Meandering thoughts - Sita Sreeraman

I volunteer at the American Wome's Club, Zurich library once a month. It is interesting, as I run into some many different genres of books as I put them back into the shelves, or check out the books for the library members. And sometimes, I get to chat with the patrons, and they share some lovely tibit of info or other, about a book, event, hobby, class. Whenever we move houses or towns, my husband usually tells me about the local library, it is like a good sales pitch, USP, the library is within walking distance etc.  Some recent books I have read with great joy are: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, How to be good - Nick Hornby among others, books I don't know if I would have picked up myself. These were returns and as I shelve the books, I inevitably read the synopsis at the end and they end up coming home with me. Oh, the Joys Of Reading a good book!

Eggless Cake Recipe:  Baking essentials: 1. Weighing scales 2. A good whisk 3. Baking trays 4. Baking powder( Baking powder is different from baking soda) Ingredients : 1 measure cake flour, 1/2 measure each sugar, butter and milk. About 15-20 g baking powder for 500 g flour. Eg: If you take 200g flour, add 100g sugar, 100g butter and about 100g milk. And about 7g baking powder Making: Weigh each of the contents above, add to a bowl and give a good mix. I add flour, sugar, baking powder first, then melted butter and then milk. A thick well mixed dough(not too watery), ready to pour into the greased baking tray. Grease a baking tray with butter. Pre-heat oven 5 minutes at 175 C. Bake with both the upper and lower heating settings on, around 175. Takes between 15-40 minutes depending on quantity, about 15-20 minutes for 100 g flour. I sometimes add lemon or vanilla essence. Check the essence strength. T he ones from Migros - 4 to 5 drops are sufficient.  For a

I asked the leaf whether it was frightened because it was autumn and the other leaves were falling. The leaf told me, “No. During the whole spring and summer I was completely  alive. I worked hard to help nourish the tree, and now much of me is in the tree. I am not limited by this form. I am also the whole tree, and when I go back to the soil, I will continue to nourish the tree. So I don’t worry at all. As I leave this branch and float to the ground, I will wave to the tree and tell her, ‘I will see you again very soon. That day there was a wind blowing and, after a while, I saw  the leaf leave the branch and float down to the soil, dancing  joyfully, because as it floated it saw itself already there in the  tree. It was so happy. I bowed my head, knowing that I have  a lot to learn from the leaf. --Thich Nhat Hanh--

My local neighbourhood is full of snails and slugs. I love the snails for the colour of their shells, often pausing to take pictures of these lovely creatures. Slugs are snails without the shell. The yellow and the gray ones are the ones I see quite commonly around. But the other day, I was so thrilled as I watched this snail - it's shell colour matching the fallen leaves around it! Such lovely camouflage, indeed! What a beauty! It did make my day!

It is Novemeber 2017, this year winter has come late to Zurich. The trees still have the last of the coloured leaves and my local farmer's market filled with Chrysanthemums and Christmas berries, Christmas trees, all jostling for space, for this has been an unsually long Autumn and a balmy winter! As I look at the Chrysanthemums at the market, I marvel at their colours, sizes, the petals so light, fluffy and so full of colour. Some are almost as big as my palm. Sturdy flowers for a balmy winter -    so complete by themselves! Nature's masterclass in painting and an inspiration for some of the greatest painters! Above: Monet's two famous paintings and some real life flowers.

Father's Day.. I remember hunting meaningful cards for my Appa, walking to different bookstores and card shops, hoping to find the one that would convey what Appa truly meant to me.. Yes, he could not read during his last few years, but Amma or Jayaraman would read to him and Appa would be thrilled, and would await my call. When I think back about my Appa, that's what always come to my mind - how he made me feel so very special about myself. Appa would give me his 100% focus, and genuinely listen. No advice, no suggestions, you will figure it out was what he always said. That belief in your kid, that trust and faith in your kid, is rare! That feeling of being so special to him, and I could pretty much do anything, climb the mountains, soar the skies. The world was indeed mine!