“Can't you see that's pink?” The seamstress asked her straight hair curling before my eyes in her disbelief. “It looks red to me, I must be color blind” I replied.
This one is their first Janmastami offering and is the only one made by someone other than the usual seamstress.
Walking in the temple one day I saw how they looked magic. “Wonderful” “the folks said, “peacock feather upon his head.
“Holding the flute to his lips the moon dances on his fingertips
As he swirls his jacket and chodder fly making a festival for the eye
This oldest one left on the block goes by the name T Rock
From the altar at the seva asrama to the beach at Natural Bridge I pedaled along the back and side roads through the town and beside the shore.
Turning at a street called California to one that sounds like a home for the mentally poor.
Returning after seeing the sea lions by the path by the bike church
Making an appointment for a tune I pedal as best I can by the new construction site to past the bus stop and on by the sign shop and return to the asrama for the last service of the night.
When Radha left the rasa dance the gopis searched everywhere for Krsna. They saw a doe and asked if she had seen Krsna. That's what the speaker read when this dress was offered on Radhastami a couple of years ago. He spelled it out "Oh deer dough, have you seen Krsna?"

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That's the color Gandharvika likes best. Though some might have her in another shade this is the one she chooses. Who could put a name on this one? Still she wears mostly on Tuesdays even though she changes on every new day.
Pedaling at the beginning of the lazy, hazy days of summer. The June gloom has begun observe while the fog rolls in. From the asrama to the opal cliffs counting the white caps on the waves at the twin lakes then to the public radio around the harbor and the school, up the hoot's hill and back around to the asrama in time for the sandhya
Pralada a dad this evening the panel skirt. Not quite chilly enough for chodders but they've got them handy in case they head out for a dance in under the stars again tonight.

The peacock fan. Red with single peacock feathers sewn on complete with belts and crowns this is another pre-fab dress. Made in Vrndavana and assembled here by the seamstress and her team. The jewelry comes from an early night dress that has been long since retired. Something old and something new...
Fast and quick that's how the pedaling went on the day of memory. Around the shopper's corner and the cruiser king again with the east cliff and to the asrama for a quick jump into the kirtan
baby blue this evening as each Monday. Giridhari's coat seemed to rise just a little higher than some nights. The stars make it a wonderful night for dancing and whatever other pastimes are to be engaged in by Mahaprabhu and Gandharvika Giridhari.

Different colors every where, all those in the rainbow, they wear their colors every where and that makes it good for an Ekadasi since the day of Sri Hari falls on any day of the week.
Pedaling past the sunny cove on the way to the twin lakes i spied a tree walking along the sidewalk. Upon further review i saw that it was someone who had plenty of holiday cheer. All varieties of pedalers out today in memory of the freedom that has been preserved.
In the ninth when the chips were down, Srila Guru maharaja made his appearance to bring us under the banner of Mahaprabhu in his loving search for us his lost servants

No it's not on the mundane plain but it has dragon flies to tease your eyes. The crowns aren't too low and sometimes they overflow with yellow flowers. "I stole these flowers" the garland maker told me today. "If you act like you're supposed to be there you get less questions."
The swami sent me pedaling off on a wild goose chase today. From here to the market near the hook. No, they didn't have it. Then it was off to the market in the downtown section. They had what he sent me for. Then i stopped in on the farmer's market where we all were glad to see each other. Still i was on the clock and had to sprint back up for the sandhya.
Saturday is always the most blessed. The night that's alright for getting a little dancing in. So in memory of those who have given their lives to the service of Guru and Gauranga, they'll dance deep into the night...

This is the purple and pink dress of five or six years ago from Guru Maharaja’s appearance day. When today’s garland maker handed two of them to me I could have sworn she said Mahaprabhu and Gandharvika but she said she didn’t. Perhaps Gandharivka put me in that illusion so she could offer the garland. There sitting aside the petal of a flower a bee was resting. Srila Prabhupada once told us that if a bee comes in and flies around the garland then you know your Deity worship is a success. Maybe that’s why Gandhrvika wanted to offer that garland..
A double fantasy today. Pedaling away twice once around by the natural bridge and the sea lions where the tourists go. Back along the mission and the clock tower once again. Then the hoot's hill to the harbor high and the asrama from there. Back again through the village and the opal cliff up by the sunny cove. Crossing over the felt school and the fire trucks there to the pit stop along by the bear and around over the troubled freeway and back to perform in the sunset service
Then after that, deep within the far off jungle, the lion sleeps tonight. They were ready for their rest this evening after the bumble bee and the initiation, and the madhyakalia arati singing festival.

When the curtain opened on this dress for the first time it was blowing, blowing everybody's mind. some of the folks asked if it was tomorrow or just the end of time? Whatever it was, i told them, the seamstress had a spell on me.
The aids ride is coming and all the pedalers are gearing up for it. Training away with their gear in purple and yellow mostly along with odd passengers on their rigs, helmets, and panniers. Rounding third and heading for home i saw a bumper sticker on an old and well worn car that said "ex-student of the month" it made me laugh out loud as it poked much needed fun at the serious students. back in time to kirtan for the sandhya
"Krsna is a brahmacari" is how i was able to cross over the last few paces and put them to bed this evening. An early dress, simple and easy. They were happy to take rest a little faster tonight.

The aruna hara posse rides again. The pink and green gang is not far away. The carnation garlands never seem to last even as long as the flowers picked on the Deities' land. This dress with Giridhari's flowing chodder and Gandharvika's ruffled skirt was chosen by a Chinese devotee to paint as a picture murti for the preaching center there.
The late afternoon pedaling to the market for sandalwood oil saw several helmets styled to let y'all know that the aids ride between San Francisco and Los Angeles is coming this weekend. Also there were many folks getting bent into the future. Through downtown past the clock tower and the mission temple to the herb place then down over the railroad bridge past the ebike rental store and Hanuman's jump to the asrama. Then from there past the trader and the liberry by the wharf and once again to the asrama for the sandhya.
The lotus nails this evening. They were eager to engage in their night time pastimes so dressed quickly and went off to bed.'be

Capitan Maha Muni purchased Gandharvika's sari, a beautiful blue, Sue 'Nila Vasana. The garlands are of flowers from gardens around town and donations from a local grocer and the star gazers look perfect.
Double backing over the main drag past the gateway, the chinese take out and the jalapeno. Firstly straight back through the harbor football field then hanoi jane's. Over the bridge crossing the freeway. Back to wake from yoga nidra. Then repeat up to the theater where i took the route to the jazzersize and the speechless baba's house. Along the restored road to the tennis park and on making the ralph at the pet hopsital to loop around the southern portion of the asrama road, returning for the sandhya.
The lotus nails this evening. Gandharvika was playing hide and seek with her nose ring. i'd put it in her nose and then i'd see it was gone so i'd have to search the altar for it. Replace and repeat a couple of minutes later. A way of staying up a little later.

Yudhisthira and the evil Sukuni. The first jacket Giridhari was offered and the first one float upon the breeze thrill everyone with your flute playing please. The peacocks danced on the palo of Gandharvika while Mahaprabhu's ankle bells jingled in time.
From the twin lakes and back again. With the warm sunny day every pedaler was out making their rounds we all joined together in a band that circled around the village wharf and the cliff back to the asrama and folks waiting for the evening singing.
The baby blue dress tonight. Gandharvika wears this color since it reminds her of Giridhari. Giridhari has white to enhance his blue skin while Mahaprabhu sings with joy

It was brahma muhurta and throughout the house no people were chanting only the sound of the candan making mouse
Helping the Deities out of their beds i heard the prasadam hall door clatter and a breeze through the temple so I peaked out to see just what was passing there.
Who should the twinkling lights show was gliding as if on the wings of a dove?
Why none other that the kernel himself, the kernel of divine love.
Eating his burfi, the Lord was surprised whom had he seen? He could scarcely believe his eyes.
While the Lord played his flute after the conch shell's first toot the kernel was there chanting and dancing to boot.
The arati ended and so did this rhyme while the Lord appeared in his dress named parsley, sage, rosemary and time
Remember along with the deities I pray, and how the Kernel of divine love came to arati today.
Gandharvika's garland was so heavy today that it wouldn't stay in her hands. It kept slipping down and almost falling on the floor.
Did you put new eye make up on them? One of the folks asked me, "No" i explained, "i haven't done anything like that i a couple of years"
Pedaling along on the shadows of the late afternoon i'm so pleased that i got myself out here today. Part of me wanted to stay and absorb myself in the service concerns of the calendar and such but some how the pedaler in me won out and i went in a circle around the village to the corner of the school and back again. The first time around a license plate named it's vehicle the "birdvan" Then on my second pass over the restored road a beast went by me leaving the impression of an undercover cop. Sure enough it's occupant saw something unpalatable and the lights came on as the occupant completed a u turn and took off for the offending party. i continued along by now the pedaler's high had set in and i was able to finish the round and make it back for the sunset and Deity dressing.
And when they wear the red and cream chinese silk, that's the touch that kills. This evening i'm hoping that the lion on who's birthday this was offered will strike down the hrdayagrantha. Now it's time for them to happily engage in their pastimes

If you be in the mayur sisya you'll surely wear a peacock feather in your hair like Giridhari today. Only his hairdresser knows for sure since the crown covers that but it's there. The one and only hiranya padma dress that came from Radhastami so many years ago. "Offer arati so we all can see" SGM told me that day since the day before i offered behind the curtain as he spoke. He had told me not to wait though. Today's garlands are of the fluffy rose type that follow his tribanga, three bending form.
So this is recovery. Pedaling today was light and tumble. It took some convincing to get myself out today. But as soon as i'd left the driveway i was ready to be out for some time. At least by the twin lakes and then the harbor. Through the village and back for a quick sunset service. The roadies were out in all their colors the dress of the pedaler camelion to keep themselves in the vision of the pilots of the magic carpets of aluminium, plastic and steel.
The most blessed event this evening. Wanting to get on with things early they called me in just after the offering so i could be off early and they could engage in their pastimes with grace and happiness.

As the curtain opened today the garland maker fainted. Another of the folks asked for a picture today. "They look so good today" both said. the picture here just isn't enough. Though the curtain opened on time, Saint Patrick's easter still came fashionably late.
The young folk that i pedaled by a few days ago drove by me today in his car and shouted "gaura premeanandi" as he shot by. On to the sunny cove around the loop of the theater, cruisier king, and hong kong street food. next by the bear and the tennis park off to number forty-four, the house with the lefthand door. Another loop around the trailor park and back for the sandhya.
After the sunset the lion went deep within the jungle and on to sleep tonight

On the ninth day of the waxing moon of Kartik i'll come following you. The Angels had won the series and there was a book of Guru Maharaja of the same name. The green of Mahaprabhu with yellow sash and chodder while Gandharvika has a green sari with yellow choli. Giridhari has all yellow with green trim and a big green belt. The garlands are mostly carnations today with a few donated flowers.
There were a few tandems out pedaling by today as i went past the usual sites of the hook and the wharf. i went through the village to hear the echoes from the woods then by the shear cliff and the avenue that's so bain the rides built around it. The radio station sits in witness to the hill of the east cliff then to the park and back for the sandhya.
A lion on the chase this evening. With the purple hosting the green it just had to be a Friday mangala arati dress. Giridhari's long coat floats on the breeze of his swirling dancing moves and carries on through the night.

yellow and black with bumble bees on Gandharvika's veil for the dark moon. Wear a yellow cloak like a dude in the days of old, a yellow cloak and an embroidered veil, play a bamboo flute with a blue flower over your left ear and that's how you'll know the dark moon's come. Carnation and rose garlands for Mahaprabhua and Gandharvika while Giridhari's has a star gazer lily in the center.
Pedaling today was a trip. Racing to the post office, playing beat the clock and won. Then past the sunglass place and to the fruit market. All the mountain men smile and wave as i drift past but all the roadies just stare blankly ahead. They've got to keep their minds focused somewhere else.
O deer dough have you seen Krsna? He's dancing this evening but left us all behind and took only one with him. It's warm enough that he's not got a chodder and we all want to catch up to him and hear his flute one more time.

The backdrop today emphasizes the "nila" name huh? "My little girl has all the outfits memorized. I can't even remember any of them" one of the visiting folks said to me today. Giridhari has a vayjanti garland today, that is five colors and extending to his knee or beyond. It goes between his ankles, Mahaprabhu's hasn't got the five colors but the length is there and Gandharvika's is similar.
So many pedalers today since it's pedal to work week. Some with their office vesa in a backpacks and wearing comfortable pedaling clothes to and from. Team members out with their jerseys. The sunny cove was full of sufferers who had completed their rides. The opal cliffs had people changing out of wetsuits and others jogging along pluged into their own worlds. At the bike shops flags and festoons flying high to draw attention to the week.
Pralad a dad this evening. They were ready for rest earlier than usual this evening. Must have had an adventurous night planned. Gandhavika's panel skirt is on of the few. The small Deities had honeysuckle garlands today that made the altar fragrant and reminded me of the days of my misspent youth when all my friends made garlands of honeysuckle for themselves.

"Look at that passionate red!" one of the folks said to me after the Deities had seen her. "What's the name of this one?" "You can't have it your way" i replied. After she heard the story behind the name she laughed loudly. The garlands today are of donation scraps and roses with leaves. Not as long as yesterday when Mahaprabhu's didn't just go around his neck it hung from the top of his head and still extended to his toes.
Pedaling along the road next to the toad i came upon one of our young pedalers. He's just been back in the saddle about a week and was feeling a little tired from his pedaling so at the light on the corner i waited behind. As we pulled away i passed him on his left and looked over and exclaimed "Gaura premanandi!" Recognizing me he also laughed out loud. Then we went along i past the fruit and vegetable market and he to a friend's house. From the market i circled around the usual loop the east cliff to the twin lakes past the theater hanging a ralph at the corner going along past a couple of old bike shops down the trail past the harbor and the sunny cove and back to surprise surprise the sandhya.
The baby blue dress this evening. Things were going quickly until i took the day dress out and put it on a shelf while i wiped down the floor and put them in bed. Then in the kitchen there arose a racket and i went rushing from the altar plane and saw the kernel of divine love who said "I didn't do it, I just came to see what the clatter was" i took the dress back to the altar and sprayed it off with the ganga water. When i took it back the kernel asked what i had done and said I'm between frightened glad to see them off the Deities. The Deities let me finish without further games.

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"During the week the outfits are so oppulent and have backdrops and wonderful looking and today they have such a simple dress" Today's garland maker told me. "That's because this is their Ekadasi dress" "Really, there is a dress for Ekadasi?!" "They've been wearing this dress on Ekadasi for more than ten years" "I never noticed" The garlands were again of wild flowers picked from around the countryside and were very good inspite of the the garland maker's vision
More intense pedaling today. The teams were out in their colors and i just had to let it go, watching the wheels go round and round. Along the east cliff to the twins to the shopper's corner and back over the new road by the harbor and to the sunny cove i swept back to thee asram in time for the Sunday go to meeting.
In the ninth there were the bases loaded and Guru Maharaja came to the plate and is driving us home. The red coat of Giridhari and the purple of Gandharvika and Mahaprabhu provide the mix and match color of this evening dress and they play on into the night.

The first planned short skirt this slip was designed to come out under the skirt to finish the trim. Mahaprabhu's navy with the gold trim and Giridhari's yellow make the combination of colors fit. The garlands are of wild flowers that fell apart when they got taken off in the evening still while they were on they are much more beautiful than any florist shoppppe.
A fast and frious ride today. After they woke i went down the road to the east cliff and around the horn past the tennis park to the hospital curve and around again back down the road to the car place that the radicals broke the windows out of last year and to the market run by one of the folks. They were all happy and cheered me on to make it back to the asrama for the sunset service. "You can make it in twenty?" Time I am and I've come to engage all people. Also Giridhari is the ultimate magician who can shrink distances to fit into the remaining minutes
The most blessed event in the evening for the night dance. Gandharvika has deep blue with a similar color in her palo tonight as her day sari. Offered for Srila Prabhupada's vyasa puja tonight they seemed to want to stay up a little late. hmmmm.

The sweetheart roses do well to fit in with the yellow and blue combine as green. In the beginning Gandharvika and Giridhari were one then they separated to perform their pastimes now the two have reunited so Giridhari can taste what pleasure Gandharvika
relishes herself. So on that Gaura purnima yellow and blue combine as green.
All along the opal cliff the sufferers were in view and i pedaled by and waved. They were there between the lakes and in steamer's alley too. Under the natural bridges as i pedaled there there were again. They suffer all day and then they party all night. When the rooster crows then they go home.
Hmmmmm let me see last week on Nrsinghacaturdasi that's it, that's when i saw this one the first time. A soft fabric Chinese silk good for dancing around before taking rest. Happily enjoy your pastimes Giridhari

Today's is the most labor intensive outfit they have and by that it might be said that it took the most devotion. Each peacock feather had beads put on. The first Gaura Purnima dress. Once again Bhakta Blade sang "the eye of the peacock" today. The garlands were very good today, carnations mixed with flowers picked from the Deities' land.
Pedaling from the arsama to the park, just a fine and fancy ramble to the cliff. Then around the hook and past the pleasure point intensely sprinting to the Hong Kong street vender's place looping around the theater and back down by the mandarin garden past the church of the sea to the old cemetery and then back all the way to the asrama. One of the folks saw me climbing the last hill and later said i was huffing and puffing so i replied "that means it was extra good"
It's a miracle mom. The one put together on the shortest notice of all of their outfits. Offered on Srila Prabhupada's vyasa puja day it has stood the test of time and is still going strong. They've danced many a night away in this dress.

In a land where all wear dhoti's how could such a thing take place?
Go back to this mistaken tailor and get right in his face
“”Hey there Baba tailor, just what have you done?”
“” Surely you didn't on purpose it must have all been just for fun.”
That's right the dhotis in this dress are backward. This is a prefab outfit but still several improvisations had to be made.
Gandharvika's front pleats were made from other cloth. The sash and chodder of Mahaprabhu are of the sleeves of another dress. Today's garlands are of carnations, a little uniform and not as spectacular as the ones yesterday that were of flowers picked from the asrama's land.
A pedaling surprise today was one of the fields of construction was completed and the road was passable. As I went between the lakes the ocean side featured thirty sailboats dotted the white caps. There is the chill that keeps the sufferers at home has returned. Around the cruiser center and the twenty-four hour nautical past the homeless monument back over the repaired road one more time over the creek and the art store. Next came hospital curve and the place where the state of the art is service and to the California sun sign cross the light and the asrama is only a hop, skip and a jump away
The lotus nails this evening and Bhakta Blade's mad skills were very active. "By my mad skills we'll have the Deities dressed by nine thirty!" Would you believe ten o'clock? Well any way it was earlier than usual. He told me "If you hadn't been dressing the small deities there I could have finished by my prediction, but because you were there I couldn't finish with Mahaprabhu in time" In the meantime Sri Guru-Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari go on enjoying like anything

We know you're a heavenly society girl
And we know you won't anything cooked in oil
You'd only let him take you home
If he wouldn't break your rules.
Then you'll stay with him alone Urvasi
The Bhagavat sets the scene
The red backdrop makes me want to get up and scream
I've made up my mind I'm tired of wasting all my precious time
Urvasi
This is the first time Giridhari has worn the red and crystal earrings with this one. The seamstress gave that set and one similar set of green ones. But she told me she wanted the red ones for Gandharvika but somehow Giridhari took them.
I've made up my mind I'm tired of wasting all my precious time
Ooooo Urvasi
Pedaling in the usual route to dodge the construction. Today there were many teams out training. They had full colors blazing as I went along the point to the cove. The PO lice were at the cove with lights blazing with someone up against the car. And the firemen came rushing in from the other lane, very strange. Around the shopper's corner and on past the car salesman down the hill over the creek past the young folks house and on back for the sunset service. As I came to the last traffic light one of the older folks pulled up next to me and spoke to from the beast “Is that our favorite pujari?” “Of course not” I answered “Oh yes it is” the folk said
The lions club this evening. A little heavy seeing how hot the day has been but when the cool of the evening sets in it will be comfortable enough to dance the night away

The seamstress was most excited about the chodder of Giridhari in this dress that's how it got the name Krsna's amazing technicolor dream chodder. But His belt is also impressive. Made by the seamstress herself it has three different trims of ribbon and jari even the small krsna has one. Today's garlands are the scraps of flowers donated long long ago. Short and not too big around.
Today cooler heads previeled. i pedaled later in the day when the heat had gone away. Still down by the opal cliffs the ocean sent it's air conditioned feel through the air and the sunny cove was in the shade when i went by today. With the construction still in effect i went around the school and the cruiser king to the bike shop and through the new lane to the hospital and over the creek. Then the basketball park and on to the soccer pitch. Then it was back to the asrama. Then a surprise second run to get some parama ana for those in the puri.
The baby blue dress tonight with it's gold trim. Again the nights are getting warm and it won't be long till summer's back in town.

The bells on Gandharvika's skirt gave this one the name "She'll be there with bells on". Yeah, you can't see them even in this picture but there on the lowest ruffle. The folks liked the different than usual backdrop. "Makes the Deities stand out well" they said.
The garland maker canceled so they were late that's why only Giridhari has one here.
Pedaling today i must have gotten some heat stroke whew! i just about couldn't make it back for the sandhya. i went down to the opal cliffs like almost everyday and then between the lakes and all. To the shopper's corner where i was taken away by the idea to go a way i hadn't went in some years. That way i could stay on the same side of the freeway as the asrama all the way. But the road was closed even to us pedalers. So i went past the mystery spot where a lot of our young folks either now or in the past have worked. Then up the hills and around to the catholic retreat. By the time i got there i was too winded to go up that hill and even the descent was to daunting. So in the end i made in plenty of time but i'm still feeling it.
The touch that kills, the rich chinese silk that is so comfortable for resting and late night dancing.