Dollops of sky

We have been travelling a lot after marriage and being from countries to continents. In short we never had a place called home. It was either hotels, motels, friend's place or our native home in India. After three glorious years of travel Ani finally got posted to a higher level which gave him a chance to build home in the most beautiful state of USA, California. Our excitement knew no bounds when we were also offered to purchase furniture at the expense of company. Yes, such dreams seldom happen and so we didn't leave a chance to enjoy this moment with loads of retail therapy.

We lived in two bedroom apartment in Walnut Creek, Castlewood Apartment. Nestled in the nature's cove it offered us with beautiful view of distance hills, which was always a delightful sight to enjoy whether in morning or evening.

Let's start with the main living area, since that’s the part of the house that has seen the most change over the past few months! Our living room, guest room, and master bedroom are all part of one larger space, and we spend the majority of our time at home there. The kitchen need more time for furnishing so we will talk about it in next blog.

The living room was a blank canvas and here is the before and after look.

After a long wait I managed to find out time to take final pictures of the after look. Though we are far from finishing the point since we are still looking out for perfect carpet, I am satisfied that my room look much complete.

Moving next to my most visited place, master bedroom which was spacious enough to run around. Initially it was a blank canvas and I pondered over was how I want the room to feel. When I was thinking about our master bedroom, I knew I wanted it to feel calm and soothing. It is a place to rest and relax, after all! I may be just a smudge obsessed with pillows and mirrors, so I got really excited when I found our beautiful center pillow at Target, especially because of the feather design on it which blend so well with the mirror set above the bed.

The next is the guest room which is my utmost priority. Since Ani love guests coming over and prefer them staying overnight,I made sure this room guest friendly.

Before the room lacked warmth and culture. Making room for guests was the most challenging task we did to make them comfy, filled with lot of warmth and love.

I decorated the guest room as reserving a small portion for my art studio. Let's begin with my art corner before showing the wider image of the room.

A hand painted beer bottle by me proved to be great display.

Peacock feathers as always found in every Indian house, i didn't forget to add this touch in California home too. I so very much adore this shade of blue.

So that's our room in our first apartment. We tried our best to give the apartment a homely vibe which took a while to pull together I guess it was a good try.

THINGS TO DO NEAR WALNUT CREEK

Brunch at SASA

On lazy weekend afternoon you can treat yourself with sushi and best shashami platter at Sasa. A five minutes walking distance from my home we had relaxing brunch here a lot many times.

Drive up to Diablo Hills

Drive up to Mt Diablo State park to get an amazing panoramic view of mountain ranges from observation deck and a great spot to hike and picnic. When you search for this park make sure you put the address summit museum and trailhead and not the North entrance gate address neither the Diablo foothills regional park.

Happy meals at Modern China Cafe

Starting from price as low as $3 you can eat as many dimsums, pork and chicken nuggets you want till the clock strike 7pm. We often used to come here after five and enjoy different meals complimenting with drinks without hurting our pockets.

Shopping at Broadway Plaza

The best part about staying in Walnut Creek is that everything is just five minutes away from your home. Restaurants, shops, pubs and even bus stops which takes you to Barta in two minutes. No weekend ever went by when i never went out for window shopping or just walked in for some deals in Macy's and Sephora. I will often sit in my fave Starbucks sipping chai latte and enjoying people watching.

Happy home making.

This letter is to each member of my household with one sole aim to keep the family united and revive the warmth of embrace from the scattered lands.

Let us look back to once upon a time in Allahabad when we all were just one call away and what is best time to recall the moments than our Durga Puja season.

Three weeks before pujo;

With the onset of puja, the counting of logs in the Bai ka Bagh park begins and watching the same getting draped with clothes was a call to every siblings' that it is time to buy new clothes and collect pocket money.

Two weeks before pujo;

The discussion of every day topic is what is new in fashion and how many days will this year pujo last? While the collection of chanda has raked our colony the distribution of events pamphlets have reached our door.
We sisters do not believe in buying the last stock and the first thing we do after school is rush to Chowk and Civil Lines to pick our style dress. While moms are always cool headed to let us pacify our own desires first, they believe in buying their sarees later.

One week before pujo;

Early morning the radios are turned on to listen to Mahalya songs, this is mothers' and fathers' perfect time to bargain and buy their stuffs. Where our attention on studies have reduced the makeup tutorials have increased. The purpose of going to terrace is now to compare which pandal has reached the utmost height, the Neta nagar's or Bai ka bagh's with our favorite always being the later!

Three days before puja;

We have piled our books aside, moms do not feel the urge to cook anymore and fathers have taken their layback form. Oh! did i miss my brother all the way? Yes, he suddenly gathers all the sisters in his room and show off his bundle of shirts scattered on his bed each paired with different fabric pants. That is too much for us to wimp over the fact, that wish we all sis were earning like him too.

Day of Durga puja;

Total chaos at home and no mirror is vacant. Doors are shut cuz women are busy inside. Sisters helping each other with makeup while daddy is banging on door to let him in. TV is on and loud with Kolkatta news running about the best pandals and murti in West Bengal; my pet dog is wagging and running in frenzy with the commotion in the house.

9pm:
Sarees are well pleated, shirts are tucked in, the house door is locked and empty never looking back at time we are sitting in the center of park amidst the buzzing flies and bright lights. Watching the Anjali and aroti we never felt tired standing on heels. Adoring the kohl in Durga's eyes till the border on her saree we come each day and night to see her.
With plethora of food stalls we are never famished only running out of pocket money. While sisters are busy giggling about new boys in town parents have new gossips from the neighbors and sassy aunts.
The nights always seem short and everybody have same prayer if the moon stands still and the clock doesn't tick so fast.

Shubo Bijoya;

Last day is here and as i behold goddess Durga from so close with my mother and other ladies busy with sindoor khela, i see a different form. Is Durga's eyes welled with tear, why is there a sad curve on her corner lips? And how do i make myself believe this is over.

We sisters try to relieve ourselves with aschey bochor aabar hobey our mothers know well how to make us cope with post puja fever.
Three rickshaws booked in late evening with all of us hopping on trying to fit in it, we reach Sangam. A moment pleasure to see all the idols from across our vicinty at one place. Oh! what more joy is there in the world to see so many Durgas getting immersed in holy water and bidding farewell.
With laughter and endless talks the sun is almost down. The view becomes faint and the pain still lingers as the darkness dwell upon us.

Here our fathers play their role. On our way return we stop at Shanti sweets house and dig up mishti doi and sandesh to savour the trauma with sweetness. But before we really can chomp on the delicacies back at home we are reminded to be good girls,"go and touch every elders feet and take their blessings."

The best of our times we have spend together is under one roof. Hope the love prevails and one such Durga puja awaits ahead; where the royal bhog will be served from our kitchen and i shall be fortunate to touch each member's feet again.
Aamar pronam niyo tomra shobai.

Love to;

Detumuni,

Mamuni,

Kakima,

Kakamuni,

Mummy,

Daddy.

Deepika Banerjee

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