Almost As Good As Shatner...

Grandmother! :O

...the white sheep of the family?

On my visit to the Taj Mahal in January, I noticed this Muslim family watching me from a short distance, and smiling at me. They were young and already had a handful of kids. The mamma smiled shyly from behind her burqua and the father walked up to me and put the baby in my arms and said, "grandmother." Well, most American women might be insulted but I know by now that at 49, I am well old enough to have become a grandmother in India.

So, as usual, a photo session happened, and here it is. I hope you will enjoy it.

Perhaps it didn't bother me that I was called "grandmother" because I know I will most likely be older than 60 before Little Rita has kids.
So, what is up in my life now that I am back?
Well, I have been truly inspired by my trip to India and the fabrics that I have brought back, so I have been sewing my arse off pretty much. In addition to that, one of the most fun things that happens when I get back from India is that I get phone calls everyday from people that just cant wait for the market to begin in April, that have to see my shawls and bedspreads, NOW! I just love that! So naturally, the best of the stuff is slowly disappearing already. And yes, I cannot help it, I am already dreaming of my next trip, which will be in December. That will be my 8th trip to India, and I will leave the day after Christmas again since that maneuver saved me $900. on my flight.Ok wait, but back to reality. Is there one? Currently, I am contemplating the concept of purchasing real estate in Goa. And um, so is Keri, so to heck with reality. I hope you are all well.

Oh Hot Damn...(giggle, giggle!)

Delhi Stuff

My other car is a rickshaw!

While in Delhi, I always have to visit Dilli Haat, a wonderful place to shop for clothing, shawls, bedspreads and handicrafts from all over the subcontinent. Also there you will find lots of dancers and music, as in these pictures that Keri took while visiting Dilli Haat.

A short film of the dancers at Dilli Haat. The kid seems a lot more interested in getting his rupees for every photo taken than he is in his dancing. Well, he didn't catch us, the little whippersnapper!


Three salesmen show bedspreads to shoppers.

Now waitaminit, that's not a salesman back there, that's me digging through all those bedspreads for the ones that catch my eye!
One day in Delhi, we went to Karol Bagh on the new Delhi metro, which was pretty cool. We were in search of a salon called Looks. Once we got there Keri got a pretty lousy pedicure and I received the most awesome scalp and neck massage that I have ever had in my life! :P

Giggle! This sign is about 20 feet by 10 feet on the metro platform!

A short little film about being squished on the Delhi metro.


This picture snapped on Kingfisher Airlines, the best airline in the world as far as I am concerned!
Next stop, Goa.

Have a lovely day!

55 Flash Fiction Friday

This 55 was inspired by another friends blog post about hanging out in a hotel room alone. Now don't get all shocked because I wrote a 55 finally! :P


I love a hotel room to myself. TV remote in hand, a little Black Dog, I watch fun stuff like doggies playing outside six floors below...traffic noise slowly dies down...curry smells waft up from three restaurants which never stop cooking...highway on my plate. Worthless hard flat pillow causing me to drink more.

Have a lovely day! 325India (just kidding) (ok,well only sorta half kidding!)

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

These wild parrots were trying to nest outside my hotel room window in Bangalore. So beautiful and fun to watch.

This is Mirs mom and me hanging out at Mirs house, where I was invited to dinner one night after Mir closed his shop. Upon meeting his mom I was greeted with the warmest hug and kissed on both cheeks like the French do, and then hugged some more. There at Mirs I tasted a wonderful meal of mutton, 2 delicious types of chicken and rice, yogurt, and onion, carrot and cucumber salad. When I first arrived, Mirs mom asked me if I wanted some juice and of course I said yes, thinking mango juice, yum! To my surprise, I was offered a little platter with a small glass of coca cola! We all started giggling because it was clear that Mir had tipped off his mama that I was a soda drinker. I thought that was a really sweet and fun thing to do for me, and I really enjoyed the soda and the thought behind having gone out to the local market and bought soda, which in any Indian, or in this case, Kashmiri home, is a luxury item.


The very next day I saw a solar eclipse and here is a photo of the eclipse reflected on a water tower. After I saw this, I ran home and buried myself up to my neck in cow dung! :P

Mir and I before the wheeling and dealing and many cups of tea.

Doing business with Mir always involves a little baksheesh.

Mir thinks that this one of a kind, hand carved and hand painted antique Kashmiri swing with brass chains belongs in my red yurt! What do you think?

Lovely treasures in Mirs shop.

More lovely treasures from Mirs shop.
Have an awesome day!