper' factory's coaster (made of hand-made paper and dry flowers), a small bee-plate from Ochre and my favorite Biskfarm viscuits..! :) :) And there sits my Garfield.. :P
Sundays are always happy days for me.  Reasons are not many except for ~
I dont have to go to my job-place.
I get up at my own time in the morning.
I can watch movies on Saturday nights.
Fifi and me have our lunch together and I take afternoon nap..:)
Not the least, have a good morning breakfast with my favorite ginger tea, served at the bed-side.

What else one wants in life more than these small bunches of happiness..!

Biscuits

" Like Bread to Butter, Biscuit to Tea..!" :)

Biscuits are an integral part of my life.. No cup of tea is satisfactory if these are not around..!

The Miniature figurine of a Giant

Saturdays are weekly offs for me. OMG...! I feel so excited when its Friday morning, I wait for the night to come so that Saturday comes and wish that it never ends. I also wish that everyday should be a Saturday.
Saturdays are special to me.. Reasons..
Shopping, Lazying around, Watching TV and movies, some cooking, and of course gardening, tending the plants and standing in the balcony for hours..!

I love collecting knick-knacks for my small balcony garden.. And this small figurine of the giant was bought last year from a mela..! Made of teracotta, this giant guards my pot and also makes me feel :) . No doubt I am a pseudo-ecologist!

World Tea Day

TOI (Bangalore edition) dedicated the day for all tea lovers, teaphilics and  "teatotallers" across the world, celebrating the World Tea Day. December 15th has been celebrated as International Tea Day since 2005, first time celebrated in New Delhi.

I am a die-hard tea-lover and each tea cup has a different story associated with it.

 

What attracts people to tea is the aroma, its taste, the rustic rawness, its colour and of course the variety (esp when today we have so many varieties and infusions of tea available in market). One can sip this "celestial beverage" from a plastic cup, a paper cup, saucer, a steel bowl and also a kullad (small earthen pot).

Oh yea, there was another article in TOI on the Mangalore's famous  KT. A unique kind of tea prepared only in Kalladka, Mangalore. The Kalladka Tea is one of a kind where one can see a clear difference between the milk layer and the tea layer. Its not the creaming on top of tea. Its the other way round!!I am yet to taste this tea.

No doubt it's truly said ~

"Every Cup of Chai speaks a different story...! To enjoy the sip, you need to listen to it."

In love with tea for ever!

Dessert...

 “Desserts are like mistresses. They are bad for you. So if you are having one, you might as well have two.” ~ Chef Alain Ducasse

This is indeed sinful; when you have a plate full of hot Jalebis and chilled curd (yoghurt)!

A perfect summer dessert, oops anytime dessert for me..! I can't resist myself and my temptation for this Indian sweet.

How much I love this delicacy is evident at Jalebi Point. :)

Hover-fly

The name says it all...

"We love to hover..

Tiny-Winny, we fly fast

with our buzz in air,

We are two-winged masters

We are the flies ...!

Call us hover flies or flower flies...

You will find on every flower..!

We are the hover-flies!"

~ Amtrips

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoverfly

http://crawford.tardigrade.net/bugs/BugofMonth14.html

Skyscape

 

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky." ~Sir  Rabindranath Tagore

Evening Prayers

 

My Evening Prayers..

“There is a vast difference between saying prayers and praying...”

~ Anonymous

Romancing with Tea

Romancing with (over a cup of) tea..!
The winter  has set in and romance is at heights... whether its with photography, or with tea, or with my bitter half...! ;)
This winter is cold and great for sure!

Welcoming Winter

~Welcoming Winter~
" Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius."
~Pietro Aretino

Its the third week of November and Winter has set in. Nights and evenings are colder and days are chilling. I am enjoying this winter for some secret reasons... I feel so happy and free, ready to welcome the winter and the new job and lots of aspirations and of course a new year..!

Current Mood: :)

 

Reproductive strategies vs Resource allocation

The act of evolution has the two key strategies when it comes to mutual interaction. Pollination service is one such natural phenomenon in ecological world. The major factors of this plant-animal interaction involves reproductive strategy by one and resource allocation by other.

The art of pollination is slightly biased by the plants where they attract the pollinators by using cues like colour, smell and rewards (can be nectar, pollens and even proteins). This can be taken as one of the classic example of how plants exploit their pollinators. Releasing nectars in small dosage keeps the pollinator hungry and hence attracts them again and again to the flowers of the plant/tree. The release of nectar in small amount is a trap lining strategy and the squirrels (also birds and bees, in many cases) hover from flower to flower to flowers in search of the resource thus aiding pollination, and benefiting the plant.

Squirrels (The Indian Palm Squirrel, Funambulus palmarum) being opportunists, don't leave the golden chance and hence usually fights between fellow mates (mostly males, in this case) are seen over resource (nectar) hunting.

Prayers...

Offerings through Prayer

"Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God."
~ Edwin Keith

A Journey....

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
 - Lao Tzu

Here a male pied bush-chat is busy collecting leaflets and twigs for building  its nest.

Festival of lamps and light..

Diwali is not simply about lighting diyas, bursting crackers and relishing good food. It is also about enlightenment of soul and burning all your bad times. It is about coming over the darkness of ignorance and stepping into a cleaner and brighter world.

Wishing all my readers, dear ones and family and friends a Happy Deepavali..
May this festival bring light, happiness, prosperity and good things in everyone's life..
Have a safe and eco-friendly Diwali celebration
 
(Request: Do take a small step to reduce noise and air pollution)

Current Mood: Spread light, Gather happiness :) :)

The Pink Ribbon...

"October is all about Pink...!"

October is the month for Breast Cancer Awareness.
Take your mom, wife or any woman at your home to the nearest center for a check up.Save a life and stay away from cancer!

Into my heart's night...

"Into my heart's night
Along a narrow way
I groped; and lo! the light,
An infinite land of day."
~Rumi

Break your fast..

All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.
~ John Gunther

I am on leave for this entire week from work, utilising my earned leaves, enjoying everything including my breakfast oops brunch..!  :)

My road...

"Before I travelled my road I was my road."

~Antonio Porchia, Voces, 1943, 

(translated from Spanish by W.S. Merwin)

Kiwi Passion

Very recently, not more than a day beore I got to taste this sinful fruit. OMG... I got the instant craving towards this fruit..KIWI

A latest study mentions Kiwi to be the most nutritional fruit. After reading it, I have decided I want to have one kiwi fruit a day.. Who knows, the saying can be "A kiwi a day keeps you healthy and happy".

For more info on Kiwi's goodness for health, read here.

Navaratri Wishes...

Wishing all my readers a Happy Navaratri, Durga-pujar subo-abhinondan and a Happy Dussehara...!

 Also, wishing my South Indian friends and readers a great and pompous Ayudha Puja (In this puja, Saraswati puja is performed on the 9th day).

The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped. Each goddess has a different form and a special significance. Nava Durga, if worshipped with religious fervor during Navaratri, it is believed, lift the divine spirit in us and fill us with renewed happiness. All the nine names of goddess are narrated in ‘Devi Kavacha’ of the ‘Chandipatha’ scripture. 

प्रथम् शैल-पुत्री च, द्वितियं ब्रह्मचारिणि, तृतियं चंद्रघंटेति च चतुर्थ कूषमाण्डा, पंचम् स्कन्दमातेती, षष्टं कात्यानी च सप्तं कालरात्रेति, अष्टं महागौरी च नवमं सिद्धिदात्री!!

* First day : Ekaam is dedicated to Goddess Shailputri (daughter of Himalaya) .

* Second day: Duj is dedicated to Goddess Bramcharini (peaceful form of Durga) .
* Third day : Tritiya is dedicated to goddess Chandra ghanta (anger form of Durga)
* Fourth day : Chaturthi is dedicated to goddess Kushmanda (happy form of Durga)
* Fifth day : Panchmi is dedicated to goddess Skand mata (blessing form of Durga)
* Six day : Shasthi is dedicated to Goddess Katyayani(daughter form of Durga)
* Seven day : Saptami is dedicated to Goddess Kalratri (cruel and violent form of Durga)
* Eight day : Astami is dedicated to Goddess Maha gauri (form of mata parvati and symbol of purity)
* Ninth day : Navmi is dedicated to the goddess Siddhidatri(knowledge form of Durga)

(Guess what, till today I was not aware of these nine forms, while digging facts for this post, I came across the names and forms of Devi..)

Durgashtami...

Celebrating Durgashtami by reading Durga Chalisa...Durgashtami is the eighth day of the 10 days puja...! I got this book from Sapna Bookhouse few months back and got the previledge to read it today.

Offering the deity eight varieties of flowers and fruits each.. and semi-fasting, it was peaceful and fun at the sametime.

Here are a few verses of the Durga Chalisa..

"Namo Namo Durge Sukh karani,
Namo Namo ambe Dukh harani.
Nirakar hai jyoti tumhari,
Tihun lok pheli ujayari.
..............
.......................
Shatru nash keeje Maharani,
Sumiron ekachita tumhen Bhavani.
Karo kripa Hey Matu dayala,
Riddhi-Siddhi de karahu nihala.

Jab lagi jiyoon daya phal paoon,
Tumhro yash men sada sunaoon.
Durga Chalisa jo gave,
Sab sukh bhog parampad pave."


For the complete verses, check Durga Chalisa here.

Wishing all my readers, friends and near and dear ones a Happy Durga Puja....!


Current Mood: Festive Mood

T bag...

I love monolouges... whether its with Chai alias CSH (where he is a silent listener) or with myself or with a T bag...! Here is a glimpse of today's afternoon conversation ... The conversation was between me and the Tea bag...!

I was tired, bored and felt fatigue all over my body. Reaching the kichtenette, I thought to have a cup of hot tea...! I asked myself which tea... (for a change)!!...... Monologue continued for a while (trying to decide which tea flovour should I sip to make myself peaceful, energetic and happy...!
.
.
.
Then came into picture the Lemon Flavoured Tea packets from Twinings..

Tea bag said- "Who wants a dip of me and a sip!!"
I grinned and said- "Me..me..!"..

That cup of tea made my day (must say).

Consciousness.....

Consciousness.....

is much more than the thorn, it is the dagger in the flesh.

~ Emile M. Cioran

Keep your conscience awake always..!

Greying Hairs...

"Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still."
~ Chinese Proverb
Old-age as it seems ( to many of us) is not that bad... I have examples of active and agile people around me. My grandfather was in his early 90's when he died on a road accident in 2001. I am sure, had that bike not hit him in that gory evening, when he was heading to my aunt's home from my uncle's; he would have been alive with us.

I wish I had been like him.. acive, fit, healthy, agile, strong...Unfortunately I am not.. I am sluggish, creepy, sedentray, slow and hardly move.. I am still, I am a couch-potato..! huh... What will be my fate!! Wondering...Wondering..! (I need to be active, exercising..)

North-east articrafts..

North-east India is no doubt a resource centric region of our country, whether its wildlife or minerals or culture or articrafts.

This time in Dastakar, I met this stall. So colourful and bright, vibrant and gorgeous... The hand woven, sun tanned, colourful rattan baskats from NE (I think Meghalaya stall) was impressive. The cost of these baskets was 400- 800 bucks and these varied in sizes. Love love... I wished if Fifi would have bought one for me..! Beutifully hand crafted into colours like violet, yellow ochre, bright yellow, fuschia, orange, burgandy, red, brown, sap green, indigo, natural dry grass colour.... and many more! The stall was colourful and baskety...! I am gonna buy one of these one day for sure.. :)

Monday Mornings with The Hindu

No doubt I suffer from the chronic disorder "Monday Blues" or "Mondayphobia".

But Mondays can be at times better.. especially when you get that perfect breakfast.. Few (2-4) slices of warm brown bread, melting butter, all- time favorite St. Dalfour's Thick Apricot preserve, ommlette, bananas and of course tea (in my new mug, bought from a flea market)..!

This Monday was no different  than the other Mondays except for that mishap which shook the NE India. Sikkim shaken by quake on the front-page of The Hindu..! Alas.. Sunday evening  was devastating for many, I guess.. I saw Fb updates "We are shaken", "Ïn trauma, thanks to earth quake"..Ä friend even wrote~"This time I was not sleeping (referring to the Delhi earth quake,that occured few days back), I was walking...!" I felt gloomy with such updates. News channels showing live coverage of the earth quake that hit the valleies of NE India and parts of West Bengal, Bihar.. Monday morning, as it happens, I get various symptoms of Mondayphobia...Nevertheless the previous day's news made me realise I am still better off and that I should be rather cheerful and happy than sulking about my blueing Mondays, irky boss and jammed up traffic on Bangalore roads and blah blah...!

I seriously hope that all my north-east folks and friends are fine and not affected by this devastating earthquake.

Amen!

Current Mood: Thoughtful and thankful to Almighty

Tuesday Tea

T for Tea, T for Teusday, T for Terrace.. Waah what a combination..! :) :)

Yesterday it rained badly from afternoon till late night. Early morning everything was calm, misty and cold for sure.. No doubt the rain of last night drenched all. 

After the Rain...!  (I am thoughtful now....)
I am enjoying life to the fullest. Hopeful that I get the desired job soon (fingers-crossed)...Having the Tuesday Morning Tea with Sygonium plant is making me all :)  
As I always say, one should enjoy his/ her/ their morning tea ritually..!

Chaos..

"Chaos in the world brings uneasiness, but it also allows the opportunity for creativity and growth."
~ Tom Barrett 

Sometimes chaos adds the flavour, the colour and the glamour to our life..!

Dreams..

“Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.”
~  James Dean

Tea-philia...!

 Tea tatses even  better when drunk in others'cup.. This cup belongs to CSH but no wonder I love his cup and drink my tea in this when he is not around (rather not at home)..!

(I have broken my cup.. :( yesterday morning while I was hurrying for the bathroom to et ready for work)!! Aah I will miss my cup now.. But doesnt matter I will replace it with this one now (temporarily). May be I will get a new cup for my bitter half and gift him on his birthday and grab that too... Anything is fair for a cup (of tea)....!!

For Healthy Life..!

For a healthy life, one must have a healthy and sumptuios satiating breakfast.  Some love to have heavy breakfast while some like me love eating less like a bowl of corn-flakes or mueseli or 3-4 slices of brown bread with an egg or some nuts and raisins with dates.. and ofcourse tea with some crackers/ tea-puffs and juice, not to forget...!
Nevertheless, breakfast should be one choice and should be eaten leisurely and happily.

No doubt they say...

"It doesn't matter what time of day it is, as long as it's your first meal, it's breakfast."  :)

Btw Heinz 'Apple-carrot-ginger'juice is my all time favorite juice and I love to have a glass of it in the morning..!

A pet...

in Life is a Mate for entire Life...!  
They are the best pals one can have.

We all love to pet some or the other animals. Of course there are exceptions where a man doesnt like any pet. But they don't realise what they miss out without a pet with them..! I too had a cat (named Gunu) and fishes (named Zoe and Zunni).. :)

I dedicate this photo for Atmaja's love for felines (dogs) and Canids (cats)..!

No doubt,

The difference between friends and pets is that friends we allow into our company, pets we allow into our solitude.  

~Robert Brault

Animals..

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.
~ George Eliot

Going Solo

Roald Dahl has been my all-time favorite author. Ever since I read Matilda, I became his fan and gradually read almost all his writings.
This one, in particular is a worth keepsake. As the name suggests, "Going Solo" is the perfect book to revisit your childhood and to feel that thrill of growing into a teen and an adult.

Oh did u notice my bookmark...! Many of my known folks like it a lot and want to have one..  :)

Now that its time to say good bye to computer ( have to get into my bed), I guess I am gonna read a few pages from this book once again .

The Art of Tea-Making

The art of Tea Making ~

A typical Sunday starts with Tea-making....

Take a cup of water. While hot, add pounded ginger (and tulsi, if there). Bring it to boil thoroughly. To it, add a sugar (a little more than half a spoon). Bring it to semi-boil. Tehn add Tea powder (my fav is Tata Life). And bring it to boil (once or twice, if required). Add milk as desired (I like less milk) and keep in medium  flame for 2-3 minutes. Strain it and sip it  with your favorite biscuits.

No doubt, tea is a celestial beverage..!

Love

Someone had once told these great words ~~

"Love is like a rose.
...When pressed between two lifetimes, it will last forever." 

Hope you all get the rose of love / love of rose..Have a great weekend with your loved ones.

Happy Birthday AT

Time ticks by so fast...

It was 24 years back when you came to this world as my little sister..!
Aah those days of fight, fun and rivalry... Gone are those days .. Only memories reside in my heart..

Now you are big enough, almost taller than me..more beautiful than me.. stronger than me.. bold than me... more courageous, more caring, more scarificing.. and of course more rich..  :)

On your  this birthday, my best wishes, love and blessings (all packed in a surprise bag), I send for you...!
May you grow "day in, day out" and happiness sprawl around you..! May all your wishes and dreams come true... Amen..!
Hoping that you have the best 24th birthday ever (I hope you liked the gifts of this year)...!

Wishes from Mom, Dad, Me, Paltu and Chai..

Spice up...

Just like spices add flavour to our food,
A smile adds glamour to our life....!

Or one must say "Ä little spice adds flavor to our life"...........!!

Let's spice up our life with a little :)..!

Celebrating August...

But friendship is the breathing rose, with sweets in every fold.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes 

** Celebrating August **

August is the month of frienship and festivities get into gear as per Hindu Calender.
First Sunday of August was celebrated as Happy Friendship Day.
2nd of August till 30th August: Holy month of Quran, Ramzaan is here.
(Day before yesterday, we went with Wasim to the famous Rusell's Market and hogged on kebaabs and yummy phirnis..! what all mouth-watering delicacies!!)
4th to 14th August: What a shopping time I had at Dastakaar, Bangalore and Flower show at Lalbagh.
13th of August was Rakshyabandhan, that auspicious day when sisters tie the red-yellow-golden thread (rakhi) to brothers wishing for their health and happiness and for her protection. I too celebrated it..!
15th of August was Happy Independence Day. India celebrated its 65th independence. So did I..!
22nd of August: Yesterday we celebrated Janmastami..! What a peaceful moment it wa- Me and Chai and Nandi bro and BK Kerur..! all fun fun..! yummy food..!
And next week while August says good-bye to all of us, we will be celebrating Ganesh Puja (1st of Sept'11)

The whole month was such pomp and joyous ceremonies..!
I guess I am loving this season of rain (for a change)! (Lots of holidays ..may be thats why !!) :))

The Champa Flower

The Champa Flower
~ Rabindranath Tagore
***
Supposing I became a Champa flower, just for fun, and grew on a branch high up that tree, and shook in the wind with laughter and danced upon the newly budded leaves, would you know me, mother?

You would call, "Baby, where are you?" and I should laugh to myself and keep quite quiet.

I should slyly open my petals and watch you at your work.

When after your bath, with wet hair spread on your shoulders, you walked through the shadow of the Champa tree to the little court where you say your prayers, you would notice the scent of the flower, but not know that it came from me.

When after the midday meal you sat at the window reading Ramayana, and the tree's shadow fell over your hair and your lap, I should fling my wee little shadow on to the page of your book, just where you were reading.

But would you guess that it was the tiny shadow of your little child?

When in the evening you went to the cow-shed with the lighted lamp in your hand, I should suddenly drop on to the earth again and be your own baby once more, and beg you to tell me a story.

"Where have you been, you naughty child?"

"I won't tell you, mother." That's what you and I would say then.

****
Current Mood: Remembering those old childhood summer holidays (when I had read this poem of Tagore)

The Hazy Memories...!

From a recent journey to one of the evergreen forest  patches of elephant country (Kerala), where peace and traquility resides at its best..!
The reflections are that of the memories which are still  in my mind..!

World Photography Day

"Once photography enters your bloodstream, it's like a disease."
- Anonymous
For World Photography Day~ 19th August, 2011

There are many people in this world who never heard of World Photography Day. Even I was not aware till 2007...Why is that?  World Photography Day wasn’t ‘created’ by a big brand as a marketing tool nor needed an brand-ambassdor.
It's rather a day where photographers had started to come together to celebrate photography, just because they could. Any excuse to throw a party right?!?!
World Photography Day originates from the invention of the Daguerreotype, a photographic processes developed by Louis Daguerre. On January 9, 1839, The French Academy of Sciences announced the daguerreotype process. A few months later, on August 19, 1839, the French government announced the invention as a gift “Free to the World.”

Nodoubt that now, when we have DSLRs and those various modes/ tricks/ techniques of photography, we should celebrate the fraternity of 'photographers'.

A day for that passion called "clicking away", a day to salute your work and mine...!
To all "shutter-bugs"around the world, on this World Photography Day, Amtrips wishes happy clicking moments!