Snow days

February has been the month of snow. Couple of weeks ago the schools were closed for entire week and we marked the first snow of the season by sledding in Bond Park, fighting with snow-balls, building snow-man & snow-mountains, watching Frozen and doing tons of baking with our hot cocoa. Kids kept praying for another bout of white wonderland and they were answered. It has been snowing for last two days in Triangle. It came down hard and fast yesterday at noon and within 3 hours we had 4 inches of white powder. Avi and Neev bundled up and played in cul-de-sac with friends, splashed each other, ate freezing rain and made snow-angels. Entertained with home made banana walnut bread by our next door neighbor, the day was all about lazing around, sipping hot beverages and doing lots of cooking , all this while praying for no power outage.There were so many stories on local channel of people stuck in snow, walking miles and miles in the extreme weather, trying to get home, . Everything that's important was around me and I felt grateful to be able to wrap my arms around my family. The night looked beautiful with so much of reflected light that it appeared like dawn. We went to bed praying for everyone who was out stuck out in this weather.

We all slept in. Woke up to the scenery of pretty icicles hanging from basketball net , table and chairs on the deck and bushes & shrubs weighing down from snow. Kids were ready to go out again after waffles, crepes and milk. Ice had formed overnight and though it was pretty, it was slick outside. Avi and Neev marched into it pretending to be robots and Neev punched the icy snow proclaiming himself as Hulk.

After the fun and the hot shower we all settled in blankets when I had my moments of pure joy, just like collecting the white flakes in your palms, feeling their softness and ticking on your face. Yes, that's how it felt when Avi started playing his piano and when Neev started practicing Raag Bhairav. My home was abuzz with music of my children and my heart swelled with love, gratefulness and happiness. These moments don't last forever. I realize that and hope that on days when I am helpless, frustrated and sad, the memory of these feelings will rescue me and lend me strength. I suppose I am no different from any other mom out there whose biggest accomplishment is just that - being a mother !

Avi turns nine !

There could not have been any better way to celebrate Avi's birthday and New Year's eve with friends we love. A night full of games, contests for best dressed people , music and dance - it was an all encompassing fun night. People dressed in the colors of red and black which was the theme of the evening and some of the spirited people put serious efforts into looking bedazzling. That , great food and the cheerful energy was just the perfect mix for a great party ! Thanks to all of our friends for making it special for us and a happy 2014 !

Fresh Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread Recipe

Its still a week until Thanksgiving but the Martha Stewart in me could not wait to chop off one of my pumpkins from the front door step and try something that I never did before. Make Pumpkin Bread !Shared it with a few friends and if they are not just being polite, it did turn out to be great. I went online to find recipes but ended up making a concoction of my own. A friend wants the recipe and I guess it makes sense for me to record it too so here we go -

Ingredients -

• 1 and a half cups white granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup olive oil
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 cups fresh pumpkin puree
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Pumpkin spice - I used 2 sticks of cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of cardamom seeds and 1 teaspoon of cloves to grind them together. Usually pumpkin spice has nutmeg. I did not have it in hand and used cardamom seeds instead. You have to grind it fresh to believe the incredibly delicious aroma this mix produces
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 9 by 5 loaf pans. Stir together sugar and oil. Stir in eggs and pumpkin puree . Combine dry ingredients in separate bowl. Blend dry ingredients and water into wet mixture, alternating. Stir chocolate chips in the end, save some for putting on top of the batter.  Divide batter between two loaf pans. Sprinkle some chocolate chips on top.  Bake for  about 40 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool.

Tips - I did not grate my pumpkin, instead chopped it and cooked it for around 20 minutes and then pureed it in the blender . It was easier for me than grating. Some recipes use raw grated pumpkin. I had an instinct to cook it first and then use it.

My house smelled already like Thanksgiving at the end of the day and my family and friends loved the bread.

 

Avi and Neev's Bollywood dance debut

This season has been extraordinarily busy doing extracurricular, making for some really special times and memories.  Avi and Neev performed in HSNC (Hindu Society of North Carolina) Diwali Dhamaka , grooving on latest songs from the movie 'Chennai Express'. Avi danced with his group on the song 'Lungi Dance' and 'Udan Choo' . He dressed like a tapori (street boy from India) in jeans and green checkered shirt tied over the waist . To complete the look he tied a bandana on his knee , wore a super shiny necklace with a $ sign and had a spiky hair-do. Man, he really pulled off that look and all the jhatakas :)
Neev danced with his group on the song 'Kashmir main tu Kanyakumari' and wore a green Kurta Pajama with a matching stole.  He was the most focused and adorable dancer and his dancing partner was the same. They looked super cute!
You both (Avi and Neev) will never know the extent of the joy you bring to me. Thanks for making my life so rich with the flush of these moments !! Muah....

Neev's first Indian Classical Music Recital

This past Saturday on Nov 16th my 6 years old had his first Hindustani Classical Music Recital. He started learning classical around 4 months back and according to his teacher he is blessed with a sweet voice. I think both my children have the sweetest voices and they both can carry a tune. Family genes deserve a credit here ! I learnt Teen Taal on my little palms from my grandmother and Kaharwa Taal on Tabla from my father. My mother-in-law plays Sitar. She and my father are wonderful singers.  So it makes sense for the kids to have a little bit of it in them :)  One of the regrets of my life would always be to not continue my music and Kathak training beyond elementary years, however music and dance would always remain as a source of joy to me. Thankfully my children inherit that love for music and enjoy learning it. This would be Avi's fourth year on Piano. He experimented with Viola in second grade and is quite enjoying playing flute in his school band this year. Neev started with drum lessons and Hindustani classical few months back and even though practicing anything at home with him is challenging , I am happy to see him having a good time in the classes.
We all love our children !! You can see that expression everywhere. During recital when the young singers performed with apprehension, trembling fingers on keyboard, tiny hands trying to hold microphones not knowing whether it was at the right distance from their lips, their proud and encouraging mothers mouthed Raagas that they made their little ones practice at home and by doing so learnt every Sur, Aroh. Avroh and notations of Bhajans. Their eyes fixated on their children , lips synching with their delicious voices, all this while capturing the memory in iPhone. That was a fine fine expression of love ! I was there and I was one of them, watching my beautiful baby sing Raag Bhopali and a Bhajan based on it. Way to go my precious !!