Celebrations of Life

Shalini ,Elisha and lots of light

2012-02-12T10:44:00.001+05:30

Last thursday I met up with my dear friend Shalini and Elisha(is an adorable doll) whom I haven't seen since last winter.The relationship with Shalini has matured over time and years and seasons and I am so grateful for having a friend like her.Meetings with her always resulted in moments that inspired us,and we enjoyed the simple moments of life.I have always experienced the happiness from her,the inspiration which she brings from within,the opportunity to share the life's experiences and what not!At any point of time,it feels good to be with her.The conversations are picked up from where we stopped earlier..might be months before,always informal,the relaxed way,the simplicity of the conversations,and clicking all the way..celebrations of life in a way.Glimpses at her home

shadows at her lovely home

her mom in law

with elisha and the balloona

the shadows in which elisha had made her play area

Winter and Rumi

2012-02-08T19:06:00.003+05:30

The hand of spring will unfold the secret of winter(rumi) winter.Loving it as it is making its way for the spring..Its cold here eventhough i write so.We had a crazy winter,this time that brought lots of rain and hailstones falling ....Come on Beautiful spring,I am trying to be patient.

the cozy red rajais

touched by this,as I walk along his side

the sun coming out

its cosier here

beautiful weeds overtakes

nothing but a hot tea.

Images and Ideas Lakshmi Arvind

Charm and magic continues..

2012-01-26T23:39:00.000+05:30

The rustic old world charm that continues its spell on me today and the days to come...

House of MG,Ahmedabad

way to lotus pool

the balconies and bougainvilleas

fragrant corridors

the entrance

the sea shells

Inside Arts Reverie,Ahmedabad

these floorings

a glimpse of greens

feet fetish

the glowing greens

patterns and paintings

images Lakshmi Arvind

At Sabarmati Ashram

2012-01-21T11:04:00.002+05:30

As we paid homage to Mahatma Gandhiji and As we walked through the ashram..
In tribute to Gandhi,Nehru once said..Wherever he trod became hallowed land and wherever he sat became temples.Yes,it was a temple in all its sense..

the ashoka tree and its leaves

the sangrahalaya designed by Charles corrrea

life and its message

hridaya kunj on the banks of the sabarmati

prayer

the ashram

images Lakshmi Arvind.

Ahmedabad that charmed us !

2012-01-18T10:12:00.000+05:30

A trip to Ahmedabad and that amused and delighted us in various ways... more here

the old burnished feel,the fragrance as you walk down

the various name boards

the gujarati language

their love for the pink roses,

the antique love

lipsmacking food at house of MG,Ahmedabad

homely food at Arts Reverie,where we stayed

the peek into the flooring

the teas and the books that had been devoured

betel leaves in a small gujarati pot

the very minute you by pass in your everyday life,that amused and still keeps us very amused.Back with more....

all images and ideas,Lakshmi Arvind

pl do not copy or steal..

December Days

2012-01-04T18:08:00.001+05:30

The special days in December,my tree with lots of red and a dashes of gold.The cakes that we baked and tasted and the teas that we enjoyed.The last few days of December hanging out near Our Christmas tree..It is still not packed:)-

i remember the Lyrics of December days..

"December days pass my way

Dawn meets dusk when i get up

Snowy streets under my feet

The street lamp's glow

Its the only sun I know

I dont even recall

The smell of summer

Pictures on my wall wont bring me

That smell of summer

December days I'm betrayed

Santa claus never came

I made my wishes

I was so good

But i never really Understood

That smell of Summer

December

Add caption

Images:Lakshmi Arvind

Loving wishes..

2012-01-01T13:24:00.000+05:30

Loving Wishes and the magic to make all the wishes come true.Thanks for being my friend and you all are so wonderful.Love you all.A very happy new year to all of you.

Image courtesy:Lakshmi Arvind

the joys ..

2011-12-21T08:35:00.000+05:30

Simple crafts at home,the christmassy set ups,some old pine cones,the red cushion made from mopping cloth, the blue mittens,the white flowers and plumerias that add to the joy of a winter day...

December baking is on its way,cherries,preserves ,fruit cocktails and cocoa ,almonds and pistachios are waiting to be in a cake...

Image courtesy:LAkshmi Arvind.Pl do not steal images..

these wintery days....

2011-12-18T21:02:00.002+05:30

The weather is chill these days and we have been enjoying it in the comfort of the home.The morning teas ,the rajais and warm sun in the terrace and the subtle light that descends into the living room.Even in the chillness,I open the balcony to invite the light in.I usually go on a late morning walk and bring back the blue flowers.The blues that filled the urulis and the evening glow in the balcony and the chillness is on its way back..

the winterlist of holidays...

tea and the cacti

the subtle december light

Waking up from an afternoon nap and this is what i saw..wonderful

Pure magic

Image Courtesy:Lakshmi Arvind

Thankful for..

2011-11-25T16:29:00.001+05:30

Its Thanks Giving all over and how can i not acknowledge such a wondrous thing?I have so many things to be thankful for and I am.My heart is calm and its silent here.I am greatful for all the simple blessings that come my way .Thank you all for joining me in my journey into the Celebrations of My Life.

enchanting sight of them on my table

everlasting frgrance

wine bottles and some greens

small vegetable garden ,terrace

the first harvest,just plucked

growing beans fresh

Images courtesy:Lakshmi Arvind.Please do not use without permission.do not copy nor steal

Lovely Morning and Ponmudi

2011-11-19T11:51:00.001+05:30

Having spent a peaceful night among the hills,we woke up to a lovely morning .I hoped that we would be able to see the sunrise,but alas if theren't much of clouds.It was too cloudy and misty and cold as it rained the whole night.The earth was wet and we could feel the wetness and the cold creeping through us...it was wonderful...The morning chai was hot and it kept us warm.Some small yellow hill flowers and plumeria from my morning walk.A small rivulet on the way that made all of us playful and so many photographs made my day..

These made my day and i hope they made yours too...These made my days definitely brighter and put me in a good mood

Images courtesy:Lakshmi Arvind
Please do not use them without permission.Pl do not steal nor copy

An evening in Ponmudi

2011-11-15T13:38:00.001+05:30

A Heavenly hill station and some treasured memories.A journey made during the last monsoons,last year when we went to the South.There were a treasure trove of images after the trip and till date couldn't finalise which ones were the better among them.
Ponmudi,actually being near to our home,there isn't any need for a days stay there,but we stayed there to see the early sunrise.It was monsoon time and we generally couldn't guess the weather changing rapidly there from rainy into cloudy.. We stayed at "Golden Peak" the only hotel in the lower sanatorium.Theres an upper sanatorium also,where the hills drop down into valleys at all sides and the view is just amazing if there isnt much clouds.I am much of a nature lover ,but trying my hand at nature photography was for the first time.I hope the images will weave the story for my readers..

winding paths and the hairpin bends

dieties on the road

roadside prayers

interesting small temples

almost reached the lower sanatorium

Hotel Golden Peak

Small huts on the hill

a quick trip to the upper sanatorium

the view on the way

a lonely tree

rolling clouds,making their way for rain

way too windy,my little one and my dupatta

connectivity and hills

the light,my world filling light,in awe

i saw the rainbow and jumped in sheer joy

mists gathering on to the hotel side

rolling mists getting covered outside the room

the most beautiful and the most wonderful view

There were so many wonderful things that caught my eyes today.All things that i loved came down on earth a day for me.It happened as though I had a secret desire and the wish came true ..was it because i passionately wished for it..You all have a good nights sleep till i tell you what happened the next day...

all images courtesy Lakshmi Arvind.Please do not steal nor copy images.

Things and Little Things

2011-11-10T23:37:00.001+05:30

The little things that makes life worthwhile.Enjoy the little things for once you may look upon back and realize that they are life's big things.

The season of winter in Delhi.Endless cups of tea in small teaglasses and some warm noodles.The coir mats are rolled and they make their way to thick carpets.Mine is a kalamkari one.Blankets in rainbow colours on the bed..A word of appreciation from the prestigious Indian decor and lifestyle magazine" Good Homes" for my blog.Its the first time for me in a print media and I am excited for that..Who doesn't like appreciations?Lifes little things make me happy this month.We celebrated Deepavali in low key compared to the last year.this time I have alittle 8 month old one crawling around me ,but even then the home was lit up in tealights in teaglasses and flowers and gheelit lamps.Let the gods blessings shower on us for a wonderful tomorrow....learn form yesterday,live for today and dream for the tomorrows..

that breeze and the plumeria

hot tea in small teaglasses

yummy noodles,comfort food

mats rolled

small plants in brass container

featured here..

http://celebrationsdecor.blogspot.com/2011/11/celeberations-decor-goodhomes-november.html

deepavali,2011 at home

I am dreaming of better tomorrows..

images and ideas by Lakshmi arvind.pl do not copy nor steal images

Its raining even now....

2011-11-02T08:22:00.001+05:30

Its still raining in my village. I dreamt about the winding roads that leads to the temple, the temple pond and the crispness in air and the breath of fresh air. Imagining the monsoons that flood the courtyards in the village down south. Where the memories are hooked in childhood, it always used to rain...

I always loved to read personal anecdotes. Personal experiences from them which helps me love my life and see things which I have not experienced so far.

Read this and you will love it.

According to the Hindu calendar, each year is ruled by a particular planet. So have I found that in each period of life a particular season assumes a special importance. When I look back to my childhood I can best recall the rainy days. The wind-driven rain has flooded the verandah floor. The row of doors leading into the rooms are all closed. Peari, the old scullery maid, is coming from the market, her basket laden with vegetables, wading through the slush and drenched with the rain. And for no rhyme or reason I am careering about the verandah in an ecstasy of joy.

This also comes back to me:--I am at school, our class is held in a colonnade with mats as outer screens; cloud upon cloud has come up during the afternoon, and they are now heaped up, covering the sky; and as we look on, the rain comes down in close thick showers, the thunder at intervals rumbling long and loud; some mad woman with nails of lightning seems to be rending the sky from end to end; the mat walls tremble under the blasts of wind as if they would be blown in; we can hardly see to read, for the darkness. The Pandit gives us leave to close our books. Then leaving the storm to do the romping and roaring for us, we keep swinging our dangling legs; and my mind goes right away across the far-off unending moor through which the Prince of the fairy tale passes.

I remember, moreover, the depth of the Sravan nights. The pattering of the rain finding its way through the gaps of my slumber, creates within a gladsome restfulness deeper than the deepest sleep. And in the wakeful intervals I pray that the morning may see the rain continue, our lane under water, and the bathing platform of the tank submerged to the last step.

Rabindranath Tagore

Literature courtesy:here

Images and Ideas by Lakshmi Arvind

Please do not copy nor steal images.

it rains in my village

2011-10-18T15:12:00.002+05:30

Many stories untold and many more images to be posted and this is the story of "my village",where the trees are still green,the sky still blue which counted for something.It was June and raining and all the lakes and ponds were swollen ..lilies and lotuses floated in the ponds and along with them the weedy floaters too..the long winding path that led to our familiy temple,a diety which we have worshipping for years.the peace transcends into joy when we stand before thee godesss..Ferns pushing through the cracks and crevices,the white and red flowers rejoicing..me and my village and the rains and a long walk.

"We both live in the same village"

We both live in the same village and that is our one piece of joy.

The yellow bird sings in their tree and makes my heart dance with gladness.

Her pair of pet lambs come to graze near the shade of our garden.

If they stray into our barley field I take them up in my arms.

Bees that have hived in our grove go to seek honey in theirs.

Flowers launched from their landing stairs come floating by the stream where we bathe.

Baskets of dried kusm flowers come from their fields to our market.

The lane that winds to their house is fragrant in the spring with mango flowers.

When their linseed is ripe for harvest, the hemp is in bloom in our field.

The stars that smile on their cottage send us the same twinkling look.

The rain that floods their tank makes glad our Kadam forest.

By Rabindranath Tagore

it rained overnight and under the peepal

the long winding path

the family temple

the steps leading to the temple

it was wet everywhere

some old lamps underneath the peepal near the temple

drops and drops

silver drops

beautiful

white jewels

absolutely gorgeous patterns

insect bitten

star flowers

ferns through the crevices

rajamalli

proud red

those were the days

please do not copy images.please do not steal
images courtesy:lakshmi Arvind

Hidden Beauty of Everyday life

2011-10-14T23:43:00.001+05:30

Finding Beauty in Everyday Life.Beauty of everyday life in my home.

props and a Panchatantra story

swans,hunter and a tree

the light streaming into the bedroom

a healthy breakfast ,the colourful editions of the TOI

grasping and now tying to walk,times fly

a handmade rakhi card by us which travelled miles to my sis 9 month old son

a antique candle stanf form the town of mandawa ,which got filled with flowers first.the purple just blew my mind out

Over your creations of beauty there is the mist of tears...I love the light of the sun and love the Plays and Poems of Tagore..The Master

"He longed to be the wind and blow through your rustling branches,to be your shadow and lengthen with the day on the water,to be a bird and perch on your topmost twig,and to float like those ducks among the weeds and shadows".

We travelled miles the past two months..we travelled from Taj to the town of Mandawa and then to the pols of Ahmedabad...will write out the stories..By the way the beauty of India filled my images and my mind..

Enjoy these times,they may never come back to you..

Images Lakshmi Arvind

pl do not steal nor copy

Navarathri Wishes to all !

2011-10-04T19:29:00.003+05:30

The traditions of Navarathri and the legends and the myths, awesome. Navarathri wishes to all my readers!

Tulsi plucked fresh

and the Thali...

Images :Lakshmi Arvind
Pl do not copy nor steal

Festival of memories

2011-10-04T00:25:00.000+05:30

Its festival time. Durga puja pandals in all the parks, the fragrance of incense and dhoop everywhere and puja bhajans. Cacophony of children playing and screaming and aunties dressed in their best ...all sights to be seen and enjoyed..

Some images and some memories .. images which were taken a week before we came back to Delhi..It was still wet and raining those days. A journey to a nearby farm, and the tropical flowers that came home with me. The orchids that were cut and dipped in a tank of water gave the best images that it could never would have given me in a vase. The blue lotus .could not have looked more bluer. Inspired by Shalini and her Neem leaves. My dearest friend Shalini from here who is always there for me. Its a blessing to have found her. The colocasias in the kitchen garden were taller than me, my morning tea got cold posing posing.....lovely memories ..true I am in love with them, the images and the memories Am I hugging them...yes I am ....

Image courtesy:Lakshmi Arvind
Please do not copy nor steal

The Festival of Prosperity and Virtue

2011-09-16T15:43:00.001+05:30

And then came Onam..the day has been great with fun and frolic at home. A paisley pattern with some hand plucked fragrance..My thoughts wandered around our villages, along the fields, the small narrow alleys of my village. The white sands of my village, the fragrance of the hand plucked onam flowers still linger on. Memories fresh of the floral patterns drawn by my Dad ..Those were the times we literally fought for the swing; those 10 days of Onam holidays, the days at our grandmas house.. I so much miss being there and each year I wish I was there..

The Onam feasts which lasted for nearly 3 or 4 days at home down south...the yearly reunion of the family and colourful editions of news papers and magazines and so on and much more..

As I sit to write I go further and further deep in thoughts, some lovely Onam thoughts...which my children miss these days.

Images and Ideas conceived By Lakshmi Arvind

Please do not copy or steal images.

Before the harvest....

2011-09-13T14:35:00.006+05:30

Childhood memories ringing and swinging, amidst the family, the excitement once again, collecting flowers, laughter and gossips..

Fond memories of Onam time

Remembering all that I could

A few fun and lovely moments captured at home a day before the Onam.

Flower patterns from ..fallen and plucked flowers

Bougainvilleas, I never imagined fuchsias and oranges could make the rainy days brighter

My little one finally reached to the flowers and then u might have guessed what remained of them.

God bless us all.. My daughter's effort at painting Lord Ganesha.

Anklets that tugged at my heart..

There he goes..

Images and Ideas by Lakshmi Arvind, Gayatri Arvind. Please do not copy nor steal these images.

its been a while...

2011-09-06T23:18:00.003+05:30

its been a while,a long while to be away and I admit that..but its for sure I am coming back with a whole lot of new stories and amazing photography shot at various locations in India and for sure the monsoon series ...

I came back to Delhi two months back,with my little ones and its been hectic even now,but now I do feel like posting and sharing the stories..

I thank each and every reader who came across my blogs and read my stories and enjoyed..

Its festive mood everywhere and Our Onam is fast approaching and I am getting geared up for that..

I am slowly getting back into the earlier routines of collecting flowers,enjoying the fragrance around,floating flowers...

Some shots as soon as I came home to Delhi...

Images Lakshmi Arvind

Please do not copy

Monsoon Spice

2011-06-12T21:12:00.009+05:30

A month of heavy downpours, loud claps of thunders and lightning. Always wild yet serene.

The heavenly smell of damp earth when the rain hits the ground for the first time, first drop of rain falling on my face, subtle sweet scents of jasmine from garden, aroma of hot cup of coffee, the swaying of palm trees, pittar-patter of raindrops on the tiled roof, knee-deep water on roads, the falling of mangoes and coconuts in the backyard… Ah monsoon… magic in that word, there is romance in season and there is life in it.

Romance in the season starts with the beautiful mangoes and the falling of mangoes...

I love this excerpt from a book written by Carrie Young,named "Music in the Fields".

He says "We have all been watching the sky for weeks. The spreading desert and the receding grasses in Mali are causing the rains to arrive later and later every year. My friend looks up once again and says to me with utter acceptance: "We think that it may be Allah's will that we die now."

The next day we watch and wait. Nothing matters at this point except that the rains come.

Everyone is ready to begin plowing the fields, but nothing can be done until it rains. We continue to watch and wait.

The sun is a third of the way across the arc of the sky. The air is parched. The dusty, dry red earth of the fields is quiet.

A faint wind slips by me. I look up yet again toward the hills in the direction of the wind and I see a few clouds beginning to blow over them. There is a huge break in the tension of the village as the clouds move in.

The wind begins to blow strong. Bright fabrics blow out from the bodies of the women, dancing and slapping in the air. We all lean against the winds and head for cover, except for the children, who run frantically toward the giant mango trees. Small mangoes fall from the upper branches and the kids race to collect them in their shirts.

Soon darkness covers us and the rain begins to fall, frantic from the wait. It feels as if the energy of the weeks before has built up in these clouds—as if they had been forced to hold their breath for weeks and now it has all broken loose. The wind blows branches out of the trees and the rain falls with the fury of a hurricane.

After about an hour, the rain calms and continues falling throughout the night.

The village will live"

Achan buys mangoes everyday for home when in season. To put it correctly he always buys fruits which are in season. Amma hurriedly cut some mangoes and brought it in a steel plate..I had told her I would cut it into definite shapes,ready for a photoshoot,but she did it as always.

It was today that I discovered some old, very old design magazines of 80's stashed safely in my almirah. Finding out old things, brings always a joy on my face. The smell of old books, rekindling the old times that I had with them. Amma left them on the papers and left hurriedly. Old magazines and old mosaic also had the romance of the season, didn't they?

It's raining outside and the smell of the divine vanilla spreads through the house.

Season of falling fruits, my daughter spent the whole afternoon picking up fallen mangoes green and some were ripe inside. Amma taught me how to make green mango juice, it's fun being at home, learning and loving..

Pineapple juice makes it entry on to the green mangoes, different shades of yellow, it's fun to see...We also made some mango smoothie and some jackfruit leaves gave it company...

The wind has started blowing and I can hear mangoes falling, and my daughter is frantically running towards the tree ....don't forget to put on your chappal, I can hear my amma screaming.....it's a child's time, let her play and have fun..

Rainy season are for children...aren't they?

Image courtesy:Lakshmi Arvind

pl do not steal images nor copy them

in the morning tea time

2011-06-09T10:14:00.006+05:30

its been raining for hours now

heavenly morning with cool air and rain with a cup of tea

plants in big spice jars at home

an old chair and shadows

but;my tea is gone cold

morning tea in the bed while I listen to rain

morning rain clouds up at my window

clouds chase the shadows isnt it?

sit a while and listen to the rain or get soaked in the rains..

its raining when i am writing ...

i am sure to get shouts from amma if i get wet in rains,

but;are u all joining me,i am going to get wet..for sure

Images courtesy:Lakshmi Arvind.

pl do not steal nor copy images

Sunny evenings,rain on its way...

2011-06-01T01:28:00.002+05:30

rainy mornings,sunny evenings and cool nights..

early evening sun shining bright and lovely

kiss the sun shine good bye,lots of clouds and rain on the way

30.5.2011 rainy morning

2011-05-31T00:18:00.003+05:30

Romantic rainy day morning

Rainy morning blues

wanting to stay in bed on rainy days

perfect time for a walk in the early morning

"Its not talking ,but walking that will take us to heaven"Mathew Henrry

golden sunlight,fallen flowers,a cup of tea,rain drops

a few shots from my morning walk in our garden..

please do not steal images

First rain....

2011-05-28T11:16:00.006+05:30

First rains and a cause of celebration for me .It rained throughout the night.A rainy,grey morning.The monsoons have started its course in the southern states.A light breeze which brings with it the smell of wet earth,green moss and rain,the smell of all my favourite things,it softly detonates your receptors and transports you into a woodland,remember having read somewhere,how true isnt it?the forests might have been covered in a mix of green and brown.Moss covered rocks,what a beautiful feel...wet ferns from the crevices of walls....how beautiful..the plumeria held on to its flowers without shedding them.I wish i could capture the sounds and smells of rain in each image...how nice

Reflections of a rainy day breakfast

moss covered tree trunk
wet ferns from crevices

roses and rainblue bells that fell in the woods

loving the light in the kitchen

images courtesy:Lakshmi Arvind

my everyday world

2011-05-18T20:48:00.005+05:30

Balancing the chaos of the everyday world

a little one and an older one;

summer vacations and summer homework

how rich and great the times are now?

my world in his closed fists,my 2 month year old

helping a catterpillar become a butterfly

thinking how high can butterflies fly?

does catterpillars have teeth?

orange flowers of the summer

the lovely light of summer in corners of my world

waiting for the monsoons to reach my village

loving succulents as much as never before

reading about baking with whole wheat grain flour

whole grains,everyday,every way

thinking about the individual flavors of the various flours

i am going to enjoy baking with them

i am loving the me time i used to get before..

the joys of solitude..

Summer afternoons

2011-05-11T22:52:00.008+05:30

A languid atmosphere and a lazy breeze and a dreamy afternoon

some green mangoes plucked from our mango tree

books to pour over

Thinking of summer afternoons and some poems ....

A dreamy day; and tranquilly I lie

At anchor from all storms of mental strain;

With absent vision, gazing at the sky,

"Like one that hears it rain."

Off through the haze that dances in the shine

The warm sun showers in the open glade,

The forest lies, a silhouette design

Dimmed through and through with shade.

The twitter, sometimes, of a wayward bird

That checks the song abruptly at the sound,

And mildly, chiding echoes that have stirred,

Sink into silence, all the more profound.

And drowsily I hear the plaintive strain

Of some poor dove . . . Why, I can scarcely keep

My heavy eyelids--there it is again--

"Coo-coo!"--I mustn't--"Coo-coo!"--fall asleep!

James Whitcomb Riley

pl.Do not copy nor use images without prior permission

Summer Photography:Watermelon Slushie

2011-05-02T01:33:00.011+05:30

Bright colours for a brighter summer

pink,orange,blue,red,purple,green! anything. also...it has to be summery.

trying to capture the hues of summer colours in our life..

the red juicy fruit in mind?

like to bite a piece of red juicy sweet watermelon

dreaming of how tasty watermelonsoup with red summer berries and lime...would be ??

We combined pomegranate juice and watermelon and made a ruby red summer slushie.

Ingredients

2 cup(s) seedless watermelon

1/2 cup(s)pomegranate juice

1/2 cup(s)ice cubes

Directions

In blender combine watermelon,pomegranate juice and ice cubes.Blend until smooth.Pour into tall glass

Summers are for eating and drinking.,its vacation time...

looking into the tall glass and frothenjoying the light
see the difference in light patterns,its summer dearloving the water droplets,as they fall

All images copyright of Lakshmi Arvind.Please do not use on any site without prior permission.

Lots more on the series

the beautiful season

2011-04-20T20:03:00.022+05:30

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

tiled roofs and golden asparagusthe glorious vishumoments of new beginnings

the fragrance of mallipoo one evening

lotus buds wrapped in leaf

then they bloomed

and the uruli bloomed with the blooms......this summer at home

very much at home

no ,not in dreams .....

are you all dreaming

na then enjoy the images and write to me ....

all images sole property of Lakshmi Arvind

dont download nor save

Summer Charm

2011-04-13T00:01:00.010+05:30

A Tea Party

2011-04-04T22:05:00.003+05:30

A tea party and back to blogging after a short break

A lot of time being taken by the little one

there isnt any time to sleep

but its fun with babies at home

its summer time and lots of photography yet to be taken

mind is always behind the lens.....

a zen feel to the images

enjoy the time...

One of our dear blogger friend Rajee Sood is having a Tea Party.Do join her for a cup of tea:)-

Life and Us...February

2011-03-13T15:51:00.008+05:30

Life gives us an abundance of grace and gifts.We were on a wonderful journey the "second time",that gave us the best gift ever..i am greatful to God for having given me the cutest bundle of joy the second time too...love both of them.

Jaidev was born on February 24.He is our bundle of joy.A little brother for my little and lovely daughter Gayatri.Baby boys are entirely different from baby girls and so we are learning more about him day by day and we love him dearly as much as we love our baby doll,our pussy cat Gayatri..(thts what we call her at home,she enjoys it,being called this way)

Needless to say life has been busy since then and I am at my home down south,away from Delhi,away from my daughter and husband,eventhough they keep their visits once a month.I am missing my home in Delhi,where three of us loved and lived, terrible miss being there.....

I am yearning to going back home, to my dearest hubby, to our own place, to our own routine, to our favorite haunts,to all the hill stations,to all the trips that have been kept on postponing for a year,for the morning walks in the parks and so much more and introducing Jaidev to our friends and family there.

I am really having a wonderful and relaxed time here,at my home, and I'm making the most of it, enjoying the daily massages, relishing the food and enjoying a bit of free time for flickr,blogging and facebook while myparents play with the baby

All images courtesy,the author,Lakshmi Arvind.pl do not copy nor download

shadows...that dance with mind

2011-02-14T21:14:00.005+05:30

Shadows that made my mind dance

that made me chase the light

that made me appreciate the forms and shapes of life

In appreciation of the almighty,the sun god..

A poem which keep on repeating in my mind,when i take my camera to shoot the shadows

Where shadows chase light

This is my delight,

thus to wait and watch at the wayside

where shadow chases light

and the rain comes in the wake of the summer.

Messengers, with tidings from unknown skies,

greet me and speed along the road.

My heart is glad within,

and the breath of the passing breeze is sweet.

From dawn till dusk I sit here before my door,

and I know that of a sudden

the happy moment will arrive when I shall see.

In the meanwhile I smile and I sing all alone.

In the meanwhile the air is filling with the perfume of promise.

Rabindranath Tagore

that allures me ...
love the feel
blurdness and clarity of the shadows

the chair
betel leaf and wooden shades
this takes my breath away
the forms and shapes ,i love them all...hope you all love them...

A Morning at my Garden

2011-02-03T20:56:00.010+05:30

The day dawns in softness and that gradually evolves into brightness in the sunny side of the garden.

A morning cup of tea and the camera.,

A keen awareness of the activity stirring around me begins to fill my senses.

And from this calm, sunlight streaking through the dawn, the gentle sounds of buzzing and fluttering begin to break the silence.

in a delightfully, familiar sort of way.

Fluttering and the tweet tweets of the love birds at home,greenery of the betel leaves ,the fallen flowers and leaves,an experience in its own....

The garden that shared my childhood and its memories

Fairly tropical in feel,my moms carefully tended garden,bonsais as old as us.,...

I am thankful for the gift of this small reminder to slow down and absorb the essence of every experience in this place.

I'm at once wholeheartedly aware once again ~~this is where I belong. This is MY moms garden.

Finally the tea rests under the pentas flowers...,on the garden path..

I am enjoying the pampering and love at home,will be here down south for a while.....

memories,dreams and reflections....

2011-01-28T23:12:00.007+05:30

Flowers and leaves that fell into a large mortar and pestle in the garden takes me to the world of memories,dreams and reflections

Come travel with me to the wonderland...

Yesterday is but todays memory,tomoroow is today's dream

(Kahil Gibran)

Our dreams must be stronger than our memories.

We must be pulled by our dreams and not pushed by our memories.

Its also wonderful to bring back your memories...isnt so?

Give your dreams all you have got and be amazed at the energy that it gives back to you.

I am now dreaming of the brightest and happiest tomorrows...

Quiet reflections, memories and dreams ,life's bliss at the moment,you all enjoy this ...

Fragrance of the New Year,a little late though.....

2011-01-22T00:15:00.006+05:30

Happy New Year 2011 !,a little late though..

I am still not sure what 2011 has kept in store for us,but definitely exciting...And frankly, I don’t want to either know too much or make big plans. I want to live in the present moment.

But one thing I am sure its going to be a more exciting and loving year for us.It will be the year when we discover more love for sure than the last year and we hope to travel more of the world we love.

I am blessed to have a loving husband, an adorable little girl ,our loving family, my photography and blogs.I love all of you who have stayed and come back patiently despite the erratic schedule in blogging..

I wish you all a fantastic new year. I hope it’s filled with a lot of incredible things. Love and Laughter. Everything you hope for.

the joy of december baking..

2010-12-16T11:50:00.007+05:30

December,is for bakers

Celebrations in the air,

Ringing in the new ...

the fresh air,the chillness in the corners

cosy rajais, hot milk,snowflakes and so much more in this month

some flowering seasonals get planted in pots

cookies baked and loved by the family

On Wednesday, before they were all eaten, we had unseasonably good cold weather,

and the whole house was washed in that crazy gold light

it gave me the opportunity to photograph these cookies for you in their natural state,

Are the Christmas carols in air?

have the Santa started visiting us?

When will the christmas tree be put up?

Little one poses questions one after the other

this weekend the tree will have to come up..

may the spirit and colours of christmas brighten your life

As Winter sets in...

2010-11-22T18:46:00.006+05:30

Waking upto grey skies,

silvery clouds till late morning

sun finding it difficult to come up

all of us wanting to sleep for ten more minutes

all of us curling under the mattress to keep ourselves warm

my little one misses her bus always these days

early morning drives,baskets full of plumeria

hot chai's and chocolae muffins that keep refuelling the systems and give me company.

thoughts of a funfilled stylish diwali ,we enjoyed at home,fun and laughter all left behind,waiting for an another:)-

the never missing breakfasts and loads of fruits

always paying attention to the stillness around me

thinking of raspberries ,winter cocktails and winter warmers....

reading sweet paul magazine and thinking of dressing up cranberries..

then i look forward to baking,drinking hot chocolate and making large pots of hearty soup

All images and Ideas conceived and photographed by Lakshmi Arvind

Pl do not steal nor copy images

another diwali ....

2010-11-09T17:54:00.007+05:30

Another Diwali

reflections of diwali...

a heart filling experience at home

lights and flowers illuminated life and laughter this diwali

it was sheer happiness and the busy schedules which came with buying some new lamps

seeing the new designs in the market

cleaning the old ones and filling the clay diyas with wicks and oil

lighting lamps,spreading happiness

some glimpses of diwali at home..

More images at celebrationsdecor.blogspot.com

all images and ideas,LakshmiArvind

pl do not steal or copy them from the site

bougainvillea cafe..at home

2010-10-21T12:51:00.008+05:30

Early morning country tea

its definitely cool these days in the morning

little mist in the air

a morning drive

walks in the parks

thinking of the walks in the Bougainvillea laced courtyards down south with tea in hand

walking past roses and bougainvilleas in the garden

Bougainvilleas blaze like jewels in the sunshine

golden sunshine lits up the room

a book not yet finished

"radiant raindrops of rajasthan" is it another word for the Bougainvilleas?

brighten your life with Bougainvillea.....

bougainvillea cafe,i use them a lot these days..
Bougainvillea,Bougainvillea.."radiant raindrops of rajasthan" aren't they?
a peaceful moment,a wonderful moment captured

some illustrations from the book

365 days the people make use of pulley...do u think when you visit rajasthan?

brighten your life...with bougainvilleas and tea...love them both

all images and ideas conceived and clicked by Lakshmi Arvind

"today is the miracle"

2010-10-18T12:27:00.007+05:30

Today.Life is lived in the present. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is yet to be.Today is the miracle.

(Unknown author)

I love reading quotes

i think of life and the moment called present

the colour blue in mind

drinking sugarless chai,one of the recent accomplishments

would you all like to join in?

the flowers of Alstonia Scholaris still not bloomed

the blooming coincides with the festival season

we did enjoy navaratri and saraswati pooja

i enjoyed the holidays my little one

the fragrance of marigold lit lamps filled the house

loving the smell of dhoop and agarbattis

Reading amarchitra katha is one of the recent past times for us

A farm stay near Manesar brought in an inner peace within..(more later)

how about the combinations of green and red cushions in the living room?

very very traditional,isnt it?

making some cushion covers from moms old sarees

my gardener plans to bring saplings of seasonals

its the time of winter here after a month and i hope my terrace blooms with flowers....

I think i am forgetting today is it so...

did the future come into my mind?

it happens...once in a while...enjoy today

today....

2010-10-05T18:12:00.006+05:30

Once again i greet autumn light.I wandered from one room to the other searching for the softer tones of light.Autumn light pours into the room and dances on my walls in the early morning hours.A mixed fragrance at home todaySome lilies on the chest and their intoxicating fragrance.I dug out some old lovable antiques,my betel nut cracker.The purity of the white hibiscus,nothing can beat it...staged some of them and took some images.There were marigolds for puja at home.Still my hands have the everlasting fragrance of pichipoo.

some of the moods at home today....

All ideas and images conceived by Lakshmi Arvind

Pl dont copy them or steal them

the charm and the quaintness......

2010-09-30T14:28:00.007+05:30

Enjoy the season! loving everything about the season.
the sights,smells and sound
the dusky light in our living room brings a glow in my eyes and a wonderful smile...
warm light pouring in from every quaint window
they all combine to bring an old world charm..
the most pleasant season here..

The lovely people at The Key Bunch blog are celebrating their anniversary by Saying it with Flowers
Wishing you lots more years in the blogosphere and "happy anniversary"

Images and Ideas conceived by Lakshmi Arvind
Pl don't copy them nor save them from the site

the scents.... the seasons...

2010-09-27T20:03:00.013+05:30

the cotton curtains fluttering in the wind as if they are dancing to the tunes of a rainfall.

i love rainy mornings.,

the envelope of comfort the rainy mornings give you is immense and the sound of the rain,

rains are giving way for the mellow autumn.

A dusky light entering the living room ..

Its been some days since its rained here.

my mind still revolves around the raindrops still falling steadily.

some dried flowers and leaves show me how much i love them still.,.,

the season of joy and cheer and scents...

they seem to have been from the last autumn......

i am looking forward to the season change for,

baking in something with figs from the market..

waiting for the boutiful greens from the garden..

to spent a lot of time under those same blankets and in the kitchen.

listening to my favourite songs and concocting new recipes to share with both my family... and you.

cook a stew with potatoes and onion and curry leaf, to fill your home with the scents of the season...

I cant think of all the scents of Autumn,but you probably have a favourite too?

love the dusky light in my living room,the warmth,love it
gulmohar petal dried
bougainvillea fragrance ..love the crushed feel..
a neem leaf dried
roses and roses dried
opening a book and finding this ,brings a smile and a tea to accompany ...

peepal leaf
jackfruit leaf from home,last seasons..

Enjoy the season...

All images courtesy:Lakshmi Arvind

pl do not save nor copy images from the site

My Village in Monsoons...

2010-09-21T12:42:00.018+05:30

Palms swaying in the monsoon winds and the unhurried pace of life at this village is what attracts me to this village,my dads ancestral home and his village..

Its coconut and mango orchards lend loads of beauty. You can either enjoy a game of football on the white sand in front of the extensive courtyard of the house or soak up the rains lazing on the verandah.The beautiful wildflowers and wildly grown home flowers for puja are a sight here.Bees and butterflies happily walk down the lane hand in hand.The green and pink dotted colocasias line the small village roads.The grazing cows are a normal sight here.The mango trees sway in the wild wind and the juicy ones fall down,where we rush to pick them and eat them with salt and chilli powder.Abundant monsoon grass is cut from the fields,growing wildly.Here you can still see the paddy fields and ponds everywhere with lovely lotus blooming...the lonely paths,the mangalore tiled houses and the flowers endemic to these places are the commonest finds here.

Located near the famous Vembanad backwaters,its beauty on its own with the monsoons soaking it up.

This time when we visited ,it was incessantly raining and we just enjoyed the rains.It is always a joy whenever we go there,coz we just soak up the beauty and breathe fresh air.The amazing lip smacking food cooked by grandma and aunties are a joy here.They have the traditional style of cooking food,with logs of wood and a separate kitchen for that apart from the normal one are all that we are in love with .....The banana leaf spread and the perfect lunches are all a part of the secret love that we all share in common.We always wait for the next time,the next time and the next time and the ............

A view from the living room,its all greenery outside,just after the rains...
The well in rains fills up to the brim and we all can dip a mug and take water and have a bath standing here....so much fun when we were smallThe winding paths ,village roads ,the beauty of the lush greenery on both sidesHuge colocasia leaves,love the pink and the green spotsLove the wet feel and the dry leavesFeet fetish and colocasiaButtercups and buttercups everywhere
Wow,the drops,felt like licking them
My love for ixora starts here,we have a huge variety of ixora at home

The white star ixora and a drop of water
White ixoras are specially used for puja in devi temples
Red ixora buds

Wet red Ixora

Fallen and wet
The long village roads
Coffee plant flowers,we make our own coffee powder at home,the purest one,i can smell it here
Small berries and drops of water
Thumpa flowers ,wild ones,used for onam flower carpet
White wild flower
The night flowering flower
Hibiscus in its beauty in rains
All pictures are courtesy:Lakshmi Arvind

Pl dont save nor steal images.

My Own Monsoons.....

2010-09-13T07:24:00.017+05:30

the drops just fell on my face,i just shook them after the photo was taken,that feel....
i gazed and gazed to see how delicately and differently the almighty made this flower..
it just fell and fell from the mangalore tiled roofs....splashed everywhere
it was all over the amaranthus plant
hey the little one is going to fall,can you catch,got wet in the rains,drooping heads ....
its all wet
the last drop,can you all see the whole world?
these were plucked fresh from rains,some fell down too...
its tea time...the three of us

In the Rains of Love...

Trying to capture every possible droplet of rain that fell down...

My love towards Malayalam Literature has always drawn me closer towards the love for Rains

Malayalam literature gracefully illustrates the vivacity of monsoons

I love anything that comes with rain,even a simple name:)-

"Butterflies in the Spraying Rain",a translation of a film name that has been watched umpteen number of times.

Dont you all love this name?

Nothing covers Kerala better than Rains,isnt it?

It rained when at home , heavily and elegantly in both with cascading impact drawing even the dry hearts to the niceties of life.

Still my mind is rich with drops of rain from down South...

Hey its raining for you....all...

all images by Lakshmi Arvind,pl dont copy nor save images from the site.

Life's exquisite pleasures at Shaheen Bagh

2010-09-08T09:32:00.011+05:30

A last minute dash to the mountains before travelling down south to the monsoons and the seas for the summer vacations.

A lovely stay close to nature, listening to the birds, watching the mist roll down, amazing breakfasts, great photo opportunities. A getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Shaheen Bagh on the foothills of the Mussoorie hills is an ideal place to visit from Delhi on a short weekend.

Visit Celebrations Decor for more on this trip.

Happy Janmashtami !

2010-09-02T17:09:00.005+05:30

*I woke up from a slumber after the rains and saw a pair of foot prints on the wooden pedestal near the door with the sun shining in.

*Fragrance of flowers and light echoed the mood...

*Below are some moods of the wooden pedestal and the fragrances that wafted in our home this

Janmashtami.

*Happy Janmashtami to all my readers...

All photos clicked by lakshmi arvind.

pl do not steal them or copy them from the site

Living for the simple things.

2010-07-31T18:22:00.009+05:30

Life is about simple things

Finding joy in simple things and their beauty

why is it that these simple pleasures always make us good?

Sometimes it doesnt take much

Its all about the little things in life that keeps us smiling

learning to photograph making me appreciate the simple things and their beauty

its all about small things now

there needn't be too many things in the composition for me

some simple things that which made me happy always last summer vacations at home

loved these lyrics by Shirley Temple

The simple things in life

are a-round you ev-'rywhere right outside your door
why keep reaching for
the moon?

images and ideas by Lakshmi Arvind

pl do not copy or steal

our time ...

2010-07-27T13:52:00.005+05:30

a part of summer....

some of our times in bangalore

some feet shots

fiery red gulmohar in bloom

some shopping in fab india

eyeing on the pickles

relax in the cafe

some apple tea and ginger lemon

and on goes the stories...

wait for more...

images and ideas Lakshmi Arvind

My Days in Beautiful Bangalore

2010-07-15T12:56:00.007+05:30

*The first part of the summer vacation was spent in Bangalore at my sisters house.

*Bangalore is where i studied and spent 7 good years of my life,before marriage and after *marriage

*Its where my dreams came true:)-

*I can never forget Bangalore for the charms and vibes the city gave......

*The cubbon park,commercial,shivaji nagar where i took umpteen buses,hebbal,koramangala and yelahanka where we stayed,the weather and for all that Bangalore has given me

*Roaming in commercial and juices from ganesh fruit juice centre and thalis and filter coffees from kamath are unforgettable.

*Can never forget the joys and sorrows that Bangalore gave me

*Even if we dont stay in that city now ,a visit to the city just refreshes us even today.

*As always the day starts with a chai and the innumerable shadows that i followed in the house and the Bangalore times and the flowers on the table that spread a cheer in the house

*more stories to follow.....

a hot cup of tea and shadows in bangalore,probabaly the first shot in bangalore
loving the lengthy shadows
Bangalore times and tea and flowers
cant count how many shots have been taken of these:)- in madness....
pinks i adore
yellows that greet us
what deadly shadows

intoxicating fragrance of mallipooo...
yeah i took my camera everywhere...

wait for more stories....

images and ideas conceived and clicked by Lakshmi Arvind

pl do not steal images,do not copy

Haridwar-Gateway to Gods

2010-07-09T15:31:00.008+05:30

Before the start of summer vacations,we decided to have a quick visit to the hills(Upper Dehradun),enroute Haridwar.

HAridwar a photographers delight...

Haridwar always is a fascination for a photographer and it is the same way with me too.

It was as though i felt the presence of gods there in each frame I saw.

We just had a quick walk along the main bathing ghat,Har ki Pauri .

There were prayers to be offered at the holy Ghat of Hari-ki-Pauri (Steps to God/Heaven - now we know why its 'holy')and a must-have dip for the kids.

There were a number of people at the ghats having a holy dip and my little also had to have a dip.

Images have been clicked by Lakshmi Arvind

pl do not copy or steal