What could it be like if you see something in real that you have only seen in pictures and dreams? Such was my trip to the scenic Poconos Mountains during fall season. The trees, maple trees in particular, had leaves glowing bright in all possible shades of yellow, red and orange and green. Some were displaying rarely seen fluorescent colors. It was a painting coming alive!
The whole drive-way was breath-taking and something that we never saw or experienced before. The aura of freshness filled our minds with imagination. It was so mesmerizing that it could not be described in words. Mountains, dramatic clouds, lush green meadows and clear lakes reflecting colorful trees enthralled us.
One has to see it to believe it! I must say that the fall season in this part of USA is a painter’s dream!
Diwali time -
Diwali has its own charm and is my favorite out of all festivals. The houses are lit up with candles and lights. The reason be the fragrance of sweets and flowers, or the sound of crackers, or its significance of the triumph of good over evil, my spirits remain soaked in happiness and satisfaction.
This year we celebrated it with a small puja in our home followed by a treat of choley and pav made by me. Gianna’s mami brought her a lehnga and this was the first time when we dressed her up in traditional Indian attire. She was happy to see herself in this new look and as parents we were more than happy seeing her in lehnga choli with a small bindi on her forehead. I think the only thing that was missing on her were the bangles.
Picky Eater-
Gianna has always been fussy and picky when it comes to eating. Being her mother, feeding her a meal is not less than a nightmare for me. She nibbles every morsel of food and takes about three-quarter of an hour to finish it. Some of the food preparations that she approves for her meals include khichdi, vegetable upma and boiled potato. She doesn’t like fruits. She hates bananas so much that if she is fed with it forcefully, she gets goose bumps.
A very obvious reaction of force-feeding of any food that she dislikes is her tightly closed palms. To make her taste new recipes, is a task! Initially, she would not open her mouth because she doesn’t want to try it, and if by chance I manage to get some food inside her mouth, she immediately vomits it out. I have been constantly struggling with this since last one year.
She does like to eat finger foods and snacks. Some of her favorites are Gerber puffs, crunchies and cereal bars. To top her picky food habits, she would first examine any finger food carefully to see if it’s the same that she likes to eat.
I see other kids of her age-group who are fond of trying what their mothers are feeding them, but Gianna stands out of that group. I just hope and wish that she gets better in her eating habits. Amen!
