My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.
This post is for my son, Samhith.
For the past one week, we have been cooped up in the house thanks to the swine flu enforced holiday, and being a bit unwell myself, I did not want to risk going anywhere and actually getting the dreaded flu of the moment. We had no choice but to occupy ourselves at home to the best of our ability. To be fair to him, he kept away from the TV most of the time, turning to it only when we were lost for ideas. While we caught up on a lot of stories we hadn’t read in a long time, and I also managed to teach him how to turn the computer on himself, and even type a few lines by himself. Of course, that kept him occupied for quite a while… (So now you know who is going to contribute next to my blog!!!)
But this blog is not about that. This is blog is about something both of us spent time making these last few days…
Samhith loves blocks, and they are the only things sure to make him sit down for more than a few minutes at a time. This week, we made quite a few things, and finally decided to make something big and nice. He had only one condition – I should write about it on my blog. So here they are….
This house is a combined effort – me the foundations and the details, the actual work done by Samhith.
Here is a rear-view...
All these other things are purely Samhith’s.
This is a playground…. And behind it is a coconut tree…. and there is also a water-tap....
And these are assorted buildings and vehicles… and even a traffic signal!
As I write this, Samhith is peeping in now and then, trying to read what I have written……If you like it, do write and let me know. He will be thrilled!
Meanwhile, here are a few other things we have made with his blocks in the past….. I intended to write a post on these, but never got around to actually writing it. What would be better than adding them to this post, which is about his blocks anyway? So, here goes….
This one is one of the first we ever made - this is a map of our area.... evreryone in our family is obsessed with maps, and Samhith seems to have that in his genes too....
Now this one is special - this was just after his birthday, and he has used up every single piece of blocks and the Thomas the tank engine set he got for his birthday..
This one is a temple and some buildings around it...
For the past one week, we have been cooped up in the house thanks to the swine flu enforced holiday, and being a bit unwell myself, I did not want to risk going anywhere and actually getting the dreaded flu of the moment. We had no choice but to occupy ourselves at home to the best of our ability. To be fair to him, he kept away from the TV most of the time, turning to it only when we were lost for ideas. While we caught up on a lot of stories we hadn’t read in a long time, and I also managed to teach him how to turn the computer on himself, and even type a few lines by himself. Of course, that kept him occupied for quite a while… (So now you know who is going to contribute next to my blog!!!)
But this blog is not about that. This is blog is about something both of us spent time making these last few days…
Samhith loves blocks, and they are the only things sure to make him sit down for more than a few minutes at a time. This week, we made quite a few things, and finally decided to make something big and nice. He had only one condition – I should write about it on my blog. So here they are….
This house is a combined effort – me the foundations and the details, the actual work done by Samhith.
Here is a rear-view...
All these other things are purely Samhith’s.
This is a playground…. And behind it is a coconut tree…. and there is also a water-tap....
And these are assorted buildings and vehicles… and even a traffic signal!
As I write this, Samhith is peeping in now and then, trying to read what I have written……If you like it, do write and let me know. He will be thrilled!
Meanwhile, here are a few other things we have made with his blocks in the past….. I intended to write a post on these, but never got around to actually writing it. What would be better than adding them to this post, which is about his blocks anyway? So, here goes….
This one is one of the first we ever made - this is a map of our area.... evreryone in our family is obsessed with maps, and Samhith seems to have that in his genes too....
Now this one is special - this was just after his birthday, and he has used up every single piece of blocks and the Thomas the tank engine set he got for his birthday..
This one is a temple and some buildings around it...
and this one is a house with a maze adjoining it..... totally samhith's idea.. and the maze is completely his work..
Here is another house with a garden.....
and another...
and more...
Wish my niece would something this peaceful. When she has a holiday my sis almost goes crazy but then she is quite musical and can hammer away at keyboards all alone for 1/2 hour. But then that produces so much sound!
ReplyDeleteGet well soon and hope this swine flu scare fades away soon.
The swine flu situation is actually a bit scary.
ReplyDeleteAnu.. I just love blocks.. its so nice to see that your son enjoys himself with blocks. My girls were just not interested... But that was a few years ago. And your post and inspired me to buy some blocks for the girls.. and try and make some stuff.. I'll let you know how I go.. Thanks so much!
Wow, Samith is really good at building and more importantly making sure they stay built long enough for you to click!
ReplyDeleteI have tried to do this with all my nephews and nieces, but by the time I am done with the foundation and turn it over to them, they are just impatient and wreck the whole thing to make something else.
Architect, definitely one of the professions you can look at once he grows up :)
Mridula - the peace always lasts just for a short while - that means about an hour or so - till he's really engrossed with the blocks.. after that, its chaos as usual....
ReplyDeletePat - i used to love blocks... thank god he's taken after me in that! look forward to hearing about what your daughters make.
Sid - we have the opposite problem - he just doesnt want to dismantle the houses he makes... and there;s no way we can leave them as they are....which is why i started taking pics in the first place!! as to profession.... lets see what happens as he grows older.... hope the interest lasts!
Hey Samhuth
ReplyDeleteCongradulations buddy, U have done a wonderful work, I have not seen such a creative ideas with block. You have done a Map and maze! Wow hats off to you kanna. I felt like watching Kolu parks :) U would come out to be well in Modelling and minature industry, My heartfelt wishes to you for a fulfilling future. :)
Cheers
Sri
hey Samhith
ReplyDeleteI wanna come and play with you...let me know if you will share your blocks with me! i love them too!! :)
The houses, temples, play area, maze..woww! am speechlesss. hugss to you kiddo! :)
Anu- i love lego,and infact even now play whenever am at my friends' house..:)her son has oodles of them!!
Dear Samhith,
ReplyDeleteI was amazed at your imagination and clever hands. My favorite is the map of your area.
I have a little boy in my house and he really liked the traffic signal and the maze.
Keep building more beautiful things!