Ode to Naturally Cracked

So I have been trying to schedule posts ahead so I can keep up on everything and take on more reviews, and work for my NGO/ MSS,HISAR,HARYANA,INDIA MORE. But I sometimes run out of things to write about. So I recently posted asking for writing prompts. My friend responded with that I should write how great she is….so I thought sure why not! My friend LITICIYA was like many other people I have come across since I started working my blog. Most ask me how they can get free stuff. Well, I don’t get free stuff, I get sent GIFTS and am expected to do some work for it. LITICIYA asked me how she would get started AN NGO I have many who ask me that and I have helped as best I can. A lot of these people realize how much work is involved and realize they might not have that much time to put in. LITICIYA was different. LITICIYA did what she always does. She put her heart and soul into making HER work, learning the ropes and improving her writing ability. She started A BLOG. She has helped me out a ton here, and also been thankful for any help I have given her. When she found out I was AWAY FROM MY NGO she wanted to help me the best she could. So she joined my team, she has been working her business, and I am very proud of her. LITICIYA and I parent very differently, and we have very different view on things, but I never feel disrespected when we disagree. Sometimes I know how strongly she feels in the opposite direction, but she always asks me why I do things a different way and is willing to listen. I know I am not going to convince her on some things that what I am doing is what she should be doing, but neither of us is interested in trying to sway the other. It is all about sharing our passions and celebrating our differences. When I need a shoulder to vent on, she is there. If I want to celebrate, she is there. I am off on a crazy adventure she is there. The only downside of her rocking her blog is she can’t take on my extra projects now OK Have you read her blog? What do you think?

MOM In Haryana traditionally men were never tattooed, but women were freely tattooed on the face, legs, arms  and body. One dot is made in the centre of the forehead and three on the left nostril and at the corners of each eye brows in the form of a triangle. All the limbs and the fingers and toes may also be tattooed, the most common patterns being a peacock with spread wings, a fish, cuckoo, scorpion, a child’s doll, a sieve, a pattern of Sīta’s cookroom and representations of all female ornaments. When I was a kid the girls of my age use to make small tattoo dots on their forehead in the middle of the chin and on the corners of eyebrows. I also tried to make some tattoos we(me and my friend sunheri) sewing needle  put some black charcoal powder from griddle on the spot then repeatedly prick the space with hand using needle  to mark the tattoo, the process of pricking and putting the charcoal powder repeated several times. Next day we washed the tatood space ..Yes they were there .but they fade away after 2-3 years.so that was the practice used by girls to make tattoo dots on their faces. My mom used to say that when we accompany my grandma to the annual fare we enjoy a lot and girls used to get tattoos on their body parts. My mom got her done when she was only 10 years of age. Another tattoo of ..ok XOXO

Remembering the Grandmother I Loved and Admired

 

In the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, loss has been part of the lives of millions. In “How we remember them”, we reflect on how we process that loss and the things – both tangible and intangible – that remind us of those we have lost.

I learned of grief in 1984 when my grandmother, Sama Kaur, died. I was 30 years old and working in AICRP Project of ICAR, in CCSHAU,HISAR,HARYANA as Research Associate at the time.

My grand ma had to work a lot and there was just no opportunity for women to stay home and take care of their children, she had to take care of cattles (collect their dung, make cow dung cakes clean cattle shed)she had to fetch water from well, churn milk, after household and animal husbandry tasks she had to go to farm for rest of the day and return home at dusk . Just like grand ma, I spent my childhood, all school breaks in a remote village with no electricity, TV or other advantages of civilization. I am not regretting it, it was a very happy childhood. We were always outside, playing, reading, helping in the nohara (A semi-covered area with some boundary for keeping the livestockavar ) and our farm   the whole day. We didn’t have electricity, reading good books with the kerosene lantern  light, no refrigerator, storing the food underground, no washing machine, walking miles on sandy path  and washing the clothes in the pond water, no market in the village , picking up our fresh veggies like guavar fali, channa saag, saangari, kaachri, kaachar,petha,ghiya,tindsi from our farm and bitoda area  (A triangular, open storage for dung-cakes ('Gossey' गोस्से )and getting the water from the well (it was my favorite activity ever!!!).

My  Gandma was a very important person in my life, a hardworking and loving woman. And she left such an important impact on my life. Gandma left Bagar(The areas adjoining Bikaner and to the west of Bhiwani, such as Hissar and Fatehabad were called Bagar, a term meaning 'dry country' in common parlance. The term 'Bagri' was applied to a Hindu Rajput or Jat from the Bagar region.) , her birth place after her marriage when she was 12  years of age and now lives  in Bhiwani District of Haryana.   One year she went  to spend her vacation with her parents who live in her grandparent’s house  and she found there a bag full of yarn that was hand-spun by my grandma’s  grandma  many  years ago. She brought that yarn with her when returned to her own house It was so inspiring and emotional to see this yarn and it was a beginning of a wonderful journey of creating something absolutely unique – raw minimally processed traditional Haryanvi  desi cotton. And this is how my love for hand spun raw cotton yarn developed. And I learned all the spinning related tasks including preparing charkha to spun.

TODAY ON HER DEATH ANNIVERSARY , I REMEMBERED MY GRANDMOTHER IN THIS WAY AND FELT SO GOOD!!!

TODAY IS ALSO THE FIRST SHRADH

GOOD BY GRANDMAAA!

Meaning of my Lazy days/ published on 9/10/22 8:05 AM

Yesterday my sis came in to go to my parents at our village. She dropped here to pic my kids with her to spend there weekends with their nanu’s that’s why I am alone here. So, I’ve been a little self-indulgent today. I turned off my alarm and slept in. After finally waking up and eating “breakfast”, I lounged in bed checking my social networks and listening to some of my favorite music. I continuously overruled the nagging voice in my brain, reading off my long to-do list for my days off. My original plan was to spend my Monday getting all my chores and errands done, and have Tuesday as a real day off for fun and relaxation. (I probably would have found more chores.) Instead, I let my procrastinate nature kick in and rule the day. All day long I’ve been fighting off the guilt that I know I’ll be kicking myself with tomorrow. I could feel guilty for being “irresponsible” and lazy. I could get mad at myself for only washing half of the dishes and leaving the rest for later. I could grumble at myself for not setting foot outside today. Or I could look on the bright side. Today I avoided the sweltering heat of the semi-arid area here. Today I gave my over-worked cycling muscles a much needed break. Today I didn’t wear makeup and gave my skin a breather. Today I tenderized my left-hand fingertips with sitar strings and exercised my vocal chords enough to likely annoy the neighbors (luckily my roommate was at work). So my list for tomorrow has grown, and I could get up and knock a couple small items off tonight. I am not going to college since last week , I am doing my project of preparing a pattern for cotton picking bag for farmwoman, to reduce their drudgery. Or I could lay back and finish this sweater I’m knitting. just peek in!!!!

“I restore myself when I’m alone.” – Marilyn Monroe “So it goes.” — Kurt_Vonnegut xoxo

todays post is Diary

Diary page june 7,2011-----A cozy afternoon and little bit crocheting

 

A cozy afternoon and little bit crocheting

The coolness and soothing in weather due to yesterday’s rain didn’t last long and with my little grand daughter  off to her nanus(maternal grandfather) until evening there was only one thing to do…crochet little projects

I made three bookmarks to give one away to my daughter’s friend.This was really a fun and quick project to do during a comfortable weather and moments. Hoping these will spur reading of the owners.

My grand daughter earned the first one of the crocheted bookmark and another the fan shaped one, for taking it over to her friend, her family lives just 100 feet away to our house. She had her book mark the little one for drawing book which she needs frequently.

Previously when I made this one in self designed colour, my daughter came in from Delhi. She was so delighted for its beauty and of course it’s her authentic need too. She reads a lottttttttttttt. She is a writer.

She said “mummy you should be a professional crocheter, you would make lots of money (extra money from leisure activities).” Bless her, she’s serious. That is the magical thing about making little things for your children. It doesn’t matter if they are blurry, not perfect or little bit. Your children will always think your creations are the best.

I will rant about …may be in coming post about …..a growing epidemic that not many people are even aware about (as described by my librarian friend). As per my friend many…mannnnnnnnnnnnny of readers came in this library to read are not using proper bookmarks when reading book!!

Yes, I know that is very hard to believe but I myself have seen it with my own eyes. Some people leave behind the library receipt, doctor appointment slips, and papers with names/phone numbers on them, invitation cards, a blank check, photographs, even a candy wrapper.

 

And some people actually fold the pages of the book instead of using any kind of bookmark! Oh the horror!!!!

Make as many as you need and enjoy!!!!

 

Used Fabric yarn

जबसे मैंने कताई और बुनाई सीखी है यह हमेशा से मेरे तनाव को कम करने का साधन रहा है। मुझे धागे  की एक सुंदर गेंद से कुछ बनाने के लिए अपने हाथों का उपयोग करने का जादू पसंद है। मैं छह साल की उम्र तक शहरों में रही और जब तक मैं अपनी  दादीजी के घर में अपनी दादी सहित काटने और रंगाई करने वालियों के रूप में अपने परिवार की महिलाओं से नहीं मिली, तब तक मैंने धागे को हल्के में लिया। वे सभी अद्भुत कताई  औररंगाई करने वाली थीं। तब मैंने  उस प्रक्रिया को समझा जिसे देखने से पहले धागे को गुजरना पड़ता है और इसमें  केवल जादू जुड़ा है।
फिर मेरी बारी थी और मैंने भी सूत बनाया। और धीरे-धीरे
मैंने थोड़ा करना भी सीखा  है, भले ही वह मम्मी या दादी की निगरानी में ही क्यों न हो  … और मुझे पूरी तरह से अलग तरह की कला बनाने के लिए धागे  के कैनवास का उपयोग करने में मज़ा आया। मेरी आंखें रंगों  के लिए खुल गई हैं और मुझे रंगों को मिलाना आ गया रंगों को उभरना आ गया और मैं इस कला में पारंगत हो गई.मुझे क्रोशिया,सलाइयां,चरखा सब चलाना आता है परन्तु दुःख यह है कि दूसरों की क्या कहें घर में मेरी बेटी सहित किसी लड़की को यह सबनहीं आता।  नई जनरेशन इसको अहमियत नहीं देती।   
बहार हाल मेरे बारे में कुछ और। .... 

मेरी दादी जो सूत कातती थी उससे गाँव के जुलाहे से खद्दर बनवाती थी जिससे मेरे दादा और चचा के कुर्ते बनाये जाते थे उसी खददर से रजाइयों के गिलाफ बनाये जाते थे। मेरी दादी अपने बालों को गूंथने के लिए नाल घर पर स्वयं रंगती थी। मेरी  चाहसियां सूत कात  कर उसे रंग कर दरियाँ और गलीचे  बनाती थी और काते हुए धागे को रंग कर उसकी तीन कड़ियाँ लेकर क्रोशिये से बैग बनाती थी. फिर मेरी बारी थी मैंने भी काटना सीखा और धीरे-धीरे उसमें पारंगत हो गई  

मेरी दादी और मां  के जमाने में हरियाणा में लड़कियों को दहेज में चरखा और पीढ़ा जरूर दिया जाता था. मेरी नानी मेरी मम्मी की शादी से पहले स्वर्गवास हो गई थी  मेरी नानी का चरखा और पीढ़ा  मेरी मम्मी को दहेज में दिया गया था। वह चरखा(spinning wheel ) और पीढ़ा (A hand-knit, tiny stool - smaller version of the a desi 'Charpai' )मुझ तक अभी नहीं पहुंचा है  मम्मी  के स्वर्गवास के बाद वह हमारे बंद मेरा कातने का शौक,
मुझे कातना बहुत अच्छा लगता है, चाहे वर्षों के अंतराल मैं ही सही पर मेरा कातना जारी रहता है। मैंने 1966 मैं अपने गाँव में कातना सीखा था। हमारी गाँव की हवेली में तीन परीवार रहते थे, मेरे दादाजी के बड़े भाई की बेटी, मेरी बुआ मुझसे कुछ दो वर्ष बड़ी थी और वह मेरी अच्छी सहेली भी थी, हम साथ बैठ कर रातों को कातते थे। मेरे पिता आसाम पोस्टेड थे और हमें अपने गाँव रहना पड़ा था. दिन में मैं स्कूल जाती थी और मेरी सहेली बुआ खेत में ...कभी- कभी ज़ब मेरी छुट्टी होती तब हम रात भर कातते थे .....

"सरोतिया" और "धूपिया" 
रात भर कातने को सरोतिया कहा जाता है। कई सारी औरतें रात भर दिए की रौशनी में बैठ कर कातती हैं कातते समय गीत गाती जाती हैं। फ़िर हलवा बनाया और खाया जाता है। सरोतिये में कई बार शर्त लगाई जाती की पाव  भर सूत कौन पहले कातेगा अथवा सुबह चार बजे तक कौन सबसे अधिक कातेगा.

इसी तरह जब खेत खलिहान के काम निबट जाते थे तो गाँव की महिलाएं दिन में ख़ास कर सर्दियों में धुप में इकट्ठी हो कर  कर  कातती थी जिसे  धूपिया  

मैंने ज़ब-ज़ब शहर में काता

ज़ब मैं 1975 में बी एस सी के पहले वर्ष में थी तब मैंने बहुत कताई की थी। हमारे गाँव की तरह जैसे की रजाई हर दो वर्ष में भरवाई जाती थी और तीसरे वर्ष उसे कात लिया जाता था ज़ब तक उसकी रुई नर्म बनी रहती थी....मैंने भी अपनी रजाई और गद्दे की रुई को कात लिया जो कि लगभग ६ किलो रुई जरुर रही होगी और फ़िर उस सूत की मैंने १९७७ में दरी बनाई। मैं कोलेज से आकर एक घंटा कातने जरुर बैठती थी इससे मेरा कन्सन्ट्रेशन भी बढ़ता था और सब थकावट दूर होजाती थी आंनंद की अनुभूति अलग से होती थी॥
दरी बनाने की और फ़िर से कातने का दौर आगे कभी...
अब तो मैं  कपड़ों की कतरनों से भी धागे बनाना सिख गई हूँ 

यह देखिये ढेरे पर मैं मम्मी की पुरानी कमीज से रस्सी जैसे धागे बना रही हूँ 

देखिये खूबसूरत मैट!

पहले मैंने इन रस्सियों से मैट बनाये फिर जब मैट उधड़ गई तब उन्हें इस ड्रम पर लपेट दिया 

इन रस्सियों को मैंने इस ड्रम पर लपेटा है देखिए यह ड्रम कितना सुंदर लग रहा है! 

शब्बा खैर!

colour Red for Boys

एक समय था जब मैं अपनी ड्रेस खुद सील कर पहनती थी। अपने बच्चों की ड्रेसेस भी खुद सिलती थी। साथ ही मेरे बहन  भाइयों के बच्चों की ड्रेस्स  भी मैं बड़े चाव  से सिलती थी.

उस समय मैं बच्चों की जो भी ड्रेस में सिलती  क्रोशिये से बनाती अथवा सलाइयों से बनाती तो उन्हें विधि सहित विभिन्न मैगजीन में छपने के लिए भेजती थी और वे बहुत जगहों पर  छपी हैं. 

There was a time when I used to stitch my own dresses. I also sewed dresses for my  children myself. besides, I used to sew dress of children's of my sisters and brothers with great interest. I used to send my sewed, crocheted and knitted dresses for different magazines and newspapers for publication.they all got published when they were kids.

colour Red for Boys 

early years of my son's dresses were mostly red shirts in different colours

history says..... ' in the 18th-19th c., the color red was much more associated with English boys than blue. It was considered a properly masculine color, and one with strong military overtones as well as the color for hunting. As soon as a boy was breeched – dressed in male adult-style clothing instead of the unisex white gowns of babies – bright red usually made an appearance in his wardrobe. Later in the 19th c., when color first was used in infant clothing, pink, as the lesser version of red, was the color for boys, while girls were dressed in pale blue. (For more about gender-dressing by color, see this article from Smithsonian.)

Master Charles William Lambton by Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1825

my son at the age of 5years  I sewed this paddle pent dress in corduroys

 

 This dress for my son   the description for my creations  is  here  snd  here.

happy sewing

ORGANIZING A HOME BASED BUSINESS

 

My sister is doing a business of crochet and sewing and art items.

Yesterday I visited her house and found making a crochet window curtain.

The ribbon shelf which she was creating during my previous visit of her house now hanging above her art table.

“I not only love how it looks, but also how efficient it all is”she said.

This is where SHE PACKS her ART SHOP orders. I have everything within easy reach so I can get everything out fast.

I just need to gather all of my ribbons and lace spools. And fill in the empty spaces on the rod she asserts

The colour theme of white, brown, tan and cream runs through everything in her work space.

This makes everything, busy and cluttered as it is, peaceful and easy to look at.

“Tomorrow I'll sort through the items the mess of scrap papers in this rolling caddy here,” she said.

Her use of her comfy vintage chair at her work space looks fabulous. When I asked she said “It works perfectly in this setting, and it allows me to spend hour after hour doing what I do best.”

Creat your work space comfortable and beautiful these ideas explaind above will help you if your pursuing your hobby too.

xoxo

Sawan month in Haryana

Haryana  state in India located in the northern part of the country. It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 November 1966 on a linguistic basis. It is ranked 22nd in terms of area, with less than 1.4% (44,212 km² or 17,070 sq mi) of India's land area. Chandigarh is the state capital, Faridabad in National Capital Region (NCR) is the most populous city of the state, and Gurgaon is a leading financial hub of the NCR, with major Fortune 500 companies located in it. Haryana has 6 administrative divisions, 22 districts, 72 sub-divisions, 93 revenue tehsils, 50 sub-tehsils, 140 community development blocks, 154 cities and towns, 6,848 villages, and 6,222 villages panchayats.

Sawan month holds an important place in Haryanvi folk culture. The festival of Teej is celebrated with great pomp in Haryana in the month of Sawan.

On this occasion, girls and women adorn and apply henna on their hands and feet. Parents send their married daughters' in-laws clothes and makeup items. It is customary for daughters to come to their father's house on the festival of Teej.

In earlier times, on the day of Teej, a fair was held near a pond, where girls and women used to swing on a swing on the trees, singing 'folk songs of Teej'. Such events are still held at some places in the rural setting but the traditional customs are now endangered in modern India.

XOXO