tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17947143391002211332024-03-13T13:08:07.373-07:00Cookie Jar - Where all the good things are...Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-48245776124562882732012-11-22T23:58:00.001-08:002012-11-22T23:58:06.895-08:00Illustration Friday: Zoom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZVnvJawjl8/UK8qokotC1I/AAAAAAAAAVI/zsXGxTxUuc8/s1600/Kite4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZVnvJawjl8/UK8qokotC1I/AAAAAAAAAVI/zsXGxTxUuc8/s400/Kite4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>art & concept by Chandana Banerjee</i><br />
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This week, <a href="http://illustrationfriday.com/">Illustration Friday</a> popped out the word 'Zoom' for our illustrations. 'Zoom'...hmm...where would I like to zoom to? What would I choose as my mode of 'zooming'? I'm not terribly fond of zooming. I prefer traveling at manageable speeds. Fast bikes, fast cars, rockets...well these are not for me. I'd rather bob on a river on a bamboo raft, or cycle around meandering roads or maybe, just maybe, fly along with a kite on its papery tail.<br />
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So that's when I thought that Tara could go on a journey, riding the tail of a kite. A slow, simple journey into the indigo skies, sailing along with sun-ripe clouds. Don't you wish you could do this sometime? Go far away from your routines, into a magical journey.</div>
Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-35600174875920321452012-11-18T21:28:00.000-08:002012-11-18T21:28:02.229-08:00Norbu, the little monk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheerful monks at McLeod Ganj</td></tr>
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<i>Art & concept by Chandana Banerjee</i><br />
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Norbu is a seven-year-old monk, who lives in a monastery in McLeod Ganj. He loves ice-cream and the colours of prayer flags. He often wiggles around during his prayer classes, finds the tourists visiting the monastery more interesting than his lessons, and loves to pose for photographs. He loves to play football with his other little monk friends, whenever he gets a chance to. And Norbu has a special secret. (We'll unfold the secret in the days to come, so stay tuned.)<br />
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Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-78333722948174029602012-11-15T23:08:00.003-08:002012-11-15T23:08:53.730-08:00The Queen's Kolhapuris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u>The Queen's Kolhapuris</u></b></div>
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<i>Art & Story by Chandana Banerjee</i></div>
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Last year, I was visiting Ramgarh, a fort town in Rajasthan with crumbling forts and palaces. Right around the corner, near the Maharani's (queen) palace was a little shop, just as ancient as the palace itself. Dusty and dark with an odd mix of whimsical and quirky things, the store was any antique hunter's dream and a 'neatophile's nightmare. I spent a whole afternoon rummaging through tattered tomes, handwritten cookbooks with yellowed pages, heavy fabric that may have been resplendent at one time, utensils and what-not. Tucked into one corner was a pair of slippers. Kolhapuri-kind-of-slippers that were clearly hand-sewn. Green and dull gold with burnished brown soles, the slippers had something oddly magnetic about them. As I dusted them and slipped them on, only to find that they fit me snugly, the old, wobbly shopkeeper came out from a corner and said, "These belonged to one of the princesses' a 100 years ago."<br />
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I had to have them right away. I slipped them on, paid the shopkeeper and walked out of the shop, sauntering past the Queen's Palace. On a whim, I popped into the queen's quarters. The sun was dipping low on the horizon, bathing the carved monument in buttery yellow light. I saw a flash of red and green, the gold edge of a skirt around a pillar. I rubbed my eyes, only to hear a tinkling of anklets and wisps of laughter. Inching closer to the room, I peeped through the tinted window.<br />
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Women in rich ghagras (traditional skirts) and heavy jewellery danced, laughed and sang. Was this the palace harem, I wondered. The room was as good as new, with marble floors, velvet curtains and silk pillows. I looked on, fascinated with pages of history coming alive right before my eyes....<br />
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However, in a few minutes, the sun dipped lower, wrapping the palace in shadows. I turned to a tap on my shoulder. "Madam, what are you doing here? You can't be on the premises after sunset," informed the security person. As I got ready to leave, I took one last look inside the room. It was dark and crumbling, with no signs of the life and laughter I'd witnessed a few minutes earlier.<br />
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As I walked back to my hotel, I wondered whether it was imagination or the magic slippers that belonged to one of the royal women in that room...<br />
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Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-20054155835020951912012-11-15T00:12:00.002-08:002012-11-15T00:12:44.345-08:00Illustration Friday: Tree<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u>The Jalebi Tree</u></b></div>
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<i>- Art & Story by Chandana Banerjee</i></div>
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One day, when the sun sauntered out from the west, when the birds began talking and when leaves turned blue and red, there came a small orange cloud, stuffed with Jalebis. (Note: Jalebis are Indian sweets, shaped like circular squiggles, deep-fried and sugary sweet, and a hot favourite with many.) The cloud hovered over a field, where rabbits sunned themselves, meek little door-mice scampered around looking for treats to eat and blackbirds painted themselves with white polka dots.<br />
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The cloud wobbled around a bit, heavy with its load. "Ah! There are plenty of happy creatures to enjoy my treats," he said with satisfaction, as he surveyed the field full of mice and rabbits, and the sky abuzz with birds. So, with joy, he showered the field with crisp, squiggly, sugary sweet jalebis. It was a sight to see! Jalebis tumbled down from the sky, each a different shade of orange, each glistening with its golden syrup. Some of these jalebis got stuck on the branches of a lone tree in the field. They rocked gently on the ebony branches, as the polka-dotted blackbirds swooped down to grab their share of sweets.<br />
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Well, I was just passing by and happened to see this sugary sight. I took home a few jalebis, wrapped in my handkerchief and enjoyed the nectar-filled sweets. And if you ever chance by that field, let me know if the jalebis are still stuck on the tree or if the blackbirds have feasted on them.<br />
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Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-79573269449908330802012-11-08T04:15:00.001-08:002012-11-13T19:29:38.849-08:00Sunshine Girl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Art & Story by Chandana Banerjee</i><br />
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Tara stands under the sun, her curls reaching out towards the slivers of buttery light. She feels the warmth on her brown face, the fleeting morning sunlight on her shoulders. "It's such a happy morning," she thinks to herself, wrapping herself tightly in the gold and blue.<br />
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"Can I fill myself with this light?"<br />
"Can I drink it like a cup of sun tea or sip some like honey?"<br />
"What will it be like to have this soft winter light within? To have all this happiness filling your being?"<br />
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Questions like white butterflies, thoughts like sun-filled dew drops make each day so special for this little girl. </div>
Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-24513197639686669612012-11-08T04:11:00.002-08:002012-11-12T03:10:27.876-08:00Cupcake Magic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Art & Post by Chandana Banerjee</i><br />
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I love cupcakes. Yummy vanilla, chocolate and blueberry cupcakes with a tower of buttery, swirling frosting. I love tucking into them. And I'd like very much to learn how to make them. They look like little pieces of edible art. And the small bites make them not so 'calorie-fic' ;-).<br />
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In this piece of art, let me introduce you to Tanya...the local magic baker. Yes, she bakes like magic. And she puts some magic in those swirly, fluffy cupcakes of hers too. She pops them out of the oven, swirls on the icing and then sends them flying to friends, fairies and children. So hey, the next time you're craving a cupcake...don't forget to contact Tanya for a batch of her magic cupcakes.<br />
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Her contact details:<br />
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Tanya of Cupcake Magic Patisserie<br />
Phone: ******<br />
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Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-52712304295795218022012-11-08T04:07:00.001-08:002012-11-12T02:51:41.575-08:00Quilted Dreams<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Art and Story by Chandana Banerjee</i><br />
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Tara's tucked into her quilt, as snug as a bug in a rug. This is a special quilt sewn with colored dreams. Dreams the color of tinted glass - green, blue and pink. Dreams with patterns of wild songs, seams of adventure, embroidered with stories.<br />
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Tara quilts her dreams together - a patchwork of stories and wide-awake nights, twilight dreams and in-the-crack-of-time chases. </div>
Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-12656513897990645682012-11-08T03:55:00.003-08:002012-11-08T03:55:13.411-08:00Illustration Friday: Shy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Feeling shy...<br />
Feeling quiet...<br />
Feeling all smiley inside<br />
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<i>- Water colour and pen-and-ink art by Chandana Banerjee</i></div>
Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-84548233465249970802012-10-31T04:21:00.000-07:002012-10-31T04:21:21.487-07:00Illustration Friday: Haunt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_TwSrfZucI/UJEIjd_YLwI/AAAAAAAAARM/eeJRb0RZ8cs/s1600/Angela2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_TwSrfZucI/UJEIjd_YLwI/AAAAAAAAARM/eeJRb0RZ8cs/s400/Angela2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--MeXzmHgK-s/UJEI7z6VJ4I/AAAAAAAAARU/Z53igthkvrM/s1600/Angela3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--MeXzmHgK-s/UJEI7z6VJ4I/AAAAAAAAARU/Z53igthkvrM/s400/Angela3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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That was the summer we had the most fun. We
played through the hot and sticky afternoons, the fiery Indian sun beating down
at us. Our mothers did their best to keep us inside the house, so we could be
safe from the heat and the tropical diseases that were doing their rounds in
Rampore. (Rampore is a small cantonment town in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> and my father was posted
there.)</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">But we were a bunch of small children, who
loved to play. And we would sneak out when our mothers were taking their
siestas and our ayahs busy with other work. We’d play under the big mango tree
at the edge of the mansion grounds. Made-up games that kept us cheerful in
spite of the insufferable heat. We played till we were found and brought home
for a good scolding.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">But that summer was a short one for me. All
of a sudden I couldn’t talk to my parents and two brothers. I could no longer
live in the mansion or play with my friends. It was as if they couldn’t see me
any more. All they did was cry and mope around. I waited under the mango tree, wishing
that my little brothers would stop crying and come out to play with me. But
they never did.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Soon, my family left the house and went
away...to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
where my granny lived. And I was left
behind. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">*</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I still visit the mango tree and our old
house. The tree is larger now than it was…the house, old and crumbling, with
bats living among the shambles. But now I spend a lot of time at the little
cemetery in the cantonment. It’s a quaint place with old grave stones and long
grass. Wild flowers cover the ground, making it look like a playing field for
lost angels. I’ve got another friend to keep me company – another little girl,
who died that summer. We play the same games we played that summer and wish we weren't left behind</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>- Angela. </b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>'The Spirits of the British Era - story 1' - story and art by Chandana Banerjee</i></b></span></span></div>
</div>
Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-84542369288337480802012-10-28T22:11:00.002-07:002012-10-28T22:11:26.708-07:00Story Postcard: The Moon's Secret<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gw5DNC2naEI/UI4L9zMXrYI/AAAAAAAAAQo/MuRc-4_b4bA/s1600/scan0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gw5DNC2naEI/UI4L9zMXrYI/AAAAAAAAAQo/MuRc-4_b4bA/s400/scan0028.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
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Maya stands at the edge of the clearing, in a place between evening and night, forest and ink blue skies. The handful of bright yellow stars aren't warm enough to take the chill out. They seem to move around the sky, tip-toeing around the big round, placid disk of a moon, whispering secrets and spinning reams of mist. Mist, as white and gossamer as the spirits in the forest. As Maya looks up at the moon, pale and silver like a large mother-of-pearl pendant, she catches him smiling down at her. The kind of smile that has a story behind it. "Maybe there's a secret in this forest. Maybe the story everyone whispers to each other about this forest is true," wonders Maya, suddenly feeling cold.<br />
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<b><i>Art and Story by Chandana Banerjee</i></b></div>
Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-45208966846983741712012-10-25T04:59:00.000-07:002012-10-25T05:01:00.753-07:00Happiness is like Gold<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--4Ya9fmsUWw/UIkmwLczYRI/AAAAAAAAAQM/pGHlRmoDDy4/s1600/IMG_1766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--4Ya9fmsUWw/UIkmwLczYRI/AAAAAAAAAQM/pGHlRmoDDy4/s400/IMG_1766.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eT5S_dj80bY/UIkm_mv6WxI/AAAAAAAAAQU/rgJmRg8mZEU/s1600/dairy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eT5S_dj80bY/UIkm_mv6WxI/AAAAAAAAAQU/rgJmRg8mZEU/s640/dairy1.jpg" width="446" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">'Happiness' - artwork with water colour, pen and ink, and colour pencils on ruled paper by chandana banerjee</span><br />
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A balloon, as red as a shiny lollipop, climbs up a sky scattered with clouds and awash with yellow sunshine. Almost everything you need to be happy - sunshine, an orange sun, twittering birds, peace - the sky seems to have in plenty. At least that's what Maya thinks. She is happy for today. This day full of sunshine. This day in the park, amidst swaying green grass and crickets, with blue birds swooping down to say hello. Happy moments are like gold. Happy moments are like this, simple and fleeting yet sumptuous and wholesome .</div>
Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-17110870591761973882012-10-21T03:33:00.002-07:002012-10-21T03:33:20.941-07:00Illustration Friday: Sky<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M06SMhIjyH0/UIPJ2-gQ6MI/AAAAAAAAAPk/8_3elWhPbCI/s1600/dairy4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M06SMhIjyH0/UIPJ2-gQ6MI/AAAAAAAAAPk/8_3elWhPbCI/s640/dairy4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<i><b>'<span style="font-size: x-small;">Searching'</span></b></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - water colour, pencil colours and pen-and-ink illustration on ruled journal paper by Chandana Banerjee</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Story Postcard - Maya's Search</b></span></u></div>
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The lights meld together - a mix of shooting stars and aurora borealis, dreams and questions, horizons and bits of coloured sky. Little Maya stands at the helm of the world, between wonder and journey. "What am I born for?" "What is my purpose in life?" "What is it that I want to do here?" "What do I want to be?" "How do I want to make a difference?" Questions swirl around her, whooshing in answers in the form of bolts of tinted light and twinkling stars.<br />
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There's light, there's shadow. There are blues and there are yellows. Violets meld with green. Questions fuse with answers. Love with life. Laughter with tears. The sky is a like a big jigsaw puzzle, like a show-and-tell of thoughts and stars. There are words scribbled in magician's ink, playing hide and seek with Maya. She mixes up the lights of the aurora borealis with her hands, sorting through the layers of coloured sky. She tries to hold the words, catch them with a light-catcher.But words are elusive. They are like butterflies, nimble and beautiful. They leave a trail of stories and a sprinkling of thoughts. Something for Maya to remember.<br />
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Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-71070593060537659362012-10-16T00:05:00.000-07:002012-10-17T06:20:06.991-07:00Friend, Philosopher and Dog!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IqUPBRtY7ik/UH0E1ty1B9I/AAAAAAAAAO0/BiK0C7wwtWU/s1600/Muffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IqUPBRtY7ik/UH0E1ty1B9I/AAAAAAAAAO0/BiK0C7wwtWU/s320/Muffin.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<i>Our friend, Muffin</i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6yCiU34w4Ow/UH0Fk98scVI/AAAAAAAAAO8/ncF1T52ouSY/s1600/IMG_0400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6yCiU34w4Ow/UH0Fk98scVI/AAAAAAAAAO8/ncF1T52ouSY/s320/IMG_0400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sh_4EJG7cRc/UH0GFQnLtUI/AAAAAAAAAPI/58_YeF1gP8k/s1600/IMG_4247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sh_4EJG7cRc/UH0GFQnLtUI/AAAAAAAAAPI/58_YeF1gP8k/s320/IMG_4247.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<i>Muffin as a puppy</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABzT0eps-Fo/UH0Gcn2_K3I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/EvTUy_nLCgM/s1600/IMG_4302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ABzT0eps-Fo/UH0Gcn2_K3I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/EvTUy_nLCgM/s320/IMG_4302.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: Sandeep Banerjee</span></i><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Almost three years ago we brought home a
tiny, golden furry friend. We named her Muffin because we thought it was apt
for the cute little goldie she was and the majestic golden retriever she would
grow up to be. While I would like to say that I fell in love with her
instantly, it would be a lie if I did. Well, I was no dog lover and having a
furry creature toddling around the house, pooping, peeing, nipping, shedding –
well, it was far from the rosy picture of owning a pet that I had in mind.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">To cut a long story short, we took oodles
of time to get used to each other. We tip-toed around each other, gave it time
and space and went with the flow of things. As weeks turned into months, we
began understanding each other. “Oh, she really doesn’t like me chewing her
contact lens cases!” Muffin understood finally. “Oh, she doesn’t really mean to
bite when she comes hopping towards me for a quick nip!” I understood. We
understood lots of things about each other, and then some about life. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">With Muffin by my side, I don’t really need
to look at books or posters for inspiration and life’s teachings. She’s taught
me so many things, much more than most people have. Here are five:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b>Don’t expend energy on
things/people/situations that you don’t like. Just ignore them and find something
better to focus on. </b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b>Live in the moment. Don’t mope about the
past or worry about the future. Enjoy the gift of the present moment.</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b>There’s nothing like a good jog or a long
walk to clear your head. </b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b>Looking for inspiration? Just get out of
the house and look around. There will always be something interesting to enjoy.</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><b>Be nice most of the time and be fierce only
in situations that really demand it.</b></span></div>
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Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-14562390172359273682012-10-14T03:27:00.000-07:002012-10-14T21:44:07.175-07:00Illustration Friday - Water<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-spt2C2QoMyg/UHqSKFZkxFI/AAAAAAAAAOg/FeCHPlV-vI4/s1600/scan0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-spt2C2QoMyg/UHqSKFZkxFI/AAAAAAAAAOg/FeCHPlV-vI4/s640/scan0029.jpg" width="483" /></a></div>
'Aqua' - art by Chandana Banerjee, on ruled journal paper<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">This is Maya and her moment at the ‘fish
zoo’. She has never been to one before and is amazed by the different kinds of
fish that swim by. She wishes for a small aquarium, where she can keep her own
goldfish at home. Maybe, she can name each of them. Zara. Gold. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Orange</st1:place></st1:city>. Or, maybe someday she can meet a mermaid.
With a little magic and the mermaid by her side, she can dive into the depths
of the sea, riding on sea horses, swimming with hoards of colourful fish. Or,
maybe, she can befriend the water fairy that she’s sure lives in the brook near
her home. How she’d love to live on the river bank in a little cottage made of
river-smoothened pebbles, sand and ferns. </span></div>
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Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-34233853053928601492012-10-03T23:25:00.000-07:002012-10-05T04:05:42.351-07:00Beauty in Brown<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FS8l62rc5RY/UG0zAop3DhI/AAAAAAAAAOM/8CMBL-8kSHg/s1600/brown+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FS8l62rc5RY/UG0zAop3DhI/AAAAAAAAAOM/8CMBL-8kSHg/s320/brown+baby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-GB">photo credit: </span><a href="http://rachelvanoven.com/blog/">http://rachelvanoven.com/blog/</a></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB">I took sabbatical from my blog. To find my
voice…my blogging voice. I didn’t want to write until I had something to share. Well, I don’t mean that I didn’t have anything to say all this
while, but here at Cookie Jar, I wanted things to be different. The posts I
write must strike a deep chord within me. The opinions, thoughts and things that I type out for
Cookie Jar must inspire me. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There are enough times when we talk for the
sake of social chit-chat and I find that that drains me out. So, at Cookie Jar
we’ll talk because an idea is interesting, inspiring, simple, happy,
energizing. Amen </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Having said that let me share what I’ve
been thinking. I’m in the midst of <a href="http://www.halfofayellowsun.com/">Half of a Yellow Sun</a> by Chimamanda Ngozi
Adichie. I like her prose, the way she weaves out her descriptions and unfurls
her story. The other thing I like about her prose is the way she chooses
luscious words to celebrate the colour of the skin. <b>‘The lush colour of
rain-drenched earth’, ‘mahogany’, ‘ebony’ – how beautifully she revels in the
elegance of dark skin.</b> In a world, where light is favoured over dark, white
over shades of brown, it’s a delight to find prose, people and photographs that
celebrate dusky skin tones. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_Fho5wRVoU/UG0oAarFPrI/AAAAAAAAANQ/nW0U09d-_8M/s1600/Brown+woman+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U_Fho5wRVoU/UG0oAarFPrI/AAAAAAAAANQ/nW0U09d-_8M/s320/Brown+woman+1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Photo credit: </span><a href="http://darkskinnedblackbeauty.tumblr.com/post/22357596294">http://darkskinnedblackbeauty.tumblr.com</a> via Pinterest</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aoa9CDpMhLY/UG0oe8rWJRI/AAAAAAAAANY/mdExJ9M-4oM/s1600/brown+woman+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aoa9CDpMhLY/UG0oe8rWJRI/AAAAAAAAANY/mdExJ9M-4oM/s320/brown+woman+2.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Photo credit: </span><a href="http://ani-n-i.tumblr.com/">http://ani-n-i.tumblr.com</a> via Pinterest</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I’m an Indian and live in a country where
every citizen is some shade of brown. But unfortunately, it’s the ones with the
lightest of skin tones, who are considered good looking. As if, being fair is a
virtue. When we can celebrate burnished browns, we’re too busy paying homage to
fairness creams and the imaginary power of light-coloured skin. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PebHFJx0Fn0/UG0o2FoJ8WI/AAAAAAAAANg/sNISqWrmhV4/s1600/Brown+child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PebHFJx0Fn0/UG0o2FoJ8WI/AAAAAAAAANg/sNISqWrmhV4/s320/Brown+child.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Photo credit:</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><a href="http://zodwakumalo.wordpress.com/">http://zodwakumalo.wordpress.com</a> </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OzkyTSEDYQw/UG0pGO0PGAI/AAAAAAAAANo/bIWu7vc9NLo/s1600/brown+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OzkyTSEDYQw/UG0pGO0PGAI/AAAAAAAAANo/bIWu7vc9NLo/s320/brown+woman.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: </span></span><a href="http://divalocity.tumblr.com/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://divalocity.tumblr.com</span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">From chocolate to cappuccino, warm cocoa to
caramel, rain-drenched earth to mocha, there are so many shades of delicious
brown around us (what we know as 'Black' is actually a shade of rich brown). In no way are these any inferior to light brown, pink or
white. There is richness in the whole set of browns, each shade burnished and
beautiful. The question is when will we as people of this country, as citizens
of the world accept that skin colour is as individualistic as our DNA and
finger print? That skin tones are a result of how much melanin we’re born with?
That God created a whole gamut of skin tones like we created a whole set of
different colours to paint with? That each person is different and special in their
own way? That beauty is as much about dark brown as about light brown and
white?</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdYXHL6Je5I/UG0rIapUgEI/AAAAAAAAAN4/fj6Qss3Zg_8/s1600/brown+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdYXHL6Je5I/UG0rIapUgEI/AAAAAAAAAN4/fj6Qss3Zg_8/s320/brown+kids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Photo credit: </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/psoup216/4746740495/in/faves-aarika/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/psoup216/4746740495/in/faves-aarika/</a></span></div>
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Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-73580687943216792782012-04-23T22:59:00.001-07:002012-04-23T23:00:43.918-07:00Puppy Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-GB">I’m in love….in love with a 5-week-old St.
Bernard puppy. I went over to a friend’s house to see their latest addition and
fell head over heels in love with the bundle of fur and innocence. Chubby and
quiet, he was everything that a puppy is about…warmth, comfort, snuggles, naps.
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu4Jd0jSpgs/T5ZAzc97oLI/AAAAAAAAANA/wzHw9RMjzxs/s1600/St.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu4Jd0jSpgs/T5ZAzc97oLI/AAAAAAAAANA/wzHw9RMjzxs/s320/St.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Now to see me talk like this – I’ve never
really been an out and out dog lover, the kind that get so comfortable with any
dog. Because my hubby loves dogs and because I loved the book – ‘<b>shadow the sheep dog’</b>, we got a golden
retriever puppy 2 years back. In the beginning, I was terrified of her sharp
puppy teeth and piercing yelps, and she was scared of this adult, who was
scared of her. It was a funny relationship – we tiptoed around each other,
literally.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">But slowly and steadily, we began to bond.
It was a lot like an arranged marriage, where you learn to love the person
slowly, one puppy step at a time. Today of course, Muffin (my golden girl) and
I are buddies. Muffin initiated me to the world of puppies, and probably that’s
why I was so comfortable with the bundle of joy I saw yesterday.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kyr-HvyKaJk/T5ZA6FX_NBI/AAAAAAAAANI/U_zOhbRj6TQ/s1600/st2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kyr-HvyKaJk/T5ZA6FX_NBI/AAAAAAAAANI/U_zOhbRj6TQ/s320/st2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Do you plan to get a puppy? Or have you
already got one? Do write in with your stories.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: <a href="http://dogsindia.com/Litter_Box_St_Bernard_Dvijatman.htm">Dvijatman Kennel</a></span></span></div>
</div>Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-62825787896265320392012-04-16T04:36:00.001-07:002012-04-16T04:38:24.315-07:00Is entrepreneurship for you?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LDqB16qkHjw/T4wDjabsotI/AAAAAAAAAM4/wrdZbyl6Fy8/s1600/work-from-home-job-724x483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LDqB16qkHjw/T4wDjabsotI/AAAAAAAAAM4/wrdZbyl6Fy8/s320/work-from-home-job-724x483.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Work From Home Jobs</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">I was talking to a few friends yesterday. They are young mums armed with lofty degrees and substantial work experience. They’re smart, sincere and yearning to carve a niche out for themselves. A niche and career that they can balance while bringing up their kids and moving from one place to another (like me, they’re military wives). Since we often spend our lifetime in the boondocks and back-of-beyond places across the country, keeping ourselves on the career track can become challenging. Frequent postings, places that offer meagre work opportunities and the famous military social life, leaves us with fewer choices when it comes to work.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Having discovered the beauty of entrepreneurship (I run two businesses – <b><a href="http://pinkelephantwritingstudio.com/">Pink Elephant Writing Studio</a> & <a href="http://www.luscious-health.com/">Luscious Health</a></b>), I mentioned the possibility of starting their own companies to my friends. Working from Home and starting small businesses is becoming the thing to do now. With several qualified mums out there, wanting to balance family and work, Mompreneurship is the way to go. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">If, like my friends and me, you’re craving to chart your own career path, then here’s some inspiration to begin with:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Here’s <a href="http://www.bizzieliving.com/category/interviews">Bizzieliving</a>, a fantastic blog to garner inspiration. It has some great interviews of women with small businesses. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Meet <a href="http://rachelleannemiller.com/">Rachel Anne Miller</a>, a young designer, illustrator and mum, who runs her own creative studio. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Kate Rosenthal started the <a href="http://www.stubbypencilstudio.com/">Stubby PencilStudio</a>, where she creates and retails eco-friendly art material and stationary. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.dancingelephantstudio.com/">Dancing Elephant Studio</a> was started by artist Jenny Kostecki Shaw. She works and lives with her young family in the mountains of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.theworkathomewoman.com/">Work At Home Woman</a> - a treasury of info to get started!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">p.s. While working from home is great, it isn't as easy as depicted in the photograph above ;)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-17928059189591479302012-04-12T03:53:00.000-07:002012-04-12T03:53:48.325-07:00A Homemade Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">There’s one particular blog that I often bumble over to, when I’m in the mood for a slower, more hands-on life. ‘Hands-on life’? Now, isn’t life hands on, you may ask. Well, in today’s day and age, where grocery is ordered online and veggies come from cans and packets, clothes from a catalogue or store and a meal often from a takeaway or a cook, life is more about delegation than DIY. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">When life is whizzing us by, jet-set on deadlines, stress and general busyness, don’t you ever wish for a calmer spot, a more warm, home-grown life and an inner contentment that no corporate career can offer? Well, I certainly do. It was this decision to slow down and soak in everything that life has to offer that’s got me going DIY and hands-on in various aspects of my life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">My meals come from my soup pot and wok, where I cook them with chutzpah and love. My clothes from the village weavers; veggies from the local <i>haat</i> (Indian village market) and our vegetable garden; healing from holistic ways; employment from entrepreneurship; and, entertainment from simple sources. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">The endeavour is to live a green, homemade life, wherever and whenever possible. So, coming back to the blog I love bumbling over to – it’s called <b><a href="http://soulemama.typepad.com/">SouleMama</a></b> and is all about her family’s life, as they go about spinning and living a warm, happy homemade life. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">I find a lot of inspiration in how Amanda and her family live, and I hope you will too.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oDNJ-wstCzc/T4aziE0NtAI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/InI1-Iwzq-g/s1600/pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oDNJ-wstCzc/T4aziE0NtAI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/InI1-Iwzq-g/s320/pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_ZDl4CtOBc/T4azp-hsV8I/AAAAAAAAAMY/h-e9-oNbljY/s1600/pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_ZDl4CtOBc/T4azp-hsV8I/AAAAAAAAAMY/h-e9-oNbljY/s320/pic2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hh6JdxvhKj0/T4azxNwMEgI/AAAAAAAAAMg/ztGnyyY9XQY/s1600/pic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hh6JdxvhKj0/T4azxNwMEgI/AAAAAAAAAMg/ztGnyyY9XQY/s320/pic3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Photo credit: SouleMama - Amanda Blake Soule</span></div></div>Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-2829657686695870532012-02-14T21:39:00.000-08:002012-02-14T21:39:27.800-08:00Cookie Jar in the news!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IghI0KDzBPc/TztEXraxR3I/AAAAAAAAAMI/3dBvuar-UH0/s1600/IMG_2231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IghI0KDzBPc/TztEXraxR3I/AAAAAAAAAMI/3dBvuar-UH0/s320/IMG_2231.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><b><i>The POOL interview with me :)</i></b><br />
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Woohoo....It's such a lot of fun to be on the other side of the interviewing table :) ! <a href="http://www.poolmagazine.in/"><b>POOL</b></a> - a national design magazine, interviewed me about this blog - <b>Cookie Jar</b>, my thoughts on writing, dreams and plans. It was such a pleasant change to be giving the interview, rather than taking one.<br />
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Thanks Maitreyi & POOL Team for the opportunity! And Thanks to all of my readers, for the support and for being there :)</div>Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-91538381772331450002012-02-01T20:21:00.000-08:002012-02-01T20:33:46.361-08:00Luscious!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gv0Fdg0tzeA/TyoRYZ_eMQI/AAAAAAAAAMA/2J2zQ8_nGk8/s1600/Luscious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gv0Fdg0tzeA/TyoRYZ_eMQI/AAAAAAAAAMA/2J2zQ8_nGk8/s320/Luscious.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ulteriorepicure/933244618/sizes/m/in/photostream/">Jean Georges</a></span></i><br />
<br />
Hey! I've been away for a long...even after all those promises. Time's been flying. Between the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, Luscious Health and all the excitement of setting up a new business, there's hardly been much left to do anything else.<br />
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Ah! and then there's the thing about Very Very effective time management. I get by pretty well with my current time management skills, but am so interested in becoming a Guru at this :). Who wouldn't?<br />
<br />
By the way, before we go over to another stream of conversation, let's catch up with <b>Luscious Health</b>. What's that, you may ask?<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.luscious-health.com/">Luscious Health</a></b> is my brand new Health & Nutrition Coaching company!!!!! Yayyyy....a baby business steadily making its way out of the bassinet.<br />
<br />
Please check out the this jewel of a wellness studio, right here: <a href="http://www.luscious-health.com/">http://www.luscious-health.com/</a><br />
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AND here's my <b>joyful Giveaway</b>....a <b>FREE WELLNESS SESSION</b>. It's an hour-long session with the focus on YOU, your health goals and your wellness mission.<br />
<br />
<u>So, if getting healthy, happy and fit has been on your mind this year, get in touch with me to turn your goals into a reality. </u><br />
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My email: <b>luscioushealthcoaching@gmail.com</b><br />
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See you there soon!<br />
<br />
p.s. Oh...and this Free Session Offer is valid till Feb 16, 2012!!!</div>Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-63485105023972376762011-12-12T03:03:00.000-08:002011-12-12T03:03:30.657-08:00A Super Shutterbug<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Tracy Clark. I’ve been stumbling across her name every now and then since last year. Since I signed up at Bigpicturescrapbooking.com. And in these past few months, after poring over her blog, sifting through her beautifully-crafted images, I can safely say that I’m totally inspired. To craft pictures, to capture the everyday minute …with gossamer threads of light, smoky panes of shadow. There’s more than a touch of vintage in her pictures. They definitely remind me of a time that’s uncomplicated and slow. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Founder of Shutter Sisters, an ace photographer and a writer with some interesting titles to her credit, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tracy</st1:place></st1:city> is a creator and crafter, who merges snapshots and words with equal ease. So people, don’t let me keep you from hopping over to <b><a href="http://www.traceyclark.com/">her blog</a></b>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t9bU61INxDE/TuXevcb_WuI/AAAAAAAAALo/4L3fpgm1XDI/s1600/comingaround_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t9bU61INxDE/TuXevcb_WuI/AAAAAAAAALo/4L3fpgm1XDI/s320/comingaround_600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Doggy Boo</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nGsXTfwwe7g/TuXe21hit_I/AAAAAAAAALw/FjSDRwE3Ap0/s1600/littlelady_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nGsXTfwwe7g/TuXe21hit_I/AAAAAAAAALw/FjSDRwE3Ap0/s320/littlelady_600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Ladybird love</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0KP7i7DrboU/TuXe9n6ySII/AAAAAAAAAL4/tUJ2ndcgupk/s1600/deliveringlove_600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0KP7i7DrboU/TuXe9n6ySII/AAAAAAAAAL4/tUJ2ndcgupk/s320/deliveringlove_600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Sweet nothings...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><b><i>Image Credit: Tracy Clark</i></b></span></div></div>Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-3862577656722443062011-12-07T02:43:00.000-08:002011-12-07T02:43:48.122-08:00Nourishing tales<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hellooo everyone!<br />
<br />
Hold those tomatoes...pleaseee....<br />
<br />
I know...I know...I've been a runaway blogger for the past couple of months....and neglected Cookie Jar like no blogger should! But hey, a gal's gotta study when she has to study.<br />
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Yup, you heard right. I've gone back to school. To a Health, Nutrition and Nourishment school to upgrade my knowledge and delve deeper into a field that I've always enjoyed. So, guys, here's the whole scoop. I'm studying at the<a href="http://www.integrativenutrition.com/"> <b>Institute of Integrative Nutrition</b></a> in New York City, and will soon be a Certified Holistic Health Coach or a Health Coach, to put it more simply.<br />
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So, in a few short months, if any of you would like a lifestyle and health makeover, a generous dollop of happiness or some wholesome mind-body-spirit nourishment, then be my guest at <b>Luscious Health</b>, my brand new health coaching business.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>More later. And this time, I won't disappear down the rabbit's burrow ;).<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-46735382007892215332011-07-15T04:36:00.000-07:002011-07-18T20:52:43.542-07:00Be your own boss<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">I love it when people can stop working for others and become their own boss. When they can slip off the heavy chain called ‘corporate job’ or for that matter any job, and slip into the role of an entrepreneur, running a business doing what they are passionate about. It could be a craft business, a writing venture, a food biz….anything that makes that person tick.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">I ‘met’ <b>Meytal Ron</b> at the Etsy hub and was happy to see another person doing what she loves. A designer and artist, she worked in the high-tech 3D design arena before giving up her day job to start <b>Jolinne</b> and <b>Honeyboo</b>, two quirky Etsy stores where she retails lovely prints. Having always loved painting and art, it was not a surprise that this hobby was turned into a viable business and art that all of you are sure to love.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>I love books</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zDQN-9rxgzY/TiAkZJA8G2I/AAAAAAAAALE/IzEU29Jfek8/s1600/I+love+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zDQN-9rxgzY/TiAkZJA8G2I/AAAAAAAAALE/IzEU29Jfek8/s320/I+love+books.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>The sound of music</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0x0s4DfrhXU/TiAk9N4AlvI/AAAAAAAAALQ/Hr1z4QlbhAc/s1600/Music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0x0s4DfrhXU/TiAk9N4AlvI/AAAAAAAAALQ/Hr1z4QlbhAc/s320/Music.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Puppy love</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H1BCFTUucEQ/TiAkrS7pB0I/AAAAAAAAALM/A6A6aU-HiPA/s1600/Puppy+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H1BCFTUucEQ/TiAkrS7pB0I/AAAAAAAAALM/A6A6aU-HiPA/s320/Puppy+love.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>See more of her work at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jolinne?page=1">Jolinne</a>.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Read her interview at the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/quit-your-day-job-jolinne-10650/">Etsy Blog</a>.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Image credit: </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Meytal Ron</span></div>Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-80061801938162242872011-07-12T00:01:00.000-07:002011-07-12T00:01:07.346-07:00A Feast of Colors<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Every now and then, while researching for information or when I get tired of working, I hop onto my magic carpet and cruise over to interesting blogs. One fab blog leads me to another, one artist/entrepreneur introduces me to another. And in this way, I get to see a wide range of quirky, creative, whimsical, pretty, breathtaking blogs and ‘meet’ a bunch of interesting people. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">In fact, these blogs led me to start my own web diary, a place where I decided to interview these bloggers. But as the days go by, I realise that interviewing all of them will take time and while I continue to send out interview requests, I need to post good stuff out here for you to dig into. So from now on, you’ll see a lot more snazzy snippets in this online scrapbook. Snippets about cute blogs, artists, entrepreneurs and interesting people. You’ll see more art and craft. More eye candy. And of course, the interviews too. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Talking about creativity and eye candy, you just have to-have to go over to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A Creative Mint</b>. Started by LA-based Leslie Shewring, an architect and interior designer by degree, a product designer by profession and stay-at-home mother by passion. This blog is her treasure trove of projects and photographs that she has put together with lots of TLC. I personally love the luminescent colours, the simple yet beautiful photos and the exuberant mood boards.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Pretty pink</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a8mbqo6CYrw/ThvtyuxGLlI/AAAAAAAAAKw/GieIH-id8r4/s1600/Roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a8mbqo6CYrw/ThvtyuxGLlI/AAAAAAAAAKw/GieIH-id8r4/s320/Roses.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Cool blues and greens</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YOuW2YxCocI/Thvuvu9yH6I/AAAAAAAAAK0/nEz_EfdS5XM/s1600/Green+Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YOuW2YxCocI/Thvuvu9yH6I/AAAAAAAAAK0/nEz_EfdS5XM/s320/Green+Blue.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Pages from Leslie's journal</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bs_91-Isd0k/Thvu2AQpVtI/AAAAAAAAAK4/uPwDntA4gOM/s1600/Journal+Pages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bs_91-Isd0k/Thvu2AQpVtI/AAAAAAAAAK4/uPwDntA4gOM/s320/Journal+Pages.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><i>Sherbet</i></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KL0M2zKxTMs/Thvu9t5hZYI/AAAAAAAAAK8/AhlvIaq9cfU/s1600/Sherbet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KL0M2zKxTMs/Thvu9t5hZYI/AAAAAAAAAK8/AhlvIaq9cfU/s320/Sherbet.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><i>More roses</i></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZsZukuAK5k/Thvwtkzz-II/AAAAAAAAALA/fun1AkXYK2c/s1600/More+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZsZukuAK5k/Thvwtkzz-II/AAAAAAAAALA/fun1AkXYK2c/s320/More+roses.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>See more of her lovely images at <a href="http://acreativemint.typepad.com/">A Creative Mint</a>.</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><i>Image credit: A Creative Mint/Leslie</i></o:p></span></div>Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794714339100221133.post-62441832297785487752011-07-11T23:03:00.000-07:002011-07-11T23:05:24.361-07:00Time to...<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Gosh! It’s been two long months…or rather, if you look at it from my perspective, two short months. The months just whizzed by. Projects jostled for my attention, lined up on my To-do List cheek-by-jowl. Yes, the past month or more was busy, and now I have some breathing space to hang around the Net, flip through blogs and maybe sometimes, just switch off the computer and read a book by my bamboo grove.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Having enough work as a freelance journalist and entrepreneur is great. But at the same time, chunks of free time are equally amazing. I know….I know…these days it’s almost a sin to admit that one has time, that there are days when one is not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Busy</i>. Clocking 10-12 hour days is the norm. Working weekends is a done thing. Being perpetually stressed is expected. A sack-full of extra weight, a hurriedly grabbed lunch, zero time for exercise…well, that’s kind of mandatory, isn’t it?</span>But let’s talk about the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Busy buzzword</i> on another day.<br />
<br />
So, while you think about the “I’m Busy” banner that most of us like to flaunt most of the time, take a short break to enjoy these lovely drawings by <b>Penelope Neal</b>. She does absolutely amazing pencil drawings and watercolours. Here are some of her sketches that will remind you of time, of what’s it like to have time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><i>Time to chat with the fish...</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hHpk6WK3Olk/ThviGVKYOAI/AAAAAAAAAKg/NxJQo3zKJDw/s1600/basset+hound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hHpk6WK3Olk/ThviGVKYOAI/AAAAAAAAAKg/NxJQo3zKJDw/s320/basset+hound.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><i>Time to enjoy...</i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><i><br />
</i></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E2C9Gg5wh0g/ThviUvvFbYI/AAAAAAAAAKk/UfmL3uwcNq8/s1600/eliheaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E2C9Gg5wh0g/ThviUvvFbYI/AAAAAAAAAKk/UfmL3uwcNq8/s320/eliheaven.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><i>Time to sleep, snooze, relax, rejuvenate...</i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ogbq-LBffgQ/ThvieM8wkVI/AAAAAAAAAKo/_3IExCTdT0Y/s1600/sleeping+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ogbq-LBffgQ/ThvieM8wkVI/AAAAAAAAAKo/_3IExCTdT0Y/s320/sleeping+dog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><i>Time to love, to catch up with pals...</i></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7LPFBbRgAI/ThvirhCHmtI/AAAAAAAAAKs/vRpYy5iraxo/s1600/Animal+Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7LPFBbRgAI/ThvirhCHmtI/AAAAAAAAAKs/vRpYy5iraxo/s320/Animal+Love.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><i>Image credit: Penelope Neal</i></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br />
</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>To see more of Penelope's work, cruise over to her <a href="http://penelopeneal.com/">website</a> and <a href="http://penelopeneal.wordpress.com/">blog</a>. </o:p></span></div>Chandana Banerjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16865757896168077018noreply@blogger.com1