Take52 Challenge: Week 17 – Markings

Last week’s challenge was themed ‘Markings’. Another easy one really considering ‘Markings’ are omnipresent and so naturally one that I found challenging 😛 Do you see a pattern here? I certainly do! Oh well – when in doubt – ‘Use the Kid’ I say 😉 They’re generally adorable and make great pictures 🙂 So that’s what I did, although this time Junior wasn’t a keen subject. He doesn’t like being ‘Marked’ but luckily is easily bribed 😛 I applied the red mark you see on his forehead, (a ‘Tilak’ we call it in local lingo) with powdered vermilion. We use it on auspicious occasions and it signifies a Blessing from whatever deity we’re in the mood to worship on the day! You know we have like millions of those right? 😉 The pic on the right is the final post-process result (I increased the blur significantly in PS leaving just the mark sharp to fit the theme), but many friends in the group liked the original (on the left) better because his eyes are in focus and they are rather dreamy – even if I do say so myself 😉 But I admit my extreme bias 😀 I’m still undecided on which one I like best, but I’m glad I got some PS practice!

The Red Mark!

And as always I travelled back in time to find more markings – this is what I dug up…and as usual…Nature comes up Trumps! 

Leopard Spots!

Tiger Stripes 😀

Pretty marks in Fuchsia!

I love the colours that mark this Hibiscus flower in my Mom’s garden 🙂

Ooooh! Spidey Marks!

Could do with help identifying this beetle…

Lepidoptera Marks!

Shadow Mark!

And here is a little ditty that came to me when I was thinking of how Markings are ubiquitous.

Leopard spots and tiger stripes

Pretty birds and rusty spikes

Marks in red and marks on gold

Treasure maps and ancient scrolls

Painted roads and painted faces

Spades and Clubs, Hearts and Aces

Beetles, rings and butterfly wings

Markings on most everything!

Monkton Mondays!

I keep meaning to write and when I finally sit down to do so…I see it’s been 3 weeks since I last did! I could apologise but I’ve been busy having good times 😛 I mean…one has to occaisonally go about and do happy blog-worthy stuff no? 😉 Lets see…last I posted was just before we left for Goa for Junior’s spring break. What followed were four glorious days of fun and frolic with friends and family 🙂 Break was longer but I had carefully choreographed the visit so it sou;don’t exceed my tolerance threshold! Make of that what you will 😛 but if you’re anything like me and/or know me well, you’ll understand why I can only manage short bursts of joy in Mom’s home! Believe me it’s better that way for the both of us 😉

Sunrise – reflected in Mom’s kitchen window!

The delicate Aboli blooms…

Favourite activity!

The hardy bougainvillaea…

The lush hibiscus…

Back home in Bangalore and we still had a weekend before school re-opened, so we visited the Banerghatta Biological Park and took a safari. There’s also a zoo which we avoided on advise from most friends who said it was totally avoidable. The safari was great fun though, and although the animals are in a controlled environment, it’s nonetheless exciting to spot a lion, a bear and a tiger…lolling around and sleeping off the dry summer heat 🙂 Junior was beside himself with joy and I’m always happy to get that perfect shot. In June, we are off to Kabini – to visit the Nagarhole National Park. I’m super excited at the thought and am crossing every part of my body and mind in the hopes of seeing a tiger in the wild!! I’ve heard one once in the Kaziranga National Park and the sound still gives me gooseflesh in the best possible way.

Mr. & Mrs. Panthera Leo – A Handsome Couple…

…but to me this guy is the King of the Jungle 😀

This last weekend Junior turned 6 🙂 He still isn’t bothered about parties and so we did a cake-cutting in school, the day before and spent his Birthday morning visiting Martins Farm and playing with the farm animals there; while in the evening we saw Aladdin – a musical play where we met several of his classmates and they all had a ball running around in the manner of headless chickens 😉 😛 I think they all enjoyed the goofing around more than the play! You know how little boys can get! And while I was looking for books as return gifts, I discovered Tullika. I’d heard of Tullika of course – an Indian Publishing house that does fabulous children’s books but didn’t know that they also offer special Birthday packages! Ordering the books was a piece of cake thanks to the prompt and extremely helpful Aneesha 🙂 I picked my books and sent them a list and sat back and relaxed. They sent me the books wrapped in gorgeous wrapping paper that matched the book covers complete with printed Thank You cards!! They even sent Junior a free book as a Birthday gift. Truly awesome service Tullika!!! Thank-You once again, especially to Aneesha who co-ordinated with me 😀 Cannot recommend them enough!

Birthday Boy!

The HULK Cake!

Birthday Gift from Tullika!

My favourite wrapping paper 🙂

Aren’t they gorgeous? Seriously!

Add to all of the above, planning a trip to Ooty on the 17th of this month, my ongoing Photography challenge and reading East of Eden…and you know I’ve been a busy bee! Well that brings us unto today…the first day in a long time that my mind feels peaceful enough for a return to a routine. Hubby’s Birthday is coming up on Friday, but since no gifts are to be given nor expected – it’s all cool 😉 😛 And so to Mr. Monkton…It seems only fitting that I should dedicate this week’s post to Junior – who brings me more joy than I imagined possible and more hope that I believed existed. He makes all sadness bearable and all happiness happier 🙂 And there are times when I look at him and wonder what it is in me that deserved him…whatever it is…I treasure it and I treasure him ❤ :* Now enough with the sappiness and lets get to it!

Happy Monday People 😀

Never miss a chance to dance in the rain!