Jun 21, 2013

Confucius say...

Confucius say: If  normal work =  15 minutes in the yard, no try impress garden helper by digging 2 hours. 

Ouch, my arms! But I had to take advantage of the first ever clear day we've had since the beginning of the month. At the time it felt good to get going at the weeds with some company (Work/talk ratio was maintained consistently. He did 80% of the work, 20% of the talk while I did the same in inverse proportions). Please attribute any spelling errors and all creepy pics in this post to my overenthusiastic gardening today.

Remember my earring organizer from 2010? I wrote about it here.


Recently I took a proper look at it again:


It has stretched so much. (Costume jewelry hoarding problem - who me???? Naaah!) And I don't think I'll be able to fit in even one more pair in there. 

So I helped myself to some more crochet goodness, this time choosing a frame that can support the weight and still retain the shape...


I just pulled down on the bottom of a trio of wire hangers, crocheted three different granny squares in white and bound them to the somewhat square shape of the hangers. The result is this:


They are slightly wonky,  but very practical!


Lots of room up there, hmm!!! And if I run out of space, I can always make a new square! Also preening a bit because I thought this craft up all by myself!

Now, what to do with the old one once I clean it up? I'll think of something! And the clear day has ended officially as we're having a fantastic shower right now!

Jun 18, 2013

The Way of the Artist

There is a saying that "Great art comes only from great suffering". I have my own opinions about that, but recently I saw an instance of the same happening  in real life. 

Last Saturday DH, our kindergartener and I were out shopping for groceries. We also needed a replacement bulb for our living room light fixture and had taken an old bulb as sample. On our way back, I casually glanced at our son on the back seat. It seemed the kiddo had grown very fat cheeks all of a sudden and there was a black screw bottom poking out of his mouth. I let out a gasp and pulled the bulb out of his mouth. Fortunately it was still in one piece.

DH was not about to let it go at that. He suddenly swerved on to the road's shoulder, slammed the brakes and took several partially successful swipes at the backseat occupant while I let loose a diatribe on the consequences of putting a bulb in one's mouth. Needless to say, my lecture was drowned in the frantic shrieks and scarpering to get away from his father's hand.  On the whole, we were greatly thankful that he was unharmed.

Later that evening we were all engrossed in our weekend activities when the kiddo came up to us with his Magna Doodle and showed us his sketch:


His explanation: "This is me when Acha comes to pinch me..."

Bears a close resemblance to this, hein? I assure you that our kid has never seen this painting ever before this. Makes you think what horrors little Munch must have gone through???


See how true art is created? Here is our own little Edvard Munch with his life experience sublimated to high art:


Kochi Biennale, look out, here is your future contributor!

And yes, after we were spent from our guffaws, I did take our almost-5-year-old aside and explain with great calm and emphasis about the consequences of trying to illuminate one's insides with anything other than an endoscope. Yep, that's sorted out now.

Jun 13, 2013

As if the monsoon storms were not enough!

- Your mom is in hospital undergoing surgery for cancer.

- Your dear, 5-month-pregnant sister in law dislocates her knee in a freak accident, lands up in another hospital.

- Your sweet two-year-old niece is taken to the emergency with sudden convulsions and starts a high fever.

- Your brother-in-law is downed by chicken pox.

- You are stuck at home, not being able to go anywhere or do anything for any one of the above.

All this is thrown at you within 24 hours and you have my plight yesterday. I went almost crazy (not to say anything about depleting my phone balance) trying to keep tabs on all my loved ones in trouble. Since my brother needs constant company and my kids will need someone to come home to from school, I have to stay at home.

What they say is true - action is the best remedy for worry. My kitchen got uncharacteristically neatened up. The garden suddenly lost a big patch of weeds. Holes were poked into new garden beds and seeds were sown. These activities were punctuated by intervals of stillness, giving thanks for the blessings received, watching and drinking in the rain with my eyes, marveling at the exuberant green that has sprung up all around withing just twelve days of monsoon. 

By the time these were done,

- Mom was out of surgery, recovered her consciousness.

-  Sis-in-law received excellent care, the baby is safe and she will be out of the hospital today.

- Niece is fighting back, thankfully no more convulsions, receiving care for fever.

- Brother-in-law is recuperating in his brother's house where all have already passed the ordeal.

The day is much more peaceful. 

All things pass. 

You just have to hold on.

3 Movie Reviews in 1: Nanpakal..., Romancham, and Pranaya Vilasam

1. Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (Siesta) Lijo Jose Pellissery's movies are an acquired taste. Each movie is different and probably appeal ...