LIFE AS IT IS

Vivacity III #paintingdiaries #watercolor “Of all the wonderful things in the wonderful universe of God, nothing seems to me more surprising than the planting of a seed in the blank earth and the result thereof.”

And, their journey to the table continues... heirloom tomato, habanero pepper, okra/ lady’s finger. #gardening On a separate note, I was reading in The Economist that “The coronavirus lockdown has inspired a surge in gardening not seen since the World War II. Seed firms have struggled to keep up.”

#indoorplants When it comes to house plants, benefits are numerous. They do not only spruce up your home, but also purify the indoor air, trap allergens, enhance your mood, add moisture to the air... If you have difficulty sleeping at night, consider keeping plants like succulents and orchids in your bedroom - the extra oxygen might help. They do need care, but plants like Devil’s Ivy (commonly known as money plant in the Indian subcontinent), Chinese evergreen, snake plant, orchids, and succulents do not require much care. A lot of house plants do not even need direct sunlight - they can thrive in artificial light! House plants are not only an inexpensive way to jazz up your home, but they are beneficial to your health, too. Here are some of my indoor green friends: 

If someone ever showed me a photo like this one and asked me to guess what it was, I could have never guessed in a million years. This is an eggplant blossom! #gardening Every stage in the lifecycle of a fruit or a vegetable is pretty amazing. I am beginning to appreciate the food I eat more than ever!

Although her name is Blue Girl, her shade is “actually” mauve lavender. My phone camera does not always do justice to pretty things and pretty colors. #gardening This is such a fragile variety that you have to be very very careful, if you decide to buy a Blue Girl rose plant. Because of its color and fragrance, it also attracts pests. If you are wondering what I do in that case, well, I just spray warm soapy water to control the bugs.

It is a pleasure growing your own food. We are not using any artificial fertilizers or pesticides to grow our vegetables. They are as good as can be. Eggplant, tomato, habanero pepper, and bottle gourd to-be. Also, a bowl of freshly picked red spinach. #gardening

#paintingdiaries #watercolor 🌱 It’s time to plant a tree, a tree. What shall it be? What shall it be? Let’s plant a pine—we can’t go wrong: a pine is green the whole year long. Let’s plant a maple—more than one, to shade us from the summer sun. Let’s plant a cherry—you know why: there’s nothing like a cherry pie! Let’s plant an elm, the tree of grace, where robins find a nesting place. Let’s plant an apple—not too small, with flowers in spring and fruit in fall. Let’s plant a fir—so it can be a lighted outdoor Christmas tree. Let’s plant a birch, an oak, a beech, there’s something extra-nice in each… in winter, summer, spring or fall. Let’s plant a … why not plant them ALL? (This is a children’s poem by Aileen Fisher)

My #paintingdiaries

I usually don’t pluck flowers. When I do pick flowers, I do it because there is inclement weather in the forecast! The photos below are from my home. The flowers? They are from my little backyard. If you have a backyard or even a balcony, consider having your own garden - you will never regret it! 

Play is the highest form of research. —Albert Einstein She collects all sorts of things for her crafts. These things range anywhere from bottle caps, egg cartons, cereal boxes, Styrofoam to ribbons, empty cans and cosmetic containers, old T-shirts and paper towel rolls. My 7-year-old daughter has taught me that you can make a new "something" out of (almost) anything. However, to let this creativity happen, you have to bear with a lot of mess, tears, frustration over failed projects, and a small investment in children's craft supplies. Don't worry, it's all worth the trouble. The Daily Star link Screens are enticing. True, they can keep your child occupied for hours. And, why not? Digital entertainment options available to children are literally unlimited! But unfettered screen time comes at a price.  Some of the negative effects of too much screen time in children include being overweight and obese for the lack of physical activity; poor vision; slee...