The Festival Season is On

Following the last post about Dussehra here I am going to tell about another North Indian festival called Karva Chauth which took place on 19th of October - a day when wives fast for a well-being of their husbands. It is a tradition in many North Indian families, and we also follow it. Though this year I didn't keep fast, I followed all other rituals of this day, like applying mehendi (henna), dressing up in suit and wearing bangles, attending pooja in a temple, and at last breaking the fast when the moon rises. This time the moon kept us waiting till 10 pm until it finally became visible behind the houses...

Other than celebrations, we are in our usual mode - office, home, school. Last weekend was particularly enjoyable because in-laws were out of city and we had the house all to ourselves, forgive me announcing this happiness openly, but this is required at times. They also had some break from routine in Delhi, attending a marriage. We had  a lovely family time at home. I indulged in baking again - this time Apple Crust Pie with cinnamon - it was delicious! Easy-peasy to make too.

Little A has got his portion of delight on weekend by playing with colourful dough. I purchased a set of cutters along with four dough pieces.

                                             

Look how many shapes we made! He especially likes a star, a circle, a heart and a butterfly :) To my amusement the play dough is still popular with little A.

Today when I was dropping A to his school, his class teacher met us at the reception with a giant spider in her hands! Hehe, they are preparing for Halloween now. After I said "Bye, I love you, baby!" to my boy (while he was too interested in that handmade spider to even look back at me.lol), and was about leave the premises, I noticed these cute bats and spiders on the lobby's TV stand - aren't they fun? They made me smile!

 Have a happy day and enjoy time spent with your dear ones :)

Indian Festival, Craft Activities and Baking

The festival season has started in North India, revolving around mythological stories about Ram and Sita. One of such holidays is called Dussehra which per Wiki is "Dasa-hara is a form of Dasanan ravan ("Ravana's defeat") and it took place yesterday (11th of October). I have been celebrating this festival since 2010. Nevertheless the most enjoyable  we had so far was this year's because our little A could already understand what was going on and liked the whole thing so much that he didn't want to leave the place. He had already had some knowledge about this festival as it was told to him at school, and brought home this demon Ravaan paper puppet:

The activities, held on this days, always include symbolical burning of the demons, Ravaan and his brothers.  The giant dolls are made much in advance but burned in a matter of minutes. I kind of feel sad every time I look at it.

Indeed, children bring so much joy, happiness and meaning to everything around them, perceiving each and every moment with excitement, curiosity and naivety. My little son was so stunned by the fireworks, repeating again and again that those were the STARS as the sparks were flying up in the sky... For some reason he also took a standing type of the firework for water and kept on shouting excitedly: "Mommy, look, vada, vada!" (voda means "water" in Russian). Till I explained it was kind of fire (ogon' in Russian), very hot. Then he started saying "Mommy, look, hot, hot" and showing with gestures and mimics as if touching something really hot. We had so much fun with A, noticing how young child's mind reacts to different new situations and discovers new subjects to think about.

I tried to contribute to A's entertainment as well when it was possible on weekend. He really likes all the crafty projects. Thus we did simple Diya coloring with some sequins decoration. A likes using cotton swabs and can you see this concentrated face?:)

 The next day I conducted a DIY stamps activity which didn't keep little A busy for long, but at least he tried something new.

Even I amused myself with some fast almost on-the-go project which I had on my mind for a very long time. I made a felt owl of course... Working with felt for the first time was a little tricky, and I should have used another stitch to sew two parts together. Well, I hope for better results in further projects.

Oh yeah, and I had done a little bit of baking last weekend. Tried awesome cinnamon rolls recipe -non-dairy, eggless though uses yeast. I used atta (a kind of wholemeal flour) instead of all purpose flour and omitted apples and raisins (as not everyone actually likes them in our family). As the dough takes time to be ready, I prepared it in the evening and used the next morning.

The best baking was a very dark chocolate cake! I thought I burned it actually when I came to check on the process, lol. The recipe has no eggs and milk as well. The pancakes were also dairy and egg-free. I am not a vegetarian (yet) but due to the fact that there are two vegetarians in our family I have to opt for special recipes for them, so all my baking is eggless now. But to tell the truth it doesn't change the degree of yumminess :)))

Enjoy your week! Be happy and healthy!

International Women's Day - the Soviet Style

Hello my dear friends! Today the whole world is celebrating International Women's Day - a day to pay tribute to all the women on Earth for their dedication, love, care, support... A tribute to those women, living and those who are not with us anymore, for the warmth of their hearts, and softness of their voices, for being strong and brave, for being mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, and being constant inspiration for their families, partners, and friends!

Here is a small collection of  8th of March Soviet era cards which I think are really sweet, promoting family, love, kindness. My parents have some of Soviet cards at home too, I need to ask to take photos of them :)

A beautiful Soviet woman - ideal one I suppose... a dream.

Russian girls dressed in traditional costumes, dancing and celebrating.

Children writing: Congratulations to mummy for 8th of March.

Happy women's day to all ethnicity!

Isn't this one very sweet? Such a good example :)

Russian dolls!!! Oh no.. I have just remembered I bought one in Moscow last year... and it is still lying somewhere in the box - out, out on the shelf!!! Silly me :(

I am late but it was my dear mom's birthday yesterday (7th of March), she was a gift to her mom for Women's day many years a go... Love you mom! And miss you a lot!!! Be healthy and happy always!

Happy Women's Day once again! Be happy and smile more!

Wishing a truly Happy New Year 2016!

Dear friends, the day has come to say Good bye to 2015 and Welcome 2016 year!

I really hope, and I really wish that this new year will bring more peace, love, happiness to everyone on Earth, and to my family particularly! That it will erase bad and paint only good, will make us better than we had been.

Our family wishes a Happy New Year to all of you and your families! Enjoy the celebration, cherish precious time with your loved ones!

9 May, Victory Day 2014 (9 Мая, День Победы 2014)

Today is the 69th anniversary of the Victory in the World War The II. I am grateful to all who made my future possible, including my grandfathers and grandmothers. However I'd prefer celebrating not victories in war but years of peace on earth which is so lacking these days. I pray that people didn't have to die to achieve this peace...

Have clear sky above, peaceful atmosphere amd be happy wherever you are!

Happy Easter 2014!

 I think it is a wonderful Spring time event marking all good in our life. When I was a kid I used to love all the preparations like coloring and painting eggs and baking traditional Orthodox Easter cakes called "Paska". My Mom also decided to bake them herself this year, and I would like so much to try again one of these tasty creations. 

What about me? I am kind of limited this year with just 10 eggs colored and decorated with lovely stickers which I still have from the special Easter decoration sets. Initially I boiled 12.. but I don't know why I always end up with 2-3 eggs completely destroyed. So even remaining ones are not perfect, but still I have Easter eggs in India!!! Yey! So today we will say each other phrases "Hristos Voskrese" - "Voistinu Voskrese" (Christ has Risen!) and exchange kisses into cheeks three times (I like doing it with my D)) as per the Russian tradition, and may be will have Egg game.

A lovely Easter poem father sent in the sms as I am writing this post (in Russian):

Ты яичко золотое на ладошку положи,

И на ушко тихо Богу жизнь свою всю расскажи.

Он поймет и не осудит, и подскажет на перед:

Где соломинку подбросит,

Где на ушко что шепнет.

Лучик солнца шлет с небес:

Радуйся, Христос Воскрес!

Happy Easter to all! Enjoy your day and be happy!

Diwali 2013 - Lights, Fireworks, Candles

One week has passed after Diwali, already one week! The festival season has gone, however here and there are scraps of celebrations: lights on the houses, rare sounds of crackers, tea with gifted sweets and dry fruits... People don't want to let go this merry time, so I in order to give a tribute to it too have a collection of these clicks for you. 

My table with a jar candle holder and a mini marigold bouquet.

Fireworks by our neighbours.

Our so called "chakra" fireworks - such a peculiar picture!

One more "chakra" - amazing view!

A calming view of the diyas (lamps) we put on the house wall during Diwali. All the neighbours do it too, and it creates cozy and cheerful atmosphere around.

I don't have many pictures this time, but all are truly of Diwali spirit - a festival of light.

Have a happy Sunday and a great week ahead! 

Pumpkin, Crochet Skulls and Me

Post-Halloween greetings, my dears! I had a great one in  spite of the last minute preparations. My sweet D indeed brought me a big pumpkin yesterday evening (Hey, Jojo, yes, they grow in India too!), which was the first one I ever carved. Carving happened to be a little more difficult than I expected all because of the rather hard pumpkin flash which I had to scoop out and then cut into. I went for a simple design, and the result of my hard work is in the photos below.

I am very pleased with how the bat shape falls on the wall, great effect! I am going to keep my Jack-o-Lantern till Diwali, as on Diwali you are supposed to lit every kind of lights, and carved pumpkin is just so fitting into this idea! I am thrilled by the thought that being in intercultural marriage opens up so many possibilities of mixing, sharing, exchanging of various cultures!

Besides I also managed to crochet two skulls (Spanish "calavera") in the office, following these awesome instructions. They look so nice, and I am going to make two-three more, in different colors. They'd make a nice garland, or can be used as a single ornament.

Well... now me, a cat girl. Haha,  I look so funny with those ears. It was 10 minute work to attach them to the rim. I liked how they turned out, I might make a tutorial or a "how to" later.When my D was about to come back from office and I was meeting him outside the house, he saw me from inside of the car and, his first expression was this :O. Then he lovingly said that I am crazy, but he knew it was for Halloween. He didn't dress up with me this year, but participated in either way, getting that beautiful pumpkin. I had really great time on Halloween 2013, and hope that yours was also enjoyable. Tomorrow is my MIL's birthday, right before Diwali! :) 

Hearty wishes of a great weekend to you, my dears!

Happy Halloween 2013!

It has finally arrived, one of the most fun holidays in a whole year, and this year also marked by the 13th number :) I was not able to give proper time to Halloween preparations, but still have hope to have a little pumpkin today evening, my D promised to get it for me. Also I planned to crochet cat's ears on a hair rim a long time ago, which is going to be a part of a costume of course. Perhaps and may be I will do this in the evening. For the time being I am combining my love for cats and Halloween in this glittering card and wishing you

Happy Halloween, my dears!

Thanks so much for your praising, kind comments on my previous post, love to all!

3 Magical Years

I don't really know how it has happened that it's been already 3 years after that memorable day of our marriage, back in 2010. It was memorable not only because of the character of the event itself, but how it actually happened. The way we met and became husband and wife still amazes us every time we recollect it. 

I perhaps would write a good, well thought-out short story about it later on, but not today, even though all those memories keep on coming into my head almost every day, and I say myself that if it wasn't nature's own wish, we would have never been together. So today on the 15th of June we have completed the circle of 3 years. 3 is a mystical and magical number in all Russian folklore and fairy tales. I wrote about it here. As soon as I am Russian  I believe that the power of 3 will give a good start for the next yearly circle of our union, full of good beginnings and successes, and happiness of course.

I love you my D, and I  hope that our love and understanding between each other will be increasing day by day, and spread around, making us, our parents and everyone else happy. I wish to both of us to keep that sparkle which came when we saw each other (live) for the very first time in Delhi airport and we didn't know  yet what this all would lead to. Let's cherish those days, and value present moment too, as we had to go through many things to actually make it the way as it is now. And now is beautiful.

Easter in India and -0.5

Hello, dears! Today just a post about main events of the last week. One of them was, as some of you might know, an Orthodox Easter. This year it happened very late, and here in India, I didn't feel at all like it was IT actually, with +40 C outside and sunshine from morning till evening. However, our small community of Russian wives here made it tradition to get together on this holiday, attracting our husbands to participate in celebration and enjoy Russian dishes :) At least my husband got used to heavy Russian meals, long talks at the table, and drinks. Okay, this is true :)

I too prepared Easter eggs. This year they were coloured pretty well. I decorated them with stickers I got from home last to last year - so good to see familiar pictures!

 

Some stickers I made myself from a glittery Indian tape :)

Another (remarkable for my life) thing happened - I was prescribed to wear spectacles! Yuppie! Well, not all the time, as I have got only -0.5. I shall use specs when I read, watch TV, crochet, etc. And as the doctor said: " Parties and all - you can go without specs." Thank you, this was some relief to know! So now I will have cozy times wearing my new beautiful accessory and reading one of my favorite novels (which I by the way, ordered on line).

I had had a busy week start. Our preschool mentor came from USA to give parenting and teachers' workshops. It was a thrilling experience! She, always smiling American lady, a great educator, professor and a wonderful personality, has been practising Buddhism for over 25 years now! Her passion for whatever she does in life made me see a clear path of my further career development as well and all prospects it may have. I wish I had more time for everything and for everyone. Though I am grateful to the powers of Universe for giving me such friends, who care for me so much, because it was them who insisted on me having eye check up done. I have got really nice people recently into my life, who encourage me to be a better person and a better friend. 

Have an inspiring week, my dears!

Colorful Holi Blanket

Hello, dears! Hope you all are doing fine and busy in pleasant activities. Today is an Indian festival Holi, and we have day off, so I found few minutes to share this in my blog :) We already "played Holi" (as it is said here) three times, and it means, that we were all in colorful powder and water from head to toe. Unfortunately I never have opportunity to take pictures of our celebration, because I am simply too occupied with it. 

Hence I invented how to mark this holiday and show my granny square blanket progress at the same time. I'm planning to give updates about my latest work in progress and so on every Wednesday. Now here I began to stitch ready granny squares together, only 24 so far. Crocheters know that stitching squares one by takes loads of time, but I'm not hurrying and enjoying the process. Anyway, as Indian summer is pretty hot, we will need this blanket only in winter months, I still have plenty of time to accomplish it.

Hope these colorful squares brightened up your day a little :) 

 

Happy Holi and may your life be colorful, cheerful and happy! 

Republic Day of India and Flags All Over

I (we) had a very Indian weekend. It was a Republic Day on the 26th of January, and enthusiastic company my D works for organized a ceremony of the flag raising and a small celebration of this holiday. We both had day off, so even I went there with my D. What I liked the most was the weather - a little chilled in the morning, but very pleasing by the afternoon.

I was very glad we had to go out in the morning, what we don't do frequently. The air was fresh, the sun was  warm... and the fields were green! On the way back from my D's office, we turned left and had a short ride among the fields of Punjab, the thing I wanted to do for so long, but wished we could simply walk among that green grass.

My dear D advised me to take the picture of these peculiar stacks of grass, prepared by farmers. You know he also participates in material selection for my blog :) There you can also see cow dung "cakes" which are used as fuel, and most probably, as fertiliser. 

We were hungry so the McDonalds cafe on the way was to the purpose. It was decorated from outside and inside in the colors of  Indian flag.

We had a modest meal, me - simple sandwich, and my D - Maharajah sandwich  He said that only Maharajahs (kings) eat it :) I had no problem, as Maharajah's wife is queen (Maharani), right?

 This is a picture of my Indian attire which is called suit. I don't really like wearing them, but it can be done for special occasions:).

 Going back home, I continued in the spirit of a very special day and wanted to show you my beautiful peacock purse, gifted by my MIL. Peacock is a National bird of India.

 Our car also bears our intercultural relations signs. My husband made Cross and Om stickers on the sides of the windshield.

This was just a part of my very Indian weekend. In the evening we went out to have South Indian food called dosa, and visited fair on Sunday. I made some meals at home, but probably will tell about all these in the next post. I'm glad I find support in all your kind comments and a true interest in my blog's topics :) Thank you very much!

As a new week has started, wishing you all a wonderful week and a fabulous weekend!