Doomsday

Doomsday came and went. Nothing happened, as expected. Then why did I still wake up yesterday feeling just a little dissappointed?

We, mankind can continue wrecking havoc on the environment, on animals, fellow humans and continue living so unchecked. Just a tad dissappointed that there is no end to all the nonsense and a new beginning after many centuries, if only doomsday had been true!

A Mom!

Wow is the only word that came to my mind when I read the below article.

http://news.yahoo.com/argentine-mom-rescues-hundreds-sex-slaves-221110530.html

Proves that a mom on a mission for her children cannot be stopped by anybody or anything. The system sounds so much similar to India with the same problems and support that such actions get from politicians and the police. So happy for the hundreds of women who have been saved by this lady and praying for the many more still not freed.

Would love more articles that motivate and make people think rather than useless celebrity news. Well done Susana!

Therapy animals

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/dog-who-teaches-kids-talk

How sweet! Animals, just like some kids and people can be slow. But see how that is a blessing instead of a curse. They ought to be cherished, encouraged and loved, just like children with disabilities. Wonderful article and our Dexy is just like the dog in the pic, with the exact same personality! Gotta love them :)

In the news Dec 5th, 2012

http://news.yahoo.com/women-leaders-less-corrupt-no-shake-things-050546963.html

Interesting article.
Even more interesting to note that Rwanda, generally considered to be one of the backward African countries has 50 % women in parliment. The country is also doing very well in reducing poverty and child mortality rates. Can we say this about most developing and developed countries?

Another interesting fact to note in the article is that women even if elected to administrative positions will not make much difference if they are dependent on their fathers or husbands financially. In India this is the biggest problem. In the first place the government has only so many seats 'reserved' for women. Of that percentage, the wives or other female relatives of corrupt politicians are elected to occupy a majority.

These surveys are helpful and serve as eye-openers, but what use are they of if we continue electing useless people to power? People who do not have the brains or concern to worry about the development of the country or people of the country!

My LG's first Diwali and first word!

My LG's first Diwali was this one on November 13th. The ever adoring grandma had sent her a pattu pavadai material. It arrived through my visiting cousin on Saturday November 10th! I took it and took the LG and ran (actually drove) to a tailor suggested by the said cousin's elder sis. The tailor looked at his subject and was instantly in a great mood. Apparently she was the youngest subject ever! He was so happy and delighted that he forgot to criticize me for dropping in with a material to be ready for Diwali in two days time! Benefits of having a cute little girl in hand :)

I leave a pic of the pavadai worn by the little subject for your viewing.

Btw LG also said her first word. She has said ammas during her cries, but never by itself just calling me. Once she said something that suspiciously sounded like appa and taken by her appa to have been just that.

But this word was clear. Loud and clear. It was "Bobby"!!! That is a wonder since we know no one called bobby! Oh well. It was her first word and we celebrate it thus. I am sure we will meet a bobby one day :)

Happy Deepavalli

Happy Deepavalli everyone. Hope you all have a fun filled, happy day. How about some charity on this special day instead of buying new clothes, bursting fireworks etc.,?

My favorite charities:

http://bluecrossofindia.org/donation.html
http://www.savethechildren.in/
http://www.humanesociety.org/
http://www.aspca.org/

Go on and add yours to the list if you want! Please donate any amount you can for these noble causes. Can you think of doing anything better on Deepavalli?

Baking!

I have always been a fairly decent cook. I have tried various cuisines, and mostly my expertise is in savory dishes. Never been fond of sweets/desserts and also never tried to make them. Of course I have tried the occasional Kesari and payasam with my mother's recipes and tips. They have always come out ok. When it came to baking, I have also gone savory. I have made Au gratins, which have come out great. I have also successfully Indianised them to suit our taste buds.

However, baking desserts is something I never did, thought of doing or had the slightest idea of how to either! When I had my LG, it suddenly hit me that I was now a mother. It was now my duty to feed her and her little friends dishes that they would love (in future of course, considering she was only a month old and only BF then). That, I was certain was going to include cakes, brownies, muffins and the like. Panic hit! Then my ever amazing mom made payasam on the day she turned one month old. This got the ball rolling and I decided to celebrate her birthday every month (on the date she was born) until she turned one year old. Celebrate that is by making some dessert and making her wear new clothes. The dessert of course has always been only for us so far (since she is only five months old now), poor baby!

Since I hated Indian sweets even more and they were quite complex in their recipes for my taste, I turned to baking. I baked my first ever cake the day my LG turned one month old. My resourceful husband came back with several bags of flour when I asked him to buy one. This also was an important factor in ensuring that I had to bake more and challenged myself to do so before the infamous little weevils made the flour their food. Thus started my baking endeavour with one good reason and several sillier reasons. But amazingly, I have in five months baked about seven cakes and many batches of muffins! I am happy to report that not only can I bake decently, but I have also finished the bags of flour that my husband bought! :)

Now I am an official baker, stocking chocolates, raisins, cinnamon, baking powder, flour etc., Me! Can you imagine? Maybe you can if you have always baked; but me! One challenge faced and passed with decent colours. It has been fun. Let me know if you are like me and need some motivation and tips to start baking. Would love to help start up all the fun and fun it has certainly been! :)