Mind of an orchid

Texas summer is kicking in! And it's always sad to bid farewell to spring. However, we finally managed to get our hands green and had our first go at planting some rose plants. I know, we didn't want to try anything too complicated especially since we both are beginning gardeners. A rose plant, it seemed, would be our best bet. The oleanders, the canas, the petunias and of course , the orchids will have to wait! We have three rose plants in place and first thing every morning, Li'L A and I take a peek outside the window to see if our labor has borne fruits (err flowers) yet....joy does (after all) lie in the simple things! While we are waiting on the roses to bloom, here's a couple of pictures of the Texas bluebonnets . We finally made that trip to find bluebonnet fields one afternoon and even managed to take a few shots.
And here's one more, of a lovely Indian Paintbrush in a sea of bluebonnets!

So, what have you guys been up to this spring??
And ladies, the tag is next!

And I have goose bumps to certify that! And if you are asking me who Susan Boyle is, then you must be living in a cave! She is the next biggest thing to happen after, I don't know - Harry Potter ? Miley Cyrus ? Barack Obama? - I don't know, I am trying to name some big names because she is bigger than big! Unfortunately, you tube will not let me import any of the Susan Boyle videos...so just go here and you'll see what I am talking about. If we ever need a lesson on how not to judge a book by its cover, then this is it! If there was an underdog, ever, then she is it , yet........
5 million hits on you tube- it's not her voice alone - it's the message, it's the hope, it's the inspiration as much as it's her conviction and her spirit! You are my hero, Susan!! I am off to watch the video at what must be my 9/10th time!! Can the talk shows bring her to the U.S already?? And let's leave her eyebrows and her hair color alone, she is a diva in her own right, a true inner diva!

and so here's one for the orchid! gorgeous, aye?

This part 4 of a 4 part series. For parts 1, 2 and 3 scroll down.

This is part DC and part Li'l A. It's been a while since I did a post on my boy or should I say my little man. Writing about a little boy who is so many different things all at once is no easy matter. However, these pictures rightfully showcase the happy and sprightly 5 yr old that he is. My boy, he is quite the entertainer yet very soulful and sensitive at times. And of course, there is never a dull moment with Li'l A around. He has many avatars too, transforming into a moose one minute, a captain the other and a pirate the next , you never really know what to expect when you are with Li'l A. His other attributes at age five include a healthy sense of humor (the dude can be a total riot), a rather obstinate advocacy on clothing, shoes and the like (my son, after all), an inflexible defiance with food (still!), a profound inquisitiveness of the world around him (the why's never end), and a fervid eloquence with words (will not hesitate to speak out). As parents, we are currently in parenting heaven (if there ever was such a thing!) - its all fun and games! Still get to cuddle him like when he was a baby and I know that phase will die soon. And a slight change of tone and a hint of authority and I can still get him into submission and I know that phase will die soon also. So, yeah all in all its not that bad as a parent. The one thing that is bothering me the most, however, is he is too much of a dad's boy. And I did not even realize how and when the loyalties shifted. He thinks dad's the coolest (hmpf!), dad's approval is all that matters and have on occasion caught him kissing the ground that dad walks on. Not that he does not give me my due - sure, he will call on me (only) to feed him, clean, bathe him - those are as important too, right?? So, yeah, if being the maid-in-waiting counts then I am IT too!

O.k this post is slowly becoming all Li'l A and no DC....just go to DC folks, it is worth the trip - especially if you love history, art, architecture, monumental grandeur, colorful landscape (or if you live in Texas!!!!!)

Anyway, where is everyone...can't say the one or two comments that I am drawing is doing much to my sagging blog-spirit. Tomorrow is my 200th post and can I get some of the same fanfare I got for my 100th please???

For part 2 and part 1, scroll down..

I am a huge sucker for well kept homes and you may have already gathered that from some of my previous posts. I believe that good home decor should include style, function, purpose and a warm inviting feel. Altoid's home was all of that and more! First impressions - what a charming little place! And when I started living in it, I realized everything was there for a reason. A very coherent, pulled together look with pieces collected over time. "Top notch decor yet very comfortable to live in" would be an appropriate description. Especially after walking around the many miles of the National Mall each day for almost 8-9 hours, we would be so ready to go back to the cozy comfort of her "Baithak" and that's precisely the warm fuzzy feeling a good home should invoke. Interesting little vignettes at every corner not only made for great eye candy but also added to the drama. And who doesn't love a bit of drama. It also made for some really nice photographs. And the outdoors were no less either, she already has a wonderful collage of her frontyard blossoms up on her blog, I just managed to take a couple of the gorgeous scarlett tulips! Hope you all enjoy looking at her home as much as I enjoyed living in it!

Image courtesy : Uj (for part-1, scroll down)

Many of you in this blog circuit are already familiar with the cherry blossoms thanks to posts by the Altoid and Sujatha. And I am sure some more of you have actually had the opportunity to visit DC during the annual cherry blossom bloom time. Well, if you do not belong to either of these categories then I say pack your bags around end of March/early April next year and make that trip - it's worth it!!
Of course, I'll stay away from giving you details on the history of the cherry blossom or the festival itself, there are plenty of resources on the www to help you with that. However, this post is meant to only inspire the traveller/photographer in you just like we were inspired by other posts I had seen. We planned to walk around the Tidal Basin and see the cherry blossoms on Saturday morning , make that early morning. Altoid had a 6.15 Am deadline for us to be out of the house. When the plan was being hatched I was not so sure especially since both Uj and Li'l A are not early morning people. In retrospect, I am so glad she insisted. Any later, our whole trip would be in jeopardy with massive crowds, lack of parking and the like. So, get up and get out pre-sunrise and you will love it. The early morning spring air (despite the heavy winds), the smell of onion bagel with veggie cream cheese, a half awake yet surprisingly cooperative 5 yr old, the over zealous photographer, and a very giving host who shared our tourist enthusiasm despite having been there a few times already made that walk up the Tidal Basin worth every cherry blossom ! The flowers themselves had a very ethereal feel to them. The contrast of the pale pink/white of the flowers against the dark boughs and branches was very picturesque to say the least . And how did I feel ? Imagine yourself being on the sets of Memoirs of a Geisha - it had the same visual appeal!

more to follow......

I have been busy....getting away from the usual. Yes, we were on a vacation. There is so much to write, I don't even know where to begin. In summary -I got to visit one of America's most visited tourist destinations, stay with an extremely gracious host who is also now a very good friend, spend quality time with my boys and bring home plenty of lasting memories. Couldn't ask for more now, could I? We were in Washington, D.C this past weekend visiting Altoid of curiously strong and what a fun time it was too! I don't know if I can actually write a post on her and do enough justice with my words but simply put she is one of the nicest individuals I have ever met and I mean it. Simple, down to earth, very affable, passionate about a lot of things (her home, her family, her photography, her music and more), very meticulous, and extremely grounded. I am inspired! Again, these are just a few things off the top of my head and does not serve well enough to describe her entire personality. We met virtually through each other's blogs a short while ago, realized we have many things in common including our roots in Banglore, our penchant for shoes and our interests in keeping a good home and therefore we indulged in conversations off the blog world. Met her once very briefly at the Frankfurt airport last year and a month ago she invited us to her home. Of course, her wonderful pictures on the cherry blossoms added just the right amount of motivation to conceive a plan and finally we made the trip. Again, thanks to Altoid's meticulous efforts and a well and pre-planned itinerary we did see the city like it is meant to be and came away very satisfied tourists. It is day-2 and I am still in DC hangover sitting here on my couch in plain and boring Texas!
Now for the vacation itself. I was totally taken in by the iconic strength of the National Mall. Despite being a young nation, the history is well preserved and reflects off of the monumental core of the National Mall. A photographer's paradise and a little kid's dream come true, D.C offered something for our entire family. And since I have so many pictures to share, thanks to the perseverance of my dear husband, I will do a 3/4 part series, so please come back.
Yet to come - the cherry blossoms, corners from the Altoid's home, li'l A on vacation and ofcourse one for the orchid!