My first still life painting with watercolours.

Easy maça assada | Pommes au four | Baked apples

Scoop out the core of the apple, add dried cherries (or raisins), walnuts, a little butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and sprinkle maple syrup (or sugar syrup). Bake for 50 mins. Enjoy!

New family member :)

After one of our three dogs was put down, we've been looking for a pet dog. My family mostly wanted a "male pedigree dog". About two weeks ago, while coming home from language class, I saw this little fur ball abandoned near our local church. I didn't care whether it was a male or female nor which breed, I just instantly knew, this was the dog I needed. Turns out, she's a girl. At first, it was hard convincing my family to keep the wriggly, squirmy living object in my handbag. But look at that face! How could they refuse! 

Moreover I don't understand why people fancy well bred dogs. I honestly think some of them are a nuisance. I have first hand experience looking after a friend's "pure bred" German shepherd. All that dog did was stay pretty and fall sick. That's probably an isolated case but hey! if you really want a pure breed dog, nothing's going to stop you. But just think about all the cute strays that are looking for a home. Secondly, the discrimination against female dogs needs to stop. How are you going to have your precious male dogs if no one wants female dogs? All you need to do is spay or neuter your pet irregardless of the sex. Your male or female dog won't become any less of a canine after the various surgical procedures. In fact you're not only helping your pet to live a healthy life but also doing your bit to help society keep strays under check. Read more here about How and when to spay/neuter your pet?

So yes, it's established we have a new family member. Everyone is slowly warming up to her. The other two dogs are finding her really strange and keep snapping at her. For now there aren't any serious injuries.

Her name will be Margot :)

Autumn things

Autumn, how dearly I miss you..

Frangipani mornings

"चम्पा तुझमें तीन गुण – रंग, रूप और बास  ; अवगुण तुझमें एक ही कि भंवर न आए पास" 

(Dear Champa, you have colour, beauty and fragrance; yet the honey-bees always keep their distance). 

A peaceful feeling

It's good to be back home. It's a beautiful feeling. A peace that I have missed. Most days I spend wandering around the hill, like I did when I was young. Sneaky and Benjamin insist on accompanying me everywhere I go. I love the company. It's a never judging faithful undivided attention they give me. We have a new addition to our canine family. I will introduce her as soon as I have good pictures. 

Home sweet home.

I've got my Masters in hand and some dreams to rebuild. I needed a short break from "la vie européenne". I decided the best thing would be to take the flight back home to Goa and spend some quality time with my family. I have missed being home and being taken care of (in the Indian child comes home sort of way). 

On returning home, my grandmother's absence is the most striking part of the household fabric. The love is still there from everybody but a big part of it is missing. There's a lot of work to do now. I spend some time everyday in my grandmum's room, sorting through her things. Quite often there is a faint lavender talc scent that fills the room when I open her armoire. That is my favorite scent for now. The ocean offers me comfort. I love experiencing that happy disposition, found only in that familiar place between the earth and the sky..

Happiness, Italian style!

I've finished my Masters and the best way to put the stress behind me is a trip to Italy! Of course!! 

Magic skies

Don't forget to look to the heavens for short while. The skies are making magic tonight.

Douce Normandie

The ocean is a powerful source of energy. It can offer you an instant soul cleanse. Soaking your feet in the Atlantic ocean on a hazy summery day. Could life get any better? :)

Today's mood board :)

Marc Jacobs beauty line! I'm lusting this.

Shop the collection: http://mjin.tl/mjbtys

My Sketches: Bombay

My postcard from Bombay: there isn't a city more maddening yet exciting, more infuriating yet lovely as this! 

Devious Maids: I love!

''Keep your friends close but keep your maids closer''  There's an uproar about the representation of Latinas in Eva Longoria's new production Devious Maids. Just watched the very first episode and I'm hooked! Stereotypes DO exist, the media feeds on stereotypes, we need to deal with that and this show does NOT in any way try to degrade these women neither does it glorify any latina stereotypes. On the contrary, instead of talking about lawyers, doctors, advertisers, the show is giving a chance to maids to tell their story and not losing out on the entertainment factor! I absolutely LOVE the story-line and the cast! If you were a fan of Desperate Housewives, you are going to lurve this show  ENJOY!!!!

Amsterdam: Dutch produce

I'm blessed with friends who live in different places of the world. Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities. My friend M. moved here a year ago from France and she was kind enough to invite me for a few days. There are many things I've noticed from a non-touristy point of view on this trip. For one, Dutch produce is so much cheaper than the one in France. I've tried to study the Dutch names for each of the fruits and vegetables present here. I love the colours and the wood combination. So rustic and pretty. 

How beautifully said by YSL

Nothing is more beautiful than a nude body. The most beautiful clothes that can dress a woman are the hands of a man that she loves. But for those who don't have the chance to find such luck, I am there. YSL :)

Black and White takes: Les Alpes

In the Alps: La Clusaz and Cheese and Crêpes

The French Alps! The food here is just so amazing and fatty. I love it. French people in the Alps are so kind and generous! This farmer just welcomed us into his cheesemaking kingdom. And the next minute we're discovering the cheese making process for free from a very cute cheesemaker. This holiday just took a new turn  

Get a load of this caramel salted butter crêpe. Ahh! Not good for the heart, but so good for the soul!!

Poème magnifique! De Jacques Prévert

Etranges étrangers de Jacques Prévert 

Kabyles de la Chapelle et des quais de Javel
hommes des pays loin
cobayes des colonies
Doux petits musiciens

soleils adolescents de la porte d’Italie
Boumians de la porte de Saint-Ouen
Apatrides d’Aubervilliers
brûleurs des grandes ordures de la ville de Paris
ébouillanteurs des bêtes trouvées mortes sur pied
au beau milieu des rues
Tunisiens de Grenelle
embauchés débauchés
manœuvres désœuvrés
Polacks du Marais du Temple des Rosiers

Cordonniers de Cordoue soutiers de Barcelone
pêcheurs des Baléares ou bien du Finisterre
rescapés de Franco
et déportés de France et de Navarre
pour avoir défendu en souvenir de la vôtre
la liberté des autres

Esclaves noirs de Fréjus
tiraillés et parqués
au bord d’une petite mer
où peu vous vous baignez

Esclaves noirs de Fréjus
qui évoquez chaque soir
dans les locaux disciplinaires
avec une vieille boîte à cigares
et quelques bouts de fil de fer
tous les échos de vos villages
tous les oiseaux de vos forêts
et ne venez dans la capitale
que pour fêter au pas cadencé
la prise de la Bastille le quatorze juillet

Enfants du Sénégal
dépatriés expatriés et naturalisés

Enfants indochinois
jongleurs aux innocents couteaux
qui vendiez autrefois aux terrasses des cafés
de jolis dragons d’or faits de papier plié
Enfants trop tôt grandis et si vite en allés
qui dormez aujourd’hui de retour au pays
le visage dans la terre
et des bombes incendiaires labourant vos rizières

On vous a renvoyé
la monnaie de vos papiers dorés
on vous a retourné
vos petits couteaux dans le dos

Étranges étrangers
Vous êtes de la ville
vous êtes de sa vie
même si mal en vivez
même si vous en mourez.

Spring things: Ile-de-France