Clear Lake Clears up a few things, and 2009!

The family headed out to Clearlake to close out 2009. Something we have all been waiting for, a hope that next year will be better than this one!

We were joined by the cousins as usual and this time we saw the kids have a real blast just being with each other. There were no fancy rides, no legoblocks and all they had was four adults who were just happy to be idling away and letting them just hang out and they made the most of the opportunity.

The idea was to just go somewhere and chill. Stay home (err, in a rented house or cottage), watch a few movies, eat some snacks, drink lots of tea, play board games till the wee hours of the morning (like we used to before the kids) and if possible catch some scenery (Clear lake State Park) on the way back.

Check, check, check, check, and check!

It was possibly the best year end trip we took. Thanks to bb, we also had the kids do a 500 piece puzzle and enjoy doing it.

Here are some pictures from the trip..

You go lie down on the bed and you get a view like this!

You walk out to the deck and you see the lake..

Was cold and chilly but by noon it was just perfect outside.

The little one wanted to touch the water at every opportunity and throw pebbles back into the lake

My posing princess wasn't in the mood for pictures throughout the trip, but for once she decided to make me happy

We did visit the state park on the way back (there was no one there at the park and we pretty much were alone in the park). We walked up the Indian Trail for 30 minutes and decided that it was time to head back..

This park is so tranquil and serene that it will probably get another visit in summer..

Finally, a stitch shot of the lake...

On the whole, we had a quiet two days away from phones and work and got a chance to clear our heads a little.

Here is to 2010, to many more visits to nice places, better health and more quality time with family and friends and lots of smiles!

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Wishes

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Life is..

"Life is Searching for the constant in something variable and searching for the variable in what is constant" - Sundar Narayanan.

(do not know if a quote like this exists already, but writing this independent of any quotes that may exist along similar lines that are out there. If not, this is my quote!)

An otherwise monotonous routine life, and we can still see changes!

Take for example, the annual IBM Kids Christmas party we attended for the third continuous year.

This year, we knew what the kids liked to do and we got them to do everything they liked, at the party. The constants were the photo op with Santa, the big tree, ballons, the clown, the cookie decorating, the caricature stall where they got to pose..

The variables were the hat decorating and the fact that the girls are older by a year!

We have been going to this one person (Big Al) to get the caricatures done for the last three years. We get to see how the kids features change, "in caricature"! He does an amazing job and the kids know they are posing just to find out how different they are compared to last years caricature..

Here are this years pictures..

and here is a composite of the last three years caricatures...

The kids really enjoyed the party, just like the previous years!

Sometimes we should be thankful to powers above and beyond that we are blessed with some sense of monotony and order and at the same time have changes over time that make life interesting for us.

Wishing one and all a wondeful holiday season..

-The Traveling Narayanan's

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Aalo Rose

The recipe for the previous post, in pictures.

The final result:

First the Rose Aalo:

Microwave for 2 minutes, then drain the hot turmeric/Salt water out.

Bake at 350C for 20 minutes.

Make sure you use a paper towel and soak up the extra oil before serving.

Now something to do with the carved out pieces of potato. Make them into a quick Bhajji that can go along with the roti's.

Unfortunately, the bhajji was all gone before it could be served with the roti's.

Now, this would not be possible except for a commitment to San that the kitchen will be handed over to her in the same condition as before the cooking started!

Gents, please wash all dishes and wipe off stove, countertop etc. if you plan to do this experiment!

A Warning: While the Roses looked pretty inviting and were tasty, the core of the rose was way too hot, while the outside surface had cooled. So do NOT bite into the rose or you will burn your tongue! You may have to wait a little for it to cool down.

Julie and Julia was a good movie. It has inspired me to go back and do something in the kitchen.

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Homework: Storyboard

The photoschool homework was to tell a story in three pictures..

Our story:

Pretty self explanatory, we thinks!

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