Welcome to India 2012 video 2

Posted on December 15, 2013 by annetbell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0ZQvSiYtBE

This is the second of three great videos on India and the Indian spirit , hard work, and adaptation to life challenges.  This an Indian businesswoman who has  12 children and a thriving  business. It is worth the time if you are interested.

Today has been digging out the cars, day with  architect going to reviews at school.  I was preparing my contribution to the gourmet cooking group which I will explain later!

Namaste. .  . . . . More sights and sounds of the life and work of many amazing Indian people!

Posted in India, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Puppets, Books and Tiffany Glass

Posted on December 14, 2013 by annetbell

Grades K – 8

Warm your hearts with Charles Dickens’ holiday classic.  Watch Mean Ol’ Scrooge as he discovers Christmas is not a HUMBUG!  This puppet spectacular features beautiful handcrafted marionettes, shadow puppets, gorgeous masks, lavish costumes, vivid sets, a professional soundtrack that includes many holiday favorites, a giant 9-foot parade puppet and guaranteed smiles!  Experience this literary masterpiece that reaches far beyond the holiday season!

Don’t miss your chance to book this Holiday classic!
“Your show was stupendous, terrific, creative, and wonderful!  Please come back again soon!”3rd Grade class, Hatfield, MAclick to see video

 

There definitely is a Charles Dickens theme going in our family’s holiday  celebrations!  Today, I walked about a half a mile to the Troy Public Library to meet my daughter and her family to see this adaption of the Dickens’ classic which even after 200 years is as relevant and inspiring as it was in England when it was first published.

The puppeteers are the Puppet People located in Schenectady, New York.  It is  a two person troupe.  The children were intrigued and sat quietly for the hour production. Several interesting aspects were the combination of  the marionettes, and the puppeteers in costume participating in the performance.  The people costumes were quite lovely and sophisticated. Another  learning experience for the children was that the puppeteers were visible speaking, and pulling the string on the marionettes instead of hidden behind the stage.

A lovely, entertaining hour and  time for me to warm-up, go back out in the 10 degree Fahrenheit temperature and walk the 1/2 mile home!

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Well, what about the books and Tiffany glass ?  Well, this performance was in the upstairs of the Troy Library and so, of course, it has books, though from my experience, the building is much more impressive than the collection.  Yes, the building is complete with a Victorian fireplace, iron railing, and gorgeous Tiffany stain glass windows.  Actually Troy was a rather affluent city during the late Victorian period and its proximity to New York and the beautiful glass work done by the Tiffany artisans, have blessed many Troy window gazers!

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This style of architecture is known as  the American Renaissance and became popular after the building of the White City in Chicago  in the  1890’s.  The architects who designed and built the Troy Library in 1893  were Barney and Chapman from New York City.

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Some of the beautiful Victorian details.. . . . .

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The architects  wanted to integrate art into the architecture in this American replica of an Italian Renaissance palace.  There are elaborate stone carvings for decorations as well beautiful molding.

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This is  a shot of the glass block walkways with iron railings in the stacks. The kids thought it was a blast to walk on glass and not crashing  through.

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This is the largest of the Tiffany’s windows. The subject  is the master printer Aldus presenting the proof sheets of Dante’s( Italy’s favorite poet)  Divine Comedy.

Aldus’ life quote was : “Study as if you were to live forever, and live as if you were to die tomorrow. ”   It seems appropriate for this beautiful building filled with inspirational art and knowledge.

This is Troy, New York!

History from :  http://www.thetroylibrary.org/?p=16

Posted in Architecture, Uncategorized, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Time’s Person of the Year

Posted on December 13, 2013 by annetbell

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oabVDOQ_2Sk

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of  these is love.”               1st Corinthians 13:13

Peace. . . .  . . .

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Blog of the Year Award, Influential Blogger Award and Sisterhood of the World Award

Posted on December 12, 2013 by annetbell

20131201-215122 (1) Second star, though I can’t figure out how to do that! sisterhood   most-influential-blogger My dear friend at painttheworldwithwords.wordpress.com has nominated me for all these awards and I am overwhelmed by her support and generosity. I am sending out one post for these three awards so as not repeat myself.  Amreen is a web designer and writer with a special enthusiasm for poetry and inspiring quotes.  She is a faith-filled woman and ardent lover of her Creator.  Thank you dear friend for honoring my blog.’ I am starting with the Sisterhood of the World Award.

~~~~The Rules ~~~~~~

  1. Provide a link to and thank the blogger who nominated you for this award.
  2. Answer ten questions.
  3. Nominate 10-12 blogs that you find a joy to read.
  4. Provide links to these nominated blogs and kindly let the recipients know they have been nominated.
  5. Include the award logo within your blog post.

~~~~~~Questions~~~~~~

  1. Your favorite colour …. Blue
  2. Your favorite animal … German Shepherd dog
  3. Your favorite non-alcoholic drink …. Sprite
  4. Facebook or Twitter  – both
  5. Your favorite pattern ….. dots 
  6. Do you prefer getting or giving presents? Giving
  7. Your favorite number … 3
  8. Your favorite day of the week … Sunday 
  9. Your favorite flower …. Rose
  10. What is your passion? ….. Writing

Here are my nominees for the Sisterhood of the World Award: 1.wingedprisms.com

2. foodbod.wordpress.com

3. agwink.me

4. followkarenellis.com

5. carolynmalone.wordpress.com

6. bulanlifestyle.wordpress.com

7. prakritisingh.wordpress.com

8. bakeratheart.com

9. manolirizofotografia.com

10. 22flowers.wordpress.com

11. inavukic.com

12. aahaaram.wordpress.com

Congratulations ladies!

Rules for the Award:  MOST INFLUENTIAL BLOGGER AWARD

1. Display the Award on your Blog.

2. Announce your win with a post and thank the Blogger who awarded you.

3. Present 10 deserving Bloggers with the Award.

4. Link your nominees  in the post and let them know of their being awarded with a comment.

5. Answer each of the 11 questions that your nominator  asked, and then write 11 for your nominees (or use the same ones up to you !)

11 questions:

1) What makes you happiest? Writing, grandchildren, and helping others

2) Do you love the Oceans or Mountains more? Ocean

3) What has been a special moment in 2013? Four months in Incredible India

4) What’s your favorite quote?

“For I am convinced that neither death or life, neither angels nor demons, neither the  present or the future, nor any powers, neither height or depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God and is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

5) Do you like yourself? LOL….most of the time!  We are instructed to love others as we love ourselves!

6) Do you stay up till midnight on New Year? Most of the time

7) Something you wish could be done ASAP? Lose about 30 pounds!

8) What was your favorite class when still at school? – English

9) What musical instrument have you tried to play? Piano

10) Anything you had wished to have learned earlier? To relax, things will work out as they are supposed to.

11) Do you like to do Crafts, Drawing or Painting? – Crafts

My Nominees for Most Influential Blogger Award:

1. walkingwiththealligators.wordpress.com

2. avian101.wordpress.com

3. rabirius.wordpress.com

4. hansiriley.wordpress.com

5. drunkcyclist.com

6. havehest.wordpress.com

7. thewinewankers.com.au

8. tuesdayswithlaurie.com

9. atdoru.wordpress.com

10. justvisitsiena.com

11. martyfnemec.com

Rules for Blog of the Year Award: 

1-Select the blog(s) you think deserve the Blog Of The Year 2013 Award.

2-Write a post about the blog(s) you have chosen (there are no minimum or maximum number of blogs required) and ‘present’ the blog(s) with their award.

3-Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the instructions with them- (please don’t alter the instructions or the badges!)

4-Come over and say hello to the originator of the Blog Of The Year 2013 Award via this link:  http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/blog-awards-2-/blog-of-the-year-2013-award/

5-You can now also join the Blog Of The Year Award Facebook Page. Click the link here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BlogoftheYear to share your blog posts with an even wider audience.

6-Finally, as a winner of the award, please add a link back to the blog that presented you with this award-and then proudly display the award on your blog- and start collecting stars!

Here are my nominees for Blog of the Year:

middlemaybooks.com

oyiabrown.com

tanaypmchothani.wordpress.com

belsbror.wordpress.com

ajaytao2010.wordpress.com

Congratulations to all!  

Posted in awards, India, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Winter Is Still a Week Away in Upstate New York

Posted on December 12, 2013 by annetbell

1501739_10151839786972058_1158359906_n (1)Hudson River Valley    Image by Andy Tice. Thanks to my friend Judy Kapaila

This Is a Winter Wonderland!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

For All Who Love India or Are Just Curious

Posted on December 11, 2013 by annetbell

From my friend at : greetingsfromindia.wordpress.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpdoRUMeshw

Learning how to survive on an increasingly crowded planet is probably our ultimate challenge. But there is one place, home to over a sixth of the world’s population, which is already making a good shot at adapting: welcome to India. This extraordinary observational series casts aside the usual preconceptions about the sub-continent, and lets a few of India’s 1.2 billion show how their world really works. The extraordinary will to survive through adaptation and the Indian entrepreneurial spirit.

This Is Incredible India. . . . T I I I !

Posted in India, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Ferel Dogs ( From February, 2013)

Posted on December 11, 2013 by annetbell

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They come in various colors, white, a ginger  brown, black, and  mixtures of the three. A few have long coats and all have pointed  snouts. And they are not pets, or so we thought. The dogs live in the street scrounging in the sweeping piles and  jumping with strong legs to scale a low fence for a morsel. They are “hunters and maybe gatherers,” just trying to survive. Their ribs show prominently through their skin and they are caked with mud. The Indians ignore the dogs except if there is a fight between the males for territorial rights. Then they yell and wave their hands.

The picture shows Ginger and Burnt Marshmallow with one of the puppies in front of our hostel. They live and control a pack of several females and various puppies in our lane. They rarely venture out into the busy street at the end of our road, but they”work” every morning trotting, one on each side, as our guards, as we walk to the end of their territory. They don’t run and jump up on us, or bark or demand any attention whatsoever. We are in parallel universes. As we head to the rickshaw stand, our dogs snarl and bark ferociously at the pack across Samved Hospital Road. (Yes, a city of 5-6 million has unnamed streets.) I sent these pictures to my friend Donna who taught at an International School in Egypt. To my surprise, she said the Indian dogs are cousins to the Egyptian ones and look the same.  Packs roam the village streets and into the desert in Egypt and they are killed by the Egyptians. This is probably the case because dogs are considered unclean in Islam.  Bowls of milk are left outside for feral cats. Student alert: Remember when we talked about the ancient Egyptians worshiping cats, especially the hairless cat? There is even a cat mummy in the Albany Institute of Art. It seems that five thousand years later, cats are still revered in Egypt.

On the a fore mentioned street known as Samved Hospital Road, we made an Indian friend. We were walking to a favorite restaurant when half a dozen dogs scooted in and out of traffic to reach a man standing on the sidewalk. This was Sunil, a social worker in Ahmedabad. He has adopted this pack of dogs, taking them to a veterinarian for neutering and vaccinations; plus, he regularly feeds them with scraps and bread crusts. Laughing, he commented, “The dogs know my license plate, so they come.” One Indian trying to do what he can by entering, if only momentarily, the canine universe of the city streets.

David and I have resisted touching our guard dogs or the ones at the University until last week. The first time was a quick pat on a dog’s head, followed by a big dog smile. Next, I started calling them by the names I had chosen for them, Burnt Marshmallow, and Ginger. They respond with a vigorous wag. Could they understand English? Oh, it must be my  tone. The students have been placing their left-overs on the trash piles for sometime. It seems we have dog friends in Ahmedabad.

The most touching feral dog story happened on our first trip to the old city market which was filled with teaming masses, wonderful sights, smells, and sounds. As we wandered in and out of ancient streets looking side to side, trying not to miss a thing, something caught my eye at the end of a street next to a display of flowing, vibrant scarves.100_2895

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There was a low table with a very old dog lying on the top. He was stretched out, eyes closed, and his legs straight out. He appeared to not be breathing. Next to him was an elderly Indian, standing quite still, looking down. Now, the dog could have been sleeping there, I guess, but this is not a usual sight. To my mind, the man had placed the old dog on the table for a more comfortable passing, and he was standing next to his friend in order to be with him to the end. Tears filled my eyes.  I understood as I, too, have loved and lost a very special dog friend.

Nameste!  T I I I…..  This Is Incredible India!

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Friends. . . .

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Waiting for a snack. . . . . .

Namaste. . . .  ..T I I I . . . . .  This Is Incredible India!

Posted in India, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Philomena – The Movie

Posted on December 10, 2013 by annetbell

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Judy Dench is known for her regal performances depicting queens.  This may be her most complex role as she plays a average woman with unlikely depth and reserve of strength telling  of a mother’s undying love.  This film is based on the true story in the  2009 book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith  The Lost Child of Philomena Lee-50 year search for her son. 

The convent in Ireland is a focal point of the story, but though there is injustice depicted, I don’t feel that  it is either anti- Catholic or anti- Christianity.  The real Philomena was anxious that it not be. She, with all she has endured in her life, is today a proud, conservative  Catholic.philomena05

This true story is about an elderly Irish woman searching for the toddler son she gave up for adoption  as an unwed teen living in a convent in Ireland. Philomena’s story  took a lifetime and it will touch your heart. Philomena_-_Trailer_470298a

Dench and Steve Coogan are absolutely enchanting together.  There is conflict because of intellect, faith and class between the two but it is convincing as  almost a  mother and son road trip. And  there is the most amazing comedic chemistry as they travel together. You will laugh at their amazing timing, their  character development and the story.   The story twists and turns, is tragic, compelling, painful , and real! _D3S1363.NEF

My architect likes “guy” movies filled with car chases and things getting blown up, and not relationships. Last Saturday, surprisingly he agreed to see Philomena.   At the end, he said, no kidding…..”that was really good!”

Here is the official trailer and a good depiction of the story. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG3QP8foCvg

This Is a Really Good Film!  * * * * * (5 * out of 6 *)

Philomena-poster

Pictures from Google Images- Public Domain

Posted in film, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 Comments

The Dragon’s Loyalty Award

Posted on December 9, 2013 by annetbell

dragonsloyaltyaward

I want to thank my dear friend Shaun from Scotland who gave me this wonderful award. I am still not sure if I am the dragon or the beautiful maiden, but I am delighted to accept. I do want to  introduce you to a man who is living with an invisible disability. He has chronic pain which very different from the acute pain we all have now and then.  His pain is forever with him on his journey.  He has a wonderful , caring, encouraging attitude. Have you noticed that often these people who suffer the most in life are the most understanding to others? Thank you Shaun for your friendship and your example!  Please visit his blog to laugh and learn! http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/

Rules of the Award:

1. Display the award on your blog page.

2. Link back to thank the person who nominated you.

3.  Nominate 15 deserving bloggers and notify them personally of your choice.

4. List 7 interesting facts about you that others might not know.  I am letting you choose what the 7 interesting facts are you wish  to post. I am posting my favorite cities that I have visited.

My favorite cities:

1. Venice

2. New York City

3. Prague

4. Varansi

5. Rome

6. Paris

7. London

Here are the amazing blogs I am nominating for this award. Do visit them , please!  

1. mybackyardin52weeks.wordpress.com

2. toerrichtesweib.wordpress.com

3. ohtheplaceswesee.com

4. bulanlifestyle.wordpress.com

5. alltagssplitter.wordpress.com

6. espirational.com

7. angelartstar.wordpress.com

8. harbin77.wordpress.com

9. earthquakeboy.wordpress.com

10. shannaward.com

11. dyandiamond.net

12. tom8pie.wordpress.com

13. treyzguyblog.com

14. ramblingsfromamum.wordpress.com

15. strawberrylentils.com

Many hours of happy reading from your posts.  . . .thank you !

Posted in awards, Uncategorized | 35 Comments

Indian Haircut!

Posted on December 9, 2013 by annetbell

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This is, of course, the choice of most Indian people for haircuts.  Indian hair is thick and luxurious and the envy of most white westerners.  The barber sets up his stool, fixes his mirror, and is ready for business. I did notice that entrepreneurial  Indians tend to claim a spot so that his customers know where to find him. I have discussed this business practice in other posts.https://talesalongtheway.com/2013/06/06/dreamers-and-doers/    With all the adjustments we needed to make to our everyday life, arriving in January to Ahmedabad, hair cuts were not an immediate need.  Most of us had taken care of that before leaving home. So we had  weeks to decide where we would have our hair cut.  This is a very important decision for me, if not all the students and my husband.

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I had told you that the girls and I visited Himalaya Mall and later Alpha One to check them out. I noticed several western salons in Himalaya  Mall and went there when  I started getting shaggy!  Both of the hairdressers who cut my hair  had limited English, and I of course, had no Indian languages.  They both understood “short” though, that was enough! I did miss talking with my hairdresser, but I  will have lots of stories to tell her when I return to  New York.  I did not have them color my hair in anyway, as I had noticed Indian people with orange hair.  That is probably as a result of trying to lighten the Indian black hair, but I was taking no chances as that orange color might be popular in India , but was not the color I was going for!  Gray will be fine until I get home!

Several of the students had electric razors and were shaving their heads. Tiffany was one.  She was willing to take customers , paying or for free.  My architect was happy with free so we met in the lane in front of the hostel.  Yes, the very lane that is home to Ginger, and  Burnt-Marshmallow and the other dogs as well as many monkeys, peacocks and peahens, squirrels, and parrots.

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Here is Tiffany working her magic on the professor.  Don’t be nervous Tiff. . . .he wants it all gone!  When she got tired and the batteriers wore down, we had to take a break!  D was a little concerned at having to go to school the next day with his head only half shaved!   But good old Kun-Mi stepped in later and finished the job!

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So Tiffany and Kun-Mi had gotten into the age old tradition of India and became  entrepreneurial. Oh, I wonder if David paid them?

This is Incredible India!  . . . . . . Namaste

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Here are Ginger, Burnt-Marshmallow and the professor going into the hostel!

Posted in India, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments