Merry Christmas Eve

Till tomorrow,
Love, Maia
P.S. Given the choice, Dolce also prefers Drama!

Neesha at The Meijer Gardens 3

Mexican chili peppers in the Earl and Donnalee Holton Arid Garden.

Neesha, who could have used them in the Punjabi feast she cooked.

A cacti Christmas wreath.

Javelina sculpture.

Cactus spines!

And back to Twin Oaks.

Where Neesha and India sang Christmas carols.
Till tomorrow,
Love, Maia

Breakfast with Ganesh

We walked by cabinets filled with Ganesh on our way to breakfast at Neena and Shrik's home.

A Judith Lieber Ganesh evening bag was showcased in one cabinet.

A traditional Indian breakfast was served.

Shrik pours masala tea.

They loved having me there. I reminded them of their late dog, a Lhasa Apso.

I sat in Neesha's lap on the way home.
Till tomorrow,
Love, Maia

Neesha at The Gardens 2

Neesha and India checked out the Arid Gardens at The Frederik Meijer Gardens.

A coyote...

...by Shelley Curtis stood guard.

Then they visited the Swedish Tree.

Sponsored by School Zone Publishing.

Next it was viewing the Chihuly chandelier.

Artisans assembled the piece on site.

The individual parts were blown and shipped from Washington State, where Chihuly's workshop is located.
Till tomorrow,
Love, Maia

Ganesh and Neesha's Last Day

After a busy day at Somerset, drinks at Streetside and dinner at Quattro.

The next morning, to Neena and Shrik's home.

Jeff and India looked at photos from a destination wedding in Thailand.

The home was filled with art.

Hindu diety Ganesh was present throughout the home...

...such as in a painting that included a representation...

...of Shrik and Neena's granddaughter.

Almost time for breakfast...
Till tomorrow,
Love, Maia

The British Invasion Day 4: Meijer Gardens

Day Four: lunch with family and then to the Meijer Gardens.

We saw the Korean tree...

...which a local Korean had sponsored.

Then to the Victorian Gardens, with its miniature trains...

...and Choo-Choo Grill...

...and Victorian tree.

Then to the Earl and Donnalee Holton Arid Garden.

Complete with cacti...

..and meerkats.
Dolce wants to get a meerkat pet.
Till tomorrow,
Love, Maia

Neesha Day 3: The Scent of Curry

We started out the day at Meijer for groceries, then met famous poet Robert VanderMolen (see TMC January 2, 2009), for lunch.

Then Neesha spent the afternoon cooking up a Punjabi meal...

...with cauliflower and potatoes...

...a peas and jasmine rice pilaf...

...a chicken curry...

...and a green bean curry.

The Christmas figurines watched.

The stockings hung.

And the nutcrackers stared.

While dinner...

... was served.

And then Neesha gave Maia some attention.
Till tomorrow,
Love, Maia