Living with Compassion

Here Comes the Sun (flower)

2008-08-11T19:41:00.000-07:00

My neighbor planted sunflowers and now I have these beautiful majestic flowers peering over the wall to greet me with a beautiful yellow face.

Colors of Summer

2009-07-23T06:48:00.000-07:00

These were the last pots I planted for the season, with cool weather perennials.

We tried a south facing wall for the morning glories this year and they did really well!

The keeper of the garden, Ms. Pluma, standing guard at the asters.

The glads are in all their glory.

Visiting the grandkids in ABQ

2009-05-09T08:02:00.001-07:00

Jodhan giving me a great smile before eating his pizza dinner.

A coy Vela not so sure about me taking her picture.

Grandpa Noor with Vela and Jodhan.

Jodhan showing us how to eat an ice cream cone in his marching hat.

Papaji and Sukhprem

2009-08-09T20:43:00.000-07:00

Like papa like son. Two great smiles!

Labor Day with the grandkids

2009-09-09T21:00:00.001-07:00

Ravijit returned from Hawaii and has proved to have become quite a little swimmer. He spent several hours dog paddling around in his swimvest without coming out for a break.

Sukhprem is really on the move now, crawling everywhere. Check out the back of his frog pants. Or maybe that's a turtle?

Ravijit

2009-10-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Swinging away!

Ravijit hanging out on the patio.

Like Father, Like Son

2009-12-09T20:54:00.000-08:00

Noor and GMK in California

2009-07-08T14:53:00.000-07:00

Celebrated my Mom and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary in Ridgecrest, CA. All my sisters, several cousin's and husbands, nieces and nephew, and friend and distant aunt were all present.

Austin Botantical Garden

2009-08-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

Visited Austin with Noor on his annual business trip. It was blazing hot (100+) and spent the first day in the air-conditioned hotel. Got to visit with my dear friend, Gurubachan Kaur for the good part of one day and then she had to delivery a baby. Spent the next day on my own exploring an art museum with beautiful landscaped grounds before meeting up with Noor after his conference. Managed to find this beautiful Japanese garden after wandering lost in the outskirts of Austin (for a unpleasant number of hours), where Gurubachan was able to meet us for a nice stroll and dinner. I think the green foliage and the waterfall was just what we needed to cool us down (in more ways than one).

The Cat in the Hat came Back

2009-11-04T16:33:00.001-08:00

Yes, that's Ravijit doing a very good impression of the Cat in the Hat for Halloween.

Of course, it's all about the candy!

Balloon Fiesta - Taos

2009-10-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we got the opportunity to help crew our neighbors balloon at the Taos Balloon Fiesta. Its a small affair (about 30 ballons) but it was exciting none the less. I took the role as photographer and Noor and Sat Want did all the heavy work.

This is Lily (Cliff's new balloon) and they are stoking her up before the ascension.

There she goes!

More fall colors

2009-10-26T21:05:00.000-07:00

My favorite views are sometimes right below my feet.

These cottonwood trees are located just a few blocks down from our house close to the river.

The sky was such a brilliant shade that the gold leaves just sparkled against this sea of blue.

Fall in New Mexico

2009-10-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

A Carnival!

2009-09-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

Siri Sundri was definitely dressed for the occasion.

Siri Singh Sahib's memorial birthday party was the brightest and most fun yet. Snow cones and popcorn for all!

Dinner on the Plaza

2009-07-30T07:47:00.001-07:00

Noor and I love to go down to the Santa Fe Plaza during the evenings when they have free music at the bandstand. Yesterday we decided to meet up with David and Alina and have dinner at the San Francisco Bar and Grill before the performance. I always know that David will have a vegie burger but he does it way different than anyone I know. He gets it with green chili, cheese, and BACON. Okay, he's not a vegetarian but he does love his vegie burgers. Go figure!

You go, David!

Valley Girl meets Summer Solstice

2009-07-15T21:27:00.000-07:00

Summer Solstice in NM

2009-07-15T21:02:00.001-07:00

We missed quite a bit of Solstice this year because we decided not to drive up on the rainy Saturday for Peace Prayer day and Noor was suffering severe tendonitis and couldn't do Tantric. We did make it to Sunday Gurdwara and the Ransabi, so got a little taste of the Solstice spirit.

One of the highlights of Solstice was getting to spend time with Amar and Sahib Amar who have been longtime friends of mine from the very early days in 3HO. They came for the first night before going up to Solstice and then two days when they returned. They're a lot of fun!

Sukh Prem at his first Solstice with Uncle Sarb Sarang Singh.

Sukhprem and his brother

2009-06-06T06:09:00.000-07:00

Ravijit and Sukhprem just looking to cute for words.

I see a smile coming!

Sukhprem trying to keep an eye on me wherever I went in the room

Oregon Trip 2009

2009-05-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

It was a trip to celebrate sister Elena's 50th birthday and Noor's and mine 5th wedding anniversary. We started our trip in Cannon Beach and celebrated with Elena, sisters and friends.

The next day after a hike in Ecola Beach we proceeded down the coast on our way to Yachats. We stopped at this beautiful beach somewhere near Newport.

I'm not sure if this was Devil's Punchbowl but it definitely had a lot of high waves splashing against the rocks.

Noor checked out the view near Heceta Head Lighthouse. After a short stop to look at the sea lions we headed east from Florence to visit my ex-in-laws in Eugene.

We stayed the night at Bob and Norma's on their 3 acres of forested land just outside of Eugene proper.

We visited the rhododendron gardens in Eugene.

I'm holding a sign that was attached to the tree that says "no hanging from this branch."

Rainy Baisakhi - Espanola Nagar Kirtan

2009-04-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

It was a rainy day this Baisakhi, but it didn't dampen our spirits. The sangat was still excited to follow the Guru (inside a car) with the Panj Piare down Shady Lane from the Ranch, perform gatka and sing the Guru hymns all the way to the Gurdwara.

Sita and an unidentified friend took shelter under colorful umbrellas.

Guruprakash Singh and Siri Dyal Kaur sparred in front of the procession

The Gurdwara with packed to its fullest with sangat members.

Amrit Singh enjoyed some one and one time with Dharam Inder Singh at langar.

More pics of the Grand Canyon

2009-04-05T09:33:00.001-07:00

We just received another disks of photos from Michael, one of Noor's hiking buddies. The following are some of my favorite pics.

Checking the map...now where are we?

The river was so muddy this year they couldn't filter water out of it to drink.

But they enjoyed beautiful arches...

...and tranquil waters.

If you look closely, you can see Noor scrambling up the side of the rocks.

It was so steep in some places they had to repel down. Fortunately Noor is a good rock climber and showed the others how it is done.

He's also the master of a good nap.

The group counts on him for great dinners as well. Here he is busy putting something good together.

March snow - 3/27/09

2009-04-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

I know I'm a little late in getting this post up but I wanted to remember this heavy snow we had. Seems we always get big snowfall in March. We were pretty surprised to wake up last Friday morning to 6 inches of snow!

The branches were so heavily laden with snow that some snapped and fell to the ground.

These icicles weighed down the honeysuckle bush which was already showing new spring growth. Good thing is that everything usually melts within a day or so.

Noor returns from the Grand Canyon

2009-03-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

The Mountaineers returned today after a week backpacking in the Grand Canyon. Noor gave me a run down on the trip and it sounds like it was a good trip but a very hard hike. It was hot and dry in the canyon and the hike included carrying a lot of water on their backs and repelling down some ledges that were very steep.

This is where they began their ascent through the Red Wall.

On their way to the Royal Arch they came upon a group camping

Sukhprem Singh

2009-03-02T16:50:00.000-08:00

My latest grandson was born February 18, 2009 at 10:50 pm in Espanola. His name means embodiment of peace and love. Wahe Guru!

Saturday Pancake Breakfast

2009-02-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

Well I told everyone that as soon as I felt recovered enough from my elbow surgery I would have a pancake breakfast. So, last Saturday that's exactly what we did. The menu included buttermilk pancakes with blueberries, fresh maple syrup from Vermont, scrambled tofu with red and green peppers, hash browns with green chili and yogi tea.

Manjit was the chief pancake maker along with Gurbani. She also made us some spelt pancakes for those who couldn't eat wheat.

Harbogind, Hari, Sita and Guruprakash definitely got their fill of some good grub.