I love my neighbourhood.

We live across the golf course community. My neighbourhood is a well-maintained one compared to others nearby. It has miles of walking paths (both on the roads and nature walk trails) along with well maintained park(s) area. It is safe to take a walk alone in the nights too. Just a few minutes drive from our home we have this huge trekking area(wilderness)  in the west hills /sky view area.

NR loves summer . He goes for a long walk with his dad every evening and spend an hour in the park . CB usually take him along the main roads so he can spot many cars in the busy evening traffic.

 

Photos taken with my phone camera during 2009  summer/fall. I wasn't able to download the photos from my phone using the normal USB cable . Thanks to my busy life as mom to a two old year, I never took time to investigate. I had  to download photos during my brother's trip.

I stayed late one night and researched it on web and found that I needed to buy the special software or hardware to download photos from Motorola phones .I know it sucks , and why do they expect the users to spend more money on USB software . Stupid, stupid, stupid marketing idea). Thanks to this guy , I added myself as the MOTO app developer and I got the free download of USB software . Sweet )

 

Happy birthday to me

This week, I celebrated my birthday . The theme for this year starting from my birthday is  " Take time for yourself and do things your hearts desires for".

My long time friend and her family from seattle planned to visit us on their trip to Portland . Going by the theme along with my friends visit, I decided to make two tiered cake for my birthday.  I came up with a simple plan in my head about what I wanted to do. I have wanted to make a cake with white fondant and royal icing flowers.  But went with buttercream icing instead of fondant.

I made homemade royal icing . It took me around 3 - 3.5 hrs to make the royal icing petunias and lilies .  Made them five days in advance so they can dry well.

For lower tier, I made a 10*4 lemon cake(again) with apricot apple filling. For top-tier, I made 6*4 german chocolate cake with pecan coconut filling(I had left overs from NR's birthday cake). It took me another 4 hrs to bake , prepare butter cream icing and frost the cake.

I had a couple of 18 hour days this week. I managed to do everything after NR went to bed.

The cake turned out pretty well (looks like grand wedding cake) and tasted too good. Two of my friends family came home and we had simple celebration. NR had good time with my friend's family especially with their 14 yr old son. I might be having a house guest this summer (my friend's son for a week) and I am sure NR is going to enjoy his company immensely.

This year birthday turned out well thanks to friends taking time to visit me on my birthday unlike most birthday where only two of us celebrated it alone. While growing up in India, I used to have a grand summer birthday celebration every year with tonnes of family and friends .  The downside of life here is you are "all alone" without any family  for every damn celebration. We always invite friends for every festivals just to have the feel of  family around you. Friends are family in expats life .

NR and hubby gave lovely cards . I loved CB's card .

For the women of my Dreams

" The first time I saw you , I somehow knew you'd be important in my life. In my eyes,you were beautiful in so many ways. There was no doubt, that I wanted to spend forever with you  and when we joined our lives, things were every bit as good as I hoped. I didn't want anything to change. But... life is full of changes and not every day can be paradise. Together we've faced reality, the day-to-day "bumps in the road" that test every couple's patience . I've seen you in many challenging situations and the miracle is you're even more beautiful than I thought possible. You are sweet, thoughtful , strong, supportive and a partner everyone would want on their side.  Not only are you the woman of my dreams but you're also my best friend and as time passes, I fall more deeply in love with you "

Thanks CB for such lovely card(s) for my birthdays for last 19 years .

Friends Forever

It's been seven months since my friends V and her son died. Not a single day went by without thinking about her. I am no longer crying but still having  a choked-up feeling when I think of her and her son R.

I cannot bring myself to go to salon to get my facials ever since she died . I just booked one last month but cancelled the apt the day before sighting some silly reason that I don't even remember. Memories of her is making it harder. Especially after NR's birth , I went regularly every month to get a facial followed by an amazing  massage for my back pain. No, she is not a professional masseuse but did that special thing for me . She took care of me like a good sister.

My birthday is coming up soon and I miss going to her house to get all glammed up. I am shedding tears, as I type this post.  I have accepted that she is no longer with us, but silly me wanted to give her a hug like we usually do. I miss talking to you V and hearing your sweet voice saying "haooooooo" in a typical Gujarati accent. You are our  guardian angel now.  Love you always.

It's hard to get a best friends as we grow older. I was fortunate to get a good friend in my adult life though it lasted just for a decade. Hope you are happy and safe and having the best time with R betah.

All time Fav Tamil Movie songs – List 2

1. Yamunai Yatriley

    

2. Enthil Nenjil Neengatha (Film : Kalaiijan)

    

3. Ennavale Ennavale (Film: Kadhalan)

    

4. Malargaley Malargaley (Film: Love Birds)

   

5.  Netru Illatha Matram (Film: Pudhiya Mugam)

      

6. Varam thantha samikku (Sippikul muthu)

   

7. Malaare Mounama (Film: Karna)

   

8. Valayosai (Film: Sathya)

    

9. Ilaiya Neela (Film: ) Lovely lyrics

   

10. Anthi Mazhai (Film : Raja Parvai)

      

All time Fav Tamil Movie songs - List 1

List of my fav tamil movie songs in no particular order except for the first two.

1. En Iniya Pon Nilavey (Film: Moodupani)



2. Ninaivoo oru paravai (Seegappu Rojakkal)



3. Katrin Enthan Geetham (Film: Johnny)

   

4.  Kanne kalaimaane (Film:Moondraam pirai - Kanne kalaimaane)

     

5. Deiveegaragam (Film:Ullasa Paravaigal)

   

6. Mounamana Neram - Salangai Oli

  

7. Parathavizhi(Film: guna)

    

8. Kathalin Deepam Onru (Film:)

    

9. Nilaave Vaa (Film:Mouna Ragam) This is CB's fav song too

     

10. Thalaalaattuthe Vaanam (Film: Kadal Meengal)

       

Mothers Day 2010

Mothers Day went like usual Sundays. I get to sleep like a baby every weekend thanks to dear CB. We have started ordering take out lunches on Saturdays and on some Sundays for past couple of months. Its working really well for me ; ). I enjoy a lazy weekend mornings.  

We visited zoo on mother’s day. NR had his first official meltdown in the zoo because he panicked when I changed his diapers in the restroom.  Since it was his nap time he went into his trademark "non stop crying mode" and got the attention of thousands of visitors in the Zoo. We decided to get back home and the moment we reached the gates, he stopped crying and was back to happy self watching cars go by.  He slept during the drive. Thank god Zoo is just close to our home and we make regular jaunt to the zoo and Rose garden during summers.

And what's up with all SAHM VS Working mom debates in the blogs. Will it ever end? Deciding to be SAHM or a working mother is every couple's personal decision.  End of discussion . 

For all the moms out there, what ever status you chose to be SAHM or working mom just do it with whole heart. You took a decision for a reason, so stick with that reasoning. Don't ever go thru the guilt path. If guilt takes over your sleep, you have the power to change it. Changing status is at your disposal. It is easy just like that so don’t sweat over your decision.One of the commenter blamed her working friend for her friend's kid’s speech delay. Who are these girls/women.?. Do they really read any book on child development? Kids having delay reaching milestones had nothing to do with SAHM or working mom status people. It just happens no matter if you around or not around your kids. 

I also read the comment by a girl pointing out that lot of friends from her community send their kids to India to be raised by their parents.  Most of my mother’s generation working moms did exactly this, since there was no day care available. It was win-win situation for all party involved and it prevented lot of child abuse (both physical, emotional and sexual) by servants or non family members. Kids turned out well being raised by grandparents me including. I had best baby/toddlerhood times, thanks to my ammuma, appupa, chitha and maternal uncles. To this day, I cherish those memories.As long as the grand parents are willing to take this huge responsibility with open hearts  and  parents involved can take this decision guilt free, I personally don't see any issues here.  If given that option, I personally wouldn't want my parents to slog at their old age while I worked for the doe and took an easy route. Again this is purely my personal decision/opinion.

 BTW, I got couple of gifts for mother’s day and as usual I have decided to keep just one.

 

Return of Seamstress - Part 2

I started sewing home essentials like curtains , table runner , holiday decoration etc. I 'd sewn beautiful dresses for girls as gifts. Then last few years when CB was working for MS in Seattle while I worked for Intel in portland my sewing hobby came to complete halt due to other priorities in life.  I used my machine for mending or to do some patch up work .

My sewing got a kick start thanks to NR. This little kuttan doesn't like wearning the hat  (like the ones from the hospital). Though he was just two weeks old he always removed his cap from his head. I used to wonder how ? Then I caught the culprit in action. He will turn his head left to right and after twenty plus turns the cap will come out of his head : ).  Then and there we knew that we have naughty and mischievous guy in our hands. My sister who came to US when NR was six weeks old could not believe this. My sister and niece used to wait to watch this and enjoy the sweet trick by this little fellow.

NR suffered from congestion and needed a hat to keep him warm as new born  and during summer when we had our A/C on at nights. Since it was summer I was not able to buy the winter hats like this so ended up sewing one for NR. 

Last christmas , I wanted to start the tradition of giving some hand made gifts to NR friend Sherry (My best friend's son who is 8 months older than NR).  I managed to sew 3 ponchos during the second week of Dec 2008 .  The sewing part took 45  minutes to an hour and cutting may be 15 -20 minutes. I purchased dresses for two sets of girls and boys during Nov but everything had to wait because of this project. Though I finished the project on time, due to snow storms, I was not able to send them on time for christmas.

I packed everything and our good friend took time to send them to my friends on my behalf.  Hope they enjoyed this personal gift.

PS : This draft was written in Jan 2009 : )