Pongal/Lohir/Sankranthi.....

Happy Pongal/Lohri/Sankranthi to who ever visit this deserted land hehehehehehe..Well we had a great weekend celebrating BHOGI on Saturday and Sankranthi on Sunday..

Lucky me...my Queen made the traditional Jowar Roti, Stuffed Brinjal curry ( we call it Guthi Vankaya in our Native Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh )...that was for Bhogi...we never miss these two for Bhogi. And that evening we had around 16 people at home for dinner. Q is very efficient and fast in cooking. She made 3 starters, naan, 4 curries, 3 desserts, rice and dahi vada..All of us had a feast and a it was a nice evening with them. Love to have spend the festivals with near and dear rather than alone and a BIG THANKS to my Q for everything. Every1 loved the dishes she made.

We kind of miss the other aspects of Sankranthi though...be it the Rangolis, the coloring, the small pots made of cow dung and the decoration of rangoli with these, the camp fire early in the morning, flying kites...I guess living away from your home country has its own issues..once we buy a house, we'll defenetely make it even more traditional apart from the great food the Q prepares.

Sunday she made the traditional Bhakshyalu ( some call it pooran poli, bobbatlu etc ) , Bhakshyala Charu...Yummmy..again Lucky me for not having to miss these foods for each festival...u can c couple of pics above..the one with jowar roti and the other one with the yummy BHAKSHYAM:):)


Cheers,
Raghu

Call 911

Yesterday the Prince made a 911 call...not sure by mistake or purposefully...they called back, asked about the age etc etc and said they will have to come down to check..

Finally they didn't come to the apartment, rather they went and talked in the apartment office. They told the cops nothing to worry and mentioned positive things about the family...

It does happen many a times with hyper kids at home:):):)....did this happen to any of you? Need to find a way to prevent making 911 calls from home phone...

At the end all is well...

Another year...

Another eventful year completed in our lives..Its been a great year personally and professionally...
Some of the major happenings of 2011...

1. Changed the company after working at my first company for 14+ years.....I accepted the first opportunity that came to me and started with the new company on June 1st...going good so far...
   
2. Celebrated Prince's 5th birthday in a grand way and we did a DHOTI Ceremony also. The best part of this function was..some of my school frens ( they call chuddi/cheddi dost in India ) and also my engineering frens came down and it was kind of a mini re-union.
   
3. My MOM and MIL visited us and spent a good 3 months with us. Great time with them taking them to different places in an around this area.
   
4. Prince bonded with them a lot and now he wants them every year here..Good isn't it:)...

and 'course INDIA won the world cup.....

Now looking forward to 2012...A year in which we'd have to move to a new place where schools are good. Prince will start his 1st grade. Hoping and Praying that he gets a good foundation. We are also looking forward to make some trips to Texas/Chicago time/money permitting hehehehe. And a visit to Motherland might be there too.

Wishing everyone a VERY VERY HAPPY and HEALTHY new year.

Cheers,
--Raghu