Life is good..

Things have been quiet here on the blog..:-)

It's not that I have no time, I do. It's been quite a change having the entire day laid out in front of me. Been catching up with friends both in India and in town. Chatting online with friends, something I could not afford due to being busy when they were free(online chats can go on for a long time). Now I have all the time in the world and it feels good to really connect with many dear friends. With the local ones, we have begun meeting for coffee, once again something I can do now since I have no hungry kids coming home for lunch.

On the home front, I have begun experimenting in the kitchen. We have been having new meals every night for dinner. The husband is happy, the kids are happy, so am I.

I cannot believe that autumn has hit us head on. The leaves are a beautiful yellow and orange. Stunning indeed. Only difference being that Mr Sun seems to have gone on holiday asking Miss rain to take care of affairs till he returns!!

Being our last autumn season here, I have been wanting to collect these pretty stunners and wax them so that I can keep them forever and ever. If only the rain gods would spare us for a while, I really can't do much with wet leaves, can I?

Which now brings me to Pinterest. I am on a roll there, pinning along!!! 

If you have been following me on facebook, you must have seen my pic of the first autumn leaves I picked up. Perfect in every single way. Even better on candle stands. The kids have made quite a few candles in the past 3 years which I proudly displayed inside the home. After a lot of thinking I decided to burn them all this autumn and winter. Our return to India is to a place where temperatures touch 45 C (113 F) and what will remain of these is a melted mess. So as well as watch them glowing pretty and provide us warmth during this cold season.

Fairytale Mushrooms.

Today, I am at peace..:-)

We finally spotted the fairytale mushrooms during our walk in the woods.

With the end of summer and the string of festivals attached to the season, we now begin our walks in the forests. Something that we do more during spring and autumn. 

I would always be filled with awe whenever my bloggy pal Sonya put up pictures of these bright red mushrooms on her blog. Looking back on her posts I now see that I even commented about not having spotted them at all and here's her reply..

"Oh wow May, I would think for sure that you guys would have them! I usually find them hiding along the sides of the road,under trees..any forest type are. I bet you have them but haven't been lucky enough to spot them just yet!"

And lucky is what we have been today!! While most of them were eaten up maybe by birds or wild animals(as the last pic shows), there were two perfect ones, just for US!!

Goodbye Sommer

I feel like Alice in wonderland, lost in time.

Yesterday was my first violin lesson(the music school follows an academic year just like normal schools) and between our small talk my tutor casually mentions that autumn officially begins on Saturday. I honestly do not know what made me think that it was still quite a long way off. The transformation from green to yellow had begun right in front of my eyes and yet, I wanted to be in denial. I didn't want summer to end. 

I didn't want the color to vanish.

And before you think that all I will do is lament in this post, I shall stop.

Instead, here's a treat to the most gorgeous summer we had.

It's my third year experiencing the changing seasons, something we do not have back home in India. I have come to the conclusion that I do not like winter at all. And something tells me that I won't miss it too on return, hopefully..:D 

So friends, tell me, are you excited about the forthcoming seasons? 

I have learnt to press the pause button in life..

and take in the delights..

that nature has to offer..

once in a while.

Like the afternoon sun kissing the changing golden leaves..

as the dark clouds in the distance..

prepare us for a storm.

Memories of home

The past three years I have been gifted fresh produce from various friends who have gardens.

Veggies, fruits, greens, nuts, sometimes flowers too.

And whenever this has happened, memories of home come rushing through.

Post marriage, whenever mum visited me, she would arrive with bags full of fresh produce that grew round the clock in my parents garden. It also worked the same way when we visited her. Prior to departure, mum and dad would get to work together, Dad plucking fresh veggies or fruits from the garden, mum sorting them out and both of them lovingly packing it all up for me to take back home. Well, darling hubby never understood what the fuss was all about considering the fact that everything was available in the local stores. 

Living here I miss these packages of love big time. I am glad that I have friends who make up for it in whatever little ways they can.

A good start..

So today was my first day home alone.

With the start to the new academic year, the kids will be away all day long.

Yes, you heard me right, all day long.

I had been mentally preparing for this big change since quite a few months.

Back home, the moment my younger one began schooling(which was at the age of 3), I took up a full time job. Honestly, I didn't know what it was to be home alone for a long period.

My worry was not about killing time, it was more of overcoming loneliness.

I also figured that I may never get this opportunity again.

Today just flew by. I spruced up a few corners at home, caught up with friends both over the phone and online, baked a cake, tried a new recipe for dinner. Towards evening I was waiting for my lovelies.
I never thought I'd enjoy time alone, but I did. 

A new year..

A new beginning.

After a fantastic summer break, the schools in Bavaria re opened today. Since it was our girl's first day at the Gymnasium, we parents had to accompany her. 

The teachers were introduced, the students sent to their respective classroom. 

There was a slight cause for worry as she was separated from her group of friends(they are grouped according to the language chosen).

By the time they returned all was well. Apparently sonny too is separated from his group as he has chosen a different language this year .

They are quite excited with their student plans, list of books to buy and new subjects to learn.

Now, we are headed out to shop for school supplies. Over the weekend, I should be back on the blogging track.

I'm alive

Yes, very much and all is well too in my part of the world.

I never expected the blog to come to a complete standstill. It's just that with the kids home on their summer break coupled with quite a bit of travelling and additional company made it quite hard for me to keep pace. Thank goodness for the facebook page which allowed me to update with an occasional picture here and there.

(A sudden new burst of petunias which have transformed my little terrace again)

So coming back to the present, I cannot believe how the past six weeks just flew by. It turned out to be an amazing summer break with amazing weather. The best that I have experienced in the past 3 years. Schools re open on Thursday and I hope to be back to our normal routine in the coming weeks.

For now, we are clinging onto whatever remains of the gorgeous summer we have had. It doesn't feel like autumn yet though the trees have slowly begun turning a shade of pale yellow. The flowers are here to stay for a little while and am holding onto all the colour and sunshine.