Surprise gift

It looks cool, isn't it?? This is the new surprise Mohan gave me.. He bought two of this froggy online, one for him and one for me! And do you know what it is? An MP3 Player!! Yippee.. It has all the usual cool features but with a difference. Like its mouth that you see here, the big black thing is the LCD. To adjust the volume, you have to turn its left eye on top towards left or right. To scroll through the menu or play next/previous track, twist its right eye on top.  Its fun! A usual device with some innovations.. It has a mic, so I have to try recording on it once. This has the option of adjusting the equalizers also. The surround sound is WOW, awesome!! My songs sound much better on it.. It has the jack for earphone on top of its head between the eyes. And the USB port lies straight underneath, yes it can be charged via computer, so no batteries are required and btw it is so small a thing, not even the length of a AAA battery ;-)

Its memory capacity is only 1GB, but it can be pretty handy while travelling or jogging. You can simply tuck it inside your palm or your pant pocket. And it costs hardly anything.

NEXTAR MP3

- Music Player

- LCD Display

- Folder Navigation

- Voice Recorder

- SRS WOW Surround sound

- Removable storage device

- Built-in rechargeable Li-Polymer battery

- Customized settings

It would be of great help while travelling to my Spanish classes from tomorrow..

Airtel Super Singer Junior 2010 - Alka Ajith

Look at the panel of judges invited to choose the one Junior in Wild card round, who would compete with the kids who failed to make it to the Finals. All of them are my all-time favorite singers.. Sowmya, Srinivas, Unni Menon, Madhu Balakrishnan, Anupama.. Wow!! That's a splendid mix of all genres there! And I was so happy to see Priyanka getting through  to the next round again. People in India are watching the show a few episodes ahead of me. So I always tell my folks in India not to tell me what is actually happening and who is winning, otherwise there's no thrill in watching it the whole week. I have quite a bunch of my favorite voices there.. Alka, Nithyasree, Priyanka, Oviya, Vishnu Charan.. They are so good at this age, it is amazing to hear them sing so well. But I'm sure Alka is going to steal it away.. Having come from a non-Tamil background, her diction is so good and she seems to sing in many other languages too. Beautiful voice! Have a look at one of her performances where she got a standing ovation from great singers like Chithra, Mano and Subha. But don't forget to peep into my Jukebox as well ;-)

Benefits of growing plants

Growing plants in pots and containers is a great delight and there's a lot of flexibility in handling them. Containers provide a basic platform in garden locations without soil such as patios, paved courtyards, and roof areas. They may offer the only means of gardening for individuals living in flats or apartments with limited space. Most importantly, containers can sustain a range of plants that may struggle or fail in local soil and conditions. For example, in climates like winter where a lime or curry leaf struggles to live, these can be grown successfully in containers, so long as they are located in shade and protected against extreme cold and frost.

A collection of pots can be chosen to exhibit a variety of plants and be arranged according to mood or situation. Plants can be relocated according to contrasting colour, height, and shape. Those which have started flowering can be moved to a more prominent location.

Plants housed in containers need an organic potting mixture since they will not usually obtain enough nutrients from ordinary garden soil. In addition to plant nutrients, organic mixtures provide water and air for the roots.

Some pots live adequately in smaller pots while most varieties with longer roots require larger and deeper vessels. All plant containers require holes in their base to facilitate drainage. It is good to place a shallow layer of gravel on the base of containers before filling them with potting mix. This ensures an adequate drainage that prevents the mix becoming waterlogged and subsequently drowning the roots. In warm, dry conditions, potted plants usually require a regular watering system or fairly constant attention. In cooler weather, the main risk is over watering and eventually drowning the roots.

Most potted plants will benefit from a location that receives plenty of sunlight and a good circulation of fresh air. During the peak of summer, try to secure some shade relief for sensitive plants. Particularly in the tropics and sub-tropical regions try to be alert for any weather forecasts of severe rain, hail, or wind. In these situations, smaller containers can be carried indoors, while any that are too large or heavy need to be secured and protected as much as possible.

Recycling old unused materials for gardening is also a great possibility. Buckets, a watering can, a hollow tree stump, toilet bowls, a spare tyre, even a bathtub or ironing board and more creative things can be used for exhibiting plants or help in efficient gardening.

Beautiful side of Austin

One more of my favorite walkway, I happen to visit this area of Austin quite often. This morning, I took a 45-minute walk for the first time on Jollyville Rd and Morado Circle.. went through the Misting Falls and came out of Floral Park back on Jollyville. The Morado Circle has winding roads and absolutely stunning views as the road bends down at the feet of the mountains. One of the most beautiful sides of Austin! A great place to drive around too..

Ye Kahaan Aa Gaye Hum... Barton Springs!!

Barton Springs - A magical place for walkers and runners! It is probably one of the best times we enjoy being together!! Every Saturday morning, Mohan used to go for his Marathon practice there on the 13 mile track covering Barton Springs and Town Lake touching i-35, Lamar and Mopac in a loop-like circle around the River Colorado. He usually starts off from the Town lake, along with his team of runners and take the full loop around 13.6 miles or whatever that makes a half marathon. After that he would come home, eat a full meal and sleep in the afternoon or watch a movie. That is yet another blissful time for him and for me as well.. I'd be on my own writing a blog or reading a book, like what I'm doing now ;-)

This morning we had been for a longggg walk in that same loop and covered a 7 mile stretch. This is the third time I'm going with him there for a walk and it was lovely! The weather was pretty good in the morning after a cold front last night. There was no sign of any sun and I usually enjoy the place particularly for one spot where people come there with their kids to feed the birds and the riverside ducks/swans/turtles. We had been there twice before and swore that the next time we go, we take some food for them. So today we went there with a packet of rusks. And birds and turtles just swarmed around us for their day's food. What a serene place and how nice it is to sit there with birds all around you! It was truly joyful.. one of the best hang-outs in Austin if you like being in peace with nature.