CFFC: Pink Punch

Hello everyone and welcome to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge where the theme is to have fun with pink!

Here’s some what I gathered from my archives and went down memory lane – thankfully all good one and have great fun. Thank you Cee!

“A flower’s appeal is in its contradictions — so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.”– Terri Guillemets

I never thought I would find pink in a leaf! And look more pink leaves, just before they turn green.

“Anything is possible with sunshine and a little pink.” – Lilly Pulitzer

A pink building that once upon a time used to be my school – believe it or not!

“Love is flower like; Friendship is like a sheltering tree.” – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

And I got both in this photo and life – touch wood 😀

Which one did you like? Did you notice that I mixed and matched with quotes? Did it work?

Cheers and hope you have a fun and rejuvenating weekend

CMMC: Tree Talk

Hello everyone. It’s been a while since I played any photo challenge and even though it’s not exactly mid week, here are some photos for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge. I know Cee won’t mind, besides she’s the one who instigated me to have some fun and what else could I come up with but trees and more trees for the challenge. 😀

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” – John Muir

“How do you spell ‘love’?” – Piglet. “You don’t spell it. You feel it.” – Pooh

“Blessed are the hearts that can bend; they shall never be broken.” Albert Camus

We cannot see our reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.” – Zen Proverb

There were a couple of more trees but I desisted from biting off more from your precious time. 😀 Thanks for visiting. Have a wonderful weekend.

Psst: Which one’s your favorite? Do let me know.

FOTD: Once Upon A Dahlia

Inspired by Cee’s Foto of the Day challenge, especially her beautiful dahlias, I couldn’t resist posting this.

“ Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” — Confucius.

She’s still got it, hasn’t she?

Thank you for visiting, have a great day.

PC: Mysteries Galore

Hello everyone! This week, Terri’s Sunday Still prompt is #Mysterious. So let’s see what I can come up this week.

Darkness sets and shadows set the tone
Can you guess what this is? Probably, as the edges give the game away. Nonetheless, it creates an aura of mystery doesn’t it?
Captured this art work outside a restaurant. But couldn’t quite fathom what it represents or what the artist was trying to convey. What do you think?
I find it fascinating how the birds, most often, crows sit atop a pole or tree and stare out into the distance for a long time. I wonder what they are looking at or thinking about.

That’s it from me this week. Stay safe and be careful. My heart goes out to all the families who lost their loved ones in the horrific Halloween stampede in Seoul and my prayers for all those who are grievously injured, may they recover soon.

PC: Glassy Visuals

This post is in response to Terri’s Sunday Stills photo challenge. This week’s theme is glass. And since I see the best scenes through the glass while travelling I jumped at the chance to share a few unedited raw pictures.

“It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision.” – Helen Keller

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” – John Lubbock

“When life gets blurry, adjust your focus.” From the internet

Life had got blurry and came back here to find focus. Although officially it says I have been blogging for 7 years, I have been mostly absconding for the past 2 years. Hopefully I will be more regular now.

At least that’s the plan.

Yet, just like I didnt plan to start (or restart) blogging, life is what happens while we make plans 🙂

Here’s to waiting and watching for what life has in store for you, me and the rest of the world…

Cheers

Enslaved

dales-waterfall
Photo (c) Dale Rogerson

Enslaved

Words 102

“There!” Mohini huffed from the gentle climb on to the dam, “This is where I grew up, beside the mighty Ganga. Beautiful isn’t she?”

Sia blew on the bubble till it popped. “Sure.” She ruminated, busy taking selfies. “The mountains in the distance look better. She’s too dull and bloated, like an over-fed slithering python for my liking.”

“She wasn’t always like this. She was free, fresh and sparkling, singing her song while skipping and dancing her way over boulders and stones.“

“What happened?”

“She was dammed up for the greater good.”

“How much longer Mohini?” Her husband called. “I am hungry.”

***

Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and Dale for the photo prompt. If you want to read the other stories inspired by this prompt (or add your link) click here.

A Survivor’s Tale

Photo (c) Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

A Survivor’s Tale

Words 98

It was dark and the weight crushing.  

Life oozed out bit by bit.  

I struggled to survive, one breath at a time.

 Loneliness engulfed me. 

Oh the pain the anguish the isolation – all for what?

Doubts racked me.

Why struggle so much?

Who cared whether I lived or died?

Why not just give up?

Give in.

I tried.

Believe me, I tried hard to give up.

But I didn’t know how.

I only knew one thing.

My time would come.

And it did.

That’s my story. What’s yours?

She swayed and dipped, offering me yet another luscious mango.

***

Written (after eons) for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.

CFFC: Vibrant Colors

Time for more photos! I am rather late for Cee’s Challenge Vibrant Colors but I still couldn’t resist playing along. Get ready to choose your favorite!

BouganvilleaFrom a couple of springs earlier, old timers may remember.

IMG-20180829-WA0023

Flowers from my sister’s garden in Dublin

IMG-20180829-WA0022Another one! Begunia I think.

IMG-20180923-WA0041The colors of fall in Dublin

IMG-20180505-WA0019When it was spring in Dublin. Nope I haven’t been there in any season 😀

20180930_114809China rose from India!

20180930_114829Slight change in lighting and voila! Both orange and yellow! So cool isn’t it?

20180429_204303The vibrant colors of dancers on the World Dance Day earlier this year. My niece is there too – the tallest one in yellow.

Thanks for visiting and don’t forget to let me know your favorite –  surely you like something?

Have a super day.

 

COB: A Perfect Circle

Just a couple of weeks ago when temperatures were touching 46o C a dust storm came up to settle scores with the blazing Sun (and my sinuses 😉 ).

20180613_174615It was quite a sight to catch a glimpse of a Sun as cool as the Moon, only rounder and unblemished just before it retired hurt for the day.

20180613_174533

The banana tree bows in homage to their Sustainer and Provider.

20180613_174537Or does it have ambitions of swallowing it up while it is down and out?

Hope you enjoyed these shots of the summer sun. I am happy to be able to contribute something to one of Cee’s photo challenges after a long time 🙂

Three things cannot be hidden long: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha

Arnav Goes to School – IV

Click here for:

Part I

Part II

Part III

berries, blackberries, blueberries
Photo from Pexels

Part IV

“Can I have a choco-lava cake Daddy?”

“I want an ice cream cake, and an apple pie.” Deva too had his list ready. “Oh and a fruit salad sundae.”

“Da! You are such a hog! Daddy if he’s taking all that, then I want a tiramisu too!” She paused. “Three tiramisu,” she counted on her fingers, “Mamma and Nani also like it.” She looked at Arnav. “Maybe one for HPji as well?”

Arnav rolled his eyes. “Okay enough now. Let’s wrap up this extended lunch. I’ll see about,” he shook his finger at them, “ordering your requests, provided you start studying….”

“Studying! Right away after lunch?” Devansh was aghast. “We’ve just come back from studying…”

“So what?” Arnav said hard-heartedly, “Even I have been working since morning…”

“But Daddy,” Chotti slid close to him, “You went to office two hours later than us,” she batted her eyes at him, “and you’re are so much older than us.”

“Exactly.” Arnav’s lips twitched, “if I being so old can work so much, surely you guys with young blood can work much more than I can.” He crossed his arms and waited sure that fresh salvos were on the way.

“Yes of course we can Dad,” Arnav raised his eyebrow at this unexpected support. “But for an all round growth we need to exercise all parts of the body. We already worked out the grey cells, time for the muscles don’t you think?” he wheedled.

“Don’t listen to him Daddy!” Chotti threw herself into the fray, “he played a lot of football. Before school, during break and even after school!” She turned a beleaguered face up to Arnav and said piously, “It’s my grey cells which need a break, besides my dolls are crying for their Mamma…”

“Oh please Chotti,” snapped Guddu, “dolls don’t cry, they aren’t even alive…”

“Says who?” Chotti ran off to get her favorite doll and pulled a string. Instantly the doll set up a racket.

“Ouch!” Both son and dad flinched.

Seeing his opportunity, Devansh appealed to ASR, “Dad I HAVE to practice more. Shubham scored 3 goals while I couldn’t even score one goal.” He drooped.

“Shubham is older than you,” Chotti consoled him, “and,” with her brow darkening, “a meanie. Only meanies can score goals.” She absolved her brother of any such character flaws.

Arnav frowned. “What did Shubham do?”

“Nothing Dad,” Devansh shushed Chotti, “When she was younger, Chotti used to join us as we ran around the field playing football. She would get underfoot, trip and get hurt. That’s why whenever Shubham saw her near the field, he would hold the ball and not let anybody play. So then all of us would gang up and chase her away and ever since then she calls Shubham a meanie.”

“But that was the right thing to do Angel.” ASR shrugged off his coat and tugged at his tie and plopped down on the settee. Surrender was the only way out. Besides he was finally having fun. “He did what he had to do to save you…”

“Exactly what Mamma said – sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind,” intoned Deva.

“I don’t care.” Chotti put her nose in the air. “Shubham is a meanie. Shubham is a meanie. Shubham is a…”

“He is not!” Guddu cried hotly. “He’s the best.”

“He is not.”

He is.”

Not.”

“Is.”

“Is not.”

“Okay!” Arnav played his trump card. “So which dessert should I order and from where?” He took out his mobile and waved it temptingly. Instantly they both lunged for it and fell on top of Arnav, who held away the phone.

The deserted corridors of RM were rent with shrieks and howls and it was a miracle that the living room settee didn’t crash. A rumpled but victorious ASR emerged from the tangle of skinny arms and legs with the phone still in his grip.

“I think I need to order something to drink as well!” Arnav was bright-eyed and flushed.

“Yay! Orange juice!”

“Pineapple for me!”

“Okay okay fine!” Arnav swiftly tapped the order app and gave a rather generous and large order led astray by the range of demands pouring in from over both his shoulders. Besides he couldn’t refuse them anything. He was just here for one day. Khushi could discipline them as much as he liked. But he did have the ‘deal’ to clinch.

“And done!” He pressed the proceed button. “This will take 45 min to an hour to be delivered. So why don’t you finish your respective homework during this period?”

“Okay Daddy,” Chotti gave an angelic smile, “I will do mine and on my own.” She stuck out her tongue at Deva.

Guddu was unfazed. “If I had some stupid drawing homework, even I would have done it by myself. But this is Social studies, I bet you don’t even know what it is…”

“Why can’t you do it on your own?” Arnav cut in hastily as Chotti geared up for another round.

“I study like that only,” Deva said sulkily, “I will read the chapter and you will have to ask questions.”

“Sure,” Arnav nodded. “I’ll be happy to do that.” He smirked to himself as he could see Khushi’s crestfallen face. Now what should he make her do? He wondered. Make her dance? Make her say sorry holding her ears? No! He couldn’t do that to her again. Maybe…

“Dad. Dad!” Deva shook him. “I finished reading,” he held out his book.

“So soon?” Arnav was surprised.

Deva shrugged. “Ask me anything from Chapter 22.”

Chotti returned dragging a rucksack almost twice her size. Ignoring them, she upturned the bag and emptied the contents on the floor. She carefully unrolled a sheet of chart paper and weighted them down. She rifled through her scattered belongings picking and discarding things.

“Dad!”

“Oh yeah!” Arnav tore his eyes from Angel and reluctantly flipped the pages. Social studies had never been his kind of subject. “Chapter 21?”

“No Dad. Chapter 22.” Devansh was busy bouncing a tennis ball.

“This is a long chapter,” Arnav accused, “how could you read it so fast, leave alone memorize?”

“Ask me anything.” Devansh challenged, his entire attention on the lime green ball.

Arnav sighed and focused on studying. Devansh had only skimmed through the pages, relying on his interrogator to fill in the blanks while he played ball. This was how he liked to study and so long as he was studying, absorbing and retaining, Khushi saw no harm in going with the flow.

Not so with Arnav. He didn’t appreciate the spoon-feeding, primarily because it meant double work for him – read the chapter, grasp the essentials, and pick up the ones Devansh missed. And to top it all SS!

Who the hell created SS? He would take great pleasure in doing away with the person for once and for all.

*** to be continued***

Click here for Part V