Photography Challenge Begins!

Something I had read on Facebook last month stuck with me - take pictures everyday, of anything that amuses you. Since my husband had upgraded me to a smart phone, I thought I probably should follow it. So began my tryst with taking pictures from my phone everyday and uploading them on Instagram and Facebook. Plus I read about it when I was in Kerala, what better place to start! Though not daily, I did click a lot of pictures there.

My friend suggested that I should take up a photo challenge and I thought, why not! So here I am, starting the challenge from today. I picked it up from Fat Mum Slim for the July Photo a Day Challenge, via a blogger friend. So here it is! The topic for today is Red, White or Blue.

A fruit I got introduced to in Kerala. Known as Jambakka or Chambakka in Malayalam, the red ones taste sour while the white ones are sweeter. 

Silent Night...

The silence of the night, brings no respite,
I wait for a cue, for darling drops of dew,
When a new day will rise, and bring me closer to your eyes,
I wait to hear your voice, as if I have no other choice,
The day passes by in your memories, makes me feel weary,
I want you to know you are missed, you are the very reason love exists,
But the silence of the night, brings no respite....

I am Grateful For...

It's high time I make a list of things I am grateful for, the everyday things rather. Helps me focus on happy thoughts better!

I am grateful for :
- The chai I get to make everyday.
- The food I am able to savour everyday.
- A laptop to be called my own with an internet connection.
- The small rides sponsored by V to places I like.
- The fact that V doesn't say no to my likes.
- The shelter under which we spend our own luxurious life :)
- That we have electricity in this brutal heat.
- That my in-laws are all darlings :)
- A husband who loves me unconditionally.

That looks like the list for today! I guess it makes sense to appreciate things that certain people are unable to have, doesn't it?

Half Book Review: Curious Lives

Image source: www.shop9.com

I am currently reading Curious Lives by Richard Bach. I picked this book up back in Bangalore, randomly, also probably because I had just finished reading another book by him. I liked the introduction of the book then, all about fables and adventures, reminded me of my childhood - just the introduction. I did start reading it, but it didn't interest me that much at the time. And now that I opened my bag of books transported to Nagpur, I picked it up again.

And boy am I glad I did! In About the book section, one line that I liked was, "This book is best read aloud at bedtime with your kids, spouse or lover." Though I did not try reading it aloud to V, it definitely is one of those bedtime books. It's like being transported back in time, where you would sleep off listening to or reading a fairy tale, with a curious mind and a happy heart. Every book I read, I read it with a free mind. Especially if it's non-fiction, I let my imaginations flow. This book has made the task of imagination a delight!

And I say all of this even though I haven't finished half of the book! Nowadays, I look forward to my special time with this book at bedtime. I cannot believe it didn't interest me previously. May be work life stress was a big reason for me to find it uninteresting and dragging. Now that I have lots of free time on hand, it comes across as a wonderful delight, this book.

Though I strongly recommend this book (yes, already), stay away from it if you're not a fan of fables and tales.

The Ingredients Of A New Year

Ugadi Pachadi

I am not much of a traditional festival lover, especially with the number of festivals we (Andhrites) have. A few of my favourites is Ugadi (New Year) and Diwali. Diwali for just the lamps and not the crackers though.

Ugadi for the joy of a new beginning, the excitement of wearing new clothes and the Ugadi Pachadi we make! Ugadi Pachadi, a watery drink, is symbolic of the year ahead, reminding us of how it can turn out. Its ingredients are also the reminder of the summer season and the new flora and fauna it brings. The drink contains - jaggery, raw mangoes, tamarind, ground pepper, Neem tree flowers and powdered green cardamom. These signify that your year ahead be a little bit of all the elements mentioned above - sweet, sour, spicy, bitter and aromatic - a little bit of everything. It tastes wonderful and I like it more because of the significance. 

Today, I recall how mom used to get up early, prepare Ugadi Pachadi and wear new clothes. It's not a festival for my in-laws, but I wanted them to taste this Pachadi and made some for everyone. Though it didn't turn out to be like mom's, it did taste well! I wore a new saree too :D Also prepared some payasam (kheer, a sweet dish). It felt nice to do things that mom used to do. It made me feel as if I've achieved some goal, probably of being the homemaker :)

And the cherry on top of the cake was when V said, thank you for putting in all the efforts. It made my day :)

Brownie Points Indeed!

I've been experimenting in the kitchen since marriage happened. The one thing that comes out consistently amazing is the cakes I bake! Whether they're with or without eggs, they come out to be awesome (touch wood)! I am satisfied that there's something in the kitchen that turns out to be good :)

So I baked another cake after a long time yesterday, to be sent to my aunt. V wanted a piece of it and I made it clear that he is not going to touch it since I haven't baked it for him. But while packing the cake, it wouldn't fit as whole in the box, so I had to cut it in pieces and pack. As one hindi proverb goes, "Daane daane pe likha hai khanewaale ka naam!", this one piece of cake wouldn't fit in the box. And hence, I saved it for V. He tasted it, loved it, hugged me and said, "You've become a cake expert!"

And then he requested me to bake him a brownie. He loves brownie, completely adores it. At that moment I saw where I was standing. From cribbing about cooking and finding V's support, to getting a request from him about baking him his favourite dessert - I have come a full circle. 

It meant a lot to me, his request. It made me realise what support means, what trust means, and most importantly - what love means. Just grateful for such simple joys and such a lovely husband :)

Realising What Better Half Means...

In Sync

As I am still taking my initial steps into being a housewife, I find only one factor that is encouraging. My better half, V.

Three months into our marriage, I am still smitten by him. And I know somewhere that I'll always be. There are just days when I end up creating a mess out of the day, in hope of trying out something new in the kitchen. Disappointed and in a given up state, I get irritated with myself. It's only V who manages to bring me to a state where I can restart and give things another try. When he tries my new not-so-good dishes, the first sentence is always, "It's good! May be you should put...." more of this and less of that. I must say, V knows how to frame his words :D

V's first habit, I noticed, was commenting on food. He has strong taste buds - a slight difference and he catches it. I have teased him all through that he is a 'fusspot', for the instant comments he makes on food. I would only realise later that it would help me in improving my cooking skills (not that I am a great cook or anything).

I fight with him on weekends, complaining how boring this city is and how we have nowhere to go. I stay silent to express how upset I am and he bears with me, trying to strike a conversation all through, giving me options of what we can do. But I shoot them down, just because of my foul mood. Women! ;-) And at the end of the day, he looks at me and apologises, for no reason. He keeps saying sorry, urging me to talk, and I realise how stupid I have been...

Sometimes he gets irritated too, and all I have to do is kiss him on the forehead. His face lights up with a smile in an instant... And I realise how blessed I am to be with him. 

There are probably a lot of moments with him which I would call 'small joys of life'. Something I have always banked upon, and wished to do the same after getting married. V gives me more of them each day. Somehow, each day in a new way (or the same way) he makes me realise what being a better half means. He definitely is one :)