2-08-2022
Today is Nagara Panchami or Nag Panchami. The Snake God is worshipped by people in different parts of our country. Near our house there is grove with a small temple to the God. People living in nearby come to offer prayers. I made rice kheer for lunch 😊. I cook rice with sugar and milk in the cooker. In the link of the recipe, rice is cooked in an open pan and that takes a lot of time .
Yesterday was very windy and cloudy. Afternoon it started raining and we welcomed it. Last week was dry and sunny. We were hoping the rains would not stop. They are very important for people who have paddy fields. But too much rain is not good for farmers who grow areca trees. The areca nuts fall before they are ripe due to a disease. What we want and do not want, may not be what we get. That is life.
One bright evening we went for a walk around the lake. The blue and white reflected in the waters looked different and beautiful. I never tire of looking at the lake. I cannot imagine our place not having it. Another evening we walked near home. We met a lady who works in one of the houses. My mother and I met her many months ago. She has elephantiasis in one leg. She always greets us by saying, ‘bye amma’. Amma is mother but here many address women ‘amma’ or ‘akka’. Akka is sister. We saw the old couple sitting in their verandah. We smiled and waved at each other. We must talk to them sometime.
Last week I went to Asare twice. The teachers and those who can, make roses from organdie material. They are bought by Rotary clubs and some colleges. I have learnt to make them and it is very satisfying 😊. When I saw Sadje’s photo I remembered the flowers we make 😊
The walking exercises and other exercises by Lucy Wyndham-Read have become a very nice part of my early mornings. Every morning I hear Amit going by at 5.30. He is the milk and paper man. At the same time I hear the birds. It is a nice beginning to the day. At 6.30, my husband and I drink coffee. We like strong filter coffee 😊. I sit on the swing, sipping coffee and reading some blogs. Sometimes I see squirrels running by. It is a pleasure looking at them. They make us smile. On the 26th we went to the hospital to show our blood reports to our doctor. Fortunately there are no problems 😊.
On the 30th evening we went to our town centre to do some shopping and then went to Temple Square. There are four ancient temples here. Vehicles are not allowed in the square. We went to Mitra Samaj, a very popular small restaurant. ‘Goli baje’ is one of the most popular snacks there. We bought vegetables in one of our favourite shops. The owner is a human computer. I am filled with awe when I hear him calculating the prices of vegetables bought by different customers.
I am reading The Rings of Saturn by W G Sebald. It is about his walking trip in coastal Anglia, from Lowestoft to Bungay. It is a fascinating book because it is not just about his trip but includes many details about history, literature and other subjects. I learnt about Ustasha camps, Taiping rebellion , about Kozara and King Leopold ! and what happened in Congo. Human beings can be evil.
Kheer Recipe | Rice Kheer (Indian Rice Pudding) » Dassana’s Veg Recipes (vegrecipesofindia.com)
Mukhamani 
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