Sarika | Plants, Balcony Gardening & Simple Living

In this metro city Mumbai at times truly feel blessed to be surrounded by nature. T here are many big old GulMohar, PilaMohor, Coconut trees along with bushes and flowering plants.10 15 minutes of walk here during any time of day is super refreshing. As I walked across this tree today, familiar fragrance took  me miles away from Mumbai to city of Pune. She had this    Anant plant at the entrance of her beautiful bungalow. "Mazhi Mai Mavshi" Remembered her so dearly. Lovely garden crafted around the bungalow with Roses, Sayali Mogra ,Madhumalati ,Aaboli all flowering plants.I used to make flower garland and flaunt in hair.She never ever stopped me from plucking flowers.Rather she used to help me with exploring her garden.She would hand over curry leaves , ginger ,coconut from her garden to all her guests. This modest white flower of Ananta has special place in her Poojaghar. Wooden Poojaghar in kitchen with frames of different deities. Anna would perform his daily Pooja a...

After attending an hour long seminar on dental health at kiddos school I stretched myself ,feeling relieved I got up from my chair to catch up with other mommies. Before I could speak, fellow mommy exclaimed " Is there a good news ?" Newton's third law of motion immediately came into action that for every action there is equal and opposite reaction.I covered my tummy with my hand and breathed in to tuck my tummy muscles in as you do when you pose for a photo. Sheepishly I said "Don't tell me I have put on so much as to look pregnant" "No no I just thought little bulge as you got up from chair" Meanwhile other mommies joined and that topic ended there. But was it over really? Back home standing in front of the mirror,I wondered how could she see my prosperity from my loose kurta? In your early forties with one nine year old keeping you busy full time with his school classes studies and other tantrums how could she think of it also?  May b...

नात्यांचा सर आपल्या चिमुकल्या बाळाला मध्ये घेऊन आई वडील पहिला सर बांधायला सुरवात करतात ! मग आजी आजोबा काका काकू मावशी आत्या असे बाकीचे मोती अगदी अलगद येऊन माळले जातात आपोआप ! बहीण भाऊ .. सक्खे चुलत आते मामे भावंडं ह्या सगळ्या मोत्यांनी रक्ताच्या नात्यांनी पहिला सर बघता बघता भरतो ! हळुहळू दिवस जातात तस बाळ आपला नवीन सर बांधायला घेतो .. त्याचे मित्र मैत्रिणी .. शाळेतले ,बस मधले ,van मधले ,ग्राउंड वरचे ह्या क्लास चे त्या क्लास चे , शाळेतले शिक्षक ,कॉलेज चे मित्र ... मित्रपरिवाराची कुटुंब ... शेजारी पाजारी ... जेव्हढे मोती गुंफत जाल तेवढा सर वाढत जातो. पहिला नात्यांचा सर आणि हा जोडलेल्या नात्याचा सर ..दोघातले मोती अधून मधून स्पर्श करत राहतात .. क्षितिज रुंदावते तसे सर वाढत जातात..  नोकरीचे सहचारी .. नवीन नोकरी..  नवीन सहचारी.. नवीन सर अशात कधी जीवनाचा सहचारी मिळतो आणि एका सोनेरी सरांची सुरुवात होते.  त्या सराच्या बांधणीला मात्र आधीचे सर्व मोती एकत्र येतात.  एकमेकांशी कधी स्पर्श झालेले नसले तरी त्या एका मोत्याच्या नवीन बांधणीला...

संध्याकाळची पांच ची वेळ.   एकदम निवांतपणा ना मिटिंग्स  ना ऑफिस वर्क ना घरकाम  ना मागे मुलाचा लकड़ा  कसलीच घाई नाही हलक्या वाऱ्यावर विंड चाइम नाजूक आवाज करात नाचत आहे  हातात वाफाळत्या कॉफीचा मग घेऊन अलगद जो झुल्यावर बसाव  कोफीच्या अरोमा बरोबरच अजून एक मंद सुवास सर्वदूर पसरला आहे  चाफ्याच्या फुलांचा  एखादी नवी नवरी जशी नखशिखांत नटावी तसा चाफा फुलला आहे पण खरा वेडावू न  टाकतोय तो गुलमोहर  पूर्ण बहरून आलेला  बालकनीच्या कट्ट्यावर हनुवटी ठेऊन एकटक बघात होते अचानक खाली पाहिल तर कट्यावर पण गुलमोहोराचे प्रतिबिंब नीळ आकाश आणि बहरलेला लाल गुलमोहर  त्या एका क्षणाला पूर्णपणे वर्तमानामधे मन  पंचेन्द्रियाना मोहवणारा तो एक क्षण .  That blissful moment..

Juhu Beach=Fun is the equation which I have in my mind for years now. Roots are back in the childhood days I guess age of 7 to 12 summer vacation and used to visit my mama’s place. He used to take us all to Juhu. Camel ride, round zhoola with horses at its end,bhel, kulfi, ice-cream and off course making mountains ,castle with sands. Couple of hours at Juhu beach used to be magical. Over period of time as we grew up studies classes tuitions practical why.vaa filled month of May and there were no more summer vacations and so visits to Juhu.     After probably more than 2 decades post marriage, again started occasional visits at Juhu. Juhu had definitely changed face over 2 decade but so do life has changed. Clean white water was history.. rush may be 20folded in 20 years. All camels, horses have been driven away.Small chat stalls have regular concrete shops now.There are guards now to keep beach clean but still some things are still the same. Fascination for water...