It was Cher

I was standing in the check out line yesterday at Bhat Bhateni, one of the supermarket/department stores and was waiting for this group of Americans who had 3 cart loads of toys (for an orphanage or something was my guess). As they were getting ready to leave, I saw this lady in black pants and a black shirt, with long straight black hair and sunglasses. She had obviously had plastic surgery and her hands looked arthritic and I swear (or should I say, I confirm) that it was Cher -- as in Sonny and Cher!

I asked the employee standing next to me if she knew Cher . . . "know Cher?" she said. "The American movie star, Cher." (Yeah, I realized later she's singer, not movie star, oh well.) "I think that is an American movie star!" We chuckled -- I needed to share my potential encounter with someone! I tried googling to see if she is connected with an orphanage in Nepal, but came up with nothing. Anyways, that is what I'm dwelling with this weekend, that I think I saw Cher in Nepal! I didn't want to be a dork and go ask her, but now I think I just should have. Next time . . .

Funky, Hairy, Cool

Anusha went to her first birthday party (besides her own), last weekend.

We all had fun wearing funky costumes and masks. Especially this one!

Flower Girl for Hire

Employment wanted: 19 month old seeking gigs as a flower girl.

Raw, untrained talent, able to gracefully walk down the aisle . . .

Sweetly look at her flowers . . .

And throw!

She promises to patiently endure being cleaned up for the occasion. And she LOVES wearing fancy dresses (particularly ones given to her from her Nani.) Will most probably ditch a hat, but will be happy to dance around in cute little shoes.

Technical difficulty

Dear Friends and Fam,

Last night I spent almost 2 hours posting pics and captions onto the blog. Everything was A-okay until I wrote and posted a 5 paragraph commentary. After that, the pictures were showing up as you see them now -- nada! I have no idea what to do, have checked the blogger website (there is no way to contact a rep directly, if anyone knows how, let me know). There are reports of this exact thing happening to others but I can't find a solution besides blog techy's helping out. So, working on the problem without much desire to spend it doing this. Sorry, and hope the pics appear soon. Sorry for the disappointment

Hide and Seek

Anusha was out playing around this planter/puja one day with Laxmi and Lucky, Anuraj's parents house/farm helpers. Here are some snaps of their fun.

Anusha getting tika to "bless" us with (this is usually done after puja/worship/prayers . . . you take the droppings from the incense or some powder dye and put it on other's forheads. This is her favorite part of puja (I get a tika from her every morning after she and Anuraj do puja). Anyways, so she was all about getting the grime out of here and putting it on people's forheads.

Anusha examining the sugarcane growing near the planter/puja. Lucky looking on trying to figure out what in the world she's looking at!

Anusha's hat enough

One afternoon, it was so blasted hot so I insisted that Anusha wear her hat.

She did for a little bit. But then . . .
She had hat enough (it is getting really late in the night here, can you tell??)

Saag

Anusha wandering in the saag (any greens that are fried and eaten. In this case it was mustard greens). She mastered the slopes -- inclines and declines, while she was in Biratnagar.
Anusha helped Laxmi and her mom pick saag.

Enough with the shoes! When in Nepal...

The fruit of Anusha's labor

Anusha woke up from a nap one day, looked out the window and saw these "balls" on the tree outside. She signed and said ball for about 10 minutes. We finally told Anuraj's dad and he went and asked a neighbor if we could have one from his tree.

Anusha with her "ball."

Anuraj divvying up the fruit . . . Lucky and Laxmi (kids of his parents house/farm help) in the background. The fruit has a really thick spongy peel and tastes like grapefuit -- only bigger and not quite as juicy. We enjoyed it!

Dressing up is fun to do (Oct 08)

Anusha's new fetish is dressing up. She loves taking her shirts, bloomers, pants, you name it.

They usually end up on her head or legs! And occasionally she gets is right!

And this is what happens when papa is left alone to help dress her!

Bangles and Persistence (Oct 08)

Anusha trying to get her arm/wrist bangles on her feet. (Her wealth of bangles are from her "Dadi" . . . aka Grandma Jha)

She worked for more than 5 minutes...

She had the same expression on her face the entire time . . . .

Until she finally was finished!

Series of Faces in Biratnagar

I managed to capture this fabulous expression ... Her face was right in front of the fan. For the life of me I can't remember what prompted it. A flowered mosquito net is behind her -- it kept us semi protected while in hot, mosquito-ey Biratnagar.

Hmm, what should I do next??

Open wide and...

Show my teeth! All 6 of them!

More pics from Biratnagar, Nepal (Oct 08)

Anuraj and Anusha walking home after a visit to a temple. Anuraj is wearing tradition men's "kurta" (shirt) and pants.

Anusha and Jill sporting our henna stamps. I saw a man doing them on the street for a mere 30 rupees (50 cents). It sure beats the typical 1-2 hour long henna process!

A few pics from Desserah/Dushain in Biratnagar, Nepal (Oct 08)

Desserah (aka Dushain) in Biratnagar. From left: Anuraj, Anusha, Jill,

Anuraj's mom, his mom's relative and Rakha (mom's househelp)

Anuraj and Anusha at one of the temporary facades that are put up during this time. It actually reminded me of a Christmas nativity -- it basically illustrates the story of Desserah.

Anusha with stray puppies. We saw these on the side of the road, petted them, received stares and comments from local passerby's and eventually took one home. Only to find massive bugs in it's ears, feet, etc. We fed it, and returned it to it's siblings (with milk and rice for them too). Anusha LOVED them and cried when we left them. How does a 1 year old know how to carry a puppy?

Random pics from September

Anusha and papa witnessing some crazy Nepali's dancing to American remixed music.
It was music to my ears. Anusha had some cool moves on top of his shoulders too.

Anusha and papa on the "scootie." Yes, he drove with her like this to the grocery.
She quite likes it and I'm glad there aren't any laws here banning such things.
In fact, the unspoken law seems to be "the more the merrier!"