A Diverse Thanksgiving Menu with My Diverse Extended Family — This Thanksgiving, we went with Western fare instead of our usual Indian menu of Tandoori chicken, Dal, Naan, Ghee rice, and so forth. My younger daughter, N, and her partner, J, were to celebrate with us. J loves Indian food. He honors our traditions. …

November Six-Word Photo Story Monthly Challenge: “Happiness” — Tuft feathered youngsters make me happy. We had relatives from New Jersey visiting over the Thanksgiving weekend. During breakfast, my cousin looked out the window and exclaimed, “Hey… you have some large birds in your garden!” “Yeah, those are Muscovy ducks,” I said. As if to give us a ringside view, the ducks sauntered over to…

November Six-Word Photo Story Monthly Challenge: “Happiness” — Happiness is rose petalled Turkish Delight! My daughter flew in from Istanbul yesterday. She came home bearing a gift — a box of Turkish Delight. The sweet treat came in four flavors: rose, pistachio, pomegranate, and chocolate. (Must everything be flavored with chocolate?) My favorite was the rose-scented, ruby-pink Delight topped with rose petals.

Books evoke memories — these are some of mine… — I glimpse a paperback on a friend’s bookshelf. It takes me right back to college when you were too uncool for school if you hadn’t read the book’s author. My daughter tells me a literary classic — my mom’s favorite — is being remade into a movie. …

November Six-Word Photo Story Challenge: “Happiness” — Wheelchair accessible vehicles make me happy! On our ride to the airport in Chicago, hubby and I got into cab where you could really strretch your legs — and then some. This roomy vehicle was a van, and the seat next to the driver’s had been removed. “Why don’t you have a front passenger seat?” …

Lip-smacking accompaniments for Kanji a.k.a. Conjee — The other day, I read Surekha Chandrasekhar’s story on the benefits of kanji (rice gruel) and mung beans. I commented that when I cooked kanji, I teamed it up with a Swiss-chard-and-coconut curry. I also added a piquant accompaniment in the form of horse-gram chutney. Surekha asked if I could…

When Life gives you a Swamp, grow Swamp Creatures — My backyard has a patch that gets waterlogged at the merest sprinkle of rain. Is the gradient messed up? Is the soil too clayey? I don’t know. But you can’t run the lawnmower in that area. The wheels get mired in the mud. …

Happiness is three masterpieces in one —

November Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Happiness” — Happiness: Attending an impromptu birthday party. After a young relative’s wedding festivities of the night before, hubby and I were waiting for the airport shuttle outside our Chicago hotel. The vehicle pulled up, and we were about to get in when a voice called, “Auntie!” It was the groom’s sister, Minna. “You guys leaving already?” she…