When the stray cat bought in a what looked like a little piece of meat, I thought it was her prey.

Not till my little girl yelled with sparkling eyes that "The cat bought her baby in" did I realise that this was indeed her bundle of joy - hardly born - closed eyes, wobbly feet and all that. She held the little kitten in her mouth, and settled her comfortably on the hallow cushion of my over sized and empty Samsonite suitcase. She lumbered away and appeared with the second one, a stark black kitten - this time I was sure it was a rat - till I had a closer look. The Stray mom comes home everyday for her meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner, and my mom feeds her in the stainless steel cup set aside for her. Lukewarm milk, cheese, rice and curd - the menu consists of steady faves. I had to take the lil kittens out to access my suitcase. Aarti and I made a bed for them out of old rags - we created a cozy cushion big enough for the mom and the babies and the mom settled in and felt at home.

I watched in awe as the little ones nuzzled on her tummy to suckle. The mom kicked back and let out a pleasurable purr. Cats or humans - motherhood is indeed Bliss.

Here are the lil kittens that moved the mom in me and my little girl. First on my suitcase and then in my palm.

The magnanimous ferris wheel looked confusing form a closer quarters. I could not make out what it was, though I knew it was a gigantic wheel. The engineering seemed too feeble to hold so many carriages together, the pace seemed too sluggish and the image seemed like a hallucination. It was hard to believe something so surreal could be man made. The wheel revolved, forming hazy swirls on my imagination, or lack there of and I did what I do the best when in doubt - point, and shoot!! :-)

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Eye of Paris - or so I call it!

Hoarding

Pardon the hazy image quality - This was shot form the taxi, through the tinted window while I was on my way to Paris railway station. The city was rather cramped, with magnificient buildings towering upon the streets and the traffic. This colorful hoarding, perhaps advertising an insurance company as I gather, stood strikingly out in the midst of a huge building being renovated or repainted. I wish I had the window rolled down to capture the true colors - neverthless the attempt to sell attracts audience looking at it as a refreshing bout of color in a frayed background.

Eiffel.

Iconic. Magnificent. Wonder. Humongous. Powerful. Breathtaking. Beautiful. Eiffel.

Fire

It is hard to say if life imitates art or vice-versa. I was my usual self playing with my cam when I pointed and shot at the camp fire while we were camping on the coasts of Mendocino, CA. I was startled at how vibrant and painting-like the hues of the burning fires looked. The flames had the agility of a trained dancer and the looks of a abstract art, painted skilfully in slick oils.
Life seemed to be an infinite loop of art and itself. One tracing the footsteps of another consuming themselves in fires of passion

An affair to remember

Sometimes the size is not what impacts the eye - or the mind. While squishing sand under feet and trekking to the beach, I found a little wild flower, actually a flower that is a cluster of flowers and scooted down to click it. The tiny bloom wasn't larger than a dime. When my lens zoomed in, I spotted the surprise package - a tiny little critter devoring the bloom. At first, it emerged a wee bit, and then it disappeared and then it came out full form. My fascination knew no bounds and my joy joined as I bought home a larger than life image of the tiniest bloom and worm known to the womankind - ahem, the one woman womankind!

Size?? Doesn't matter. At all.

MonaLisa's Home Sweet Home

I'd heard about "Paris" long before I'd understood the concept of countries and boundaries. And the hype and hoopla surrounding the city with its allure and glamor puts the namesake celebrities that loiter around the social circuit to absolute shame. One can not help but succumb to the city's magnificence, beauty and magnetic charm. Each street seems to have a story of it's own, each block unfolds a drama so captivating. Eiffel stands tall and proud in the midst, like a show host giving us a sneak preview of what can be discovered in the magical city of fashion and fragrances. The weather was kind to us - it was a sunny noon with the right amount of breeze to let us focus on what is around us. This snap was clicked from the second level of Eiffel. The sky, the waters, the roads and even the vehicles that travel on them seem to follow a certain flow, a certain pattern and hue that makes Paris what it is.
The buildings and the museums co-exist on busy streets busting with tourists and natives. Paris is definitely a piece of work, a brilliance, a masterpiece that not only houses one of the wonders of the planet - but stands alone as a wonder in itself in all its breathtaking glory.

Here's a picture that provides evidence of the explanation - and the shadow of Eiffel on the right bottom corner seems to agree!

Instead of taking a happy pill, I'd suggest - go to Switzerland. If the beauty and allure of the land cannot drive the blues away - nothing can ever drive it away! The lush green landscape, the effortless expanse of scenary, the air, the water the weather - it is like God's magnum opus.

here's a picture of the Swiss countryside, a lake in the backyard and cute little house. The numerous window on the house are characteristic to all Swiss homes. One can only wonder how the houses are laid out and how the beauty of the land unfolds from the inside of those numerous openings. May be it is a ploy to have as much nature come in as possible.

(Gasp) what can I say?? I am sure to go back. Pretty sure!

Down and Under!

Last night, when the duvet went to get its weekly wash, My little girl got all snuggled with the Down comforter - that really was her security blanket all these days:-) She swam in the sea of the over sized comforter, getting comfy and cozy and a wee bit coy for mamma's cam - a visual captured in the soft lights of the Tiffany lamp that stood with pride on the night stand.

Windmill of the Gods

Location - I 580 E towards Vasco N
Music - The wind cutting against the open, moving car-window
Mood - Awe


Some visuals summon to me the pieces of my past - thus the non original title borrowed from Sidney Sheldon. Actually, isn't it interesting to make windmills belong to the Gods? These magnificent structures spinning, cutting through the invisible wind and generating power? - Much like prayers that spin through invisible faith, generating the power of oneness with God?
Enough said!

This lone guy looks like a soldier too - ready to spin the sword and create magic. The sky, the clouds, and the land doused with dry grass all sing his praise and freeze in awe maybe?
Interestingly enough, a group of these looked like tombstones in a cemetery, but that is a different entry. LOL

Fruitful

Pit-pat,Well-a-day.

Little Robin,Flew away.

Where can little Robin be ?

Gone upto the cherry-tree.

Location - Lopez Cherry farms, Brentwood.

Mood - Gluttony

Music - Munch, munch on the juicy fruit.

It was a moderately sunny afternoon, sunny enough to tan us all amber and burn one of us beet red, but the visual treats dangling from the lush trees worked as an 'after- sun- rescue-balm.'

It is interesting how the fruit looked like tiny little lighted ornaments on an off beat Christmas tree and the late may afternoon looked like a Christmas in late spring with all the illuminated cherries heaving on the branches as the wind played with them. All hues of the fire were sported in the naturally sweetened fruit depending upon how and where the sun hit them - some were stark (off) white, some a true cherry red, and some a deep black red - but all equally beautiful - equally eye candy.

We came home with filled bags and a fulfilled, fruitful weekend - a weekend fulfilled with the taste of sweet cherries on our tongues, the treat of the vast farm lands and many windmills on our way to the middle of nowhere.

The leaves look like they are trying to act as an umbrella, guarding the fruit from the sun. The light seeps through the leaves neverthless, creating a halo like illumination on the perfect fruit. I spared these, didn't pick them - since my eyes and my cam already devoured the taste of their unmatched beauty.

If abundance exists anywhere - it does right there in Brentwood, CA.

God Bless the good Ol America!

P.S - please excuse the out of context nursery rhyme - it just had to be featured here since those were the lines I recollected way back form my kindergarten with just one look at those beauties!

Energy!

Location - Our front yard

Music - Yells and screams form the Strong lunged little brat.

Mood - The peace after the party

One of the many cares of being a mother is having the child face your cam to record that perfect memory. The little girl was dresses in red and white and wore knee length boots - the whole ensemble looked like a million bucks but the kid was too reluctant to face the cam and smile - she got rid of the boots once she came home from the party and got into her hot pink Crocs and ran haywire on the sidewalk and the street. This pic above captured her hand with the interesting pattern of the shadow from the almond tree. The little almond pods, the leaves basking in the sun and her hair reflecting her own personality make this one my next record.

And then with the first picture - it is the gait again - almost like a dance move - with the recycled plastic bag from 'Sweet Factory' holding what she calls her - "Rock Collection" - courtesy the 4 yr old Caillou that comes into her world through the telly!
The pink crocks give an interesting twist to her party dress and the energy and spirit, form this lasting impression on a mom's heart!

Color spells Flowers

Flowers and color have been synonymous to me all the time. I had used the many color schemes of flowers as inspiration to color the many things I'd colored and designed- walls, paper, nails, eyes, outfits, jewelry etc. As much as I love flowers and color, I disdain cutting them off of the plants - so this Orchids, that must have lent their inspiration to the weavers of silk in India were a perfect choice for my V'day present. I forced my boy friend( - or so the farmer who was selling these in the downtown farmers' market thought- )to buy them for me. He obliged since he was left with no choice - the boy friend in question is not the kind lacking generosity and thought - it is just the demonstration of thought that he lacks - but the fiery burgundy and the mellow yellow made up for it all, adorning the center stage of my home - the kitchen island, for days together. Now the plant is all set to bloom its second batch.

I like the sound of the name Orchids - almost sounds like an entire garden, not just one. This one plant is worth the entire garden for me and thus it comes here, to be a part of my picture world.

Location - Mumbai, India
Mood - idle
Music - Pressure cooker whistling, TV running in the background.

Bridges symbolise something very spiritual and super-human to me - like devices that connect two very different and separate entities. Prayers, letters, emails and even blogs are bridges of sorts - Bridges that help establish the link from point A to Point B.
Having grown up on a banks of a perennial river that has three bridges, they also symbolise to me my childhood,my homeland and a feeling of Dejavu
This visual that greeted me every morning from the window of my sister's flat threatens to disappear with its hazy background - the dense city fog - but kind of lingers there, much like the subject itself - forming a bridge between me and the wonderful time I had and memories I accumulated in the land of hope. The partial views of the buildings on the shore, the flecks that are early birds trying to catch their worms, and the steel ropes that kind of look like threads on a weaver's frame - all symbolise my catch and the verbal visual I am trying to weave with the aid of my cam!

Fairy God mother's new child on the block.

Cars are like cookware to me - I could make a pan cake in a stockpot and soup in a saute pan - So, as long as the car has a rear view mirror, a seat, seat belt and four wheels I am covered.So I fail to understand the hype surrounding this babe named Carmen. She is a Ford Mustang Species and is currently into a long term relationship with my little brother. She makes me or my hubby park our cars outside since her sweetheart is too scared to leave her on the driveway and our garage can accommodate only two.
My lazy little brother, who was sharing my outdated, dented Civic is lazy if I'd not already mention it. I see a long term relationship with Carmen too....not the one dirty minds imagine but the one of a fairy god mother. I would've clicked a pic of my perfectly manicured hand holding the magic wand in the foreground - but the car broom wasn't readily available.
So here's adventure to the younger - upkeep to the older and an update to the world wide web:-)

Location - Mumbai, India
Mood - Nostalgic
Music - screams and laughter of children in the adjacent playground.

Protection and security is all what creatures on this planet seek, form the turtle that goes into its shell to resemble a stone when in danger to the chameleon that changes colors to blend and go invisible to its predators , are all built-in security features that God had incorporated into his creations. So how do us mortals protect what we create? By installing security alarms, locks, fences, compound walls, insurances and in this case here, an array of sharp glass pieces embedded into the boundary walls of the apartment complex. When I was little, I once saw these on our school compound wall and asked an older kid what they were meant for - "these are pieces of glasses that hurt the feet of robbers if they ever try to jump the wall and come inside the school" the 'smarter-than-me' kid replied. I was too young to understand the value or the need of protecting what matter to us - This recent visual was a trip down the memory lane and a reminder to me that love for things and fear of losing them kind of prevails hand in hand.

Flora and Fauna

Location - Oakland zoo, CA
Mood - relaxed
Music - All natural - rustling of leaves, kids laughing & talking and chirping of birds

The Fauna will be missing form the blog and will perhaps feature in another, but the Flora is right here to adorn the vase of my virtual space. The bright but gentle afternoon Sun provided the perfect enhancement to my quest of clicking visuals. I am not sure what this bloom is called but I'd just prefer naming it colorfully breathtaking! I loved the texture of the flower, the fiery shades which kind of made me think of fireworks that blossom in celebration of the July 4th weekend. The way the color sprouted out of dead bark, no signs of green - just saturated, vibrant color - and the petals against the dry brown earth and the unexpected, and inconspicuous place I spotted them speak to me language of beauty and hope.

Sun and shade

Location - 14th floor of an apartment complex - Mumbai, India.
Mood - blissful
Music - random thuds and noises form the adjacent 'under construction' apartment.

My relationship with the 'Sun' started very young. I remember how I used to circle around our house through the huge back and side yard we had, focusing on my shadow and the way it changed depending on the time of the day. I loved to listen to stories about much celebrated "Surya"or Sun god in Hindu mythology while my mom put us to bed. Sunrises and sunsets on the banks of Godavari were always an out-of-the world treat. I only wish I had a camera in those days with which I could've recorded all those visuals. Sun is by far the most powerful element I'd experienced. He seems to feed the plants, create rain, make the life giving day, generate enough heat to make each house in the neighborhood I live bright, hot or humid depending on the season and his mood - and extend it to the neighborhood of the whole planet.

He makes me shudder sometimes when I get scared about sun-burns and premature wrinkles. He also floods my east-face home with golden light everyday - kind of like a blessing from the heavens. His light makes my adobe bright, peaceful and inviting.

Sometimes I feel a great endearment for him and try to look at him in the eye - he is overwhelming - but at dusk he mellows down - looking like a warm, cozy orange light that would fit in like a dream in a serene living room. His docility at the end of the day makes me wonder if he is tired - and then I call my parents on the other side of the world and figure out he is not - he's just shifted base.

This picture was taken on a late November evening. I could not take my eyes off of him and am glad I had my third eye around to cherish the moment for years to come. The under-construction sky scrapers tried to tease me by coming in between me and my visual delight -but that just adds to the allure -some how.

Sun - the most powerful elements of all , a light from the heavens happily agrees to get captured in my little cam - I just have to ask him at the right moment of his day:-)

Glide!

Location - My Sister in Law's front yard, New Jersey.
Mood - Playful for the subject, determined for me:-)
Music - Raindrops on roses from "The Sound of Music"


One of my favourite pictures of Aarti. This picture made me make a second take on the way Aarti walks. It is a mom speaking - but I think her gait has a grown-up quality and after looking at this pic, I feel flattered when people say she has the same mannerisms as I have and hopefully I have the gait too! LOL. I also like this picture since it does not focus on the subject's face - Instead it makes me weave stories about the way she glides, her little sun dress and the blue sandals. The trees throw an interesting blend of light and shadow on the path she walks - This blissful fluke will remain my much cherished pics of my little baby.

Oneness

Place - A upscale apartment complex in Mumbai - the New York of India.

Mood - festive

What happens when there is a crunch of something - say space?

Do people fight for their piece of land or do they look at it as an opportunity to stay closer to one another and celebrate their togetherness?

My last visit to the resilient, multi-cultured and mod city unveiled before me the spirit of oneness the people living in the Humongous apartment complex had. These seating arrangements for the Diwali dinner buffet looked like blooms celebrating the unity of being a social family. The lawn sets off the arrangement into a visual treat.

The festival was celebrated in the parking lot of the complex. hundreds of residents dressed in their festive best played with fire works - there were different languages and dialects floating in the air, mixing with the sharp smell and soot created by the fireworks - the spirit of belonging outshone the sparks of the flowerpots shooting fire-stars in the dark no-moon night. The blooms accommodated people of all races, languages and lands making them their fragrance.

Celebration

Location - My sister's 16 th floor apt in Mumbai.
Mood - Awe
Music - A foot tapping, peppy,Bollywood 'wedding' number.

Sometimes, having a camera to click the visual that touches your heart is a blessing - and if the camera lens works as a binoculars of sorts - there is no price that can be put on that blessing. This colorful procession - celebrating a marriage on the busy streets of Mumbai is a visual that celebrates not just holy matrimony, but the free-spirited vibrancy of Indian culture - Now the only wait is for having a provision to play the audio that supported and added to the impact of this visual.

Mom's day Celebrations - The Reward, Reason and Reasoning!

The Reward (above) - Are not Mom's day celebrations and flowers synonymous? The adorable white Orchids were a token of appreciation that came my way!

The Reason (below Right) - Aarti's enigmatic smile adds to the allure of the "just stepped out of shower" purity.

The Reasoning (Below Left) - I know Ladies young and old who are as motherly as they get but are not Moms (yet - in some cases!) which made me ponder over why it has to be a "mother's day" - kind of like discriminating against women who didn't or couldn't have children. The psychological anatomy of a female screams 'mom' form the day she breaths and this picture is proof.

Sprout

Sometimes things take a U turn and the situations seem to improve suddenly. Not that I have a green thumb otherwise, but curry leaf plant is quiet jinxed in my household. Now, how can a tree possibly grow and yield enough leaves to last in day-to-day sambar seasonings if a tropical, outdoor plant is attempted to grow indoors? Anyway, the third successor of the jinxed curry leaf took that life changing U and resulted in miniature lush green sprouts. The contrast of life against an almost dead stem stands as a reminder of hope and my ever enthusiastic third eye seemed to agree in a click!

Myrtle the Turtle

Bronzey with the open shell
Bronzey in all her glory

Myrtle the Turtle - cute, colorful and full of cheer!

No matter how much I try to avoid the influence of Dr.Seuss - Aarti's current favourite - I end up wanting to sound like him. So naming the turtle after a bush just to rhyme should be excused - but it is kind of symbolic so to speak - since Myrtles are evergreens and Turtles are symbols of longevity.

So - I was on my usual window shopping and evening walking spree the other day and spotted the most colorful creation. I was frozen in my tracks - like I knew that I wanted to take him home with me without a doubt. Thus Myrtle came home tucked in a black and white card board flap box lined with a lint like cushion. I flaunted my new friend to my hubby and kid. Aarti seemed to be amazed by the color and the inlay of the bright hues in the shell of the turtle called the Carapace. The body part underlying the shell which is called Plastron is made out of a green opaque gem stone. The sterling cord is held in Myrtles mouth and thus he adorns necks letting the wearer make a statement. No wonder, the nurse at the doctor's office and the sales clerk at the checkout counter were as in awe with Myrtle as I was when I first spotted him

Interestingly enough, this piece of jewelry that I bought for a song was designed by Gurubachi - a woman of Indian sikh origin. http://www.gurubachi.com/ has some of her designs on display. She has strong southwestern influences in her designs and the opaque gems are arranged in breathtaking designs - forming wearable art.

Myrtle's companion - Let's call her Bronzey - has the alter ego of a little trinket box. She holds my odds and ends. She came all the way from India when a teenage family friend came to stay with us and hauled it as a hostess gift. I love her intricate mother of pearl carapace and she never seems to complain about sitting on the bathroom counter waiting for me to notice her and her possessions.

It is amusing how we take cues form mother nature time and time again and recreate the creations of the Almighty and give them our own interpretation - making them unique and making ourselves pseudo almighties. I wish I had the vision of gurubachi or the unknown artist from India who thought through the anatomy of Bronzey. I am thankful I have my camera to capture them in their partial glory for lack of technique and of course, I am thankful I have Myrtle and Bronzey - my little symbols of longevity and endurance.

BTW Turtles are one of the oldest and most primitive groups of reptiles and have outlived many other species. One can only wonder if their unique shell is responsible for their success.

I receive.

I receive a lot of things in a day's life - Inspirations, blessings in form of little joys, visions of beauty, love, laughter and loads of impressions.
A sanskrit saying goes - SarvenDriYaaNaAm NaYanam PraDHAanam. Which means - eye sight is the most imprtant of all the senses - and this blog is created to capture the everyday sights I come across that touch me. That being said, I wish to make this a picture blog depcting strictly original visuals with my own commentary and preception of the pictures. From change of seasons that reflect in the Japanese Maple on our side yard to the interesting designs, arts, faces or expressions I come across - the blog covers it all with a dose of my trademark ponder thrown in.

I invite you all to be with me and encourage me to document what I intend to document.
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever they say. And all of us who can see beauty as much as we can, touch, feel, hear and taste it should be grateful.
So friends, family and fellow bloggers - consider donating your eyes and a peek into
Sankara eye foundation's website - www.givtofvision.org
- Share the love, spread the beauty. The beauty of seeing, loving and giving by making a small donation when ever your purse permits.

Open your eyes to the world of giving and Let the Iris-eive visions of love!