Backyard heaven

The last time `backyard' meant heaven, was in my ammumma's home at Chromepet Chennai. Yesterday, seven years after her home vanished to realtor monstrosity, I found a backyard heaven.

But for that, I had to do something I hadn't done before.

``Don't go into the woods,'' warned my husband before he left for a pre-hurricane errand, when I got ready with my camera to get some Fall pictures of trees near home. For long after a friend tipped me off on the woods behind our community, I wanted to venture out there. The trouble: we also get warned about not going out after dark, for fear of being mugged. And this, in our own community!

Somehow, the fear of being mugged or attacked is so pervasive. Irrespective of, whether such things happened near you that is. We do pay heed to warnings, because we do not know this community as much as people who lived here do.

I moved out anyways, steeling myself slowly to break that inner barrier, even if it meant I would get close to danger. What if the woods are really dense? What if I get lost?

First set of pictures were from outside my door, and I moved further to the edge of our community - the point where the last set of cars got parked, and the woods began. Wow! What a sight!

This was ditto the feeling from the trip to Bear Mountain! Never thought backyards could be so picturesque! So straight out of those picture postcards and magazine spreads! They did not even look as dense as I thought they would be! I noticed two young boys chatting up in the car park. Warning beats begin.

I continued with more pictures - of leaves, colours, barks that went up into sky...the two dispersed, and one of them walked into the woods. Really? In this cold? I thought.

My neighbour had spoken about a children's park existing on the other side of the woods.

``It takes five minutes inside the woods. Don't go when it's getting dark,'' she said. Five minutes is no big deal. But big when you've not set foot outside home in a while on your own, and when you've been warned so explicitly by fellow Indians. That was in the end of summer when my health was down, which was, a month back. The thought of these colours drew me in and won over.

I step out when it's warm afternoon sun anyways. And sun, has become a rarity at that, with daylight vanishing as quickly as it came.

I decided to get a few steps into the woods. And walk back if it was too eerie. A little further. And further. I saw another kid cycling in the woods. What? Was there really so much space? To cycle?

The next thing I realised -  roads in the woods! I laughed inside. At myself. An adventure dead.

Nothing left to explore! A road ran parallel to the community edge or compound. Another connected the community to the park. The walk was a super self-treat.

Yellow and brown leaves strewn all over. Varying shades of leaves on their way to the earth, lovely different hues of green against the burnt sienna, grey-green and pale blue sky...

I could actually see the park from the apartment community end of the woods. And a family or two making their way to or from the park.

I went further. And click away to glory. 

Midway into the woods, I find a carpet of leaves which were strewn everywhere including here, but not on the ground. They fell like feathers on a fresh water stream and floated on it. So deceptive you would step on the `carpet' and go down if not careful.

Look close below. Does it look like a stream? Or simply a layer of brown leaves?

It's two streams converging into one.

The park was another delight. A grill party was on at the children's play area. To my left on reaching there, was a basketball court, busied up by kids. Just the kind of place you want to throw away your footwear in, stretch out on the grass and let your hair loose. Or run your fingers between leaves and grass. Or simply play with dry leaves that crush under your shoes. Left to me, I would carry a book to the place and stretch out on a bench to be lost in words.

A few steps on to my right was a set of three tennis courts.

The real treat was the trees and their leaves. Flower bouquets in golden tints. Reds and yellows are for Autumn as pinks and whites are for Spring.

Here it is, another view of the park, nestled in calming green.

Want some romantic quiet? There's room for that too! I've always dreamt of a space to drown in a book, surrounded by trees and feeling safe. I've loved the idea of spending time with my partner or some friend for a chat in such environs too.

And what a pleasant feeling it is, to see that happen!

Such spots are common to any picnic-worthy area out here in the US. Wish we had them in India too!

Content with having spent an early Saturday evening in such superb company, I walked back home slowly, madly clicking the woods on my journey back. Watching and soaking in the colours at every step.

The real dream came true on my way back. Just what would you do, if you came face to face, with  a creature you love, but find only in zoos?

I missed clicking pictures of it on earlier occasions - either I did not have the camera on hand, or it was too far for a click. So this time, my hands worked super speed. Sports Mode on Nikon. Whew!

Here it is! A genteel deer!

I may put up more pictures of this one, in Cerebral Toothbrush. Meanwhile, am bracing up for Sandy, the super Hurricane! And keeping fingers crossed on the power-cuts front. Pray. Pray. Pray that Mother Nature who is so loving, spares us all.

Pictures: Radhika M B
For permissions to use: radiscribe@gmail.com

All pics are signed with `radi'
If you want a blow up for your wall-paper, do write in.

Navarathri/ Navaraatri: Dandiya, dolls, and dreams!

It's Navarathri time. And an excuse to indulge in festivities. I still miss the Dandiya nights of Mumbai when every housing society compound got lit up in lights and reverberated songs of the Goddess, and the Kolu of South - dolls galore that found their way from trunks to tables and benches that became steps for display.

Decking up for a festival where I live is a challenge, if not impossible. Flowers are a rarity unless they are part of bouquets. And bouquets, are super-expensive. I am not in the mood to celebrate festivals at home, but love it when I get invited over.

A little effort on, my hubby and I managed a visual treat for ourselves, replete with desi essence and grandeur.

For two weekends over Navarathri every year, Newark Avenue of Jersey City comes alive with a crowd, and is closed for traffic. What's so special did you ask? Newark Avenue is the official name for what is really India Street at Journal Square. Decked in desi lehengas, ghagra cholis and sarees, hundreds descend on the street these two weekend nights for a party. Kids, parents, grandparents, young men and women, tourists...Americans who love a dose of Indian culture...

An orchestra, aarti for the Goddess and loads of sponsors from this retail hub for Indian clothes, foods and other products. And a free walk-in to the street unlike ticketed Dandiya Raas events elsewhere in New Jersey State and the US.

A kid was kind enough to pose for me, with her kolattam sticks.

The event is not complete without a soulful aarti. The aarti sung here was very soulful, in spite of notes that went awry in the song.

These are pictures of the aarti being performed before the canopy of the Goddess. In the rear is the stage for singers, sponsor announcements and the like. One of the singers in the pictures below, is someone who sees with his heart, not eyes!

And a shot of the deity that I managed, jostling in the crowd. Aarti time is break time for dandiya revelers.

A group of friends poses for a picture (photographer on the other side). And then resumes the party. We're talking post 12 am!

Does this look any different at all from an Indian street? Am reminded so much of Commercial Street in Bangalore.

The crowds below are a matter of envy. I chatted with a couple who travelled from Secaucus. ``It's the only street in entire US where people do this,'' said Jayesh Balsara.

``We have been visiting here last four years. Before that, the scale was smaller. People dance in the cold, in rain, even if it snows,'' says Neha Balsara, his wife. Their daughter was out there on the street with friends, dancing. What a happy site it was! To see a street cordoned off, with huge crowds in colourful costumes!

On the cold night, people decked up in their finery, but covered up in a jacket or winter coat nevertheless.

Prior to the Dandiya night events, this street's umpteen clothes stores get decked up with the colourful dresses, hanging outside their doors, just like it happens in my home cities of Mumbai and Bangalore.

We travelled to Jersey City from Edison, but not before catching up with some home fervour at my friend's place in North Brunswick. Gombe Habba, Navarathri Kolu, Bommala Kolu, the names are many. And creativity, inifinite.

Kolu is the doll exhibition of the many Hindu Gods and Goddesses in neatly arranged steps that are covered ideally in a white cloth. Most dolls are made of clay. Many homes also make space for a little park spread out on the floor. A recent trend has been to use some space for displaying kids' toys such as cars, Barbies, and the like. My friend Prema and her family converted their basement room into the temporary display room.

Here are pictures from my dear friend's home:

Note the lovely aquarium that they did not disturb, and adds its dash to the space! Steps are usually arranged in odd numbers, three, five, seven, nine or more...if you do not have ready-made wood shelves, it takes all your resourcefulness to muster up something to show for steps. The result however is rewarding.

The `park' is usually placed by the side of the Kolu in other homes. Here, it makes for a lovely base step.

 Saraswati, the Goddess of learning has gone straight on to the second step, with her books. The quite learning baby or student picture that would not quite form part of traditional displays looks the most perfect companion for the Goddess here.

Below the lovely Durga applique, is the cute set of Patta Gombe or wooden dolls that are a must in most homes with doll display.

Back home, my mother had a little collection of saints clay dolls such as that of Swami Vivekananda, Raghavendra, Sai Baba. I added one of Tukaram, from one my trips to Belgaum, and also that of emperor Shivaji.

Here, it is Gandhiji and a charkha that find place! Wow.

And here is a picture, of a part of the park, with a mini zoo.

Some craft work by a little one comes in handy too, in the form of these tea lights made of paper.

But the one that takes the cake of all, is what I call `Organic eggs turned chefs!'

Aren't they cute!

The weekend did its bit to set me off on creativity dreams, thanks to loving friends who made it all possible. Prayerfully yours!!!

Pictures: Radhika M B
Related post: Navaraatri South Style
Write to me if you want pictures that are not watermarked.
Thank you Prema!

Outdoors turn paintings

Before the cold comes the colour. It's the Fall. Of leaves. Before the white of snow sweeps your vicinity.

It's when paintings pervade every green gift outside the window. Hues innumerable, of yellow. Hues in hundreds, of happy red. It's when these colours fuel Fall tourism.

When people pull their jackets out, tuck their hands into pockets, but venture out anyways, to catch those last days of outdoor air before winter weeks jail them in.

My friends were happy to give me a ride to see some Fall colours for myself, colours that I saw only in picture postcards as a kid, and screen pictures on the World Wide Web. Off we headed, to Bear Mountain State Park, a two hour ride from my part of New Jersey.

Here's a glimpse of what it felt like:

Cliche says -- your journey is the destination. Delight, is when these wayside trees that turned out like flower bunches for a while, and the sky's lovely pale blue greet your eye.

This spot, where the trees were lit up so wonderfully by the afternoon sun, is very near the entrance of the Bear Mountain State Park. Meditative. Foresty froth.

I love the woods. Any day more inviting than myriad mansions and malls in metros. Makes me want to rush into the trees.

Blessed are we humans, with such beauty in our midst. Mad are we though, to chase brick and glass to satiate our thirst. This river, is Hudson. Yeah. The all famous Hudson that marks the Manhattan skyline, makes for a prop in countless movies...

...Hudson, that meanders so gently in the middle of these hills and trees, that it sets you off on a dreamy thought trail, makes for the most perfect place to throw your shoes, let your hair loose and stretch out on the golden green grass.

All you need, is a tree whose leaves turn flowery red, water that glitters in afternoon sun and a hill with umpteen green-yellow-orange tree-bouquets... what more to make a Sunday? 

Besides the camera of course!

That's the dream riverside one would die for. The trouble with paradise is, everyone wants it. Notice the crowd on this walkway!

Foliage of love.

And some company to cheer about. With some beer and grill in tow...

I'd call this heaven on a Sunday afternoon!

Pictures: Radhika M B
For permissions to use, contact: radicreative@gmail.com
Location: Bear Mountain State Park, New York State
All pictures are watermarked.

A related post to be available on Cerebral Toothbrush blog soon.

Do check out Imprints Handmade too, for a crafts related post.

Ah! That's my wafer!

Munch! Munch!

Photo Courtesy: Chelvaraj Dhinesh Kumar

Copyrights: Chelvaraj Dhinesh Kumar

Location: Longwood Garden, Delaware, US