Simple life.......

In my little North Indian corner of Haryana. Which has been a part of the Kuru region in North India .I am finding and creating beauty in the everyday and ordinary things to simplify my life. I am using what I have to create with my children and to invest in others. We are just an ordinary family praying desperately to make an extra-ordinary difference in this world we live in.

Door deco colloquially known as bandanwar in Haryanvi

My version of floating vase;

Don't be fooled,  this is actually not the floating vase, it was a plant vase in his past life, presently these flowers are  actually floating in water!

One thing I know for sure is what might appear to be “the simple life” for one person doesn’t necessarily equate to simple for another. Right now in my life simple means slowing down, staying put and nurturing what I already have rather than seeking simplicity somewhere else, taking off on a new adventure or adding new things to my already overflowing plate. Simplicity is about being in the moment and embracing life right where I am.

I made this vase somewhat smooth with plaster of paris+white glue+water and then trimmed it with glass stones.....

Notice another pot with floating jasmine flowers from my balcony garden!

I love how cozy all my vases  look, and I especially like the way my painted milk bottles ones complement my Sitar nativity. It is addicting to paint  these! I painted them in somany colours .no!nO! its' not me !     I am so grateful for the creative ladies for sharing their fab ideas. Go visit all of them!

Have you locked-up your documents. DONT LOSS THE KEY!!!!!!!Go have a hook and hang it like above!!!

Close-up! Just smell the jasmine!!!!

My 25-and-a-half year old daughter, on the evening of her first day of actual behind-the-wheel driving was perfectly calm. It was me, the passenger, who was a wreck. I had zero control of the car, and my facial hair for that day was older than her driving privileges. This seemed crazy!

For weeks, I've been getting on my son to wash his car. His car is 3 years old (still pretty much new) and it was filthy, both inside and out.

It makes me laugh to see how easily a mere strange facial expressions of my daughter   can make my niece    laugh like this.

I was very fortunate to grow up twigs to make these woolen branches . Every time I go in the balcony, I enjoy looking at all of the sticks and the plarn mat. I've collected lots of poly bags  from grocery stores and on vacations I made braids and coiled the braid to make these mats . aren't they beautiful!

 

I’ve discovered a comfortable way of life that might be different than I dreamed of but it works for me, for now.  I realize now I can handle living close enough to shops that I can have some “me time” at a coffee house or window shopping, but far enough that I don’t get in a regular habit of shopping to fill a void in my life that should have been filled with simpler pleasures. Living near enough (but not too close!) to shopping or other “spending” temptations helps simplify the budget too! It’s good, even if it isn’t what I had originally imagined as a perfect life or location for me.
xoxo

its winter here............

While going to park for walk the chilly wind that touched the face sooths me.It is my favourite sort of winter day, and this is saying a great deal, as it is well known that I am not a fan of winter. It is too cold, too damp, too windy (I especially hate the wind. Walking from Ektaa park  the other night I could feel the wind push the cold in through the weaves of my shawl. The wind makes you a thousand times colder. I swear it.) too grey, and too sunless. After a couple of days of this I can feel it pulling the joy right out of me. I'm not depressed; I'm just surrounded by stuff I don't like. I miss my front yard pot- garden.  I miss walks that aren't physically painful. I miss stopping on the street to chat with my neighbors... I miss shopping for fruits and vegetables in the market.   I hate the way your forehead got pained if you go out too soon after washing your hair. I hate the way that leaves scroll on the floor by the front door. I hate worrying about the cleaning. I hate chapped lips (and faces, and hands and legs.) and it totally pisses me off in my entirety that the little chop stick I had in my coat pocket froze and now it's weird and grainy. I really loathe the way that I get cold in November and don't feel warm again until March.

Now it’s cold winter night

So I have a delicious recipe for you. It's a great winter meal....hearty and delicious. All from scratch (the best kind of cooking!). I hope you try it, and I think you will enjoy it!

Ingredients

Bajra	1/3 cup
yellow moong dal	3 tbsp
salt	to taste
ghee	2 tbsp

Method

1. Soak bajra for an hour.
2. Separate the husk from the bajra by grinding coarsely in a mixer at a low speed.
3. Mix moong dal when it becomes completely husk free.
4. Transfer the contents in a pressure cooker with water and salt.
5. Cook the contents for 10 minutes.
6. Add hot water if required.
7. Mix hot ghee to the food.
8. Bajra Khichdi is ready to be served.

Inspiration for the heart, front park.

Inspiration for the heart.

For many years I have given this poem "Footprints in the Sand" to people who have been in need of comfort during difficult times. It seemed to convey a message that I could not describe, yet have felt all too often.
Once my friend had shared with me how she didn't realize until much later, that when she was experiencing the most challenging periods in her life, that God Himself was always there. He was walking by her when she felt alone, and yes, carrying her when she could not stand.
Footprints in the Sand is a description of what life brings, and it inspires the heart. Through prayer we need to remember that God is always there and will help us get through those trying situations. Let this message speak to you.
As you draw on this, my hope is that you will share the message leaving your own footprints giving hope to those who need inspiring.

Leona Lewis- footprints in the sand [Lyrics]

Oliender

the oleander tree at the corner of park 

yellow oleander is the whom everybody wants,as its beauty is very smoothing and it makes environment peaceful.early in the prning ladies pluck its flowers for puja, when asked they replied "Shivji love yellow flowers so we offer them in worship.

xoxo