Heartfelt & Heartfilled

Heart is our very existence and to reflect on the ‘Time Warp Tuesday’ it took me to my post of 17th June 2012 titled ‘Fathers and Father Figures'

Though my post was related to Fathers' day, but my experiences with all, affirm that, in every relationship, it is the heart that binds people together irrespective of the biological factor.

From my growing years to now, I've had some amazing relationships and my experiences from loving hearts outnumber the not so loving hearts.

My sincere wish for all of you too, is to always experience heartfelt and heartfilled relationships.

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Click over to Kathy's Time Warp Tuesday a monthly blog hop on her web site bereavedandblessed.com to read more posts about heart, and maybe even add your own (even if it’s no longer Tuesday).

Sweet 16th Birthday Give Away

12th February was my daughter’s 17th birthday. Since this year, she and her friends are preparing for their 12th grade board exams, the day passed very routinely except for a movie in the evening - ‘ABCD’ (Any body can dance) released this past weekend. Okay for distraction.

Her past 16 birthdays were a good reason to put my little creative skills to the test. Right from her birthday cake, to give ways and party food were always home made.

I didn’t get an opportunity to do anything this year, so I decided to upload her 16th birthday giveaway on her 17th birthday. How’s that, just for fun?

Since it was her sweet 16th birthday, I decided to make potpourris.

I needed 20 potpourris, so, all I did was:

1. With one meter of red net, I cut 20 quantities of six inch circles.

2. Then distributed the scented rose petals and dried spices in the net circles.

3. Gathering the circles together into pouches, I bound the pouch lightly with a tie up about quarter inch in length.

4. I secured the pouch to the frame using approximately 12 inches of yellow satin ribbon.

5. Voila! The potpourri giveaway was ready for use in the lingerie drawer or to hang in the closet.

Your suggestions or tips for improvement in my future endeavors will be much appreciated.

Perfect Moment Monday - Neighborly Love

When we moved into this apartment 24 years ago, my little neighbor was in kindergarten. His grandmother was his only companion the whole day until his parents returned from work. Whenever our door was open, he was more than happy to have some company. His grandmother too exchanged pleasantries across our doors.

Times passed by and couple of years down the line our daughter made her entry in our lives. We parents began leaning on each other for advice and support while the children grew alongside. Our daughter is now almost seventeen and my ‘little neighbor’ in his late twenties, is a newly married guy as of 19th January 2013.

Over the years, we have bonded so well that, his wedding was almost like my son’s wedding in the neighbors’ house. We were part of all the prenuptial ceremonies that began a week before the actual wedding.

The couple was engaged for eight months, so preparations were on since then. Their relatives living abroad and out of town took leave from work and their kids’ schools to witness the occasion. The wedding house and ours was closed only at night. Can you imagine the fun and camaraderie?

Being Hindus, their rituals and ceremonies were a unique experience for us. We felt a part of their family. In one of the ceremonies, a particular ritual was performed on seven especially chosen women and I was one of the privileged seven. After the ceremony, I joked with my husband that, never in my life was I ever honored as on that day. I just couldn’t get over the fact that as a part of that ritual, my feet were bathed in milk. Ah! Now I don’t feel like washing my feet with water. LOL.

Professional henna artists were hired to decorate my daughter’s and my palms along with all the other women in their family.

I have a picture of this design on our palm. Such intricate work!

I’m looking forward to many more good years of neighborly love especially with the new daughter-in-law on the floor.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’ve become conscious about my ‘perfect moments’ since I came across Lori’s site lavenderluz.com in December 2012. I’m finding more perfect moments now than ever before.

Thanks Lori, for this great opportunity to share our perfect moments.

Everybody is welcome to join!

Republic Day 2013

This post was drafted for India’s Republic Day – 26th January. As they say, man proposes,God disposes, my time schedule got disrupted and I’m posting it today – better late than never.
In India, winter is the season when one has access to a great variety of fresh vegetables. Rice is part of the staple diet in India, especially in the South. Hence I decided to put up a three colored rice preparation depicting the three colours of the Indian national flag - orange (carrots), white (rice) and green (French beans).

Tiranga Pulau (Tri-coloured Pulao)
For 3 to 4 persons
1. Basmati rice - One cup (200 grams)
2. Cubed mixed vegetables any two to three varieties (carrots, green peas, French beans, cauliflower, potatoes) - Half cup
3. Boiling hot water – 2 cups
4. Onions – 2 medium sized, finely sliced.
5. Whole spices – 5 cloves, 5 pepper corns, half inch piece cinnamon, 1 bay leaf
6. Oil – 3-4 tablespoons
7. Salt – One and half teaspoon or as per taste

• In a heavy bottom pan and on a very low flame, heat three tablespoons of oil.
• Add the whole spices and finely sliced onions.
• As the onions soften, add the cubed mixed vegetables and half teaspoon salt. Cover and let the vegetables half cook for approximately two to three minutes.
• Add the cleaned, washed and drained rice.
• Saute for a minute or two until the oil coats the rice.
• Add the boiling hot water and the balance teaspoon of salt.
• Cover and cook till done.

To go with the above rice preparation, here is a side dish made with pork. It’s spicy and tangy taste is great during this wintry weather.

No occasion is complete without a pork dish among the Catholics in Goa, Mangalore and the East Indians living primarily in Mumbai. Flavors in their food are more or less the same.

Pork is mostly cooked spicy hot except the roast pork. The recipe below is adapted from the East Indians. The success of this recipe lies in the marinade.

Pork Vindaloo

1. Pork – 1 ½ kg.
2. Kashmiri Red chilies – 15 nos.
3. Whole jeera (cumin seeds) – 2 tea spoons
4. Garlic – 3 big pods (30 grams)
5. Ginger – 1 inch piece
6. Vinegar – 1 cup.
7. Salt – 2 ½ tea spoon

• Cut the pork into one inch piece cubes. Wash and drain it well.
• Grind all the above spices in to a fine paste using the vinegar.
• Add the spice paste and salt to the drained pork.

• Let it marinate in a glass bowl for six to eight hours or over night.
• Transfer the marinated pork in to a heavy bottom or earthen vessel.
• Cover. Add water to the lid and let it simmer for an hour to an hour and a half.
• Keep stirring every 10 to 15 minutes and adding water on the lid as it dries.
• Check for salt and vinegar.

Last eve of 2012

December is the most eagerly awaited month for me and I'm sure for many others.

The weather in December at Mumbai, a city in Western India where we live isn't any different from the rest of the year. In fact there's a joke about the seasons in Mumbai, it's summer, monsoon and summer. But let's be fair, in December it's less humid and the air is a bit nippy. And, just so it was this month - very pleasant in the mornings and late evenings.

The home front was funny as usual. It's a tradition in the family to plan Christmas well in advance, sometimes even before Easter. Menus, venues ET AL are finalised way ahead and then on Christmas day it's exactly the opposite of what was planned. It used to bother me in the early years of marriage, but now it's a standing joke between me and my daughter.

At the onset of Advent, I had talked a colleague at work into having a theme for Christmas decorations and getting everyone involved in it. Since India is a multi racial country, majority of the workforce are not Christians, so, it needed some explaining and expanding of ideas. We zeroed in on handmade wreaths – symbolizing eternal love. The experience was enjoyable as we huddled together during our lunch break. The end result was, we had nine decent looking wreaths. Each one had a story behind it. We'd start with an idea and end up with a different look altogether. It was fun!

In the last week of December we attended a beautiful wedding at the Juhu beach in Mumbai. Keeping in tune with the 'Beach Wedding' theme, the invitation came in a slim glass bottle with a little sand and tiny shells. The location was picture perfect with the couple exchanging vows at sunset.

The incident of the gang rape in Delhi, North India in mid December and the demise of the brave heart was a tragedy. But, the collective efforts of the teeming population brings a ray of hope. In my opinion, all else will fall in place once the mindset towards females in our country changes. Our mantra must be to revere a woman from 'womb to tomb.'

I share a message received on my cell phone that reads ' Let's pledge on the last eve of 2012 to take real good care of our selves as spare parts to old models are no longer in stock!!' Have a great 2013!!

Sweet Tidings

Sweet Tidings

Continuing from yesterday’s post on Raksha Bandhan, the 'Sweet' theme for this month at NaBloPoMo, of blogher.com here is an image of the band that is tied on the brother’s wrist. It’s called ‘Rakhi’ I managed to get just one image, but in the days preceding this festival, the shops display a myriad collection. Some are even handcrafted. Each one is a labor of love and fine art.

Ah! I forgot to mention the gift the sister receives in exchange for this honor. I pity the brother who has several sisters! How ‘sweet’ that is?

This day also coincides with a festival called ‘Nariyal Poornima’ Nariyal meaning coconut and ‘Poornima’ is full moon day. It is mainly celebrated in Western India along the coast line where coconuts are in abundance. At this time of the year, it’s almost the end of monsoon; the skies are clearer, sea is calmer and hence the fishermen whose livelihood depends on the sea are ready for business.

And yes, here comes the sweet dish that is synonymous with the festival - ‘Narali Bhat’ (coconut rice). The recipe will follow soon.

Sweet Relationships

In India, August heralds the beginning of different festivals, seasons and days. I'm hoping to connect the title 'Sweet' with the various customs, rituals, traditions and styles with which they are celebrated.

Relationships are an integral part of our lives. They are either formed at birth or entered into during the course of our lives. Maintaining some relationsips could be a 'sweet' experience while others may require more effort and patience.

One such relationship between brothers and sisters celebrated in India this year on 2nd August is called 'Rakhsha Bandhan'

'Raksha' means protection and 'Bandhan' is union or bond. A simple or decorated thread is tied on the brother's wrist symbolizing the sister's love for the brother and the brother's commitment to protect her. Both then share sweets. Isn't it sweet?