Autumn Feeling

Hello dear friends! I believe that the place we were born in and belonged to once always leaves a life-long impression on our body and mind. Even though it is hot and humid in India, and it seems that the summer will never end, my whole inner world has tuned into Autumn. I just feel it so much everywhere I go. I think of making some Autumn projects so that little A can be involved in them. His preschool is going to celebrate Halloween, and this is such a happy thought for me because in India  many schools don't do this. I am thinking of designing a really easy costume for him, and the main challenge is to make a cape. I thought of dressing little A up as a wizard or a superhero. I am going to use this Tutorial: DIY Superhero Capes.
What concerns my ongoing projects, I do have one. Perhaps it also appeared because of all the autumnal longing for cozy stuff. I have been very inspired till now. Once again, after having a long crochet-block I told myself that if I don't start crocheting again I will never start it. And I felt very sad and lost. Hence I searched for some eye-candy projects on the net, sucked in all the colors and patterns I saw, and thought of making something for myself like this Movie Night Cocoon Cardi. I liked its' cozy name, and considered it would be indeed great if went out for a movie soon, and me flaunting this handmade shrug. Alas! I never made it, and instead...

I have made 9 squares so far, and planning to make total of 25. If the  pace is the same as now the blanket shall be ready by mid October :) I must say that feeling yarn and a hook in my hands again gave me so much energy and positiveness! This time I haven't bought any special stash but combined and used the skeins left from the previous blankets. Somehow I am very pleased with the color combinations this time. I also did a BIG step in crocheting - I started crocheting in front of little A :) I had some kind of fear before he would start asking for the hooks and yarn, he does of course, so I give him another ones (which I am not using) and he plays with yarn as with a ball :) Hence I can spare a few minutes of crochet this way, without waiting when the night falls.

To bring on more Autumn feel, here are the photos sent by my parents. Autumn flowers blooming at dacha.

 Canna flower started blooming quite late because the summer was rainy and cold.

 Typical dacha style snack -  fried zuccini circles with tomato and garlic. It is so delicious! I wish oh so much to be there again! One month of trip home was not enough.

Have a wonderful week ahead, keep on crafting!

Happy Women's Day 2014!

Hello, dear friends! Happened so that most of the blogging community consists of women :) So let's celebrate us and our families today!
Yesterday was my Mum's Birthday, so I also wish her to have good health and enjoy her days. I wish I was with her to hug and kiss her. Mum, I love you very much!!!
And from me is this quick postcard for all of you with the marigolds my Mum grew in her garden 2 years ago:

Today I woke up to sunshine and bird chirping. It is a good day! Have a happy weekend, my dears!

Do What Makes You Happy - Friday Garden

Hello, dears! Yes, I know, I didn't make my weekly blanket post. There were few reasons, one of them was (is) the absence of the internet connection at home which issue will be fixed soon hopefully. Today I invented to upload pictures from camera on USB and then copy to my office computer. I decided though to show blanket progress next week and today carry on with Friday Garden. There hasn't been happening much in here, but still I have found few interesting things.

Few months ago we noticed some plant growing in our garden - it was a self-sowed spinach. These days it has become a big bush with numerous seeds, which I'd like to collect and plant again - isn't this nature's miracle?

The same way this lonely marigold has grown under the citrus tree, you can see the dry leaves underneath. I remember planting orange marigolds, but definitely not in this place, so another independently sowed member of our garden. 

The lettuce of which I was so proud back in March has produced little yellow flowers, and it means I'll be able to seed more of my Russian leafy veggies later on. 

Oh well, here is again that same story as with a crochet heart - have no idea how the hanging pockets actually hang on the trees! Though I don't think this was the best place for them to be so I took them to my room. Okay, enough of flirting with my crochet projects - yes this is the one I was asking you to guess what it was. Aishwarya was right. The idea of hanging organizers was not mine, I got inspired by a glimpse of it on Pinterest and HAD to try it out! The pattern Crochet Wall Pockets  is sold on Ravelry ... but I was able to figure out how to make them myself (come on, I've been into this hobby for more than a year now! hehe). The only thing I'd like to change is a stick on which the pockets are buttoned. I have to search for a suitable tree branch today.

I took many pictures not because I so adored what I've made, but because light didn't allow me to reveal true colors. But I think that this picture is the closest to the original. I used one of my favorite yarn - Millenuim acrylic yarn by Vardhman. I'm planning to do yarn shopping next week, as I have no patience to be busy with the same project all the time and plan to make some winter clothing item for myself.

I've linked the Crochet Wall Pockets to Creative Everyday Challenge Color theme of the month . 

We might go for a wedding this weekend, but I don't really feel like and will be more than happy to stay home (if possible) and do my favorite things. Yea, I know it is selfish and all ... but when your heart doesn't want something, how can you force yourself?

Have a nice day and a great weekend ahead! "Do what makes you happy" (if possible).

Yellow Marigolds, Bean Pods and Other Veggies - Friday Garden

Hello, my dears! Hope your week has been good and there is such a reason for more happiness - a weekend! My week has been slightly hectic and I have to work on weekend too...Yea...sad :(

Whatever, I am here again with my Friday Garden! Come along, sit on the bamboo chairs and look around.

First you will notice marigolds. They are supposed to be at least three times taller, and flowers - three times bigger, but not very rich soil and hot weather must have prevented them from growing more. There are these yellow blossoms thought which bring joy to the eye in the mornings.

Then you will see the bean pods hanging from the bushes. They seem doing fine, aren't they?

 Now - not exactly MY garden, but some veggies which were planted by my FIL. Happened so that we both have different gardens and each waters his/her own :) The eggplant looks fine, but probably it'll take time till it starts giving flowers.

 Tomato plants are pleasantly green and strong, so I look forward harvesting our own tomatoes in a few weeks. Dreams come true! :)

 The Russian lettuce is finishing the cycle of its development, and we will be able to have our own seeds soon. It grew quiet well this year because I sowed it very early. Otherwise lettuce doesn't appreciate high temperature at all, and the leaves droop straight away under the hot Indian sun.

That's all for today, dears. Tomorrow I am going to take my camera to the place where I have to work this weekend. It has lovely gardens, and that's why I can still bear being there:) Wishing you to have a great, sunny and happy weekend!

Beans, Marigolds and Little Roses - Friday Garden

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The working week is over, our minds are planning something for the weekend, and one of this plans is to simply take a rest and enjoy sunny days. Here they have become really sunny and hot, though nights are still pleasantly cool and slightly windy. In many places over the globe (including my native country) the winter is not willing to give space to the spring and persistently surprises with snow and cold winds.

However, there is a way out. As I am a big fan of the weekends (oh yes!), I thought of making a weekly Friday post about my little Indian garden in order to create a "pre-weekend" relaxing mood for myself and you, dears :)

What do I have in my garden these days? Same favorite plants, which as I have noticed, grow best in Indian weather conditions. This year I sowed beans, marigolds and fennel earlier in January, so that they will have enough time to develop before the heat starts. I have made some kind of a garden journal as well (a paper one), and keep a track of all the planting activities in it.

My beans have started giving little flowers of a beautiful lilac shade mixed with white. I feel like becoming a tiny fairy and spending a day in the green thicket of bean plants...

 Each and every bean I sowed grew into a good bush. You can also see two onions, which grew from the market onion bulbs.

Marigolds haven't achieved their height yet, but the buds have appeared already.

 

An earlier picture of fluffy fennel, marigolds made a nice company to it. 

The rose bush grows in front of our house and this year again is cheering us up with its little roses. Such a pleasant view when you leave in the morning for office!

Friday garden made me very happy, hope it made your day happier too. Have a nice weekend wherever you are, dear friends!

United Summer and Winter

Winter has come.. oh really? Not in my city! At least, not such, that everyone has an imagine of... This season in the North India (I am not talking about Himalayas, as it is -16 in some places there already) is like some of the Summer days in Kazakhstan. The trees are green, some are blooming, it is above 20 in day time...and yea, my garden is still producing vegetables. There has been a significant change since my last garden update - now you can see the pods on the bean bushes! I planted seeds of some salad few days ago. It has already given second leaves. Ahh... so cute :)

 Just look at my lemon yellow marigolds in their full bloom! My first attempt of making a flower bed. Though marigolds are not quiet like those which my Mum had, I feel so good when seeing them every morning. There are about 20 of them as of now, and these are the most fluffy ones.

In spite of really Summer like days, I don't forget about coming up holidays and their attributes... like snow! I found this Linda's Snowflake Potholder on Ravelry and tried the pattern straight away. This potholder went to my colleagues home, as I gifted it to her for her b'day. I definitely want to make more of them for gifting.

Hope you all having a good week! Happy Thanksgiving and wishing you more Summer like days!

Wish I Were With You This Sunny Morning

 It is morning here, a very bright and sunny Indian morning. You can hear birds chirping on our citrus tree. They are also grateful for another good day to come. I wish I met this morning together with my D, but he is so far from me now, again. I pray to God so that he had a safe trip and took care of himself there, in a country he is visiting for the first time in his life. He is already there. I am missing him a lot.  I made the photos with my phone's camera, because... my D took our good camera with him. I bet he needs it more than me for taking pictures of ... beautiful Europe! Okay, I revealed where he went :) And I am so happy for him!

I didn't want to sleep for long today. I need to keep myself busy doing this and that. I made some coffee, then watered my plants. I love them all! Kidney beans have got white and pink flowers, which indicate white and red beans in future.

 Garlic which didn't get my attention last time, is still in its green phase. It is very flavorous and tastes so natural (you know what I am talking about).

 Marigolds keep on blooming, trying their best. I love them.

Yesterday evening I spent trying out new granny pattern. I really liked this one and perhaps will dare to crochet a blanket :) By the time my D comes back, I will finish a ripple baby blanket, just few rows are left. 

Have a nice Sunday, my friends! Thanks for your lovely comments!

Fast, Henna and Garden

The festival called Karvachauth is on! Yesterday evening we went to the market to apply henna (mehendi). I always opt for Arabic pattern, this time I chose it too. We also bought new bangles to match my new suit, some almonds, sweets and other yummy things which I will eat only in the evening because... I am fasting today for my husband's well being and long life. After I see the moon the fast will be broken and my husband will offer me food and water. This is how my henna looked yesterday, while still wet.

Morning picture. The background is my suit's scarf called dupatta. Right now I am keeping myself busy with blogging in the office, as I am really hungry and thirsty.

I also thought that it's been a while I posted about my Indian garden with plants from Kazakhstan. Some of you know that my parents have dacha (a country house), and my Mum is fond of planting and growing different types of flowers and vegetables. This summer I visited my parents and got plenty of seeds (shh, you are not allowed to transfer them to India :). Now I am experimenting: which Indian weather is suitable for what plant. What I have got so far are kidney beans and marigold. Kidney beans are doing quiet well, but marigold is just half of the actual height and the flowers are much smaller too.

                                       

                                        

                                        

Now, to Indian vegetation. I replanted some baby aloe plants, as I am planning to make different face packs and masks with it when it grows thicker.:)

The Sansevieria sits in the open soil now and grows way too slow! I also have some garlic, but didn't take its picture.  You can see that the soil is clay like hence dries very soon after being watered.

Once again, I am being very confused these days so the posts reflect it I guess. Nevertheless, I am grateful that our life here is going on fine. Hope you all are doing well and making your own gardens of happiness wherever you are!

Dacha is...

      All my vacation has been full of trips, nevertheless, the closest of all is, a trip to dacha (a summer cottage a few kilometres away from a city), brings me the biggest happiness. I was posting about this place not even once, because it is very special and dear to me, as my entire childhood is connected to it. Though a present dacha was a second one we owned after the first one was destructed in order to clear space for a city... we love it not less and even more and whatever we have there now  is a merit of my parents' hard work put into its development (I also tried to help them with few things there :)).
      So Dacha for me is...
   A variety of flowers which make me feel good and so bright inside when I look at them. They can be marigold planted by Mum beside the house...

and little zinnia...

or a flower, name of which we don't know

     Gladioli of various colors.  My Mum carefully collects gladioli bulbs every autumn to keep them for planting throughout the winter till the next summer.

A yellow flower bush which pollen is being collected by bees.

         Sunflowers which were sown on their own all over dacha. Don't they deserve to have a SUN root in their name?

Way to discover nature: how the plants grow and what they need for it.

A rustle of birch trees in the wind... 

and a walk in our own pine tree alley. My parents planted all the trees about eight years back.

            The opportunity to see endless and changing sky due to the weather or the time of day. 

                  A feeling of comfort while sitting in the house, chatting to parents and having tea.

A creative way of making simple things like these potatoes baked in a charcoal.

       Communication with nature... when it comes to you on its own. These two cats came to our dacha and spent the whole day there... then disappeared.

And of course dacha for me is... be proud of the fruits of your work. This descent harvest we collected one week back. 

     Now as I am leaving soon, I will take all these memories about dacha with me, I will be remembering moments of joy and happiness for the rest of the year and till next summer... the only thing - I wish my D was here with me to share all this.

***Have a lovely day ahead and value the simple things!***