August 31 - Golla Bhaama

Fearless attack on insects!!

Aakulaaga bhrama kaligistoo vayyaramga egire ee keetakam peru golla bhaama... paapam daari tappi vacchesindi intloki, inkaaa bhayam teliyani naa kooturi ninchi daanini kaapade lopu teesina photo :).

August 31st -- Good Old Phone Book

My communication channels, the bare minimum basic model phones which I use for an eternity per my acquaintances ;)..

I used to have a small phone book with all the numbers and addresses also in case I had to post some letters, yeah I used snail mail too a while ago.. the advent of cell phones and the address books there saw to it that I discarded it but since I absolutely refuse to get a new phone until the old one just cannot be heard (not seen also fine but not heard, no use) and most of the times with the no display phone I am kind of cutoff from my basic needs at times without a cell phone handy, so my task for the day was to collect the numbers from both the barely working cells and enter them in the good old trusted phone book.. yay!!!

Poorthigaa jeernamai enduku paniki raakundaa poyaaka kooda vaatine vaade mobile phonelatoti, andulo vacchee raani displayla toti.. edo avatalodi gontu vinapadite chaalu mana pani gadichipote chaalu ante mindset toti unde naaku, tirigi pustakamlo numberlaki maaripovam enta haayigaa undo.. ee maayadaari machinelakante mana cheti raata ento melu.. kotti vetalu unte undu gaaka, vetakagaane dorukutay kada, charge unna lekapoina, display unna lekapoyinaa kooda... heeehaa.. aina nenu kotta phone ippude konanugaa :)).

August 30 - Little Hands At Work

working on chapati dough.. by the way she makes them better than what I did initially, world maps you see :)

When it rains outside, we hunt for activities to keep us out of the way of rain... we are busy bodies you see... so one fine day, we decide to check out the real dough and make something useful. 

Before someone reports child labor, let me reassure we were just having fun :))).. 

Bujji bujji chetulatoti pindi pisiki chapati chestunte choose naaku kadupu nindipoyindoch... kakapote kinda vesi paina vesi paami malli kindesi tinablegaaa maatram assalu ledu..

The above pic is something I really love and consider one of few good captures... though the memories associated with it are very heartbreaking, I love the memory of the little ones running around my daughter, the color they brought to our lives in those few days of existence.

August 29 - Potu Raju

man dressed as Potu raju receiving alms and showering blessings.

Sambaralu rojuna potu raju.. Sravana maasamlo koradaa jhalipinchukuntoo intinktiki tirigi chindulestoo deevenalistoo tirigutoo untaaru.

August 28 - Duckie Pair

A cute couple that engages my daughter in the temple on our walks.

Khajaana Baatulu antaaru veetini... purpose ante veeti arupulaki paamulu gatra dodlo undavu ani penchutaaru... chaala cutega bujjiga tellagaa untay.. kaani baboye veeti arupula golaki burra pelipotundi naaku okkosaari, mukhyamgaa veetiki aakalesinappudu... oorlo baba gudi pakkana konetlo jantagaa tirugutoo ento mucchataga anipistaay.. Bhayam lekunda Sreya veetivenaka parugulu, avi ekkada karichestayo ani tana venaka nenu kekalu.. ivi memu gudikellina vaarta viseshaalu..

August 27 -- Randi Randi Randi Daya Cheyandi

Local band and ladies inviting people for some ceremony.

Perantaaniki pilavadaaniki bottu pedutunna aadavaaru... mundugaa veltunna vaadyagaallu, Sraavana maasamlo ekkuvaga kanipinche drusyale aina..melligaa antarinchipotunna ee paddatulani, aa vaadyagaallani chooste naa chinna tanam naa kalla mundi kanipistundi.. pattu cheeralu kattukuni kalakala laadutoo gumpulu gumpulugaa velle janaalu palachabadi poyi okaro iddaro untunnaru ippatike.

August 26 - Mela Taalaalu

Gullo roju vinipinche vaayidyalu vini abbo inka maa oorlo vaadyagaallu roju timeki velli vaayinchestunnaru ani murisipoyina naaku oka roju nijam telisindoch.

August 25 - Bujji Ganapayya

The one form which I love the most, the one god who can be made of anything and everything and still look cute, the one god who is a MUST in each and every temple, the lord of all vighnas who is all my all-time favorite cutie pie.. though I no longer have the huge ganesha idol collection with me, he never fails to bring a smile to my face..

oh bujji ganapayya.. nee bantu nenayya... naa gola vinavayya, nanu kaanchi deevinchumayyaaaa.....

August 24 - E bandhan toh

... pyar kaa bandhan hai...


I had a tough time finding one brother for Sreya to tie a Rakhi to, but this year she has made her own friends and quite a few of them.

The first one from bottom, the yellow and orange kundan rakhi is the one she tied to Pawan Anna, her playtime buddy..

I missed my bro a lot on this day and am really really glad to have him in life in spite of the 101 problems we have with each other ;).  I just wish Sreya has someone in her life who fills that role for her.. well, just a matter of time before I can afford an adoption with increased responsibilities single-handedly, a lot longer than anticipated but surely will, promise to the kid on this festive day.

August 23 - Meghamaa Dehamaa Kuravake Eekshanam

After a real sunny day after about 3 months and no sign of clouds or rain, we set about to go for a temple in Angaluru (must see baba temple)... when on the way the climate suddenly cools down, we get down and what to do we see.... :((((... we have a quick darshan and return back in a rush...

Vaanocchenante varadostadi
varadocchenante buradostadi..
ee vaana vaddu buradaa vaddu baboyeeee!!!!

August 22 -- Oho Meghamocchenu...

If you can zoom in the picture, you can see the rain droplets on the flowers... love these flowers.. I dont see these plants much often but I love them... it was a cool, cloudy evening after rain...

August 22 - The New Gate Girl ;)

Evaraina maa intiki raadalchukunnaara... kotta gate  girl gaaru ready ;)... do you remember sweety from Hum Paanch who HAD to open the door singing a song... inka song anta rangeki edagaledu kaani talupu vesi teeyadam maatram maa latest hobby.

August 21 -- Kaaki Keka ;)

Crows on toddy palm tree..

Kaaki ariste chuttaalu vastaaru ani antaaru, idedo indication bagane undi anukunedaanni chinnappudu.. Hydlo gaani, Bangalorelo kaani, USlo gaani eppudu oka kaakini choosina paapana poledu kaani ikkada kaaki kekalu (adelendi roju vini vini vacchina visugu valla vacchina maatalu) lekunda kaneesam oka paavu ganta kooda gadavadu... pakkinti taadi chettu meeda kaakula gumpu okati gola chestoo tirugutunte teesina picture, chetilo camera choose undelu anukuni okkasaariga gumpu chella cheduru ayyindi..

August 20 - Kodi Bobu

An everyday sight in the village, a hen scattering the contents of dust bin....

Penta/chetta poguni kelukutunna kodi petta... purugula kosam mattini, mokkalni kooda keliki peekestoo, kanipinchina prati chotuni bathroomlaaga use chese ee kodi pettalante naaku ee madhya padatledu..avi tirutoo oodchina vaakili paadu cheyyatam assalu nacchaledu.. kani daanni choodagane naa kooturi kantlo aanandam, daani pampincheyyali ani pade aaraatam vela kattelenu!!

August 19 - Gorintaa poochindi kommaa lekundaa

A hand-ground paste of Mehendi leaves, heavenly smell, ready to be applied..

Appude rubbina gorintaaku, naaku ento nacche vaasanalalo okati.  Rotlo aaku, majjiga, chintapandu vesi rubbi teesi pettukunte vacche aanandam antaa intaa kaadu.. naaku amma odini gurtuku testundi, amma naa arachetilo muddu pettinattugaa anipistundi..

An unwashed hand after an overnight application.

Rojantaa alisipoyi padukoboye mundu Sreyaki petti nenu hadavudigaa pettukuni lechinaaka choosukunte ilaa pandindi, inka cheyyi kadagaledu, aaku endipoyi mancham antaa raalipoyindi.. gajibijigaa alukkunnattu aipoyinaa kooda ee andam aanandam cheppalenidi...

aa picchi geetalu, naa cheti raatalu.. chaala addadiddamga unnay kada..

August 18 - Time Alone..

This teddy, called Shanky is not usually alone sitting this cozily in a corner like it does now.. usually strewn around in a mountain of toys, today is its day alone, a quite day away from routine tamper and batter, kissing and carrying around.. is it relieved, i dont really know  'cos the purpose of a toy's life is to give happiness to the kid who plays with it and it has and is doing its job day in and day out...

and yes, pictures can be relentless in pointing out flaws.. i need to clean that wardrobe mirror NOW... had been postponing for a while :).

appudappudoo ekaantaanni korukune naaku... ee bujji daani meeda kaasta kullugaane undi mari..

August 17 - Life On Rainy Days

Rain kind of house arrests me and kid on a few days but we try and manage somehow with these plastic laminated learning aides with Sesame Street Characters and stuff... She loves the vibrant colors and I love them for their knowledge value.

... and the above is the reason for my lamenting "Rain Rain Go Away".. A few rain drops and the inward streets in the village turn muddy and dirty but there is no other way than to brave through mud, water, dirt and all :(((.


Vacche Vacche Vaana Vacche
Vastu Vastu Burada Tecche :((

August 16 - Sambaraalu

Sraavana maasam vaste sambaraalu (thanksgiving laaga) for good rains, good crops and basically thanking God for the previous year and requesting for a happy and prosperous year ahead.. lots of booze, dancing, meat and running around the entire village with colors and all.. it is a festive time for the labor and a good deviation from the routine.

August 15 - Gifting Time

Oka hot, 4 sweetlu, 2 aratipallu, oka bowl/box/container... evari intlo emi function jariginaa aa event gurinchina vivaram print cheyinchi maree panchipedataaru maa oorlo, evari stomatani batti vaaru, puttuka, vonilu, panchelu, gruhapravesam, pelli, shashtipoorthi, chaavu okatemiti anni sandarbhaalaki edo okati.  2 samvatsaraala ninchi maa oorlo undi undi nenu decide ayyindi enti ante ee oorlo kanaka pandugaadu puttinappatininchi icchina items daacheste pandu gaadi pelliki inka malli vidigaa saamaanu konaalsina pani ledu ;) inko 2 familieski kooda saripotaayemo.

August 14 - Vaanammaa Velli Raavamma

It is tough to keep the kid used to do running around early in the morning at one place in spite of luring with busy mind games like puzzles, loops, stackers, dough, crayons, colors...

August 14 - Prakruti Varaalu

These beautiful flowers, the bright combination of colors on the nature's canvas never fail to bring me back from the blues...

August 13 - Ee Varsham Saakshigaa

On a rainy morning with Yaasi Anna...


Ennaallaki gurtocchaana vaana ani paadukodaaniki lekunda, konnallu etaina elli raamma ane rangelo varasapetti 2 nelala ninchi padutunna vaanallo... eppudu nettina edi pettinaa orukoni naa kooturu ee bulli godugu nettinesukuni aatalu.

August 13 - Muvvala Savvadi

The one sound I hear day in and day out and never fails to bring a joy to my heart is the "muvvala savvadi"...

Naa busy bee lechinappatininchi padukunedaaka busy busyga adugulestoo tirugutoo unte aa muvvala savvadi vintoo undatamlo unna aanandame veru... deeni valla upayogaalu kooda boledanni unnay, tanu ekkadundo, ekkadikeltundo, enta speedga veltundo anni itte telisipotay.. tanu melukuni unnappudu konchem sepu aa sabdam raaledu ante naa gaduggaayi edo kompalantukune pani chestunnattu artham annamaata... so andaaniki andam upayogaaniki upagayogam... ee vendi muvvala patteelu... veenula vindunaina vinasompaina manjeera naadalu...

August 12 - Web

They say that people across the globe are more scared of spiders than death.. heard a lot about spider bites but this is a common sight in villages... one day you leave any place without cleaning the next day you see a spider web there!!

Saalepurugu goodu kattadam ante naaku oka rakamaina chiraaku.. intlo patte booju antaa kooda ade anukuntoo tittukuntoo untaanu, especially pandu talli puttaaka mareenu... oka roju ekkadaina cheepuru veyyadam marchipote marusati roju..arey chaala saarlu kevalam koddi gantallo oka teega pratyaksham... eegalu, domalu topaatu nannu parugulettinche maroka praani ee saalepurugu...  kaani teerikaga ee saayantram pooto chettu kinda mancham vaalchinappudu kanipinche ee gundrati valalo unna kalaatmakata telustundi... roju teesestunna enta orputoti malli vala vesukuntundi kadaa...

August 11 - Work Table

This is how a corner of my work table looked yesterday, with things cluttered to remind of the tasks to be done and a board to remind meof the same.. did I finish them in spite of all this... yes... mostly :).

August 10 - A, Aa, E, Ee

This is one of the charts I was very specific to buy for the kid at the very start... the alphabets in my language.. the very sweet and divine Telugu.. I am not a very insistent on being a teaching early mother but with the amount of grasping and learning she does with/without specifically teaching I wanted my language to be a part of her since very young age.

Alu, Alooni teesesaaka 54 aksharaalato maatram bosigaa kanipistunna ee chartni choosi telugulo vaadatam maanesina aksharaalu enno gnaapakam vastaay kada...

Ee chart kosam pakkana ooraina oka mostaru townlo kooda naalugaidu kotlu tiragaalsi vacchindi... evaru choosina ABC, parts of body, flowers, animals antaare kaani mucchataga a, aa, e, eelu ante ee rojullo English medium schoolslo evaru nerchukuntunnaru madam antunnaaru :((((... adi kooda vatti kaagitamtoti dorikindi, ABC maatram plastic cover vesindi nicega pillalu paadu cheyyakundaa undi... kaabatti deenni goda meeda atikinchaalsi vacchindi pandu gaadu chimpakundaa..

and memu elaa chaduvukuntaam ani edaina doubt unte adi clear chestunnaamoch ;).

August 9 - Puppy Love

We get a puppy-sitting assignment for a while and had to keep this beautiful pom pup with us for a few days much against our wish (first and foremost hygiene/allergy component for the kid)... my tiny little pet-lover gave it a tough time whenever she could find time by showering her Sreyarly love on it... it is no exaggeration to say that the pup to run to a safe corner under the TV table or a cupboard the moment she heard her anklets :)..

and this is one of its royal movements!! To its credit, it never even moaned let alone bite the LO even when it was hugged in a tight embrace.. and just do not ask how we could figure out who pee'd on the floor the kid or the pup :((((.. who seemed to have had a competition going on.

Miss you MITTU who we had to give away to a friend after LO.

August 8 - Intlo Eegala Mota

This is the rainy season... errr.. housefly season in the rural areas.. disgusting considering how dangerous and irritating they are... not one or two but a several of them swarming over every possible place...  I make it a point not to eat or drink anywhere near my lappy but still a few of them manage to reach it in spite of HIT, Mortein, local fly killing powder :(((.  Forget the lappy they are a major threat to LO's health with God knows where they have landed feet landing on each and every thing.  One of the downsides of living in a village!!! and the worst thing, believe me, is to clean up the fly shit, those tiny dots on each and every object and washing and rewashing all of LO's feeding bowls time and again... so I end up covering the laptop and almost everything even when I move a few minutes away from it like this :((..

Intlo eegala mota bayata pallakeela mota antaaru.. ante ento naaku teliyadu kaani.. ee eegala motaki maatram naa jeevitam horetti potundi... Endaakaalamlo maamidikaayalaki vacchay annaaru... vaanaa kaalam eegala kaalam antunnaru.. naaku inka ennaallo ee gola mari??

August 7 - Maa perati jaamchettu pallanni..

What better way to begin my pic a day or pictorial glimpse of my day than with LO's favorite activity, fruit plucking :).


Maa perati jaamchettu pallanni kusalam adige antoo Ravali appudeppudoo paadindi kaani naa chichkoo maatram chettuna jaampandu kanipiste ettukuni koyinchaalsinde... maa roju modalayyede daani toti...

My Life In Pictures

Photography has been my passion in childhood when I could not afford a camera... there were dreams in my eyes, hope in my heart but no resources to make it work.. i have all of it or rather most of it now, but the desire to make it work or look in that direction even for a while is not possible thanks to numerous challenges the life throws at me.

I loved photography as a kid, even wanted to join fine arts college of JNTU and learning photography and other stuff, but then in my circumstances it was a distant, costly dream.

Lost in the flow of life, forgot that passion too.. I do not have the best of the camera in the world just the one I can afford at this point, A Sony Cybershot DSC-H10 model which captures the vital moments in my life, my daughter's important life moments.

The pics are not too good as of the moment, but hopefully they will get better with time like my writing.  Wish me luck.