Aahaa Chennai

Today's garden diary: Donning a white garb, standing tall, I see someone swaying gently to a whispery tune... Peace on Earth and goodwill to...

Tiny shoots all dressed up, each flaunting, two delicate, green leaves, are coming up fast, reminding me of the joy in sharing those fresh bouquets of amaranth, bringing smiles all round, which will soon give way to a nutritious green stew, with mouths relishing the not-to-be-forgotten, unique homegrown flavour, which has its own growing band of fans, who savour those memories and seek those bunches again and again, many months later.

Enjoying the admiring looks from holidaying visitors. The year-ending holiday atmosphere is contagious and I feel doubly buoyed when I think of the approaching year and what it holds for me.

Oh no! There's a plant growing in my veggie shelf, inside a basket, the tender shoots gathering strength, gazing curiously around, showing off their mauve attire, twisting their way upwards. After a round of 'oohing and aahing,' an engrossing biology class begins for the little one, whose hands are itching to bury 'the strange creature' as she calls it, deep into the soil and watch it grow and grow... Days, months... fly past and soon, hands are eager and ready once more, to dig deep, to dislodge the plumpy gifts designed by Nature. The time has come to start dreaming of sweet potato fritters.

The sight of a thriving, small patch of green, which hits my eye the moment I step outdoors, with its gaily swinging, fluttery, yellow blossoms, makes me pause, coz, it's a proud showpiece, carefully nurtured by small hands. Here and there... in this green patch, are tiny  green sticks nestled amongst the leaves, that will most likely, metamorphose into fresh bunches of string beans in the near future, giving rise to a sense of fulfilment, plus accomplishment, also a feel of contributing 'my mite,' inside a  particular, caring n' tender heart. A sense of pride is awakened, when tiny feet patter into the kitchen, swinging a small basket, filled with bits of refreshing green produce, which is then put on display for the world...friends and family, to see, feel, smell, their ears open wide to hear the engrossing tale... of greedy ants wanting their share. The produce is then spread out and hands delve into the pods with  immense