Rose with Rose Hips, Botanical Garden, San Francisco - August 31, 2014

My dear friend, Joanne Olivieri, blogger, writer, poet and photographer, among her

many talents, introduced me to the San Francisco Botanical Garden.  I had lived in

close proximity for over 20 years without having visited.  Now, far away in India, I

often look back at my pictures since, in this hot, humid climate, I, sometimes, long

for the flowers, foliage, and trees of the Bay area.  The Garden, however, hosts

beautiful specimens from all over the world.

For the Our Beautiful World theme this week, "Seeds," I chose this rose photo

I took at the Botanical Garden, complete with rose hips.  

According to Wikipedia, the rose hip, which is the fruit of the rose plant, begins

to form after successful pollination in spring or early summer and continues to

ripen through autumn.  You can see here that this flower is still being visited by

bees and the hips have grown quite large.

Rose hips are the seed pods of roses.  Roses can be propagated by removing

the seeds and sowing just under the surface of the soil.  They are slow to germinate

and this may take months.  They usually require a period of chilling.

Rose hips have many uses.  They are one of the richest sources of vitamin C.  

They are often used for teas, jams and jellies, other beverages.  Current trials are

being run for their use in treating various medical conditions.

Rose hips are best harvested after the first frost and, because the seeds have

hairy coverings, it is best that they be removed.

Because of their high vitamin C content, rose hips are often used in the treatment

of colds and flu.  They are often used in the treatment of stomach disorder, diarrhea,

constipation, ulcers and like conditions.  Much of the vitamin C content of rose hips

is lost during drying, processing and storage.

For more information on rose hips, refer to the links below.  Web MD, especially,

has good information on medications, including vitamins and supplements.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_hip

http://gardening.about.com/od/rose1/f/RoseHips.htm

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-839-ROSE%20HIP.aspx?activeIngredientId=839&activeIngredientName=ROSE%20HIP

I am participating in 

Our Beautiful World, Week 62, Seeds

Show us what makes your world beautiful.

The Gates of Rashtrapati Bhavan - August 24, 2014

The Gates of Rashtrapati Bhavan

These beautiful gates surround Rashtrapati Bhavan, the 340 room residence 

and offices of the President of India in New Delhi, India.  In addition to the 

main building, there are 320 acres in the Presidential Estate, which include the

famous Mughul Gardens, stables, residences for staff and bodyguards and

various offices.

It took eighteen years to complete construction and, in the year of its completion,

India gained its independence from Great Britain.

Pranab Murkherjee, the 13th president of India, has held the office since July, 2012.

Since that time, he has opened up more and more of Rashtrapati Bhavan to 

the people of India and other guests.

For more information on Rashtrapati Bhavan, refer to the links below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashtrapati_Bhavan

http://www.indiasite.com/delhi/places/rashtrapatibhavan.html

http://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/the-history-of-rashtrapati-bhavan-the-official-home-of-the-president-of-india-1343022754-1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranab_Mukherjee

I am participating in 

Our Beautiful World, Week 61: Gate

and

Sundays in My City

Add you photo/s and join in the fun!!

Look Up, Look Down Challenge, Week 53 - The California State Capitol - August 21, 2014

I

On a bright sunny day, against a blue sky background, the state capitol 

of California looks especially beautiful.

This neoclassical structure, home to the government of 

California is located in Sacramento.  The office of the

governor is here.

Based on the U. S. Capitol Building in Washington, D. C., 

it was completed between 1861 and 1874 and, in 1973, it

was listed on the Office of the National Register of Historic Places.

'

I am participating in 

Look Up, Look Down Challenge, Week 53

Add your photo and join the fun!!

Happy Independence Day, India - August 15, 2014

Photo:  Courtesy Bing Images, Domain free

On this day, in 1947, the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, raised 

the Indian National flag at the  Lahore Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi, celebrating

India's independence from Britain.

The British had, initially, come to India in the 1600's for trade purposes but,

gradually, took control of India and ruled for 200 years.

Prior to independence, there was a period of civil disobedience and nonviolent protest,

led by Mohandas Ghandhi.

The Indian Independence Act 1947 partitioned British India into India, Pakistan and

what is now Bangladesh, with a mass exodus of refugees on both sides of the 

border.  In the ensuing bloodshed and violence, an estimated 250,000 to a million

people lost their lives.

In the ensuing 67 years, since India became the world's largest democracy, 

every prime minister has raised the Indian flag at the Red Fort on Independence

Day and given a speech.   The new prime minister, Narendra Modi, was no 

exception, and his speech today showed both inspiration and vision for this

vast country. 

Photo:  Courtesy Bing Images, Domain free

I hope that all my friends in India and worldwide had a very special Independence

Day.  This is actually my third time to be in India for this special occasion.  I

visited India, for the first time, for ten days in February of 1997, never dreaming 

that, as a senior citizen, I would end up living here, off and on for 16 out of 

32 months.  I have grown to love India, its people, its cultures, and all that makes

it great.  

Happy Independence Day.  You have come a long way in just 67 years!

Photo:  Courtesy Bing Images, Domain free

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(India)

http://www.festivalsofindia.in/independenceday/

Look Up, Look Down Challenge, Week 52 - Follow the Signs - Thursday, August 14, 2014

This is one of my favorite signs of all time.  It's posted in a little fish and chips place,
Briitsh to the core, called Camelot in Pacifica, California where I have lived for part
of my life.  I've been in that area for all of the 35 years I've spent in the San Francisco
area and I just love its proximity to the Pacific ocean, though it can definitely be
engulfed in fog, at times.

I am participating in 

Follow the Signs

Join us!!

Our World Tuesday - Amber Textiles - Tuesday ( in India ), August 12, 2014

For the most part, I really love India.  You meet all kinds of wonderful people, in the
course of your comings and goings.  Take my outing in search of "house dresses"
with my Indian "sister".  I rent a room from Rosy and her husband, Norman, the 
parents of Edsel and Danny Toscano, former Royal Caribbean crew friends.  It
is really nice for me, in Mumbai, a city of over ten million, to be with people who
are like family.

So, off we go to her favorite spot at Elco Arcade Shopping Center to get "house 
dresses" for me, during a momentary lull in the monsoon rains.  Playing "dodge 
'em cars" in our rickshaw, we arrive, amazingly, safe and sound.  On the first floor,
we pass shop after shop of caftans, saris, kurtas, and all the assorted Indian
ladies clothing, all looking basically the same.  If I stop to admire, Rosy calls me
to keep going, "It's just ahead."  

"Just ahead" is a tiny little shop that can only accommodate a few shoppers, 
especially after I have entered.  It is chock full of brightly colored cotton prints of
every hue, short and long lengths, dazzling to me.  I explain to both the young 
man and the older man in attendance what I want to see ( "everything" ), probably
in an extra large.  

The young man, who, I later learn, is Hitesh Narsinghani, gains my undying affection
when he tells me, "No, you won't take an extra large, only a large."  I remember when,
in 1997, during my first India trip, being told, during a shopping expedition to 
Bandra, "sorry, madam, your dresses will be four hundred rupees because you
are a jumbo."  He tells me to try on one of the dresses over my clothes and, lo and
behold, he's right, a large fits.

I tell Hitesh and his uncle, I believe it was, that I want both long and short house

dresses and out they bring at least two dozen folded choices in assorted colors.

Hitesh takes the first, shakes it open and holds it up so I can see it full length.  I love 

it.  He then starts for the second one.  I tell him to stop, not to bother unfolding them 

all, I can tell what I like with them folded.  Oh, no, like a showman, he insists, saying 

I have to see them opened up and it is no bother to refold them.

I ended up buying three long dresses and three short ones and I told Hitesh I would

probably come back for a couple more before I head home in November.  One 

black floral one that I loved was out of stock but he is sure they will get another 

shipment from Jaipur.  I told him they all reminded me of muu muus.  He had no

idea what I meant but I can just see myself in Hawaii wearing these and, for $35,

I could never get six muu muus at Hilo Hatties.  

When I asked Rosy how she had settled on this one store out of all at the

shopping mall, she told me because of the quality of the dresses, the durability

of the cotton and the colors and the good stitching which was not consistent

everywhere.  Also, the price was excellent, even better than what you would get

in Jaipur where the dresses are made!

I'll enjoy wearing these, I'm sure, long after I stop coming to India.  After all, I will

celebrate my 70th birthday here in October and I wonder how long I can keep 

traveling.  Oh, well, as Scarlett said, "I'll think about that tomorrow" ... a lot of 

tomorrows in the future.

Amber Textiles is located at 15, Elco Arcade Shopping Centre, Hill Road, Bandra

West, Mumbai - 400 050, India, Phone: 2640 6303, 2642 2606.

I am participating in 

Our World Tuesday

Tell us about your world to join in the fun.

Sundays in My City - Raksha Bandhan - August 10, 2014

from Bing Images, domain free

Spending so much time in India, I've had the pleasure of experiencing many

of its religious and cultural celebrations and holidays.  Raksha Bandhan is one

of my favorites and I wish we had a counterpart in the United States.  It is a Hindu

festival which celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters.  It

has also come to celebrate any such devoted relationship between men and 

women who are not related biologically.

Raksha Bandhan is an ancient festival, celebrated worldwide by Hindus, Jains,

and many Sikhs.   On the full moon day ( Shravan Poornima ), a sister ties a rakhi

( sacred thread ) around her brother's wrist, symbolizing her love for him.  She

offers prayers for his well-being and for his life-long vow to protect her.  The brother,

then, affirms his promise to protect his sister.  It is a festival which affirms family ties.

Preparations for Raksha Bandhan may begin well in advance.  Many sister weave

the rakhi for their brothers.  Some keep it simple with colorful string.  Others add

amulets and stones

This symbolizes the sister's love and prayers for her brother's well-being, and the brother's lifelong vow to protect her.^[10][11] The festival falls on the full moon day (Shravan Poornima) of the Shravan month of theHindu lunisolar calendar.^[12]

            

 Raki bracelets, Bing Images, Domain free

The ceremony, typically, is performed in the morning, in front of parents and other family, 

with a diya ( lighted candle ), rotated around the brother's face, while the sister prays. 

 After prayers, the sister applies a mark ( tilak ) to her brother's forehead.  Next, the

sister feeds the brother some sweets from a rahki tray.

                                             

There are many websites and resources available if you would like to know more

about this special Hindu festival.  It is one of my favorites.  

I am participating in Unknown Mami's

Sunday's in My City

How was your Sunday?  Let us know in this forum!

http://www.raksha-bandhan.com/ ( includes recipes, quotes, jokes and much information )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raksha_Bandhan

http://www.raksha-bandhan.com/

Happy Friendship Day - August 3, 2014

Happy Friendship Day

I must admit I do find fault,

And can bemoan my fate!

The years are passing quickly,

And I'm not my ideal weight...

I am not wise with money,

And I haven't saved much cash,

My bank account is lonely,

For there's nothing like a stash.

The wrinkle creams aren't working,

I've cellulite, not thighs,

And I play around with makeup,

Making rainbows of my eyes.

Yet, pauper that I am,

I've traveled far and near,

And I'm wealthy in great friendships,

That enrich my life each year.

I don't need a special day,

To tell my friends what's in my heart,

Though miles may come between us,

We are never far apart.

Carmen Henesy

copyright August 3, 2014 by Carmen Henesy

Thanks to Bing Images for the photographs

Inspired Sunday - Holy Virgin Cathedral - August 3, 2014

The Holy Virgin Cathedral, Joy of all who Sorrow, located in San Francisco,

California, is the largest of six cathedrals of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Construction, begun in 1961, was completed in 1965,

St. John, who died in 1966, is buried within the church.  Its five onion domes are

covered in 24-carat gold leaf and the interior is filled with beautiful art, icons, and

paintings.  One must attend a service to see them and interior photography is

not permitted.

I am participating in 

Inspired Sunday

Add your "spires" to join in the fun!

Thanks to Wikipedia for information on the Holy Virgin Cathedral.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Virgin_Cathedral