Baby Play

My mom is very fond of my daughter. She gets down to her level to play and talk with the girl. I love watching them together. My mom used to wonder each time my girl smiles while playing ” Idhu manasula enna odarthunu therinchaa nalla irukum la ? ” ( ” I wonder what going on in this little girl’s mind”). Really what goes on in their mind? 

Yesterday when I was going through an Aradha pazhaya * poetry book I found a poem similar to the baby’ s play which I wanted to share in this space. The poem “Play” written by ‘Armando Menezes’ goes this way.

Play

Baby with the painted toy,

Could you understand your joy,

You would know

Why it is so hard to call 

Sister from her ragged doll;

Why your mother loves you so

And your sister and your brother;

Why your father loves your mother; 

Why the sun plays with the cloud, 

And the moonlight with the waters;

Why the God of love must play 

Antics with men’s sons and daughters…

All is play, it seems;

All our deeds and dreams

All we think or say !


And who knows the vast Divine 

Bumps this world with shade and shine,

Romps with mortal grief and joy

As you, Baby, with your toy?

                  — Armando Menezes


I liked this poem. You may this why a sudden poetry mogam nu. I always appreciate simple poem which I can understand and I have tried writing one or two when I first saw my boy! Lovanski Period, u know! 



* very old 

My dad My Hero

14203387_1665533537004883_3500688719975068673_nOn 31st of August, my dad got retired from his government service. After nearly 31 years of being a government surgeon in the same institution, I thought he would feel bad. Yes. Obviously, he felt bad, not because he will not get his salary or because he cannot have any position in government but he loves the college and hospital. He loved serving to poor and needy in the government hospital.  My dad has never bad mouthed the government service and had the service very close to his heart.

He retired on his 58th birthday. He is very passionate, simple man. His love for the profession earned him people hearts. What else I can say.

Love you dad! Happy Birthday and a very happy stress- free retired life.

P.S. Ordered this cake for my dad on his birthday from V Bakes, Thanjavur.

Musical Treat : Sunday with SPB

Last Sunday was a magical one. Myself with my family listened to the legend SPB singing rare Illayaraja numbers. The concert name ” Naanum Raajavum” meaning “Myself and Raaja” held at Kamarajar Arangam in Chennai.

The hall was jam packed. Listeners poured  in a chaotic manner. Seats were given to so many people. Lots of confusion and arguments were going on which made first few minutes a really tensed duration. Later the SPB music relaxed every one’s mind. The orchestra “Gopal Sapthaswarangal” did a very good job. Each one in the troupe was very talented.

SPB’s voice were crystal clear and mesmerizing. He also shared his experiences and musical details plus his learning in between each numbers.

I was very happy for my mom and dad because they were very relaxed and enjoying the pleasant music. Actually my parents are rarely found relaxed and without work. They love music.  My brother was helping my uncle know the movie name for each song. Hope my brother also enjoyed it as I did.

Nishok’s first concert ever. He was not comfortable. He said he spend nice time with me after ages. Totally a jolly family outing with such a musical treat.

I am listing out the songs he sang and I am downloading all the songs. The songs were rare and the numbers had more job involved for each one in the orchestra than the singer. The amount of effort they had put in was clearly evident.

Songs which I loved were Sundari (Thalapathy), Kaatu Kuyilu (Thalapathy) , Vizhiyille (100 vathu Naal)

List of songs:

  1. Mahaganapathim
  2. Akkarai Cheemai 
  3. Nee padhi Naan Paathi
  4. Mounama Geetham (SPB’s first song in the concert)
  5. Poonthalir Aada
  6. Paatu Thalaivan
  7. Pon Maalai Paneer Thoorum
  8. Oh.. Vasantha Raaja
  9. Kanmaniye kadhal enbathu 
  10. Hey Roja 
  11. Kodai kaala kaatre
  12. Roja onnundru mutham ketkum neram
  13. Meendum Meendum vaa – Vikram
  14. Andhi Varum Neram
  15. Kanne Kalai mane
  16. Kadhal Kavithai padithidum
  17. Rojavai Thaalatum Thendral
  18. Sundari Kannal Oru Sedhi
  19. Isai Thodanguthama
  20. Vizhiyile (100th naal)
  21. Adhi kaalai neram
  22. Kaatukuyil
  23. Minminuku kannil oru minnal
  24. Thoongatha vizhigal rendu
  25. Poongathave

Life Of Pi – The MOVIE

Today being a Friday, me and Nishok planned a perfect movie date. It turned out to be the best date movie. The movie was about a boy and his extraordinary journey. I was actually late home. The movie was by 9.30 PM and I reached home by 9.15 PM from work. Soon me and Nishok rode to the cinema. On the way to the theatre, I muched out the 3 lovely chappatis rolled in with onion chutney. Nishok is a lovely person who never keeps me hungry or want of anything. Hedoes more than what I need. One such desire of mine was to watch Life of Pi. The movie was a 3D one at FAME. The effects were extraordinary. From the beginning till the end the movie kept me stick to it. I was very thrilled to hear people speaking Tamil here and there. After the ship wreck, the story is taken to a different level. The absolute entertainment piece of the film is when the tiger makes it to the boat and it re entry in the boat. The whole audience was thrown to the back of their seats to see tiger jump on the hyena. The orangkuttan was really sweet. The scenes where Pi changes his name to ‘pissin’ to ‘Pi’ really showed the attitude of the boy. He thanked the tiger for saving his life. One may wonder when he tells that. He then said that he was made vigil only by the tiger hence he was alive for a long time. At the end he says another disgusting story to the people from that japanese ship company when yhey didnt believe his actual story. Then the listener says that the story with tiger was better when compared to the second one. Pi replied that even God thought that way. Those lines were touching. Totally an awesome movie. It is a must watch. If u r with a tiger for sometime u can hide from it or fear about it. When is living together with a tiger, you needvyo tame it. God has given that talent to you. Life of Pi is absolutely an adventure with beautiful yet dreadful incidents filled with much needed lessons!

My Birthday 2012

This is very special birthday. I love bday parties and suprise parties. The most victimised sweet person for all the suprise party I arrange is my brother. I used to buy cakes, fill balloons with water and break them on his head. It makes me very happy. I celebrate my loved ones bdays as a festival. This time my hubby and my parents made it a huge party. We have get together un our aunty’s house. I went to Kapaleeshwarar temple that morning with my parents and brother. My mom’ s childhood play area was this temple. She was thrilled. The visit to the temple made me calm and relaxed. By evening, Nishok bought a huge black forest cake. This was the yummiest cake I have ever had. He gave me a beautiful chudidhar and my mom gave me a cute chudidhar. I just loved theose clothes. With family , I cut the cake and headed to Mathsaya.There we went for buffet since ala carte was over booked and crowded. We have nice time together. A bday well spent with family is a great gift. This made me realise how much my family love and care for me. Special thanks for my friends and Fb friends and blog readers for the bday wishes.

Vijayadasmi Day


This is such a auspisious day in this festive season. Saraswathi pooja and Vijayadasmi are my favourite festivals and very close to my heart. These two days fill my heart and mind with bursting new positive energy.

My grandfather always insisted us to do all the things you want to excel in this day. Till marriage, my grandfather and my dad made me and my brother to sit with our favourite books all day. They also encourage us to do our favourite art form. They have taught us that to excel in different areas of our interest , start it on vijayadasmi. So I make it a point to start / practise the arts or studies on this day.

This practise has made me gain more interest on my passions.  I read and do things I want to excel in this day.

Thank you thatha and appa for inculcating this beautiful habit in me.

Happy Vijayadasmi. Stick to your passions and strive for excellence in the same.

Wishes =)

 

Aviyal : Typical South Indian Recipe

I grew up on all the tasty and healthy South Indian Tamil Brahmin Recipes. One of such authentic recipe is Aviyal. My mom and grand ma make excellent Aviyal. I prefer Aviyal with Rasam Sadham(Rice). Mostly this dish is preferred with Adai.

This easy recipe has many nutritious values. Almost all vegetables can be used in this recipe.

The other day I made Aviyal and Rasam sadham, which came out very well. My hubby insisted me to make Aviyal on the same weekend  with Adai. He loves authentic food too.

My mom taught me this dish which I felt to be very easy. Thanks to my MOM!

Ingredients

Beans        –       5-6 No
Potato        –      2 No (Medium Sized)
Carrot        –      2-3 No
Coconut     –      1 cup (grated)
Jeera seeds –      2 tbsp
Mustard      –     1 tsp
Green Chilly-    3 No
Curry Leaves-   10 No
Salt               –    For Taste
Coconut oil  –     2 tbsp
Asafoetida   –     2 pinch
Curd            –     2 cups

Steps

Cut vegetables into 2-3 inch long pieces.
Boil them with 2-3 cups of water

Grind coconut, jeera, green chilly, curry leaves, Asafoetida into a thich paste with little water.

In a  pan, add oil ; temper mustard seeds along with curry leaves.

Add boiled vegetables along with water, ground paste and curd.

Add Salt and keep it in heat for 5 – 10 minutes.

Serve hot with adai or Rasam sadham

PS: Any combination of vegetables can be used. Tumeric Powder (1 pinch) can be added to enhance colour.
If watery , add water (1 cup ) mixed with 1tsp of corn flour

Yummy Aviyal Ready

Priyaa’s No Churn Mango Ice Cream



Summer in India is unimaginable. This made me spend most time in air-conditioned rooms esp at work.  My nerves for making ice cream turned out to be a great success in my family. I can now make any type of ice cream at home thereby avoiding the harmful preservatives and synthetic flavors in usual packed ice cream. 
Mangoes make big market in summer. I love mangoes. So I tried my hand on making Mango Ice cream.
I adapted the recipe of Bing with slight modifications. This softie doesn’t require a churn and it is totally free of eggs. Let me list out the key ingredients for making this ice cream.
Ingredients
Fresh Cream Type I  (I used Nilgiris Fresh Cream with 36g of Fat) 500 ml
Fresh Cream Type II ( Amul’s Fresh with 25g of fat) 250 ml
Icing sugar –  2 cups
Mango Syrup / Thick Mango juice – 1 cup
Fresh mango – 1 no
Lime – 1 tbsp (optional)
Steps
With the key ingredients, first I pour in the fresh creams of two types . Here the fat content is very important to get the text of the ice cream.
 Cut the mangoes into small pieces. It is a bliss to find pieces of mangoes while tasting this ice cream.
 Add two cups of finely powdered sugar (icing sugar) into the cream mixture. Blend the cream mixture to get a consistency of a melted ice cream.
Add the mango pieces and mix them gently.
 
I added a tbsp of lime juice for taste enhancing but it is optional.
 
I added a handful of butterscotch balls to the cream. Mix well
  
Pour in the mixture into an air tight container. While pouring make sure the mixture get folded as shown below providing space for air bubbles.
 
Close the container and ensure it is air tight. Refrigerate for 10 hours (I usually make ice cream at night and refrigerate all night)
After such long time, u need to keep it outside for two minutes before serving. Serve it with chocolate syrup or with Gulab Jamun.
Yummy Mango Ice cream ready. I have also tried and tested strawberry ice cream. My husband and my family loved my ice cream. I make them every weekend.

My hubby Bday !

After a long time, I am keen in posting all the left out posts too. I really want to post the pictures taken on the hubby’s birthday. 

On his bday, I bought him a cake which was a Lychee flavored cake.After that we both went to office and came home early. The hubby picked up from my office. On our way home we have our good time in cafe coffee day. I refreshed my self there for the rest of the day.  

We ordered drinks and munchies in Coffee day. We had great time talking, laughing, giggling. That was awesome. After that we booked ticket for “OKOK”. We were actually seeing it for the third time. We were just reciting the whole film conversation along the actors.

hee hee 

We went to hotel for dinner. We ended the day filling up our stomach.

Happy B’day Hubby!