My rendez-vous with Mumbai...

Yes, I am having a rendez-vous with Mumbai... If you are interested in following me during my stay in 'Incredible India'... you can do it from here and here. Ok... Now I go to sleep is already 12:30 am... and have to get up early to catch my flight.

Am I ready for Mumbai? Yes Sir!

As you can see on the left-hand side pic... I have all what is required for my stay in Mumbai.

What funny accessories am I wearing?

1-Cowboy (ahem ahem Cowgirl) Hat: This hat is from Honduras... What for? It will prevent my hairs of getting weat... It's Monsoon time in Mumbai...

2-My favourite Burberry Muffler... in case of cold weather

3-My Guatemalan-coloured cotton bag... it's a ladies bag... please dont ask what for...

4-A Punjaban Indian Dress (Balle-Balle)

5-Bharathanatyam Ghunghroo... signifies the passion I have for Bharathanatyam...

6- The necklace Jai sent to me (see previous post)...

7-German flag on my head... Oh I will miss my family and friends so much!

und der Rest ist Käse!

What a surprise!!!

I know it has been a long time since I did post something over here. I just wanted to thank through this post: Jai Khalsa for the lovely packet she sent to me... In a previous post I talked about her. I got completely thrilled when I receive such a wonderful surprise. Here some pics...

While opening the package....

...I found a message...

...and many surprises...

...like two sarees...

... and two blouses...

...and a beautiful Bharathanatyam jewellery set...

Thank you Jai!!!

Wonder of Nature or Pure Coincidence?

Around three weeks back I remembered that while cooking I had a small accident. By misfortune I let one package of TRS Brown Mustard seeds fell right into the floor. Half got wasted leaving behind mustard seeds all over the kitchen. I rushed to clean the floor with a broom and a dustpan. I was feeling really sad about the wastage and was not capable to throw the seeds right into the garbage. Since my childhood I have been thought that food should never be thrown given that food should be considered as sacred. I asked to my self and now where do I throw it?

Mom has always been keen of planting some flowers once the spring and summer starts to arrive. So I saw a pot with very beautiful red flowers. I didn’t give any thought and threw the mustard seeds and all possible dust that I collected from the kitchen floor into the flower pot… (I know it sounds weird but I did so). On Monday this week, my mother called my attention asking where does that strange couch grass is coming from. I then recalled that I had thrown some seeds into the pot.

How wonderful is our mother nature I thought while seeing the little baby plants coming out of the earth. I have been observing their growth in the last couple of days and I have also taken some photos that I would love to share.

Brown Mustard – Plant Information

-Latin name: Brassica nigra

-Category: Dicot

-General Type: Forb/herb

-Growth Duration: Annual

-Plant Nativity: it is believed to be native to the southern Mediterranean region of Europe.

Why do I use black mustard seeds as a spice?

The brown mustard seeds are used in Indian cuisine to get the 'masaledar' taste. (Please note that the word masaledar is a combination of the word ‘masala’ coming from Hindi & Urdu meaning a varying blend of spices).

How to use brown mustard seeds to give dishes a distinguishing taste and flavour?

Just throw the seeds into hot oil and let them pop.

Disadvantages on mustard seeds?

The seeds have a significant amount of fatty oil plus the oil you use making it a Calorie Bomb.

Flavour like of mustard seeds?

I tried eating them without roasting them in oil. The taste is a bit nutty flavour and like the normal mustard or honey mustard used for hotdogs, etc.

One last thing, about the common mustard you find in any shop and you use for your hotdogs and sausages. Whenever you feel you have fever you can apply two spoons of it on the backside of both of your knees. Proceed with tidying it with some piece of cloth and stay with it for half an hour. It will really help…

Now I go back to a pile of books I have to read (not really feeling very enthusiastic about that, but…) I leave you with a quote of Frank Lloyd Wright:

“Study nature, love nature, and stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”

The 'culprit' package

Brown Mustard Seeds

The weird 'Couch Grass'

Simply 'nature'

You don't miss something until it's gone...

This is exactly what is currently happening with the King of Pop: Michael Jackson.

When he was alive there was so much controversy surrounding his life. Starting with his unhappy childhood followed up with his skin disorder (vitiligo: the skin turns white due to the loss of pigmentation) and his eccentric life style. He had a very damaged public image and was accused of child molestation; although the last was not proven due to lack of evidence. Now that he is gone we all are making a big deal out of it. We believe almost anything and everything what media serves us on a golden plate. But one thing I know, Michael Jackson was and still is very popular around the world. He is being missed and that shows the fact that you don't miss something until it's gone...

He will always be in my heart and the heart of many others!... Through this post I would like to pay a tribute to the King of Pop. Michael Jackson you were a great musician, an amazing dancer... (Love your moon walk)... and above all the most caring, determined and warm-hearted person to exist. RIP Michael Jackson!!

P.S. If you wanna make the WORLD a better PLACE, take a look at YOURSELF, and then make a CHANGE.

"torno subito"...

Dear Blog-Readers:

In the past days I haven't been able to keep my blog up-to-date. Have so much to write about and my time is so limited. Currently, I am preparing for some exams and working on a Business Plan. Would love to share more about my ongoing projects. I hope I'll be getting some time to share more crocheting, mudras, tags, etc. with all of you.

Thank you so much for visiting my Blog!!!!

Cheers,

Lyddie

(Photo courtesy of)

Caught by the 30 Tag

Today I checked Tara’s Blog and I found this thought-provoking ’30 Questions Tag’. I just couldn’t contain myself and decided to also go through it. I hope you have so much fun while reading it as I had while making it. Cheers!

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?

“OH my God… Call the hair police”

2. How much cash do you have in your wallet right now?

“Around 17€ and some cents…”

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?

“More”

4. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?

"A fellow student who wanted to inform me that we should meet in the library"

5. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?

"HaHaHa, the feel good song from my nokia"

6. What are you wearing right now?

"T-shirt and sleep shorts”… I suppose to be studying…. ;-)

7. Do you label yourself?

"I don’t know!"

8. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently own?

"Owe many… but the most recently bought ones are Geox"

9. Bright or Dark Room?

"For studying and reading I need a bright room… for sleeping a dark one!"

10. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?

"She was my first follower…and I like her blog!”

11. What does your watch look like?

“It’s pretty old… Silver color with Crystals”

See pic…

12. What were you doing at midnight last night?

"Was struggling with my MacBook and an external HD… hahahahaha"

13. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?

“Got it from a nice friend, she was thanking me for the birthday present I gave to her”

14. What’s a word that you say a lot?

"I am a language freak; I keep on saying whatever it comes to my mind."

15. Who told you he/she loved you last?(please exclude spouse , family, children)

"I can’t remember so far…"

16. Last furry thing you touched?

"My rain coat"

17. Favorite age you have been so far?

"When I was 15"

18. What was the last thing you said to someone?

“Talk to you later."

19.The last song you listened to?

"Solo con te by Eros Ramazzotti."

20. Where did you live in 1987?

"Guatemala City, Guatemala."

21. Are you jealous of anyone?

"Yes, of Barbie Dolls…They look ravishing all the time!!! Hehehe… "

22. Is anyone jealous of you?

"Nope…"

23. Name three things that you have on you at all times?

"First thing my mind doesn’t stop thinking… so I would say my thoughts… second thing my eyeglasses (I am kinda blind), and my teddy bear necklace ;-)"

24. What’s your favourite town/city?

"Have been to so many beautiful towns, cities, countries, Islands… Hmmm… Worth to mention: Barcelona, Spain and Mackinac Island, USA."

25. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?

"Last time I wrote something on paper and mailed it was a postcard… but can’t remember the exact date…"

26. Can you change the oil on a car?

"Yes, I can. I just go to a Car Maintenance Station and get it done!!! ;-)"

27. Your first love/big crush: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?

"Don't remember"

28. Does anything hurt on your body right now?

"Thanks God.. There’s nothing that is hurting!!"

29.What is your current desktop picture?

"A beagle doggie…Crazy about them…"

30. Have you been burnt by love?

"Burnt to ashes…”

Basic Bharatanatyam Hand Gestures - Part II

This post is the continuation of my previous post concerning the 28 single hand gestures that make up the vocabulary for the dance form of Bharatanatyam. This hand gestures are manly used in the story telling part belonging to the Natyasastra science (science of stage) and serve as ornaments to the rhythmic steps during a Bharatanatyam performance. This hand gestures are single since they can be used on one hand independently from the other. Let’s explore more about hand gestures and give me the opportunity to introduce you to the following ones.

	Arala (meaning "Bent") Index finger and thumb make a circle. The rest of the fingers are held straight.
	Shukatunda (meaning "Parrot's beak") Index finger and thumb make a circle (like in Arala). Ring finger is bent to the front. Middle finger and little finger are held straight.
	Mushti (meaning "fist") All fingers are clenched in the palm.
	Shikhara (meaning "spire") Thumb is pointing up and the rest of the figners are clenched in the palm.
	Kaphita (meaning "elephant apple") Little finger and ring finger are clenched in the palm. Middle finger and ring finger are pressed by thumb finger.
	Kathamukaha (meaning "opening in a link") Thumb, index finger and middle finger they all touch each other. Ring finger and little finger are pointing up.
	Suchi (meaning "needle") Index finger is simply pointing and the rest of the fingers are clenched in the palm.
	Chandrakala (meaning "digit of the moon") Index finger is pointing to the side, thumb finger is pointing up and the rest of the fingers are clenched in the palm.

I have prepared a video which contains the 'mudra shloka' (a shloka is a sanskrit word which denotes a metered and often rhymed poetic verse and/or phrase) for this eight hand gestures. This shloka also contains six other hand gestures which I introduce in a previous post.

Name of the hand gestures contained in this video: Pataka, Tripataka, Ardhapataka, Kartaramukha, Mayura, Ardhachandra, Arala, Shukatunda, Mushti, Shikara, Kaphita, Kathamukaha, Suchi, Chandrakala.

The Linux Mascot in Crochet - A Dedication

I must confess that lately I am getting a bit too crochet-a-holic. But, before you guys start marking me with such a ‘label’ I would like to dedicate this post to a very special person. So, dear special person, if you ever get to read this post let me tell you that you are a great human being and you occupy a very important role in my life. Thanks for always supporting my craziness.

Now let’s get back to work! I have crocheted this cute penguin. I am pretty sure that many of you must be familiar with him. His name is Tux and he is the official mascot of the Linux kernel. This little creature was sort of a challenge for me. Not only because of the little time I have left for crochet but also because I wanted to surprise someone with it. And like this passage suggests: Do not wait; the time will never be "just right'. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along (by Napoleon Hill).

Hence, let’s get started!

Get a crochet hook and knitting yarn. For the penguin you need 3 colors: black, white and yellow.
	Head/Body I would suggest you start by making the penguin’s head and body. Please bear in mind that the head and body are a single piece of crochet. Choose the black color and make 3 chains and join them into a ring. For the first round fill the ring with single crochet (the number of how many single crochet you have to do depends on the thickness of the yarn). Continue increasing the number of single crochet on each round. Once you have achieved the desired size of the head you start by decreasing the number of single crochet in each round. (This is the same basic idea I followed while doing the doll’s head - see previous post). Once you were able to get a sort of ball shape for the head. You start on doing the body. For this you start by increasing the number of single crochet in each round. When you have achieved the desired sized of the penguin (in this case would be the belly button) you decrease the number of crochet. Keep in mind it always follows the same basic idea over and over… Isn’t it boring??? Joke!
Feet The feet are crocheted in rows. For the 1strow make five chains and five single crochet stitches. For the 2nd and 3rd row you make seven stitches. For the 4th and 5th row you make nine stitches. Keep on increasing the number always by adding two single crochet stitches. Till you reach fifteen stitches. Once you have fifteen stitches in the next row you only crochet five stitches, on top of those five stitches of single crochet you do four, further on top of those four stitches you crochet three more and at last you crochet one stitch on top of the three more… This is for making the webbed feet shape… the same process will follow with the ten other left stitches. I know it sound complicated (and I might not have been so capable of explaining it) but have a look at the picture to get a better understanding of the same.
	Bill The penguin bill is also crochet with rows. You started with three chains and increase it by two stitches each time (and making two rows of it). It follows exactly the same process as with the feet.
Flipper-shaped Wings Do four chains and stitch rows with half-double crochet. Continue on stitching always for rows till the desired size of the wing is achieved. Have a look to the picture for checking out the pattern. Remark: this is the only part of the body done with half-double crochet stitch.
	Belly/Eyes For the belly you need a piece of white cloth. You cut the oval shape out of that white piece and stitch it to the belly; you perform the same process for the eyes.
Proceed by filling the penguin body, stitch wings, bill, eyes and feet together. I really hope I could give you some insights on how to do the Linux mascot. If you have any query please do not hesitate to leave a comment. Happy crocheting!