Last weekend a friend and I went into the outskirts of the city, for a birding expedition with a bunch of enthusiastic, veteran birders from Delhi. We spotted about 25 different species of birds, which included a lot of waders and the rare White-winged Tern and Cinnamon Bittern; amongst many others. Most of these sightings were from a distance and my phone camera would not have done justice to the shots. Therefore, I soaked in the joy of using my younger ones new Olympus binoculars to watch all the avian wonders. And I took some of these lush, landscape shots on my iphone-13.
The weather Gods were supremely kind. It was a beautiful, breezy day and the nimbus clouds allowed the Ra God a morning of rest. This was shot almost close to 11 A.M. We were still trying to locate the Black Francolin and Rain Quail, after hearing the calls. But the bushes and tall grasses doubled up for a great camouflage.
As we drove off to look for more species. We spotted some Silver Bills making merry on a fence, a few Green Bee Eaters and a Black Drongo or two.
Upon reaching this gorgeous grassland we had spotted a handsome White-Eyed Buzzard preying on another bird. But it gathered flight on seeing us and went and sat on a fencing pole.
A Blister Beetle gorging on his delicious pink breakfast.An incy-wincy spider was busy gobbling up a Small Blue butterfly, while a Praying Mantis looked on, as did a small beetle (I am yet to identify the species.) Can you spot the Mantis?
Returned home smug and bushed, all at the same time and curled up to this lovely book by Mitch Albom – The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto. Isn’t the book mark adorable too? It’s got a magnet that sticks to the page, so no lost bookmarks anymore. Gifted by a dear friend and curated by The Surreal Studio on Instagram.
This week my phone folder is over flowing with quite a few shots. And I can’t seem to refrain from sharing them with all of you. So please do bear with me.
But, before I take you for another sky tour from our 15th floor (remember last week’s) and a rendezvous with some of our terrace garden beauties; here’s an invitation to read a poem I hold very close to my heart, for a few decades now. Oriah’s words have given me courage, joy and a mission to live life queen size. 🙂
The Invitation
By: Oriah Mountain Dreamer
It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love for your dream for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon… I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain mine or your own without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy mine or your own if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful to be realistic to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure yours and mine and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes.”
It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn’t interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
Just the other day the sky was this stunning ochre, as the Ra God went down the horizon. As I sky gazed, these wispy white, cirrus clouds transformed into a gorgeous hue And the crescent moon played a peek-a-boo enveloped in their beauty. Can you spot the moon?
Look closely, do you see the moon amidst the sparkling city lights? The Frangipani once again was canoodling with the sky. Remember last week’s? 🙂
Blue Pea Flower tea, anyone? I found these double Blue Pea flower seeds in my Mum’s dresser, after she crossed over. Now every time they bloom, I know she is shining her light upon us. My older daughter dries the flowers and makes a refreshing tea which is high on anti-oxidants and flavonoids, that offers incredible health benefits.
The beautiful monsoon downpours have ensured a lovely harvest of our Rain lilies, that I totally adore. We have them in three shades-pink, white and a dazzling yellow, thanks to another friend in the neighbourhood who gifted them to me last year. Every time it rains the buds appear followed by a riot of colours. I can’t wait for the next harvest, as it’s been raining the last few days. I have been saving up the seeds to gift my friends. Let me know if you would like some?
A close up shot. Growing on the parapet on our terrace garden.
An Invitation to Tune in to Rain Music and Hear your Views
Have you read Oriah Mountain Dreamer’s, An Invitation before? (It’s been turned into a book too which I am yet to read)
What emotions does it bring forth if you read it the first time, or if you keep going back to it?
How often do you sky gaze?
What about the sky, draws you the most?
And it’s wrap-up time with a lovely playlist of golden oldies I found on rain. What better time than these rain drenched monsoons, to share this collection.
Next week, I shall be off with mi familia to visit our younger daughter who is in boarding, so I might not be posting.
See you week after next, but I shall try to stop by to comment and visit your posts.
Keep the sunshine on your shoulder intact, even on days when it gets gloomy.
Adios, Amigos!
Love, Light and Laughter galore.
Natasha <3
Joining Yogi and other bloggers for Skywatch Friday , Cathy and Alana’s Monday Mewsic Moves, Sandee and Keith’s Wordless Wednesday and Corinne’s Monday Musings.
Wonderful! My birding awaits a kickstart! Where were these sightings? The SM was full of these monsoon beauties and the rare visitors.
The rain lilies look super gorgeous. For some reason I have had lesser blooms this season. The sky looks awe-some indeed.
Read about your wonderful trip …… I am still smiling thinking about it. Another long weekend begins tomorrow. any plans of another trip? Monika Ohson | TravelerInMe recently posted…Landour on foot & through it’s café trail
I certainly enjoyed “discovering” all the birds as you walked along in the verdant grassland. The sky did look ominous , but our walk was not interrupted by a storm. You captured much action in that tiny patch of grass. I did see all three creatures after a careful search. Best wishes to you! Ken Schneider recently posted…Crops & Clips: Flashback to August, 2019
No to the book. Skygaving – many times a week some weeks. not that much in our winter. The sky constantly changes, the clouds harness my imagination and one never knows what kind of sunset we’ll have. I watch the birds enjoy a bird feeder in our yard. We’ve learned so much from it. It’s wonderful that you have seeds from your mother. I think many who garden have some kind of memorial garden or just a plant or two. I think of my mother with both geraniums and lilacs, and an aunt who loved hibiscus with my hisbicus. A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall by “Elston Gunn” brings a memory of when Bob Dylan started out. I think he went by that name for a little bit before he settled on Bob Dylan (which isn’t his given name, either). I enjoyed your rain set. We could use some where I live!
I haven’t read this book. I enjoy viewing the sky under all circumstances but especially when it’s a beautiful blue with white fluffy clouds. I think the sky is the most interesting when it’s filled with clouds of all shape, size, and color opposed to one without. Thanks for joining the 4M party, my friend. Have a boogietastic week! 😉
I so enjoyed this, from the expedition to the poem, searching for the mantis and then looking at a beautiful sky. My balcony ‘garden’ looks very sad now due to the heatwave thank keeps coming and going, it’s now been declared a drought and a hosepipe ban has been bought in. Please send us a downpour! Enjoy your trip. Keith’s Ramblings recently posted…A short story
Wonderful photos, dear Natasha! One more beautiful than the other – I couldn’t say “this is the most beautiful” because each one is equally beautiful and together they create an album of the joy of being! <3
The poem is beautiful! I'm reading it for the first time (twice). 🙂
Thank you for the good thoughts expressed in such beautiful words! <3
I wish you a nice trip and all the best, for you and all your loved ones!
I hug you with love! <3
Very beautiful. Love your pics. I look at the sky a bunch and just wonder who else is out there with us. Also, I love watching the sky change. The clouds moving and the sun peering in. Just things I look at.
21 thoughts on “The Invitation”
Wonderful! My birding awaits a kickstart! Where were these sightings? The SM was full of these monsoon beauties and the rare visitors.
The rain lilies look super gorgeous. For some reason I have had lesser blooms this season. The sky looks awe-some indeed.
Read about your wonderful trip …… I am still smiling thinking about it. Another long weekend begins tomorrow. any plans of another trip?
Monika Ohson | TravelerInMe recently posted…Landour on foot & through it’s café trail
I certainly enjoyed “discovering” all the birds as you walked along in the verdant grassland. The sky did look ominous , but our walk was not interrupted by a storm. You captured much action in that tiny patch of grass. I did see all three creatures after a careful search. Best wishes to you!
Ken Schneider recently posted…Crops & Clips: Flashback to August, 2019
Beautiful shots and I love that poem. So beautiful.
I linked this post to Wordless Wednesday as you requested.
Have a fabulous day and week, sweet Natasha. Big hug. ♥
Sandee recently posted…Happy Tuesday
No to the book. Skygaving – many times a week some weeks. not that much in our winter. The sky constantly changes, the clouds harness my imagination and one never knows what kind of sunset we’ll have. I watch the birds enjoy a bird feeder in our yard. We’ve learned so much from it. It’s wonderful that you have seeds from your mother. I think many who garden have some kind of memorial garden or just a plant or two. I think of my mother with both geraniums and lilacs, and an aunt who loved hibiscus with my hisbicus. A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall by “Elston Gunn” brings a memory of when Bob Dylan started out. I think he went by that name for a little bit before he settled on Bob Dylan (which isn’t his given name, either). I enjoyed your rain set. We could use some where I live!
Natasha,
I haven’t read this book. I enjoy viewing the sky under all circumstances but especially when it’s a beautiful blue with white fluffy clouds. I think the sky is the most interesting when it’s filled with clouds of all shape, size, and color opposed to one without. Thanks for joining the 4M party, my friend. Have a boogietastic week! 😉
What a lovely, rain-drenched, sky-loving post! Thanks, Natasha. This one made me smile in gratitude.
Damyanti Biswas recently posted…Querying Authors, Want to Chat with an Established Literary Agent?
Beautiful and deep writing
Glad you enjoyed it, Deepika. 🙂
I so enjoyed this, from the expedition to the poem, searching for the mantis and then looking at a beautiful sky. My balcony ‘garden’ looks very sad now due to the heatwave thank keeps coming and going, it’s now been declared a drought and a hosepipe ban has been bought in. Please send us a downpour! Enjoy your trip.
Keith’s Ramblings recently posted…A short story
Asking the Rain Gods to send many a downpours that revives your garden and that of others.
It’s been quite an unlike heat wave in your part of the world and many others too this time.
Take care, stay hydrated, cool and cosy, Keith
Beautiful shots. I enjoy all the green. We’re all golden out here, no life.
Visiting from Skywatch Friday!
Worth a Thousand Words
Yes, praying for the Rain Gods to be kind to all of you battling the dry weather.
I loved your lavender picking story. 🙂
What a post. I love the visit that you and your friends went on and the number of birds you guys saw.
The countryside looks great.
I love your poem.
Take care!!
Yeah, it was indeed gorgeous, Alan. Bet you had a few fun cycling jaunts too meanwhile.
This poem by Oriah is indeed a world apart. 🙂
Happy week!
Wonderful photos, dear Natasha! One more beautiful than the other – I couldn’t say “this is the most beautiful” because each one is equally beautiful and together they create an album of the joy of being! <3
The poem is beautiful! I'm reading it for the first time (twice). 🙂
Thank you for the good thoughts expressed in such beautiful words! <3
I wish you a nice trip and all the best, for you and all your loved ones!
I hug you with love! <3
I’m glad you loved the poem. It is such a personal favourite for years. 🙂
Thank you so much sweet sunshine. xoxox
Wish you happy and blessed days too. Big hugs <3
Beautiful photos and a wonderful poem. I’ve not read it before, so it was a treat!
I’m glad you stumbled upon this poem through my page, Peter. It’s a must read and must keep close to the heart.
Very beautiful. Love your pics. I look at the sky a bunch and just wonder who else is out there with us. Also, I love watching the sky change. The clouds moving and the sun peering in. Just things I look at.
Thanks for this great post.
Patrick Weseman recently posted…Walking Crissy Field’s East Beach
Yeah, Patrick so many beautiful thoughts cross our minds when we see the sky.
Glad you enjoyed all of these. 🙂
Happy week.