Minnesotan Ganesh Chaturthi....

I was overtaken by a huge wave of 'festive nostalgia' as I posted a photograph of our last years eco-friendly Ganesha on Facebook this morning. Instead of basking in it too long I decided to celebrate my favorite God and festival the Minnesotan way!

Rummaging through drawers I found a small packet of sandalwood powder tablets that I seem to have brought from India along with few incense sticks.

Thus in the late afternoon today in my kitchen I decided to mould my dear Ganesha with fragrant sandalwood powder, turmeric and water and captured the process to share with all of you.

The paste took form gradually...

...and a pebble forms His throne.

Peppercorns and cloves...

Vibrant colours enhance the features...

I 'paint my prayers' on a pebble and offer it to the Lord.

In the absence of my favorite Frangipanis I offer Him flora from here, a few pine cones, acorns and grass from my front yard.

Wishing all of you a very Happy Ganesh Chaturthi from Minnesota! May Lord Ganesha remove all your obstacles and shower his blessings on all of you!

P.S. The readers who entered in the Artnlight Blog Anniversary Giveaway, do stay tuned as Vineeta Nair announces the winner on 19th September, 2012.

(Images by Arch)

The Cottage House, Minneapolis.

Our quest for finding the right kitchen table for our new home has yielded in some delightful treasures.

The Cottage House on Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis is one such.

Every month they open only for a couple of days unraveling some amazing vintage finds under different themes. This month it is French Country.

 The Cottage House owned by Ted & Tim has a team of designers who refurbish antique and vintage finds.

Funky yellow chairs hang from trees...

Chrysanthemums bloom along with whimsical metal blossoms...

Iron flower pot holders.

I stopped in my tracks at the entrance of The Cottage House when I saw this beautifully hand-painted floor poster  about Squashes.  I got to know later that Ted hand-paints the floors every month with different themes!

Ms. Ellie Rose English.

The peeling paint on the ceiling and the golden hue of the lit chandeliers was alluring...

The wooden shutters so reminded me of Calcuttan homes back in India.

This was one serene corner in the house.

Salvaged painted iron window grills.

Yes. Something I completely believe in.

It's a treasure trove for magical garden accessories.

Hand-painted brick flooring and a basket full of vintage crockery.

I longingly stood in front of this huge framed blackboard for a while and promised to come back soon for it:-)

A wonderful sunny Sunday spent in a delightful 'home decor market' called The Cottage House.

Do check out their website for their upcoming sale for October. You can also keep updated on their Facebook page 

(Images by Arch)

Some sunshine & a cup of tea...

...to all the lovely readers of Rang Decor.
It's been a month since we moved from Bangalore. I understand Labour Day here in the US marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall.

 As I type in the words on my post I can see a shower of leaves gently glide down trees, landing softly on grass that is much duller than before. There seems to be some kind of quickened activity among the squirrels, chipmunks, and birds of different kinds that I am yet to identify.

I picked up some bright sunflowers from the Minneapolis Farmer's market.

After clicking I realized that it was so similar to this shot which I clicked back in Bangalore.

Everything seems different yet somehow similar:-)

Have a great day everyone. Promise to be back soon!