Saturday, March 12, 2011

Muffins over the window!!

Wondering what the title of the post means?? Just read through...

It was in the Spring of 2009 that we shifted to this apartment. Thank God, till this day, we are quite content with our apartment. Our little flat is cozy, bright and just enough for the two of us. Above evreything, I love it for the serenity of the locality and the green sorroundings.

In front of the building, the carparking space is studded with trees and they are the ones which add beauty to the apartment, keep the air fresh and in summer lend the much needed coolness. Living on the second floor, we used to enjoy the greenery through our windows. In autumn, the bright colours would be vibrant. In winter, though the trees had shed their leaves long ago, some fruits would still be hanging on to the branches. On snow fall, a little shot of snow would be deposited above each of these fruits which gives it a muffin(with frosting) like appearance. Yeah... do you get the meaning of the title now?? I used to observe this on every snow fall and my heart rejoices at the sight of it. Unfortunately, not all good things last forever, I guess.


Last week, suddenly they put on a notice that they have planned to fell the trees. I have no idea, what the house administration tries to achieve by felling these harmless trees. There is no information about that. On talking to one of our neighbours, we got to know the following: we cannot do antything about this now. But, in Germany, there is a rule that, for every tree that is cut, must a tree be planted. Sounds good, eh? Yes. Here, you can plant any tree as you wish. But, if you plan to cut it down, you must first get permission from the state, promising that you would plant another tree somewhere sometime. So, our neighbour added that, the admin has planned to get some thinner trees sometime during autumn this year.


Two days back, they started work when I was leaving for work. It took the workers hardly ten minutes for cutting one tree into pieces. Their main work is to collect the woods in a wagon and clear the place. When I returned home, it appeared as if nothing has happened and there is a vast emptiness now.

This brings back a childhood memory to me. Once when we were living as tenants in a small town, the houseowners had a cow. She was called Laxmi and I used to play with her, feed her grass and straw. She was also fond of me. One day, they had sold her away and I cried the whole night. I could relate it to this situation. Though I've grown up now and I don't cry, I somehow feel sad for those trees.The smell of raw wood is still lingering... I hope and pray that they really plant some trees as soon as possible and bring back the greenery to our apartment. Just wanted to write in their memory :-)

17 comments :

  1. it's moving read ! wish a rule like that is in India ! I relate to your thoughts because just a few days back in our locality a huge tree was felled to make more road space and i felt truly awful !! Wishing many greens are back in ur apartments !!

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  2. Awww.. cute muffins.. Whts the name of that seed?

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  3. Aw! That's so sad, don't worry sweety. I know you are going to miss the spring through your window, but still there might be something good about it.

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  4. @Priya: Thanks for ur wishes ya :-)
    @Rachu: Ooops.. I don't know exactly.. will refer and tell u.. he heee :D
    @Umm: Thanks for ur comforting words :-)

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  5. I too hope they replant something soon as the law says. I hate when someone cuts a tree, unless there is a pressing or genuine reason. I hate when they cut trees to make homes, but guess they need to do that or else where will we live, but stil.. :(

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  6. Awesome pics and love the natural muffins!

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  7. OK here's some life realities which CANNOT be cold comfort to you...i married five years back and i'm leaving the seventh house for our eight house in goa! two kids on the block in between...i lived only three months in the current house...our next stay is again going to be only for a year there and we've to move again...run down houses, some of them, with water problem, broken ceiling, bug problem and wht not...a soldier's daughter may not cry but a soldier's wife definitely cries ;P we make up for all this by partying a lot :P

    so cheer up shafmuz....the tree is gonna be back slowly...nice clicks...bring us more of germany.

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  8. @Priya: Of course, you are right. A few years back, my hometown in India used to be sorrounded with beautiful paddy fields.. It wud be refreshing to travel around in that area. Now, they are all gone and there stands various real estate boards. :-( As you said, they need to make place for people to live. But, I just wonder, at what cost !!!

    @kitchenmorph: Wat?? Changed houses 6-7 times?? Half of my breath was gone when we changed to this house. You are really great ya!! Sure, I'll bring you more of the life here.. Just stay tuned :-)

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  9. It take years to grow a tree whereas a few minutes to cut it down .You will miss it but that is reality .Well written and lovely pictures

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  10. Any tree cut is like chipping away a part of this beautifull planet ... when will man love trees...in india there is a community where 366 women and men gave up their lives for saving a tree
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishnois

    Hope this spirit could be all over the planet


    Super Yummy Recipes

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  11. Beautiful pictures..indeed the fruits are looking like muffins..nice post.

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  12. Bangalore is known as garden city but soon it's on the verge of becoming concrete city. Not Govt is doing nothing ...:-( Very nice post with beautiful pictures...

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  13. Beautifully written & lovely pics...esp d muffin tree!! I know how u must be feeling now..The same thing happened next door to our apartment..There were many trees & i began each day watching & listening to birds chirping..But one day sadly all trees were felled to make way for a new apartment bldg!! And we do`t even have d rules grow a new tree for each tree felled..:(
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

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  14. butterfly: i've an award for you in my blog. pick it up at convenience as i know you buzzzzzzzzy! congrats!

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  15. Guys, thank you all for your kind words and thoughtfulness... Let us try to lead an eco-friendly life style as much as possible :-)

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