Plants on my mind

Lately I've been giving the flat a make-over or clean-over of sorts, just been feeling the need for freshness, to simply let go of stale energy and make room for the new and unexpected :-) I've been feeling the same way about our balcony-garden. It's not really a garden but that is how I like to think of it :-) We've got potted plants,  forming sort of a window-frame to the view outside.

I had been thinking of adding some new plants to the balcony, maybe some flowering plants, perhaps..I must admit to a curious habbit here, whenever I'm walking about, I will always look at people's flats and windows to see what kind of plants they've kept and how well maintained they are. A well-maintained  window-scape always impresses and inspires me.

A few weeks ago, I happened to be in bandra, lunching with some old friends whom I hadn't met in the longest time, and on my way to the restaurant I'd spied a nursery right at the curb of Pali market. So after lunch I requested my friend who would be giving me a ride home to come with me while I looked around in the nursery hoping to take some new green friends home. I took two plants that day, the succulent in the picture above and another flowering plant (whose names I don't know yet but only how to care for them).

The net in the picture is to keep the pigeons away, ever since we've gotten these stretched across the balcony, the balcony has been much easier to maintain and they offer protection to the plants  from the pigeons incessant habbit of picking at their stems and leaves.

Now that we've long since taken care of  the mess the pigeons were creating, (they are so peaceful otherwise) I love the way the space is slowly gaining character, each plant and knick-knack finding its place.

love + light always :-)

Merry Christmas and Happy NewYear 2013 !

Hello everyone!

the world did not end on 21st December 2012 as some speculated it would, in fact we are now entering a New Age. For a while now I've been reading about how the Piscean age has ended and we are now entering the Acquarian age where we will not look outside for a saviour but within. This thought resonates with me as I often find myself stumbling on books that just seem right for me at the time, or I see people prefering a path that helps them to find their own answers to their life's lessons. 

Either way, by Decemeber 31st we will be at the end of a solar cycle and it is an excellent opportunity to make a fresh start and what better way to end the year feeling all warm and happy than Christmas :-) 

I've put up a little tree at home, hung tinsel and decorations, strung some fairy lights on our balcony and have sent out beautiful christmas cards to close friends and family. Somehow, in this age of hurriedly dashed off emails and sms's I quite enjoy taking the time to write to a friend and maybe doodle a little around the writing, take the trouble to get the postal address and send them a card, and what a joy it is to send these paper-cut christmas tree cards which I received from a friend in London. It is even a bigger delight when my friend's tell me that they received them :-) I feel like the postal santa! 

I wish everyone I know in the blog-world, my friends and family a wonderful cheer-filled Merry Christmas and may the New Year bring perfect Health, Prosperity and Abundance to all! A chance to make new beginnings and to quote Louise Hay,

  ..to make the rest of our lives the best of our lives

love + light always 

My First Children's Book Illustration - The Imp and the Strawberry by Yasmin Shubber

It is with great pleasure I present to you my first childrens' book illustration, 'The Imp and the Stawberry' by Yasmin Shubber,  a delightful tale of the lovable and gifted elf , Syrnel, and his adventures as he sets off one day to eat delicious wild strawberries. To buy the book online or simply to preview  visit here.

When I received my first hard bound copy via post from Yasmin, I was thrilled to  hold in my hands the physical manifestation of our creative efforts.  I especially loved the cover, and I'm mighty pleased with the design, and layout, a big thank you to Yasmin for all her efforts. Yasmin has also penned several books for adults including a book of poems on Ladakh. You can learn more about her at her website.

I've always enjoyed reading and collecting children's books, some of my best finds have been, 'The Other Bone' by Ed Young, a word-less story illustrated with fine drawings where the reader can tell the story in their own words,  then there is the all time classic, 'Just so stories' by Rudyard Kipling,  (I have the one illustrated by Safaya Salter), and then I have a weathered copy of 'My Father's Dragon' by Ruth Stiles Gannett, bought years ago at a second hand bookshop, and more recently I bought 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar ' by Eric Carle to gift  a friend's child.

I'm sure there are many many more authors and artist-illustrators whom you adore, I've only named a few. Do share with me if you wish some of your favourite books, I'd love to read all about them. (^_^)

If you wish to get in touch with me about doing illustrations for a story email me at turquoiseland@gmail.com. 

Have  a great week ahead.

Love + Light

Monsoon reflections

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About a year ago I had bought this plant and the pleasant thing about it is that it starts to flower in the monsoon. Almost a week ago I spotted a clump of buds, with the flowers curled inside waiting to enter into the world. I knew it then, we were closer to the rains, and rain it did yesterday to the sound of children laughing and playing outside.

The beginning of monsoon also marks the beginning of new cycle for me, finally I have completed the first year of my Post Graduation Course in Buddhist Studies and to avoid sounding immodest I will simply say that I did pretty well. For me the real satisfaction lies in knowing that I did my best and I now look forward to working on my thesis for the coming year. 

In the meanwhile I've also been doing a lot of inner-work, reading, contemplating, its amazing how I'm intuitively lead to a site or a video on youtube or a book which had knowledge  that I was now ready to receive. For instance I only recently watched the film on Louise Hay's book, 'You can Heal your Life' although I'd first read the book in 2007. (Btw, I love to gift this book to friends and family and I always have a copy on my shelf ). 

I'm enjoying this journey challenges notwithstanding, I always ask myself , 'what was the lesson for me here?' The choice always lies with us, we can allow ourselves to become bitter or we can become better and for that we must all do our homework in this school of life :-))

I wish everyone a wonderful monsoon, may we be blessed by rainbows and may our lakes fill to the brim. May we feel renewed.

love + light + gratitude