Monday, October 22, 2012

Rain / மழை

Rain brings joy when it arrives. The smell of earth, glistening leaves, puddles, drops hanging onto things, watching the endless ripples, pulling the laundry off from the line, reading and drinking hot tea with marie biscuits or vadais are all so heavenly. In the monsoon time it would pour and pour and it was fun to walk in the flood with kids from the neighbor hood. The grown ups would yell not to go in that dirty flood as it would make us get sick. At school there was no one to tell us not to go out, so we would step out as soon as the rain stops and be delightful. We made paper boats and set them to sail. We asked the rain to go away and the sun to come back when we got bored.



Listening to rain fall on the rooftop is something I enjoy, specially at night. It makes one happy, a little lonely perhaps and there's a deep quietness despite the gentle sound of the rain. 



California rain:


 






Thursday, October 11, 2012

Light

“In the ultimate stillness
Light penetrates the whole realm"


Han-shan Te-Ch'ing















Sunday, October 07, 2012

Farmers' Market(s)

If I ever have to move somewhere else in this world, I'll miss the farmers' markets in the bay area. Grand Lake market on Saturdays, Old Oakland market on Fridays and Tuesdays Berkeley market are the ones I usually go. 



I read a post about this mysterious kouign amann on the apartment therapy's site and decided to try it. Flaky, a little salty, and very sweet pastry is worth it when paired with bicycle coffee.


Tulips are one of my favorite flowers.


Shallots are wonderful for tempering, frying, and in other things such as salads and snacks.


Kabocha and butternut are delicious for sambar and salad.



Capay Valley Farms.


Roast this cauliflower florets with olive oil, salt and pepper until browned and eat them warm.


It's foggy in the bay.


Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

We had nice warm weather on Saturday and Sunday was a little cooler. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass takes place in the Golden Gate Park and it's free. We went there on both days mainly to listen to Peter Rowan and some Irish music. It was fun despite too much pot and alcohol around us.




The park is in the seasonal transition with a few still flowering plants, fallen leaves, yellow trees, drying berry bushes and lonely benches. But there's beauty in everything despite the season and whether one likes it or not. 





On Sunday we explored the De Young Museum. I saw Kiki Smith's work in person for the first time and discovered Karen LaMonte whose cast glass piece touches my soul. Marylin Pappas is another artist I came across in the exhibit. 


A few other works from the museum: