On Dec 31st 2011, I was in Bangalore at a shopping mall to pick up some fresh and lush salad leaves and fruits (not available in our town) before driving back home. I decided to visit a school friend who resides a little further away. Since my husband was not familiar with the roads and the location to my friends place, he suggested that I take an auto rickshaw. I hailed a passing auto rickshaw, gave him the address and asked him whether he could wait for 15 minutes and bring me back to the mall. He agreed very politely.
On the way, after some pleasantries, like where I was from etc, he told me about himself which amazed me. It seems, a few years earlier he had come to Bangalore and started his career as an auto rickshaw driver .Gradually, he branched out to other side businesses like Real estate, Rail ticketing and Car Rentals. He now owns cars and has 3 running businesses .But on Dec 31st every year, he takes out his auto rickshaw himself and plies passengers around the city. He wants to devote one day of the year to the profession that made him what he is today! Here is a person who did not want to ‘forget his roots’. I was full of admiration!
How often we see people throwing their weight around when they gain power, position or money. They would love to forget their humble beginnings! Their inflated egos, makes them think that they are invincible and infallible. Success and fame can come to anyone, but the one who never forgets his roots will be able to sustain his success and fame. Pride and arrogance are the result of forgetting one’s roots and has been the cause of many a great men’s downfall!
There’s a saying…
‘Do not forget your roots, And know, Without roots there are no fruits’
The very essence of not forgetting your roots is that you know who you really are and what made you into whatever you are now! Your head is indeed firmly placed on your shoulders!
Above all, never forget to remember the people who raised you, reared you and gave you the sense of self! They gave you roots so that you can take wings!
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| Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie take an auto rickshaw ride during their stay in India for the filming of 'A Mighty Heart' |
I could not believe my eyes! An organic store down the road in this small ‘don’t get good stuff’ town I’m living! Anyway, I was all agog and made a visit straight away to the store. I was so very excited to see organic strawberries, passion fruit and fresh figs. I happily bought the fruits that caught my fancy. Did I stop to ponder what I would be making with all those stuff? No! At least not till I came back home ,washed the fruits and was done admiring all the farm fresh fruits! And then it hit me. What do I do with all this stuff? I had no choice but to preserve them .Surely I can put the preserves to good use as icecream and desert toppings when my kids come home!(That is, if they last till then.)You see, I just love toppings especially on ice creams. 
Of course, you all know that the difference between a jam and a preserve! With jam the fruits are mashed up into a spreadable consistency, whereas with a preserve the fruits are cooked whole and set in their own jelly.
Here's the recipe for my homemade Strawberry preserve.
Strawberry Preserve 1 kg (1000gms) -Strawberries 3/4Kg (750 gms) -Sugar 1/2 - lemon
- Wash and hull the strawberries. Wipe the strawberries dry with a kitchen towel. Don’t use bruised or overripe strawberries.
- Put the strawberries into a wide based vessel.
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| Add sugar to strawberries |
- Add sugar to the strawberries.
- Leave the strawberries to soak in the sugar overnight. The strawberries become hard when soaked in sugar and hence, will not disintegrate when it is boiled .
- In the morning, when the crystals of sugar are completely dissolved, bring the fruit and sugar to boil in a heavy bottomed pan.
- Squeeze in the lemon juice.
- While boiling, remove scum with a spoon if there are any.
- Cook on a medium heat for about 10-15 mins.
- Test for the setting consistency to check if the preserve is done.
To test the setting consistence -Chill a plate in the freezer for 5 mins. Pour a tsp of the preserve in the chilled plate. After 30 seconds, tilt the plate. If it moves but does not run, it is done. If it runs, continue cooking for some more time.I prefer it a little runny , as it thickens in the refrigerator and it is much easier to use as toppings for ice creams and desserts.
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| Strawberry Preserve topping on Ice Cream |
That's it!!Try it!More wholesome than the store bought preserves!
The very word ‘New Year’ sends everyone in a tizzy, as it is that time of the year to make the regular annual New Year Resolutions! Yes, it is time to make life- altering goals! We get another chance to reflect on the changes we want or to rectify. Moreover, making New Year resolutions is honestly soul satisfying and it has a feel good effect on you! You feel like a brand new you!!
As a kid I used to write resolutions since everyone around me was writing them and did I feel so very good about it? Yes, but then, I don’t remember those resolutions lasting long- hardly a month or even less! When you slip up on your resolutions, the guilt feeling and the embarrassment of a failed attempt is indeed heavy. So I made a resolution never to bother with New Year resolutions I can never keep! And, let me hasten to add that I have stuck to this resolution. Neat, isn’t it?
I read somewhere that ‘A person who breaks a resolution is weak’. I’m totally crest-fallen! However, the next sentence lifts my spirit, ‘And the person who makes a resolution in the first place is a fool’. I’m elated! I’m not alone !
Well, usually taming the bulge and a strict fitness regime tops the list of New Year Resolutions. Though it is prudent to change your lifestyle for your wellbeing, I have personally experienced that some exciting event like a family wedding ,an interesting get-together or something like that is a huge motivation to trim down that unsightly fat and it is easier to maintain the new lifestyle atleast for a while. So use any appropriate time of the year to start your motivated lifestyle change, so that there is no chance of casting your reformation to the winds!
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| Warm friendly smile |
Even though I do not write down New Year Resolutions, I do have a few simple mental list of attitudes, actions, and beliefs that I follow diligently all through the year. It’s actually quite easy and effortless. Try it and you will feel really good!!
Here it is.. - Have a warm friendly smile for everyone-at the malls, on the road, wherever. A smile knows no geographical or religious barriers .It is a universal language. You’ll be surprised at the number of smiles returned back to you!
- Have a kind word to the elderly and the workers toiling away.Stop and spare a few caring words to them. It will make their day. Be extra nice to the elderly. Never forget that we will be there soon!(Maybe, I am already there?)
- Have a thankful heart always. Be thankful for your blessings, at all times.
- Have a cheerful heart constantly. Never regret your past mistakes and weaknesses. Grow from it.
- Have faith that God will answer your prayers according to His will in His time.
- Always be yourself. Never put on an act or pretend to be someone you are not.
Surely this commitment is easy, isn't it? Give it a go!
I also love Benjamin Franklin’s quote... “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man/woman."
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Here is a simple 3-step rustic Christmas arrangement made with a wooden log , few artificial pine leaves , poinsettia and reindeer.
Step1: Take a wooden log.
Step2: Arrange a sprig of artificial pine leaves and poinsettia flower.(Add pine cones if you like!)
Step3: Perch a Reindeer or Santa on top.
That's it! Your 3 step arrangement is done! Isn't it tremendously simple?At the same time isn't it extremely elegant? Yes,it is!!:)
Christmas, decorations , floral and twig arrangements go hand in hand. Here are some of the arrangements I made for Christmas.Ofcourse,it would'nt be perfect but I enjoyed making them and I just love looking at them everyday of this yuletide season!
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| My favorite geese peeping down |
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| A Silver themed centerpiece |
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| An orange themed decor |
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| A Silver themed dry arrangement |
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| My dining table candlestand centerpeice |
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| Candle stand arrangement |
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| A twig cornucopia with poinsettia and holly leaves |
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| Add caption |
Bird House Floral Arrangement
One day I had this urge to make a bird house!There was no wood at hand nor a carpenter in sight!My eyes fell on a styrofoam sheet standing in the corner of my craft room.I decided to make a bird house with styrofoam! Of course,this bird house is not meant for the outdoors, but I have hung it in my sit-out where it is not exposed to rain!
For Christmas my bird house doubled as a cute table decoration after I perched a poinsettia on the roof to give it a christmasy look!
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| My Birdhouse Arrangement |
For instructions to make this Styrofoam Birdhouse, follow this link...
Styrofoam BirdHouse
Well!!Nothing is more satisfying than creating your own Christmas decor and admiring them day in and day out!!:)
‘Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done’- A hymn that I love!
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| Here I am with my parents! |
This is exactly what I decided to do this Thanksgiving 2011 and with a flourish I started penning down the countless blessings I have been showered upon!
First and foremost, I thanked God for my life, my parents and my childhood.
I thanked God for my five younger siblings who have been a huge moral support and a lifeline for me all along!
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| With my 4 younger siblings |
My beautiful grand mom-the sweetest, gentlest, soft spoken and the kindest of all grand moms- I love you so with all my heart!
My husband of 40 years and my in laws, especially my brother in law, who we lost a year back. It was wonderful knowing him.
I thanked God for blessing me with 3 beautiful children. The happiest days of my life belonged to the time when they were at home and I was the center of their lives!
I’m grateful for my beautiful home and garden, my computer and the game Farmville (my companions in my empty nest)!
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| The youngest spoilt brat!:) |
Above all, I thanked God for health. Health is wealth indeed. What is wealth without health?Nothing!
As I was half way through writing out my blessings, I realized that I could hardly remember my troubles (of course, there are many!) and it dawned on me that the power of counting blessings is unmistakably real ! I was absolutely soaked in positive energy, positive emotions, vitality, and optimism. Counting my blessings and reliving happy memories made me happier, grateful and above all put a smile on my face. It is indeed an effective mood booster! Maybe we should call ‘counting blessings’ a ‘gratitude exercise’? I am regretting for not doing this ‘gratitude exercise’ more often! It would have done me a world of good by annulling my negative thoughts when I've been in dumps.
This gratitude exercise also made me to reflect how I had always reacted when I had been under the spell of either positive or negative thoughts. When in a positive frame of mind, I’d be bubblier, laugh out louder and my eyes would shine brighter. But then, when in a negative mindset, I don’t think I had ever been pleasant- always grumbling, moody, stressed out and whatever! Yes, this is an eye opener for ME !
Our positive thoughts do reflect in our body language and we attract more people around us with our warmth, friendliness and exuberance. To have a positive thinking mindset we need to have positive thoughts constantly on our minds. It may not be easy but we can try and question ourselves frequently what we are thinking about? Is this thought positive or negative? Would it help us improve our lives or whether it is pointless? Over a period of time thinking positive will become a habit!
The following verses ‘season for everything’, from the Bible, Ecclesiastes,Chap3, have always been very powerful for me.
‘To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted…. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance….. A time to get, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to cast away..
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.’
These verses have always been a perfect antidote for my negative thoughts and depression.When things go wrong, I always think that it is a season and I feel the positive energy flowing back into me. Yes, there is an appropriate time for everything. Surely rainbow will follow each rain!
Finally, I thanked God for showing me the power of counting blessings and to have a positive attitude and a positive mind set in whatever situation.
Happy Thanksgiving 2011! :)
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| My 3 babies-a son and 2 daughters |
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| My beautiful grandmother-I dedicate this Thanksgiving 2011 to my grand mom | |
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The countdown to Christmas has started ! Here are some awesome Social Media Icons for your blogs or websites .Yes,choose whatever fancies you - it's the season for decorating , spreading joy and cheer. Go ahead, your blog or website needs a holiday makeover! Happy downloading! :)
Blogger Xmas Icons
Cute Christmas Stocking Media Icons
Click.. Read More ..to view more Icons.
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| My precious teapot-belonged to my grandmother |
Teapots! The awesome pot with a spout and handle! Why do teapots fascinate us so? Maybe, we love tea? Or could it be that they are so pretty by themselves? No wonder teapots have become tremendously popular as collectables. Moreover, weren't we imbibed with teapot awareness right from childhood? Who does not remember the teapot nursery rhyme even after many summers and grey hair?
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| My Collectables |
"I'm a little teapot,
Short and stout
Here is my handle
Here is my spout
When I get all steamed up,
Hear me shout
Just tip me over and pour me out!"
Of course we all know that it takes just a tea bag and an electric jug to make a cup of tea! But then, that won’t do for real tea lovers! Tea lovers love their cuppa brewed in the pot with a beautiful tea cosy thrown over it. Sounds so very quaint!
‘Strange, how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company.’ ~Author Unknown. So very true and spot on!
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| My corn teapot on my microwave |
Teapots have become a collector’s delight and collecting teapots is not a storm in the teapot! Not only do teapots come in many styles but also in a range of textures like cast iron, stoneware, bone china, porcelain, glass and brightly colored ceramics. Above all, the imagination, ingenuity and humor in crafting teapots have made teapots a collector’s dream. Certain teapot designs mirror the taste and history of a particular era as well!
There are innumerable awesome collectible teapots for every season - Valentine’s Day teapots, Halloween teapots, Mother’s Day teapots ,Easter teapots, Thanksgiving teapots and Holiday teapots . Christmas teapots make the most beautiful Holiday décor. They look so decorative and festive anywhere, whether perched on your microwave ,fridge, kitchen cabinet or in the nooks and corners of your dining room or kitchen. There are even miniature Christmas teapot ornaments and teapot serial lights to add a touch of charm to the Christmas tree.
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| My fav white pot |
Whatever the array of teapots , be it vintage or new, seasonal or functional, Victorian or modern, Asian or Chinese, they are all so appealing, fascinating and enthralling. Hence,it’s really quite hard for an avid tea drinker like me , to resist the allure of TEAPOTS!
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| MY sister's collection of teapots |
Check out the fascinating collection of teapots at Our Store.
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