A deliciously warm sunbeam gently woke me up from my sleep this morning. I stretched leisurely in bed and lay there smiling for a while... Then I drew the curtains and opened the windows- the most stunning view of Mount Kanchendzonga in the north lay before me! It had rained the night before, and so everything seemed fresh and new. I filled my lungs with the crisp morning air and stood by the window for a while, silently taking in the breathtaking view of snowy peaks in the sun. Every jagged stony cliff, every groove and fissure and small dirt roads winding along on the next hill, they all became visible to me. It felt like I had just been given the gift of sight when before I was somewhat blind.
Collecting some tools, I headed up to the terrace to do some planting. For an early hour (7:30am), the sun was quite hot already!
The tomato saplings I got from the market the day before are of a local variety. The man at the store is of the opinion that they cannot survive unless it is treated with fungicide, as this variety, in this time of the year contracts a black fungal disease in the leaves. I am however, in no way inclined to choke the soil with chemicals. Battling this apparently inevitable disease organically will be a challenge I am keen to take on. And that felt as if I was writing my CV again!! Anyway, so in went the saplings to the soil- two rows of tomatoes with a bed of marigold in between them. The marigold will help out the tomatoes- if the theory of companion planting works its magic. A bit of water, sunshine and song and now, they grow!
After, I did some yoga; well at least I tried to. I recently learned some asanas with Una, a yoga teacher I met while staying in a farm near Kechiperi Lake,Sikkim. In that lovely tiny one-room Buddhist temple, however, we were about seven keen learners squeezed in! Not having enough space for free movement, Una raced past the asanas while each of us avoided being whacked by a stray arm or leg. Can’t say I learned much that day but it was a good laugh. I am interested in learning the Chandra namaskar- moon salutation, it’s meant to be good for thyroid imbalance which, out of the blue, seems to be in my body.
For now, a quick shower and some breakfast first. Then, will take muma out. She has been indoors, bed ridden for so long. She's doing better lately although quite frail. Today she wishes to visit her older brother in the farm where she grew up, about 40 minutes from town. He is 80 now and quite senile with hints of encroaching dementia. I have always remembered him as such a happy, active person working the farm. I wonder if he will properly recognize his little sister. I have a feeling he will.
~Go Slow Go Easy~
