Crochet Granny Squares – Woman’s Bolero

I will mad one each for the girls in my family. Its easy to make

click on the  source for the pattern and make one .



 Source



xoxo

Decoration with cotton

 

I wonder if people who do not live in the irrigated area really tired of everyone who does live in the arid areas/rain fed area/desert with shifting sand dunes….talking about the Bhiwani district (not now…when I was a kid, I become nostalgic writing this post?)

I have traveled all over India being the air force brat, and I know without a doubt there are truly beautiful areas which rival my beloved Bhiwani district.

But, I am deep down a Haryanvi bagri.  Born in Pune Maharashtra and Bred in All over India.

Right in the heart of arid-area (dadu’s house) .  And irrigated Cotton growing area(nanu’s house).

You see, Bagris have  Bajra.  Khadaris  have wheat. All Haryanvi  have milk.

But, now here in the Bhiwani Distruct  – we too  have Cotton now a days .

Yes, yes, I think we all know what the major use of cotton is?  Don’t we?

I wonder if they get tired of us talking about our Bhiwani farmhouses and our Bhiwani porches.
We have it. Previously all people at nanu’s house used to tease us saying BAGRI with Bajra.

Now our fields got irrigation through canals and lift irrigation,we used to grow cotton, wheat, sugarcane, vegetables all that grow in KHadar area

NOW WE GROW COTTON and   We decorate with it, of course.  :)

 

We decorate with it, of course: We stick long stems in pretty willow and glass vases and add no need of water.ok!.

Then, we place it on our coffee tables in our Living Rooms….

and add…Petty pillows Hand made by me  with a pleasant surrounded area.

 

 Yhen I change the place of cotton filled vase in the corner! How cute!

 At night the small light twinkles on the white cotton  and the cotton changes its colours as well!

 Cotton stick in another recycled vase placed with some utility articles!!!

 Cotton….

xoxox

On the way

 

On the 9th of this month while returning from my sis’s city e was busy crocheting at back seat of car,

And it occurred to me that, much as I love my crocheting and enjoy spending time doing it, it’s all too rare that I actually sit in it and enjoy outside scenery. It's not that I don't have anywhere to sit while travelling, because I do.

 

 

 

It being a cool and chilly evening, I decided to remedy this and grabbed a little job that I could sit at

the back seat  and do whilst enjoying the fresh air and birdsong returning to their nests.

 

 

 

 

When a quick glance out of the window caught this view of sun set across the wheat fields on the way. I felt

what a tranquil and inviting seat I got, I thought.

I took sunset shots on   and have found what I believe are the best places on the way to Jind via Barwala to

get that perfect sunset shots.  

All of this shots are captured while the car was running at the speed   of?.......

This is the #1 location On the way through wheat and sarson fields to capture the most beautiful sunset shots.

xxx

MOM

I don't have a word to explain goods of my mom, but I have my collections because of my mom. No question. Pitchers and vases, quilts and fabric. My mom knows how to put it all together (sometimes with thumb tacks and safety pins but it always looks fantastic).

 I wouldn't be here without her, but frankly, neither would this blog. My mom, more than anyone,

taught me about the feel of fabric texture, color and contrast, lines and shadows. She's the best baby

dress maker, bead purse maker, house decorator and harvester (in our fields) of the crops I know.

 

 

She believed in make-believe with me, let me stay up late to watch calves and  buffaloes be born and

 

 made tiny dolls for me and my friend mini when we were awesome nefarious kids( mini was more

 

bad, for the record). During my delivery for my two kids she was with me for whole time till the

 

babies got two months old, always doing things for me and for my little babies. She gave

 

 

me bangs, taught me to love calico (cats & fabric), didn't let me get out of the car until the Beatles

 

song was over, is my best critic and advocate, and dressed me in that awesome frocks

with frills at neckline  (see photo above). I totally love her. And while today is just a day, it's a good day to note how much of me is from her. And how much I love her. In my bones and in my soul and in all of my best moments. Love love love. All you need is.
xoxo, momma, xoxo.

Maha Shiv Ratri

source

Shivratri is one of the most religious festival of Hindus. Shivratri is basically known as Maha Shivaratri, which generally comes on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna (lies betwwen Februat and March accoring to universal calendar). maha Shivratri is fully dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is believed to be one of the principal Hindu deities.

Shivratri is celebrated and observed only one day and one night only. Maha Shivratri is observed all parts of the world by all religious Hindus. Hindus observe Shivratri with fasting, bhajans, flowers, offering of prayers, sweets, fruits and food. All these collected together and managed in honor of the Lord Shiva and his divine consort, Goddess Paravati. Jai Shiv Shambhu!

How to perform Shivratri Puja?
Hindus Devotees specially girls and women observe fast whole day of Shivaratri in honor of Lord Shiva and then they visit their nearby Shiva temples to perform Puja. Some of the devotees even do not consume even a drop of water.
First of all, Hindu devotees wake up early in the morning and take a ritual bath in the river (Ganga) to perform the worship of Lord Shiva on the day of Shivratri. Devotees also worship to Sun God (Surya), Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Then, they wear clean ane new clothes and pay a visit to the nearby Shiv temple.

 

shopping is a fun

Friday is the day I often stop at the market on my way home to treat myself to a bunch of flowers if there are any that tickle my fancy. Thankfully, the dahlias are still going strong (yaay!) and I picked out a most gorgeous bunch of mixed blooms to bring home  It always feels like such a bargain (a mere  re 10 a stick), and carrying them home wrapped up in paper makes me pretty much want to skip down the street with joy. After almost twenty-six years of living in this town, I still really get a buzz out of shopping at the market, especially for locally grown seasonal flowers.( sorry that i didn’t able to have a shot of my flowers I shopped on Friday) 

My balcony flowers in the  morning. 

.....perfect. Sigh. Absolutely perfect in every way. Such a glorious display of colour to welcome in the weekend.

I bought some rickrack as well as some beautiful wooden nautical anchor buttons that I would have bought, if they had enough for a cardi, this giant rik rak was what most caught my eye. My inspection says it's hand made, but I couldn't quite work out how. Another project in the offing!

xoxo

my daughter's review

I am so excited to share with you the review of a book my daughter did and is featured in the  

 national-duniya e-paper on Sunday 23 Feb. 2014

the hindi book was titled “acchh ladkii kii chhotiipadatii divaaren “ by Sonali singh

xoxo

My Caladium, my yarn

Today  was such a beautiful day here in my area. The sun was out and the temp went up

to 25 degree, so I spent the day doing a bit of gardening.  Although I live in north western

 part of India  we do get very cold winters   and our temps get low enough to put the

plants to sleep.  We also have not had much rain in this semi-arid area so the grass( in the

front park) browns, if not watered each week. 

Ok, so it may never happen but this is what I want my front yard to look like.  I have the

space and I have the corner area and started with pots with plants in the corner   but I 

 don't have the proper soil.... I bought some sand from the village nearby having sand

dunes, black soil from another cotton growing area mixed them both with vermin-compost

I bought from the lady  we helped her in making vermi- compost ( we conducted a training

under income generating programme of our project) then I put the mixture in my recycled pots

This is my sad wintery yard today. Everything is dry and sleeping and it's a bit depressing but  like most  gardeners around the country, I am patiently waiting for Spring!

I bought  a large number of Caladium bulbs today and planted them in groups of color all around my front yard.

Look at the colors of these beautiful Caladiums below.



These Caladiums are in their full bright colours

My yarn 

So excited about my new yarns! I will admit openly that I am a little bit (a lot) in love with these silky shiny  Yarns. Company is an Indian  yarn and fibre small business located in a village , near Delhi. If you love beautiful yarns in gorgeous colours and textures, please go support this awesome business and have some yummy yarn.

In the above photo:

Top - 3ply  red and blue  that my gorgeous best friend bought me for being awesome. I have no idea what I'm going to make with it. I may just keep it beside me to pet and hug.

I am  free this weekend. So my plan is to catch up on washing, and knit my little heart out on the cruise shawl so that I can get to making pretties with my new stuff!! 

xoxo



Money ! GOD!!!!!!!!!!!

a pic of prayers at our place

Have you ever felt that God has called you to do something?  Have you read stories where people say that God called them to open up a book store or an ice cream shop or, like me, create an NGO?

Why does God ask us to do such things?

xxx

Barahmasa, Ritusamharam

Glancing at the amaranth’s blossoming sprays
Glowing in exquisite loveliness just-revealed
Loveliness that rightly belongs to the beloved’s face
How can a responsive heart not flutter in pain
Stung by proud Love’s flying arrows, my love?

 

These radiant, finely crafted, lines might come from Kalidasa’s classic work, the Ritusamharam, but, reading them, come rushing into mind, instantly, miniature paintings, made in Rajasthan or the Pahari area, centuries later. The setting is always intimate, romantic: lovers seated in a balcony or on a marble terrace, gazing into each other’s eyes while the beauties of the seasons .......click ... HERE.

Barahmasa meaning twelve months are based on the lunar calendar comprising months of Chaitra, Vaishakha, Jyestha, Ashadha, Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashvina, Karttika, Agrahayana, Paushya, Magha and Phalguna. Each two of them are respectively the ritus or seasons of Vasanta, Grishma, Varsha, Sharada, Hemanta and Shishira.

 Winter called Shishir - in the months of Magh and Phalgun
English calendar months are Jan and Feb [approximately]

Magha: forests and gardens echo with the sweet notes of peacocks, pigeons and koel and bees hum as if they have lost their way, all ten directions are scented with musk, camphor and sandal, sounds of Mridangam are heard through the night.

 

 

Phalguna: the fragrance of scented powders fills the air and young women and men in every home play holi with great abandon

Barahmasa Music

The raga melodies of classical Indian music are in harmony not only with the time of the day or night but also with the seasons of the year.Each raga is personified by a color, the overall mood bhava, the nature surrounding the hero and heroine (nayaka and nayika).   The raga elucidation as envisioned in Indian music is a delightful amalgam of art, color, poetry and music.

As regards the seasons and the ragas,most of the ragas in the classical music are set in accordance to various seasons. In this month of winter:

 

Shishira (Magha -  Phalguna): the transitory season of cool days; the diminishing phase of winter; the season of cool comfort gladdening the hearts of lusty women with Malkaush  Raga sung in the chill and silent nights of winter .

 It is said; the Seasonal Ragas can be sung and played any time of the day and night during the season with which they are associated despite the usual rule.

I love the song ˜Door reh kar na karo baat (Muhammad Rafi based on the raga from the movie Amaanat, Starring Manoj Kumar and Sadhana. The song sung by Rafi sahib. Rafi’s   music has a strong aesthetic appeal. It touches the soul and has the power to lift us out of the ordinary, to elevate our experience beyond the everyday and the commonplace. His love for soft ragas like Malkos exemplifies this. It  produces a therapeutic effect on the listener

 

 xxxx