Remembering mom on mother's day

“The woman who creates and sustains a home and under whose hands children grow up to be strong and pure men and women is a creator second only to God.” — Helen_Hunt_Jackson. It’s been ten years since she died of heart failure. She was 78 years old and I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her, but I suspect that when it comes to our mothers we are never ready to give them up. …….

Its me

मैंने अपने दादा और पिताजी से कई तरह की गांठें बनानी सीखी थी लेकिन यह कुछ अलग है  देखती हूँ कितना समय लगेगा इसे सीखने में यह गाँठ डेकोरेटिव भी है 

I learned to make many types of knots from my grandfather and father, but this is a different thing, I will see how long it will take to learn this knot is also decorative

星の形が作れるひもの結び方 　スターノット　飾り結び　パラコード　How to make a Star Knot

xoxo

Yes Knitting is Must-Have Life Skill

 

Did you know why Knitting Is the Must-Have Life Skill. Let see.......

Growing up in Haryana village, my no-nonsense Bagri grandmother tried to teach me how to knit — a life skill she believed was the key to happiness.

Like any adolescent, I rebelled and made excuses. “Tomorrow, Grandma, okay? Studying for a math test now, but I promise we’ll sit down and you can teach me. Can’t wait . . .

Of course I regret it. That goes without saying. For sure, I spent lots of quality time with my

Grandparents, loving people who embraced the job of raising two more kids (my sister and me) in midlife after having raised eight of their own, including my father. When my father left my mother with two daughters under four, her only choice— and a very good one, indeed— was to move back home so she could work full time to support us.

My grandmother showered us with things my mother was too young and inexperienced to give: unconditional love; patience during a rocky time in our lives; structure (dinner on the table every night at 8pm); and essential life lessons like how to make the perfect bajra roti, garlic chutney, sangri vegetable,churama and  strudel and khir.

We learned a great deal from her, but my sister and I drew the line at knitting.

It wasn’t until I turned 50, many years after my beloved grandmother had passed on from heart attack, that I decided to step into my grandma’s friend house to learn  knitting  and finally get that lesson. To say that I am hooked is an understatement.

For me, knitting is a way to honor my grandmother’s legacy, but also to explore my creative side which took 50 years to unleash. Sure I knit things for my family and me to wear, but lately, as more people in my life go through tough times— loss of job, illness, divorce— I bring out my knitting needles to make something to make them feel better; a knitted hug, if you will, like the blanket I made for a relative who was going through chemo.

 

Here’s why I knit:

Take it With You: You can knit anywhere—waiting for appointments, traveling, really . . . anywhere!

Multi-Task to Your Heart’s Content: Knit while watching TV, listening to music or audio books, talking with friends, having a glass of wine, day dreaming.

Enforces Mindfulness Meditation: Knitting is calming, relaxing, and keeps us centered because of its repetitive rhythmic movements, which can help prevent and manage stress, pain and depression, which in turn strengthens the body’s immune system. Even the most complex knitting patterns are repetitive, based on combining two stitches—knit and purl.

Boost Your Memory: Studies show that side to side eye movements can significantly help boost memory.

Reduce Risk of Dementia: One study of over 2,000 people 65 and older found that “regular participation in social or leisure activities such as traveling, odd jobs, knitting, or gardening were associated with a lower risk of subsequent dementia.”

Slow Down, You Move Too Fast: In this fast-moving world in which we live, taking the time to do something that requires slowing down to focus on what you’re doing has substantial mental and spiritual benefits. Put down the iPhone. Pick up some needles.

Knitting as Art: Go beyond knitting things to wear and create works of art to display in your home, like this wall hanging that I positioned on a wall.

Give Gifts that Matter: Jokes about the dreadful sweaters you receive each Christmas from Aunt Madge aside, giving a gift that you have made is special, meaningful and treasured. Many people I know belong to groups that knit for people who are in hospitals, or homeless.

Build Confidence and Pride: There’s a certain thrill that comes with holding up something you’ve just made with your own two hands—whether it took hours or years (as was the case with this cabled  blanket I painstakingly created for my husband).

Find Your Tribe: When I knit in public (which is a lot) someone invariably comes over to chat about her (or his) own project, or, even more often, how she always wanted to learn to knit. Join or start a knitting club.

The Economic Equalizer: One can spend a lot of money on yarn, or very little. You can choose luxurious cashmere or practical, washable synthetics. I’ve used both and just about everything in between.

Teach Your Children Well: Knitting is not only a practical thing to know how to do; it’s also having an uber-cool moment right now. Lots of young women and men are turning to knitting to create their own “slow fashion statements” making it the perfect time to teach the next generation of knitters.

Grandma Was Right: Need I say more?

xoxo

What’s your philosophy in Life?

reblogged from my another blog.

My Philosophy....

While studying my B.Sc. in Home Science in 1^st year, the subject expert for the course Home-Management was not available in our University College. So the subject was taught by the teacher of Extention major. Almost whole class was awarded F grade. Reason the even the first chapter that contained the concept of philosophy, value and standard, the concept was not clear for all of us….. the book for the course was Home Management by Nickle and Dorsy!

Philosophy here…..

Here's a fun quiz!

For me….

You scored as utilitarianism. Your life is guided by the principles of Utilitarianism: You seek the greatest good for the greatest number.

“The said truth is that it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong.”
--Jeremy Bentham

“Whenever the general disposition of the people is such, that each individual regards those only of his interests which are selfish, and does not dwell on, or concern himself for, his share of the general interest, in such a state of things, good government is impossible.”
--John Stuart Mill

More info at Arocoun's Wikipedia User Page.
Utilitarianismcreated with QuizFarm.com

xoxo.

My safe sofas

I like cleanliness very much and I don't like mess at all 

See when I got these sofas made of plaid 

I covered them with white cloth as antimacassar   to keep them from getting dirty

 then after many years when they got renovated then blue velvet was given and 

they but covered with green cloth as antimacassar 

something about antimacassar

 An antimacassar is a small cloth placed over the backs or arms of chairs, or the head or cushions of a sofa, to prevent soiling of the permanent fabric. Also refers to the cloth flap on a sailor's blouse, used to keep macassar oil off the uniform.

Macassar oil was an unguent for the hair commonly used in the early 19th century. The poet Byron called it "thine incomparable oil, Macassar." The fashion for oiled hair became so widespread in the Victorian and the Edwardian period that housewives began to cover the arms and backs of their chairs with washable cloths to preserve the fabric coverings from being soiled. Around 1850, these started to be known as antimacassars. They were also installed in theatres, from 1865.

They came to have elaborate patterns, often in matching sets for the various items of parlour furniture; they were either made at home using a variety of techniques such as crochet or tatting, or purchased. The original antimacassars were usually made of stiff white crochet-work, but in the third quarter of the 19th century they became simpler and softer, usually fabric embroidered with a simple pattern in wool or silk. Annie Chapman, the second canonical victim of Jack the Ripper, was said to have made antimacassars for a living shortly before she was murdered.

By the beginning of the 20th century, antimacassars had become so associated in people's minds with the Victorian period that the word briefly became a figurative term for it. Doily is also used as antimacassars.

 Antimacassars are also used on the seat headrests of commercial passenger transport vehicles, such as trains, buses and especially aircraft to extend the life of fabrics.

xoxo

nostalgia

आज मुझे बचपन के दिन याद आ गए हम पास के गांव  कुछ काम से गए थे तब उनके यहां लकड़ी का दरवाजा लगा हारा देखा. इस लकड़ी का दरवाजा बने हारे में  अक्सर दूध ही गर्म किया जाता है. जब मैं छोटी थी तब मेरी दादी ऐसे हारे में दूध गर्म करती थी।  इस हारे में छह- सात इंच गहरा और १८-२० इंच डायमीटर का गड्ढा खोद कर उसे गोबर-मिटटी का लेप लगा देते हैं। फिर उसके ऊपर चार दीवारी खिंच कर छत  भी बनादी जाती है,और फिर उसके सामने लकड़ी की छोटी खिड़की लगा दी जाती  है।

हमारी हवेली में तीन परिवार रहते थे. हमारे घर में  ऊँट  होते थे उनके मिंगने  ( डंग )  हारे में  ईंधन के रूप में प्रयोग किये जाते थे. 

इसके लिए हारे के गड्ढे में कुछ सूखे मींगने डाल दिए जाते थे फिर उस पर चूल्हे की आग अथवा जलावन डाल कर ऊपर से फिर सूखे मींगने डाल दिए जाते थे धीरे-धीरे आग सुलग जाती थी ,फिर उसके ऊपर दूध  भरी कढावणी(टेराकोटा बिन)रख दी जाती थी मेरी दादी जब हवेली से बाहर जाती थी तब हारे की खिड़की पर ताला लगा कर जाती थी।  

खाने के समय हमें मिलता था गुलाबी रंग का स्वदिष्ट दूधः और उसकी मलाई तो लाजवाब होती थी. 

In museum, This is a milk cooking device with wooden door  at the back of my g-daughter

इस चित्र में मेरे साथ मेरी पोती रेहाना खड़ी है उसके ठीक पीछे खिड़की वाला हारा फिर उठाऊ हारा और उसके साथ  उठाऊ चूल्हा(पोर्टेबल-हेअरथ) दिखाई दे रहा है.

पिछले साल जब हम लाइब्रेरी की प्रदर्शनी में गए थे तब हमने धरोहर में यह सब चीजें देख थी 

XOXO

BG, white crocheted stool cover, its me

आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा |
कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च || 39||

BG 3.39:The knowledge of even the most discerning gets covered by this perpetual enemy in the form of insatiable desire, which is never satisfied and burns like fire, O son of Kunti.

-

A random search to internet

that meant a trip around the net to get inspired. I know we all look at pictures, like the one below, and think --

"My house could never be decorated like that!"

But the house in underneath pic is mine!!

April 14, 2013 pic

MOM doing this art work of wrapping yarn to sticks 

i crocheted these coffee-table  covers back in 2011 

these covers are tied underneath with the help of string they are square pieces  right!
this is my own pattern

But guess what? Take away the colorful pillows and accessories... and you're really only left with a neutral rug, white couch and coffee table. Sounds pretty obtainable now, right?

Even though you may not want an all white room with colorful accessories, my whole point, is that if you break down a space by pieces, it's actually pretty easy to get a similar look in your own home!

We have a lot of people ask us for advice on how to change up their homes look for different seasons, without spending a lot of time or money, and colorful, vibrant yarn sticks(although these are wearied out some time back, when they were little bit aged I poked them in my plant containers along with green leafy plants like my col odium, my mom made them)    out  are one of the best ways; especially for Spring. 

  If you appreciate my creativity, I would just LOVE you to leave a comment,

It would mean so much to me.......Thank you !
Have an amazing weeks of December end
 dear friends
 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Last but not least....A very happy grandma with my favorite person in all the world

my granddaughter Rehana, whom I love a lot.....Love you Rehana 
xxxxxx

-

BG, Do you preserve Your Good Stuff?

अर्जुन उवाच |
ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन |
तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव || 1||
व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे |
तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् || 2||
BG 3.1-2:Arjun said: O Janardan, if you consider knowledge superior to action, then why do you ask me to wage this terrible war? My intellect is bewildered by your ambiguous advice. Please tell me decisively the one path by which I may attain the highest good.

I enjoy using my mismatched cups and saucers and delighting in their different shapes, patterns, with different material. Some are very delicate. I use them as there's no point in protecting them like they're museum pieces (Indian people known to display their crockery) . And if I break one? Well, that's just an excuse to go and find another pretty thing.

My  friend returned from a posting in Ambala and when she got her stuff out of storage after 2 years away from her hometown she just decided to bring most of it into her new house's living room and then invited her friends to have at it. I envy her ability to let go. I just moved myself and every knick knack thrown out feels like a stabbing but afterwards the relief at having less stuff is just so, so great.

The year 1992..

Sigh. I'm in the process of rearranging  after a lengthy and painfully expensive home rehab( I purchased a new house), and I'm having trouble figuring out what to keep and what to toss. I know I have too much stuff, but deciding what must go is difficult, partly because I keep hearing a little voice inside my head asking whether I'll need this in the future. In fact, other than feeling overwhelmed, my reaction to all that I've accumulated over the years is quite different from the author of this post. When I was younger, I had little difficulty getting rid of things I no longer used or needed. These days, I'm much more likely to hang onto useless objects only for their sentimental value. Go figure!

xoxo

BG, Diwali 2019 in my house

एषा ब्राह्मी स्थिति: पार्थ नैनां प्राप्य विमुह्यति |
स्थित्वास्यामन्तकालेऽपि ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृच्छति || 72||

BG.2.72: O Parth, such is the state of an enlightened soul that having attained it, one is never again deluded. Being established in this consciousness even at the hour of death, one is liberated from the cycle of life and death and reaches the Supreme Abode of God.

Wishing the festival of lights...

...illuminates all your homes.

Been a hectic festive season with very little time to share Diwali inspirations & ideas but hope to get back soon!

It is a embellished terra- cota urli with rose-petals and  candle lamp

It is a embellished terra- cota urli floating candles

hanging candle light 

puja place

front yard/entrance lobby with fresh floating flowers in a terracotta urli.

view of front door 

100% love for this colorful outside front yard Makes me get into the summer mood immediately.

It is another terra- cota urli with  floating candles

xoxo

kala pani crossing... a post of my daughter

Add caption

पिछले हफ्ते भारतीय उच्च शिक्षा अध्ययन केंद्र, शिमला द्वारा आयोजित अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सेमिनार में शिरकत करने का अवसर मिला. सेमिनार का विषय था “काला पानी क्रासिंग: इंडिया कन्वर्सेशन”. मेरे पेपर का विषय था 'पोस्टकोलोनियल फेमिनिस्म : इन रिफरेन्स टू इंडो-कैरिबियन डायस्पोरा'.
इस शानदार और ज्ञानवर्धक संगोष्ठी में केंद्रीय भूमिका पॉल वलेरी विश्विद्यालय, फ़्रांस की प्रोफेसर जूडिथ बराक और आई.आई.ए.एस की फेलो आशुतोष भारद्वाज की थी. वक्ताओं के रूप में इस विषय के माहिर शिक्षाविद और अध्येता शामिल थे. पांडिचेरी विश्विद्यालय, मेलबोर्न, मुर्डोक विश्विद्यालय, पर्थ (ऑस्ट्रेलिया), मॉरिशस विश्विद्यालय, ओस्मानिया विश्विद्यालय, हैदराबाद,आई. आई. टी. धारवाड़, जयपुर गर्ल्स कॉलेज, वर्धमान विश्विद्यालय बनारस हिंदू विश्विद्यालय, मनिपाल विश्विद्यालय, जे. एन. यू. व दिल्ली विश्विद्यालय की विद्वान विभूतियों द्वारा प्रस्तुत संगोष्ठी-पत्रों से इस विषय पर काफी जानकारी मिली.
मेरे लिए यह नितांत नया और सम्रद्ध करने वाला अनुभव रहा.

Conference held at IIAS Shimla
I had an opportunity to attend that conference as well, it was a great experience.

Pics me  during conference at  Shimla rest house

 
xoxo

IIAS rest house

its me going toward our suit at  rest house

rest house

rest house

its me in front of  our suit on first floor in  rest house

its me opening door of our suit at  rest house

greenery in  front of  our suit at  rest house
xoxo

My love of plaid

plaid
The other day when i walked into the office at work, my classmate and friend exclaimed, “vimla! you’re wearing plaid!is their any shortage of girly prints in the city?” my reaction was a little bit surprised, since I’ve always thought of myself as being the type of gal with a lot of plaid in her wardrobe. In fact, at the age of 23 (which has now been a very long time ago, right!), i went through a phase where most of my wardrobe included a heavy rotation of plaid salwar kamiz suits  button up shirts for bell-bottoms, but then it sunk in that perhaps the pendulum had swung in the opposite direction, and perhaps i hadn’t worn any plaid in the past year or so. Crazy how those things happen. You feel almost as if a certain piece defines you, and then just like that, it’s yesterday’s news.
i may have maxed-out on a plaid a while back, but this fall it’s finally back, at least for me. Which is why i pulled out this crazy blanket dress that my mom gave me a couple of years ago and finally decided to give it a spin? on this particular day, despite the sunny skies, the weather was feeling quite chilly. And what better way to brave the cold than with an essentially very fashionable snuggie? This dress was clearly handmade straight from a wool throw blanket, and it was the perfect thing to wear on a very lazy weekend day.
xoxo

holy Bhagwad-Geeta, some photos

अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि
कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् |
सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्ति
र्मरणादतिरिच्यते || 34||
BG2.33:People will speak of you as a coward and a deserter. For a respectable person, infamy is worse than death.

xoxo