Monday 19 May 2014

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 :)

20 comments:

  1. What a perfect description of summer and all that goes with it ! Remembering our chikan shopping from last year :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, yes that was fun. Must do it again soon :)

      Delete
  2. Ah you make me miss my summer vacations in India! My favorite memory is summers in Rajasthan.There was no air conditioning but I loved my cooler, the chic being pulled down in the verandah! Aam ka panna, Grandparents visiting, me listening to music and devouring books. What a lovely post and beautiful images!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Anu ! Glad you liked it and your childhood sounds so much like mine. I never had an air conditioner in my room till I got married and that was because I loved my cooler and found it so very effective in the dry heat up in the plains and aam ka panna ...wow ! Still love the one my mom makes :)

      Delete
  3. Summer..,summer can't wait for it to come here :) beautiful pics Reshma and those kurta are beautiful

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nayana. Summers here are really bad. I'm sure yours are going to be pleasant . Hope they arrive soon at your end and yes, the kurtas are lovely, I agree :) Thanks for stopping by !

      Delete
  4. Perfectly summed up summer! Loved reading about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Harshika. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about ;) Thanks for stopping by :)

      Delete
  5. Beautifully expressed with beautiful pictures! My favorite is your capture of chikankari...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks Prasanna :) That is my favourite part too. Glad you liked the post .

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Reshma. I saw this post yesterday but I wanted to save it to savour later- when I had enough time. I am so glad I did. Your photo essay does absolute justice to the 'gurmi ke din'. Those lazy afternoons spent at home when we were children were priceless. Enjoy your cool chikans and the decilious lassi. I love your sheers, the 'punkha' and the Gulmohar in surahi. Your house looks so cool- in every sense of the word. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Arti, thank you so much for your lovely feedback. The fact that you read the post 'aaram se' and enjoyed it , giving thought to the details as well is a great feeling in itself. Thanks once again :)

      Delete
  8. Hello Reshma, your gorgeous pictures truly talk of the Indian summers. I particularly love the phanka picture:)
    What can I say, Your a natural when it comes to decor. Everything looks so well coordinated
    Hugs,
    Sruthi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sruthi, thanks for your generous words. I'm glad you liked the post. I don't know whether I'm a natural in decor or not, I just know I get inspired by watching all you talented people out there. Hugs right back and thank you for visiting :)

      Delete
  9. Long overdue! I am late in commenting here but better late than never! Your posts are always such good reads especially with those pretty clicks:-)....loved the haat pankha, the Chikankari and your gorgeous place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vandana, of course, better late than never ;) Thank you. Your words of encouragement always mean a lot to me. Thanks for always stopping by and leaving a feedback. Makes my day extra special :)

      Delete
  10. Hi Reshma

    So true though summer is not a pleasant season it is endurable because of mangoes, ice creams, melons, cool cottons...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vasudha, exactly. We do need something to see us through this harsh Summer season . Thanks for stopping by :)

      Delete

It's always good to get a feedback :)