Obsessive making

For some inexplicable reason, round crochet goodies just had to be made, like at 1:23 in the morning/bang smack middle of night. I finished making them and then just had to post them. However, the moment I started writing, Simba yelled from the bedroom "Mamma! Mamma!" and all personal ambitions had to be shelved for the day/ night.

So here they are, first this this morning. Don't they look cute? My first attempt at round crochet. Took some getting my head around but not too bad.

PS: I think we'll use them as coasters.

Spring

It's nearly here. It's taking it's time. But the signs are everywhere.

Can't wait.

Easter

Time is very much in flight mode it seems. Easter has come and gone. Simba and I did some crafting, we stayed indoors thanks to the miserable weather we've been having, and it definitely doesn't feel anywhere close to Spring. Yet, time is speeding past. Babi has started talking, Simba has started talking like a grown up, and I find myself not wanting to talk much. Is this normal? I'm tired of hearing my own voice, and genuinely wish I didn't have to hear it so much.

Having said that, it's not something that is likely to happen anytime soon. So I plod along.

We're in the midst of planning for a holiday. A week in Provence in the first week of May. All that remains to be done is the sorting out of the itinerary. As with my deep desire for silence, I'm tempted to keep it simple, not pack it with sightseeing and other things to do. Lets are how that comes along.

Hooked

With the ripple blanket. I started it a long time back. Then it got forgotten for a while, overshadowed by babies and the rest of life.

And then it suddenly called out. Urgently. Insistently. And I came back to it, with renewed love. It's still in that fairly early stage where the promise of long, cozy nights snuggled in with its warm hooky delights works like an intoxicating charm. Me and my blankie-in-the-making are having a good time together.

It was a roaring hoot!

The kids loved the party. The cake was fantastic. There were all kinds of kiddy activities. The children played and jumped and had a blast. I think it went down very well. Phew!

I'm loving it!

This is my new wall plaque. I found it one evening while spending some time aimlessly on eBay. I am totally loving it! Loving the shabby chic distressed look. Loving the bold, black writing. Loving the unashamed emphasis on food and happiness. It's full-blown love I'm afraid. And there's no turning back!

Planning a party

The birthday is over, the party, not yet. Simba is having his birthday bash this Sunday at one of his favourite soft play areas. This means, lots and lots of planning and preparations for me.

I'm on the job.

My beautiful daffodils and tulips are keeping me good company as I find myself surrounded by pre-historic reptiles.

It is a dinosaur party. Will keep you posted.

Happy birthday Simba!

Simba turned four yesterday. How did that happen? I am clueless. It actually feels like it was a few weeks back that we were in the hospital, holding him for the first time, feeling like the luckiest people in the world to have him in our lives. That total joy has only grown. He's sitting on my lap telling me that my tummy is rumbling! Oops!

Last week when I mentioned to him that he should be eating more than he was at that time, he said, "Mamma, that's your idea. That is not what I think."

He's also made a song for me. Where he offers to me two things, one that he loves (chicken wings) and one that's my favourite (perfumes).

My beautiful baby is 4. We celebrated with bunting and home-made old-fashioned birthday cake. Happy birthday sweetheart!

Habit

It is said that it takes two weeks to set anything into a pattern, a habit. So anything that you want to do, or change, if practised regularly for two full weeks, then it has a chance to become a habit.

I practised single parenting for two weeks and two days. It was tough, but we survived. Actually, we did better than survive, we set up routines. And we formed habits. When there is no option of help around, it is impressive how one is able to rise to the occasion and, essentially, just get things done. And you lose a lot of clutter - not just physical, but relationships that are no longer working, and practises that tend to contribute little to the larger goal of getting-things-done. You trim down to the basics, focus on no-nonsense, streamlined life-keeping, and voila, everything becomes manageable. Tough, but manageable.

I am happy we did it. Staying alone with the kids to look after on my own is no longer such a petrifying thought. Dare I say, we had some fun together :-)

The joys of single parenting

I'm home with the kids and hubby dear is away. I've had to come up with new ways of keeping the kids busy and entertained. We had friends over yesterday who came for lunch which spilled over into dinner. So good, because the kids slept like a dream after a whole day of jumping around like monkeys. I was thus able to have a nice evening with a girl friend. So much fun!

A scarf for a sweetie

When I was making the yellow ribbed scarf for Simba, little S expressed a desire for a scarf of her own, in pink. It's not quite pink, but I'm told she likes it. The edging is in triple crochet. I'm rather pleased with the final product. Such a satisfying feeling, seeing the result of your labour lying proudly around. Happy happiness!

Ps: I'm amazed at the difference a little bit of light makes to the colour. It is, in reality, more like the first picture. But I like the fold in the second one too!

Snow, gap, more snow on the way

More snow

The kids went slightly crazy. Snow outside, friends over at home. They played and danced and made loud noises and ate lots of jelly and custard. They have now retired tired on to the sofas.

It continues to snow outside. It's seriously grey, and gloomy out there. Thankfully we have warmth and roses at home.

Snowy day fun

Life of Pi

It was a fantastic watch. I had read the book a few years back, when it had just become a rage. I remember itching to discuss it with someone, anyone who had read it. I found no one back then. Despite persistent urging, Arun failed to read the book. So I had to make do with my own version of the story, my own interpretation of it.

I approached the movie with some nervousness. I had enjoyed the book immensely and wasn't too keen on a visual account of it that clashed with mine, or worse still, trashed the whole story. But I had the option to go out with a girlfriend, and it was going to be a movie, so we settled on this one.

I am so glad we did. For once, a cinematic account of a novel that was almost exactly as I had visualised the story in my head. Completely as I had imagined it, gone over it many times, in my mind. The picturisation was beautiful, very sympathetic to, and in line with, the story in the book. I hate it when directors take liberties with the story line. So glad they didn't with Pi. The 3D animation was quite stunning. Irrfan Khan, as always, brilliant. Suraj Sharma is a fresh, great talent. The background score is absolutely spot on. Richard Parker, hmmm, the animation could have been a shade less human in its portrayal of emotions from a tiger, but overall, very good. Such a well made film, just the right length. An absolute joy.

Seeing the movie, after having read the book several years back, brought back the same anguish I experienced back then, with a feverish desire to discuss the story with someone. So I promptly booked Arun to go and see the movie. Which he did. And liked. A lot. What ensued was an evening of happy, animated discussion. And, for once in many years, it had nothing to do with the children! It was all about Mr Parker and Mr Patel!

So here's something for you to think about.

a. Which story did you like better?
b. Which story do you believe?
c. If you believe the story with the tiger, where do you think reality ended and hallucinations, if any, began?
d. If you believe the story with the mother and the cook, where does the carnivorous island fit in?
e. Who was Richard Parker? Really?
f. What is the significance of Richard Parker leaving without a goodbye?

It's all about your interpretation of it, isn't it?

Lovely read. Great watch.

By the bridge

This is our sixth year by this bridge. It has seen our family grow from two to four, it has seen us grow from carefree young adults into parents with responsibilities. Lately, I have been crossing the bridge to go to the other side. Because Sr lives there. That is what the other side of the bridge always reminds me of, Sr.

It's a bit cold and very grey. I am glad we walked past the bridge, as we always do during our walks, but I am happier for the warmth of home.

Artistic expression

That's a dippy there. Multicolour, because that's what Simba fancied just now. Do you see the baby Dino in mummy Diplodocus' tummy? Do you also see those brown u-shaped markings on the bottom? Those are Dino footprints. We are in full-blown Dino mania at the moment. It is absolutely divine!

I am chuffed that he thought of putting a baby in mummy dinosaur's tummy. My sweet, thoughtful Simba!

Then and now

I have just spent the last two hours trying to put Babi to sleep. It's interesting how we get used to anything and everything if done/experienced consistently for some time. I remember cribbing and complaining endlessly when the same happened with Simba, when he refused to sleep and I felt trapped. Babi is, in some ways, as bad a sleeper as Simba was, but somehow, it doesn't bother me that much now.

I'm also seeing that sleep eventually wins in this battle of excitement versus tired slumber. I see Simba calmly dosing off quite as a matter of norm. So I know (hope based on probability calculations) that soon enough Babi will succumb to the lure of the land of zzzzzzz happily and of her own accord.

Plus, like Arun and I were discussing this morning, we find that as we are ageing, we are more accepting and forgiving of minor irritants in life, but more willing to take a stand against things that are just unacceptable. Interesting discoveries about oneself.

Happy new year

In the midst of winter,
I found there was,
within me,
an invincible summer.

- Albert Camus

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous new year.