trupti's blog
Waste management trip
Today children from Geniekids came over to see what all we do with our different types of waste. It was a very personally satisfying session. It was nice to see the children rapt in attention as we discussed about waste. What was even more interesting was how they all handled temptation. We have a decent garden area with play things like slide, swing etc. But when asked to focus on waste, all the little Genies managed their temptation well and all they did was to express a desire to sit on the swing, but none of them actually did so.
I sincerely hope all the children had something to take away from the session today. I also hope they will spread the message further. They are the torchbearers of the Green Revolution for the next generation after all.
Trupti Aunty
Art of Giving
We discussed how we can have a birthday celebration this year in a different way rather than having a party at home. We also thought of how we can give rather than take gifts from others on our birthday. Then we brain stormed about the different things we can possible gift. During the discussion a lot of thought was put into the cost factor. We also wanted to go about the whole thing in an environment friendly manner. So, we decided that we will give our friends a handmade gift which is also environment friendly.
Since ashwin has developed a keen interest in gardening and composting, we decided to gift his friends saplings of colourfull flowering plants since they would be a pleasure to the eyes of the beholders.
Since we did not have any seeds at home, we decided to go and shop for seeds. We went through the steps in planting the seeds and came to a conclusion that though we have many terracotta pots, we cannot gift them to our friends since we want to use them at home and hence we need to think about containers which we are ok with giving away. Since we had enough dahi dabbas at home, we decided to use the. Then we thought about the soil we had at home. After discovering that we had enough of it, we concluded that we need not buy the same. That would keep our cost lower to some extent. Then we made a trip to the local plant nursery and took a round to have a look at the different flowering plants. After zeroing in on the plants we thought were looking nice and colourfull, we bought seeds for the same. We could have directly bought the ready saplings, but we wanted to plant them with our own hands. After buying the seeds, we thought of buying some vegetable seeds too to be sowed in the empty pots we had at home.
We read the instructions on the packet carefully and found that we need compost to be mixed with the soil for a good yield. So, we went and bought 1 kg compost from Daily dump. After coming home, we calculated the total cost of seeds and compost. This was our only cost since we already had the containers and soil at home.
Then we emptied all the soil on the floor and mixed the compost with it. In all the pots, we put bigger stones at the bottom and then filled it with the soil. Then we carefully sowed the seeds in the pots and sprinkled water on them. After having sowed all the seeds, we watered the pots. We also labeled the pots so that we know what exactly is growing in them. So, we have dianthus, celosia, cluster beans, beet root, capsicum and a variety of jasmine growing. The feel of the wet soil and the smell of the compost were divine. Our seeds sprouted within four days. The packet mentioned that they would sprout in a week. Maybe because of the compost we have put in.
After planting, we made sure that the balcony is again clean. We washed the balcony with just half a bucket of water so that we do not end up wasting water. This taught us how we can carefully use resources so that we don’t waste them. Ever since we planted our plants, we have been watering them regularly. Now that we are going out of town for three days, we have thought about it and made arrangements to get them watered so that they don’t wither while we are away.
We also observe the sprouts everyday and have started measuring how much they are growing in height everyday/every week.
Since we had to gift them on the 22nd of feb, and since the packet said that it takes a week to sprout, we planted the seeds on 24th of jan. We are hoping that our planning with reference to the timing is correct and that we have the saplings ready by the 22nd.
When we give them to our friends, we are going to take their snaps. We are going to tell them that they may have to transfer them to bigger pots if required.
Our vegetable seeds have sprouted too. Soon we hope to have a yield of capsicum, beet roots and cluster beans. Then we will calculate the costs involved in the project and also what we saved by growing our own vegetables. It will give us an idea of whether we saved money or was it expensive to grow own vegetables. Of course we know that ours are going to be organic vegetables which are free of any harmfull pesticides. So, we are ok even if they cost us a little more.
trupti
ashwin
ishan
World Environment Day
Today happens to be World Environment Day. On this occasion, let us become aware of things like how do we look at our garbage, what are we doing about it? how are we using energy? What are we doing to conserve it?,etc. Let us do our bit to save the environment for the future generations.
Back to school
"Mamma, this vacation has been too long. When does school begin?" was the question my 9 yr old asked me some time back. Now that the school is about to reopen on Monday, he is very happy to go back to school and make new friends in the new section, open new books and enjoy the smell of unused books. Looking at his excitement, I am reminded of my own childhood when I too always looked forward to going back to school and enjoy reading the new books which smelled so good and meeting my friends after the long vacation.
Bottomline
My 6 yr old underwent a surgery last week. The doctor has specified a very tedious and loaded post op routine for him. I was preparing him for the same. I told him about all that we will have to do during the day to take care of his eye. Some of it is painful too. After finishing my talk about the procedures we have to do, I asked him ," have you understood what you have to do?" To this I was expecting an answer where he would repeat all that I had told him. But he simply said," Yes, I understand. I have to bear the pain."
Brotherly conversation
My younger son Ishan has to undergo a surgery for an eye related problem. We were all preparing him for the same. I was telling him of all the things the doctor would do to him once he goes in the operation theatre. My elder son, Ashwin, suddenly interrupted me and started talking to his younger brother," hey, don't you worry at all. You know what they will do to you? They will put a mask on your nose which lets out a yuckky smelling gas. The moment the gas reaches your nose, you are bound to faint. Then you will not even know when the whole thing is over and you are out!"
Well, I was amazed to hear this. Ashwin too had to undergo a minor surgery sometime ago and still remembers the smell of the anaesthesia given to him. After he told his experience to Ishan, Ishan burst out laughing and is now completely eager and excited to go and smell the yuckky gas :)
The doc asked him if he would cry during the surgery and he replied," cry? why?"
At home!
For some time now, I have been working from home on the e magazine SPROUTS. But I do keep dropping in at Geniekids once in a while. Whenever I am at geniekids, I feel AT HOME there. As you enter, you meet warm and smiling Aruna. When you turn right to step inside, you meet ever energetic and enthusiastic Ratnesh. You go in further and meet always encouraging Aditi. In the pantry, you meet Lakshmi Aunty who can stir up a hot cup of refreshing tea in a jiffy. You also meet ever enthusiastic Jaya, Meenakshi and Vara Didis who are hustling and bustling to attend to the needs of the little Genies. And last but not the least, as you step in, you can meet many many little genies stirring up some magical moments and lighting up the place with their 100 watt smiles! I would say, Geniekids is THE place to be in. Geniekids rocks!! :)
Question from a little genie
Today I came to Genie kids after a long time. A little genie on seeing me gave me a 100 watt smile and asked me," Aunty why don't you come to geniekids everyday to take class? " I have told him that I shall answer his question as soon as I find an answer to it....
Mamma you are beautiful even without make up!!
My 9 yr old was telling me about girls using the mirror more than the boys. I said, that may be true of those girls who wear make up and may not be true of people like me who do not apply any. Then I was just wondering aloud if I should learn the art of applying make up. It would serve two purposes, I get a chance to learn something new and also look beautiful in the process. My son who was listening to me, quietly came up to me and said," mamma you are beautiful even without make up!"
Comparisons, comparisons, comparisons!
Each day is so full of comparisons. Everybody around is constantly comparing something or somebody with something or somebody else. People comparing children, neighbours, relatives,schools,classes, their financial condition, their psychological condition, and so on and on....When will we ever stop comparing and living for the present moment as it comes?
