Art Camp at Studio Sattva

After completing their school year at INDUS, the girls used their creativity and colors at a great art camp, just down the road from Palm Meadows. The camp was 2 weeks long, from 10 until 1 each day. It turned out to be just the perfect thing for them, as they got to do one of their favorite activities, and meet new friends, as well as see some old ones. The students were from varied countries: India, the U.S., Holland, England, Mexico, Israel, Nigeria, and perhaps more(??). They made beautiful pieces of art, and a very special book came out of it also (more later on that). Thanks to some great teachers and helpers for a fantastic experience for Ella and Sacia and all the other fabulous kids!!

Ella listens with some friends to Miss Devika, as the day's assignment is explained.


Miss Devika's mother, Indira, watches on, as the creative juices start flowing.


Miss Devika with Sacia


the art camp crew at Studio Sattva, Lakeview Farms

Outdoor fun

I think the kids are missing all the MN parades this summer! Here they seem to be all set up for one! Fortunately we WILL be back for the Corn on the Cob days parade in Plainview, and perhaps some more. But really, the kids have been having a great time, making boats in the livingroom, and 'houses' out in the front yard. Can't wait for a bit more space to do this in! See all you Minnesota readers soon!

Art Mela pictures

A few weeks back, our entire street turned into a big party tent! There was an art event to discourage the use of plastics in Bangalore. Children and adults painted cloth bags, and eventually were judged for the winners. There was food and ice cream served, but most importantly, we had a tent on our entire street to play in! The kids watched intently as the 5 (?) tents were laid out and slowly pushed up. Notice the pretty patterns in the pictures of the inside top of the different tents.

Menaka, Sacia, and Zach watching (note the size of the ONE tent in front of them!)


beautiful pattern on one tent's ceiling


chairs and tables were set up inside the tent


another colorful tent-top

Zach says, "Fogger Coming!!!"

In Palm Meadows, every evening around 6:30 or 7:00, mosquito control begins. This involves a man on a bicycle equipped with a fogging contraption, riding all around the neighborhood, emitting toxic gases to minimize mosquitos. When the familiar buzzing sound is heard, our family quickly goes inside the house (where Menaka, our nanny, has already closed all windows and doors). Zach loves to watch the man ride down our street, and announces excitedly and very seriously, "Mommy, fogger coming, the fogger coming!!" Sometimes, it's an easy way to get the kids in the house if they're still playing outside, but usually we're already eating dinner or playing inside.

the view down our street, with women walking, and the fogger approaching


the fogger!

Weaver birds in Palm Meadows

There is a colony of weaver birds just across the street from our house in Palm Meadows. These amazing birds weave grasses together onto the palm leaves to form their nest. The green nests are newer than the dried brown ones. There are 2 chambers in the nests: one for the parent, and another for the young. You can see both in the far left nest in the photo. Once the eggs are laid, the 2nd chamber is enclosed, and the opening is extended into a tube. The bird itself is small to medium sized and yellow and black. At one time, we counted 15 nests in this single tree.

Look what's coming to Bangalore!

Driving to town on Saturday, we saw this poster for Papa John's pizza! Now that we're leaving, more and more familiar businesses are coming to Bangalore. I'd be very interested to taste their pizza here, as nothing is quite the same when made in India! I don't think we'll have the chance, or will we?! WE still don't know!

Friends at TGIFridays

This week on Friday, some friends joined us in our weekly tradition at TGIFridays. My friend Isabella took time away from her sweet twin 2-year-olds, and our friends, Jasmine and Yogesh, also met us (Ella's good friend, Zrey, and Zach's parents that we actually met on the Pondicherry beach in January). We talked through loud music (asking the waiter every 4 minutes to again turn it down!) and enjoyed the happy hour drink specials and appetizers before heading back home (or off to a downtown movie as Jasmine and Yogesh did).

Heather & Isabella


Yogesh, Jasmine, Heather, and Brian