Mangalore friends

Remembering our eagle friends.
I just had to call 'eagle'...
wherever they are, they used to
fly and perch on the coconut tree-
near my kitchen window and were ready to
eat the fish or bread I keep on the
window sill...

We have moved to Trivandrum and do
miss namma Mangaluru and our dear friends..

Happy New Year

Ginger flower and yellow roses
in our balcony welcoming the new year.

Santa came Home

On 22 nd evening I heard a flap on my window.
To my surprise,I saw a parrot sitting on our window sill.
A green parrot with a red feathers on his wings.
Looked a older bird with a serious look.
I slowly opened the window, it flew and sat on the chair.
For a second I was stunned! Then I went to the kitchen
to get him some nuts, tomato and cooked rice.
It flew to the kitchen and ate everything and drank water.
I felt he was hungry and tired after a long flight.
It might have been a pet released by somebody.
I showed him a basket on which he perched.
I kept him in the balcony and he was happy,
watched the squirrels, and bulbuls visiting.

We named him Santa!
He liked the guvava
and pistachios I gave him.
On 24 th morning he had his heavy break fast,
enjoyed a bath, ate something from the mud in the pots,
and suddenly flew away.

I and my husband really enjoyed his company.
Even our daughters were excited when they heard
of Santa.They rang up every now and then to enquire
about him.

I am happy Santa flew to his freedom;
I Pray to God for his safety.
He was a real Christmas gift to us.

Monsoon is here.....

A beautiful sight to watch with a hot cup of coffee.

A prayer and a hope

A bowl of clean water on a hot summer day.
With a feel of natural surroundings attracts a lot of birds.
Every morning the birds wait for me to change the water.
In the afternoon each wait for their turn to take bath.
In summer, water is the most scarce thing available.
Birds die of thirst than of hunger.

A bowl of water and bread is not charity,
but a prayer, a offering to the beautiful creation of God,
who do have every right to this land as we do.

Eden to Earth

God created Eden,
He created wind and water
Light and darkness
Birds and animals
Sparkling rivers and lotus ponds…

There stood an apple tree by the pond
Frogs hopping on the lotus leaves
Squirrels running up and down the tree
In the shade, lived a rat and a cat
Greatest friends in Eden!
Rat, string some apple seeds
Wore them as anklets;
Cat, tied a lotus leaf
As a bandana on his head
Handsome they looked
Hand in hand they sang and danced around…

On the sixth day-
With the leftovers
God created Man.
Man roamed in Eden with greed and pride.

On the seventh day, there was a lull…
Guilty of his last creation,
God left Eden.
Man stopped the river from flowing,
He axed the apple tree,
Crushing the squirrels underneath.
Caught the cat, tore off his bandana
Broke the anklets of the rat,
Poured hatred, the magic potion
Into their throat.
Eden was turned to Earth.

Then he roamed and roamed,
Round and round in search of GOD!

mini thomas

Morning Glory

Manglore Kadri kambla fields

The cool breeze,
The scent of wild flowers…
The chirping of birds…
Awaits the morning walker.
Take a deep breath;
Walk briskly,
To keep energetic the whole day.

Natural Hair Conditioner

Long black hair, wide eyes, chembaka poovin varnam(colour of golden champak flower)are traditionally attributed to a malayali beauty.

Length, colour and texture of your hair surely depend on
the genes you inherit,healthy lifestyle and
the plesant nature you keep.
But as you age, to maintain healthy hair you should
turn to herbal way.
There are different herbal combinations for hair and
skin care.
I use the following henna combination for my hair
which gives me great satisfaction.

Items needed

Henna leaves - 5 cups
Red hibiscus flowers - 5 nos
Hibiscus leaves - 1 cup
Goose berry(amla) - 3 nos
Curd - ½ cup
Eucalyptus oil - 3 drops
Egg - 1

Preparation

In a mixer, put henna leaves, red thick hibiscus flowers
( chumanna adduku chembarathi), hibiscus leaves,
curd and amla (goose berry). Blend it to a fine paste.
Pour into a bowl, add three drops of eucalyptus oil and
keep aside for a day.
Next day, beat in an egg to this henna mixture
and apply it on your scalp and hair.
Wash your hair after two hours.
Do not use hot water.
Use mild soap to wash your hair for fragrance.
Remember hibiscus leaves and flowers
act as shampoo and conditioner.
Henna gives colour and volume to your hair.
You can use dry henna powder also.
Eucalyptus oil helps to bring out the colour in the henna.
Do not add more eucalyptus oil.
Apply this herbal mix twice a month for good results.

Hair care with henna is traditional to India.
In north Indian states like Delhi, women carry
ready-to-apply henna to give home service.
Hibiscus, henna and amla grow in all tropical regions and
women traditionally used it for hair care.

Mukkuti Poov (Gods Own)

Let our children aim high
and glance down as well.
Find happiness in small things,
and let them be more sensitive.
Watch birds and the small flowers
that bloom,not only in our
garden, but also on the wayside.

Never thought a Malayali child
would ever ask-‘which is mukkuti”
Ask him to pluck a mukkuti.
It will be a learning process,
to pluck it with a soft touch,
without hurting the petals.
His heart will just mellow down,
and will have the lightest fingers-
by the time he plucks some kaka poov.

It hurts to see mukkuti, thumba,
Kaka poov and other small Gods own flowers
disappearing from our landscape.

Let our children watch birds,out in nature
rather than in cages.
Keep a bowl of food and water
for the bulbuls and squirrels.
Up in the terrace or in the balcony .
Sit far and just watch them calmly.
They do recognize the person
who feeds them.

Isn’t it heartening to think that
there is somebody up there
watching you from the tree top,
and waiting for you
Back home.
HAPPY ONAM