Copper Chafing Dish

Yesterday I went to "Old" Ahmedabad market and purchased this chafing dish. It is very pretty and just could not resist. Would have loved to look around some more but with the city not being "easy" I decided to get this and get out.

Monkey Mania

This mother monkey was watching all the goings on very quietly on the roof of the guest house.

This morning the monkeys were WILD!!!!!!!!!

I heard them over on the guest house and thought they are going to tear the roof up then one came behind me in the alcove-----it was screaming and scared the life out of me!!!!!

Of course I went inside and got some old bread and put it out for them------think I counted 12 at one time in the yard-----didn't have my camera

so I ran inside. They were all over the place----things have really changed for me I can remember the first time I saw monkeys here in the back yard I was so frightened I ran inside. I was on the phone with Sara and could not decide to which way to run and remembered the door to the foyer was locked and had to go to the pantry door which meant going toward the monkey. Now I just clap my hands and say go!!!! Time

really changes things-----oh boys guess what now lizards don't scare me as much as they used to ----as long as I can see it I am not scared------saw one on the wall in the study the other night and just walked closer to the other wall and out the door ----no screaming fit any longer----HAHAHAHA

Food

For sometime I have been thinking of doing this blog. Food here in India is definitely different. When I first came here I scouted several stores to be able to find "American" food. Our house owners told us about Icy Pic and Hind Grocery. We actually visited these stores before we moved from Chennai to see what would be available.
Icy Pic--- Located in a basement and has alot of imported foods. They have the frozen meats-chicken, prawns, pork and fish. I have had to learn the names of the different cuts ---breast fillet skinless- supreme chicken; leg quarters - chicken legs skinless; whole chicken -----skinless chicken halved; roasting chicken- chicken with skin. If you notice almost all the chicken is skinless because it is easier for the processors not to have to pick the chicken and they don't do a real good job on the roasting chicken either. There I can pick up Old El Paso refried beans, taco seasonings and tortilla wraps usually. I have found several other things there that have surprised me -----marshmallows -----not Kraft put marshmallow--- I purchased some back in August so I could put on sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving.

Hind Grocery ----my first few visits there not not pleasant----they were located on the ground floor and had mice!!!!!! Not that moving upstairs made the mice go but now it is a cleaner store. I never forget when Ryan was visiting we went there and it smelled so bad like dead mice that the workers were following us around spraying an air freshener-----Ryan was so ready to leave.
I did not go back for awhile after that but then decided to brave it again after they had moved upstairs -----well that day they had Doritos and we were having company so I bought two bags. On unpacking they when I got home I saw chips in the bottom of the bag well guess what ---mice chews on one bag and it was "leaking" . Now I try to visit about once a month and always check the bags or boxes very carefully. They don't have as much as they use to have but can usually get M&M's there!!!!!!!!
I have found several other places to buy imported foods but they do come at a premium price at all of them but sometimes you just have to have them.
Last night Bill and I had company for dinner. It was truly an international meal.
Pork Tenderloin Mississippi cooked on a grill from the US
Baked Beans ---Heinz product of South Africa, bacon -US, Worcestershire sauce - England, Onions - India
Broccoli Casserole - India
Blueberry Dessert -----Blueberries from France, Cream Cheese from England, Pecans from US, whipping cream- Philippines (because there is no cool whip to be found!!!), flour (maida) - India This was my most international dish and also most expensive!!!!!
Wonderful meal!!!!!!!!!!
My next post will be on food also but on Indian products hopefully with pictures.
See ya

Shopping

After the doctor appt yesterday, I stopped by Fabindia. I saw the cutest little dresses. Of course I bought one for Mary Parker. I don't know if it will fit but maybe next spring. I know a couple more little girls I would buy one for if they have the right size but I am not sure of their sizes. Largest size they had was 5-6 years. Can anyone help out there? This one was a steal for the handwork (in I think).

It also has the rosettes on the bottom randomly. Approximately 11.30 USD.

Dr Visit

Sunday I had some spots appear on my face-----not just spots but like ant bites all down my nose. They were really sore and of course only being 29 I thought they might be pimples. But they did not feel like pimples ( yeah I know but this does have a meaning). Well by Wednesday still had them and a few more came under my chin-----now I am thinking shingles. They really hurt.
Bill and I have always gone to one of the hospitals for Dr visits when needed but I had a friend that I knew had seen a dermatologist a couple of times so I thought word of mouth would be good. She had seen him at the Apollo clinic but now he only practiced at his own clinic. She had her driver lead me there because the addresses here are too funny. And of course I am still dealing with a drivers that speaks VERY little English and Understands LESS!!!!!
Anyway back to the doctor visit. I got there at 3:45 pm. His office hours were from5 -10 pm. There were two guys there already . Nancy had called ahead and made an appt for me and he had said be there at the time and he would see me so I did not have to wait long. I went inside while his helper was sweeping the porch off. He came in and threw the broom under my feet and pointed to my feet and said something in Gujarati. Then I knew what he wanted me to take my shoes off and of course I went outside and left my shoes. Well at 4:00 he came in and his "helper" sent me in. There were already 6 other people waiting by this time. He first thought I had pimples until I said they itched and hurt. He looked at them closely and then decided they were bites of some sort. He asked did I sit outside much and of course I do and he said don't for a few days yeah right now is the most pleasant time we have anyway he prescribed an allergy pill (five only) and a steroid pill (4 only) and some cream. I left there and when to the drug store and purchased the meds minus the steroid ( do not like to take them and decided if they other two didn't work then I would take). Total cost 209 rupees for EVERYTHING about 4.25 USD. When was the last time you went to a doctor ($3.06) and bought meds( $1.19) for that amount must less a dermatologist!!!!!!
Oh by the way when I came out of his office around 4:15 there were close to thirty people waiting and I had to dig through shoes to get to mine HAHAHA good thing they were bright orange sequins and I could spot them easily. Good thing Nancy called ahead.

Update the bites look much better this morning after applying only the cream.

Bella and Kate Update

NOPE!!!!!!!! They did not eat a single one! I don't know what to feed them now that was a 2 kgs bag of sausages and now no one will eat them. Well maybe their mom but I don't need more kittens!!!!!!

Mistreated Kitties

Last night I needed to feed the kittens, Bella and Kate. I had some chicken sausage that we had purchased when we first came here from the caters for the rig. Neither Bill nor I liked it so it was still in the freezer. I decided that I would feed them that. I put in in the microwave and I got it too hot. Of course, the sweet little darling were waiting on me andwhen I put it down they took a bite before it cooled. Yikes!!!!! Well they did not eat it and this morning it was still on the porch! They came around 7:30 to eat and looked at it and turned away. I even when inside and got a cool one and they turned their nose up. I decided

1. They remembered the smell that burned them and they wanted no part of it.

2. They didn't like the smell of it and refused it!!!!!!

Bill and I think the last is correct!!!!!!! He just said if the cats won't eat it how did we think we could eat it!!!! I think we have smart cats. Their mother showed up around 10 and ate it all. Oh by the way, she is expecting again!!!!!

O it is 7:00 pm and Bella just showed up I will update to see it she eats a fresh one.

My Birthday

Ok I know I am late in posting these but this is from my birthday here in Ahmedabad. I woke up and went thru the house and noticed something on the doors that lead outside to my porch.

Something was all over the floor outside also. I asked Bill and he said he had seen it also.

Opening the door, I saw birthday cards everywhere!!!!!!

There was even a flower arrangement on the table. They were all from Sophia and Arun. The cards were the sweetest. All signed with a short message inside.

They even decorated the front door. It was the best surprise. I had not told them it was my birthday-----guess someone else did! I think there were about 35 cards in all and lots of flowers!!!!!

This arrangement arrived around 8:30 from Bhakti, my friend!!!!!!

What a great birthday even though I was only 29 !!!!!!!

Bella and Kate

Several months ago a stray cat had her kittens in Bill's bar on the porch. Two of them have become permanent residents. Bella the white one and Kate the grey.

Monkeys

Sunday after seeing the baby peacocks, We put some bread out in hopes that they would come closer. Look what we got instead.

A whole family of monkeys. They were very rowdy!!!!!!

I think we counted 7 in all including the baby.

They stayed until all the bread was gone and then they went on the roof and played for a while!

Spa here in Ahmedabad

I have told you about the gym here but now I am going to a Spa to get my hair and nails done. It is wonderful. I have been going to the shop for about 7 months now but the owner, Tanvi, has opened a full spa. I would say it is very close in comparison to the spa at The Park hotel in Chennai only smaller. It has is individual rooms with private steam and showers. That has been unheard of here in Ahmedabad until I found this place. Usually the facial, massages and anything else you have done are done at least two to a room. Always tried to go early when no one else was there. When I have body massages here you just had to leave with the oil on you after the sponged you off------yuck. I would highly recommend this spa to anyone. They hairdressers are very well trained in "western" cuts and colors. I think my hair is almost back to the way I wore it in the US. The color has not been good since I left Chennai were a girl from Canada was doing it. This is another jewel I have found here.

Baby Peacocks

We have been watching for baby peacocks.
This morning one hen came out with 4 babies and was followed by another hen with 1 baby. I tried to get a good picture but they were in the back of the garden. This picture does show all the babies. Will keep you updated!!!!!

Mississippi Halloween

ARRRRR HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!
While in Huntsville, Ryan bought Brinkly this Halloween costume. As he has not been around her in a while he thought that it would fit. It did fit but tightly. He says Brendon feeds her too many treats!!! Not true she thinks she is as big as Rivers so she tries to eat as much as him!!!!
Anyway after I put the costume on her the other dogs wanted to pick her up by it!!!! Hence-----

She showed them who was boss. HAHAHA

Happy Halloween

I carved an Indian pumkin for a Jack o lantern. It looks like it has a fat cheek!!!!!!!

We had Trick or Treaters!!!!!

They were so cute.

Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween!!!!!!

Monday, 27 Oct, 2008

Today has been a very busy day for me. It started at 5:30 am. I got up to watch the World Series. I am pulling for the Phillies. It seems funny to be watching the game at that time of the morning but that is the time is comes on live here. I drink coffee and watch the game. I used to always to my Christmas cards while watching the world series. I have not sent Christmas cards in a few years and think I might pull some out in the morning and address them. I will need to finish them tomorrow as the Phillies will more than likely win the series.
After watching the game I went shopping. Our new driver had to take off to take his wife to see her mother so I had the "black" truck* driver. He speaks small English but drives TOO FAST!!!!
He knew the places I wanted to do and we got there quickly. I had wanted to buy some blue lights for Christmas/Diwali. I could not find any but I did find some 'chili pepper" lights and got them to go on the back porch. I then went to DHL/Blue Dart to send a gift to Anu. I had not sent gifts since June so I thought I would do so before the "holidays". Then I went to Star Bazaar to buy fresh vegetables. The stores will all be closed for the next three days for the Hindu holiday. Diwali.
After I got home, my friend, Bahkti, and her boyfriend, Hardick, came over for a while. I had brought her some books back from the US and she wanted to get them. They were real sweet. They looked around our house and then gifted me with a beautiful pearl necklace and earrings. They are so sweet to think of me. I think of her as not only a friend but as a family member here.

Finished project.

Lighting candles

More candles.

Tomorrow is Diwali. It is the biggest Hindu holiday. It is the festival of lights. Their belief is that if there is lights on your house the god will enter and bless you for the following year.

After Bhakti and Hardick left, I went out to light the candles. We all know that Bill and I need all the blessing we can get!!!!!!

* When we came to Ahmedabad, we need three trucks----One for us, one for the Ops Engineer, and one for the Administrator. We chose a white TATA safari and so did Ronnie the Administrator. Ashish, the Ops Engineer chose a black one so we always refer it as the black truck. Just FYI!

New Picture

The new picture is from the Intercontinental Grand Hotel in Mumbai not in Ahmedabad.

Fit Flops

Before I went home, I saw an ad on MSN about Fit Flops. They are supposed to help tone your legs while wearing them. The ones I got are patent leather bronze color-----they are not great looking but oh well. Since I never go barefoot here and my house shoes had worn out, I decided to try a pair to see if they work. Well I am sure they do something. My legs are sore from the thigh to the calf. I guess they have caused this because I have only been to the gym once this last week back and only rode the bike then for about 25 minutes. I really just went to see the people there because this next week they will be closed for Diwali.

Inez

This a picture of Bill's sister, Leanne and her husband, Gordan. I could not be more blessed with her as a sister-in-law. We had dinner our last Friday night at the Inez. We enjoyed the food as well as the company!

The Inez is the restaurant that we held Nicholas and Juliana's rehearsal dinner. The atmosphere there is very nice for a rehearsal dinner. The owner was very cooperative and we always enjoy the times there.

Latest on Peacocks

When I say the tail feathers are gone--------

they are gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gosh when I saw today I thought O My!

Fall

Gosh it is Fall here now! The days are still warm but the nights are cooling off think they are in the 70's now.

I had a facial yesterday. It was so nice. The place I have been going, The Final Touch, has relocated and opened a full spa. Tanvi, the owner, has done an exceptional job. It is like the spa in Chennai at the Park Hotel. It is definitely better than any other "spa" here in Ahmedabad. I loved it.

Before I went to the US, I had noticed the peacocks were losing their tail feathers. I mean drastically. I am posting before and after pictures. The reason I am saying this is today my friend, Nancy and I went shopping for an "Indian" gift for one of her husband's co-workers. At the shop they had lots of beaded peacocks with real tail feathers. So I guess I now know where "my" peacocks tail went.

Trip to USA In Oct,2008

This is the lastest photo of the family. We had a blast with this get together. I really miss doing this and seeing these silly faces on a regular basis. Thank you all for coming over. I love you all and miss you more! Of course, you see everyone is listening to Tammy except Chet. Imagine that!!!!!

Back in Ahmedabad

Hey all we made it back safely and are trying to get back in the "swing" of things. We arrived two hours earlier than we originally thought but were unable to make a connecting flight from Mumbai to Ahmedabad that night. We had slept most of the flight so we stayed up until around 2:30 and then fell asleep and had to get up at 3:45 to make the 5:40 flight to Ahmedabad yikes. All our things made it safely and still Frozen Yeah!!!!!
While we were in the US one of our friends here Dad passed away. We thought we would visit for a minute last night then return home for a early night-----remember what I said about plans here -----well when we arrived at his home that had company from Mumbai and it was his daughter's birthday. They had a dinner planned and insisted we join in. Well guy guess what I ate???????????????? They are originally from Goa. They had a lovely platter of what looked like beef tenderloin with vegetables and of course I took some and then asked what it was-----to my surprise it was--------------------------------------------tongue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did taste it and it was surprisingly very tender but I could not eat it all just a couple of bites. I am really learning to eat alot of different things. The reason I said the were from Goa is that this is a very common dish there and I never knew that but I do now!

I really did enjoy seeing all of myboys, daughter in law, sisters, Mom and Dad and of course my brother. My guys were all good and enjoying life and I am already missing all. I will be back in December so let all plan more get togethers.

Well better run and finish unpacking.

Love you all.

Plans

I should really know by now that you can not make plans to do anything. I have just finished putting my bread up to rise the second time. Yesterday was a total wash on all my plans except going to the gym. Sophia came in with problems and had to talk to her to try and reassure her. Even though he is gone Stephen is still causing problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But last night I sat down and made a to do list of 20 items and so far I have accomplished only nine and we are having company for dinner so I will not finish the list today.

I had an exciting time today in the gym--------or let's just say everyone knew I was there today. I was riding the stationary bike and trying to email Brendon for a favor of a friend of ours. Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw a black "ball" go under the bike next to me, which a trainer was riding. (The trainer is a great guy. He has a physical handicap but still is a hard worker in the gym and he speaks very little English) Well I just keep typing my email and I see the "ball" go toward the window and hopped right back out and head straight for me-----yeah it was a black mouse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Needless to say I threw all my things and stood on the bike and scared the life out of the poor little trainer. He kept trying to say calm down and shout for help because he didn't see the mouse he had no idea what had happened. Real entertaining for everyone but me. They took me to the free weigh area and captured the mouse under a treadmill. I would have broken my neck if I were on that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bill and I are having Claudio, the new Operations Engineer, over for STEAK tonight. We are being generous because we know we are going to the USA soon and can bring more. HA

Yikes just smelled burning green beans I was making a green bean casserole but there again PLANS CHANGE!

Still have not learn to post pictures right but will post of picture of Pranil (on left), me, Claudio(on right). Pranil is the Operations Engineer we were supposed to get last year but because he is Indian he didn't want to work here. He came on a emergency job. He is a great kid (Nicholas's age) and is getting married on November 30. Bill and I are going to the wedding. I am so excited. That was one thing on my list to do today ---booking rooms in Baroda for the wedding. (Not accomplished) I know a little about Indian wedding and am excited to witness one. His future wife wants me to wear a saree. Yeah right.

Bill is home from work so I better plan something else to go with the steak.

See ya

White Zinfandel

Here is a picture of the other homemade item I have tried. My friend, Sylvia gave me the recipe and of course I had to try. HAHAHAHAHA

Need more things to keep me busy.

Take care

Jealous

These are some of the trainers here at the gym. Bhakti is the one of the left.

This the first sour dough bread I made -----really don't know how to post it where i wanted it but you can read about below. Well it is almost perfect!!!!!

This morning I read a post from a friend in Africa -- Malawi to be exact. They have a Seven Eleven and BBQ Fritos I am able to find alot of things but have to search all over town for them. It does pass my time but now with a new driver who doesn't speak English IT IS DIFFICULT to say the least.

I am glad we did fire our first driver---he was difficult and always stirring up trouble and asking the other helpers to lie for him. He should have been gone after our leave in January but he did have two small daughters and of course we felt sorry for them. I really think that he thought he was secure because he spoke English but enough problems are enough.

Today I am making pimento and cheese ----from stratch of course and baking sour dough bread. This is my third time to bake the bread. The first time was perfect so I had my confidence up and the second time it was a flop! Don't know what I did but it didn't rise at all . Hopefully today will be a repeat of the first time. The pimento and cheese will be my first time. I found pimento at the dollar store here. It isn't a dollar store really because every thing is 99 rs. about 2 dollars HAHAHA. Now the pimento was 66 rs ($1.56) so not quite as expensive . I never liked pimento and cheese until I went to work at BHS and Mrs. Bonnie made it all the time for lunch and shared with us. I love her pimento and cheese and am going to try to copy it.

Got to get busy so I can make it to the gym for cardio today. Yesterday was suppose to be cardio but my trainer, Bhakti, called and rescheduled it for today. She will be taking her first aid class today so I did backs, traps, and biceps yesterday. I am loving this and hope that I will continue with the gym when I go home.

First Post

I have had this blog established for a while but my husband thinks it is crazy thing to do but I have decided to go ahead with it. I have had many memorable adventures here in India and will more than likely go back to things I have saved and add them to this blog later.
I am getting excited. I go to the USA in two weeks. I will go on Oct 7 to Huntsville, AL to see our youngest son, Ryan. Ryan is working as a Victory Field Director for the AL Republican Party. He LOVES his job. He is always exciting to talk to and talks ninety miles a hour so I have to ask him to slow down at times. I think I will enjoy volunteering for him and also cooking him some meals to put in the freezer to eat when I am gone. He is a great cook but is too busy to cook. On Oct 12 I will go to Jackson, MS and hopefully be met by my two other sons and daughter-in-law. I am excited to see them also. I have not seen Nicholas and Juliana since they left for their honeymoon but then again I have not seen any of the guys since the wedding and leaving to come back. seven months ago. Brendon is always fun to see and really can't wait to see my baby, Rivers and his pal Brinkly. I know that I will have a great time at home and can't wait to cook for these guys also even though they both cook extremely well also. I guess they learned to cook so they would not starve when they were teenagers and I got very slack on my cooking.
Today I am going shopping with my friend, Nancy. We are going to Old Ahmedabad to get nice sheets made and some embroidery done on some gifts I have bought. This afternoon it will back to gym for cardio.

Take care

Startup This Was Supposed to Be My First Post

Sorry I don't know what I am doing with the pictures. This is the front of the house before we moved in. This was the first time we saw the house. Does not look like India!

Today I decided to start a blog site.

I have been married to my husband, Bill for 31 years. I must love him to quit a job I loved and move half way around the world and away from my family for him. I am the mother of three wonderful young men. Nicholas, 30, just married the love of his life, Juliana, on March 1, 2008. He works for Halliburton and enjoys his job every much. Juliana is a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit .They have purchased land not for from our home in Mississippi and plan to build a house one day there. They are currently living in our home in Mississippi. Brendon, 28, is an Assistant District Attorney. He lives next door to my parents and takes good care of my baby, Rivers and Brinkley. Ryan, 24, is a recent graduate of the Masters of Political Science Department of Mississippi State. He has just gotten his first "big" boy job working for the Victory Party of Alabama. He is in the process of moving to Alabama.

I have had many fun and frustrating moments here in India and really wanted (needed) to share with people. We have been living here in Ahmedabad, India for about 15 months. It was difficult at first but has settled down to a near hard now. I am learning to do things I think that my grandmother did. I have learned to clean a fresh chicken----although I have never had to de-head one I have had to clean fresh corn out of it-----gross. I can make my own cornmeal (no not from the corn in the chickens) and have learned to cook with plain flour instead of the convenience of self-rising flour (or as they say here self-raising flour and not easy to find).

People ask how I spend my day----- well it is very laid back now. I get up take my coffee and computer outside (one of the hardships here ---- no good Internet ---because we live on the wrong side of the highway!!!!!) check my email, im my boys and read all the news and sports from the US. I feed the various animals that we might have visiting at the time. Most days it is just peacocks and chipmunks but occasionally we have monkeys to visit. I will post pictures later. My house help ( Sophia and Arun) arrive around 9:30. We talk about what we need to do for the day. I will lay out the things for supper and Sophia will "clean" them for me and place in the refrigerator for later cooking. Some days I will meet a friend for lunch and shop but most days I like to stay at home and read, scrapbook browse the Internet. I try to go the gym around 3 to workout. I have a personal trainer, Bhakti, who is also a good friend. I love the gym here. I never had time or took time in the US to go to the gym regularly. The people are so nice and really make the time go by fast. I hardly ever notice the time when I am there. Yeah right ---just can't wait to end the pain. HA After the gym I run a few errands and home to fix supper. Bill gets home from the office usually around 5:15 . We have become like Indian ---we usually eat late. Not the normal for us because we usually eat around 6-7 in the US now it is 8-9 before we eat. Not good for the weight. Oh well that is why I go to the gym. So that is the typical day in the life of an American Indian housewife.

People here have a five minute rule every time you go somewhere they say I can have it in five minutes. Waiting for food, waiting to have haircut, manicure/pedicure everything five minutes please.

Getting back to the five minute rule----the other day as we were going down the highway (no I do not drive. We have a driver, Stephen.) I noticed a man (pulling into our lane) stick his hand out the window and hold up five fingers and closed them and reopened them. I ask Stephen what does that mean. It means he will go first and in five minutes I can come. The rules of the road!!!! HA