Powering down.......

Dear 2011,

        We had a good run, you and I. You started on the right note; I managed a long overdue trip home, basked in the warm Delhi sun. Spent much-needed time with loved ones, came away satiated and content. But you had a few more surprises in store for me -- in a flourish of your time-heals-all wand,  you brought me back home (to my home away from home); thank you for that. Much of this year has gone in re-connecting with old friends, rekindling just-begun friendships that had seen a premature end, and in making new friends. It's been a time to revel in the beauty of the nature that surrounds us, so carefully preserved by the hard work and vision of those entrusted with the responsibility. I see around me an Earth that we inherited, as it was intended, unmarred by industrialization and callous minds. In that, I'm grateful to the events (fate? destiny? determination?) that brought us here. I enter 2012 with a renewed resolve to do whatever I can-- to do my bit in preserving the beauty of this planet. 

I have some high expectations of you, 2012. Please be better, faster, stronger. You know. But don't lose sight of the simple joys please. I have big plans, both on the personal and professional front. Please be the year that stands by me. Move forward, albeit gently. 

And gentle reader, for you, I wish that the year brings happiness, in whatever form you wish it. Here's to the health and continuing well-being of your families (and mine!), to sunny days, grassy fields and clear waters (a healthy planet!), to laughter, and to friendships. To goals met and checklists checked. May 2012 be the year. 

And while I'm jabbering on about High Expectations, would world peace be too much of a stretch? Sabko buddhi do bhagwaan? Here, then, is to the rise in collective intellect and the dawn of wisdom. May this be the year.

Go on 2012, be awesome. You know you want to. ;)

Signing off (with a heart full of hope),

-Gagan

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a festive season filled with warmth and love...........

Happy Holidays!

xo,
-Gagan

Work in progress and a thank you for you.........

Busy busy busy..........handmade labels, the printer's been working full time today! This year, I decided to customize the labels for my thank you gifts. They're not very holiday-themed as there are a ton of printables out there, and I wanted the labels to really stand out. I used regular card stock to print these labels on; the original prints were made using the wooden blocks and scanned to create digital facsimiles. I think they came out rather well don't you?

I plan on using these tags on little brown paper packages (tied up with string, of course) that will carry my top secret (LOL! )spice blends for marinades. Accompanying them will be the recipe cards you see above. For the vegetarians, there will be parcels of home made cookies (with accompanying recipe cards).

And while I'm making goodies for friends I can see and touch, I can't very well forget you can I, dear reader? I thought you might like to use some pretty labels too. Actually, since they're not very holiday theme-y, you can use them for other occasions as well. So here you go, my sweets---make sure you download the original file for the full resolution images. (It's a pdf file, 168 kb in size, so it won't take up much space.)

OPaPLabels

PS: This is my first time sharing a document on blogger, if there are any hiccups, please do let me know, I'll try my best to resolve any issues. There is a watermark in the document, to prevent it from being appropriated, but it falls in the area you would discard when you cut out your labels. I'm really excited to be able to share this with you, do let me know if you liked the labels and whether you think you'll be using them. Here's the link to the file in case the embedded document takes forever to open, though, at 168 kb, why would it take so much time to open is a mystery to me.

A home with history on Heart Home Magazine.

In case you missed this, I just wanted to pop in with a quick post on this gorgeous home that's been featured in the second issue of Heart Home magazine....(which, by the way, I'm quickly falling in love with--it speaks to my aesthetic sensibilities the way no other online 'zine does,  at least not yet.) Anyway, on to the pictures, and the link to the original story.......

 

I loved the article as well, as it details the lives of the well-traveled couple who have layered their home with memories from their travels. Go read the entire story here. You will not be disappointed, trust me!

Notes from today.....

Soppy post alert! Dear reader, I'm issuing a disclaimer for this post, so know that you're reading at your own risk. This would be the kind of stuff that pours out after you've had  "one too many" of your choice of poison, but the strange thing is that as I sit here writing this, the sun is shining outside and I'm as clear-headed as I'll ever be. (dry eyed? maybe not, but clear headed for sure. ) What's that you say? bah, humbug? you were warned.

That time of the year again, tying up loose ends, trying to make sure that I start the new year with a clean slate, my list of to-dos from the whole year waiting to be crossed, one line at a time. Luckily for me, the list is mostly one of gratitude; thank yous to people who stood by us. Those who brought smiles to our faces, just with the shared memories of beautiful conversations. Small acts of kindness, that warm the heart even now, months and years since. It's a long list, (yes, I know. we're blessed.) It's a month that's jam packed with catching up with friends, re-connecting lives one last time before 2012 rolls along. Little bundles of love, most of my gifts this year are handmade, tailor-made for the recipients. Far more rewarding than getting those lack-luster gift cards at the checkout. This is a group of extraordinary ordinary people and they deserve so much better. I'm glad I had the opportunity (and time!) this year to actually do things I'd never had time for earlier. It lends to closure in one sense , but also leads to new beginnings. And I love it all. I'm ending this year with a heart full of gratitude and warmth, something I hadn't experienced earlier and it's a beautiful feeling. Do you know what I mean?

Of course you do! A huge part of that circle of friends has to be you dear reader. I know I haven't always done right by you and that I've been an errant blogger, but there you are, like a loyal friend, your support all around me. Thank you. (I'll hold off on the promises, though.)

Things look much better with a bunch of friends by your side! 

The rest of December promises to be spent in a whirl of get-togethers, holiday parties and snatched cups of chai. For those who are too far away to sit across a table from, there are emails and letters and phone conversations. There are also plans for the future, the euphoria of new beginnings. Twenty eleven didn't start out the best,  but it sure did end right. Here's to the rest of 2011 holding up to the tempo and to 2012 aiming to outdo it. ;)

PS: In case you're wondering if this is the last post for 2011 from P&P, it's not. I have a slate to wipe clean remember? That means a flurry of posts as I clear the backlog on those half-written drafts. Yes I'm working on the rewrite......

Picture: The upstairs landing at home, right outside the master bedroom. Don't get much sun here, hence the lighting issues.