Spotting Water Birds

I'm learning that it is after all pretty good to remain part submerged in the rains. Know why? Because apart from the croaking cacophony of a froggy colony, you also get to witness some unexpected avian arrivals.

An area of land ahead of our house that has a largish expanse of stagnant rainwater has turned into an unlikely lake-of-sorts. Egrets, herons, ducks and mallards are seen aplenty floating around or pecking at the insects and froggies.

And of course, yours truly is forever angling on the balcony with a dangling digicam, trying to capture the water birds! :)

Hope you enjoy the results.

Garden, Interrupted

While I was away from home for two months during summer, the intense heat and the sparse watering did most of my plants in. I came back to a browned, burnt, and ruined garden that left me totally depressed.

Of all my pots, only some varieties showed some signs of life, and have since revived. I thought it would be good to share with you all the names of all those toughies who pulled through the summer despite adverse circumstances. For the record, the survivors are: Jade, Portulaca varieties, Lily varieties, and Aloe Vera. One big hurrah for them! :)

While the rains brought on fresh blooms all around, my distressed plants were still languishing... and I was losing all hope of seeing any blooms this season. Till this past weekend, when my day lilies sprout forth! And now the portulaca is budding. :)

Hope floats now, once again!! :D

Monsoon Visitor

Spotted this rainy day visitor crawling up the pipes behind our master bedroom.

My first reaction: "EEEKS!!!"

My second reaction: "Quick, get the camera." Never seen such a colourful crawly fella before!

Anyone knows what exactly his name is?

Submerged Comeback

After being away from my home (and this blog) for the summers, I returned last week bringing the rains along. Ever since we got home it has rained every single day.

Not that we are complaining (were fed up of the unbearable heat anyway) but it isn't too convenient to remain submerged.

The pictures are from last year but the situation is pretty much the same this year as well (maybe worse!). Are the authorities listening or is it too much to expect?

Remains Of The Day

Thought I'd share with you the remains of my first attempts at kulfi making! :)

Decided to try my hand at this dessert to mark the Bengali New Year Day last week. Despite the power-cuts the end result was rather yummy!

The recipe is easy enough so you can try this out yourself:

1. Boil full-cream milk on slow heat, and bring it down to less than half of the original quantity.



2. Add sugar to taste and a spoonful of cornflour for thickening. Remember to stir constantly at this stage else the sugar sticks to the bottom of the pan.



3. Remove from heat and keep aside to cool.



4. Add grated cashews and cardamoms to the thickened milk.



5. Soak pistachios and almonds for half an hour. Meanwhile churn the thickened milk for 2-3 mins in a blender or mixer.



6. Now set the thickened milk to freeze after garnishing with chopped pistachios and almonds.

Hope this kulfi helps you keep cool through the scorching days! :)

Fairy Queen Express

My second post on trainspotting is special because it brings you the oldest running steam engine in the world! :) Bringing you the original chug-chug train from yore, the Fairy Queen Express that runs between Delhi Cantonment and Alwar stations.

Read more about this historic train here.

The Fairy Queen locomotive was created way back in 1855, and this was one of the first exhibits of the National Rail Museum.

Our advantage: being located close to the Western Railway track helps sight such vintage beauties as they go by, blowing blue smoke quaintly through its chimney, and hooting away in a shrill shriek that is very distinct from the whistles of modern-day engines.

This special train operates every year between October to March. Pity that this year's last trip was scheduled for 27March, which is when we managed to click the above pictures. So you have to wait till October before catching a glimpse of the Fairy Queen Express chugging away again.

Housescapes

We just completed a whole year of living in this house so guess can't call it new anymore! :)

As the months went by, the seasons changed, the garden changed, and the house itself went through its own quiet metamorphosis.

Here is a pictorial journey to celebrate the year gone by through some of my favourite shots in the house.

Of cool, dreamy mornings...

Ending in fiery, brilliant evenings...

Our children enjoying in their splash pool in the summers.

My jade plant against the blue monsoon sky with wisps of clouds gently floating.

The Buddha bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun adds to the charm of an autumn evening.

Interesting shadows thrown up by the sharp winter sun.

Finally, precious spring blossoms bringing the year full circle!

Hope you enjoyed our journey through the year as much as we did! And looking forward to many more such years...