The Four Elements

There are a plethora of posts out there regarding some of the most amazingly places to visit. This post is intended to highlight the salient features of  some such amazing places we visited, that have been preserved as  National Parks in the United States. To make it interesting I figured we'd categorize each place under one of the 4 elements .. Fire, Water, Earth & Air. 

Fire:

The topmost on our list is of course Yellowstone. It is one of the most amazing places especially for someone that loves nature . Nature can be seen in all its glory throughout Yellowstone in its flora, fauna and topography. Yellowstone is one of the largest volcanoes  that reveals itself on the surface in menacing ways with mud pots, with nauseous toxic gases and fumaroles that hiss with acid vapor. It feels surreal standing there in the heart of this super volcano with its super heated pools of water steam vents and Geysers that attract visitors galore .  Hundreds sometimes 1000's of tremors shake Yellowstone every year. The volcano is alive and active with a massive cauldron of magma. Speculation abounds but no one knows for sure when it would erupt but meanwhile it shapes a unique wilderness populated by wildlife. Extreme forces and raging fires shape the Yellowstone . There are many things that make this place special.

The Yellowstone plateau sits in the Rocky Mountains  and the continental divide runs through the southwest side of the park. It has the largest high altitude lake in North America and the largest petrified forest.  This beautiful place boasts of many waterfalls  that can only be  experienced by trekking through the interior wilderness that I believe is not for the faint at heart. Its seemingly pristine wilderness is shaped everyday by the super volcano, that is Yellowstone.  Yellowstone also holds the unique & prestigious position of being the first National park. The park beckons me back.. and I would go, this time not for the nauseous gases, fumaroles or streaming hot pools but for the pristine wilderness and the path unexplored by any as Yellowstone has something new for everyone. 

 

Water:

Where there is fire there is a need for this element -Water. The biggest National Parks in the United States that boast miles upon miles of this element are in Southern of Florida and Virgin Islands. The reason I said National Parks (plural) instead of park is because there is a toss up between the Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park , Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida and the watery world of Virgin Islands Coral Reef Monument. 

 

The Everglades National Park is the largest sub tropical wilderness in the United states that boasts of rare and endangered species. It has been designated a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve and wetland of International importance, significant to all people of the world.

 

Within sight of downtown Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne National Park protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Here too is evidence of 10,000 years of human history, from pirates and shipwrecks to pineapple farmers and presidents. Outdoors enthusiasts can boat, snorkel, camp, watch wildlife... or simply relax in a rocking chair gazing out over the bay.

Almost 70 miles (112.9 km) west of Key West lies a cluster of seven islands, composed of coral reefs and sand, called the Dry Tortugas National Park. Along with the surrounding shoals and waters, they make up Dry Tortugas National Park. The area is known for its famous bird and marine life, its legends of pirates and sunken gold, and its military past. Parts of this island is protected from human intervention as sea turtle nesting sites. And if you are lucky you might just see these endangered reptiles.

Virgin Islands Coral Reef Monument includes federal submerged lands within the 3 mile belt off of the island of St. John. These waters support a diverse and complex system of coral reefs, and other ecosystems such as shoreline mangrove forests and sea grass beds that contribute to their health and survival.

Air:

One of the most important elements, that keeps every organism living and breathing is also responsible for shaping the topography of these beautiful National Parks in our list  The Badlands National Park" in South Dakota and "The Arches National Park" in Utah are wonderful examples of how this element shaped and continues to shape these vast landscapes with every passing day. Formed by the geologic features of deposition & erosion, of Sandstone and tiny Grains of sediments such as sand , silt and clay that have been cemented together in sedimentary rocks this landscape is ever changing. 

 

 

Land: 
Last but definitely not the least this is an essential element  for the sustenance of most of the species dwelling in this wonderful planet we all call home, is highlighted in the wonderful "Grand Canyon" in Arizona , Olympic National Park in Washington and Redwood National Park in Northern California . These three National parks are vastly different from each other yet showcasing the same thing.. how beautiful and diverse our planet is. 

Considered one of the natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon with its unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate and overwhelm our senses as this powerful inspiring immense landscape. A few Million years ago, by the action of the tectonic plates the whole region was uplifted resulting in the high and relatively flat Colorado Plateau. The Colorado river began it downward journey eroding and widening the canyon for millions of years. The strength of this river is at play even today chiseling away at the exposed limestone. The exposed geologic strata of Schist  and limestone represent one of the most complete records of geological history that can be seen anywhere in the world.

Olympic National Park spanning a million acres is three parks in one. A land of beauty and variety with mountain vistas to meadows and rain forest to Ocean tide pools. The park encompasses within it  geology, climate, isolation and history. Its sheer size protects this relatively intact ecosystems making it a priceless living laboratory for both flora and fauna .

The Redwood National Park is home to the worlds tallest trees, the icons that inspire visions of primeval forests. These giant redwoods have  stood  around for thousands of years and watched time go by like no one else on this planet.. If only they could talk, we would have first hand account of everything that science is estimating of from centuries gone by. This park also supports vast prairies, river ways, woodlands and a rich mosaic of wildlife diversity.  

Doggy home made treats

When it comes to our best friends we often times find ourselves not doing right by them and that includes feeding them things they shouldn't have or plain shouldn't have excess of.

When we got Zazu, we were afraid we might land up feeding him stuff  we were not supposed to so we did a lot of research on what is the best for our four legged friend, to make sure we have a happy and healthy puppy. Im so glad we did that because the few things that I do excess of are actually lethal for our canine friend. Yup you guessed it right avocados, chocolate, Grapes, raisins and most plants (what do I say I have a green thumb). So we began by not leaving the edibles where he could reach them and that includes kitchen counters. And I moved my plants out of reach for him. 

The most important thing for us was to make sure that he is fed right . And since Zazu comes from a reputed , responsible breeder we have had the luxury of her expert guidance. Zazu's vet is another valuable resource besides the scores of websites guiding new pet owners like us. So to begin with we started feeding him  what he was being fed at the breeders, after being weaned from his mommy (Eagle brand Puppy formula). And for treats the breeder suggest Old Mother Hubbards Classic Puppy Oven Baked Biscuits.  At 7 months he is still on the same puppy food and treat and will likely continue on it for another couple of months. But being a lab is all about pleasing and being treated for that. Especially in the puppy stage when you are training them, they learn faster with food than with praise or toys (in our experience with Zazu). It is very easy to run the risk of an obese pooch. Labs don't know when to stop eating. They will go on and on until their tummy bursts thus killing them (Im serious) . Then there is the matter of teething. When they loose their baby teeth, they want to bite onto everything . Zazu wasn't that bad considering the horrible stories we've heard. But he did get to the window ledge, bar stools, leash, stones, wood and his bed before we worked on correcting his behavior, while he was teething to soothe those aching bleeding gums.  He still loves to chew on things.. but that is what chew toys are for.. more on that in a separate blog..

So when he was teething, to numb his pain, we provided him with wet frozen rag towels and freeze toys besides the occasional ice cube. These for most part kept him from chewing and gnawing on the things that he wasn't supposed to chew on like furniture. Then comes his voracious appetite for food and treats. One very important lesson the breeder taught me was , for something as small as a pea, this pooch will even stand on two legs and trust me when I say that he does..So we spent some quality time at holistic organic pet food stores and found a few treats that he LOVES and are not that bad calorie wise. You can buy them online as they are more cost effective.  Sams Yams , Holistix cookies, Wellness treats , and Yaks milk dog chew  are some of the store bought treats that Zazu loves .

Some others things from your pantry & fridge go a long way too . Things such as Carrot, Peas , Apples (yes it turns out "an apple a day" is true for dogs too ), Banana, Strawberry, Sapote/ Chikoo, Oranges, Grapefruit, Blueberry, Red Pumpkin, Mozzarella  Cheese, Cooked Tofu, Paneer or cottage cheese, Boiled egg (Never Raw), Cooked rice  are some of the  "Human Grade " food Zazu enjoys. These are never from our plate and begging doesn't get him anything. He loves ice and you can't open the freezer without Zazu begging you with  a "puss in boots" look to get at least one ice cube . We figured we'd get creative and make him some frozen treats for in between meal treats. Heres what we are whipping for Zazu.

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Fruit n Veggie Ice Cream

1 inch banana, 1 inch pumpkin (de-seeded) , 1 carrot, 4-5 peas , 2 inch string beans, 1 tsp honey, 1 strawberry, 4-5 blueberry , 1 quarter slice apple (peeled and de-seeded), 1/4 cup rice milk .

Cook pumpkin, carrot, beans and peas in 3 tbs water until they are tender (typically 2 mins in Microwave or 3 mins on stove). Let it cool.

Add all the ingredients in a blender until a smoothie is made. Transfer it onto another container and add Kong's or organic peanut butter, 2 tbs water and whisk to mix in the peanut butter. Transfer this into an ice tray and freeze it  for a handy healthy treat for ur four legged friend.

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Fruity Fruity Ice Chuski

1 inch banana,  1 tsp honey, 1 strawberry, 4-5 blueberry , 1 quarter slice apple (peeled and de-seeded), 1 lychee, 1 inch watermelon.

Add all the ingredients in a blender until a smoothie is made.Transfer this into an ice tray and freeze it

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Slush or should we call it Clush

1 segment orange (deseeded and de skinned) , 1 segment grapefruit (deseeded and de skinned), 1 strawberry, 4-5 blueberry, 1 inch water melon.

Add all the ingredients in a blender until a smoothie is made.Transfer this into an ice tray and freeze it for a handy treat  packed with Vitamin C , this is yet another summer time treat for a hot afternoon.  I add a teaspoon of this in Zazu's water (8-10 Oz) if he is not drinking enough water especially when he is dehydrated.

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Soupy Freeze

1 inch pumpkin (de-seeded), 1 carrot, 4-5 peas , 2 inch string beans, 1 inch broccoli, 1 tbs spinach, 1 inch cauliflower, 1 inch sweet potato, 1 tbs kale leaves.

Boil all the vegetables in 1 cup water to make vegetable stock. When the vegetables get cooked,  let it cool down for sometime.  Filter out the Vegetables and  freeze the broth . Grind the vegetables. I freeze these and either give it as frozen treats or as Vege Soup* with his meal.

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Vege Soup

The 2 tbs of Vege Soup(above) , 1 tbs cooked white rice, 3 oz warm water,  2 Oz rice milk, 3/4 serving of Dry dog food. 

In your pet's bowl  add all the ingredients except rice milk and let it stand for 3-5 mins. Add rice milk before serving. And if your pet is like Zazu he's gonna lick his bowl clean and smack his lips for quite a while :)

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Protein Bonanza

2 inch cube tofu and /or  cottage cheese (crumbled) , 1 boiled egg(crumbled), 2 tbs Vege Soup,  1 tbs cooked white rice, 3 Oz warm water, 3/4th serving of Dry dog food.

In your pet's bowl  add all the ingredients except egg and let it stand for 3-5 mins. Add egg just before serving.

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A Diet for upset Stomach

Vegetarian

1/2 cup rice, lemon size cube of tofu , 1.5 cups water.  Pressure cook the rice and tofu in 1.5 cups of water. Let it cool to room temperature before serving . * Paneer or cottage cheese can also be used with or instead of tofu. Vegetable broth (with NO SALT/ Sodium) can be used instead of water.

Non Vegetarian

1/2 cup rice, 1 piece chicken , 1.5 cups water.  Pressure cook the rice and chicken in 1.5 cups of water. Let it cool to room temperature before serving . Vegetable broth (with NO SALT/ Sodium) or chicken broth (with NO SALT/ Sodium) can be used instead of water.

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Bhurjee

1-2 medium egg,  Grated Carrot, 1/2 tsp vegetable oil or coconut oil, 4-5 peas , 2 inch string beans, 1 inch broccoli, 1 tbs spinach, 1 inch cauliflower, 1 inch sweet potato, 1 tbs kale leaves.
In a Pan heat oil and saute the vegetables for 5 minutes until they are cooked (You can add 1 tbs of  water to help cook the vegetables). Once the vegetables are cooked , add the egg with or without yolk and let it cook while continuously stirring like you would for scrambled egg. When all the liquid evaporates or solidifies you know its cooked .
Let it cool down to room temperature before serving it to your canine friend.


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Right until Zazu was 15 months old, he used to eat grass like a goat. Yanking him or physically lifting him from the grass or commanding him to leave it just wouldn't work so naturally we were calling the vet to find out what we could do. They thought it was normal especially if the pooches are feeling nauseous (Labs especially love to eat grass amongst other things after all they are mouth with 4 legs). But that was a habit we wanted him to leave so we tried Coriander leaves. He absolutely loved it and a couple of stalks a day for a few days weaned him off grass. I wouldn't say he's completely avoiding grass but on a scale of 1-10 (where he was at 10, his grass craving has come down to 3 and I think thats a HUGE success !  One or two stalks of fresh coriander leaves are not only good treats but also help freshen their breath. It also doubles as guilt free training treats.

Did I tell you that carrots and apples are good for their teeth? Well carrots (grated or minced) are good to loosen stuck on food and help tarter control, while a slice of Apple (without peel) cut into small  pieces not just helps tarter control but also freshens their breath and whitens their teeth! 

The story of Zazu Continues..

Hi Friends did you miss me?? Well I sure missed writing..! The days have turned into weeks and weeks to months ..  Im now 6 and half  months old with lots more to share. My life has been adventurous so far. In the past few weeks, lots of family and friends from near and far have taken the time to come and get acquainted with me. I have to admit I love all the attention and all of you .  I have lots of friends in my neighborhood and lots of doggy friends too. .

Amongst the new things that I have mastered is the art of telling my parents when I want to go out to relieve myself so no more accidents at home.  I do sit , lie down and stay when asked to. When I was around 12 weeks old, I was taking a stroll in our yard and before I could see it mommy whisked me away really quick . I believe there was a snake in my path and mommy quickly took me far away from it. I wonder how it looks !! Anyways.. that incident worried my parents so much that they started asking me to leave things on command and that would include food.  During lunch or dinner,  mommy would serve my food in two places and ask me to  leave one serving and usually I would have to walk past it to get to the second serving..  If you know me .. you would also know that I LOOOOOOVE FOOD. Can you imagine how hard it is to walk without touching that first serving..? But u'd be glad to note that I've been good so far and my parents are very proud of me. I did not like this whole idea at first.. but then mommy explained that I can be silly sometimes and pick up stuff that I shouldn't and that can include snakes (can you blame me those things look like my favorite things -ropes and sticks). So by teaching me to "leave it" on command  they are rest assured I wouldn't get my mouth around one such unwanted critter (Mommy says Im a mouth with 4 paws). So thats one more trick up my sleeve.

As I said earlier I have been meeting a whole lot of new people and they always wonder if I can shake hands.. so I have learnt to not just shake hands (Paw) but I also Give 5. I strongly believe in courtesies as I am a gentleman. So if I fetch something I won't "Give" it to you. I will let go of that thing only if you say "Thank you". If you hurt me or my feelings then you don't get my wag unless I hear "sorry". I make mistakes too and sometimes nip and I have a special way of saying sorry. With my ears pulled back like "puss in boots" and my head bent low I lick you with a big wag of my tail.

I have done a whole lot of things some good and some bad. The bad includes eating plastic and dead frog to pulling and yanking on leash . But I am  otherwise a well behaved puppy (come on people I am a puppy and will be one till I am 2 and half yrs old so what if I look big) .I guess I get adventurous and do naughty (bad) stuff when Im full of my puppy energy and have no avenues to expend it. I have had some wonderful experiences in the past few months including  my formal instructor training followed by graduation of Basic Obedience -I. Swimming was one more feat I conquered  and need I say I am now almost the same size (at least with respect to weight) as my birth mom and have gotten taller too. Im sure if u saw my pictures you wouldn't recognize me.

I made a few more friends at school. I have this friend that is a couple of months younger than me but he's much much taller than me . He told me he's a Great Dane . There is this other girl who doesn't seem to like me much, as she barks at me whenever I go anywhere near her. Shes very little  and petite.

Anyways fall is almost here and I have pollen allergies which sucks big time as I can't roll around in the grass as I used to. I wonder how the old man winter is gonna look like  never seen one have only heard about him.

My mommy and daddy have been feeding me some really awesome treats both home made and store bought and getting me loads of toys.. They are putting together all the recipes they've made for me and I sure hope your canine friend enjoys those as much as I do.. Bow wow..

What a day...

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Hi Friends I dint write anything yesterday as I was feeling a bit low. I had lots and lots of boogers in my eyes and my eyes were apparently blood shot. So was resting my eyes. Mommy, daddy and our wonderful neighbors were worried that I was coming down with something. I did my usual business of eating, sleeping and my walks around our house. Daddy tried to take me around a bit longer but I just wanted to go and lie down. So this morning he called my Vet to ask what we should do and  they asked me to come in.  I snuggled on my Mommy's lap while daddy drove us to my vet. I met a few more new girls today at the vets office :) They weighed me again and said I was bigger by another pound. The doctor put some green thing in my eyes.. and it was very stingy but mommy said its ok so I dint cry.. she praised me to be a brave boy and so did my vet and all the girls. The doctors said I had boogers in my eyes as I am putting my face in the grass a lot. I was also scratchy so she gave me some medicines and my sweet friend at the office gave me a treat. 

Mommy scooped me up in her arms (I love her..) and I snuggled on her shoulder. My adventures for the day started after that. I went to two shopping centers with my pet parents. At the first shopping center when mommy left me down to play I wanted to go and check out those white tube like things that were lying on the road. They had a funny smell too and I wanted to pick one of those in my mouth and got scolded. It turns out they were  cigarette butts. If I/ we are not supposed to pick them up then why do people throw them around making them so inviting? 

At the shopping center I took my first ride on a shopping cart. It was a bit scary.. but I held on like a brave boy. There were so many people, cars, trucks, noises and big birds . I knew I was safe with mommy in the confines of that shopping cart.

From there we went for car wash. It was like a tunnel with strange arms and water and something white and blue. When we went in, those strange big arms started hitting at our car and I thought they were coming to get me so I held onto mommy really strong like a brave boy. Daddy consoled me  and I know he would fight with those big bad things hitting our car if they come to get me . And just like that we left those things behind us when we drove out of that tunnel.  

I was so tired with all that excitement that I almost immediately dozed off in my mommys lap.  When I opened my eyes we were home and I was very hungry.

In the evening, daddy introduced me to two little girls . I had never seen little girls all my life and they were very gentle with me so I liked them but  I was feeling very very sleepy and wanted to go in and sleep in my favorite spot. So I was taken in and asked me to go into my crate. I cried a little but I was also too sleepy to argue so I just dozed off. I was with my pack leaders and I was safe .

Later at night I heard that when I was sleeping , I was left alone at home for full 1 hour . I was actually "Home Alone" for the first time!! All I remember is,  chasing blue (my favorite color) butterflies and getting lots of kisses and belly rubs that made me squeal with joy. I guess I chased the butterflies so hard that I hit my feet on my crate wall -I had been dreaming.. I opened my eyes, and sheepishly looked around to see the admiring look in the eyes of the two people who love me the most - my new mommy and daddy. This was my day.., full of excitement and firsts. I can't wait to see and experience the adventures the future holds for me .Yawn.. For now Im going to go and sleep . Those  antibiotics and medicine for my boogy eyes and scratchy skin is making me all groggy I can barely keep my eyes open sooo (yawn).. Bow wow.

Its been a busy week...

Monday, May 6, 2013

Sorry folks I haven't had the time to write about my adventures.. As you might've guessed, I've been busy exploring and learning new things. The first half of the week was mommy and me time ! The first day of our time alone, when I really had to go out and do my business in the middle of the night, I saw her holding this big stick with cloth wrapped around it. When she stepped out, she held the stick up , and the cloth opened up like a flower. I was in awe ! I followed her out and found it was all wet and water was coming down from the black sky. I experienced my first rain and saw the amazing thing called umbrella.  I also saw a real blue butterfly (trust me I did) the following day and went bouncing around trying to play with it but it just flew away. My mommy laughed so hard that she had stomach cramps. She said I was funny! My boogers are a history now. 

This week I also learnt to heel , roll over , sleepy time (lie down), Paw (shake hands as you might call it) and ring the bell when I wanted to go out. My daddy was so proud of me when he got back. I had my first ever bathy-bathy and I have to tell you, I didn't like that. I wanted to jump out of the bathtub . I was wet and scared. So mommy picked me , bundled me up in a towel and made sure I was not scared any more. It was a scary day as just that morning I had seen and heard that scary beast called vacuum cleaner for the first time. It still makes my skin crawl. And I have to say Im not a big fan of the lawn mower or the dump truck either. Power tools and loud noises are not "my thing" ! For the rest of the week it was daddy and me time.. 

This week has been incredible in terms of meeting with new people. All of them look different like that mask man down the street ... The weekend was especially busy as I had my very first house guests . I met with my new uncles, aunt and cousins. They got me new toys and I played until I couldn't move any more. Phew.. now even the thought of how much I romped around is making me tired..!! This was also the first time I was attacked by the sprinklers. But I barked at them into receding back into the ground and everyone was laughing..

All my rolling in the grass is making me itchy. So my mom put some coconut oil and brushed me. I love how that smells,  I love that taste too and the best thing is Im not scratchy either..! 

  

Today (Tuesday May 7th) I am exactly 11 weeks old. And Im super excited about getting bigger. I feel a lot has changed in these past 11 weeks. There is "more" of everything. More hugs, more treats, more play, more tail wags, nipping and of course more scolding :(. My birth mom and my litter mates are a distant memory. I love to play Soccer and American football.  Everyday is a new adventure for me. There are so many beautiful things out there that I want to touch play with and explore. You are welcome to join me in my journey as I discover what a beautiful world we live in. If you do it on your own, then do write (in the comment section) and share with me your experiences . I would love to hear from you..

Raising Zazu

When I said yes...

Thursday, February 7, 2013

I was in no mood to say yes as I had convinced myself that a dog was the last thing we needed, given our lifestyle. It would completely ground us. No more free time ,  no more vacations !  A dog in our life would also mean we need to get back home on time, as there is a life dependent on us for its food, water and walks.  The house would smell like a pen as against the usual lavender aroma infused with the smell of fresh linens.. And don’t even get me started on the carefully selected things in the house...

I know I sound like someone that hates animals .. but thats not entirely true I love birds, animals and I love dogs but I also love my clean surroundings. At some level I guess I hate the responsibility that comes with owning a dog. While I was convinced this is not what we want, my husband was more and more convinced that this is what he wanted for us.

So after years and months of pricking my brains, he sent me the pictures of a fresh litter of pure bred English Labrador Retriever that the breeder sent his friend . The pups were probably 10 days old and THEY stole my heart . Much to my own inhibitions and to my husbands delight, I said “Yes.” 

These were the babies of Winnie (Dam) & Jack (Sire). We were told that we might not get one from that litter however, Winnie’s sister -Annie(dam) was also expecting her litter with Tex (sire) and if we got lucky we might get the boy we wanted. And so just like that it all changed. And I said Yes.

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And we got the news..

Tuesday, February 19, 2013


On 16th February 2013, we called the breeder (BG) saying we wanted to visit Winnie’s puppies and she told us that Annie was in labor and she was busy. And today (19th Feb) she called to let us know that Annie was the proud mama of a litter of 4 boys and 3 gals. One of those 4 boys was to be our Zazu, born on the 19th February 2013. Can you imagine the excitement to want to go and see the little ones..?? 

It turns out like human babies, the pups are delicate and susceptible to infections. So the breeder told us that she would rather that we came after the babies were at least 3 weeks old. So we set the date to go and visit the little powder puffs for 9th March 2013. Meanwhile she was sweet enough to send us our very first image of Zazu with his mommy and siblings. We still don’t know which one of the 4 boys is going to be our Zazu. All we know is he’s going to be loved tremendously and he’s one lucky boy.  In return he’s going to change us and our lives for ever.

Im sure you are wondering how did we come up with the name Zazu ! We wanted a mostly uncommon (for dogs) short name but also something that was fun. There is something about animated movies that brings about a smile on even the most grouchy person. So I put together a list of names which of course included some ever green slangs from Amchi Mumbai. Pakaya, Circuit were a few on the list. Needless to say he was horrified (can u blame me.. after all he named our Betta fish Dandu !!).. Anyways I went back to some of our favorite animated characters (that have an attitude) and Zazu stood out from The Lion King. It was supposed to be a Swahili name without any meaning but it turns out Zazu in Hebrew means movement. And given the fact that Labradors are an active breed it just makes sense to call him - Zazu.

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We land up at the breeder's..

Saturday, March 9, 2013
Full of anticipation we landed up at BG's house and even before we rang the bell we could hear one of the Dam's announcing our arrival. It turns out that we were greeted by Lyza, the 10 year old matriarch of the family.  And as we entered the house,both the new moms Annie (Zazu's mom) and Winnie (Zazu's aunt) came by to greet us.  After the initial hi's and hellos with the BG, we were escorted to meet with her other 3 Dam's Kelly (who was in heat) , Lisa, Eva and Ally (Zazu's half sister). From there we went to the whelping room where on one side were 2.5 week old Zazu and his siblings and on the other side were his 6 week old cousins (Aunt winnies puppies ) one of which were to be our friends girl (Shadow).

BG reached into the whelping box and picked up the oldest (in the litter) chubbiest pup and the youngest small guy. Their eyes were not yet open and Im pretty sure they dint like being handled. 

At this point, we were told , their immune system isn't developed so we were not allowed to handle either set of puppies despite all the sanitization's.  

We more than made up for playing with the little ones by  playing with and petting the 6 month old boisterous Ally (Zazus half sister).

Even though between all the Dams, we got a lot of doggy time, we came back with the ache of not petting what one day would be our Zazu.

The wait began for the little ones to be weaned off of their mom around 8 weeks. BG gamely responded to our queries  and even sent us some latest pictures when we terribly missed and wanted to see the little ones as they grew. 

I guess anticipation kills time faster. Anyhow we decided  to go and pick up our boy on Friday 19th April, but a couple of days prior to the date she wrote saying she would not be available and the date was rescheduled to Monday the 22nd April. On Sunday she called us again to reschedule yet again for the following day and we were getting more and more impatient. 

Finally on Tuesday the 23rd April we went to bring something absolutely precious into our lives - our little boy Zazu. We picked him from between 4 boys and 3 girls that were his litter mates. BG gave us a choice amongst 2 boys that she felt best fit our personality..  A big chubby guy, who was considered to be shy was dropped into my lap while a peppy little fella in green ribbon was dropped into my hubby's lap. My chubby guy in blue ribbon was happy being petted and dint mind it when I turned him around to give him a belly rub. There was total submission and trust on his part. It turned out that he was the oldest chubbiest pup we had seen in our first visit. The green ribbon guy did not enjoy being petted leave alone getting a belly rub. When we couldn't make up our mind , BG removed the ribbons so that we pick one of them . I could still make out my blue guy and at that instant he became our Zazu. Even though we chose him, the fact remains he picked us first to be his new pack leaders by his complete trust.  Our little bear -Zazu came home with us. The long drive home was uneventful . All he wanted  to do was snuggle unto  me while resting his chin on my husbands arm as he  drove us back home. He came in and dutifully went straight into his crate to sleep.

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Zazu's first day at home..

Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013

Now that he's home with his forever family he's gonna take on the duty of telling his own story. 

 Hi there my new mommy and daddy call me Zazu. My formal name is M.A Texas Cowboy. You heard what happened up until last night. I woke up in the morning and really really wanted to go and do my business . I was almost standing cross legged if you get the drift of what Im saying..!! My new Daddy came unto my crate and picked me up to take me out to the yard. I got super excited when he took me out and forgot all about doing my thing. I just wanted to play with him and show him that I'm a funny guy. Daddy was running late so mommy took over for him and she told me she would play only if I did my business so I quickly did that and she was very happy and praised me to be a good boy . I am loving all this attention but I do get a sense that mommy is also gonna be strict with me. She is not going to give me a belly rub, hugs and kisses (that I love) if I was naughty. I like to see the world with my eyes , my nosey and my mouth after all Im a puppy..!! 

For most of day, I slept, ate  popped, peed and also had a pee accident after my lunch as I couldn't hold it in.  I love hanging with my new mommy  following her everywhere and I do whine a little when she was out of sight. Did I tell you I got to speak (bark) and showoff with the other members of my family  via internet? They just looooved me . My uncle calls me a bear cub with big paws. Ohh.. and I made some new friends with our next door neighbors. Mommy said its ok but I was a bit shy and afraid and hid behind her. I have not seen so many people at the same time and have not seen any little people all my life. I guess I'll be okay in a few days and perhaps these little people will be my playmates..

I don't even know when daddy got back from work I was snoozing and I hear he was worried that I was either sick  or simply lazy. Luckily for me mommy had taken lots of Pictures and Video's  of me playing and seeing those relaxed him.  I was woken up to go and do my business before they said good night.. After that all I wanted to do was play and snuggle and whine and talk(bark) . But they put me in my bed (crate) and dint pay any attention to my whining. So I talked(bark) and whined myself to sleep after 20 minutes.  

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Zazu's first appointment with the doctor ..

Thursday, Apr 25, 2013

This morning, I woke the whole house with my whining and barking at 6 am.. I really really had to go and do my business. I'm told I have an appointment with my Vet but first thing in the morning all I want to do is play. Daddy's home with me today and Im gonna make the most of it. Daddy says Im mama's boy as my tail wags really really fast when she calls me or looks at me. While daddy and I played outside mommy got him his coffee and dressed me up with a Bandana and all. I felt I looked good you tell me what do you think ? 

I met some more new people today and made a new friend "Lucky". He's tall with white wavy hair. Mommy and daddy wouldn't let me play with him as yet as I have not had all my shots. After all that excitement I went to sleep and was literally swept off my feet by mommy as they took me to my vet. Today was my first appointment with my new vet. And might I add, I wasn't very thrilled at first to go in. All the other boys and girls going in and out were much bigger than me and I had my tail between my legs. Mommy coaxed me along and at one point literally carried me in. I could hear Ohhhs and aaahhs and I knew they were talking about me. They said I'm a Biiiiig boy for 9 weeks and  looked more like a New Foundland puppy, and not really an English lab. So mommy showed them pictures of my birth parents (I love her and let her know that with a lick and a wag of my tail). Now they were convinced I was an English lab . I heard mommy and daddy tell them that my both my birth parents are AKC show champions  ..The people at the vets office couldn't keep their hands off of me. Every body at the office wanted to pet & cuddle me.  I weighed in at 20.9 lbs and was told Im a bit fluffier (psst.. they said chubbier but I figured fluffier sounds much cuter) for my age.. Did you know I am 9 weeks and 2 days old today?  The wonderful nurse gave me a couple of treats and of course everyone wanted pictures of me which I gamely posed for.  If I haven't told you already, I think I like this vets office..!! The doctor said I look handsome and have perfect baby teeth, hair, eyes and heart. I do have a little bit of a runny nose but that is because of all the romping around in the grass in morning mist. My next set of shots are due in a couple of weeks. And then I can go meet and play with all the other boys and girls like me.

After the appointment I came home and played with mommy for a while before she walked away to let me play by myself so I figured I'd rather  take a nap if no ones playing with me. After the nap I had my lunch and played outside in the sun with mommy for a loooong time. I was so tired that I dozed off in the garage itself. A white and brown cat whose name is Moon from across the street came by to see if I'd play with her but I wasn't interested. All I wanted to do was sleep. This evening I so look forward to meeting my friends from y/day at playtime after my dinner in a few minutes . Im happy you stopped by here to see how Im doing. Do check here frequently to see whats happening in my life . I plan on being a very good boy and have lots and lots of friends. I will keep  posting here of my wonderful adventures and pictures. Adios Amigos . 

Sports Vs. Gadgets

I was recently at a gathering that comprised of individuals representing every stage of life from toddlers to adults. In a moment of silent contemplation, I realized - around me, were children lost in their pseudo cyber world oblivious to one another and the adults in the gathering. No hi's, no hello's. Just the constant mechanical sound of whatever game they were engrossed in.  The only interaction between the children was when he or she wanted a chance on the machine. No board games and no sports. This is the world we live in today..

Right there, I was transported in mind to a time when we were growing up.. There was a yearning for such gatherings as we could meet with so many people and play for hours without  a curfew. There was laughter and games, fights and heart breaks, candies and frolic. And when it was all over, there were memories and friendships to last a lifetime..  

Those simple pleasures are lost on the children, of today. A piece of stone or stick that would excite us back then is now replaced by fancy plastic gadgets and devices that takes the form of a monster one minute and a bird the next. The innocent childhood and the simple pleasures of exploring the world with their little steps and beady inquisitive eyes is lost on these warriors of tomorrow, as they are armed with these mini devices that keep them glued to a seat for hours on end. The squeal and laughter of a room full of kids is replaced with the mechanical noises produced by these widgets in a room otherwise devoid of any noise.

I have increasingly seen parents worry about the consequence of these devices on the lives of their children.  But the sheer convenience of  not having to worry about their little ones (in the midst of  their own adult time) far outweigh the mild inconvenience of these devices obstructing the development of social skills in these young minds. These gadgets are thus handed out to little outstretched hands and we all rationalize, that it is the right thing to do rather than have your children run amock. No question the neurons in those little brains are multiplying by the hundreds and forming a vast network of problem solving ability. But compassion , communication, team work and social abilities are thwarted in the process. For the parents, this is a maze with no end in sight. Every mind is battling its own war of kurkshetra , only here , there is no absolute right or absolute wrong. Is this the beginning of a new generation of lone socially stunted individuals fueled by technology? Or does the solution lie in the very same technology ? Perhaps a playtime comprising of gadgets interspersed with sports is the light we are looking for at the end of the tunnel. 

A truly win-win solution for parents everywhere . 

South Indian Speciality..

Spring is almost here in the Northeast United States and its time for Hindu spring festivals. One amongst them is karadaiyan nombu, a function primarily celebrated by women for the longevity and welfare of their husbands in the state of Tamilnadu. This festival reminds me of a particular dish which is what this function revolves around.. Kaar Adai (adai made with Kaaramani / black eyed peas).  In some families like ours, the custom is to make both the sweet and salty version of Kaar Adai. They are eaten with a dollop of butter. They are fairly easy to make and heres the recipe for both Salt Adai and Sweet Adai. 

Pre-preparation: 

Before you set out to make Salt Adai or Sweet Adai, dry roast 1 cup of Black Eyed Peas. After they are sufficiently roasted, boil and cook the black eyed peas in an open vessel. Drain and keep aside for the following recipes. 

Salt Adai

Ingredients
Black eyed peas (cooked) 1/2 cup

Rice flour 1.5 cups

Grated coconut 1/2 cup

Ginger( cut grate to small pieces) about 1-2 tbs  , 

Green chilli 2-4, 

Curry leaves, 

Mustard 1-2 tsp, 

Black gram dal (Urad Dal) 1-2 tsp.,

Asafetida a pinch,  Salt

Oil 2 tsp

Method 

In a pan heat some oil and sputter mustard, black gram dal and asafetida. Add ginger, green chilli, curry leaves with 1.5 cups water. When the water is sufficiently hot add 1/2 cup grated coconut, black eyed peas and 1.5 cups of rice flour.  Mix until all the water is absorbed and it looks like pizza or roti dough. Remove from the flame and set it aside to cool. When it cool to touch pinch a golf ball sized dough and flatten it in your palm and steam cook in an idli maker for 2-5 mins and its done. Serve with a dollop of unsalted butter. 

                                         Sweet Adai 

 Ingredients

Rice flour 1.5 cups

Black eyed peas (cooked) 1/2 cup
Grated coconut 1/2 cup
Jaggery 1 cup
Cardamom 
Saffron(optional)

Method 

Powder Jaggery and add it to 1.5 cups of boiling water and mix until it fully dissolves. Add coconut, cardamom, 1/2 cup cooked black eyed peas and 1.5 cups rice flour . Mix until all the water is absorbed and it looks like pizza or roti dough. Remove from the flame and set it aside to cool. When it is cool to touch pinch a golf ball sized dough and flatten it in your palm and steam cook in an idli maker for 2-5 mins. And its done. Serve with a dollop of unsalted butter.

Its all about Cruising

Its all about cruising.. I started writing this and the Carnival Cruise disaster (about the disabled ship on the Gulf of Mexico) was all over the news. After what happened recently, its natural to be wary of it . As most analysts are pointing out, with the influx in the cruising industry , incidents such as these are like a minor hiccup caused mainly due to the increased demand and decreased time for maintenance . Hopefully the regulations get more stringent like those in the aviation industry and something better comes out of this. Having said that, I hope this doesn't put a dampener on this wonderful way of seeing the world. 

There are three categories of people.. yes I said three..1) There are those that have been on a cruise, love it and do it frequently, 2) there are those that did it once just to see what the hoopla is all about but are not sure if they'd do it again because they either had a bad experience or did not enjoy it as much as they had initially thought they would and 3) people that are skeptical about the whole concept of cruising. Everyone falls under one of these three categories. 

We were from the third category. We had a million reasons (well not exactly a million, but you get the point !)  why we weren't cruising. The biggest and the most favorite ones were : Im hydro phobic,  its for old retired junta , its all about beach hopping (what is so different about the beaches u goto by ship vs by road ???) , We won't have fun unless we go with family and friends as one Big group (as if the ship would otherwise be empty !)  and the list goes on… Of course cost of a vacation being exponentially high was another theory we believed in .

If you are wondering what changed ~ We went from third category straight to the first. We took the plunge  and cruised after lots of cajoling  by well meaning friends (especially L) who were avid cruisers with lots of trips under their belt. We were skeptical, but nevertheless decided to try it out. As you can see, we are happy we did !  We had our maiden Voyage in the worlds largest cruise ship- the Oasis of the Seas and the experience completely blew us away and now after all these years I can safely say we are experienced cruisers.

Let me take some time to revisit our initial skepticism about cruising for the benefit of first timers.

Hydro phobiacs - for most part we don't feel we are in the water (except if the water is too choppy) because these things are truly floating cities ! Yup these things are HUGE with so much to do onboard. For example on the Oasis of the seas we had a Central Park with shrubs trees and all..

Not everybody is beach hopper. While Beach hoppers hang by the beach and water, the explorers can use that time to explore the port of call (or a city thats close by) on their own or using the organized tours by these companies (The idea is to get back on board before your ship leaves port  !). 

Cruising is like picking from a huge buffet given the number of itineraries, all these companies offer. If the destination warrants some more exploring, then it can always be revisited at a later time. The fun aspect is, to visit places without worrying about where to go, what to do, where to stay and what to eat. All that is pre-determined as we book our trip.   

The good thing about all this is we don't have to wait for like minded people we know, to join us on the trip. Though complete strangers the ship is full of such people ( thats  the reason all of us are on the same boat !). In our experience we have come back from a trip making great friends.

As for the cost of a vacation,  pretty much like any other form of vacation, it totally depends on whether you want to spend or splurge..The price difference is determined by a number of factors such as  

- the number of nights ,  

- the cruise tour company (Royal Caribbean, Princess, Norwegian, Disney to name a few),  

- the state room you pick, 

- if you choose to eat in one of the speciality restaurants vs. the ton's of free food available on board and 

- how much you drink .. yes.. (this is where these operators make money so we have to pay for the drinks over and above the price we paid for the trip). 

Did I mention, no outside food, water or beverage is allowed on board (can't say for other companies as we haven't tried them  but this is especially true for Royal Caribbean). This is for our protection and everyone else on board . Having said that ,we can shop for alcohol at any port of call. It is usually confiscated when we get on board only to be returned to us at our final destination as we disembark.  For those in the second category, I hope you give it another chance , perhaps with a different company because despite these minor irritants, this is one of the most amazing experiences full of variety- all of which is packed into a bundle to make it Your vacation.

Besides the itinerary,  the cruise ship  offers a plethora of things for everybody on board  from Musical Productions,  to Zip Lining (yup in the middle of the ocean) , Rock Climbing (while the ship is steadily chugging along in the middle of some sea or ocean), Flowrider Surfing (on board) , Mini Golf Carousel , Basket Ball, Library, Speciality classes (like gemology, food & wine classes ),  Swimming, Sauna and Spa to name a few. For me (besides all these) its all about trying to spot a marine life in the vastness of the Ocean.

I do highly recommend some quite time to  sit and watch the wake your ship creates. With lands off in the distance and the vastness of the seas its a sight to behold especially as evening approaches . There is something very calm yet sinister about the Ocean, and it was these that man set sail to cross and conquer. So its all about cruising..

Carrot Almond Kheer

One of my friends is a food blogger and I have to say she's quite an inspiration. She recently blogged about Carrot Badaam (almond) Kheer (pudding). The accompanying pix was so tempting that I had to make it the same day. I made a slight variation to her recipe its fairly simple and here it goes.. 

Carrot Almond Kheer

Ingredients : 

Carrot grated 1 cup, Almonds soaked and skinned 1 cup , 1/4 cup Cashew(optional) soaked,  Sugar 2 cups, Milk 3 cups, Saffron 1 pinch, cardamom seeds 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp ghee or clarified butter, 1 tsp each of slivered almonds, cashew, pistachio.

Procedure : 

In a pressure cooker cook carrots, almonds and cashew with 1/2 cup milk. When cooked add sugar and grind to paste. Add ground cardamom, saffron and remaining milk and boil until it starts thickening in roughly about 10-15 mins. In a separate vessel roast the slivered almonds, cashew and pistachio in clarified butter until they get a slight golden tinge. Season the Carrot Almond kheer with the roasted nuts and you are done. This can be served both hot or cold .