Life and mental energy..........

"All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."


--Ralph Waldo Emerson


I found an enlightening article to boost –up the mental energy .........in New York Times

HERE  It was really enlightening. Have a read.....

XO

My leisure reading hours with.......

I just finished reading Attachment by Isabel Fonseca. I couldn't put it down, but have mixed feelings about it. It's the story of a woman who discovers her husband is having an affair and begins an email correspondence with his mistress. She makes many questionable decisions about how to handle her

husband's infidelity, and the thing that bothered me is that there was no glimpse of any inner conflict or explanation for why she made the decisions that she did. But it was a page turner and I enjoyed the way the author writes.

Today at the library counter I picked up Glamour magazine(some one’s personal copy)and borrowed  to read the interview with Michelle Obama, whom I admire very much. She's so genuine and down-to-earth. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet-- maybe tomorrow on my, leisure hour.

leisure time  art

xo

सचमुच अलग माँ

सचमुच कुछ अलग थीं ओबामा जी की माँ



मुझे टाईम मैगज़ीन पढना बहुत भाता है, पर यह कहानी मेंने बार-बार पढी है।

 xoxo

I wish you all a very happy New Year 2013!

Happy New Year!!

!Today marks the New Year according to the Hindu calender, the ‘Vikram Samvat’ and the year that begins is V.S.2070. The new year falls on the first day of the waxing moon of the month of ‘Chaitra’ Chaitra (is a month of the Hindu calendar.In the standard Hindu calendar and India's national civil calendar, Chaitra is the first month of the year. It is the last month in the Bengali calendar, where it is called Choitro. Chaitra or Chait is also the last month in the Nepali calendar (the Vikram Samvat), where it commences in mid-March. Chithirai is the first month in the Tamil calendar. In the Vaishnava calendar,Vishnu governs this month.

In the more traditional reckoning, the first month commences in March or April of the Gregorian Calendar,[1][2] depending upon whether the Purushottam Maas (extra month for alignment of lunar or solar calender) was observed in the year. There is no fixed date in Gregorian calendar for 1st day of Chaitra, i.e., the beginning of the Hindu New Year).

This day also marks the first day of the ‘Navratri’ or nine days during which goddess Durga is worshipped. The ninth day or the Navmi is also the birthday of  Lord Ram hence the day is called Ram-navmi. So the new years brings a whole lot of festivities along.

In Haryana, the first   day of the new year, is celebrated with pump and shoe . This day is celebrated by the women- folk   in their own ways and is by far one of the most colorful festivals. The women pray to goddess Parvati, the consort of  Lord Shiva and the feminine power of the world (goddess Durga is the warrior incarnate of Parvati to slay the demons and restore balance to the world).

hindu calander

 

My resolutions on the New year

As a rule, I never make New Year resolutions for the simple reason that I know for a fact that I am unlikely to stick to them... All I allow myself to do instead is to make a "To do" list with the hope to tick at least a few items off that list before the new year is over... (No promises that I won't be able to keep, just a few things I would like to achieve).

• Finish my WIPs, or at least finish one BEFORE starting a new project. I have currently 6 ufo's : two vintage knits and one crochet ripple blanket.

• Eat healthily and take some exercise to shed my wast waistline... (This might mean more time spent in the kitchen!)

• Have a go at sewing cushions and dresses for myself (can only be done if the above is achieved).

• Try to use as much from my stash as possible (wool and fabric)

• Have a critical look at my current wardrobe: get rid of the unwearable, recycle or revamp the acceptable. I would love to adopt the "make do and mend" attitude this year.

• Be more creative.

As you can see, this is quite a short list. The hardest might be the "healthy" bit!...

Wishing all a very Happy New Year!!!

xoxo

new Crochet stitches-The EASY Way

I love learning new stitches and seeing the different textures I get out of them. It is like adding a new pallet to my design box.




Larksfoot Stitch- this is an interesting stitch that creates movement if done in varying colors.

Siberian Stitch-  this makes a VERY thick and warm fabric

Fanfare Stitch- - this is a nice open stitch with some of the same wave motion that shells give.



Lace Ripple- This also makes a wonderful edging. I used it on an afghan of a dolphin I made. It added some wave like movement to the project.

Crunch Texture-  this has a look almost like knitted cables

Fanciful Stitch kind of like the Fanfare, but looks lighter. I think this would make a beautiful afghan.

Interlocking Fillet Stitch

Jacob's Ladder- video tutorial for this stitch

Solomon's Knot-  I love this open stitch. It is meant to represent the three-fold cord that is mentioned in the Bible that is the perfect marriage bond- husband, wife, and Jehovah God..

Roll Stitch or Bullion Stitch

Bullion Stitch-  in 19 steps, with pictures

xo

 

बेटी की कवितायें

दस्यु सुंदरी




किसी रोज़ हम एक दस्यु सुन्दरी से मिलने गए थे

सदी यही थी

तारीख और साल दिमाग की तंत्रिकाओ में गुम हो गए हैं

उस रोज़ दस्यु सुंदरी से बाकायदा हमने गर्मजोशी से हाथ भी मिलाया

मुलाकात से पहले जहन मे फिअरलेस नाडिया सी चंचल युवती का अक्स हमारी आखों के दायरे में था

सुंदरी से मिलने पर लगा पुराने फ्रेम मे तस्वीर बदल दी गयी है

वीरान, बेरौनक, अथाह ग़मगीनी मे लिपटी

एक बारीक काया



फिर भी हमें अपने आस पास बीहड जंगल का भान होने लगा

हम डरते नहीं थे पर

मामला दस्यु सुन्दरी का था

एकबारगी यह भी लगा अचानक इस सुन्दरी ने हम पर हमला कर दिया तो

हम निहत्थों की लाश भी अपने ठिकाने नहीं पहुंचेगी

पर उस खामखयाली की उम्र कुछ पलों की थी



सींखचों को थामे दस्यु-सुन्दरी भूतकाल का खोया सिरा तलाशती तो

हर बार उसकी गिनती गड़बड़ा जाती

बार-बार उसे अंधेरी कोठरी में गहरे उतरना पड़ता

ठाकुर, कुंआ, चंबल, बन्दूक, आंसू, चीख

उसके स्लेटी जीवन का पहाडा इन्हीं चीजों ने मिलकर लिखा था



यह ताबीज दादी ने बचपन मे पहनाई थी

पूछने पर उसने बताया

सब कुछ लुटने के बाद यह ताबीज़ उम्मीद की तरह उसके सीने से लगी हुई थी



अपने अकालग्रस्त बचपन की देहरी लांघ कर

वह जवानी के उस बेड़े मे शामिल हुई

जहाँ शामियाने में छुपी हुई कई कीले

उसके जिस्म पर एक साथ चुभी



जवान जहान संसार ने

उसका वह निवस्त्र पागलपन भी देखा

जो पुरुष की छाया के आभास पाते ही अपना सब कुछ उघाड़ कर रख देता था



सुन्दरी के निशाने पर

पहला भी पुरूष

दूसरा भी पुरूष

और आखिरी भी पुरूष ही था

धरती पर मौजूद इस प्रजाति के प्रति वाजिब घृणा के बावजुद

दस्यु सुंदरी अब भी

इक पुरूष के वरण की आस को पाल कर

नारीवादियों की तिरछी नज़र की शिकार बनी हुई थी



इधर हमें भी अपने पुरुष-अवतार पर संदेह रहा होगा

या फिर हमारी चमकीली खानदानी विरासत के चलते

हमारी स्मृतियों ने दस्यु सुन्दरी की भयावह कहानी को भूलने पर मजबूर किया

याद रही तो केवल वह विश्व सुन्दरी

जो प्लास्मा टीवी के भीतर हिलती डुलती थी और

जिसकी विस्तृत नीली आँखों मे कई नक्षत्र गोते लगाने का जोखिम उठाते रहे थे.   आगे पढ़ने के लिए इस  लिंक पर चटकाएँ  

शब्बा खैर..

Promise Yourself..

Click for 5 photos of of the brutal act….and


“Promise Yourself



To be so strong that nothing

can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity

to every person you meet”.

“Promise Yourself



To be so strong that nothing

can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity

to every person you meet.



To make all your friends feel

that there is something in them

To look at the sunny side of everything

and make your optimism come true.



To think only the best, to work only for the best,

and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others

as you are about your own.



To forget the mistakes of the past

and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times

and give every living creature you meet a smile.



To give so much time to the improvement of yourself

that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,

and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.



To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,

not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side

so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”

― Christian D. Larson

 my inspiration today

http://kekephotography.wordpress.com

http://kekephotography.wordpress.com

 

 

 

XOXO