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Ganesha Acrylic on Canvas

When I painted the duckling for Aadi’s room,Sahil,my brother wanted one for his room too.I asked him what he wanted,he asked me to choose.I showed him the Little Ganesha DVD cover and he loved it..

So,I painted this one,inspired from that..
Acrylic on Canvas,works well..I am happy with the finish..though,next time I would play around with the background more.

Material used-Blank Canvas,Acrylic paints
Cost-
Blank Canvas- $3.33 (set of 3 from Reject Shop)
Acrylic paints(collected over time)

Bonus-A very happy and impressed brother!

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Library Bag

This little number started as dress for Aadya,last April.
I think,I was being over-ambitious in thinking,I will knit a dress for her…I started knitting,went half way through the back..This was my travelling project..I would knit it only while travelling.
Now,almost a year later,I still hand’t finished even the back..I got tired of seeing it on my needles.I was going to rip it off..but the thought of ripping off a year’s labour(lol ok..may be not) saddenned me.So,I decided to turn it into a bag.
I binded it off and had a finished rectangle.I folded it half,length-wise and sewed the edges,to make a bag.
Then I picked up the stitches,from a row,2 rows down from the bind off edge..and knitted the flap.
For the strap-I made a crochet strap..6-dc wide..
Aadi chose a pink tea-pot button and the bag is ready.

About this bag-
Material- 100% acrylic yarn

This is the first bag that I knitted and I am so kicked.
This is also the first time,I picked up stitches and that makes me feel like an accomplished knitter..:D
Look who’s ready for the beach:

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Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone..hope you are all having a nice weekend.
Ours has been full of anxiety,dotted with Happy moments.Anxious,because of FIL.He fainted at work and was admitted in the hospital on Wednesday..They called us on Thursday afternoon..Since then,we are on and off the phone..waiting for news..Yesterday,the doctor confirmed,what we suspected,it was a mild heart attack and he is still under observation.He will be fitted with a pacemaker on Monday and then,we’ll be able to breath easy.
In other news,my brother is here for the weekend..Its just so nice to have him around.Aadi is completely smitten with him..and he is in love with her..If we got a dollar for everytime,she said,”Mamu”,we’d be millionaires,before monday..which is when he is going back.
All we have done this weekend is..spend family time,eat,vegetate on the couch,talking,eat some more…vegetate more..Its just perfect.
Hope you guys are having a nice weekend..more later..Be good,my Lovelies.

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Happy 3rd Birthday,Princess

Hi My munnu-Shonu,
You are three today..Woww..three you are a big girl..but for some strange reason,you have been insisting for the last two-three days that you are baby.You ask us,”can I please be a baby today?”Yes,darling”,we reassure you..You want to dress up like a baby,crawl like one,drink your milk in a sippy cup like one..We laugh at times,get irritated at others..but,all the time,we are thinking how much you have grown.
You are like a little lady..a little Diva actually..its almost like,you are living upto your blog name.Even if a drop of water falls on your T-shirt,you have to change it.You tells us not to touch you with wet hand and get very irritated if we do.
Sweetie,you are so grown up..you make us forget you are just a baby..and so in the last few months,you have faced our irritation..but,we,really love you. In the face of your unwavering resolve and perfect logic,you are lot more mature than your 3 years.You understand our emotions from our expressions,you are quick to give hugs..you really are.
You have graduated from a toddler,who spoke broken sentences to one who tells long stories.You have grown from the toddler who cried with frustration,to one who tells us clearly what is frustrating you..”I dont want Rice,I can’t fix the puzzle,i don’t know how to button up the shirt!” and you are a star for asking for help,when you cant do it yourself.Everything else,you want to do it yourself.
You just pull your chair to the hard to reach surfaces..be it to wash your hands or to brush your teeth.Your independence, both reassures and saddens us..sad that our baby is growing.But it makes us proud to watch you grow into an independent little girl.
You are so clear about your choices-food,clothes,friends,toys..everything.You even help us pick gifts for your friends,remembering what they might like..thats soo touching.You are a little do-gooder,Aadi..Recently,at a party,you and a little pal of your had a tiff and she hit you.She was being put in the naughty corner and she was screaming,”I don’t like Aadi,anymore”.. I was worried,about how you would feel.But,all you cared for then was,that she was crying..You kept telling her,to stop crying,trying to give her a hug..I was relieved that you didn’t hear/understand her.The only expression on your face was worry..you were worried for your friend,as you heard her cry and watched her being punished..You hugged her and told her,its OK..dont cry..you held her cup of millk for her..and hugged her some more.We thought the episode was over.But on our way back,in the car,you told us,”Mumma,I think S doesnt like me anymore..Papa is she still my friend..?” Oh darling,our hearts broke..Papa wanted to pull over and hug you..The next day you had forgotten..S and you are still friends..:)
You know the consequences of your actions..every other morning,you announce..”Mumma,I don’t want to brush today..because my shirt will get wet..”then,you remember and ask..”But mere teeth mein crums(germs) aayenge na..so I will brush.”And you have a memory of an elephant.Off-late you have been remembering things from your India trip,and remind me of it.Its a nice surprise to see how much you observed and retained.
You want to help me in the kitchen all time..you pull up a chair and I have to give you a set of bowls,butterknives,forks,mixing spoons etc..so that you can cook on the side.
You are beginning to enjoy your daddy’s company,irrespective of my presence and thats a relief and a cause of joy for us all.You and daddy have long conversations,plot mischiefs and generally have a chilled out time.As soon as Daddy comes home,you leave whatever you are doing and run to open the door…and before he gets out of the car,you reach the car.As soon as he gets out of the car,you are hugging him and ready to take him into Daddy-heaven!That is by far his favorite part of the day.
Its hard for us to remember our life,before you..it really is..Thats how much you have taken over,our lives,and minds..and our HOUSE…Its in a perpetual state of mess…Not a single room is spared..your toys and books are everywhere..Every room has a touch of “you”…But we have got used to it…I mean the living room seems incomplete without your two doll strollers,one car,one bike,one mobile and your little table and chair.We have learned to walk without bumping into anything..we have to you see..Because you NEED to have these things around you,during the day.We put them away,every night and you help us..and you bring them all out everyday!
Sometime during our India trip,when you were 31 months ..the frequency of your tantrums reduced greatly.We havent seen a lot of tantrums in the later half of this year.If you are upset,you cross your arms on your chest,pout and say,”I am Gussa” and walk off,in a huff.If we ask you,you tell us why.If its something,unreasonable,we let you calm down..then,you come to us,on your own and tell us,that you are not Gussa anymore.
You love your Jai-Jai Bappa and talk to him like a friend..which is what I love the most..If we scold you,you run to the Pooja room,crying..Jai-jai Bappa look they shout me..If you want something you ask your Jai-Jai Bappa to please give it to you..The top on your list,in the last 2-3 months is a baby sister..More so in the week preceeding your birthday.You keep asking Jai-Jai Bappa for a baby in Mumma’s tummy and out of the blue,you come and kiss my flabby belly,saying,”Hi Baby sister..I can see you”..I am writing this down,so that,we can all look at it later and say fondly,how Aadi,knew about it..even before,we did..Or we can all laugh at your hyper-active imagination,together.
You have a few imaginary friends,Aadi..and they keep changing..sometimes its a ducky called Double Quack(thank you ABC2) sometimes its your Baby sister(yes again)..sometimes,one of your toys…and if we sit accidently on one of the chairs,where they are sitting,you scream in horror..you clap when they sing a song ..its fun to watch you like that..:)
You are going to start playschool in 2 weeks,but believe me when I say,you have been excited about it for more than 3 months now..You are just soo excited about it.You tell everyone that you are going to go to school and that you will be alone in school and that mumma can come and pick you up…I hope when the day comes,you are as excited as this.
I heard that Three is a magical age..so,welcome to your own Magicland,Aadi..
May you enjoy the threes as much as we enjoyed the last three.May you be big and strong…May you always be so loving and compassionate..
And always remember..we love you…
Lots of Love,
Mumma

P.S.-I started writing this yesterday..but finished it today.

Mumma's Kitchen · Uncategorized

Our Day today

…was spent in anticipation of tomorrow.
The choice of cake was changed 3 times..The flavor remained same-CHOCOLATE! but,the design and decoration..changed every 2 hours.
The gift was demanded every hour and a tantrum and tears followed everytime,mumma said No,not today,tomorrow.
Mumma was reminded to wrap the gift,a thousand times and reminded,”it is my birthday on March 30th,tomorrow.”
Daddy was told to finish his tea soon,so we could go to Coles,to get”Candles..because,it is my birthday on March 30th,tomorrow!”
At 10.00 PM,after dinner,mumma started to bake the cake and the Princess,took her place-pulled her chair,close to the counter to look at mom,measuring the ingredients and mixing the batter.Daddy was busy blowing up the balloons.
After Mumma poured the batter into the cake pans and put them in the oven,the little Princess wanted to help her..So,we got the cupcake pan out and mumma taught her how to spoon the batter into the cups.Mumma got up to drink some water and came back to see the Princess,eating spoonfuls of cake batter..
11.00 PM-Daddy had to give the Princess a bath..because there was more cake batter in her hair and on her face and clothes than in the muffin pan!
11.20 PM- Cakes done,cooling on the table.Papa,trying to put the brat Princess to sleep,mumma trying to finish a post..and the Princess…trying to sleep..but waking up,shaking with excitement..
11.50 PM-Mumma-Papa decided to ditch bed-time…and let her stay up another 10 minutes.
12.00 AM-A cupcake was set on the table..a sparkler was lit and we sang Happy birthday for her.She took over…and sang happy birthday (in perfect tune!) and then sang happy birthday to her cake.
The gift was diligently handed over..and it was happily accepted and gushed over!
Uff her excitement..was totallyyyyyyyy worth it!
12.30AM-She is still chattering away..I am soo tired..the cakes are cooling..ready to be iced ..more tomorrow..
Send up a little prayer for my little Angel..
More later..Ciao,my lovelies

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Make a Diaper

Remember how we are trying to toilet train Aadya.So yesterday,we used the last diaper.I showed her the empty packet(I had one saved).Today,when she wanted to go potty,she came to me with a Tissue paper and sticky tape,and said, “Come on Mom,you make a diaper for me!!”

I burst out laughing..she got angry..showed me where the diaper goes and then said,”look now you just put sticky tape here and here!!”
I told DH,and he was so proud.His actual words are “So Intelligent.you should be proud of her,instead of laughing.She has ways and means of getting her diapers!!”

LOL!! OK,daddy! Ofcourse I am proud..though not as much as you..,After all,you are the one who tells Great Stories!

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Unfinished Business

Last night I couldn’t sleep..and so decided to take care of some unfinished business.Its about time too.
This project is very close to my heart.It was the last project that my mom had started,before she got sick.After she passed away,we put it away,with the rest of her things. For the next couple of years,I would bring it out,once a year,look at it,touch it fondly,remembering my mom.And I would put it back in her suitcase,with the rest of her things.One year,I worked some stitches but got too overwhelmed and put it away.
4 years backs,I took it out again,worked a couple stitches,then decided to leave it for another time..another time,when I didn’t feel so raw!I brought it here,this time..and since then,I had looked at it so many times..I kept putting it away..saying,”another time”..
Last night,I couldn’t sleep..I just couldn’t.I didn’t feel like browsing..So,I took the kit out and started sorting the threads methodically,working color-wise,till all the threads were seperate.

4 shades of green,3 shades of blue,3 shades of pink,2 of brown and one each of yellow and cream…Finally all the threads were separate.
I still wasn’t feeling sleepy,so,I started working on it..its still work in progress…But,I am happy,I am doing it.

My mom finished the smallest one..I am working on the largest ring..there are 2 more rings in between.
Working on this project makes me miss my mom even more..She was so full of ideas..and so enthusiastic about it..I get my crafty genes from her!! I tried some counted cross-stitch kits when I was in USA,but gave up/gave them away..they just lacked the zing..or the briliance..or may be they lacked the one thing that I associate with cross-stitch..My mom..Guess we’ll never know..

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Overheard in Aadyaland

Some more pearls from the Diva’s mouth-
Telling a story to dad-
Ek Tom and jerry tha.Usko ek elephant mila.Elephant said,I am hungry.Tom ne usko ek banana diya and chilka phaink diya.Fir they went to slide park,waha pe ek girl thee..Us girl ne bola..Hellooo..my name is Aadya (Surname)!

Talking to Masi-
Masi-“hi Princess”
Aadi-“Hi tuku masi,I am your princess.Look my high chair,look my bike..look my clothes..Ok now its time for Teacher.you say,Hello teacher.I am your teacher.”
Masi- “Hi teacher..Ok baby can I talk to mumma now”
Aadi-“No!Main tumhara friend hoon na?fir tumko mumma se kya baat karni hai?you talk to me..Mumma is sleeping!”..when Mumma was the one,who dialed the number for her!

Every evening,pointing at the moon- “Look mommmmmm,moon.Look daddyyyyyyy moon.Moon has come to say gnite.moon is going to go home and sleep na.its time to sleep na..everyone is sleeping na..swing is also sleeping,our elephants are also sleeping,light is sleeping..its time to sleep na..”..then why is she still awake,3 hours after this conversation!