Bay Beach

I still love fences!

Check out my older post: Good Fences Make Good Neighbours

Thursday Throwback

I totally missed November’s Nano Poblano. Probably because I took too much on my plate last month, although that is my usual state of being. Sorry, Rarasaur, I’ll do better next time. Here are some #apology flowers for you!

(I took these pictures while I was living in Maryland and had more time on my hands 🙂

DC Cherry Blossoms

Butterfly window card

You might know from my “About” page that I’m an ardent crafter. I feel purposeful, productive only when I’m able to create, craft, make something. I’m happiest among my papers, punches, glue, scissors, yarn and ribbons.

This is my first how-to post, and I’m putting it up as a part of the #NanoPoblano2019 challenge. Thanks for reading!

You’ll need:

Paper:

2 A4 sheets of solid colored paper (The cream colored cardstock is my base and I’m using a red paper as my main color).

1 sheet of double-sided paper (here I’ve used hand-made paper with one printed side and one plain).

Appliques:

I’ve used a hand-painted mod-melts butterfly. You can use anything available; eg. ready-made artificial flower, or make a flower out of lace or ribbon or paper, or even an origami shape!

Tools: Scissors (or paper trimmer), gluestick, fevicol, ruler, 3-D double sided tape.

Method:

The cream colored cardstock is my base. Cut an A4 sheet into half, or if you’re using another size paper, about 10.5cm X 15cm. Fold it in half (so that it’s 7.5cm x 10.5cm). Now cut the colored paper (red here) about 0.5cm smaller both in length and width of the half paper, so about 10cm x 7cm.

Now we’ll make the window. Cut the double-sided paper into a 4 inch x 4 inch square. Fold it according to this diagram:

This is the end result:

Now stick this window onto your base.

Add the applique of your choice.

Et Voilà!

I love this butterfly and the card itself so much I’ve put it up as my blog header:)

Gratitude Quote

I told you about this great app called “Gratitude” in a previous post. It is a gratitude journal and affirmations diary.

Apart from the great look-feel, daily prompts and other features, another great thing about this app is the daily quotation.

Today’s quote is the one mentioned in the beginning. I share it today because it is especially apt today.

I had been feeling guilty and blaming myself for something not totally my fault. This quote made me realize that instead of beating myself up, I need to learn from my mistake and let go of the guilt.

I need to love, and forgive, myself first.

“Arsenic and Old Men” by Glenn Ickler

Today I’d like to share my book review for Arsenic and Old Men by Glenn Ickler.

My volunteer review was published by the OnlineBookClub.org and you can find it here.

“Where does a guy dressed modestly in shorts and a T-shirt look when he’s shaking hands with a naked man?” One of the funniest opening sentences I’ve read, it sets the tone of the book. A light-hearted, well-written, funny murder mystery.

Do read my review, and the book as well:)

 

 

Illness. Frustration. Vicious Circle.

Today I’m thinking about frustration.

Recently, my father suffered a stroke, as a result of which he developed hemiparesis. Needless to say, this has been a trying time for all of us, but mostly for my parents. Papa, being a doctor himself, has always taken good care of his health, but still developed serious heart issues in the past, and now this. And mom, for so many reasons of her own, cannot cope with this state of his and loses her temper. A lot.

The good thing is that they have their family, good doctors, physiotherapy, 24×7 help. The bad part is they don’t realize the need for professional emotional/mental health support. Moreover, I’m not sure whether such kind of condition-specific psychological support is even available to us (in a small town in India).

In the meantime, being in the health-care field myself, I feel inadequate in this situation. How to help someone who doesn’t realize they need help?

In my last post, “Gratitude“, I talked about how I need to be more grateful in order to truly appreciate what I have. But more important to me now, is the conundrum of how to make my parents realize that they need more optimism, faith, and gratitude in their life. I asked them to read “The Magic”, but they find that troublesome.

What is the cure for  my father’s despondency and my mother’s frustration?

I’m sorry this post has turned into a diary page. But in keeping with my recent resolution, I’m going to end on a grateful note. I’m thankful to God that papa is alive, has full use of his right arm and leg, can eat by himself, is regaining power in the left side. I’m grateful that our family is together, cares for each other, and has the means to look after papa well.

Gratitude

So I recently realized that I’ve lost my zeal, the joy I felt for ordinary things like.. like. . I can’t even remember one instance of foolish joy I might have felt in the past.

And that’s why I downloaded this app, “Gratitude”. Of course I know the value of gratitude in our lives. “The Magic” by Rhonda Byrne is my favorite non-fiction book. Maybe I feel frustrated, angry, dissatisfied because I haven’t been practicing gratitude. At least that’s my current hypothesis.

“Gratitude” is exactly what you’re thinking, a gratitude and affirmations journal with daily prompts and a wonderful feel. For example, today’s reminder is, “what made you smile today?” Isn’t that sweet? Makes me think if all the wonderful things that happened today. My toddler son came to blow on my hand when I playfully acted as though it hurt when I touched a hot dish. I wore a lovely pair of earrings that usually never go with any of my outfits, but did go with my salwar suit today, and felt beautiful, especially when my son complimented me as well! (“Mumma, why are you wearing so pitty pitty ea-ings?)

But this is the thing now. Almost all my happy thoughts include my son. Yes, he’s the sunshine of my life (when he’s not throwing an impossible tantrum, which to be fair, don’t happen often), but I want to laugh at things other than the adorable antics of T. Maybe that’ll come as well. It has only been a week since I started writing this gratitude journal. Hopefully, soon enough, I’ll start finding joy in other things as well!

Think good thoughts for me, please!

Get the “Gratitude” app from the android play store here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.northstar.gratitude

And this is their website:

https://gratefulness.me/

Hypocrisy

Yes, I know. Everyone hates hypocrisy. Still, there seems to be no dearth of hypocrites all around us! That’s just..hypocritical.

What is this radar that can detect insincerity in others but not in ourselves? Makes me worry that I might be a bigot or a hypocrite without knowing it. 

Because the Floor is Too Cold!

India’s rough-and-tough mongrel breed of dog enjoying the sun on a chilly morning. I feel alternately dispirited and amazed.

“Love Will Find You..”

“You’ll wonder how, and you wouldn’t have a clue.”

–Vandana, my ex-roommate and favorite contemporary poet.