Frisky & Who Let the Dogs Out???

Hi All

This is really fun. This morning, I was watching some videos on You Tube, I wanted to hear Baha Men's "Who let the dogs out?" Its been ages since I heard that song. So I was just clearing the table,and listening, when I had the most amazing idea., I increased the volume on my laptop, and made Frisky sit on my lap, and just watched how he reacted to the barks of dogs featured in the song. His ears went back and forth, he cocked his head,and by the time the song ended, my darling Frisky rewarded me with a few low, angry growls. He also looked out of the window of the room to see if any dogs were passing by. I had so much fun. I might try using the same trick on my cat and see how she reacts.

OOOH this was so amusing, I just had to write about it. See you later.

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Navaratri Saraswati Puja- from the Hindu blog

Saraswati Puja is an important part of the Navaratri festival, especially in South India. Sarasvati Puja is observed at different times in different parts of India. The last three days of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Saraswati Puja is also observed in Gujarat during the same period but in a different manner. Below is a step by step guide to how Saraswathi Puja is observed in South India.

The last day of Navratri, which is also the Mahanavami day, is observed as Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja. Books and tools are placed in the puja room or in front of the idol or painting of Goddess Saraswati on the previous day evening, which is the Durga Ashtami day. The books and tools are not touched on the Mahanavami day and they are removed from the pooja on the Vijayadashami day.

Requirements

• Image or idol of Goddess Saraswati
• A white cloth (vastram)
• Flowers – louts, lilies or jasmine.
• Mango leaves or other decorations
• Turmeric
• Kumkum
• Rice
• Bananas
• Locally available Fruits

If you are preparing prasadam or neivedya – then the ingredients of what you wish to cook. Usually, people make Vadai, Payasam using split peas or green gram or simple jaggery sweet.

Getting Ready

• If you are already doing Navratri Puja, then you can use the same decorations etc.
• If you are only doing Saraswati Puja, then get your house cleaned.
• Keep all the books arranged.
• Clean all the tools.
• Keep the computer and laptop clean.
• Everything must be ready by the evening of the 8^th day of Navratri.

On the Mahanavami day, ninth day of Navratri, books and tools that are kept for Saraswati puja should not be touched.

Saraswati Puja

Most people do the Puja on evening of the eighth day of Navratri and on the Mahanavami day the books and tools are not touched.

• If you are already doing Navratri Puja, then you can place the idol of Goddess Saraswati in front of your Navratri Golu display. If not, then you can place the idol in prominence in the puja area.
• Decorate the image or idol of Goddess Saraswati using flowers, garlands etc.
• A white cloth is used to cover the idol of the Goddess. If you are using an image you can skip the white cloth or place it on tray near the image.
• Pray to Lord Ganesha first by chanting a simple prayer.
• You can light the lamp.
• Next venerate Goddess Saraswati with flowers, agarbhatis, incense and chanting any shloka dedicated to Goddess.
• Now that you have invoked the Goddess, you can keep books and other objects that you wish to keep for puja before the idol.
• Sprinkle some flowers on the books and objects.
• You can also apply a small dot of turmeric paste and kumkuma on books and objects; but turmeric stains are hard to remove so do it carefully.
• 
  
• After this you can place some flowers and akshata(uncooked rice with turmeric) on the deity.
• You can offer the prasadam or neivedya that you have made.
• You can chant any shlokas or remain in meditation for sometime.

Some people do Saraswati Dhanam to a young girl on the day which includes dress material, betel leaves, betel nuts, bananas, bangles and cosmetics.

The books and tools are removed on the Vijaya Dasami day after prayers and lighting a lamp.

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potatoes and lima beans sabzi

hi all

just thought i will update you all. I had made potatoes and lima beans(mochai) sabzi the otehr day, to eat with rotis. turned out prety well, for a first mix of my own.

usually, my brainstorm ideas never work, but this one surprisingly did.

will update the recipe at a later date.

rt now, im busy trying to find out what interesting dish i can make with boiled potatoes and carrots, apaprt from the usual carrot peas potatoes sabzi.

cheeerio!

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A dog owner's changing scenario In India

I am a folloer of a website called, www.dogspot.in,

a website in India exclusively for canine related matters, breeding, selling, buying, health and nutrition, wellness, behavioural training, etc. I have noticed that in the 1.5 years or so, I have been a member, there have been rapid changes in a dog owner's world in India too.

As a kid, I remember my friends who had dogs gave them only human food. Rotis dipped in milk, table scraps, etc. Now there are at least 5 brands of dry dog food in India, seeking to carve out their niche. Mind you, dry dog food is still an expensive commodity for the average middle income dog owner, but I am told that the trend is catching on soon. People have started moving away from home food to these branded dog food. As far as North India is concerned, (New Delhi and surrounding areas), there are pet resorts, pet kennels, dog grooming salons. These were unheard of in the 1990's. Now there is a Mr. Richardson, establishing his dog behavior training camp, in New Delhi. I am sure he will have many followers.

The truth still remains that this is still an elite, or high income group. Most people have dogs for the sole purpose of being a guard dog. In USA, however, it is the other way around. Most people have dogs for companuionship, as a family pet.

As my father in law correctly put it, " My son spends 10 dollars for his haircut,and 60 dollars for his dog's haircut."

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Happy to help

I am quite pleased to tell you that I have been of help to my neighbors. They have traveled extensively over the world, have interesting anecdotes to relate from each of their trips. So I suggested that they consider writing a book. The result has been that one of them, Pam, has started penning her thoughts, in a travel blog. She is currently writing about their trip to Africa. I am happy I was of help to someone this way.

I remember how a couple of years ago, my friends suggested I start a blog of my own. I used to write extensive emails, detailing each little experience of mine here in USA, and my own take on it. And I did, this one you are reading. I feel I have just passed on the good deed.

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