Galveston trip

During Christmas break, we managed a trip to Galveston Island, near Houston. It was one of our first trips, just the 3 of us, going somewhere, staying overnight, and relaxing.

It was a break from the routine of work and household chores for me also. We had a great time. All of us enjoyed it, and so did Adi. We had good food and a relaxing time. The weather also cooperated, and all in all it was a fun and relaxing vacation!

Last few stressful weeks

The past couple of months have been quite stressful for me and my family. About a month ago, I had to travel to India because of an emergency surgery for my dad. Aditya and I traveled to India - he was so adjusting on the long flight trip to India. He was also such a dear at home back in India, adjusting to his new environment and going to all the new people he met there. It was such a blessing for me since I had to make frequent trips to the hospital and this helped a lot. Once I got back from my trip (my dad's surgery went well), it was a stressful few weeks at work with all the pressure mounting on deadlines to be met, and everything else.

Then when the work pressure was seemingly coming down a bit, a round of layoffs were announced last week. It was a grueling 2 day wait to know if I survived or not. Luckily I did! I do know for sure that nothing is certain however - such are the economic times we live in now!
Life just goes on though...we need to be prepared and be able to take what comes our way.

Seedai Vedi

It's been a while since I blogged about anything. But I wanted to blog about an interesting incident that took place on Krishna Jeyanthi day yesterday. I was planning to make murukku for Krishna Jeyanthi and suddenly I had a thought to try out seedai using the same dough. I have never attempted seedai before nor have I seen someone making it also. But just like that, thought I'd give it a try, as I do other things. So I went on to make small balls of dough, and as soon as I finished making a dozen, after checking the oil for the right temperature, dropped the balls into it. Aditya was busy playing in another room and my hubby had just got up from bed, and we were chatting about the plans for today, when I heard the first pop. Boom! Then in succession, the balls of seedai began to pop out of the oil, along with hot oil!!! In a matter of a few seconds, almost half the oil was out, with my electric range showing some signs on being close to a fire! I bravely attempted to go closer to get the oil pan out of the range and switch off the stove, but my hubby quickly stopped me. I had already got a couple of burns from the oil during the initial pops. Then, I was panicking while my hubby got hold of a stool and from 5 feet away, pushed the pan out of the range, and after a while went ahead and switched off the stove...........Pooffffffffff. It was a scary morning for me.
Boy....would I ever forget Krishna Jeyanthi 2008?

We spent the next hour cleaning the oily mess in the kitchen. And in the next hour or so, I diligently finished off making my murukkus as originally planned. I usually pride myself in being able to experiment with anything in cooking (not so much in baking though) - but this was one occasion that I wasn't too proud of. What a way to put you right in your place - "humbled by a seedai" :)
My hubby was laughing at me later, proudly telling everyone about my kitchen disaster that day...he called them "seedai bombs".

My mom later told me that seedai is generally tricky to make - and that the balls of dough really need to dry up and lose all the water used in making the dough before they are popped in hot oil!

So beware all you out there trying to make seedais! On another note, we had a good Krishna Jeyanthi in the evening with pooja and all, and here's a picture of Aditya as "kutti krishnan" too!

Aditya is 2 now!

It's been a while since I blogged - almost a year. :) I have the oft-repeated excuse in the world - no time! Anyways, some updates on Aditya from my end - He is no longer a baby anymore - he is now a big boy - turned 2, a few weeks ago. And for the first time, I had attempted a Mickey Mouse Character cake (without the character mold) for his birthday and it came out well too. My best moment was when Aditya recognized it as Mickey! Yipee! And another first was I baked some cupcakes for his class as well.

Aditya has been going to daycare for almost a year now, and the big news is, of late, he has been not crying when we drop him off in the mornings. Though he has been going to the same place for almost a year, it had become a routine for him to cry or at least be unhappy when he was dropped off in the mornings. And this routine has miraculously changed over the past few weeks. We are so excited about this new phase!

Being a parent

This is something new to me - have been a parent for just a little over a year now. I am realizing everyday that there is more to it than what meets the eye. Though I knew a little, whatever I had heard from friends and what I've read that it is a challenging journey. But I should say that is only half the truth. There's more to it than that.

When I first became a parent, the early couple of months seemed tough enough, and then the months that followed, I thought myself being able to handle things better, but soon realized that it's not the case. It's a roller coaster ride at best - there are ups and downs in the journey. During the 'ups', it's a fun time for us as parents...but its the 'downs' that catch us unawares and make us wish we had all the support we need to get past them. That said, I realize it's all part of a learning experience. Whoever said parenting was easy!?

A rough month

It's almost a month since my last post and I have my reasons for being in hibernation. We started my son, Aditya on childcare this past month and it's been rough sailing for both him and us.

Initially, in the first week of February, started him with a home childcare provider on a part time basis. Things didn't go too well - he was crying on and off throughout the time he was with her. He went there for 3 days for a few hours each day.

Then we made the decision to have him put in a proper daycare center, hoping seeing other kids his age might help him get adjusted sooner to the new environment. He's now been going full time at this center for the past 2 weeks, but things aren't going too well here too, as yet. He's been crying on and off through the day. We've been told there are no tears most of the time, just the hollering. What's more, he's already gotten his share of stomach flu, cold, a minor scratch and a bump! Worse, he comes back home and has been sad in the evenings as well this past week...it's heart wrenching. It's been very very rough! Hoping for smooth sailing soon.

Now am looking forward to the weekend, and I bet, Aditya is too!

Maarghazi Kolam

Putting kolams in the front of your homes is a tradition followed by the Hindus in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Month of Maarghazi is a special month where in big and color kolams decorate the house front. It is indeed a visual treat to see these bright, creative arts as we take our morning walks! I have always been an avid fan of kolams. I started putting kolams when I was around 9 or 10 years old, I think and have always enjoyed it. Especially, come Maarghazi, I remember trying to plan ahead on what kolam needs to be put for the day. I used to hunt for new kolams, in Tamil Magazines, from friends, from my aunts etc, trying to come up with something new and creative everyday!

Being away in a place where I am not able to practice this makes me sad. Fortunately, this time I made my India trip during December, and put this kolam, seen in the above picture, (it's an old and typical one) in front of my parents' house on the 1st day of Maarghazi! Long live this creative art!