Are we striving hard just to achieve happiness or trying to escape from our own misery?

She smiled gently and holding his hands they both looked at their angel who seemed to be at peace, sleeping unremittingly in the cot all wrapped up after entering into this whole enigmatic world. Their life seemingly now revolved around her, nurturing her, providing all the possible happiness that she could have dreamed of. While Eliza was still in the womb, her parents were thrilled as any parent would be. They had all the plans to welcome their child. Painted the room, filled up the place with all the cute looking adorable toys, bought tiny little sweet clothings and of course chose a nice cosy cradle for her snooze hours. Each day passed with electrifying excitement and hopefulness… And, now there she lay, her face glimmered with serenity – their bundle of joy had arrived. Life was never the same anymore.

Three years they waited hoping to see some miracle but alas! Eliza was pronounced as a special child. The doctors identified it was Cerebral Palsy.

It’s devastating; I know and can so much empathize with what the parents might be going through during such a circumstance. A friend of mine is facing this life time crisis. All I wish sincerely is may almighty God provide them with immense strength and courage to fight this.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Though it’s  linked to my blog..I fail to visit everyday and thus missed this terrific shot @ National Geographic Photo Of The Day dated 15th Nov 09. The pic, I believe is taken on Spitfire Lake(Northern New York State) in the Adirondack Park at 7.00 AM.

Who doesn’t like flowers? I am afraid there won’t be a single body that would dislike a fine looking, delicate misty flower. Some smell divine, some may not…& there’s such an array of beautiful flowers all across that looking at them ardently itself is such a mystifying joy.

Most commonly rose is everyone’s favourite, but I love the pure, fresh, white and intoxicating tuberose, also known as “rajanigandha”, meaning “scent of the night”. Pansies, Orchids, Marigolds, Carnations, Daisies, Daffodils, Lilies, Tulips, Sunflowers, are some of the other beautiful and effervescent, fragrant blossoms that stand out exquisite and remain irresistible definitely for many of us.

However one must be careful while selecting flowers to give away, as specific flowers…their colors, hold some significance behind it and the belief may differ from region to region. For instance…Rose as known to all is a symbol of love while recently I learnt traditionally in Hawaii, tuberose is used to create Leis, and was considered as funeral flower in Victorian times. (Ref: Wiki) …Phhhhew …must say quite a contrast…!

(Pic:Google)

Such is the magic of embracing someone close. There are times, when I totally feel knocked out. I break down, almost into tears and to my rescue; I just go and hug my mom very firmly. That very moment I feel no grief is worth it but, being close to the most precious person on earth. It helps tremendously, its warmth and security is entirely uncanny to me.

Working during the week leaves me with no stamina to get into the kitchen and cook; hence, over the weekends I make it a point to cook something really special. I plan for an entire day & therefore balance it out with a light breakfast or heavy lunch/dinner or vice-versa…! I could not have digested the meal without taking the pics to share with you all so here it is…

Breakfast was buttered toast with scrambled eggs and tea

Dinner was egg-mughlai parantha served with  aloo curry and chips

This was an exception, for some reason I had to cook the dinner during a weekday and am posting the pic now . Had made chicken curry and peas & rice in a jiffy ….

Now this was the FOOD of the day it turned out to be super delicious …..A rich chocolate cake . Come on, now don’t be mean and leave your comments for all my hard work

Life deserves a chance,
a second one indeed…?
why not …I ask,
after all it’s only once,
we get to live….!
Live your life; win o’er your dreams,
raise a toast, & celebrate it,
I say that to myself, I nod and agree!!!
Life for sure deserves a chance,
A second one indeed.

Now, this tag I could not have missed it … I love food & moreover love cooking if it’s for my loved ones including family and friends. I derive immense pleasure out of it especially seeing the delight on their faces after having a nice meal. There are plenty of such moments I fondly cherish, let me try and share a few with you all which is close to my heart:

• Somehow, I don’t know if it has happened to others, but with me it has happened several times. There are days when I have a severe craving to have my mom’s particular dish, and even before I tell her, I find that cooked the same day. It’s really uncanny to me….. :D but surely proves to be true that mum’s can read your mind. And, I end up embracing her with a smile.
• Sundays used to be special at home as my dad would take up cooking and all of us longed to sit together and have our afternoon meals. He was an excellent cook.
• Food memoirs and not mentioning canteen fun is not happening at all. During college times, friends and I used to visit the canteen to devour the samosas served with hot sambar (weird combo…I know) but trust me it used to be yummmm :D ! Up north anyway there’s a fetish for sambar, so we’d frequent it like crazy. For one plate of samosa we used to get unlimited sambar… so instead of ordering many plates, we used to order one plate of samosa and several servings of sambar. The canteen wala got so fed up that after a few days he changed the rule…..”Samosas served with one bowl of sambar ONLY”
• During the same college days, I remember when my best friend and I rushed to her place once after a long tiring day at college. Aunty was not there and Uncle could find nothing else to feed our empty stomachs but a fresh bottle gourd. He quickly made a curry out of it and served us with piping hot rotis. We devoured it to our heart’s content and can’t express how delicious it had turned out to be…
• I know am not a spoilt child, though love to behave like one :D when it comes to Mom still running behind me with food so that I have a morsel or two at least; while rushing to work during the crazy morning hours and listening to her grumbles…that I wake up late and do all this drama

Thanks to Puja . It was wonderful reviving some old memories.

“As I look out of my bedroom window at another Fall (autumn) morning.
Sun is shining but the air quite chilly and trees so bare…
All there is left on them are the empty nests of the birds that once lived there,
they have seeked refuge on green pastures with warm air somewhere south,
the fallen leaves which have lost their green color have turned into yellow and orange,
Around the tree that once they flourished on, ending one cycle of life to begin another.” 

How does it feel, when early morning you stir up to find a sweet little email sent to you by a dear friend? Yes, I feel the same …lucky and highly elated. It becomes all the more special when it’s penned down keeping you in mind

(J) Thank you very much for the above few lines, it made my day reading them!  Even if it was an attempt, IT’S BEAUTIFUL…so true, inspiring and straight from the heart.

After a long time, had a nice memorable weekend ! The weather was perfect and decided to take mom out…We cruised all the way to the beautiful statue amidst the Hussain Sagar Lake. It stood beautiful. Though, I was quite pained to see the edges of a beautiful water body/lake polluted

Clouds hovering all over

                                        The Buddha’s statue amidst lake

                                                    Very well sculpted at the base

                                             Fading sunset…

Followed by a chocolaty icecream treat and shopping….! Mom was happy and I was glad to see the happines on her face