Wednesday, April 20, 2016

My non conventional house

 We don’t want to display the picture of Radha Krishna with the glass frame due to glare.
A decision was made by us to pop it out of its frame and to float it displayed on a shelf/ledge (previously)than that would hang over our  antique Almirah Door from industrial   region in Hisar.  
computer room

the weather in April is too lovely to last..my grand daughter is in happy,jolly mood.
 I hold a strong heartfelt bond and belief in filling our home with family, friends and laughter. Lassi always factors in with meals, often prepared in anticipation of a shared evening with guests. I've been adding many more rustic touches to our non conventional -home, they just seem to belong and embrace me at this point of my life. 
xoxo

Rehana




Sunday, April 17, 2016

Crochet dress

i crocheted this crochet dress for my daughter in 1980, in 1990 i salvaged the belt and bib and opened one of the side seam then i obtained a square piece of crochet  then i gave it colour green and got a beautiful piece of crochet table cloth the possession of that tablecloth remained for 20 years. 

can you imagine the life of self created crochet piece?

xoxo

I've been ignoring my blog


I've been so busy lately that I've not had spare time to put anything creative on my blog.

Is it true? I am posting my publications in the blog while I am creating day and night I didn’t have time to took snaps of those items. I crocheted two yokes for my granddaughter’s dresses, one yoke for my daughter’s shirt, one purse for my daughter, four cotton yarn hankies.
xoxo

My publications, Care Magzine

My publications on woman's literacy, breast feeding and consumer education     



experience based article on consumer education




article on literacy 




feeding the baby

click to enlarge

xoxo

Some of My Favorite Music


I was practicing the SIitar this evening and I often like to look for YouTube videos of songs that I'm learning. I started out looking for more Raga Bageshvri based songs  and ended up finding  the following songs based on Raga Bageshvri.

Here are links to several other links to videos of this raga based songs performing favorite songs of mine that I hope to learn in the future:


aajaa re .a.a.a paradesii
mai.n to kab se kha.Dii is paar
ye a.Nkhiyaa.N, thak ga_ii pa.nth nihaar
aajaa re, paradesii

(tum sa.ng janam janam ke phere
bhuul gaye kyuu.N saajan mere     )  - 2
ta.Dapat huu.N mai.n saa.njh savere, o ...
aajaa re, mai.n to kab se kha.Dii is paar ...

(mai.n nadiyaa phir bhii mai.n pyaasii
bhed ye gaharaa baat zaraa sii   ) - 2
bin tere har raat udaasii, o ...
aajaa re, mai.n to kab se kha.Dii is paar ...

mai.n diye kii aisii baatii
jal na sakii jo bujh bhii na paatii
aa mil mere jiivan saathii, o ...
aajaa re, mai.n to kab se kha.Dii is paar ...

An outstanding classical song but unfortunately not heard often.

chaah barbaad karegi hamen maalum na tha / rote rote hi kategi hamen maalum na tha / maut bhi ham pe hansegi hamen maalum na tha / zindagi rog banegi hamen maalum na tha / chhaayi ghanghor ghataa chaand sitaare na rahe / woh ummeeden na rahi ab woh sahaare na rahe / ghair to ghair hi the woh bhi hamaare na rahe / ham pe aisi bhi padegi hamen maalum na tha...


Radha na bole na bole re by Lata Mangeshkar from Azad (1955), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music C Ramchandra
I had a tough time choosing between Jaag dard-e ishq jaag and Radha na bole na bole re as my iconic song for Bageshree. Ultimately I have opted for the latter, as it stays closer to the standard format of the raga.


Like most great ragas Bageshree can be used to express a variety of moods. The song above presents its playful mood. The classical piece below shows what this raga can do to express yearning and pathos. Malini Rajurkar sings a composition that was made famous by the late Kumar Gandharva:



xoxo

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Traditional Haryanvi Kothi for grain storage and eatable storage


The small earthen cupboard with a wooden door is the ancient Kothi Haryanvi fridge…


It is called Kothi. It is used to keep the grain but also butter  milk and curd,roti,sabji or any other food item that needs to be kept fresh. It is the perfect place to set the curd. In winter, this earthen cupboard will provide the necessary warmth for the curd to set. And in summer, it will prevent the dahi to turn sour.
traditional Haryanvi kothi


sketch of kothi in our mansion when i was a kid

I still remember our kothi in our mansion it was placed between three decorative pillers of varanda. Mainly it was for grain storage and my grandpa filled it with millets in level one foot   below the wooden window and my grand ma store the chappaties raw milk for tea, butter and other eatebles on grains in kothi there was two steps on ground to approach the eatables for children

 It was made using the Talab (pond)’s mud mixed with a bit of straw (no cow dung). The external white coating is done using a white mud diluted in water.

As Kothis are not in demand anymore (people want fridges, modern furniture), the know-how to make these sustainable fridges and storage bins is fast disappearing. 
kothi and kuthla
The bigger mud structures with openings at the base are grain storages, Grains are filled with the openings at the top then tightened with mud lid

Note how these grain stores are not only sustainable but also beautiful piece of arts!!

क्रोशिये की ड्रेस

क्रोशिये की यह ड्रेस  मैंने अपनी बेटी के लिए 1980 में बनाई थी उसके बड़े होने पर घर परिवार में उसे पहनने वाली कोई बच्ची नहीं थी अतः यह ड्रैस 6 -7 वर्ष तक अलमारी में पड़ी रही बेटे के बड़े होने पर उसे लड़की बना कर यह ड्रैस उसे पहना कर फोटो खिंचवाई पैटर्न लिखा और सरिता में सितंबर 1987 के अंक में इसे  प्रकाशित करवाया नीचे यह ड्रैस प्रस्तुत है इसे मेरे बेटे ने पहन रखा है याद है उसे पहन कर फोटो खिंचवाते समय उसने बहुत शरारत की थी स्टूडियो में फोटोग्राफ्रर  को उसका सही पोज़ लेने के लिए बहुत  मशक्क्त करनी पड़ी थी और मुझे बहुत मनुहार करनी पड़ी थी. आज सरिता के पेज़  भी बहुत पीले पड़ गये हैं.  इतना ही नहीं यह ड्रैस फिर मेरी छोटी बहन की लड़की ने जो मेरे बेटे से 3 वर्ष छोटी है खूब पहनी फिरउसे किसी को दे दिया तो यह होता है अपने हाथों से बनी पोशाक का गुण वह खूब चलती है और याद बनी रहती है.   






Loving crochet
I started crocheting when I was in grade II. My neighbor friends  all had their projects about crochet for their Home Science  class and I just can’t wait to try.
My mother was my first teacher. She taught me how to make a single chain.
It was fun and it was (I then thought) easy so I asked her to teach me more. And so I learned other basic stitches but I cannot make something pretty and usable… Almost all my first works were circular since I cannot make uniform stitches.
Our neighbor taught me how to make the granny square. It was then I thought that I could make my own patterns and motifs then attach them with another…
Up to now, I enjoy crocheting… It relieves me of tensions and frustrations.. I’ve done several projects before and I have given them to friends and relatives.. I keep my recent ones, though…


xoxo

Monday, April 11, 2016

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan  is a national campaign by the Government of India, covering 4,041 statutory cities and towns, to clean the streets, roads and infrastructure of the country.........Wikipedia
To popularize the Latterens in villages i wrote this article in ANUDESH in May 1990 the magasine for adult education campaign beneficiaries




click to enlarge
xoxo


Saturday, April 9, 2016

My article related to Swachh Bharat

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan  is a national campaign by the Government of India, covering 4,041 statutory cities and towns, to clean the streets, roads and infrastructure of the country.........Wikipedia

My articles on Health and Hygiene
in prathmik adhyaapk and Alive in 1990








xoxo

New Purchases



The vibrant colors and unique  texture  in Kalekhan ’s new collection look just like the

 ones I remembers from my childhood. When I was a little girl in Haryana, I spent a lot of 

time at my Grandma’s house (Dadi means Grandma in Haryana). Her garden was an 

adventuresome place. The colourful plants  grows like weeds in many places in Haryana, 

including my Grandma’s garden. I remember being allowed to pick the colorful flowers 

that were growing in places they weren’t supposed to, like the walkways and the yard. 

That was heaven for a girl who was used to making bouquets and wreaths out of Rohada 

and Aak flowers; adding the striking colors of the berries was like giving an artist paint. 

Just picture this collection transformed into a pretty quilt to brighten a sunroom!



The concept for this fabric program began with my Mom and Sis’s support and advice r. Our distinctive collection includes a vibrant focal print - a galaxy design with layers of stars circling on a dark sky ground. In addition to our terrific coordinate prints, we have a truly unique label design. As soon as I bring them all in our home my daughter and niece grab most of them for their fabrictees and shirts. Let see what will remain for the projects we planned to do.

The fabric in this picture  is a folk art collection with a floral on a nicely textured ground, two smaller florals, a little tie and dye, spirals, leaves and a stippled texture, all in deep eggplants, dark greens, beiges, golds, and reds. These designs are just right for making appliquéd blossoms, country dresses and jackets, home dec projects, and for ragged edge appliqué. I bought them in one meter to 4 meter pieces.
xoxo

Friday, April 8, 2016

Salad,our staple


My son’s friend was invited on lunch yesterday , we served  a simple meal along with salad.
For salad he said Oh! this is Israeli Salad I have been Israel last month where I came to know that Israeli Salad contains,cucumbers,tomatoes,onions,lemon juice and olive oil and fresh coriander leaves in Israeli Salad
It’s easy to make, inexpensive, and surprisingly delicious. In summer, I serve it alongside Chapatti or Rice, Dal. In colder weather, I use it as a healthy side to lighten up heavy meals like chappti or rice  with ghee shakkar or  churma
For those of you who aren’t familiar with this, it’s a refreshing Sephardic side dish that compliments all kinds of Haryanvi cuisine. It is low in calories, and can be served with any meal– even breakfast! Each ingredient in the salad has unique health benefits:
§  Fresh cucumbers (peel on) are fat-free, full of water and a good source of fiber.
§  Fresh tomatoes provide Vitamin C, A, and cancer fighting lycopene (organic tomatoes provide three times the lycopene of non-organic!).
§  Onions are rich in chromium, a trace mineral that helps cells respond appropriately to insulin. Onions can lower blood sugar levels, and they’ve also been shown to help lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
§  Fresh coriander  is a great source of Vitamin K.  It also contains Vitamins C and A, Folate, and anti-oxidants.
§  Lemon juice is full of Vitamin C, antioxidants, and potassium.  It’s also a natural diuretic.
§  Olive oil provides a healthy dose of MUFA’s (mono unsaturated fatty acids) and can help with digestion.
Unfortunately, some grocery stores only carry cucumbers seasonally, and some don’t carry them at all. If you can’t find cucumbers, you may substitute Chinese cucumbers. Avoid using regular fat cucumbers, as they are coated with wax and prone to bitterness.
Cucumbers have lots of little seeds, which add to their flavor. If you have trouble digesting seeds, you can seed the cucumber easily by slicing it in half lengthwise and scooping out the seed-filled center.
here’s a recipe for traditional  Indian  Salad. This is the way it’s served in India. I don’t like raw onion, so I often make mine without. Our family enjoys it both ways. Be sure to dice the vegetables small and evenly!
Ingredients
500 grams cucumbers, diced
500 grams fresh ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
½ cup fresh coriander leaves, minced
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp lemon juice
Salt to taste

Combine all ingredients in a bowl.  Mix till vegetables are well coated with coriander, oil, lemon juice, and salt.  Best served fresh at room temperature.

xoxo

Morning with tea,

My morning cup of tea happened in front of my

 computer I delight in



 
reading blogs.

 For me it is a perfect diversion in the morning with a cup of coffee. Distracting my mind from daily stress visiting blogs reward me with inspiration.




living room.



This is another corner of our Living room updates to freshen our nest, our true respite where we live and entertain. Conversation and the sound of laughter resonates in our home providing happiness and solace. There's no grand gestures with my décor style and if pressed to describe my style I'd say it's a collected eclectic global feel with a Haryanvi vibe. But since our home is always evolving time will tell.Once Dr K.M.said ,”o vimmi how did you plan the architect of this non-conventional house.”

Ant how it's in the consistency of color's and pieces that flow room to room that to me logically blend everything together in my tactile design.

xoxo