THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS LIKE A WAR ZONE TONIGHT

Diwali -- what a horrible festival! Brings out the worst in people when the crackers start going off. My mother has let loose a string of horrible abuses for the people indulging in such a mindless and barbaric practice and I have to admit I have been echoing her. Even my high tech ear plugs are not helping. I can't understand the pleasure people take in it. It was never this noisy when I was growing up, just a few exciting fireworks, sparklers and such, without the noise. I have never enjoyed it but unfortunately I get stuck with it each year on my way to the US. This blog is a whine, and like Donald used to say, 'a whine is a terrible thing to waste.'

TOMORROW WE LEAVE OUR LOVELY HOME IN THE MOUNTAINS

And head down to the city to my middle life, the one I got to in between our two homes. To my mother. Will keep you posted.

HOW I MADE OH MY LOVELY HANDBAG!

I had a paisley that just wasn't working for me as a scarf because of its colors so one day the inspiration hit me -- cut it up! (My sister in law was horrified that I did that!) But I don't just want to own things but have fun with them and let me tell you, i sure had fun, fun, fun with this one! first, Dhani Ram cut it up according to my specifications, -- he does a great job matching up patterns in the paisley -- and then I embroidered it. I just happened to have the thick and fine silken thread, multicolored wool that became the basis for the embroidery. Meera helped me here, as she always does, with my knitting projects, too. I had fun picking out the semi-precious stones to embroider on to it -- amber, lapis, natural ruby, turquoise. the hanging tassels are sterling silver wire bending that I learned two years ago in a jewelry class. I don't have pictures of it yet but Dhani Ram sewed little bags of the remnants to go inside the big to organize my stuff. There is something very satisfying and vain to know that no other girl (yes, I think of myself as a girl, now that I have graduated after my illness in which I was an old lady to girlhood!) has a bag like this!  I went from being a bag, to making one.

O MY LOVELY HANDBAG!

PHOTO OF OUR BEHTA PANI STAFF

Dhani Ram, far left, standing, is my tailor who helps me make patchwork quilts, jackets, hand bags. Yes, I made a handbag this year -- two in fact. That will be my next photo; next to him, Himmat Ram, in blue, our chawkidar or grounds keeper, great guy, takes care of and manages everything, responsible, honest, loyal, a lover of dogs. Next to him, his younger son, Lucky, and behind him, head showing, is our new driver, Uttam Singh. Then me and Payson, with our dogs, Foxy, brown, and Bhalli, jet black and skinny as a bean pole, like a thin silhouette, both with eating disorders. Bhalli runs away from food and has to be hand fed, and Foxy likes only snacks and has to be hand fed, too. Behind Payson, the guy in red, is Tek Ram, Master gardener, stone mason and carpenter who makes our furniture and carves wood panels for the front door, etc. Next to him in pale yellow is Anku, Himmat's other son. Standing with the baby is Raju, our master chef and Rijul, his one year old son who was born after two tragic still births. Seated and smiling is Meera, Himmat's wife, lovely lady who does her work silently gives me nurturing massages, loves and feeds the dogs in our absence. Bhalli loves to sleep with her during the cold winters, something she cannot do with us since Payson won't let me. Seated, also, in spectacles, is Tara, Raju's wife, who is not our employee but who visits occasionally with her son.

EATING MEAT WITH THE STAFF, OR I LOVE YOU AND I EAT YOU

The week before we leave here, I like to feed our staff. They love meat and I have to admit that in my illness I crave it, too. I generally eat it very infrequently and very sparingly. I recall how Alfred Russel Wallace, the scientist who co-discovered the Theory of Evolution with Darwin, was a strict vegetarian till he developed a severe case of asthma and had to go on a diet of meat. Raju, our cook, following a recipe I concocted, made a huge pot of four kilos of mutton and a kilo of yellow moong daal. Great gravy, buttery and yummy, the kind you want to eat with your hands and lick your fingers. Even Payson who had such a horror of eating with his fingers when I met him, got down and dirty. I ordered tandoori rotis from a local dhaba, and we had a feast. I can still taste it, and feel nourished and comfortably full.

It is that time of the year when the herders take their sheep/goat stock down to the plains for the winter. They overnight near our home. The other day I saw a tiny lamb across our stream and though I had little energy, I got out of body and walked over, picked it up. As I was stroking it, I was reminded of the most ironic thing about life, and I turned to this little creature in my arms and said, I love you, and I eat you. That, is the crux of life.

Payson took a picture of us with our staff and I will post it when he sends it to me.

WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND ANOTHER WONDERFUL AND QUICK RECIPE FOR A DRINK

Recovering, working towards leaving our mountain home in less than ten days, doing a second round of edits for the upcoming book, organizing notes for other books ( I can't sing enough about the power of organization -- not just physical, around the house, but mental organization -- to get things done). A lot of the things I can do sitting in bed, eating, too! After a long time my appetite is back to some extent. After a course of antibiotics and prednisone, I feel the need for a lot of healthy drinks. Pomegranates are plentiful in this season, and our cook, Raju, always makes copious amounts of juice. But the drink I am speaking of is marvelous and easy, easy!

In half a glass of apple juice -- make sure it is natural and unfiltered -- add a couple of spoonfuls of yogurt. Mix and enjoy!