Holiday Gift Guide for Local Gifts

I’ve heard so many people are on the ball this year, and have already finished all their Christmas shopping in anticipation of the difficulties we may face with the pandemic. If you’re like me and have done NOTHING, then welcome to the club!! This little gift guide I put together is for anyone needing ideas or looking for something special to bring some cheer to a loved one. If there’s ever a year to splurge on special things (if you’re financially able to), I feel like 2020 is that year! I still strongly support buying experiences instead of more “stuff” but we all know how difficult getting out to do activities has been lately - for that reason we’ve included some online activities for the whole family!

For the kids

Handmade curvy board

A curvy board is fun for the whole family (seriously, they can hold a lot of weight!) and kids love being able to rock, slide and play make-believe with them. Misty’s husband Tom has been making these for years and always does a batch for the holidays. Handmade to order by contacting Tom of All Trades ($140 including tax)

A Culinary Box

Culinary boxes combine the fun of a cooking class with a collection of kid friendly recipe cards, kitchen tools, science activities and more. Check out Julianna Banana for a bundle of 3 Culinary Boxes to get your kids excited to be in the kitchen!

Hot Chocolate Bombs

Becky from A Little Bit of Momsense posted about these hot chocolate bombs and I knew I needed to get my hands on some - they are sold through Occo Market or Aux Delices Bakery.

Online Arts Classes

Do you have a child that loves drawing and painting? Since so many in-person classes are out of the question right now, we went searching for a great online class. Rae Wright is from Guelph Ontario (so now quite local to Ottawa, but this is the beauty of online!) and offers both kid and adult classes - we’ve tried them and my daughter LOVED her experience!

Holiday Ornaments

Want something to commemorate the kind of year its been for the tree? Kids in the Capital founder Lara Wellman is helping to sell ornaments handmade by her mother, including Santa and Mrs. Claus sporting their 2020 facemasks and Coronavirus themselves (also wearing a mask.) They cost $25 and ALL the money goes to support a local school - Charles H Hulse Public School. You can check out the designs through Lara’s Facebook account and place an order in the comments.

National Gallery Membership

If you are comfortable indoors for short periods of time, the National Gallery of Canada is still facilitating great family-based programming every weekend.

World Changing Kids Workshops

World Changing Kids is a local social enterprise dedicated to social justice. Workshops empower children to feel like they can make the world a better place and give them the tools to help do this! Check out their products and workshops available.

The Season’s Best Toys

Want to support local AND find some super fun games or toys for the kids? Check out Tag Along Toys - they carry an amazing line of games, toys and puzzles for kids of all ages. A few featured toys/games include:

Know Nine
Outfoxed
The Clay Date Kit

For the parents and grandparents

Locally made pottery

Monkey Mud Pottery creates local and unique pottery that make the perfect gift for a loved one. I’m obsessed with pottery, so this is definitely on my list!!

Home decor baskets

Pillows and Paintings is a local home-staging business, and they are now selling these GORGEOUS home decor baskets through their new boutique - perfect for any parent, grandparent or friend. There are many different themed baskets for all kinds of tastes. “Tin Man” has a rustic vibe (with local beer!) while “Tranquility” is cool and beautiful.

Local beer or takeout

Nothing says “I love you” like good food and drink! And with a lack of options for dining out these days, the new date night has become an at-home experience. Serve the kids some grilled cheese, get them to bed, and then enjoy local brews and food. Our favourites include:

Bicycle Brewery
Broadhead Brewery
OCCO Kitchen (and OCCO Market!)

Online arts classes for parents

Check out the following local artists for online classes for adults:

In Detail with Joanne Lauzon - an artist and creative play coach who is passionate about inspiring joyful living through creative play!

Hooking Outside the Lines with Robin Whitford - Rug Hooking, creativity and community!

Christmas at Saunders Farm - Light & Sound Show (Nightly Drive-Through)

KITC would like to welcome back, guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, when there isn’t a pandemic, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During the winter (when it’s not a pandemic), a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.

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Everyone will be celebrating Christmas in a different manner this year.  Different doesn’t mean a person cannot have fun and create new traditions.   In keeping with this idea,  our family decided to check out the Holiday Light and Sound Drive-Through show at Saunders Farm.  

Like many families,  we have been to Saunders Farm too many times to count.  I was curious to see how they would change the farm into a winter wonderland.   Upon arrival,  I could see they had delivered on all fronts.  The road leading into the farm looked like the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie.   There was a firepit where families could warm up along with a food stand where it was possible to purchase seasonal treats.  

We were there to experience the drive-through show.   That area was also festively decorated.   Perhaps more than the decorations,  I appreciated the short wait time to enter the attraction.  The ticket was a timed entry ensuring that there were not any hour long waits or a snake line of vehicles idling away.   

The drive-through route follows the same route as the Halloween haunted wagon ride.   I will not give anything away but it was fun to see how some of the Halloween scares had been transformed for Christmas. We set our car radio to an FM station that had an endless loop of holiday songs.   Of course,  Mariah Carey was one of the featured artists.    Holiday Light and Sound Drive-Through

We were blown away by all the lights and Christmas set pieces.   The lighting effects were far beyond anything I expected.   There were plenty of lit up reindeer and trees.   My favourite were the snow globes at the end.   

We drove through at ten kilometres an hour and the entire experience lasted about twenty to twenty five minutes.    It was so good I would have been willing to pay again to do the drive a second time.   

As mentioned,  it was an option to stop after and enjoy a treat while warming up by the firepit.   The farm shop also is open selling items like pre-cut Christmas trees and wreaths.  

We did not stay as it had already been a full day but would do so next time.  

While the light show was outstanding perhaps the thing I was most grateful for was just the sense of normalcy even for a short period of time.  We were a family enjoying a family activity and not worrying about the current situation.  

That is not to say there were any shortcuts for health protocols.  All staff were wearing masks and everyone was socially distanced. We felt very safe from the moment we arrived to departure.

Post-COVID,  I hope Saunders Farm will continue the Country Christmas Nighttime Experience. I could see this becoming a  yearly tradition for many families, including ourselves.

Saunders Farm  also offers a daytime experience where you can visit a Christmas market,  enjoy many outdoor attractions like the hedge mazes and buy a pre-cut Christmas tree.  Of course, it is important to follow all COVID-19 protocols and check the Saunders Farm website for any changes.   

For more information, visit www.saundersfarm.com.

Disclaimer: Stephen and his family were provided free entry but all opinions are my own.

Kids learning to cook with Julianna Banana

Tween girl holding Casserole dish of chicken pot pie with pot holders

My daughter, 11, loves to cook. She often likes to cook when I don’t feel like cooking - but since she doesn’t know how to cook she needs a lot of guidance. I am a huge fan of teaching my kids skills that teach them life skills, especially ones that mean I have to do less of the meal prep!

That’s why I was so intrigued when I heard about Julianna Banana. They sell kits that come with recipes, information, and tools for kids to get comfortable going beyond the grilled cheese sandwich and frozen pizza they may be used to making. We were excited to partner with them to try out their products and tell you all about it!

Juliette got to try out their harvest box and really loved the experience!

Heart shaped sugar cookies with orange and black sprinkles

What did she make?

She made sugar cookies and chicken pot pie (including the crust!!)

I don’t think I’ve ever made my own pie crust so I was particularly impressed with that part!

What did she love?

“I liked how easy the recipes were and how everyone in the family likes the food I made! And it was really fun to make! 

I also loved how the cards were laminated cause then if you get something on it while cooking you don’t have to throw it out.

I loved how it came with a little educational experiment that you can use in the future. I loved the food so much and I’m so exited to be able to make them over and over again till I’m old ! Thanks Juliana banana!”

What do you need to know?

Contents of the holiday box

• The recipes are easy to follow and very visual. Ideally this would suit kids aged 10-14 unless you want to be involved to help!
  

• The laminated recipe cards were really appreciated as they needed a good cleaning after the cooking was done.
  

• You can order online to have it shipped to you, or you can pick up at one of several local businesses to save shipping costs.
  

• The container that comes with the Holiday box is perfect for storing all the laminated recipe cards and we look forward to filling it with more favourites for Juliette to keep cooking with as she learns more skills.
  

• We haven’t tried one of the online cooking classes yet, but the Holiday box includes one ( December 30 of January 30) and you can sign up for a variety of other cooking classes on their site too.
  

• You can purchase a bundle and get your kid(s) the Holiday box, Valentine’s Box and Spring box all in one bundle - your kids will be cooking for you more and more all year long!
  

• We love that Julianna Banana focuses so much on supporting local and small business.

“We support LOCAL business and give back to the community. A fundamental pillar of Julianna Banana is to support local businesses and to give back to the community. Materials in our Culinary Boxes including kitchen tools and accessories are sourced whenever possible from local vendors. Recipe cards are designed and printed in Ottawa and our Julianna Banana apron is made and printed in Canada In keeping with a mission of Julianna Banana to give back to the community, we support local food charities. A portion of proceeds from sales of Julianna Banana Culinary Boxes and Julianna Banana classes go directly to food charities.”

The Harvest box Juliette tried is no longer available but the Holiday box is!

The Julianna Banana Holiday Box contains:

Child placing raspberries into a chocolate dessert

• 5 laminated kid-friendly recipes, specially designed for the holidays (Make a holiday classic meal: Traditional Meat Pie with Flaky pastry & Cranberry Sauce, Festive Salad, Ginberbread Ornaments and an easy peasy Holiday Yule Log)

• 3 gifting recipes, which will allow your junior chef to make the perfect gifts for friends and family

• 1 glass jar plus gift tags and ribbon to complete your gifts from the kitchen

• 1 food science activity: “Emulsions!”

• 1 table setting card plus fun holiday crafts to decorate your home

• 1 quality kitchen tool locally sourced to help your junior chef prepare their meal

• 6 individual meal display cards that kids can decorate and personalize to showcase their food

• Sprinkles and piping bag to prepare your recipes and gifting items

• 1 functional kitchen storage container perfect for storing the recipes

• 1 made in Canada and locally printed Julianna Banana apron

• Access to a live, interactive Julianna Banana class where we prepare one of the recipes! (These classes are happening on December 30th or January 30th)

• The box contains kitchen tools and materials valued at over $40, not including the class!

• Crafting and learning experiences in the kitchen, providing priceless family fun time.
  
  We love this list of reasons shared on the Julianna Banana site to invest in this experience for your kid(s) this holiday season:
  
  This year, instead of heading to the toy store, give your kids the gift of:

  • An experience in the kitchen, in which your junior chefs can start down the path to loving cooking and thinking critically about the food they eat.

  • Spending time together as a family, creating meals and memories at the same time!

  • Giving back to their community.

  • Supporting local vendors and Made in Canada items.

  You can purchase the boxes or bundle on the Julianna Banana site - and if you do, make sure to share photos of your creations!

  Please note, Julianna Banana is a Kids in the Capital sponsor and we were provided the Harvest box. All thoughts and feedback are based on our personal experience with the box.
  
  
  

2020 Holiday Activities in Ottawa

It may come as no surprise that the Christmas and holiday season will look a little different this year. There are no traditional Santa Claus parades or as many in-person holiday events, but there are still many ways to celebrate the holidays in Ottawa this year. From writing a letter to Santa to enjoying the magic of twinkling holiday lights, we hope this holiday activities list sparks a little joy this holiday season!

Drive-through Holiday Activities

Christmas Lights Across Canada (CLAC)

Downtown Ottawa
CLAC runs from November 30, 2020, to January 7, 2021.
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/christmas-lights

Thousands of dazzling holiday lights showcase Parliament Hill, national museums, embassies and other significant sites across Ottawa. More details available soon.

The Enchanted Holiday Drive

Karter’s Korners
6336 Fallowfield Rd.
Admission per car: $40
https://www.enchantedottawa.ca/

Enchanted, presented by Richcraft, is a holiday drive-through experience like no other. While making their way through the nostalgic Karters’ Korner’s track, attendees will experience eight holly, jolly, festive scenes for the whole family to enjoy. Enchanted will have no shortage of spectacular special effects, innovative lighting, and fantastical production, but, unlike most other experiences, it will also largely focus on scenery and interaction. With live actors (including Santa), fully built scenes, a mailbox for letters to Santa, and a sense of wonder like no other, Enchanted is set to bring a new level of magic to Ottawa this holiday season.

Magic of Lights Ottawa

Wesley Clover Parks (West Ottawa)
November 13, 2020, to January 9, 2021
https://wesleycloverparks.com/events/magic-of-lights-ottawa

Now in its fifth year, this event has quickly become a holiday tradition for many Ottawa residents and visitors, is comprised of LED displays celebrating the joy of the holidays. A “drive-through” experience from the comfort of your own car, at every turn and in every direction the route is overflowing with spectacular light displays and animations. Online (contactless!): $22 +HST & fees. At the gate: Monday - Thursday: $30; Friday - Sunday: $35.

Saunders Farm Holiday Light and Sound Drive-through show

Munster, ON
https://saundersfarm.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/31306?catID=30787&

November 28th to January 1st
Sunday-Thursday 5 pm-9 pm
Fridays-Saturdays 5 pm-10 pm
Admission per car is $22.15 plus HST

All tickets must be booked in advance. Arrival times are booked every 20 minutes from 6:00pm-10:00pm. A limited number of tickets available per time slot.

Vintage Village of Lights... drive-through

The Cumberland Heritage Village Museum
2940 Old Montreal Road

Relax and enjoy the festive scenery from your vehicle as you pass through a 1920s and 30s village illuminated by over 30,000 lights. Colourful vignettes will highlight Christmas traditions from the interwar years while an old-fashioned radio program will bring the sounds of the season to you. You may even spot Santa hard at work preparing for the big night along the way! As an added festive treat, each household will receive a goody bag to continue the celebration at home.

Wednesday – Sunday between 5 pm and 9 pm
November 25 to December 23
Cost: $25 per vehicle. Registration is required.

Tickets will not be available for purchase at the entrance. Registration is completed using Service Ottawa’s online system : https://apps102.ottawa.ca

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/374992923845131

11th Annual Carp Santa Claus Parade - Drive Thru Style

Carp Fairgrounds, Carp
December 12th at 7 pm
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1303378300003469

Entry is Food Donations to the West Carleton Food Access Centre.
Cash, Gift Cards, Food Donations collected along route.

Taffy Lane, Orleans

Orleans
There's no website for the holiday lights on Taffy Lane in Orleans, but you can find out where Taffy Lane is on Google Maps. This is a street in Orleans that goes light-crazy every year, and people drive from all over to catch a glimpse. It's bright and fun, and the kids love it! Cost: FREE!

In-person holiday events

Alight at Night

Upper Canada Village
Friday, November 27th until January 2, 2021
http://www.uppercanadavillage.com/events/alight-at-night

Bundle up for a magical family tradition with over one million lights! The historic Upper Canada Village is transformed into a one-of-a-kind winter wonderland! Date and time-specific ticketing in place, so that guests can enjoy what feels like a more private experience while maintaining physical distancing protocols. A limited number of tickets will be available each night!

Ian’s Christmas Adventure Park

Carleton Place, ON
https://www.ianschristmaspark.ca
Enjoy a movie night on the big scree, a hay ride to the fields to cut your own Christma tree (or choose from their large selection of precut Christmas trees), visit Santa in his workshop, tour their mazes, warm up around a firepit, or visit their petting farm! Ian’s Christmas Park has many holiday-themed activities for the entire family, is following COVID-19 safety protocols and is open every weekend from 9 am to 5 pm. For the lates updates, including pricing and more information, visit their website.

Saunders Farm - Christmas Market

Munster, ON
https://saundersfarm.com
November 28th to December 19th
Open Weekends 10 am-4 pm

Featuring 20 local vendors. Christmas trees are available for purchase, as well as holiday decor and seasonal foods.Enjoy the outdoors by exploring their snow-covered Mazes, bundling up for a hayride, and enjoying the Christmas displays set up throughout the farm. Admission is $15 plus HST. COVID-19 safety protocols in place.

Stanley’s Farm Christmas Village

Edwards, ON
Starts mid-November
https://stanleysfarm.com/family-fun/christmas-village

Explore the village, sing songs, play games with your own Christmas Elf and warm up by the bonfire. This fully outdoors experience is one hour long (tractor draw sleigh ride). Buy tickets in advance. Tickets are valid only for the date & time purchased. Group/Family pricing of $120.00+HST for groups of max of six. Babies (Under 18 months) are not included in your group of 6  – Babies must sit on parent/guardian lap for the Tractor Drawn ride. COVID-19 safety protocols in place.

Mall Santa re-imagined

Santa’s in Town - Bayshore Shopping Centre

November 26th to December 20, 2020
Bayshore Shopping Centre - P1 of North Deck along Woodridge Crescent (Section K to H)
https://www.icbookingtool.com/en/BAY/794

A magical outdoor, socially distanced, holiday encounter with Santa Claus. Book your experience with a $10 donation to Ottawa Food Bank and receive a high-resolution photo as well as a 360° digital photo with Santa Claus posing alongside his charming Christmas cabin.

Virtual Santa Pierre - Orleans Mall

Virtual Message from Santa Pierre
Santa Pierre has seen your loved ones grow up at the Orleans Mall for the past 20+ years, and the thought of not seeing them and putting smiles on their faces saddens him. That is why he has gone virtual!  

Custom message for your loved one(s) from Santa Pierre!
https://santapierre.com/products/virtual-santa-message
Cost: $25

Virtual Picture with Santa Pierre
Email a digital photo you would like to see with Santa Pierre!
https://santapierre.com/products/virtual-picture-with-santa-pierre
Cost: $15

COVID Santa and Spooky Santa-friendly Experience - Carlingwood Mall

Starts November 21st to December 24th
Meet with Santa or Spooky Santa by appointment only
https://carlingwood.com/events/carlingwood-santa-s-arrival-saturday-november-21st-11am

Santa will be on his Green Chair and families will be able to get a socially-distant photo with Santa while sitting on a bench in front of Santa or Spooky Santa.  Guests will also be directed to wear a mask through the entire experience, except for the photo. Carlingwood has also enhanced sanitization protocols between each visit. 

COVID-19 Safe Visit with Santa - Hazeldean Mall

Kanata, ON
November 12th to December 20th
https://www.hazeldeanmall.com/events/hazeldean-yes-there-will-be-a-santa-claus

Enjoy a 6-minute visit with Santa (studio area will be sanitized prior to your visit) and portraits made by a photographer. First 4 minutes: Visit Santa, he will be seated beside the Santa Sofa with a plexiglass sneeze guard between you and Santa. Santa will be wearing a mask during the visit. The final 2 minutes are the time for photographs: you will turn to face the photographer and can (if permitted) remove your mask(s) for photographs - Santa can be behind or beside visitors at this point and, if permitted, take his mask off as well. Visit their website for more information.

Billings Bridge Mall

For more information and to book a time, please visit: https://www.idea3.xyz/billings-santa

Visit Santa Claus: Up to four appointments per hour for enhanced and safe visits with Santa Claus - located beside the bottom of the escalators that lead to the food court.

Visit Mean Green: Up to four appointments per hour for enhanced and safe visits with Mean Green Santa - located beside the bottom of the escalators that lead to the food court

Virtual Santa Visits - Rideau Centre

Virtual visits with Santa will be available. Families can have a video chat with Santa and parents can arrange to receive a special video call with Santa while he's busy at the North Pole preparing for the holiday season. For more information and to make reservations visit https://www.cfshops.com/rideau-centre.html

Virtual Santa with PhotoBooth

Santa and his elves have gone virtual! No more waiting in line in a crowded mall waiting to meet the big guy. Book your own personal zoom meeting with Santa from the comfort of your home. Visit the website to book: https://www.mdrnphotoboothcompany.com/virtual-santa-visit

Other Holiday Activities

Write a letter to Santa

Santa and the postal elves are ready and waiting for letters. Click here to learn how to send your mail to the North Pole in time to hear back from Santa.

Journal-Style Middle School Book Recommendations from the Ottawa Public Library

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share a list books perfect for middle schoolers. This month’s post is by Sarah Godding, CPPSA at the Alta Vista Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. The selection is inspired by the joys of journaling!

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It’s November and after ongoing COVID-19 constraints in Ottawa, many of us are reaching a point of fatigue. SIGH. Yet, with these limits placed on our proximity to others comes an opportunity to increase our proximity to ourselves!

Getting to know oneself is a beautiful pursuit at any age. Keeping a diary, daily log or journal is a wonderful way to grow our understanding, appreciation and acceptance of ourselves. Encouraging the kids in our lives to let it all out onto a page can prove to be a great release. We cannot fix what we do not acknowledge no matter how big or small.

Here are middle school reads which incorporate the diary/journal style of writing and, in doing so, allow the reader to feel closer to the characters.

Just Jaime by Terry Libenson
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1168825026

Just Jaime follows two childhood best friends as they begin to cross the threshold from child to teen. The conflict is delicate as Jamie feels her best friend Maya is pulling away - but why? The chapters alternate narration of the last day of grade 7, with Jamie’s chapters taking a more intimate, handwritten diary approach, and Maya’s chapters laid out in a classic comic book style. This book allows the reader to navigate, along with the two friends, the turbulent dance of growing in and out of friendship and the importance and challenge of expressing hurt feelings. Through Jaime’s handwritten entries we are provided a wonderfully honest snapshot of the middle grade drama.

The Year I Didn’t Eat by Samuel Pollen
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1149054026

We meet 14-year-old Max just before a Christmas dinner feast with his family. Tensions are high for the young bird enthusiast with anorexia. Lately Max feels no one understands him, no one but Ana. Max has been keeping a journal, upon his therapist’s request, and addresses his entries to “Ana”- his eating disorder. Ana is not a kind influence, to say the least. The story alternates between narration and diary entries to Ana. It’s through these entries to Ana that the audience gains insight into tough emotions Max has no other way to express. Max’s battle with anorexia affects his relationships big time! When his brother moves out and his parents get quiet, a new classmate named Evie might just be the gust of fresh air needed to help Max turn his ship around.

Can You See Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1205782026

The next middle school diary style read stars Tally as she begins the sixth grade at a new school. She is really hoping to find her place, to be accepted, and to belong. Unfortunately, she believes that the only way she can make this happen is to hide parts of herself - like the fact that she has autism. We follow Tally through a combination of present-tense, third person writing and short diary entries. It’s through the diary entries, that the audience gains an honest understanding of Tally’s experience as a person with autism. In her entries she explains her exceptionality frankly and even provides the reader with definitions and eye-opening descriptions. This book was coauthored by a young girl with autism and the audience is better for it.

The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1215230026

Imani is another middle schooler whose feelings of being separate and other are weighing her down. She is the only person of colour in her white Baltimore neighbourhood and she’s adopted. Then her great-grandmother dies, and leaves Imani the diary she kept as a 12-year-old fleeing the Nazis in Luxembourg. It’s through reading her journal entries and her own curiosity fuelled research that Imani gets to know her Grandma Anna. Though they may not be connected by blood, they share something some special similarities. A beautiful story of the power of connection!

Isaiah Dunn is my Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1225423026

Our next character with a pension for reflection is the young Isaiah Dunn. He is 10 years old and loves writing poetry. Unfortunately, after his father passes the words stop flowing. The lose leaves Isaiah and his family feeling lost and uprooted. As many humans do when experiencing big feelings, he starts acting out and lands himself in an after-school meditation class with the class bully. Things get worse before they get better as Isaiah's mom’s depression takes a nosedive. The story lifts as the young boy finds journals full of stories about "Isaiah Dunn, superhero" that his dad left. The words on the page are so much more than that for young Isaiah and this connection to his father takes the story to the next level.

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1085600026

Finally, we meet Nisha, a quiet, sensitive half Hindu, half Muslim girl trying to find her place in the world. Finding her place and her voice is complicated by her geography and the time. Nisha is part of the forced migration of the Hindu people from Pakistan to India due to the countries separation in 1947. 12-year-old Nisha turns to her diary every night to help her process her feelings of loss and alienation. In her diary she writes to her mother who passed away when she was a baby. Nisha builds a relationship with the mother she never knew through these entries and uses her words as a tool to bring her complicated thoughts and feelings into focus. It’s a beautiful tale of the challenging experience of forced migration from Pakistan to India, of being caught between two worlds and belief systems and of accepting these hurdles with grace.