Sharani's Blog

Panorama - A New Divine Enterprise Cafe in Queens, NY

Sharani Robins — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 01:04:46

A new cafe opened in the Jamaica, Queens, NY neighborhood that I frequent for weekend meditation activities with the Sri Chinmoy Centre. Called Panorama, it offers coffee, tea, lattes, frappes, sandwiches, etc.

What Puts the Great in Great Neck, NY?

Sharani Robins — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:56:57

Ever ready for a road trip to a new destination and a new spot to find a great breakfast eatery, my friend Niriha who lives in Jamaica, Queens New York instantly interested myself and a friend to join her for a drive to Great Neck, New York on Long Island for a Sunday morning outing. Just twenty minutes by car from the Jamaica, New York neighborhood that I frequent on weekends to attend meditation activities of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, we soon arrived in the charming town of Great Neck, NY. Great features of Great Neck include a wonderful place to eat breakfast, an inviting selection of shops in the spirit of small town Main Street, USA and an extraordinary mural by artist William Cochran.

Radar and Thumbelina Meet

Sharani Robins — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 10:33:35

The world's smallest and tallest horse meet

The Guinness Book of World Records recently brought together the world's smallest and tallest horse to be photographed with each other for a feature in the upcoming edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. Radar, a Belgian draught horse, stands 6 ft. 7 1/2 in. and weighs 2,540 lbs. Thumbelina, a dwarf miniature, is 17 inches tall and weighs 65 lbs. Thumbelina eats 2 cups of grain and a handful of hay. Radar eats 18 lbs. of grain and 20 gallons of water. Worlds apart in size and things like how much they eat and drink, what could these two horses possibly share in common?

A Nontechie Librarian talks about Firefox Add-ons and RSS

Sharani Robins — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 10:01:52

You might think someone like me with a blog, being a frequent writer on the Yahoo discussion group called Sri Chinmoy Inspiration, having a personal homepage and nearly 1,000 photos posted in online gallery albums would be pretty savvy in technological matters. I have to say, think again!

Daffodils in Dartmouth

Sharani Robins — Fri, 11 May 2007 21:52:46

Parsons Reserve, Dartmouth MA

When you are a town employee for almost 14 years and many of your co-workers grew up in said town, you come to feel like an integral part of the community even without living there.

Yard Safari - Better Than Cable

Sharani Robins — Fri, 11 May 2007 11:47:34

A photo of birds at my new feeder in my backyard

A little over a week ago I bought a deluxe birdfeeder from Wild Birds Unlimited in Seekonk, Massachusetts called The Eliminator because it is designed to keep squirrels from eating the seeds and nuts inside.

Of Fireworks, Forgiveness and a Magical Sunset

Sharani Robins — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:26:15

A Fireworks photo I took last summer on Martha's Vineyard

Last Saturday I dallied in the revelry of a gorgeous spring day - the first warm sunny day here in New England in as long as I can remember. Our never-ending drizzly, rainy, cold weather had me starting to wonder if I had moved to Seattle or London. (Please forgive me my friends who live in these two places!) To finally receive a day of warmth and sunshine was cherished all the more for its absence of late.

A Friendly Reminder

Sharani Robins — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 10:37:53

Scene along my lunchtime walking route

I've been walking regularly for about a half hour everyday and on most days that I am at work I take my daily constitutional out the door of the library, along a residential street that is wooded wetland on one side and down along another residential street with houses right on the ocean's shore.

Transit Passengers in the Sky

Sharani Robins — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:08:38

At 6 a.m. I brought a friend to the airport and got home with plenty of time to spare before heading in to work. The prior night's full moon, called the Snow Moon according to my Susan Branch calendar, still shone brightly as I picked her up in the dark.

Smile at the Dentist's Office

Sharani Robins — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 23:09:12

One of my favorite birthday presents last October was a canvas tote bag with the word "smile" in Sri Chinmoy's elegant handwriting with one of his distinctive soul bird drawings next to it.

The Call of Turkey

Sharani Robins — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 19:47:34

photo by Sharani

We sat down on a bench in the middle of a pedestrian street of shops. Rather exhausted from our whirlwind day of sightseeing in Istanbul, we fought the sleepy lure of the fast approaching dusk. We hadn’t even found the Grand Bazaar yet and knew that the journey back to our hotel on the Asian side was still a ferry ride away.

The Sky is a Storybook

Sharani Robins — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 08:28:45

photo by Sharani

I drowsily slid into the driver's seat of my car for the morning commute to work. Would my thoughts ricochet back to yesterday's day off of work project or just settle into the long commute as a waking up coffee equivalent?

Ode to a Turkish Rug

Sharani Robins — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 02:16:58

photo by Sharani

Before I even arrived in Turkey, I was hearing tales that this country is a veritable shopping mecca. I imagined that the daunting shopping opportunities in Turkey – Istanbul in particular – might be for several reasons.

Arizona Style New Year's 2007

Sharani Robins — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:04:56

The winter holidays found me in the Arizona desert this year savoring a chili pepper chipolte flavor for Christmas and New Year's. Holiday yard decorations were a hit with the hummingbirds offering this adult a step back into the spirit of wonder more commonly associated with children and the holidays.

Topkapi - Istanbul

Sharani Robins — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 18:55:09

photo by Sharani

While sightseeing in Istanbul, one of my hands-down favorite discoveries was the Topkapi Palace.

Halloween Festivities

Sharani Robins — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 14:17:24

This year I found myself on duty at work during the evening of Halloween when children dress up in costume and go trick-or-treating. We joined in the festivities at work by dressing up in costume and handing out candy to visitors to the library.

Ashrita's Egg Balancing Act

Sharani Robins — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 14:21:06

He broke the record of 420 eggs in 7 hrs. 33 minutes and finished at 700 eggs in a little over 12 hours.

Sri Chinmoy's Book About Angels

Sharani Robins — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 11:00:24

Have you ever seen an angel or felt its presence? Do you feel that you have a guardian angel? I do believe in them but cannot say that I have in-depth awareness of their presence in my life.

The Gypsies of Fall

Sharani Robins — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 23:50:22

Like a permanent sunset that even the colours of rain cannot muddy, the fall foliage is awash in red, yellow, orange and pink...

Sunrise

Sharani Robins — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 04:13:17

With the inspiration to greet the sunrise over the water on the morning of my birthday, I was quite delighted to find the weather fully cooperated.

Seagull Frolic

Sharani Robins — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 22:49:58

Recently while walking on the beach, I closely observed some seagulls with the intention of taking a photograph of one.

I'm being followed by a moonflower

Sharani Robins — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 07:19:32

Started from seeds gifted to me by a co-worker a few years back, this perennial is a perennial favorite in my yard.

Moon Rise

Sharani Robins — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 07:13:13

After a day where the computer was my very own pet "ball and chain," I finally ventured out of the house to do a quick errand

Cicada Dog Days of August

Sharani Robins — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 22:52:08

Look, look! If we're having show and tell at school today, I know what I'm going to bring...

Boys of Baraka

Sharani Robins — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 19:41:36

I recently watched a movie which is so poignant and maybe even the saddest film I have ever seen.

Fascinating Listening

Sharani Robins — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 23:01:52

Since blogging regularly theoretically involves writing regularly, I'm mentioning an audiobook that I'm currently listening to for the second time because I liked it so much. It's a collection called "The Best of NPR : Writers on Writing." It includes interviews with May Sarton, Roddy Doyle, Joan Didion, Sharon Olds, Anne Lamott, Walter Mosley, John McPhee and others.

Welcome to my first message

Sharani Robins — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:09:22

Here goes my first attempt at a blog entry - well truthfully my second attempt. I got quite a lovely and mysterious error in response to my first attempt. Perseverance is a must when it comes to me and technology.