I prefer to move around on a bicycle as it gives you the liberty to stop and observe things. Like I halted at this bridge to take in the nature and the activities around it.
That is when I saw this great Egret trying his hand at fishing. He did try a couple of times and the success rate was something like one in five.
There is this big park with a water body and an excellent cycling/jogging track around it. (Volkening Lake)
Suits me fine as one lap around the lake adds a km to my daily target of pedalling.
You get to see many activities over here, like this man trying his hand at fishing.
He must be good at it as I did see his catch on my third lap.
You keep meeting joggers and fast walkers who are regulars over here.
I saw these young cycle enthusiasts who were trying to help each other in fixing a stuck bike
There is some exercise equipment fixed over there and at times one gets to see it in use.
It may be someone performing solo or maybe a group of students from the school nearby.
There are some who like to paint and the pretty flowers get transferred to their canvas
The thrill of maneuvering a sailboat with a remote is something different. I stopped to capture a bunch of enthusiasts having a gala time.
Spoke to one of them and he confirmed that there are no motors on them to propel them forward. It was just wind power and how you flip the sails that gives it direction. I was really fascinated by their skill, and their dedication to meet on a daily basis to enjoy the sport.
I had enough footage to make it into a ten minute video.
If you are lucky you get to see a variety of birds, like this blue heron was flying very close for a good shot
or this black bird in the bulrushes daring me to come any more close to him (probably he has a nest somewhere close by)
While pedalling alongside the main road, I observed these postal delivery vans zipping past, the only vehicles I noticed in the US with right hand drive.
They were perhaps so designed so as to allow the driver to get in and out without the fear of the oncoming traffic (where there are no road dividers) It also gives access to the postmen to reach the roadside postbox without alighting.
All that is mentioned above is capsuled into a short video so that you can see some of the action.
Then there are things that make you think from the design point of view, like why do some benches have only one armrest ?
Ten years ago when I attended her 90th birthday party, she told me "if all goes well, the next milestone should be 100"
clicked 10 years ago
All is well and she made it, but unfortunately it is a different world. There won't be a birthday party, nor can the near and dear ones come and wish her.
Before the lockdown, whenever I visited her, I could see her sitting at her table, painting a fabric or knitting.
The usual time when she sits at the dining table and paints is from 9 am to 1 pm.
Whenever any machine stitching has to be done she uses her grandson's room.
There are many well wishers who are waiting with sarees and fabric so that she will find some time to paint them. (there is some voluntary payment too done by the well wishers)
Two months ago this saree was picked up by a well wisher for Rs 11000/-
First she draws the outline
Then she fills it up with colours. Painting on tussar silk is not an easy task. Each saree takes about three months.
Imagine, being 100 and still earning, and in the bargain keeping yourself occupied both mentally and physically.
Padmavati (Padmam) is ninth in the line of ten siblings. You can have a glimpse of her family tree in this short video.
the family tree
standing, third from left
Having lost her husband at an early age, she brought up her five kids in a very disciplined way. She spend her early life in Kerala. After getting married, she moved to Bombay and later settled in Pune with her daughter.
In keeping up with the changing times, she is deft at sending e mails and receiving messages on WhatsApp. Some of her work adorning her drawing room.
Another activity that I enjoy at her place is having the Onam sadhya (lunch) with her every year.
Her daughter in law (Dr Geeta) writes "I am in awe of her. She radiates this calmness and peace to people around her. She has the unique ability of occupying herself and never getting bored. Exceptionally talented, she occupies herself by painting, knitting, writing, embroidery and thereby creating happiness and beauty all around her"
The mandatory cake cutting with just the immediate family
and the rest of the family participated through a zoom meet
Some of them were dressed up for the occasion and one wore the duppatta that was painted by Amma.
I have put a one minute video on the 100th B'day celebrations on FB. Update on 23rd July 2020 Her daughter Lata saw her enjoying a Malayalam rap. For those who want to make further enquiries regarding work done by her, the contact mail id is given below in the comments. More of her work can be seen in the links given below.
That was the best set of statues I have seen. Maybe because it evokes action, music, life, whatever you call it. I just loved them. Their body stance is so perfect.
It is Seward Johnson's creation, cast in bronze.
If you are at the "Grounds for Sculpture" in New Jersey you can see a vast variety of sculptures and statues, which cannot be covered in a day.
The one on "God Bless America" is quite big. It is in aluminium and wood.
If you want to gauge the size here is one more picture.
The girl on the bench reading a book looks very realistic from a distance, and all are curious to know what is so interesting in the book.
What you see in the foreground is "Painting by the glow of the green Fairy" The Van Gogh figure is working on his painting lit only by the stars and the lantern to his right.
Sailing to Siena is again cast in bronze and painted (chromobase paint system) clear coat. This is based on Eduorad Manet's painting "Argenteuil"
One thing I realised is that all those that are outdoors, remains outdoor so it has to withstand sun, rain and snow.
Coming back to our musicians shown in the first picture, I clicked a few pictures, put them together and added some music to make them come alive. Wish I had clicked a few more pictures to make the video longer.
