tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50323547916134222492024-03-12T19:47:23.401-07:00Huli-de-VanaOur farm at ChitrapurOurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-67487454436300553182024-01-02T10:20:00.000-08:002024-01-02T10:20:54.468-08:00Kai Nattie or Machine Nattie ……..?<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is early June and the buzz going around among
the few farmers who are still cultivating rice is – “Kai Nattie / Machine
Nattie?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nattie
means Transplant and the question is “Do you plan to get the rice transplanted
manually – by hand – Kai Nattie OR<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>do
you plan to hire a Rice Transplant Machine? The locals have mixed opinions on
the Machine transplanting – but I for one was keen on doing it this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It saves a tremendous amount of time and
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The seed
sowing method is different for Machine transplanting and that is how the
discussions and questions start in June when seed sowing is to be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you who have not read my earlier
blog posts, the nursery preparation for manual transplanting is linked <a href="https://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2014/11/rice-nursery.html" target="_blank">here.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the difference starts with preparing the soil
in which the seeds are to be planted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have to mix the soil with the compost and then sieve the mixture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There should be no stones or pebbles in the
mixture else the machine gets jammed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So I
decided to have the rice nursery on the terrace as it would also be safe from
the cows/wild boars and peacocks!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A set of 50
plastic trays was purchased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My farm
hand Yogesh brought a few basket loads of fine soil and compost up to the upper room and a large net for sieving the mixture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started mixing the damp compost and the
soil- it was similar to making pastry dough – you have to get it all crumbly
first – no lumps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The netting did a good
job of sieving the mixture and soon the trays were all filled and
levelled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUhsyyKr7SnreJeMfZuatzJLe3To_AWUX5VefvOpvpCv6UL6n1dR2qJbB6HCQy7bOrlm3Dwtdd53PAZiV1EpDjh6lQqrXAXGLWbGOZIUe6ISVg50cPJm_3blQ_DZ2uLT-ErRRGgncMd2r5gkdxIpneeqhIqfM9PzcgSQW0Jb6W4lBD3GxUsytdn_KmlHK/s4160/20230611_111351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUhsyyKr7SnreJeMfZuatzJLe3To_AWUX5VefvOpvpCv6UL6n1dR2qJbB6HCQy7bOrlm3Dwtdd53PAZiV1EpDjh6lQqrXAXGLWbGOZIUe6ISVg50cPJm_3blQ_DZ2uLT-ErRRGgncMd2r5gkdxIpneeqhIqfM9PzcgSQW0Jb6W4lBD3GxUsytdn_KmlHK/w480-h640/20230611_111351.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oF4lEUM53RylCw75oEYLHU5iEKgdrgktYIVG8Mw77NXMeOpTHUyDMx1g_aJ_hsbLkBXZHdc1cbRPCWN31PrHAlFZwYJfSL3tSZJ19IVeU5f54VFOkAoTsa_BIFpcVDYR37ZbNSk0XMmKgnN_ZZKDoY5gJb6T4Bnh20ylB49WryPjYofSbYdQvPb_GOvY/s4160/20230611_114031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oF4lEUM53RylCw75oEYLHU5iEKgdrgktYIVG8Mw77NXMeOpTHUyDMx1g_aJ_hsbLkBXZHdc1cbRPCWN31PrHAlFZwYJfSL3tSZJ19IVeU5f54VFOkAoTsa_BIFpcVDYR37ZbNSk0XMmKgnN_ZZKDoY5gJb6T4Bnh20ylB49WryPjYofSbYdQvPb_GOvY/w480-h640/20230611_114031.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A prayer in my heart and I
started sprinkling the seeds on the trays.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_axwndHTYbJLHhGdfImGt_qrbdCirLNp4jIllptxwEyL2NGtiC_XWlMgR8Hof2pC5j3Eq2CfPb4szQ1E6KW8Pwg7kr7Y0DMQyv3v1GyWrk9OL4Y-yjqzL2oeaPWpdA-2_u4Vcc9H9mUuqPBePp35HszPFymyMwAasxS1upA3rTmmHx32pDwrMbbVZjxVp/s4160/20230611_121620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_axwndHTYbJLHhGdfImGt_qrbdCirLNp4jIllptxwEyL2NGtiC_XWlMgR8Hof2pC5j3Eq2CfPb4szQ1E6KW8Pwg7kr7Y0DMQyv3v1GyWrk9OL4Y-yjqzL2oeaPWpdA-2_u4Vcc9H9mUuqPBePp35HszPFymyMwAasxS1upA3rTmmHx32pDwrMbbVZjxVp/w640-h480/20230611_121620.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rice germinates very easily and there is no need to cover the seeds with
another layer of soil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hay is laid
evenly over the seeds and then a generous sprinkling of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The very next day I could see the sprouts and
the third day the rice saplings had pushed the hay up by an inch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHYYbAe6EBh895XbuFMA5sLy371pXv32oKVCd03YtAsoqs-p3sJRi5trV-5xur23yyBe2h8SI2R_GBmNBlZfQpEKlSa-xAoxqaKoIl_EINJHoBM8bjs2g6o61pqnmDA-2kas1nOLGe-LlffwhbUEQEWWjqjX8gXTpKpnK9wzHJ5sFZIV_tlb7J1MsS5_T/s4160/20230611_130919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHYYbAe6EBh895XbuFMA5sLy371pXv32oKVCd03YtAsoqs-p3sJRi5trV-5xur23yyBe2h8SI2R_GBmNBlZfQpEKlSa-xAoxqaKoIl_EINJHoBM8bjs2g6o61pqnmDA-2kas1nOLGe-LlffwhbUEQEWWjqjX8gXTpKpnK9wzHJ5sFZIV_tlb7J1MsS5_T/w480-h640/20230611_130919.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODg72I3nhdi_9-1mlCaldago9q2NK8s8RRlel8Jhx4yZLnFzWZ8328GXpMBeMHmgy29UliM_gc62AGp1BU60lbxfh4T2ThJuohoa6u56Yex6BE9XkwCk2NpgiYvsfu_8vNRiWQvobePGGZ19A3LWd9f6HMZ7VaQ39CheTb_oHhwC0w2goHt7y5ayt7abg/s4160/20230615_182737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODg72I3nhdi_9-1mlCaldago9q2NK8s8RRlel8Jhx4yZLnFzWZ8328GXpMBeMHmgy29UliM_gc62AGp1BU60lbxfh4T2ThJuohoa6u56Yex6BE9XkwCk2NpgiYvsfu_8vNRiWQvobePGGZ19A3LWd9f6HMZ7VaQ39CheTb_oHhwC0w2goHt7y5ayt7abg/w640-h480/20230615_182737.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4a1_V9E-BfGGkfOVEpPpZVKuxoujgm4Zhm1kWcWgEhNWRmrXO5q5yf8N0WEkvCwPyI9QHdZz_M_y-m4ayh-C-KEMlZ1kLoR9FXwbME7KGcPTyEpSnJl8CrVWSs2lS7VSOAp2NK1Bm01iiFUZKeCK1Wrjp6UPFnAenlyIb2endWceWsenu2wzlU_71z7Wy/s4160/20230616_080056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4a1_V9E-BfGGkfOVEpPpZVKuxoujgm4Zhm1kWcWgEhNWRmrXO5q5yf8N0WEkvCwPyI9QHdZz_M_y-m4ayh-C-KEMlZ1kLoR9FXwbME7KGcPTyEpSnJl8CrVWSs2lS7VSOAp2NK1Bm01iiFUZKeCK1Wrjp6UPFnAenlyIb2endWceWsenu2wzlU_71z7Wy/w640-h480/20230616_080056.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A week later the rice saplings were ready to
be exposed to the sun and I removed the hay gently.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyWULv9_FORowWwZuH7AFcoy4J9ypvLkrgNJNR_CMCoOsgK7GJAYPahgn1Gn4P2-Lt42PeAxKjTGb3LHWoHoA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A carpet of green adorned the terrace!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDb3P0kvHNQ9Df_hsKodD-Y9Ae4p3CHoqDNsQp0oi-TgWhKLi0Be-DC8uKoDnOcqzKThn93VEXTEtW2UdbBPyJtkvZBL-SYv-_7I-cLDNv0u0_ujISfrkQjgkwIYnVZy-OV-tcqnQIdAvkPst8XlGiuhJYHzu-ZCb6XYqZHGI5BPkjHa3BAkSpJy4OISb/s4160/20230712_072717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDb3P0kvHNQ9Df_hsKodD-Y9Ae4p3CHoqDNsQp0oi-TgWhKLi0Be-DC8uKoDnOcqzKThn93VEXTEtW2UdbBPyJtkvZBL-SYv-_7I-cLDNv0u0_ujISfrkQjgkwIYnVZy-OV-tcqnQIdAvkPst8XlGiuhJYHzu-ZCb6XYqZHGI5BPkjHa3BAkSpJy4OISb/w480-h640/20230712_072717.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Just a
regular watering was all that it needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And July first week, the plants were ready for transplanting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The rice
transplanting machine is a fascinating one!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After the field was ploughed and muddled up with a 2 to 3 inch deep
water level, the machine was brought in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A note about where the machine comes from :<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We have a
local “Dharmasthal Sangha”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which has most
of the modern machines required for farming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They let out this equipment for a very reasonable hourly rate and the
trained operator brings the machine to your farm. He <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>starts <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the timer when he starts the work and charges you
for the total time that the machine was used on your land!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amazing isn’t it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(You can read more about this here <a href="https://skdrdpindia.org/agriculture/chsc/">https://skdrdpindia.org/agriculture/chsc/</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We had
already rolled up the ‘Mats of Paddy saplings’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>out of the trays in which they were
planted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy4fnOr015EPSxvhXz7JylE46EMyVzyJzwQaOP-9CuzzylirtL_qVQiIIAJ0SLdCjd1sOLimC4h-EjfvF_O2g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzVa0b1iveCWb4Vebi2wqkS5egXZzKC1WUdAIgvz1lIpajTiJX1gs9bmFcaN58N4wVwExDYRaWN1CxG52e0g62453u_x6rkYDxgACyXID2cWzPBvyrTV_m4WWA788ZPFAH0_kAdJbtqpyJAMWgFTVFw6700vsLq8yahuQBdQmikSvKZLE07WmveYc-vhb/s4160/20230712_073126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzVa0b1iveCWb4Vebi2wqkS5egXZzKC1WUdAIgvz1lIpajTiJX1gs9bmFcaN58N4wVwExDYRaWN1CxG52e0g62453u_x6rkYDxgACyXID2cWzPBvyrTV_m4WWA788ZPFAH0_kAdJbtqpyJAMWgFTVFw6700vsLq8yahuQBdQmikSvKZLE07WmveYc-vhb/w640-h480/20230712_073126.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>They rolled mats were then
carried out to the paddy farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mats are unrolled and placed on an angular
tilted frame and operator sets off pushing the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>machine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It trundles along and a set of hooks pulls out clumps of the saplings and
plants them into the slush as it moves on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzqafY0eNOZE-MtsCnW3rmPPDLBh_OeNkC23B9IryE5cxWW3MZXhL41dVubwapc_YT6rYVsqYtipMWjCpYTSg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It briskly covers the length of the field, is turned<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and then brought back to plant the next
several lines of saplings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole
process of transplantation which would have taken 8 to 10 labourers a whole
day, gets done in an hour and a half!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After one
year of not planting anything and then one year of a failed crop – due to
destruction by the wild boars, I hope this time things are better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I plan on
getting an electric fence to protect the crop from boars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope the Jeevamruth works its magic and
pray for a decent harvest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-36625658861274167362023-12-23T07:09:00.000-08:002023-12-23T08:03:30.791-08:00The Wooden Stool Seller6 am – dark overcast skies, lashing rain all the way to Mangalore airport, rain on the tarmac…….hoping that the flights are not delayed! <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> 2 pm Bombay – Bright and sunny! Hot dusty and noisy!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> I clean the house, rustle up a meal and catch up with my emails. Before I know I, it is almost 6 pm , I need to go to the market and get some fresh veggies. Just half an hour I promise myself, pick up some cloth bags and lock the house and step out. </div><div><br /></div><div> The heat, the noise, the dust and the bustle that is Bombay, envelops me in a familiar warmth. The banana vendor, the other fruit vendor and the vegetable vendor call out to me “Bhabhi – Sitaphal leke jao” (Do take the Custard apples), “Bhabhi – aaj palak achcha hai –“ (The Spinach is fresh)
(Bhabhi is the term for elder sister-in-law and is a respectful way to call out)
I signal to them that I’ll pick up the stuff on my way back and continue walking ahead. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Suddenly I spot the Wooden Stool seller – or rather I spot the inverted bunch of stools moving at a very brisk pace in the opposite direction. He is walking beyond the line of cabs parked next to the pavement and the fencing prevents me from reaching out to him. I retrace my steps trying to keep him in sight and finally break into a run to find a gap in the fencing where I can step out and intercept him.
He seems startled – he was probably done for the day and was walking back to his home. I told him I wanted to buy a couple of stools. He told me the price rather warily and did not seem keen on lowering the pile down. I asked him whether he would walk upto my home to deliver the stools as there was no way that I could carry 2 of them all the way back and up the stairs.</div><div><br /></div><div> When he realized that I was serious about buying them, he lowered the whole pile down – what an amazing way he had stacked them all up! I selected 2 of them and agreed to the price that he asked for. He stacked them back together, lifted the whole pile with ease and I led the way home. In the foyer of the building he lowered his stack of stools again and picking the 2 that I had selected walked up the stairs and dropped them off. I paid him and he went off. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Why am I writing about this? What moved me to write this? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> The fact that in today’s age of Amazon home deliveries, Pepper Fry furniture and Ikea furniture, this type of Stool -seller is a vanishing tribe. As far back as I can remember I always have had these wooden stools at home. All my school and college days, it was my simple wooden stool at my study table that saw me thru my study days! When we moved to the farm, we had brought one of the extra-tall wooden stools here and I missed having it in Bombay. It was the perfect height for getting things down from the attic, cleaning the ceiling fan and of course just sitting by the window as well. </div><div><br /></div><div> I was seeing a stool seller after ages and had to get a tall stool again! And a low one to keep the laptop on when you felt like sitting on the floor and working.</div><div><br /></div><div> Hand-crafting the stools, hauling them onto their head and then walking around the city the whole day long hoping to sell their wares! </div><div><br /></div><div> That’s how they make a living! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Presenting here a Painting by an artist friend <i>Amit Romani </i></div><div><br /></div><div>(Title: Migrant Labour I Medium: Watercolor on acid free paper In private collection ) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Do check out more of his paintings on his website<a href="https://www.amitromani.com/" target="_blank"> https://www.amitromani.com/</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPCTtYl7OWEv2badq5bJfBLxUG7o3f703oXiSp1PuMsvUuhaVJIB1ulvBgtvIVGqOoplX793EagcoQvLxmVJyGInmqYhVO6-vaSSFQ_2mJohpA1s55bR-3yI9kKQXWGl5_mSMYdkWJV8ob3f2uGhSzBecHNn2ZKUeDH9Txy5lCdYphT7Fu3FS8FYCv7Om/s638/Stool%20seller.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="491" height="730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPCTtYl7OWEv2badq5bJfBLxUG7o3f703oXiSp1PuMsvUuhaVJIB1ulvBgtvIVGqOoplX793EagcoQvLxmVJyGInmqYhVO6-vaSSFQ_2mJohpA1s55bR-3yI9kKQXWGl5_mSMYdkWJV8ob3f2uGhSzBecHNn2ZKUeDH9Txy5lCdYphT7Fu3FS8FYCv7Om/w562-h730/Stool%20seller.jpg" width="562" /></a></div>
</div>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-55161868210794512942023-06-17T10:21:00.000-07:002023-06-17T10:21:38.235-07:00Hay from Haveri<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The number
of small land holders who have given up rice cultivation in our area is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>increasing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at an alarming pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer do I have my farm hand or maid
asking me –“So and so…. Has a stack of hay to sell – do you want to buy it?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would be followed by a description: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which Rice variety (Red rice is a shorter
plant and the other white variety has much longer hay),<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What
type of bundle (kaat as it is locally called) – the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>roughly tied bundle that has just been<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tied for threshing OR a Post threshing
tightly tied bundle meant for piling hay in a compact manner<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">How
many bundles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And
finally the rate per bundle – have watched this grow from Rs3.50<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>all the way to 10 or 12 over the past few
years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So the
small land holders would have about 800
to 1000
kaats, meaning a reasonable earning of about 8k to 10k from the sale of
the hay. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRV6RzV3aQP_fdo-fppzEeb1NOoAodjhP1IM60X8_jGEh-UjFrR9_a3EXUGiVUuNsmDTVWVTX8dv4wAyq_kDWu6zvnCdKyV0Q-uBXOkw2VOkVB1sn9dlAlB_D09V_0MyN8uBjQCi0_B0c1yjoFnc6R4NxsI42ZuVUri99KQj-GlVQJ-bdAN6thOsi2A/s4000/IMG_5980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRV6RzV3aQP_fdo-fppzEeb1NOoAodjhP1IM60X8_jGEh-UjFrR9_a3EXUGiVUuNsmDTVWVTX8dv4wAyq_kDWu6zvnCdKyV0Q-uBXOkw2VOkVB1sn9dlAlB_D09V_0MyN8uBjQCi0_B0c1yjoFnc6R4NxsI42ZuVUri99KQj-GlVQJ-bdAN6thOsi2A/w640-h480/IMG_5980.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for sale - any takers?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We would buy from several
farmers and sometimes have interesting <a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2020/11/hayyyyyyyyyyyy.html" target="_blank">
</a><a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2020/11/hayyyyyyyyyyyy.html" target="_blank">trips to their farm to collect<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the hay.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span>So like I mentioned, the decline of Rice cultivation has led to a severe shortage of hay in this region. The stock of hay which I had purchased at the start of the season was close to getting finished with no fresh stock in sight.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVOQpJuau9yaKJ852d7keiLn358Y2_AkV3_vFsO3ROZ_e7mnGN2bb1d6xUP5K7n65trvYehSA_C7ZG3cuGqXW6Va5LKNZgxxARi27piPdLoQBQvRolCf-M8GXdFNVbA_xnExT9iMPjRLcxmEgy66Dy9W1cPlplov8sL8bl6nUpOCRATukL-ByHnYyxg/s2592/WP_20141028_021%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="2592" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVOQpJuau9yaKJ852d7keiLn358Y2_AkV3_vFsO3ROZ_e7mnGN2bb1d6xUP5K7n65trvYehSA_C7ZG3cuGqXW6Va5LKNZgxxARi27piPdLoQBQvRolCf-M8GXdFNVbA_xnExT9iMPjRLcxmEgy66Dy9W1cPlplov8sL8bl6nUpOCRATukL-ByHnYyxg/w640-h360/WP_20141028_021%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sight rarely seen in the village these days - everyone gathering to help harvest and thresh each others rice fields. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">So this
morning I was pleasantly surprised to receive a call from one of the locals –‘A
truck with hay has arrived in the village – do you want some hay?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sure! I
said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I left my half
eaten breakfast aside and went out to move the car out of the drive way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they were willing to stack the hay in the
attic of the cow shed, it would be lesser distance to cover on each trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I was about
to go back to my breakfast when the truck arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
not a very large one, two men inside the cabin and 2 riding atop the high pile
of hay at the back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I asked to
see the size of the kaat and the rate – it<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>seemed very expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing
less than 70 Rs each!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The size was
definitely much larger than the local kaats yet the price did seem exorbitant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I checked with the other people who had
purchased it just before they reached here and found that they had paid the
same amount but purchased only 50 kaats.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I decided
to do the same – 50 kaats would help tide over the immediate need<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and maybe I could get some at a reasonable
rate from the interior villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
men looked disappointed when I said that I found it expensive and I would take
only<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>50. One of them tried to convince
me to take 100. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have come from very
far, the cost of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fuel itself is so much,
we are not really making much money - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they were in a hurry, so they
would only pile it up in the driveway and not stack it up in the attic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Where have
you’ll come from? I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Haveri.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was the answer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Haveri!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hay all the way from Haveri!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
is over 200 kms away – almost a 5 hour journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And here were these 4 men with their weather beaten faces, probably
having driven through the night to have reached Chitrapur so early in the
morning,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>going <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from farm to farm selling the hay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I counted
the kaats as they piled them<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>swiftly in
the drive way, and when they reached 50, I said “Go ahead, make it
hundred”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Aivat
ondu, Aivat yerdu…….” Briskly the pile grew. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At 100 they
all paused and wiped the sweat streaming down their faces and asked for water
to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As they
drank the water, one of them perched on top of the pile asked “Will you not
take another 50…?” .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not have that
much cash with me – oh no problem Google pay will do he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I am still amazed by the reach of Cashless
transactions!)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Will you
discount it if I do so ?” I asked jokingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Oh no amma……we have to bear so many expenses “ he lamented<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I thought
to myself – a meal for 4 at an upmarket restaurant in Mumbai <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>probably
cost <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the same as what I need to spend on
the hay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4 well fed people <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the Airconditioned ambience of a nice
restuarant and 4 tired looking men<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>having purchased the hay from probably several small struggling farmers
in distant Haveri, travelling so far to make a living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4 satiated people who would forget what they
had eaten at the meal in a few days. And a huge bovine family who would
gratefully munch on this hay at least <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>till Rice harvest time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Go Ahead,
I’ll take another 50 I said. And was rewarded with a vigorous head nod and an
extra kaat at the end of the counting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2q0eEiM5fz9vL1ALPxr_LnBNW2FocYXlykOWQ4j0Em_tcqNJtizKHCSpdrL7BSjf6oMeGqrPUVBFEDj8GTEpQCZehtQkg1RLzM7yQx7agq2Q7AD1m1pZEhPoTrUIHsp4Lb0rORpCPfl8OJsF3EQ3sdwwpJVwvPX0kkE4pTEAfE1eT80QHrcy-TAU3w/s4160/20230613_094908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2q0eEiM5fz9vL1ALPxr_LnBNW2FocYXlykOWQ4j0Em_tcqNJtizKHCSpdrL7BSjf6oMeGqrPUVBFEDj8GTEpQCZehtQkg1RLzM7yQx7agq2Q7AD1m1pZEhPoTrUIHsp4Lb0rORpCPfl8OJsF3EQ3sdwwpJVwvPX0kkE4pTEAfE1eT80QHrcy-TAU3w/w640-h480/20230613_094908.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The whole
procedure took about 30 minutes and off they went busy getting the directions
of the next farm on the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So now I
have Hay from Haveri for the cows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wonder whether it tastes any different from the hay from Chitrapur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If my cows tell me I will surely let you all
know!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-64701169164719826352023-01-17T10:26:00.001-08:002023-01-23T01:39:21.309-08:00Life Express’22<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">A whole calendar<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>year<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just whizzed past and I feel like a solitary
being on a dimly lit railway station watching the bogeys of Life Express’22
thunder past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did I miss the train…..was
I supposed to be on it……well I will try and catch the next one for sure…….but a
whole fortnight has already slipped past and I can barely hold on to the handle
bar………….<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Trying to catch my breath and wedge my foot firmer on the
foothold,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>let me reflect on the year
gone by…..<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">January had me with an armload of pups,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All black and cuddly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fat and waddly,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Endless meals of eggnog and ragi porridge <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Broth with chicken all creamy and rich<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Methi-chicken biscuits for the new mum <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lest she have a problem with lactation for the young ones<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tch tch tch tch tch tch……tch<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And they all race behind me out into the yard,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meals done , poop and pee<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>robust game and
they are ready to sleep<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Six times a day this routine <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Saw me all thru January <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Right into feb,,,,when to their new homes they went!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq9EEpi6njzcOyh6vfe7c0oMzRJdeTdRLdWrtDRjYU9u2nJGZnxQ9gi-I64IuMOKfZOkR4Or8nqiEIgI0OfTr_4humLZq4KHlqET8EeyqaP_qI0YbhRNIskLpN0p31sErKwcx67x0AyWCnF4NuYyRiNxWss6CuGXg55-b_ZPX__3HbNaK2aBjpnPHqA/s4160/20220128_150349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmq9EEpi6njzcOyh6vfe7c0oMzRJdeTdRLdWrtDRjYU9u2nJGZnxQ9gi-I64IuMOKfZOkR4Or8nqiEIgI0OfTr_4humLZq4KHlqET8EeyqaP_qI0YbhRNIskLpN0p31sErKwcx67x0AyWCnF4NuYyRiNxWss6CuGXg55-b_ZPX__3HbNaK2aBjpnPHqA/w480-h640/20220128_150349.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHwyTeBBsmT_6Qw91I1VgRvlHK9Uoy18FwIK9vsPeKzrRoRgL1HIYDOeZF8NUENiWZ-Zdc8WOZN-GQExfuhoPAWoFZiJDYNHwMlwB8MOMEX9pURDAa9sPbjs6agYqc2-VFt6pQZE2ewCGwdWHTh12SnCllZoMzVuIA9PSrPBe-0N5xFSUUwjS05b0Pg/s4160/20220208_100242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHwyTeBBsmT_6Qw91I1VgRvlHK9Uoy18FwIK9vsPeKzrRoRgL1HIYDOeZF8NUENiWZ-Zdc8WOZN-GQExfuhoPAWoFZiJDYNHwMlwB8MOMEX9pURDAa9sPbjs6agYqc2-VFt6pQZE2ewCGwdWHTh12SnCllZoMzVuIA9PSrPBe-0N5xFSUUwjS05b0Pg/w640-h480/20220208_100242.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Feb saw the arrival of a new hen<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The previous one met a sad end<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I forgot to close the cage door one night <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The mongoose seemed to have got her…. Such a sorry plight<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2JiKyl6yMKrIGAjEAYJ4gFOjo-tgZpvFeCq0anUD_HmNiKYXXkqm5-6C06OHW9QvGDpqDpUI7uTMCChdPmr1MBcUsqyqF3lPc4gg0jpGeP15_VIc4CaCmMk3qQLg7AVFAxuHoJLrxXHy7vSxslRKFBIf09SXGuDo7PJsjUyfuAQe4F_LM5L1t94TJA/s3280/IMG_20210327_095156.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1840" data-original-width="3280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2JiKyl6yMKrIGAjEAYJ4gFOjo-tgZpvFeCq0anUD_HmNiKYXXkqm5-6C06OHW9QvGDpqDpUI7uTMCChdPmr1MBcUsqyqF3lPc4gg0jpGeP15_VIc4CaCmMk3qQLg7AVFAxuHoJLrxXHy7vSxslRKFBIf09SXGuDo7PJsjUyfuAQe4F_LM5L1t94TJA/w640-h360/IMG_20210327_095156.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">March spun me around on work<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Was the rest all leisure girrrl?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A trip to Varanasi had me all charged up,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But an <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>online tender
process caught me in a vice like grip.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oh… I missed all the fun things with the group on this trip.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">April brought a kind of a lull, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">almost akin to one before a storm<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The wave of work never abated,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Keeping at bay despairing thoughts, I accepted.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May brought fresh agony<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The memories - last year’s,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tore thru and brought fresh tears<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">June had me in the pits<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A close friends’ grief over<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">An estranged daughter<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Had me shed more tears with her<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">July spun me on work trips again<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chennai and Patiala helped me escape the rain<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But then it had its vengeance in August<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Floods never seen before – a cloud burst<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Boundary walls washed away <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Collapse of the partially built bridge over the holle<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Closed all access roads and had me house bound<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A brave attempt to cross the holle with the 4 wheel drive<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Had me struggling to get out, what a relief to get back on
safe ground!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoprh99GUaVmpIi5xctQFP4c29H7EeNNDfJJ7sQXKX2_dEmU_esX2pRTUEsdc0tp1MjZJW50vwa3JT1oWM4uk4EsSILqep9NwKaI6lP8FaLPaXNoUCsCm9MItbV7LnNQwLKRZG6IZBtSQfxDgCJKreUSO8D8U8CptPmB1YnGT7hpSJnHWuiwMTV8Ujgw/s4160/20220802_104734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoprh99GUaVmpIi5xctQFP4c29H7EeNNDfJJ7sQXKX2_dEmU_esX2pRTUEsdc0tp1MjZJW50vwa3JT1oWM4uk4EsSILqep9NwKaI6lP8FaLPaXNoUCsCm9MItbV7LnNQwLKRZG6IZBtSQfxDgCJKreUSO8D8U8CptPmB1YnGT7hpSJnHWuiwMTV8Ujgw/w640-h480/20220802_104734.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">September brought some respite from the rain<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But then 2 new calves saw me extra busy again<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Huge cauldrons of gruel, spiced with ginger<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sweetend with jaggery, flavoured with pepper<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A load of methi for the new mums too<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oh watch them slurp it up<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hopefully there will be enough milk, for some months to come!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">October brought a sad event,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the passing away of a great soul<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My dear father-in-law <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just short of a century by 2<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A life well lived,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Discipline, honesty and integrity<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We learnt from him and much more!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">November had me travelling again,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A solo trip to soothe my soul<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The mountains offered a solace <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With just their shadows and silence!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All too soon it is December, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The last bogey on Life Express ‘22<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A long pending trip to Vellore,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When holiday rush have all websites saying – Tickets? No
more!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Booked a cab and drove across <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And got a taste of Bangalore traffic woes<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nice road is not so Nice any more!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The last day of the year brought a rush of memories<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Barbecues with the family,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dad’s home, resounding with laughter,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Siblings and cousins all together<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those merry days have passed away,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Learn to enjoy your solitude <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Says the vast silent sky<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Learn to enjoy the silence <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Says the thundering Life Express’22 just gone by.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>***************************************************************</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Dear Readers, Thank you for all your likes and comments......I would really appreciate if I could know who has posted the comments as most of the time I can only see it as Anonymous</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-14279979885441784812022-08-23T06:21:00.000-07:002022-08-23T06:21:01.608-07:00Picking up the pieces….<p> </p><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">Pick up the pieces<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Try to join them again<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So what if they don’t fit<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">…to make what it once was,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Try to join them again <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And make something new<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A mismatched piece is not the end<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is the whole that counts<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Look at it from a distance<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And see the threads running through<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The seams may jumble and go askew<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But don’t turn it around and look<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There may still be some beauty<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When it all come together<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Don’t disregard this messy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Patchwork <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After all, this is what we call Life!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My sewing machine is jammed. It is almost<a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-merry-stash.html" target="_blank"> 4 years old</a>, but one year of not using it and the humidity here probably led to this .</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pile of unfinished projects is so high that even Kippi does not
climb and perch on top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I start sorting
out the mess<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- I really need to tidy
this up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the jammed machine – no
amount of cleaning and oiling seems to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luckily I am able to get the phone number of a Sewing Machine Repair guy
who can come home and repair it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he
does!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So my machine is back in action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first thing I tackled was the pile of ‘To
be Repaired’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below that I found<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a quilt top which I had begun a long time
back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was too small to make anything
usable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also looked so dull and insipid now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTHREZDY3Q7SQ2QwPF1UmGt6AI73YGLS3jaqwu0aiczIQ1gHYvCHq5pLMvQY9ALosJM1HefxOKJbgPI_toQveO8FLm9-rfd8Guc3h70Xo52GXpnNayPuFVYgA8sOYGdG27jz5LSTXbcJnphXY-eNk4fOf2jLxHlQ6_SoLcF_DhDpSJMVcDs268K3Vsg/s4160/20220813_210216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTHREZDY3Q7SQ2QwPF1UmGt6AI73YGLS3jaqwu0aiczIQ1gHYvCHq5pLMvQY9ALosJM1HefxOKJbgPI_toQveO8FLm9-rfd8Guc3h70Xo52GXpnNayPuFVYgA8sOYGdG27jz5LSTXbcJnphXY-eNk4fOf2jLxHlQ6_SoLcF_DhDpSJMVcDs268K3Vsg/w640-h480/20220813_210216.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Nevertheless, maybe I could just complete it
and use it for the dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I sorted out
the couple of messy boxes and pulled out all the similar coloured pieces of
fabric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was a ‘Random Piecing’ quilt – so any size of
square or rectangular piece works. The rotary cutter was completely rusted,
thankfully the scissors were not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did not put much effort into ironing the
pieces – I just wanted it to be done fast.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But as the quilt ‘grew’ to a reasonable size, I <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>spread it on the floor <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to take a look – and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hey, that did <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not look as bad as I thought!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I mulled over picking the right coloured border and finally
settled on a white. </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82o6vtR2CCPNDJc7vFK5VYrhpHYDBJXSp-ZAZZ5RY2DCmxHkhn_hjXYqmOJh6sUvwcqHfGzHwQG2jRrrY7euw_WxBqawT7HDL8Vmfia3rK6U5xvyKRF19AV2qtOUVIJPvkcokpbNzHV6HJauueJm25IKXageHJ-mbujjERK_7KgOTR994D4kEtiaRwA/s4160/20220821_001816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82o6vtR2CCPNDJc7vFK5VYrhpHYDBJXSp-ZAZZ5RY2DCmxHkhn_hjXYqmOJh6sUvwcqHfGzHwQG2jRrrY7euw_WxBqawT7HDL8Vmfia3rK6U5xvyKRF19AV2qtOUVIJPvkcokpbNzHV6HJauueJm25IKXageHJ-mbujjERK_7KgOTR994D4kEtiaRwA/w480-h640/20220821_001816.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it looked even
better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided the dogs could just
have something else, this quilt could turn out into something worth using. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe a floor quilt – so I drove to the fabric
shop and got some really thick casement material for the backing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzK3n9MsboFI2A4X1Az0x1t06PD_gEtQV3_p3dBfFxxQB-kpUQPHoJfn7riShIi-Ti1I9IdHBipIFF78qvHabSwLPgoiCwXhgPtAje82hpOyXPB2u_CVnGMAznFWMeaqMTYcUm7Axe8PHSF18sAhuGygDf3LlD4rFS9RKeXjYvDgYXohYm99RPwGB0w/s4160/20220821_214952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzK3n9MsboFI2A4X1Az0x1t06PD_gEtQV3_p3dBfFxxQB-kpUQPHoJfn7riShIi-Ti1I9IdHBipIFF78qvHabSwLPgoiCwXhgPtAje82hpOyXPB2u_CVnGMAznFWMeaqMTYcUm7Axe8PHSF18sAhuGygDf3LlD4rFS9RKeXjYvDgYXohYm99RPwGB0w/w640-h480/20220821_214952.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxaMPI9Iwv-hF5bHWqGmpYD-hembJeUGAqMZ2hynJjP8wFSN8tTRMqi7fabcdddd3j3kSU4B0TTceA_39tZdAkdmn_MIvJLMWrlOQZBpA_HDGp0pYhOsOFBrFDG3xwCiWBQBcl9P5PZa14sRpUI6NKNjjPgGobcuRFH0wyzmgS30Zn0on7cZAESkF-A/s4160/20220821_185819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxaMPI9Iwv-hF5bHWqGmpYD-hembJeUGAqMZ2hynJjP8wFSN8tTRMqi7fabcdddd3j3kSU4B0TTceA_39tZdAkdmn_MIvJLMWrlOQZBpA_HDGp0pYhOsOFBrFDG3xwCiWBQBcl9P5PZa14sRpUI6NKNjjPgGobcuRFH0wyzmgS30Zn0on7cZAESkF-A/w480-h640/20220821_185819.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I thought you said it was for us.........?</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">A very simple Maze pattern to quilt the layers together </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzTqsug84kmUFo6IeKiXqed7R3OO610z9KdGi4Ul8QvzWmKrfPJvQJn7MZ32_HaOFayvPL6jNazF1zHXtICRqkVNkfRkDEdlteRBh5E1a7MJEEQkrgGGPpBUiEEFACSG4csLUy48b6Jj9upFUTZ1pc8-vnmO91eYPHm4GhgW7rNbX_jPY0tDYWq8AUg/s4160/20220822_131410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzTqsug84kmUFo6IeKiXqed7R3OO610z9KdGi4Ul8QvzWmKrfPJvQJn7MZ32_HaOFayvPL6jNazF1zHXtICRqkVNkfRkDEdlteRBh5E1a7MJEEQkrgGGPpBUiEEFACSG4csLUy48b6Jj9upFUTZ1pc8-vnmO91eYPHm4GhgW7rNbX_jPY0tDYWq8AUg/w640-h480/20220822_131410.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>And with the help of some ‘Quilting
Tutorials’ on Youtube, managed to give it <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>almost perfectly Mitered Corners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii51Cl1YqkgQBlUKxgUFWwP-QuYj4U3AeZNL-S1KXhcqGGFNMNdW-93K8eq6heV8irCEVbZ_MMl4gpLa11DGHXL_-Cu2MKUlNkKZOamNJXOOS7Rb6EIQyntCkDPbu5I7hNOw6jsDtcCE7ajnMQOngnDQ0cgrY1xyrrhGiukUMmPw69vr3fGojymNOazA/s4160/20220823_174303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii51Cl1YqkgQBlUKxgUFWwP-QuYj4U3AeZNL-S1KXhcqGGFNMNdW-93K8eq6heV8irCEVbZ_MMl4gpLa11DGHXL_-Cu2MKUlNkKZOamNJXOOS7Rb6EIQyntCkDPbu5I7hNOw6jsDtcCE7ajnMQOngnDQ0cgrY1xyrrhGiukUMmPw69vr3fGojymNOazA/w480-h640/20220823_174303.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">and here it is - the half <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>finished<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>project finally completed!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitddQVJbgy_F1n7P-b39prT98Nq5YaGqIuZPFkrJMg8VWCABw8gGP2mUN8ctMas7-8Kj-zXbgjeFKTmCvPhtiPcAv17DyjAp41ryWkGYOQt1-_D9W4BE4uo5MrnBJx1iRMGZp7_KRhWewEw0YESpMw9k89ciLK4NV0CXuLHZACBEprSJ-nMV7O1OEQRA/s4160/20220823_174517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitddQVJbgy_F1n7P-b39prT98Nq5YaGqIuZPFkrJMg8VWCABw8gGP2mUN8ctMas7-8Kj-zXbgjeFKTmCvPhtiPcAv17DyjAp41ryWkGYOQt1-_D9W4BE4uo5MrnBJx1iRMGZp7_KRhWewEw0YESpMw9k89ciLK4NV0CXuLHZACBEprSJ-nMV7O1OEQRA/w640-h480/20220823_174517.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-70657862661892354502022-01-16T07:55:00.005-08:002022-01-16T08:06:32.795-08:00Trying to begin anew.<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Just when
you think that life couldn’t get any better, it hits you harder than you can
ever imagine, leaving you broken, dazed, shattered….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">And you
have got to carry on….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span>Everything
else is the same, the sun still rises and lights up the tops of the coconut
trees in that brilliant morning glow, the calves still bleat out their hummaaee
at the sound of the milk vessels, the hornbills still shriek out their
cacophony, the flowers still bloom………</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwqBA_9FKNj0vLm7W3Bn3u8K6sLlcD2k0oNgguxuLHTTWDjpPgnBK1r8N2pJMzbGgCKfAD3QZyDBp_s1l0wGwm3CJTlpi2lvFigxAPru6n-AtYcSUUabqdJIPLVs_PwkoLqJDQcTHLf3nQuYr0cFZMVZZ5GRBW2KX-iBRPAJv8AlFHhIiwl6oMtrON2g=s4160" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwqBA_9FKNj0vLm7W3Bn3u8K6sLlcD2k0oNgguxuLHTTWDjpPgnBK1r8N2pJMzbGgCKfAD3QZyDBp_s1l0wGwm3CJTlpi2lvFigxAPru6n-AtYcSUUabqdJIPLVs_PwkoLqJDQcTHLf3nQuYr0cFZMVZZ5GRBW2KX-iBRPAJv8AlFHhIiwl6oMtrON2g=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ76W_W_RU2LX7h7HoOb0wlOzaXGl7RJXxZSrYRhUFrKt6sdOllv9bU1lQdvEz1gM4YA19cXEOU87vKl2Lr6U9Qhvh6mrCka9zUKczn0sXqAjrtRyndKlJ5RcH4r6GXZQmimYeujS37dGAMlxnFl6-yKgUGKUyLsJukiv802H9FVkXS5ut0oqyAj-_RQ=s4000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ76W_W_RU2LX7h7HoOb0wlOzaXGl7RJXxZSrYRhUFrKt6sdOllv9bU1lQdvEz1gM4YA19cXEOU87vKl2Lr6U9Qhvh6mrCka9zUKczn0sXqAjrtRyndKlJ5RcH4r6GXZQmimYeujS37dGAMlxnFl6-yKgUGKUyLsJukiv802H9FVkXS5ut0oqyAj-_RQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAhybB8UbmRgX5bul5ijvzv3fsPiI151mgO2p9ZHm21Km93JgeCSfHtcdmyQFVlcTOEORa7k6Mt-o0Z3fFb2l0yelI8kMR8rQ2USP1xh1KErBDlUlLT4JcGrJIuyC5VyrZym1hhgPl9cH-5ysQOTl90_eoHRykhkNfs41rkAL94Eo23hSEB5l1PcYWfA=s3280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2464" data-original-width="3280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAhybB8UbmRgX5bul5ijvzv3fsPiI151mgO2p9ZHm21Km93JgeCSfHtcdmyQFVlcTOEORa7k6Mt-o0Z3fFb2l0yelI8kMR8rQ2USP1xh1KErBDlUlLT4JcGrJIuyC5VyrZym1hhgPl9cH-5ysQOTl90_eoHRykhkNfs41rkAL94Eo23hSEB5l1PcYWfA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">My eyes
still continue to see all this and my ears still continue to hear all the
sounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is a stillness in my
heart -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a silence, a void – no music
plays here, no sound evokes a lilting<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>melody….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">But I
must move on..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Probably
the first few weeks are the easiest – one lives in an<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>unbelieving daze, surrounded by a comforting
cushion of friends and relatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
one has to move on and get down to the business of sorting out one’s life - As
in getting down to doing the paperwork…. The legalities, the documentations –
that’s when it hits you the hardest – NO you cannot live in an alternate
reality – you have got to come out and face it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">You have
got to learn new skills – of dealing with people the kind of whom you have
never dealt with before, of doing the rounds of government offices, which you
never cared to find out more before….the list is pretty endless…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">But in
all this, there is a force that takes you through the dark days, help comes
from the least expected places, people reach out with their warmth and care
even from miles across, friends and relatives turn up leaving their own busy
schedules aside to assist you when you need it the most….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">I have
been overwhelmed by the messages I received and the love and virtual hugs sent
across miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And one recurrent note in
almost all the messages has been an encouragement to write again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been hard, and but for your love and
support dear readers, this blog of mine would have been silenced. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">I hope to
write again as I have done in the past few years, and when I feel the strength
I may put up the to-be-published posts that I had written during happier times.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gratitude
to all who supported and reached out!</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFgjyp59IbrMP1S7QzstRWiYTcCRRzacBwKXhlueX5-g1nqwu0WiBfFaeI6blFYxRrepimaVDwq7lDfMs_uedMilo99p04Jw33ufTv8xJHk7uKr9kWFqZpXruDxym0wDvCSFZjDa_EaJ6DWZPtHymXN093RmfuTMUs7hPGQe9toGiBiCoYrL0zljpSVQ=s3280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1840" data-original-width="3280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFgjyp59IbrMP1S7QzstRWiYTcCRRzacBwKXhlueX5-g1nqwu0WiBfFaeI6blFYxRrepimaVDwq7lDfMs_uedMilo99p04Jw33ufTv8xJHk7uKr9kWFqZpXruDxym0wDvCSFZjDa_EaJ6DWZPtHymXN093RmfuTMUs7hPGQe9toGiBiCoYrL0zljpSVQ=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-70353542968231574782021-07-04T00:07:00.002-07:002021-07-04T00:09:38.023-07:00Bereaved<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x9PrcQMhGug/YOBM4guGvkI/AAAAAAAACQQ/U1sAhULHCaAPwm-IG4Gk3D_LCjrb-rDGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/WP_20160801_009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x9PrcQMhGug/YOBM4guGvkI/AAAAAAAACQQ/U1sAhULHCaAPwm-IG4Gk3D_LCjrb-rDGQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/WP_20160801_009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>28th Oct 1959 - 27th May 2021</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The path is sunny and bright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A more beautiful life couldn’t have been had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We walk along, enjoying every breath, every minute.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The ground beneath seems to give way.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Everything seems to be slipping away.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Flung into an endless abyss.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of darkness<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And despair.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hope and a frantic foothold.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m confident I can pull ourselves out.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But no.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The foothold gives way<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are flung further into the depths.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clutching at straws,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Laboured breaths,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The incessant beeps<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Flashing lights of the ICU monitors<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Faith and Hope<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Darkness and Despair<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And then <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is all over.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am flung out<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Alone<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The sunlight hurts my eyes<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I grope around<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Shards of my broken heart all around.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The silence is deafening.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The road ahead is in darkness.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What was and Has been.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What is…What will be….<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bruised and Broken<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I need to stand tall<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The last words<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The confidence and strength<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Reposed in me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I need to carry on<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A legacy, A dream.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The strength envelops me<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Albeit from another Realm.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-29256888763668646592021-04-28T00:37:00.001-07:002021-04-28T02:52:01.378-07:00Touch – Me – Not!<p>Mimosa Pudica or Touch-me-not is a small weed that grows
abundantly on our farm. Tiny compound
leaves with a small lavender coloured ball like flower, this plant droops down
and closes its leaves on the slightest touch!
Even a drop of water falling on it elicits the same response. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dQqmQqHiomM/YIkFnkmOotI/AAAAAAAACNA/-078lzFoLqIEgw5mNFyhXRTQrPD5iDazQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20210428_104435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dQqmQqHiomM/YIkFnkmOotI/AAAAAAAACNA/-078lzFoLqIEgw5mNFyhXRTQrPD5iDazQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20210428_104435.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The last few weeks of the monsoon has our farm looking lush
green – some places are difficult to walk through because of the tall grass and
weeds. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lZbIqtKfbxw/YIkMhDRxOmI/AAAAAAAACNI/gAGCUBh_qq4goacQEIR07iCB6L-FRMXNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6366.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lZbIqtKfbxw/YIkMhDRxOmI/AAAAAAAACNI/gAGCUBh_qq4goacQEIR07iCB6L-FRMXNQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_6366.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A peacock strolls through the greenery</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /> We systematically cut patches of
it for the cows for their late evening snack, but the weeds seem to grow faster
than we can cut them. One of the main
tasks during this time is picking the fallen arecanuts. The people who harvest the arecanuts cannot
climb the trees during this time as the tree trunks tend to get slippery. So we
have a lot of fallen arecanuts which if
not picked and put away to dry, would sprout or rot away. By itself picking arecanuts is a pleasant
task and not as strenuous as <a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2020/10/counting-coconuts.html" target="_blank">picking coconuts</a>.
But the nuts being small, they are difficult to pick and we have to
stick our hand into the grass and weeds to reach them. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XU7I6V9ccbU/YIkNKJe6VmI/AAAAAAAACNQ/rG2dYyf967Yo6JMjiR-GwH4Ae08BatI7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_6381.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XU7I6V9ccbU/YIkNKJe6VmI/AAAAAAAACNQ/rG2dYyf967Yo6JMjiR-GwH4Ae08BatI7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_6381.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you spot the fallen arecanuts...can you see the Touch-me-nots?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This is when the touch-me-not plant makes its
presence felt – for you see, the plant has sharp thorns all along the
stems. The locals call it
‘Naachi-Mullu-Gida’ which translates as ‘Shy Thorny plant’. So I have a lot of people advising me to get
rid of all the naachi-mullu-gida because
it is of no use and only a trouble while working. But on the other hand I had heard from quite
a few people that it has medicinal properties – although none could
specifically tell me what it was useful for.
Anyway, we were soon to find out!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Late one evening, Vivek returned home from some visit that
he had gone out for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had used his
bike and while parking it near the compound wall, the bike slipped slightly on
the gravelly mud and he placed his hand on the compound wall for support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the rains had loosened some of the top
most stones, the stone gave way and his hand rested on the next layer of stones
under the fallen one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next thing he
felt was a sharp stinging pain on his hand!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He called out to me asking me to get a torch quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rushed out with the torch –“Something has
bitten me badly – shine the light here just check what it could be” he
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, we could spot it – it
was a scorpion – with its tail still furiously upright ready to deliver another
sting if necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been
disturbed out of its resting place and was obviously furious!<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9iqbm635JI/YIkOFq_z9rI/AAAAAAAACNY/myoojxzAXxwAFiXhUrQCDoItMTjGdO_OwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200519_231510598.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9iqbm635JI/YIkOFq_z9rI/AAAAAAAACNY/myoojxzAXxwAFiXhUrQCDoItMTjGdO_OwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20200519_231510598.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tail upright - ready to sting - pic clicked on a different day of a scorpion that we caught in a plastic box to be released far into the forest</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now What? From what
we had heard or read about scorpion stings -we knew that it could be extremely
painful, with the pain lasting for over 24 hours in some cases. My maids’
mother had been bitten a few months ago and her description of her mother
writhing in pain the whole night was not a pleasant one. None of them had known any antidote or
medication for it and she had suffered the agony.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We went into the house and as a first level treatment, Vivek
washed the sting under running water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
racked my brains trying to remember if I had read or heard any remedy for
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did the most obvious thing that
came to my mind- I googled it – nothing more than what we already knew; and the
detailed description of the pain – Vivek was already experiencing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely there has to be some local
remedy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I opened up my folder of
Medicinal plants and Herbs -gosh when did I collect so much information – a lot
of which I had still not read! Some of the valuable books on traditional
remedies were scanned copies and a search would not work on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iGLSOLfQu_Y/YIkPEqu7IeI/AAAAAAAACNg/gDfddgBeuUgtRdHzzcRawLu5dRlY_aLLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1655/Win%2BExpl.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1655" height="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iGLSOLfQu_Y/YIkPEqu7IeI/AAAAAAAACNg/gDfddgBeuUgtRdHzzcRawLu5dRlY_aLLwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h310/Win%2BExpl.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wealth of information collected over the years !<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I randomly opened some files :<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Medicinal Herbs of India<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Traditional remedies of Kani tribes of Kottoor reserve
forest, Agasthyavanam<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Documentation of folk knowledge on medicinal plants of
Gulbarga district<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Medicinal Plants of Karnataka…….<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And some more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
raced my eyes over the pages searching for Scorpion bites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>…..and then suddenly I noticed the pdf file
on Mimosa Pudica – the touch me not plant . <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mimosa Pudica A High value medicinal plant as a source of
Bioactives for Pharmaceuticals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read the
heading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first few pages looked like
they were straight out of an Organic Chemistry text book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1QUmgjz_4Y/YIkPYkFD-OI/AAAAAAAACNo/dvmN9vePLPAiHwGmWXpyvZ0TFk2np9FPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s932/mimosa%2Btext%2Bbook.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="932" height="632" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1QUmgjz_4Y/YIkPYkFD-OI/AAAAAAAACNo/dvmN9vePLPAiHwGmWXpyvZ0TFk2np9FPgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h632/mimosa%2Btext%2Bbook.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remembered Organic Chemistry lessons when I saw this page!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>But just after that was a paragraph titled
Folk Medicine Use:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And here I found the
precious sentence – In folk medicine various parts of the plant are used as an
antidote to Scorpion and snake bites!!! Yes this was something that we could
try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was more than half an hour since
the bite and Vivek was sitting quietly with his eyes closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No the pain is not too much he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called out to
Yogesh and asked him to quickly get some nachi mullu plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was close to 9 pm, he took his torch and
went into the farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the day in
the bright sunshine, you can see these plants everywhere, but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at night, in the darkness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he was back soon holding a bunch of plants
yanked out of the soil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly washed
the soil off the plants, chopped them roughly with a pair of scissors and put
them into the mixer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a big lump of the paste and applied it
on the sting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept the rest of the
paste aside to reapply after some time. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I went back to the kitchen – I had to give Yogesh his dinner. The dogs and the cat also had to be fed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Normally<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I call out to Vivek to
help with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>keeping our cat Kippi’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>food bowl with kibble in her favoured
place,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she is a fussy one – she decides
her eating place and refuses to come to the window sill which is the place that
is easiest and out of reach from the dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today she wanted her meal upstairs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I set out our dinner, and sat reading some more of the research paper on
Mimosa Pudica, thinking that Vivek could rest a little longer before we had our
dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Within a few minutes, he walked in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It is quite amazing” he exclaimed. “The pain
is actually reducing!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow, this was
good indeed. A really good helpful remedy that probably has been forgotten by
the locals over the ages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By next
morning the pain had completely gone.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">An amazing remedy indeed!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy8cWhFRIqgppaq79E5EEYYqFMGlV46WBaKS1b5KBQpUqRGr3a-27NpAk9A5vT5IfBKdO1wJ1HVcSemVo-j6w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-1001842742588177302021-03-21T21:13:00.004-07:002021-03-22T04:16:33.103-07:00Holle Crossing.........At Midnight!<p> Holle - is the stream that gushes past our farm during the monsoon and cuts off our access to the road.</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u6a5puC6NAs/YFecUajKoII/AAAAAAAACLs/l9UJtJ3kAdobZuEXwPXCEoUbtQI6Ki-rACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/WP_20150824_003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u6a5puC6NAs/YFecUajKoII/AAAAAAAACLs/l9UJtJ3kAdobZuEXwPXCEoUbtQI6Ki-rACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/WP_20150824_003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The holle on an ordinary day. Young kids gather here to play.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJgXSOzDJTE/YFecst2qCuI/AAAAAAAACL0/mrA0IVgJGzwLqL4HXyj5GctJaw0g64k2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/WP_20160728_004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJgXSOzDJTE/YFecst2qCuI/AAAAAAAACL0/mrA0IVgJGzwLqL4HXyj5GctJaw0g64k2QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/WP_20160728_004.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our buffaloes Madhubala and Madhuwanti love to have a dip too<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">This is an episode that happened quite some years back, but
I penned it down only now. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was just over a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>year since we had moved to the farm and survived our first <a href="https://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-rains-are-here-again.html" target="_blank">monsoon</a>
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rains always brought on new challenges
and we had been learning to deal with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And we always heave a sigh of relief when the rains end and we start
seeing sunny days again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>rain Gods do want to have the last laugh…….and
what a laugh that is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A final storm with
the fireworks and that too in the last week of October after more than a month
of dry weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And that one storm is enough to get the holle flowing again.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gq2buPgFTsw/YFgWAsIWIpI/AAAAAAAACL8/ufMGsYIiOk0mjc_sbVrGfkuZoMk-CbdfACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Photo0172.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gq2buPgFTsw/YFgWAsIWIpI/AAAAAAAACL8/ufMGsYIiOk0mjc_sbVrGfkuZoMk-CbdfACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Photo0172.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmIM9sz0r7E/YFgWTHUeX0I/AAAAAAAACME/87BoKPSEhpUR0MLxiOK9u2Kx7tVc2hBCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20180624_174232.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmIM9sz0r7E/YFgWTHUeX0I/AAAAAAAACME/87BoKPSEhpUR0MLxiOK9u2Kx7tVc2hBCgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20180624_174232.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a slightly heavy downpour, this is how it looks - still mild and sober.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And so it was, that year - almost 4 weeks of dry hot weather
and we thought we were really done with the rains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Navaratri, we had a visitor whom we
had to drop off at the station for the evening train and we also had to attend
a night Pooja in a nearby temple. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
day had been overcast and gloomy, and as we left home for the station, the
rains started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slow drizzle at first and
then a proper downpour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we
reached the station, the storm was picking up momentum. And the train was
delayed by more than an hour. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw off
our guest and then went to the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By the time the Pooja and dinner ended, it was 10 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left for home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The storm had not abated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The roads were flooded all through,
visibility was so bad that we were forced to go at a very slow pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In those days the double carriage roads did
not exist and the single road had suddenly seemed to have gotten even more potholed
than before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add to that the glare of
the oncoming truck headlights,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the half
an hour journey stretched to more than an hour and half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we turned off the highway to
enter Chitrapur it was 11.45 pm. ‘ We are going to be crossing the Holle at the
stroke of midnight’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quipped. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last stretch of the mud road that leads to
our farm was like a rivulet. The holle is going to be mightily flooded I
thought. I expressed my concern to Vivek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>‘Oh it can't be that bad’ he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As our car drew up to the last stretch where we park it; the
downpour seemed to grow stronger. When we switched off the headlights and the
engine, the darkness suddenly seemed overpowering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our mobiles did not have the flashlight in
those days, we had one torch and one umbrella between the two of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sight
of the holle in the faint torchlight and the roaring sound as the waters gushed
past made me feel a wee bit uneasy I must say. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Do you think we should spend the night elsewhere………’ I asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Oh come on…this is no time to wake any one up, and home is
just there’ he pointed into the pitch darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘That is indeed very reassuring’ I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Are you scared’ he asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Scared, and me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh
no!’ I retorted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Lets go’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And we did.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We walked into the swirling waters in pitch darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strange objects brushed past my legs sometimes
clinging and encircling before letting go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I convinced myself that they must just be branches and leaves of trees and creepers that I have often seen being washed down into the holle during day time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
faint beam of the torch barely lit up the waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had been through this path so many times
we knew it perfectly well, The side of the embankment where we start walking is
a slope with hard rock and no slush at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And if we keep to the routine path, all along, the ground is hard and
gravelly, so in a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>way it is safe to
walk. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We trudged on, the waters rising
all the way to my waist, the rain battering down on my head, I had given up
trying to get under the umberella that Vivek was holding out for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The normally 4 to 6 meter wide holle was now more
than 25 meters wide – not much really but the darkness, the swirling gushing
waters and the rain made it seem like much more.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And then………….<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There was a blinding flash of lightening!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire earth
seemed to be illuminated in the most stunningly beautiful light.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moment froze in
our minds eye and the next instant the darkness was even more intense. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole universe
seemed to stop in time and the reverie was broken by the deafening sound of thunder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">We didn’t realise that both of us had stopped
in our tracks when the earth lit up for that brief second. We shook ourselves
and trudged on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The opposite bank was
now just a few steps away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a tricky
patch of slush which we always avoided during the daytime to step directly onto
some raised stones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But tonight in the
darkness we both missed the right path and stepped right into the slush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suddenly felt a stillness around my right ankle
as the swirling waters were now only above that – my right foot had sunk into
the slush. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do I place my left foot
– I didn’t want both feet sinking in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the dim light of the torch I realised that Vivek was also struggling the same
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see the rock on which we
normally step just an arms distance away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I bent over and reached it for support. Then I felt around with my left
foot until I got a firm foothold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I
twisted my foot a bit to either side until I could loosen the grip of the sludge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had worn floaters which are strapped quite
firmly and I could extricate my foot along with my footwear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vivek wasn’t so lucky, he had worn slip-ons
and he managed to extricate his foot but not his footwear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there was no way that we were going to
search for it… We pulled ourselves up on the firm rock, we had finally crossed
the Holle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We turned around and looked
at it from this side – the foaming white water fall, the sparkling <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>swirls all looked magical now that we were
safely on this side. And home was just a stones throw away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked the last 50<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>meters dripping<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Vivek limping along -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the soft mud on the path had got washed away
and the exposed stones really hurt your feet when you are not used to it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was indeed a relief to reach home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Copper Bhaan (the ancient wood fired copper
vessel for heating our bath water)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was
full of hot water and it never felt so good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Followed by a glass of hot creamy milk. The perfect ending to an
exciting day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Farm life does have
its benefits and luxuries!!!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--qhzCu8nf-k/YFgXzHSpP_I/AAAAAAAACMM/gf45K6K991YgBWPO-cx8oMsEaViNpL_CACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Picture%2B195.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--qhzCu8nf-k/YFgXzHSpP_I/AAAAAAAACMM/gf45K6K991YgBWPO-cx8oMsEaViNpL_CACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Picture%2B195.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picture of the copper Bhaan clicked on the eve of Diwali when we worship our water source and water storage vessels - reminding us to be thankful for this precious gift of water.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><p></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-73270111416189909802021-03-06T11:21:00.000-08:002021-03-06T11:21:59.011-08:00Making of a Hemmudi.<p> A couple of years back, I had visited Lalita’s mothers home
– Lalita is my help who works on the farm as well as helps me in the house
work. In the front yard of their home I
had noticed a beautiful structure made of hay.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PWKSqUxDOS4/YENbH1iTEXI/AAAAAAAACJg/m8KGdc5iiA8INWbDM0HklpIVxpSGpPyhACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Hemmudi%2BOld.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PWKSqUxDOS4/YENbH1iTEXI/AAAAAAAACJg/m8KGdc5iiA8INWbDM0HklpIVxpSGpPyhACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/Hemmudi%2BOld.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Intrigued, I had
asked about it and they had explained that it was made by her brother Nagraj to
store their harvest of rice paddy in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a traditional form of storing paddy and very few people make it
now a days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed to be dying
art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was keen on seeing how it is made
and I asked her to inform me the next time her brother would make it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Oh it is made only once a year’ she said.
‘Doesn’t matter, let me know next year’ I told her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">But as luck would have it, in spite of her
informing me, we were unable to go and 3 years passed before we got a chance to
see it actually being made.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So this year when Lalita informed me<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that her brother was planning to make the Hemmudi
a few days later, we decided to keep that day free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was to start at 2 pm after lunch, so we
planned accordingly and went to their home.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their front yard was spruced up and made spotlessly clean
and a fresh layer of cowdung had been smeared on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cow dung is a natural anti-microbial and has
insect repelling properties – so is it any wonder that the traditional method
of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>layering the front yard with cowdung
instead of cement<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is still so popular in
the villages?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A spot was chosen and Nagaraj’s mother drew a Rangoli design
with quick strokes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then bunches of hay
were laid out systematically with the cut ends in the centre and the other end
fanning out to make a large circle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once
the first circle was complete, a second concentric, slightly smaller one was
made on top of it and then another until innermost circle completely covered
the ground. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8Ds749MTlw/YENfbokjFKI/AAAAAAAACKE/PJ-G1VAa4t0u-4kyOxV0jZzQkPsbHllFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/1%2BIMG_6661.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8Ds749MTlw/YENfbokjFKI/AAAAAAAACKE/PJ-G1VAa4t0u-4kyOxV0jZzQkPsbHllFgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/1%2BIMG_6661.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All along Lalita’s young
kids aged 8 and 11 scurried around bringing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>bunches of hay from the stack that was a little distance away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon the enormous circle of hay was
ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A large plastic sheet was placed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the centre to prevent grains from slipping
thru the hay and also to prevent any moisture from seeping in, in case of any unseasonal
rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Nagaraj lifted a large basket
into which some paddy had been poured from<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>one of the sacks of rice lined up against the wall of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said a prayer and then emptied the first lot
of paddy onto the sheet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wpSIhYo1l7M/YENfwWVutiI/AAAAAAAACKM/lWuNj5xgL9U0QB5xPQJ03Yar3PZaSSCGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/9%2Bimg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wpSIhYo1l7M/YENfwWVutiI/AAAAAAAACKM/lWuNj5xgL9U0QB5xPQJ03Yar3PZaSSCGwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/9%2Bimg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">His college
going nephew joined in along with a neighbour to help lift the sacks and bring
them to Nagaraj. He would tip each one and flatten the mound carefully within the circle. After a sizeable mound was created, then the
sides had to be raised. The hay was bent
upwards and a thick rope was wound around the base of the Hemmudi. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2wzxYU3xhsM/YENglz8daHI/AAAAAAAACKU/wjGjs7XVsYMz5GZRM99X3JvrN6m7IceGACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2%2BIMG_20201103_145018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2wzxYU3xhsM/YENglz8daHI/AAAAAAAACKU/wjGjs7XVsYMz5GZRM99X3JvrN6m7IceGACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/2%2BIMG_20201103_145018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NWOkr8nWIk/YENhnovEl5I/AAAAAAAACKc/mtCJCTqMZygV0S87Ut52nqd-EMvRsiPCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201103_145336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NWOkr8nWIk/YENhnovEl5I/AAAAAAAACKc/mtCJCTqMZygV0S87Ut52nqd-EMvRsiPCQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20201103_145336.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Now the whole thing looked like a large grass
tub filled with paddy. Now the next
layer of the Hemmudi wall had to be built.
The kids pitched in carrying the hay to Nagaraj who carefully placed
each bunch vertically supported on the outside by the ring of hay and on the
inside by the paddy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KXGtK6McwDQ/YENh03b2O5I/AAAAAAAACKg/KiKoAHAQgjgkr1r76oa72FP11QsAfakdACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/5%2BIMG_20201103_145614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KXGtK6McwDQ/YENh03b2O5I/AAAAAAAACKg/KiKoAHAQgjgkr1r76oa72FP11QsAfakdACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/5%2BIMG_20201103_145614.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> The ring was
completed, secured with ropes and then the piling in of the paddy resumed. So layer by layer, the Hemmudi was
constructed, finally holding close to 30 quintals of paddy. </p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> As the last circle of hay was being placed,
Lalita’s nephew expertly prepared a
metal ring with ropes hanging around the sides, that was to go on top of the
Hemmudi to secure the top in place. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uE29N_-swqU/YENjTOl2GkI/AAAAAAAACKw/wL7d82HrRpAmO7PT5mxbxsjzVsFXolfmACLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/11img.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uE29N_-swqU/YENjTOl2GkI/AAAAAAAACKw/wL7d82HrRpAmO7PT5mxbxsjzVsFXolfmACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/11img.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jEv22ECIC7g/YENiIavW6fI/AAAAAAAACKo/ZXj8DG8RH28Bw2MVa8JwUbuZc06QbiuKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/6%2BIMG_20201103_171736193_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jEv22ECIC7g/YENiIavW6fI/AAAAAAAACKo/ZXj8DG8RH28Bw2MVa8JwUbuZc06QbiuKQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/6%2BIMG_20201103_171736193_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The 2 kids ran around busily bringing the
hay bunches and passing them to Nagaraj who was on the top of the Hemmudi which
was now almost 9 feet in height. He
covered the top with a generous layer of hay, then a plastic sheet was placed
on top, followed by the ring. The ropes
hanging from the ring were securely fastened down to the sides of the Hemmudi.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IiMDbJ8yV3k/YENji_LbopI/AAAAAAAACK4/ngYe-LaZWQ8_rhatVO_PzIwojkBIiouGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/8%2BIMG_20201103_180817720_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IiMDbJ8yV3k/YENji_LbopI/AAAAAAAACK4/ngYe-LaZWQ8_rhatVO_PzIwojkBIiouGQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/8%2BIMG_20201103_180817720_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> In the meantime, the youngsters had fetched
some clayey mud and were busy mixing it with water to make a thick paste. This was piled around the base and plastered
into place with their hands to make a perfect seal. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kdZ58oryuMA/YENj0qW_KUI/AAAAAAAACLA/SJyne_J_vU4KBQe9ZX8uiJcBeqc8chrGwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/10%2Bimg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1920" height="282" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kdZ58oryuMA/YENj0qW_KUI/AAAAAAAACLA/SJyne_J_vU4KBQe9ZX8uiJcBeqc8chrGwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h282/10%2Bimg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The ladies busied themselves cleaning out the
remnants of the fallen hay, folding the emptied sacks neatly and sprucing up
the place and bringing in bunches of
mango leaves and flowers for the Pooja. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">**</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1c_XgbchxFg/YENkI5B8X8I/AAAAAAAACLI/00RrWrGY26IeSXeifVp7FPsnqos3N48ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201103_181303837_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1c_XgbchxFg/YENkI5B8X8I/AAAAAAAACLI/00RrWrGY26IeSXeifVp7FPsnqos3N48ZQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20201103_181303837_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Hemmudi is now finally completed, decorated with flowers
and leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nagaraj’s mother
brings out a platter with an oil lamp, flowers. Coconut and agarbattis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He performs a small Pooja of the Hemmudi and
then it is time for them to relax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
feast of Chicken curry and rice has been prepared by the mother and they all
troop into the house for an early dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They insist on us joining them too, but it is just 6.30 pm, a bit too
early for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they pack<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>some for us to take home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We leave for home, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>happy to have been able to see the making of
the Hemmudi.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And Vivek had clicked a whole bunch of videos and compiled
this, click to see the video.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz2vKYoZe2JmlJ5b7LDNkp_7vysKcIcLKd5Wsq9fvNHPlfHtr9BXVc1V4CMF-KFeGisQevJMS8p-gBmvaD8BA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-91095511396866467232021-02-24T10:45:00.001-08:002021-03-02T00:41:57.419-08:00Have you ever hugged a tree?<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Have you ever hugged a tree,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">An ancient one,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Felt its heartbeat,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Through the wizened bark,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Heard the soft murmur <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of its leaves<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Through the wizened bark<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Heard tales of yore<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of a time when <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It had scores of others <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Around<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Standing shoulder to shoulder,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their leaves brushing one another <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the ancient rippling breeze,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And then it stood still<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Watching the others <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">brought down <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One by one,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Making way for something <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Or the other<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That man felt <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Was more important <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Than this gnarled old tree…..<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Have you ever hugged a tree<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And listened to its sorrow<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Through the wizened bark?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Have you ever hugged a tree?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OAX3x5AD0ys/YDaeTR43icI/AAAAAAAACIw/-Ll7fvbURW09QkUQAgY0COkT3AhvTvDMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20180202_085326new1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OAX3x5AD0ys/YDaeTR43icI/AAAAAAAACIw/-Ll7fvbURW09QkUQAgY0COkT3AhvTvDMQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20180202_085326new1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-foe7QH5VTwU/YD3iUb-Ff_I/AAAAAAAACJE/g8ecFzmlIxIgFByE8QheDj4lSiMgatoTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20180202_085145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1149" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-foe7QH5VTwU/YD3iUb-Ff_I/AAAAAAAACJE/g8ecFzmlIxIgFByE8QheDj4lSiMgatoTgCLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/IMG_20180202_085145.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wDj3ZNCJ564/YD3o0du1tDI/AAAAAAAACJM/8uQJ0M6ix2kcKJSJVu8YQlS8yAGQucqMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20180202_085220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wDj3ZNCJ564/YD3o0du1tDI/AAAAAAAACJM/8uQJ0M6ix2kcKJSJVu8YQlS8yAGQucqMgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20180202_085220.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-17606083060233567902020-12-29T06:38:00.001-08:002020-12-29T09:50:30.492-08:00And then sometimes you just get lucky!!!<p> Lucky enough to be able to see Raja Ravi Verma’s Paintings in a distant city which you are visiting for just a day on work!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The year was 2009, even before we moved to the farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our office work involved quite a bit of
travelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vivek being the seasoned
traveller, always looked for flights that would minimise our time out of Mumbai,
and me being the dreamer, always wanted to linger on a day or two extra and
take in the sights of the cities hitherto unseen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when we were called upon for a meeting <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in Trivandrum – Thiruvananthpuram – I jumped
at the chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thiruvananthapuram -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>such a grand name for the capital city of
Kerala – I was born in Kerala (Calicut) and hence always have a special longing
to visit this state . <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now what else could we possible do in Trivandrum – ………….?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visit the museum
which houses the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma of course!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could not travel all the way there and not
see the paintings – that would be terrible. So I did all the research and found
out all the details about the place- location, timings etc and dreamt about <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>spending an entire <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>day there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ah,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but
Vivek had other plans – Our meeting was scheduled for 11 am – we had a very
convenient flight which would land there by 8.30 and a return flight at around
7 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need not even stay overnight he
explained, while I had the most disappointed look on my face. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But...but...Raja Ravi
Varma’s paintings...I wailed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the
flight bookings were already done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t
worry”, Vivek consoled me,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m sure the
meeting won’t take long - as soon as we are done, we <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>can go<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>spend all afternoon at the museum and then go directly to the airport” he
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meetings<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>getting over quickly.......I might as well
sail to the moon and back....hmmmmpf!!! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All along in the flight, my thoughts were on only one thing
– the museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only if we finish our
meeting by 1.30, we could rush to the museum .... but invariably, there would
be lunch served and the prolonged discussions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I put away all thoughts of visiting the
museum and got down to concentrating on my work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hired a car for
the day and as we drove out of the airport we could see people putting up flags
and barricades along the roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
asked, the driver informed us that there was a huge morcha/rally<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the evening and probably a lot of roads
would be blocked and traffic would be diverted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The chances of visiting the museum seemed indeed very bleak.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We reached the department at 10 am, a whole hour earlier,
but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it would be better to wait there
rather than some place outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sat
in the reception area and I got my laptop out and resumed my work<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>while Vivek got talking to some person who
was enquiring about <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>our reason for being
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There seemed so be some serious
language issue and some confusion. I could hear<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>‘No Meeting – …….. Sir is on leave’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, well,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this kind
of sounded preposterous – after having travelled all the way from Mumbai on a
date and time that was conveyed to us a fortnight in advance!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The person having realised the gravity of the
situation, reluctantly phoned his boss whom we had travelled to meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of head nodding and a one sided
conversation which we could not follow, the person finally turned to us and
said ‘Meeting postponed to 2 pm’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, well,well.......that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>really sealed off any chance of visiting the museum....unless....unless
...we go right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked
Vivek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“How far is it?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
rattled off the exact kms – I had it down pat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We’ll be back for the meeting” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he said to the person at the counter and out
we rushed to the cab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The driver not
expecting us to come out so soon had wandered off , but came back as soon as we
called him. He was confident that we could go to the museum and get back before
2 pm as the rally was not expected to start before 4 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a bit risky,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but then off we went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Half an hour later we were at the entrance of
the Trivandrum Zoo. Yes the Sree Chithra Art Gallery is within the premises of
the zoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We quickly got our tickets and
went into the quaint museum. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CG8Yj2M0Dhg/X-s9oZHKm3I/AAAAAAAACHE/UP8_l--E7F8JG5zG6i8AfRnNdDBCS7eIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/sree_chithra_art_gallery_thiruvananthapuram20161219102117_225_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CG8Yj2M0Dhg/X-s9oZHKm3I/AAAAAAAACHE/UP8_l--E7F8JG5zG6i8AfRnNdDBCS7eIwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/sree_chithra_art_gallery_thiruvananthapuram20161219102117_225_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pic taken from the Internet </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The museum was inaugurated in 1935 by the then Maharaja of
Travancore Sri Chithira Thirunal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
beautiful bungalow built in the traditional Kerala style of architecture with
sloping tile roof and polished red floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The masterpieces adorned the walls and I could just not have enough of
looking at them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jS_BZHV6zqk/X-s-LDtrTeI/AAAAAAAACHM/g3Qq5o-M1wsGpI3Vh4Xmhx8-evsDv8ECgCLcBGAsYHQ/s633/440px-Raja_Ravi_Varma%252C_The_Milkmaid_%25281904%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="440" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jS_BZHV6zqk/X-s-LDtrTeI/AAAAAAAACHM/g3Qq5o-M1wsGpI3Vh4Xmhx8-evsDv8ECgCLcBGAsYHQ/w444-h640/440px-Raja_Ravi_Varma%252C_The_Milkmaid_%25281904%2529.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pic taken from the Internet </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two and half hours
can scarcely do justice to a museum,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but
still it was totally worth it. Soaked in the sight of some really marvellous
Raja Ravi Varma originals and then it was time to get back to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We scarcely had time for a lunch so grabbed a
snack at a tea stall and reached just in time for the meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time, everything was different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Head of the Department had arrived and a
whole team was present and the meeting went off well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Back in the cab on the way to the airport, the diversions
and road blocks made it seem that we would not reach the airport in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the taxi driver sure knew the roads well
and cut across through some non-existant road and got us out of the city onto a
newly constructed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- or rather under
construction road and raced to the airport – just in time for our return flight
to Mumbai.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I leaned back into my seat my
head still filled with visions of those paintings.......Just this morning I was
doubtful whether I would get to see them, and in spite of all the seeming
hurdles, we had still managed to visit the museum.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes, you do get lucky!<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lzHWy-b4R9Q/X-s-S0siOMI/AAAAAAAACHQ/PKnBBp309XwAz2Y8CZMPR0Rd1C-RBdFKACLcBGAsYHQ/s738/500px-Ravi_Varma-Shakuntala_columbia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lzHWy-b4R9Q/X-s-S0siOMI/AAAAAAAACHQ/PKnBBp309XwAz2Y8CZMPR0Rd1C-RBdFKACLcBGAsYHQ/w434-h640/500px-Ravi_Varma-Shakuntala_columbia.jpg" width="434" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pic taken from the Internet </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-53401342070007218162020-12-09T09:28:00.000-08:002020-12-09T09:28:12.908-08:00Homes without doors!<p> Our farmer friend Sonnu is by now used to our requests to
take us to some relatively unknown portions of this beautiful land. He has taken us to a <a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-village-called-hudil.html" target="_blank">Village called Hudil,</a> yet
another remote village to see <a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2015/11/jaggery-jaggery.html">Jaggery being made,</a> Abre whose claim to fame is the Medicine man
and so on.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Recently we made yet another request to him – take us to a
place where we can trek <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>up a hill we
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he happily agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time he suggested <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a place called Uttara Koppa. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So on the appointed day, he came with Jaiman–
the lad whose village we had visited to see jaggery being made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We set off in our car and a little before <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Murudeshwar we turned <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>off the highway to travel into the interiors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The road was – as usual – beautiful, the
scenery as captivating as ever and soon <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the village homes with the areca plantations gave
way to dense forests on either side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
now and then we would see one or two homes scattered far – It is amazing how
these people live so far from all the amenities <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that we city people are so used to!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We surround ourselves with shops, malls,
bus-stops and railway stations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>advertisement for new homes in the city
newspapers screams out how close everything is- 5 min walk to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>xyz <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Station, 2 mins from abc <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mall and so on……and not to mention a ‘Stones
throw from the great Big Hosptial’ too!!!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well here the nearest shop would be easily 15 to 20 kms
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are the people ever worried about
running out of stuff – never.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their homes
are easily the sparsest that I have ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So after a very pleasant ride, we reached a dead end, where
we parked the car and set off walking into the forest with Sonnu leading the
way. It was a beautiful walk, the silence of the forest, the ocassional call of
birds, a few gurgling brooks and a small waterfall – an ambience to soak in and
carry back home in your heart!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFfQAL44Ne4/X9EDFpFRm-I/AAAAAAAACFQ/RPxJjb1ufMEystJTc5prufEEpxTNAPndwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20190618_141439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFfQAL44Ne4/X9EDFpFRm-I/AAAAAAAACFQ/RPxJjb1ufMEystJTc5prufEEpxTNAPndwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20190618_141439.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was uphill most of the way and after about an hours trek
we reached a flat level land which had a well maintained Areca plantation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a surprise to see it in such a remote
location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We asked Sonnu about it and he
said there are a couple of homes here and the plantations belong to those
farmers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And sure enough a little
further we came upon the unmistakable signs of a village home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few dogs started barking to announce our
arrival, a cock crowed loudly and we came upon a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mud house <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with a small vegetable patch outside and a couple
of coconut trees around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06P5vTzYvjQ/X9EEwa11NeI/AAAAAAAACFk/bScEPxyEpM4ATYhEVBA9JB6X2VRMH9zTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20190618_122022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06P5vTzYvjQ/X9EEwa11NeI/AAAAAAAACFk/bScEPxyEpM4ATYhEVBA9JB6X2VRMH9zTQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20190618_122022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_uF_enLaTcI/X9EEONY1RuI/AAAAAAAACFc/MZg54ybZGcosE6xaiZfhOUzl0JaCJUiSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20190618_121857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_uF_enLaTcI/X9EEONY1RuI/AAAAAAAACFc/MZg54ybZGcosE6xaiZfhOUzl0JaCJUiSQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20190618_121857.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">The house
seemed empty. It had a little sheltered
porch with a whole lot of hens and tiny chicks running all over the place. The house was open, there was no door at
all! Sonnu stopped and started looking around
for something – and soon spotted it - a
Sickle. He picked it up and started towards
the coconut tree. We had a conversation like
this</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Me :What are you doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">S : <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plucking some
tender coconut for you’ll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Me : Oh please don’t bother….and besides there is no one in
the house, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>won’t the owner mind?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">S : Oh no he is my friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He must be somewhere around,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
will be back any moment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Me : Is this the end of the trek or are we walking some
more?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">S :<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes we could walk
further up for a while and then return.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Me : Ok then maybe your friend will be back by the time we
return and maybe he will make us some tea, I joked<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- more to prevent him from plucking 2
precious tender coconuts than for the consideration of having tea!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So please don’t pluck any tender coconuts
for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He agreed and we set off again on the path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rough, uneven and uphill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giant towering trees, the kinds we had never
seen before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x8w_QE12kmE/X9EFacyoerI/AAAAAAAACFw/oW0y6YgvXTIPPX2mAMSA2yYn9EHa4v7gwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20190618_105257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x8w_QE12kmE/X9EFacyoerI/AAAAAAAACFw/oW0y6YgvXTIPPX2mAMSA2yYn9EHa4v7gwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20190618_105257.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PBgZbne0ON4/X9EFWpHq5MI/AAAAAAAACFs/HiR9GZxM9I0Ws0vdY_zHjUoEDv8E94I2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20190618_141405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PBgZbne0ON4/X9EFWpHq5MI/AAAAAAAACFs/HiR9GZxM9I0Ws0vdY_zHjUoEDv8E94I2ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20190618_141405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WoBKkKAQX5I/X9EGoOepsJI/AAAAAAAACGQ/Kvfd-vksJU4GcfMgGjXfpVTeQvmBGkIWACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20190618_112553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WoBKkKAQX5I/X9EGoOepsJI/AAAAAAAACGQ/Kvfd-vksJU4GcfMgGjXfpVTeQvmBGkIWACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20190618_112553.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A relatively rare fruit - White Kokum as the locals call it - Garcinia cambogia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And then another clearing
and another small house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one too
without a door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But yes it had a bright
coloured curtain and I could not resist getting a pic clicked on the doorstep.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrHRImMFCUY/X9EF3aYRriI/AAAAAAAACF8/Mq33P81StX41GA11tMplZA1dwNJUDG-eACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20190618_120949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1149" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrHRImMFCUY/X9EF3aYRriI/AAAAAAAACF8/Mq33P81StX41GA11tMplZA1dwNJUDG-eACLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/IMG_20190618_120949.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally we reached
the end of the traversed path and it was time to turn back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We reached the home of Sonnu’s friend, but he
had not yet returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just then there
was a sudden downpour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it rains in
these regions, it really pours!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stood
in the shelter of the porch and watched the front yard turn to slush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0L1juAeZNWs/X9EGQhnUNoI/AAAAAAAACGE/kQ7EraxJRsg2TRFKNvAN1dH7wFiBwqhHgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20190618_132515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0L1juAeZNWs/X9EGQhnUNoI/AAAAAAAACGE/kQ7EraxJRsg2TRFKNvAN1dH7wFiBwqhHgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20190618_132515.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>There was no point in trying to continue in
the down pour and we decided to wait it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The chicks and the mother hen all scurried into the porch for shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sonnu went <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>into the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could hear him rummaging around and went
in to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had already lit a small
wood fire in the ‘choolah’ and kept a small vessel of water to boil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had taken my jestful mention of tea very
seriously and was looking around in the dark kitchen for tea leaves!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He found it in a small tin in a a dark corner
of the mud floor<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>next to another small
tin of sugar. He found 4 steel pails and poured out the decoction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sweet black tea!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How refreshing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We watched the rain sipping the tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eisxGU8w2FI/X9EHxmus2sI/AAAAAAAACGc/AcWu24rg_hgYSDIi2OW-54UWH7S_vepgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20190618_122053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eisxGU8w2FI/X9EHxmus2sI/AAAAAAAACGc/AcWu24rg_hgYSDIi2OW-54UWH7S_vepgQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20190618_122053.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The neatly woven coconut frond sheltered us from the rain.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">And then just as suddenly as it had started,
the rain stopped, and the sky cleared up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Time to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We put on our
shoes and just then the owner of the house returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first he saw just Vivek and me as the
others were sitting inside the house and I guess he was startled to see 2 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>strangers sitting on his porch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just then Sonnu came out and his face broke
into a relieved smile. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thanked him
for his in-absentia hospitality and continued our down-hill trek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The water fall which was a small one on the
way up was now gushing mightily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We refilled
our bottles with the deliciously chill water and returned home.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What an amazing trek it was!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-51340317851121466252020-11-23T06:59:00.001-08:002020-11-23T07:07:55.410-08:00Hayyyyyyyyyyyy!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Hayyyyyyyyyyyyy………..Neelay Gagan ke Taley…..Dharti ka pyar
Paley…..<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Crooned Mahendra Kapoor in his mellifluous voice<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the 1967 movie Humraaz while Raj Kumar and
his lady love struck poses against the backdrop of mountains in colour
co-ordinated attire!<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiML9Ununiw/X7vHH0im1xI/AAAAAAAACDc/ds3AhYqXLp0ztsulgP9RFlGCTizee7OPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201117_085808475_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiML9Ununiw/X7vHH0im1xI/AAAAAAAACDc/ds3AhYqXLp0ztsulgP9RFlGCTizee7OPQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20201117_085808475_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Amazingly blue skies - a welcome sight after months of overcast skies and relentless rains!<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I can’t help humming this song as we return back from our
Hay collecting expedition. Every year as
soon as the farmers in the surrounding areas
finish harvesting their rice, they look for buyers for their Hay. Often they get more money for the hay than
they get for the rice itself – yes each precious bundle of hay locally called a Kaat - that is just
thick enough to wrap both your hands around it costs anything between Rs. 8
and 12, depending on the variety of Rice
and the quality of Hay. You see the Red
rice that most farmers grow has shorter
hay than the generic white variety. So
the longer hay amounts to more volume hence commands a higher price. The quality depends on whether the Rain Gods
showered the harvested Windrows (Rows of freshly cut Rice which is left out to
dry in the fields) and did not allow the
Sun God to dry them out, or whether the Sun God won and helped the poor farmers
to salvage their hay!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vHqJHKmb3g/X7vKbj26VyI/AAAAAAAACDo/TOYGTvQG03I8jgqur-OfH6QFa25RjpIegCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201123_130411994_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vHqJHKmb3g/X7vKbj26VyI/AAAAAAAACDo/TOYGTvQG03I8jgqur-OfH6QFa25RjpIegCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20201123_130411994_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A Kaat of Hay</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our own hay from our half acre of paddy field is not
sufficient to last the whole year for our bovine family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after we are done with collecting the hay
from our own field and stacking it up, we have to make a couple of visits to
neighbouring farms to collect hay from there.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNuoFO9wQZ8/X7vK-ykvfDI/AAAAAAAACDw/FeaLm6_dmGYLe9M2H1RJGBPMdUM8akF_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20171101_124341.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNuoFO9wQZ8/X7vK-ykvfDI/AAAAAAAACDw/FeaLm6_dmGYLe9M2H1RJGBPMdUM8akF_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20171101_124341.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Collecting the hay from our field.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><br />This year, in addition to our pick-up, we decided to hire a larger vehicle so that
the entire lot could be brought in one trip. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q020ncLY9Qk/X7vLtLJWMcI/AAAAAAAACD4/AYVYRDOmJisQO3T-5f7garNm5OvL9d2GACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201117_083926675_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q020ncLY9Qk/X7vLtLJWMcI/AAAAAAAACD4/AYVYRDOmJisQO3T-5f7garNm5OvL9d2GACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20201117_083926675_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> Loading the bundles onto the vehicle is quite an art and probably an
exacting science as well. You see the
Centre of Gravity of the loaded vehicle must be well within its Base of Support
or else it may tipple over on the narrow bumpy village roads. Besides the circumference of the mound of hay
on the vehicle should not be far more than the perimeter of the vehicle, else
it is difficult to manoever the vehicle when you meet an oncoming vehicle on
the road. And if the oncoming vehicle is
also loaded with hay, then ….probably time to burst into another song again!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Wxf4wQnf_Q/X7vMCcZ5ShI/AAAAAAAACEA/L__EUYYbg7kcZm4KUNBa7P0aMml3S3oewCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/WP_20161206_004.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Wxf4wQnf_Q/X7vMCcZ5ShI/AAAAAAAACEA/L__EUYYbg7kcZm4KUNBa7P0aMml3S3oewCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/WP_20161206_004.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Some of the overloaded vehicles that we see on the roads!!!</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal">The hay is loaded with one person standing on top of the
vehicle and one or more on top of the hay stack. If it is possible to get the vehicle close
enough to the hay stack, then the person from the hay stack can hurl the hay
directly onto the vehicle. The stacking
up has to be done carefully else the entire load can slide and collapse during
the process. Our farm hand is good with
this and he stands on top of the ever increasing mound expertly catching and
arranging the bundles thrown to him. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R2_iFqKdkdY/X7vMq6A_-YI/AAAAAAAACEM/irJuda7hXHo2z_wenTi9npbrb_c9ywm4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201117_083955698_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R2_iFqKdkdY/X7vMq6A_-YI/AAAAAAAACEM/irJuda7hXHo2z_wenTi9npbrb_c9ywm4QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20201117_083955698_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> It
takes a good hour and half to load all the hay onto the vehicles. Once the
loading is done, a long thick rope is wound around the stack and under the special
hooks on the sides of the vehicle of the vehicle to secure it in place. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cuHHJTFFjAY/X7vNCMHQPaI/AAAAAAAACEU/LOCvH9WPFz81K9kzobLBSyDsMRqbhYnKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201117_095602869_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cuHHJTFFjAY/X7vNCMHQPaI/AAAAAAAACEU/LOCvH9WPFz81K9kzobLBSyDsMRqbhYnKQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20201117_095602869_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> Then a slow bumpy ride back to the farm. The tempo driver is in a hurry as he has
another customer who is waiting for him so he wants his vehicle to be off loaded quickly. .
It will take too much time to cart the hay to the attic above the
cow shed so we off load the hay in our drive-way and relieve
the vehicle. The distance from the driveway to the cow
shed is not much, but it is uneven due to the heavy rain which has washed away
the soil leaving stones, pebbles and rubble on the path. And one has to carry
the hay up a ladder to reach the attic above the cow shed. We are going to need 2 more people to help
with this. It is close to noon now, so
we take a break and decide to call 2 additional helpers in the afternoon. The 2 young boys come in at around 2 pm. The bunches of hay are tied into lots that
can be carried by the boys and they work like a relay carrying the load upto
the top of the ladder where our farm hand is waiting to haul it up and stack it
neatly in the correct place. It is almost 6 pm by the time the last lot is in
place. The drive way is strewn with bits
of hay which the cows enjoy as they walk back into the cow shed. Our attic is
full and the cow shed has a warm smell
of hay.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6lMFuMp-KY/X7vNeOYAD8I/AAAAAAAACEg/nxm29jLtwjUNoN8ARRXmOHYYdh1FzZ01QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201123_130455797_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6lMFuMp-KY/X7vNeOYAD8I/AAAAAAAACEg/nxm29jLtwjUNoN8ARRXmOHYYdh1FzZ01QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20201123_130455797_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> The cows are content
and you might just catch them looking upwards and sighing Hayyyyyyy!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-31756589265391897672020-10-17T11:41:00.000-07:002020-10-17T11:41:53.286-07:00Counting Coconuts.<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Our <a href="https://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2014/04/coconut-harvest.html" target="_blank">coconut harvest </a>has been long overdue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What with the lockdown and then the incessant
rain,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the harvest got delayed way more
than we expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trees tiring of
their burden of the older coconuts<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>often
dropped quite a few <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>here and there which
the ravenous boars would polish off – clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes the boars can skilfully dehusk a coconut, break it open and eat it
clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Finally this week one of the Coconut tree climbers <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>agreed to come over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>was just right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bit cloudy and
a gentle breeze and yet dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a
pleasure to work in the farm on such days<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>after <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the wet weather when your
feet go squelch and your clothes get all soggy. And counting coconuts is a very
pleasant task indeed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are two ways in which we can sell off the harvested
coconuts<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- One is by weight – in which
case, we have to dehusk them and then take it to the Sunday market. Here the
dealer weighs them and pays as per the rate on that particular date – Yes the
rate fluctuates daily – I used to think that only Gold prices do that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other way is to sell by count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do this if we run short of time or don’t get
a person to do the de-husking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time
we chose to sell it by count. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The easiest and best way to do this is to count as we
collect them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The coconuts fall to the
ground from that astounding height and crash land into the grass below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bunch often breaks and they scatter and
bounce<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>around a radius of almost<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 1</span>0 to 15 meters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we need to pick them up and collect them in
lots of 20 or 25.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uApYJ6SU76E/X4s1_-v1WzI/AAAAAAAACBg/Bf1Mwh9GsNEQZFb3gzn4gedVDktj253pwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201016_154844638_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uApYJ6SU76E/X4s1_-v1WzI/AAAAAAAACBg/Bf1Mwh9GsNEQZFb3gzn4gedVDktj253pwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20201016_154844638_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">My part-time help Lalita expertly separates the coconuts from the bunch using a sharp
sickle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JF0QKkV9NmA/X4s4QZUiiwI/AAAAAAAACCE/AmV4kod5BAQJNT8HF3SQySoL8cGLGu8TgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201016_154859528_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JF0QKkV9NmA/X4s4QZUiiwI/AAAAAAAACCE/AmV4kod5BAQJNT8HF3SQySoL8cGLGu8TgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_20201016_154859528_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><i>The coconuts need to be separated from the stalk with a sickle</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">We work together picking
the bunches and bringing them together.
The single coconuts scatter really far and rather than carrying one or two to the pile,
it is easier to hurl it towards the pile.
I have never tried my hand at shotput,
but this is close enough. Once
the pile is sufficiently big, I pick them in twos and count them as I put them
into the ‘<a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2014/01/an-expanding-vocabulary.html" target="_blank">Mankirkee</a>’ which is the basket
meant for carrying the coconuts - 25 if
they are small or medium sized and just 20 if they are really large. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iOs4Rs8S4pE/X4s2R334cqI/AAAAAAAACBo/FosE_3NPzf4dnxMEXhTsr5lR3Tke-x9AQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201016_154632423_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iOs4Rs8S4pE/X4s2R334cqI/AAAAAAAACBo/FosE_3NPzf4dnxMEXhTsr5lR3Tke-x9AQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20201016_154632423_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Some of the coconuts are humongous and easily
weigh over 2 kgs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pSL4FD8Wl_E/X4s3RnnaAiI/AAAAAAAACB0/0ORwSVDs7SAr3DU0UgEZ5Nysq57zMi0lQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201016_165039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pSL4FD8Wl_E/X4s3RnnaAiI/AAAAAAAACB0/0ORwSVDs7SAr3DU0UgEZ5Nysq57zMi0lQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20201016_165039.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Our farm hand Yogesh
carries the loaded Mankirkee on his head to our Pick-up truck and empties the
load into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jot down the number that
we had put into the basket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He needs
help to haul the basket onto his head and I realise much to my chagrin, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that I cannot manage to lift the weight<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>above my shoulder height. It takes two of us
( Lalita and me) on one side<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Yogesh
on the other to haul the loaded Mankirkee onto his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then walks with practised ease over the
uneven terrain to the vehicle to empty the load. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DPEEtCXycw8/X4s4Ex_StRI/AAAAAAAACCA/YZ4uqUy4eVMhDgs8JZHG9NXOL9sPzA02gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20201016_153801039_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DPEEtCXycw8/X4s4Ex_StRI/AAAAAAAACCA/YZ4uqUy4eVMhDgs8JZHG9NXOL9sPzA02gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20201016_153801039_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I barely worked for 2 hours
and am already beginning to feel the drain on my energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vivek had worked the whole morning until the
mid day tea break and then had to attend to some urgent work and hence I had
pitched in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a break before my back and headed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luckily Vivek had finished with his work and was ready to go back
to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>counting coconuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to catch up with the rest of the
kitchen work and feed the 4 hungry dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I made<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a refreshing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>herbal tea (Kashaya) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for all of us and then got on with the kitchen
chores.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The coconut tree climber finished his work by 2 pm and
headed back home. We still had another couple of hours left of collecting and counting the
coconuts. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So if any of you find it difficult to get carried off into
Sleepy dream land as soon as your head touches the pillow, then <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>try counting coconuts<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>instead of sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sure does work!<o:p></o:p></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-49227268099744558422020-09-27T03:11:00.000-07:002020-09-27T03:11:07.895-07:00The Fight!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy1z5_5OHM4EoUjTI_y9WUrt-bAe3hj0Rq15v-g5jvzb1-0T5qvHFETF89qFHeJA8SCqOC9NDiBAMWu1hXC8g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A mock bull fight in action</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal">Two months passed after <a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2020/09/an-emergency.html" target="_blank">Anandi had the traumatic episode ofa prolapsed uterus </a> just after
Somavathi’s birth. The first few weeks
were tough - administering her medicine
thrice a day with all 3 of us holding her down while one of us poured the
medicine down her throat, keeping her area spotlessly clean, applying ointment on the stitches taking care
to avoid her well aimed sharp kicks and
ensuring that there was no other unwanted problem. Slowly things came back to normal and she
started looking her healthy self again.
It was time to start letting her out to graze.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9iHwCx_gxU/X3BisszxrTI/AAAAAAAACAU/AssiRUtBUTkMRdFQzVFORZG32TlcAV1pACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20190126_085335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9iHwCx_gxU/X3BisszxrTI/AAAAAAAACAU/AssiRUtBUTkMRdFQzVFORZG32TlcAV1pACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20190126_085335.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anandi eager to go for her walk..... the large doorway behind her through which all the cows proceed towards the gate.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><br />During the time when we were not letting her out, she would
bellow her protest as the others trooped out of the cow shed each morning. We did realise that she was extremely upset
about it, but there was nothing we could do.
And how upset she was and how much pent-up anger she had was displayed
only when we finally released her one
morning.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our farm hand always releases them out in the same sequence
beginning with the left most – and they all make their way in a peaceful line, out of the large doorway from the cow shed
which leads to the gate. This day when
Anandi was released, she shoved her way
towards the exit and butted Saraswati who was walking out. Saraswati was taken by surprise, and stumbled
heavily causing a little blockade. The
ones behind halted a bit too close to them and Anandi turned around and butted
the one nearest her. The cows are
generally unperturbed by a little shoving and butting, but Anandi was
persistent and Kaveri got agitated and started flailing her horns menacingly. There was a bit of a melee but with a bit of
yelling and thwacking the long herding stick in the air we managed to sort it out and
all of them trooped out. I
followed them out with the herding stick as our farm hand proceeded to clean
the cow shed. I just presumed that once
out of the gate in the open air, they would all go their normal friendly
shoulder brushing way in search of green pasture. But how wrong I was! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They walked out of
the gate and I latched it and turned to
get back when I heard a heavy thud and scuffling sound. I turned around to see that Anandi had butted
Kalavati so hard that she had fallen on her side and Anandi was repeatedly
butting her as she struggled to get up.
The other cows seeing this started butting Anandi and in a minute it looked like a free-for-all…
everyone seemed to be butting and fighting with someone. Eight or nine of the adults were raising
up a dust storm and the younger ones
were running helter skelter in panic. All
my thwacking of the stick and yelling made no difference – a full-on fight was
in progress. I yelled out to Vivek and
our farm hand, both of them hearing the panic in my voice rushed out. It took a good deal of yelling and thwacking
to get them sorted out. I scooped out a tub of water from the <a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-cows-are-thirsty.html" target="_blank">drinking watertub</a> and hurled it at them. Finally peace was restored, the three of us
were left a bit shaken while the cows nonchalantly went up the hill tossing their
heads, swishing their tails and maintaining a ‘I’m not speaking to you’ distance between
one another. Giving each other a Cold shoulder of the bovine kind. I was worried that they might get into
another nasty scuffle once they were out of sight. We watched them for a long time and it
appeared as if peace was really restored.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4vzi9FMK-Ew/X3Bj6JeNZ8I/AAAAAAAACAo/MLj7Qfr6wvQx4t5zggL3Bn02VF8y20IkACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20180712_131230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4vzi9FMK-Ew/X3Bj6JeNZ8I/AAAAAAAACAo/MLj7Qfr6wvQx4t5zggL3Bn02VF8y20IkACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20180712_131230.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watched them go down this path until they were out of sight<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And so it was indeed.
In the evening they were all at the gate shoulder to shoulder with happy
expressions. None of them showed any
resentment towards Anandi and none of them wanted to prolong or repeat the
fight. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cool animals indeed!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uePyUplcgVc/X3BjoTTs2LI/AAAAAAAACAg/mwfbxrURZqsr7D6xLqI_J8C61wSsuXZTACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/WP_20150119_008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uePyUplcgVc/X3BjoTTs2LI/AAAAAAAACAg/mwfbxrURZqsr7D6xLqI_J8C61wSsuXZTACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/WP_20150119_008.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anandi as a baby.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-81473422032970542802020-09-18T22:33:00.003-07:002020-09-18T22:33:29.916-07:00Inspiration for an Artist!<p> "An Artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of" - Leonardo da Vinci.</p><p><br /></p><p>Truly an artist sees beauty even in the simplest of things and then brings it alive on paper /canvas for others to see it as well!</p><p>And when a simple photo clicked on my farm inspires an artist, it brings immeasurable joy to see the paintings. </p><p>With much thanks to Shyamsundar Savkur and Anuradha Dhareshwar for their paintings :</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0oJu20FG90M/X2WTALyShiI/AAAAAAAAB-E/JEX03PZ-B1o8NS-0cY5wyPE1tZMm0eusQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/anuradha%2527s%2Bpainting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1080" height="462" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0oJu20FG90M/X2WTALyShiI/AAAAAAAAB-E/JEX03PZ-B1o8NS-0cY5wyPE1tZMm0eusQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h462/anuradha%2527s%2Bpainting.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting by Anuradha Dhareshwar<br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QNCYiTxVJ7Q/X2WTxqr6w5I/AAAAAAAAB-Q/ZXhZ5lOWJB4p6J1ox2LCrBM-Nb9yn8vtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s780/Anuradha%2Borig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="780" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QNCYiTxVJ7Q/X2WTxqr6w5I/AAAAAAAAB-Q/ZXhZ5lOWJB4p6J1ox2LCrBM-Nb9yn8vtwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/Anuradha%2Borig.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Photo clicked just outside our farm after a day of relentless rain<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n8LBE3wqap8/X2WUKA1k1_I/AAAAAAAAB-c/16XsMSaJBWkt2nyPiWJ6MMYV4rKJ21S1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Shyam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n8LBE3wqap8/X2WUKA1k1_I/AAAAAAAAB-c/16XsMSaJBWkt2nyPiWJ6MMYV4rKJ21S1gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Shyam.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting by Shyamsundar Savkoor - my ever-young uncle who at 90, is an inspiration to others as well! Love the brilliance of the green and the sunshine in the painting! And even Zuki's and Johnny's expressions have been captured perfectly<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OtmYceF5Y2Q/X2WXfzPr7CI/AAAAAAAAB-s/ZFk_-MHOIPshbDGKpqUMz7AyxHQ5CV3rwCLcBGAsYHQ/s961/Shyam%2Borig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="961" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OtmYceF5Y2Q/X2WXfzPr7CI/AAAAAAAAB-s/ZFk_-MHOIPshbDGKpqUMz7AyxHQ5CV3rwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/Shyam%2Borig.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Original pic</td></tr></tbody></table><br />OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-71128611450884050522020-09-10T06:32:00.004-07:002020-10-19T21:21:33.395-07:00An emergency!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Monday morning.... I still get the Monday Morning Blues. although we have no weekends on the Farm. I was just thinking that I really need to
stick to a strict schedule<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>focus on getting the important things done on
time.....such as Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and of course.... all the other paper work, the bank work, replying to
emails...... I seem to be running behind on everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I started the day on a steely resolve ....
yes today I would clear the pile of papers on my desk , clean up my PC and sort
out the storeroom and make sure that All our Meals are on Time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I had just finished my coffee and was about to go to the
Cowshed to check on Anandi (she was due to deliver a calf – her second
one)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when Yogesh, our farm hand came
running to call out to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>“What is the
matter I asked him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Has she delivered
already?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">“No<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t see a calf but ‘IT’ has come
out”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>“What?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked as I ran to the cow shed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Anandi was sitting morosely and behind her
was a large bulbous sac streaked with blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It appeared to be pulsating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>What .....in......the ....world....was this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was the calf still inside?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where was the calf? Was this a case of the ‘Prolapsed Uterus’
that I had read so often in James Herriot’s tales of veterinary practice? </p><p class="MsoNormal">I ran back to the house and picked up my
phone. I was just 6.30 am and hopefully
I would be able to catch our vet Dr. Gourish Padukone. He is a busy doc , travelling quite a lot to
remote farms and if he was already out on a case, we could do nothing but
wait. </p><p class="MsoNormal">I sent a silent prayer as the
phone rang. He answered and I described
the condition in as calm a voice as I
could muster.....and ended on a panic stricken squeal ... "Please come
over soon.......” </p><p class="MsoNormal">Thankfully he was at home
and said he would arrive within half an
hour. He instructed me to place a clean plastic sheet under the protrusion and keep pouring cold water over it. "Don't let it dry out" he said.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I instructed Yogesh to milk the rest of the
animals quickly, give them their feed and release them out of the cowshed. Vivek
joined in and the three of us worked on top speed – we had to get the other
cows out of the way and clean the area before the vet arrived. In all the panic stricken activity, the new
born calf was almost forgotten – she was sitting coolly in the farthest corner
with her 3 aunts – Kalavati Saraswati and Purna! </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ziV3kwTqc8/X1osr4wObyI/AAAAAAAAB9M/raSfGM3Uma0MCozcKA9DXt6OfMwtXt_BwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20181126_105649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ziV3kwTqc8/X1osr4wObyI/AAAAAAAAB9M/raSfGM3Uma0MCozcKA9DXt6OfMwtXt_BwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20181126_105649.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dr.Gourish came in just as we finished washing the cow
shed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a few minutes he assessed the
situation and got down to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">In all these
years of revolutionary advancements in science and health care, some problems of
veterinary science are still dealt in the same way that James Herriot has
documented in his memoirs during the pre- First world war Era. So the Uterus had to literally shoved back in
place with the 3 of us holding down the cow and the vet using every ounce of his strength
against the resisting cow.</p><p class="MsoNormal">It was a
struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Anandi was obviously not happy
being held down and was not too keen on receiving back what her body had just
seemed to expel a few hours back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
in turn tried her best to push it back out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After what seemed an endless struggle, finally the uterus was pushed in
all the way and positioned properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we were not done yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anandi
had to receive stitches to prevent the problem from recurring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had to receive a drip and several
injections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4QR9mGWYD4/X1ooES1G-1I/AAAAAAAAB8g/u73xjX10U2Ij5pGuZ8zFvwN5YzXxEg67gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20181126_092051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="351" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4QR9mGWYD4/X1ooES1G-1I/AAAAAAAAB8g/u73xjX10U2Ij5pGuZ8zFvwN5YzXxEg67gCLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h351/IMG_20181126_092051.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LD76E7elYkk/X1ooIOa3gAI/AAAAAAAAB8k/dU0txrHjRe4JrquOXgrCd74BQhmeJ2mZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20181126_092104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1149" height="625" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LD76E7elYkk/X1ooIOa3gAI/AAAAAAAAB8k/dU0txrHjRe4JrquOXgrCd74BQhmeJ2mZQCLcBGAsYHQ/w351-h625/IMG_20181126_092104.jpg" width="351" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gWVoYzPqmFQ/X1ooJUSCF6I/AAAAAAAAB8o/mMpdfiVY2owEOLY3HQMT3HJ4i9aSvUv_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20181126_092129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="351" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gWVoYzPqmFQ/X1ooJUSCF6I/AAAAAAAAB8o/mMpdfiVY2owEOLY3HQMT3HJ4i9aSvUv_gCLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h351/IMG_20181126_092129.jpg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5e2kFyNajI/X1oozWGC5zI/AAAAAAAAB84/kNCWXnYUvUwwhLKb9GRzzZfKY96J6Q4KACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20181126_105750.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="351" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5e2kFyNajI/X1oozWGC5zI/AAAAAAAAB84/kNCWXnYUvUwwhLKb9GRzzZfKY96J6Q4KACLcBGAsYHQ/w625-h351/IMG_20181126_105750.jpg" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Finally all done!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">By the time it was all over
it was almost 12 noon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vet had to
rush off to another case in a far flung village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got back for a much needed bath and to
catch up with the rest of the work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for the
record,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we did have lunch<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on time.....forget about the breakfast!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The next few days were critical for Anandi, she needed
constant monitoring,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>quite a few
medicines to be poured down her throat and she had to be tied in such a way
that she could not crane her neck and pull out her own stitches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also had to be tied on<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a mud flooring .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we tied her outside under the guava tree.
In a weeks time everything seemed back to normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little calf Somvati frolicked around and
grew sturdily, little concerned about the upheaval her birth had caused.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sEfPDfXpJdI/X1opXAw8AxI/AAAAAAAAB9A/ITsa9GlylBAjwrxEQb4FekO210rwIgs9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20181127_071118.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sEfPDfXpJdI/X1opXAw8AxI/AAAAAAAAB9A/ITsa9GlylBAjwrxEQb4FekO210rwIgs9QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_20181127_071118.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Anandi and Somvathi under the Guava tree</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We were also instructed not to let Anandi out to graze for
at least 2 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would bellow her
protest with all her might when the others trooped out happily each morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took it very badly that the others left
her behind inspite of her protests, but we did not know it until the day when
we decided that she was healthy enough to join the others for their daily
outing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I leave that for <a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-fight.html" target="_blank">another post.</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And I cannot<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>end
this<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>without a Special<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> T</span>hanks to our vet Dr. Gourish Padukone<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who incidentally, like us, moved several years ago from Mumbai
(where he had a bustling small animal practice) to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>rural Karnataka<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to provide good veterinary care where it is
needed the most!<o:p></o:p></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-16853593830886664842020-08-29T04:08:00.008-07:002020-10-19T21:27:31.688-07:00Of Cows and other beings.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t8AicMbhwog/X0or2MJIg6I/AAAAAAAAB6g/RTL4_ll6_BwtDNEtmec3yTawc9uUVk4VgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20181108_114324.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t8AicMbhwog/X0or2MJIg6I/AAAAAAAAB6g/RTL4_ll6_BwtDNEtmec3yTawc9uUVk4VgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20181108_114324.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The cows on Go Puja day.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9EQLXhkguZ8/X0osnQM-jMI/AAAAAAAAB60/2qEygh6Dh1olBJd9Np6ylhpdSuXPy8XeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20181108_114345.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9EQLXhkguZ8/X0osnQM-jMI/AAAAAAAAB60/2qEygh6Dh1olBJd9Np6ylhpdSuXPy8XeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20181108_114345.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>How little do we actually know about all the animals around
us! Among the creatures whom we ‘own’ as pets, the obvious things like their
food-habits, their <a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2016/01/doggie-treats.html" target="_blank">likes</a> and dislikes are easily understood. The intelligence of dogs, specially the ones
that are working dogs, guide dogs etc
has always been acclaimed and acknowledged. But what about the multitude of
other creatures around us?<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /><a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2013/03/bheem-and-balaram.html" target="_blank">When we moved to the farm</a>, we actually knew next to nothing
about cows and buffaloes. To these bovines too, we must have seemed rather
strange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately our farm-hand was
the only continuing familiar link for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the first things we noticed was that the cows always greeted him
with their loud ‘hummaaaaeee’. We could hear their sound all the way from the
cowshed to the kitchen and little later, he would be at the kitchen door to
take the milk vessels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realised that
the bellowing would start as soon as he crossed the boundary and entered the
farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He used to come in through a
short-cut entering the rice-field beyond the arecanut plantation, so it was
quite a distance away, yet the cows would know.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yck0_4xZqA8/X0oqOToKEpI/AAAAAAAAB6U/98E_JuhQGz4q6LItFOpBPOoNl0RvXlwbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4250.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yck0_4xZqA8/X0oqOToKEpI/AAAAAAAAB6U/98E_JuhQGz4q6LItFOpBPOoNl0RvXlwbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_4250.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you spot the narrow Donappa or entrance at the far end?<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Bit by bit we have started realising and understanding
bovine behaviour and are amazed by their intelligence.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After the cows are milked, they are all left free to graze
in the forest near our house. By 3 pm, they are all assembled outside the gate
waiting to be let in. Do they have an inbuilt clock?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w-Pitx0JnSo/X0otJ0ih0WI/AAAAAAAAB68/c-ZrENnKQ4sVw30XmmcBPlIh9e1eov_lwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20180619_170127.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w-Pitx0JnSo/X0otJ0ih0WI/AAAAAAAAB68/c-ZrENnKQ4sVw30XmmcBPlIh9e1eov_lwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20180619_170127.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting outside the gate.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Except for the rare occurence<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of <a href="http://ourfarmatchitrapur.blogspot.com/2015/10/bhairav-falls-into-well.html" target="_blank">Bhairav falling in a well </a>or Kaveri
playing truant in our first week at the farm and wandering far from home (was
she in search of the previous owner? ), all of them wait patiently outside the
gate. The gate is quite a distance from the cowshed, but the minute the older
ones are at the gate, the young calves who are in the cowshed, yell out their
greetings and their mothers respond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
do they know that their mothers have returned and are waiting at a spot <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>almost 200 feet away and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not visible from the cowshed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the gate is opened, they all troop in,
the mothers greet their calves with a nuzzle and then stand in their allocated
spots waiting to be tied. They are always tied in the same spots and that is
where they go and stand! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The fact that each animal always recognises its own young
one even from a group is well known, but the fact that cows have the power to
release or ‘let-down’ their milk at will is something that we experienced here.
Last February, two of them – Kaveri and Shabari calved within just 10 days of
each other. Little Kamini<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Shabari’s
Jairam looked like identical twins and we could scarcely tell them apart. Vivek
would milk the cows and then leave the calves free to drink some more and romp
around in the cow shed. We would then tie them back in their spots after about
an hour. That day just as I went in to tie them, I heard someone arrive at the
gate. So, in a hurry, without checking which one was Jairam and which one was
Kamini, I inadvertently tied them in each other’s place. That evening Vivek
first took Jairam thinking it was Kaveri’s calf ‘Kamini’ and led him to Kaveri.
The little one nuzzled and nudged and butted with his tiny head, tried to
suckle, butted again and then turned away listlessly. Vivek was puzzled by his
behaviour, but thought that maybe after he milked Kaveri, the little calf would
be in a mood to drink. But when he tried to milk her, there wasn’t a drop of
milk. He gave up after some attempts, and then decided to milk Shabari instead.
But when the second calf- Kamini went to nuzzle Shabari, she turned around and
butted the calf and stomped her feet and wouldn’t let the calf come near. This
was even more puzzling, Then he looked closely <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and realised that the calves had been
switched. He promptly led Kamini to Kaveri, and everything was Ok then and he
could milk both of them without a problem. He came back and narrated the
incident and said “Did you switch their places when you tied them this
morning?”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s when I remembered that
I had tied them in a hurry without<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>checking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that meant that
Kaveri had refused to let down her milk until the right calf was brought to her
and Shabari showed her displeasure when the wrong calf was brought to her!<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v_SI3pVF_3E/X0otjd0_gMI/AAAAAAAAB7E/d3k1xvU1M2oNhrd1NWyVJ5ZVanX8NHAVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_4599.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v_SI3pVF_3E/X0otjd0_gMI/AAAAAAAAB7E/d3k1xvU1M2oNhrd1NWyVJ5ZVanX8NHAVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_4599.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jairam and Kamini - bet you can't tell us apart<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The majestic
buffaloes have their quirks too! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
they are left out to graze, they are not keen on going along with the cows –
they prefer to join their own kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
found it very amusing when Madhubala would make strange hrmfff hrmfff<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sounds as she walked out of the cowshed towards
the gate and each sound would be answered by a similar sound by our neighbours
buffalo who would be let out at around the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hrmff’s would shuttle back and forth
until the two came face to face at the corner just beyond the gate and then
they would trudge ahead together.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmEGTpT-fE8/X0o1ZbH9wiI/AAAAAAAAB74/qCl68QtxTxsYoqm0rUn8-HMgg6cMHPUhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s720/Calves4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmEGTpT-fE8/X0o1ZbH9wiI/AAAAAAAAB74/qCl68QtxTxsYoqm0rUn8-HMgg6cMHPUhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Calves4.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The calves love a cuddle.....and a huddle<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wE77LELoiik/X0o1nwu6_VI/AAAAAAAAB78/cZxKLVbNWPk16ASXDsogVNqRflIpLIHtACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20180227_124503.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wE77LELoiik/X0o1nwu6_VI/AAAAAAAAB78/cZxKLVbNWPk16ASXDsogVNqRflIpLIHtACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20180227_124503.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">The dogs, apart from being able to recognise and
differentiate between our cows and the neighbour’s always have a special way of
greeting the new born calves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They troop
into the cowshed and ever so gently nuzzle the calf as if to say ‘Welcome to
the world!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cobol takes it on himself to
protect the young calf and you will often find him sitting next to the calf in
the cowshed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JxzWWpaCydI/X0o0AWhBMaI/AAAAAAAAB7k/55cxjq7Uun8DIpnuaefenId3vcGYduacgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20181126_105434.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JxzWWpaCydI/X0o0AWhBMaI/AAAAAAAAB7k/55cxjq7Uun8DIpnuaefenId3vcGYduacgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20181126_105434.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cobol sitting with a day old Somvati<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NgO-L_p2a40/X0oyN9eGtCI/AAAAAAAAB7U/E6Df0xC-Mj4d_6tqTAz0cD4QW_Gv76Z0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/WP_20150119_009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NgO-L_p2a40/X0oyN9eGtCI/AAAAAAAAB7U/E6Df0xC-Mj4d_6tqTAz0cD4QW_Gv76Z0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/WP_20150119_009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memories of another day - Misty and Anandi when she was just a few days old.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Kippi our cat has warned us of the presence of a snake more
often than once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She often snuggles
close by at night and you can scarcely notice when she sneaks in or out of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the mosquito net.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But one night, she woke us up by jumping on
Vivek and then racing to the corner of the room with a loud meowwrrrr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she seemed to be trying to get at
something behind <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a large wooden box
which holds our matresses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vivek flashed
the torch and noticed the snake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
looked like a krait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would have never
noticed it had it not been for kippi’s warning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeWMdIxe96Q/X0o1GJmyCzI/AAAAAAAAB7w/68p5djPWcL4YdPTEh74AHBMqlPvZsOD2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20190116_095436.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1149" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeWMdIxe96Q/X0o1GJmyCzI/AAAAAAAAB7w/68p5djPWcL4YdPTEh74AHBMqlPvZsOD2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20190116_095436.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kippi spots something interesting on the wall.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Small incidents, but they disclose such a wealth of
information about our beloved animals, all we can do is observe and learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-77391798797814544732020-07-20T08:36:00.001-07:002020-07-20T08:55:56.926-07:00The faded photograph in the wallet.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last year we had a visitor from Mumbai – one of Vivek’s
childhood friend –AB.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He enjoyed his
stay at the farm and kept reminiscing about a similar place which he had
visited just once as a young kid - his father’s ancestral home near Sirsi. He
had lost his father at a very young age after which he had lost all ties with
his relatives in Sirsi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He expressed a
keen desire to visit his family temple to honour his fathers’ memory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He carried a faded photo of an idol of Lord
Ganesha in his wallet. This photograph used to be in his Dad’s wallet and
presumably, it was a photo of the idol in the family temple. We offered to
accompany him on his return journey upto Sirsi, visit the temple and then return
back to the farm.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But this wasn’t as easy as we imagined it would be. For one,
AB did not know the exact name of the temple or the village. And he knew no one
whom he could ask. Out of the recesses of his memory, he said the name sounds
like ‘Aksal –or Aksar or something like that” . <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now that was a very fine and precise way to hunt for a
village with a tiny Ganapati temple in the vast hinterland of North Karnataka!.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless I launched a Google search.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a place where a single vowel can change
the location of a village by a few hours of almost un-negotiable roads,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it was going to be a challenge. For example,
Hudil and Hadil are two villages separated by 30 kms of dirt road through dense
forests, Manaki and Manki are separated by 50 kms of a winding ghat road. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So how in the world was I going to find a
village whose name itself we were not sure of?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LIN4SjS-kYs/XxW2y9Z0pNI/AAAAAAAAB4s/tQbYAsN7evYo3S1ZXPx9oz3p1o-Nyxs3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20200720_173004856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LIN4SjS-kYs/XxW2y9Z0pNI/AAAAAAAAB4s/tQbYAsN7evYo3S1ZXPx9oz3p1o-Nyxs3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20200720_173004856.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Bumpy mud roads</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7MtKA201hCQ/XxW3FjSw75I/AAAAAAAAB40/DCAN3y9X2UMLmcaTNUkSuHtpMNeNRYbdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WP_20140908_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7MtKA201hCQ/XxW3FjSw75I/AAAAAAAAB40/DCAN3y9X2UMLmcaTNUkSuHtpMNeNRYbdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/WP_20140908_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Winding Ghat roads</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a lot of searching I found one village called ‘Agsur’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the closest to what he had
pronounced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He jumped at it and said –
yeah yeah maybe it is that!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I
started describing the location and route – it was about 65 kms from Sirsi and
down the ghat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>then that is not the place - It couldn’t have
been that far and I don’t think we went down a ghat” he said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By now I was beginning
to doubt whether we would ever find the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then he came up with another hint – I felt I was playing a treasure-hunt
game – “I think it was on the road to Yellapur and it did not take us very long
to get there from Sirsi” he said. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok! – So I marked <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
50 kms distance between the two towns of Sirsi and Yellapur and enlarged the
Google map to its maximum so that all the smaller village names could be seen.
Scanning the map inch by inch, I travelled about 10 kms when I spotted it
‘Agasal’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>closer to his first pronunciation of
‘Aksal’!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes probably this is it he said
but now his enthusiasm was a bit toned down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had realised the complexity caused by these similar sounding village
names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless, it was the closest
sounding name and the location<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
distance from Sirsi held promise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we decided to
drive down. In the event that we don’t find his ancestral temple, we would just
visit the famous Marikamba temple of Sirsi and also another place which has
been on my ‘Want-to-see-in-this-lifetime’ list – the famous ‘Sahasralinga sculptures’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are countless Shiv-lingas sculpted on
the rocks in the Shalmala river, almost all the rocks in the rocky river bed
have a Shiv-linga sculpted on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we set off<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in two
cars, AB following us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick visit to
the Marikamba temple, although there were very long queues, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and then we were on the Yellapur road. After
the 9 kms mark we slowed down and started looking for any signs of a temple or
any directions to the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
were none!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no mobile signal to
enable us to check the location of the village. We travelled about 3 kms further
- from my earlier checking of the map, we had already passed the village and
missed it totally. Then we saw a temple on the right. It was a fairly large
temple called “Batte Ganapati Devasthan”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We stopped the cars – and went into the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we offered our prayers to the beautiful
idol of Ganapti, AB whispered to Vivek “This is not the one”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our search had not ended. Just then a couple
of men walked in. We asked them about another Ganapati temple in the vicinity
and also the location of Agasal village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They weren’t too sure of a temple, but they knew about the village and
gave us rough directions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AB pulled out
his wallet and showed them the photograph of the Ganapati idol, but they had no
clue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now we set out on the road they had described. We were to
travel some distance back and then return to this same spot for our onward
journey to Sahasralinga, so we left AB’s car outside the temple and decided to
carry on the search in just our vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was getting intermittent signal on my mobile, but could not see a road
to the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spotted the turn
mentioned by the men in the temple and as we turned in, we spotted a motorcycle
approaching us from a distance. We stopped the car and decided to ask the rider
for further directions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The area was
desolate and probably we would not meet another soul until we reached the
village (if we could find it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got
out of the car and waved down the bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were two of them on the bike, we asked them whether they knew about
the village. the temple and AB showed them the photograph too. After a lot of
discussion between themselves (in rapid fire Kannada), they explained a route
to us. I had difficulty following their dialect of Kannada, but I gathered that
the tar road would end at some point and then we would have to follow a mud
road that went downhill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set off. The
tar road ended, the mud road was as bumpy and dusty as you can imagine.
Not<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a soul in sight, not a house or
shop. The forest was dense and silent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then the road bifurcated into two!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Which one now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both went
downhill, but one of them appeared to go at a sharper gradient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
we took the steeper one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But after about
a kilometre or so, the road kept getting worse and the shrubs and trees seemed
to close in on either sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then a
sharp bend, sounds of an approaching vehicle....and what arrives in front?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A huge JCB –an earth moving machine, blocking
our entire path. We got out and asked the driver about the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said there was no village down that road,
only denser forests. So we had a unique experience of travelling reverse for almost
a kilometre in the dense Sirsi forest with a huge JCB bearing down on us the
entire path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our 4x wheel drive sure
came in handy here and AB was glad that he had left his car behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We reached the bifurcation and then took the
other path. Barely 100 meters away we spotted a faded weather beaten milestone.
I could decipher the alphabets ‘A’ and ‘G’ in Kannada!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes we were finally on the right track to
Agasal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We entered the sleepy village <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were just 3 or 4 houses and the road
ended abruptly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vivek noticed the temple
just beyond where the road ended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
parked the car and walked to the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was in fairly good condition, but locked and the interiors were pitch
dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a record of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>melodious shlokas playing softly from
within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We peered in through the grill,
but could not see anything at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AB
had a lost look around him as he said “I cannot remember whether this was the
temple,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish the door was open, I wish
there was a light inside” there was a break in his voice and he looked away to
hide his unshed tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stood in
silence for a few minutes and offered our prayers and then started walking
towards the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just as we neared the car, we spotted a man dressed in a
traditional attire, holding a platter laden with coconuts, bananas and flowers
walking in the direction of the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We spoke to him and tried to explain about our search.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was going in to perform the Puja.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did not seem too friendly, but we <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>followed him as he opened the temple door and
switched on the lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idol was
indeed of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lord Ganesha, but not the one
in the photograph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little while later,
the man’s wife walked in with a bowl of ‘Payasam’ or kheer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She placed it inside the Sanctum as her
husband continued with the Puja.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She then
turned to us to enquire about where we came from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On hearing my broken kannada, she switched to
Hindi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a relief and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we could explain better as to why we came to
this village in search of the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AB
pulled out his wallet and showed her the photo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Oh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the photo of the
idol in our ancestral home!” She exclaimed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then she asked AB his full name and it turned out that they shared
the same surname.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her husband had by
then finished the Puja and joined us, she explained to him in Kannada and he
looked at AB with surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
actually long lost cousins!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They invited us to their home and offered us <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prasad of the delicious Payasam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man pulled out some old books and looking
through them<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>told us that years back
AB’s father had deposited some money with the temple requesting that a Puja be
performed every year on AB’s name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
used to perform the Puja but they had no address to which they could send the
Prasad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AB was overcome with
emotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wrote down his address for
them <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and soon it was time for us to
leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thanked them immensely for
their hospitality and left.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We drove on to Sahasralinga and marvelled at the sculptures
on the rocks on the river bed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TwAUKaO0Nk4/XxW3stFzgmI/AAAAAAAAB5A/9ksNzjoew2QqqlfDDRy8pwKrY2iJqB05gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20161230_145109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TwAUKaO0Nk4/XxW3stFzgmI/AAAAAAAAB5A/9ksNzjoew2QqqlfDDRy8pwKrY2iJqB05gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20161230_145109.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then AB
drove on to Mumbai – a happy man and we returned back to the farm.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bG6aGd7k4I/XxW5nhMhmvI/AAAAAAAAB5M/vpsPbn9ycp4jyWvLioG-KlKMmHFyXY9fQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WP_20140909_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bG6aGd7k4I/XxW5nhMhmvI/AAAAAAAAB5M/vpsPbn9ycp4jyWvLioG-KlKMmHFyXY9fQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/WP_20140909_002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My thoughts were on the seemingly strange obstacles that
came our way, that delayed us more than we expected –- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the long queues at the Marikamba temple,
missing the left turn from the highway because we lost the mobile signal, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the wait at the Batte Ganapati Devasthan, the
wrong turn down the mud road until we came face to face with the JCB, and then
finally<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>waiting outside the locked
temple for a long time before walking back to the car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If none of these delays had happened, we
would have not met the couple and we would have not been able to unravel the
mystery of the faded photograph in AB’s wallet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All was well and that ended well! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<br /></div>
OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-83916484271068384442020-07-07T08:50:00.000-07:002020-07-10T23:25:25.993-07:00Trink ....trink....trink.....trinket snake! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BwDEM-CTRzY/XwSbgnJHmwI/AAAAAAAAB4M/eYZRIc21qRMv3O0mJmXh9YMq2g5-TdaFACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20180920_121228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BwDEM-CTRzY/XwSbgnJHmwI/AAAAAAAAB4M/eYZRIc21qRMv3O0mJmXh9YMq2g5-TdaFACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20180920_121228.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Perfectly Camouflaged</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I always seem to be running late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I have the most far-fetched excuses
.....believe me if you will.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During the rains, we cannot bring our Alto near the house
due to the gushing stream that flows past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So we park the car beyond it – about 100<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>mts away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xwpZ2aXTVEM/XwSRz4ydFvI/AAAAAAAAB30/Vj9f1FSI4G4nPEwk6AVKC1tqJYSm658qACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20180624_174211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xwpZ2aXTVEM/XwSRz4ydFvI/AAAAAAAAB30/Vj9f1FSI4G4nPEwk6AVKC1tqJYSm658qACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20180624_174211.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I have walked all the
way from the house past the neighbours farm, crossed the stream, reached the car
thinking to myself well at least today I am on time, only to realise that I
have left the car keys on the table at home!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then the other day, I did all of the above - in time, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with my car keys safely clutched in my hand,
started the car and barely went 2 metres ahead when a huge tractor-trailor
lumbered up on the tiny dirt road bang in front of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no way that I can get past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guy is carrying compost for one of the
fields<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which has a road access only
through the stream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stream is at a very
low ebb today and the perfect day for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the path is blocked by a stone barricade that some other villagers
have erected to chanel the flowing water to their fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So two men jump off the tractor and proceed
to remove the stone barricade at a leisurely pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the tractor eases down the path, finally allowing me to proceed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I was late again - but wasn't really my fault, was it?</span></div>
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Just the other day, I was rushing out to meet some one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normally the last thing that I do after
locking the back door and the side door, is let the dogs out onto the porch and
then lock the house. Sometimes I have to entice them out of the house with
chew-sticks, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so they know the routine.
The minute I pick the keys and the chewsticks, they race out of the front
door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did my final check -– mobile,
car keys, etc and was just about to call the dogs out when I noticed Zuki
behaving rather strangely. She was just 2 feet away from the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cane chair on which she normally sits, and
looking very alert and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>barking in a very
strange soft way -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not the normal BOW
WOW cacophony that greets guests or monkeys (not in any particular order)
.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was just a ‘whurrff’...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘long pause’ ..... ‘whurrf’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was gazing intently at the Cane
chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked too, but couldn’t see
anything amiss. </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then suddenly it
moved. </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a beauty of a
snake, just as slender as the cane and perfectly camouflaged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now this one, I had to get out of the house.
But before anything else, I had to get the dogs out of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled some chewsticks out of the packet and as usual they ran out onto the porch. But today I wanted
to lock them in the inner room so that I could send the snake out without their interference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took
some cajoling<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to bring them back into
the house and into the inner room. I locked them up there and then turned my
attention to the snake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a real
beauty and unlike any I had seen before. We looked at each other for some
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I clicked a photo, a small video
as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwpRYqmRZx9e6LukneQbmCRolCOoMrg-7N_pCoq-2wy-w-MRIkxrKBedBMvDtmvA-jPr_YaJq8K4F8uja7fpA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Now to get it out of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was perfectly coiled around the cane of
the chair and all I had to do was slide the chair out without alarming it and
then it could go out in peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it
wasn’t as easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I waited until it was
facing away from me and slowly tried to move the chair. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the minute it sensed the movement, it
turned towards me and actually appeared to swell up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood still waiting till it relaxed again
and started exploring the other parts of the chair. Slow gentle push......all
the way till the door....Yes! managed it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now one step below –I had to lift the chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> That movement caused the snake to panic, and </span>seeing the door quite close made a
lunge towards it. The last thing I wanted was it to climb onto the door and escape to some unreachable
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I managed to lift the chair and
place it out on the porch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now with better
light, I could go around the chair and admire it more closely and click some
better pics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzaly_DRfzfzCdoYba8ArV26tKq3P-REwift2I_AZW5J_W_4G3OWijoCWbbl2-OCHOIN3uYZFgoFXlP7zRpig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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And then suddenly I
remembered my appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well no more
time to dawdle, I pushed the chair to the edge of the porch and tipped it over
gently. The snake – back on familiar ground, raced out to the safety of the
bushes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I waited a while before
releasing the dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Later on looking up
the book of 'Snakes in the Indian Subcontinent', I recognised it as a ‘Trinket
Snake’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pretty name for a pretty snake!</div>
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Needless to say, I was late again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-4250738491238187202020-06-14T10:09:00.002-07:002020-06-14T10:18:40.266-07:00Walled Street and Stack Exchange.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Every now and then we come across a ‘Walled street’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- narrow streets with walls on either side .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kNKQwMtqsqI/XuZPX-omaoI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/qN6qF5Aon78ZyGFQQKcY5zWoKFPP7LOqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WP_20160622_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kNKQwMtqsqI/XuZPX-omaoI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/qN6qF5Aon78ZyGFQQKcY5zWoKFPP7LOqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/WP_20160622_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Interesting looking walls built by skilled
hands, placing uneven odd shaped stones perfectly to make an almost smooth
faced wall enclosing a farm. Invariably you will find a little ramp from where
one can haul stacks of hay or dried areca sheaths or any other bulky farm
material directly onto a waiting pick-up truck, thus facilitating easy ‘stack
exchange’.<br />
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The innate skill of the workers who build these walls is evident in the construction made sometimes of oddly shaped boulders, sometimes with flat tile like slabs of stone, placed so well that stones seem to fit into one another like a jigsaw puzzle. Then the final touch is added when a layer of mossy grass is scraped from the ground and placed like icing on top of the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that, in effect it looks as though a newly built wall has just been standing there for ages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMeE1h1h3Nk/XuZZg-BPW2I/AAAAAAAAB24/035cg7KW_-YDO40HhR7zn01YHnLizysEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/P7273672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMeE1h1h3Nk/XuZZg-BPW2I/AAAAAAAAB24/035cg7KW_-YDO40HhR7zn01YHnLizysEwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/P7273672.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Built with oddly shaped boulders</i></span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLRTI0saNzk/XuZSqbQeZWI/AAAAAAAAB1k/6BVTek88BlwQyWITq9fUoiwe-xuyzXxSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLRTI0saNzk/XuZSqbQeZWI/AAAAAAAAB1k/6BVTek88BlwQyWITq9fUoiwe-xuyzXxSACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_5981.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Built with flat stones.</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QgoxaNiDz5U/XuZU9nKxxKI/AAAAAAAAB1w/M9Spyim7TxoYjaOuu-w5DZuBhlok0oPXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QgoxaNiDz5U/XuZU9nKxxKI/AAAAAAAAB1w/M9Spyim7TxoYjaOuu-w5DZuBhlok0oPXwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_5977.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>A Close-up of the same wall.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DV6Iu_jg_ns/XuZVkbFGn7I/AAAAAAAAB14/hddvLY0HdK472rdGIH3ZO9YfAPGu3-RqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WP_20150822_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DV6Iu_jg_ns/XuZVkbFGn7I/AAAAAAAAB14/hddvLY0HdK472rdGIH3ZO9YfAPGu3-RqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/WP_20150822_004.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>This wall has just been built to fence in one of our neighbouring farms</i></span></td></tr>
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Almost all the compound walls here have a narrow gap<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>what
I call the ‘Girth Index Calculator’. The locals have no need for fancy stuff
like “Body Mass Index” or ‘Body Adiposity Index’ and such like......If you can
walk (side-ways)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>through these narrow
openings in the walls, then all is well in the world....or else...you do need
to visit the ....ahem..... a gym? <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTb_5Uu3gvo/XuZWG1IpWwI/AAAAAAAAB2A/gHq1IwVx9zQ_E3lqzbB6t-zRLgrGXrvVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTb_5Uu3gvo/XuZWG1IpWwI/AAAAAAAAB2A/gHq1IwVx9zQ_E3lqzbB6t-zRLgrGXrvVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_4482.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The narrow opening known locally as a 'Donnapa'</i></span></td></tr>
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Now do these walls really keep out the creatures they are
supposed to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our very friendly almost
lovable wild boar can jump over it with enviable agility. The cows, though
normally<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not fond of jumping over walls,
if cornered and scared, wouldn’t think twice before galloping over it, as we
have observed quite a few times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
a couple of cows from one of the neighbouring farms, who true to the adage
‘Grass is greener on the other side of the fence’ had somehow been finding
their way into our farm. Banana plants among others, our stack of hay saved for
the rainy season and so many other things would get decimated in no time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had
no choice but to drive them out. They would lead us a merry chase, avoiding the
gate through which they could easily run out and finally jump over some wall
and gallop out of sight. <br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The snakes seem to
love walls as they glide over them peeping into every crevice looking for prey.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VcEqbGSfjg/XuZW4wBb_1I/AAAAAAAAB2M/o84xZDTj8pECVacUuYnAvMQFjIq87-eMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VcEqbGSfjg/XuZW4wBb_1I/AAAAAAAAB2M/o84xZDTj8pECVacUuYnAvMQFjIq87-eMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_4359.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>In and Out -gliding soundlessly</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-giPX5m-5Xuw/XuZW5Y623jI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/VSVPSltKBT0ySxy0x3DYyIzKC0oVNpC_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_5989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-giPX5m-5Xuw/XuZW5Y623jI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/VSVPSltKBT0ySxy0x3DYyIzKC0oVNpC_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_5989.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our dogs love to sit atop the wall that separates our neighbouring <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>farm, drooling over their scraggly hens
scampering all over their place. <br />
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Then there is this wall that we got built when we dug a well
last year. The earth moving equipment had made a huge ramp leading into the
well. We had to fill up this area with mud, that had to stay put and not fall
into the well. The labourer who came to do it was so skilled, it was a joy
watching him place the stones. The entire angle of the wall leant away from the
well, he packed in mud as the height of the wall rose, and soon the sturdy wall
was complete.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mplFriLWWO0/XuZYqHkmrEI/AAAAAAAAB2c/tBqkwrLMNPkFS1RnuxO6FwPpzpbmWEH7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WP_20150531_010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mplFriLWWO0/XuZYqHkmrEI/AAAAAAAAB2c/tBqkwrLMNPkFS1RnuxO6FwPpzpbmWEH7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/WP_20150531_010.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
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We found this so fascinating, that Vivek had to try his hand
at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cashew tree<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just in front of our house is at a little<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>height and so is the clump of Bamboo behind
the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At both these places, each
rainy season, some mud would get washed away exposing parts of the roots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, using the same technique he built two small
embankments that holds in the mud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here
are pics of his handiwork.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s0s0BrkP6_Q/XuZZCLm9l2I/AAAAAAAAB2k/jRSWNSYvyEoF-CnJP_cD5SEO_7dLDJGIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20200612_094504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s0s0BrkP6_Q/XuZZCLm9l2I/AAAAAAAAB2k/jRSWNSYvyEoF-CnJP_cD5SEO_7dLDJGIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20200612_094504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCdWJIjEp58/XuZZCrJCy2I/AAAAAAAAB2o/9APDpZlT7LAuGGyQlE6xaYcQeMHvaLMogCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20200614_164025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCdWJIjEp58/XuZZCrJCy2I/AAAAAAAAB2o/9APDpZlT7LAuGGyQlE6xaYcQeMHvaLMogCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20200614_164025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-13955291804565071032020-05-05T11:59:00.001-07:002020-05-05T12:11:34.482-07:00The Cows are thirsty!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Finally we have a watering hole for our bovine family!</div>
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Each day after the cows are milked, they are let loose to
graze around, walk around and sun themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These are the Malnad Gidda variety of cows and unlike a lot of other
cows who are content to stay the whole day in the stables, our cows get quite
unhappy if they are not let loose. They need that exercise and the outing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all proceed out in a group and are
capable of walking quite long distances. Quite often we have spotted them up
the hill, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>far from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But all of them unfailingly (barring a few
incidents) always return home by 3 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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When they return back, they have to wait until we open the
gate to let them in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a common
gate that leads to our home and the plantation with a small path cordoned off
for the cows to walk straight into the cow shed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our cows know the routine pretty well and
walk down the path to the cowshed un-erringly. They sit patiently in the shade
outside the gate and it is always a pleasure to see the content expression on
their faces.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-LboHeIp7A/XrGroGREPyI/AAAAAAAABzc/NpJYkF1IVLcGD2sRcpK3ldO41S0gaNlfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20180415_123355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-LboHeIp7A/XrGroGREPyI/AAAAAAAABzc/NpJYkF1IVLcGD2sRcpK3ldO41S0gaNlfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20180415_123355.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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All throughout the rainy season, there are umpteen brooks
and streams that enrich the landscape, but come summer and all of them dry
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TY2sxUdsZSg/XrGplYb4yvI/AAAAAAAABzE/qdUa-KDNSqgj2Bm7hl9xuqJu4U4L3D-mgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20170616_175829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1202" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TY2sxUdsZSg/XrGplYb4yvI/AAAAAAAABzE/qdUa-KDNSqgj2Bm7hl9xuqJu4U4L3D-mgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20170616_175829.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6BcF2j6ORZk/XrGrWCYyrzI/AAAAAAAABzU/YO_Wkfe3yVEW6ELxH98Jgrb51KqLZpDJACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WP_20160925_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="899" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6BcF2j6ORZk/XrGrWCYyrzI/AAAAAAAABzU/YO_Wkfe3yVEW6ELxH98Jgrb51KqLZpDJACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/WP_20160925_004.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
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Even the ‘Holle’ that roars past our
farm leaves not a trace behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this
means that the cows have no water to drink until they are let into the
cowshed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>keep quite a few buckets of water for them,
but they push each other to get to the water first and often overturn the
buckets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we had to find a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>solution for this, to provide ample drinking
water for them. And we found it on one of our trips further south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were returning from a trip to Vitla and
spotted a Plant nursery on the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
stopped to check it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really
huge - lots of fancy plants and /saplings with fancy price tags too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the first few rows of roses,
chrysanthemums and colourful hibiscus, all with perfect flowers, there were
rows of indoor plants and colourful crotons. Then came the saplings of the
large trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was interesting as we
could buy some for the farm and the forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We picked quite a few of these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then at the very end, I spotted a whole array of pots and planters- mud
pots, plastic ones, hanging ones, name it and this nursery had it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in one corner I spotted a huge stack of giant
tubs –just the type that I wanted for the cows’ drinking water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were meant to make fancy lotus ponds to
place in the foyers /lobbies of buildings and hotels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had all the apparatus to make an
artificial fountains and a mini water fall as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the tub was all that I wanted, and we got
it.</div>
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Back on the farm, we decided to install it just outside the
gate, so that not just our cows, but all the ones passing by can quench their
thirst. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gc2PbBt_xk8/XrGsSW3KcMI/AAAAAAAABzo/OxoWAIO-CvcUzWK1_khcXa4haGX5NglPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20170430_123331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gc2PbBt_xk8/XrGsSW3KcMI/AAAAAAAABzo/OxoWAIO-CvcUzWK1_khcXa4haGX5NglPwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20170430_123331.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plsEEvFxO_o/XrGsVup3EJI/AAAAAAAABzw/Z7A8FECggFYo7wrpS6BamToF5JELjDJ3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20170430_123405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-plsEEvFxO_o/XrGsVup3EJI/AAAAAAAABzw/Z7A8FECggFYo7wrpS6BamToF5JELjDJ3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20170430_123405.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing to install it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BYtW14kms-Y/XrGsUuwLekI/AAAAAAAABzs/Mn71LE68RpUmlqsuxqWBm5bsUVH5C--rgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20170430_124655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BYtW14kms-Y/XrGsUuwLekI/AAAAAAAABzs/Mn71LE68RpUmlqsuxqWBm5bsUVH5C--rgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20170430_124655.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zco9SaFQk10/XrGsfTfxlvI/AAAAAAAABz0/hzGO1T59jWMVX7I1DC9FbfFfXjWub7VsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20170430_133245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zco9SaFQk10/XrGsfTfxlvI/AAAAAAAABz0/hzGO1T59jWMVX7I1DC9FbfFfXjWub7VsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20170430_133245.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing touches - all natural elements used.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJXvzFX8d7Y/XrGsjtE8OVI/AAAAAAAAB0A/rxnpPiEtly0cIrrl4oj34FEPr5sbWArHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20170430_143953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJXvzFX8d7Y/XrGsjtE8OVI/AAAAAAAAB0A/rxnpPiEtly0cIrrl4oj34FEPr5sbWArHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20170430_143953.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shabari is a bit suspicious- hey! that was not there when I left this morning....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Am7xsthqxM8/XrGsj-S1u3I/AAAAAAAABz8/HXdTqD5b_sItQt4uAa-yJ4eqaDRbnbTRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20170430_144006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Am7xsthqxM8/XrGsj-S1u3I/AAAAAAAABz8/HXdTqD5b_sItQt4uAa-yJ4eqaDRbnbTRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20170430_144006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anandi is curious.....and Thirsty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jNQFl65fJdg/XrGsnXQFQZI/AAAAAAAAB0I/wl48hKqDZVM-CkCPo_An4HtAllYPao5IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20170430_144025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jNQFl65fJdg/XrGsnXQFQZI/AAAAAAAAB0I/wl48hKqDZVM-CkCPo_An4HtAllYPao5IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20170430_144025.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey that's for us to drink!!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So there it is now, a watering
hole for the cows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Watch</span> them make a
beeline for it when they get back after their daily jaunts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx1BblJCLRWGkBoM1vuqcy8e74JocNN7CbHhw04TBRenSJomlhmf39t4efq4eEOBdi8otMF_OTgWz07hevytA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-14329353851544410702020-04-17T21:24:00.000-07:002020-04-17T21:24:42.586-07:00Cat's Whiskers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88Ug9AjBJxU/XpqAzb-pFsI/AAAAAAAAByA/L-mACrHTsRIdN2dhn6CoHO5xtIUGWk6mgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20180527_085717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-88Ug9AjBJxU/XpqAzb-pFsI/AAAAAAAAByA/L-mACrHTsRIdN2dhn6CoHO5xtIUGWk6mgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20180527_085717.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Blue</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Is not a colour</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I associate with a crow’s egg.</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>But there it is</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>A porcelain blue shell</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Cracked just so</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>It wasn’t me that did it</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>But the nasty ‘other’ crows</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The yolk is bright yellow</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>And clings to my whiskers</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>As I leap off the window sill</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>My whiskers stiffen</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>And the crow smell lingers</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i></i></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Long after I have licked them clean.</i></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032354791613422249.post-34833643448144155712020-04-15T04:43:00.001-07:002020-04-15T04:49:43.132-07:00Perks of Farm Life!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xGTT_ait0m4/XpbovCvlptI/AAAAAAAABvs/6rtPVsoy4psBybo1vL26m7ZDireuyg7DQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20190106_081248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xGTT_ait0m4/XpbovCvlptI/AAAAAAAABvs/6rtPVsoy4psBybo1vL26m7ZDireuyg7DQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20190106_081248.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Life on the farm- work and more work as far as the eye can see. The calves are having a merry time though!<br /><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">!<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M4pIkr5xTcY/XpbpROuoyyI/AAAAAAAABv0/ZdL1s97xP0QY9VkZCIFRaJfomb9YI3BDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20190120_122229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M4pIkr5xTcY/XpbpROuoyyI/AAAAAAAABv0/ZdL1s97xP0QY9VkZCIFRaJfomb9YI3BDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20190120_122229.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>COBOL - Sometimes you just need to sit down and stare!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Along with the hardships of a farm life come the perks – the
perks of having a meal that is almost completely grown on the farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Meet the players on our lunch plate today:</div>
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Red Rice – Starting its journey in the first week of June in
a protected Rice nursery, then being transplanted in the first week of July
under lashing rains out in the open fields, and then growing for three whole
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WmXXG1MAiyQ/XpbrlqdJABI/AAAAAAAABwM/urOY2iBmraI8ON_fhRjtiUbqJJlqj3i1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20190629_181132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WmXXG1MAiyQ/XpbrlqdJABI/AAAAAAAABwM/urOY2iBmraI8ON_fhRjtiUbqJJlqj3i1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20190629_181132.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Protected Rice Nursery.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BnIozf9quA/Xpbqcw5TkkI/AAAAAAAABwA/58jBBJerq-8_f0AraLSuqK1kQyJYWvTBACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_4314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BnIozf9quA/Xpbqcw5TkkI/AAAAAAAABwA/58jBBJerq-8_f0AraLSuqK1kQyJYWvTBACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_4314.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rice tillers<br /><br /><br /><br /></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYs3eEuTFMA/Xpbt4saHRnI/AAAAAAAABwY/JI7Ve-ebjmMMEjbdCbMfa7CS0CkZ4RzAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WP_20161130_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYs3eEuTFMA/Xpbt4saHRnI/AAAAAAAABwY/JI7Ve-ebjmMMEjbdCbMfa7CS0CkZ4RzAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/WP_20161130_003.jpg" width="640" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Rice grains</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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And here it is today cooked to
perfection, ready to be accompanied by the Palak –dal.</div>
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Palak – This is a fast growing variety of local spinach
which the locals call<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Bombay
Basle’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>where as the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Malabar Spinach is called just Basle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ecoWwxgbzSk/Xpbu9o7dISI/AAAAAAAABwk/z03QTOskI48DBwGKnbbLUE2G-kLstv49gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Edible%2Bleaves%2B-%2Ba%2Bkind%2Bof%2Blocal%2Bspinach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ecoWwxgbzSk/Xpbu9o7dISI/AAAAAAAABwk/z03QTOskI48DBwGKnbbLUE2G-kLstv49gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Edible%2Bleaves%2B-%2Ba%2Bkind%2Bof%2Blocal%2Bspinach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Local Spinach</i></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>can
harvest<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a reasonably sized bunch every
other week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today it finds its way into
a simple dal with a jeera tadka.</div>
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Raw Jackfruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
tall jackfruit trees are laden with green prickly bunches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are way more than we can deal with if
we allow all to ripen. So tender jackfruit is one of our favourite
accompaniments at lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qwJdbGz_1g0/Xpbv9CeixeI/AAAAAAAABww/1udV_iBSiR87th8Ih4fWrS0MrXAv9Ll2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20190615_122944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qwJdbGz_1g0/Xpbv9CeixeI/AAAAAAAABww/1udV_iBSiR87th8Ih4fWrS0MrXAv9Ll2QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20190615_122944.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Would you like to carry some home ?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Today it is
steamed and then stir fried with a dash of white pepper powder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>White pepper is the inner kernel of our
normal black pepper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it is much
spicier than it looks.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTeL16LsRT0/XpbwUecOq2I/AAAAAAAABw4/HHUArCEGXn4fl6fHEDtIGQcvSCYDh020QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20190117_171558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTeL16LsRT0/XpbwUecOq2I/AAAAAAAABw4/HHUArCEGXn4fl6fHEDtIGQcvSCYDh020QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20190117_171558.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ripened berries of Pepper from which we get the white pepper.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ghee – Is any Indian meal complete without a dollop of
ghee?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a choice of two varieties
of ghee here – Golden yellow Cow ghee and the white Buffalo ghee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starring on our plate today is Buffalo ghee –
made laboriously by collecting the cream from Madhubala’s milk, fermenting it,
churning it to get the butter and then melting<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and clarifying it with fragrant leaves – Betel leaf, Curry leaf and
Tulsi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these make the ghee most
fragrant and delicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CLMLpqCRZAo/XpbyXzDxcGI/AAAAAAAABxE/D8gn-YHDjLYDBw9FsyLcbuupse864huKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20200415_160914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CLMLpqCRZAo/XpbyXzDxcGI/AAAAAAAABxE/D8gn-YHDjLYDBw9FsyLcbuupse864huKACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20200415_160914.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Madhubala - Is this angle right - Don't I look prettier this way?</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">So here it is- our meal for today </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L2HthGzjfO8/XpbzUhWDJdI/AAAAAAAABxQ/y987cItW7r4QAtzwodKU4k1M-wATDxTSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20200414_141511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L2HthGzjfO8/XpbzUhWDJdI/AAAAAAAABxQ/y987cItW7r4QAtzwodKU4k1M-wATDxTSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20200414_141511.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Red Rice, Palak-dal, Tender Jackfruit stir-fry and a dollop of ghee.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Simple yet delicious!</div>
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OurFarmAtChitrapurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08746550256123569397noreply@blogger.com6