A Summer symphony ~

Summers at our end can be very harsh and cruel and also a never ending saga ( or so it seems ). It forces you indoors leaving you with little to do . You have no choice but to spend the entire afternoon inside the confines of your home . It can be quite a task to find yourself something worthwhile in these hot , balmy, sultry summer days. With the mercury soaring, the outdoors are not too inviting and the indoors inadvertently   become a natural haven for us . It is the perfect time to spend long afternoons snoozing away. It's amazing how much one can sleep during Summer afternoons, when the chicks are down , the air conditioners are on, creating a cozy and a pleasant cocoon for you to snuggle in:)

 Also a time when you can shop for the crisp cottons and the luxe linens for your home and give it a soft and summery look. Pack away the heavy drapes and bring in the sheers even though they allow more sun to seep in but overall they give quite a breezy, summery effect :)

Chicks and blinds almost instantly bring about the much needed relief and cheer you up with their appearance allowing just the right amount of light inside while eliminating the heat. I totally love having chicks in my home during summers and if you have a nice , spacious day bed next to it, what more could you ask for? Just bring in that huge glass of lassi/ cold coffee/ mango shake and smile the summer away :)

This is the perfect time to enjoy the view outside the window too. Gulmohar trees are in full bloom this time of the year and are painting the town red with their crimson, red and orange hues. I always ask my iron man ( the guy who irons our clothes ;) ) who has a huge tree outside his house cum shop to get me a branch of it to adorn my home and he's always kind enough to climb the tree and oblige :)

Summers are for gorging on your favourite fruits. While the mangoes are flooded in the markets , the lesser mortals like cherries and melons are a delight too :)

As soon as the summers start, my kids' demands to set our own curd at home start too and we successfully and happily enjoy our very own home set curd which tastes just awesome :)

If you live in Lucknow , it is almost imperative to go Chikan shopping as soon as the Summers start knocking at your door. Something you cannot and must not avoid at any cost :) The lovely pastel shades of the crispy starched cottons along with the very fine embroidery can set your hearts fluttering for a long, long time. The cool cotton chikan work can bring the temperature down many notches and make you smile like never before :)

Summer is a lot more than what I mentioned here. It has many more dimensions to it ( not to forget the kulfis and the ice creams and the mangoes) ( slurp ! ) . So, while I'm no big fan of this hot and humid weather, I have grown to like it and enjoy it as much as I can. I love sunshine and even the hot days do not bother me much as long as the sun is shining up there. So, bring on the coolers and the cottons , give your home a new look by doing away with those heavy carpets and replacing them with rugs, bringing in fresh flowers and pastel  upholstery . Go on a shopping spree when the heat permits and you'll see magic all around you and yes, if you have kids at home like I do, get them some nice indoor games and lots of paints and drawing books which you'll have to keep replenishing every second day, get a splash pool if you have younger kids and they will be happy and busy :)
So there is still lots to do even when the sun is beating mercilessly down your head . What do you like to do during Summers to beat the heat ?? Do share your thoughts here :)
So long .......see you soon :)