Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday June 28th 2009
Lovely Sunday spent with friends by the pool swimming and barbecuing. We grilled turkey and chicken kebab, paneer tikka, potato patties and vegetables. Yummy food and an afternoon of ladies talk - can't get better than that. Had a great time and can't wait to do it again.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
My Purna Narayan - मेरे पूर्ण नारायण !
During Shanta Dadi's visit we went to Hanuman temple, Mount Madonna in Watsonville. We started early morning around 6 and after about an hour and a half drive from San Jose, found ourselves in serene setting of Mount Madonna. Nestled within was a Hanuman temple, sitting on top. We climbed the steps to enter into a large open area complete with arrangements for havan and the step benches on both sides . Lots of bells , small and big were hanging from the ceiling. We did pooja and got tilak and prashad. The priest of the temple is not from India and yet very fluent in chanting shlokas in Sanskrit. He told us about the revered Guru Baba Hari Dass, founder of Hanuman fellowship in Mount Madonna. He also told us that Babaji would be available that day in the retreat which is rare as he travels a lot. We could not believe our luck. Avi and Neev loved spending few minutes doing ding-dong on the bells and running around before going on a short hike and then returning back for Babaji's darshan. Babaji loves little children and as Shanta Dadi rightly put it , 'we had our passports with us'. Sure enough Avi and Neev were the youngest in the crowd of devotees and it only took us a minute before Avi and Neev were called out to get 'candies' from Babaji. Babaji has maintained a continual vow of silence since 1952 and communicates by writing. I don't know what came over me but I did muster the courage to request him if he would bless us in form of giving Avi and Neev special names. He looked at them and then asked for their date of birth. In his own hand writing, he handed me a piece of paper and there was my blessing. My Purna Narayan ! He named Neev 'Purna' (पूर्ण), a complete, perfect being and Avi 'Narayan' (नारायण), a name of Lord Vishnu. Yes, they will always be Neev and Avi but every now and then I call them by these names and offer my gratitude to Babaji for his blessings.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Merry May -Neev's second birthday celebration, Shanta Dadi's visit, Trip to Monterey,Pebbles Beach, Pfeiffer Beach and Lake Tahoe
May was truly merry and brought us a special visit from Shanta Dadi, a trip to Pebbles Beach and Pfeiffer beach with her, long weekend trip to Lake Tahoe and Neev's second birthday.
Neev turned two and celebrated with a Diego Cake and Party with his play group friends on May 27th. The party was planned in a hurry and thanks to all the guests who made it so special. Neev's little friends Rajit, Mahirah, Shravan, Aashka, Poorv, Rishabh, Sidharth joined in the fun and singing birthday song. The burnt almond cake was delicious and Neev loved opening all his presents. This year he seemed to enjoy the toys more than the packaging. Avi is almost four and a half and was delighted to get a goody bag from Neev's party - yeah right ,he was supposed to be playing host. Crayons, Bubbles, chalks, stickers and tattoos are still dear to him.
Lake Tahoe was beautiful. We've been told that its beauty should be checked out in both seasons. I think it would be gorgeous in winters so we have to go back. Avi was hoping to get snow and after a mile's hike down to Emerald Bay (and back up) his spirits were still strong to climb up the mountain to touch the snow. We had a hard time convincing him that its REALLY high and if we could not hike all the way. Driving down from the mountains there was a breathtaking view from a narrow bridge built in a way that you see the massive lake on both sides. You can not stop on that bridge and the drive is for just a few mts but my oh my,what a view! You have this massive lake flowing down below surrounded by mountains. one of those moments when you realize how tiny you feel in front of abundance of nature.
I loved our condo in Tahoe and realized that with 2 kids a regular hotel room with 2 beds would not have been a comfortable choice as this one. Avi and Neev loved having their OWN room and the fireplace (did I mention jumping on the bed). We woke up to a beautiful morning in the midst of mountains and tall, tall trees. Coffee never tasted so good before. I just never wanted to step out and do nothing but Neev could not stop saying beach,beach,beach. So we drove down to the Lake and spent a day lazying in sun, playing with sand and paddling boat. Who said water is colorless - I loved the hues of lake. It was clean and transparent on the shore, a few feet down blue, green further ahead (emerald, bottle green, sea green - definitely you could put a name on the green) and then far ahead against the Sun it was like shiny pyrite sprinklings, or white sand or the silver shavings -yeah , one's imagination could take off here.
In May beginning, my grand aunt, Shanta Dadi visited us. We cooked , laughed, shopped , watched movies and stayed up late talking and talking. Avi and Neev formed a very special bond with her. For them it was extra-ordinary to have a family member visiting. They miss her very much and want to see the pictures from her visit all the time. During her visit all of us took a trip to Monterey, Pebbles beach (also the famous golf course) and Pfeiffer beach. Believe you me , Pfeiffer beach was something else. I can still feel pure white sand under my feet - can't get better foot scrub than that :) At Sun set,huge rocks which have been cut by water over time , some forming the shape of a gate , some with holes in them, sieved the dimming light through these openings, creating a perfect scene for some awesome pictures.
Monterey drive was too good to be true combination of mountains and ocean. Simply loved it. I could describe it in another long paragraph but mentioning a flock of geese , a lone boat and a dried up tree would be enough to keep my memory alive.
Neev turned two and celebrated with a Diego Cake and Party with his play group friends on May 27th. The party was planned in a hurry and thanks to all the guests who made it so special. Neev's little friends Rajit, Mahirah, Shravan, Aashka, Poorv, Rishabh, Sidharth joined in the fun and singing birthday song. The burnt almond cake was delicious and Neev loved opening all his presents. This year he seemed to enjoy the toys more than the packaging. Avi is almost four and a half and was delighted to get a goody bag from Neev's party - yeah right ,he was supposed to be playing host. Crayons, Bubbles, chalks, stickers and tattoos are still dear to him.
Lake Tahoe was beautiful. We've been told that its beauty should be checked out in both seasons. I think it would be gorgeous in winters so we have to go back. Avi was hoping to get snow and after a mile's hike down to Emerald Bay (and back up) his spirits were still strong to climb up the mountain to touch the snow. We had a hard time convincing him that its REALLY high and if we could not hike all the way. Driving down from the mountains there was a breathtaking view from a narrow bridge built in a way that you see the massive lake on both sides. You can not stop on that bridge and the drive is for just a few mts but my oh my,what a view! You have this massive lake flowing down below surrounded by mountains. one of those moments when you realize how tiny you feel in front of abundance of nature.
I loved our condo in Tahoe and realized that with 2 kids a regular hotel room with 2 beds would not have been a comfortable choice as this one. Avi and Neev loved having their OWN room and the fireplace (did I mention jumping on the bed). We woke up to a beautiful morning in the midst of mountains and tall, tall trees. Coffee never tasted so good before. I just never wanted to step out and do nothing but Neev could not stop saying beach,beach,beach. So we drove down to the Lake and spent a day lazying in sun, playing with sand and paddling boat. Who said water is colorless - I loved the hues of lake. It was clean and transparent on the shore, a few feet down blue, green further ahead (emerald, bottle green, sea green - definitely you could put a name on the green) and then far ahead against the Sun it was like shiny pyrite sprinklings, or white sand or the silver shavings -yeah , one's imagination could take off here.
In May beginning, my grand aunt, Shanta Dadi visited us. We cooked , laughed, shopped , watched movies and stayed up late talking and talking. Avi and Neev formed a very special bond with her. For them it was extra-ordinary to have a family member visiting. They miss her very much and want to see the pictures from her visit all the time. During her visit all of us took a trip to Monterey, Pebbles beach (also the famous golf course) and Pfeiffer beach. Believe you me , Pfeiffer beach was something else. I can still feel pure white sand under my feet - can't get better foot scrub than that :) At Sun set,huge rocks which have been cut by water over time , some forming the shape of a gate , some with holes in them, sieved the dimming light through these openings, creating a perfect scene for some awesome pictures.
Monterey drive was too good to be true combination of mountains and ocean. Simply loved it. I could describe it in another long paragraph but mentioning a flock of geese , a lone boat and a dried up tree would be enough to keep my memory alive.
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