Saturday Snapshot: Saree updates contd.....

28 more days to drape sarees to complete 100! Hope I am able to do it!

26/11/2015

72/100

#100sareepact

#maakisaree

After my dad passed away in 2002, Maa lost all interest in buying anything for herself. I and my SILs get her sarees all the time and she drapes those. Her siblings too gift her lots of sarees. Mostly they gift her Sambalpuris as they all live in Odisha. 

In the beginning of Nov, I and maa had visited Utkalika. She loved this saree as soon as she saw it and bought it. After 13 long years she bought a saree for herself. She did the fall and piko too, all by herself. Draped it for Diwali. 

Today, I borrowed it from her and draped it with this woollen blouse which also belongs to her. I don't know if it looks good or not but I was nicely warmed the whole time I was in school. Accessorised with Silver earrings from Fabindia.....

New saree, new memories.....all so good.......

20/11/2015

71/100

#100sareepact #maakisaree 

My love for Sambalpuri ikats comes from my maa. She owns a lot of such stuff and she has gifted me a lot of the stuff......sarees, dress materials, dupattas and handkerchiefs. 

I have seldom looked for ikats from other states. My world started with Sambalpuris and I was happily going about it. It is not that I did not own pochampallis or patolas. I just did not think much about those. 

Then came this saree pact. I got to know about it from one of my close friends who lives in Florida. He sent me a link about this in late April. And the rest they say is history! Ally Matthan and Anju Maudgal Kadam brought in that change which maa hadn't been able to do. I got out all my sarees and hers as well, bought a lot too and started draping those with mixing and matching blouses. 

Learnt about weaves, about different kind of drapes, and most important made friends through this pact. I also met a few saree pacters who became friends for life. Need I say more?

Bonding through sarees......now that is amazing in this day and age of so called convenient wear....

My jeans and capris are languishing.....

Today I draped maa's saree. An Art silk gifted to her by my second SIL. The pallu and border have peacock motifs. And body has hand embroidery. I am wearing the matching blouse of this saree. Very unusual for me.

Accessorized with cane earrings bought from Dilli Haat...

19/11/2015

70/100

#100sareepact

Yesterday my FB account was temporarily locked just after posting 69/100. For no reason whatsoever. I sent them numerous mails via support Inbox but did not get an reply. I submitted an ID to get my account unlocked. I was thinking it would take a few days but my account was available to me after a few hours. Those few hours were horrible.

We are so dependent on social media....For a while I thought it was lost to me forever. I had posted about it yesterday. Today, what do I see? Someone commenting that Facebook must have got tired seeing my never ending posts. Do I need such people as friends? 

I have already lost a blog to cyber space. I can't even begin to tell you what I went through. I had subscribed to my own blog in Google Reader. And therefore, could retrieve my posts but I lost all comments, links, contacts etc. I had to rebuild all that from my google reader subscriptions. I used to back up my blog quite regularly but nowadays I don't do it.

This saree must be 25+ years old when I was studying. Yellow Printed Silk, soft and easy to wear. I had bought it from U P Handlooms. I have matched a Magenta handloom blouse from Nalli. Accessorized with my regular gold jewellery.....

18/11/2015

69/100

#100sareepact #oldnewsaree

I will keep away from ikats for sometime.  I am going to take out different kind of sarees. I do have a few of those although I gravitate towards Sambalpuri ikats.

This saree is Cotton handloom from Nalli with pretty border and buties all over the body.  Half and half, grey and oilve green. It was a gift from my youngest SIL, a few years back. I draped it today without a fall! Matched it with a readymade Kalamkari blouse. Accessorised with my gold jewellery....

17/11/2015

68/100

#100sareepact

Delhi Govt had declared a holiday for Chhatt Puja today. As usual I was in my disreputable capris, faded tee and also had oiled my hair.

I asked my mom if she would like to visit the Trade Fair in Pragati Maidan. I wanted to take her in Business hours when there is less crowd. She was not  keen. I asked if we shd go to Moments Mall in Kirti Nagar. She agreed.

Now I got out a saree and she was like...are you mad? I told her either I was going in the clothes I was wearing or drape a saree. So here I am draping this Sambalpuri ikat I had bought for mom for Mother's Day this year. Paired it with a magenta handloom blouse from Nalli. I made a jooda so that my hair does not look chipku chipku...sticky.

I draped this Sambalpuri Ikat which I had bought for Maa for Mother's Day this year. Paired it with a Magenta handloom blouse from Nalli. Maa to draped a Sambalpuri Ikat. I am yet to drape that...

Posting for Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy

PICT/PBP tour : Angels Sing to Rest by Chrinda Jones

Synopsis: 

"Angels Sing to Rest" begins where "Darkness Knows Me" left off: after the investigation into the death of the Deep Ellum Killer, Levi Devereux. 

Detective Sergeant Olivia Gates returns from a two-month suspension, to find her team has gained a new member, her ex-husband is being released from prison, and a 10-year-old street kid has been murdered on her patch of South Dallas. 

Her ex she can deal with, even when he drags their young son into the mix or so she thinks. The murdered boy with the crushed chest, isn't so easily handled and weighs heavily on her as more street kids are killed with an unimaginable sadistic flare and no discernible motive. 

If the continuing body count wasn't stressful enough, Olivia's falling out with long time friend and colleague, Doctor Will Green, threatens any hope Olivia had for more than a friendship with the good doctor. 

Drugs, gaming, prostitution and sadistic murders lead Gates and her team on a trek through the seamy underbelly of living rough on the streets of downtown Dallas.

Genre: Crime 
Published by: Wing and a Prayer Publishing 
Publication Date: Sept 4, 2015 
Number of Pages: 206 
ISBN: 978-0-9898442-1-5 
Series: Olivia Gates and Will Green Crime Series, Book 2 
Purchase Links:    

My Review:

Angels Sing To Rest is book 2 in the Will Green and Olivia Gates crime series. It is supposed to be stand alone but one should read the first one in the series to understand the characters better. If you ignore that character aspect then you can enjoy it as the way it is.

The story is a bit gruesome with oo much killings at some places but I did enjoy it. I was totally involved in the novel after I got the hang of it. I had to go back and forth in the beginning but that did not detract me from finishing it.

The relationship between Will and Olivia was complex and but it only enhanced the reading. You can't really reveal much in a Crime Fiction novel. You either like it or you don't. I did. I love such Crime fiction which keeps me on my toes. 

Such a page turner...Crime Fiction lovers ought to pick it up!

Read an excerpt:

Chapter One

Vincent Rocha knew he hit her hard, but at the time he figured she deserved it. He paid her good money to do what he wanted and by God she was going to do what he wanted. He checked for a pulse at the side of her neck when she lay flaccid on the bed for too long. There was nothing. He didn’t think he hit her hard enough to kill her.

That he killed this woman with his own hands didn’t panic him. She wasn’t his first dead prostitute and she wasn’t likely to be his last. If he thought of prostitutes as human the whole scene might have played out differently. Her kind provide a service. They make themselves available to him and others like him to use up and throw away. His father told him it was the order of things. He believed him.

Vincent rolled the woman over so he didn’t have to look at her face and untied the scarf from her neck. He threw the silk bed sheets over her naked body, not out of any sense of propriety — he purely despised the look of her, with her dyed red hair and stubble covered legs. Experience taught him that her kind was always ready — for cost, a few extra twenties and a bottle — to do what the higher priced call girls wouldn’t.

He went to his closet to cover his own nakedness with a robe and picked up the phone beside the bed. He dialed. When someone finally answered, it was his second in command. “Martin, come to the loft and drive the van. I have some garbage for you to pick up.” Vincent purposefully hung up before Martin could ask questions and went to the utility room for the thick plastic drip sheet and masking tape the remodeling company left behind.

He returned to splay the drip sheet on the floor at the foot of the bed. When he pushed the body off the mattress, it made a sickening thud as it hit the floor, reminding him of a large tuna hitting the deck of a fishing boat. He rolled her up in the plastic, securing the bundle with masking tape. Vincent walked away leaving her in the middle of the room for his lackey.

He tilted his head toward his chest and opened the dressing gown, sniffing for the odor that nauseated him. She left her sex scent on him. The strong odor made him involuntarily gag. He covered himself again and entered the bathroom to shower off what remained of her humanity.

Saturday Snapshot: Festivals and Sarees go hand in hand

Nov 11, 2015

DIWALI

67/100

#100sareepact #giftoflove

My saree, a gift from Upma Bedi ma'am. Maroon Cotton with a purple gold border. Paired it with a gold brocade blouse and gold jewellery.

Maa is draping a Sambalpuri cotton. I had gifted it to her for mother's day this year. Of course, I will drape it too....

Lots of stories but who is gonna read those on Diwali?! 

Have a safe Diwali, friends....

Nov 10, 2015

66/100

#100sareepact 

Come any festival, I miss my eldest brother. He is one of those forgetful and serious persons. However, with abundance of love and goodies. When he was studying in IIT, Delhi, he used to save from his scholarship and give it me. Even when he went to IIT, Madras for M.Tech, he made sure I had funds! 

It was kind of unwritten pact that none of us would tell our parents about it. When he started working, it was like bonanza for me! He was not much for shopping but if I asked him to accompany me, he did that with immense patience. 

Fast forward......he got married......and I got a SIL who has continued the tradition. She gifts me all kinds of stuff although my brother still dolls out money to me. Not that I need any of it. It is not about gifts any more. It is about caring, sharing and affection. 

I still argue with my brother and at times we don't even speak to each other. But I know, he is always there to listen to me. I am hot-headed and impulsive. He is cool and calm.
I call him at all odd hours if I am upset and he simply listens to me. Only after I get it all, out, he slowly demolishes my anger by his rationality. 

In this materialistic world, it is siblings bond that only matters. Everything else is zilch. I am grateful that I have three siblings. Wouldn't trade that for anything. My bonus is, I got three sisters too, via them...what more do I wish for?

Oh, I forget! Three nieces and two nephews.....

Now, why I miss my eldest brother on festivals? Because, he made sure all of us got together. Now.....it doesn't happen that way....

Today, we had lunch at my youngest brother's place. 

I had draped a saree to school. I did not change that. A yellow saree with thin red gold border and somewhat ikat aanchal. Paired it with a mix and match blouse bought locally. Saree was a gift from my second SIL long time back. I drape this saree once a year. Accessorised with gold hoops.....

Nov 07, 2015

65/100

#100sareepact

Kick start to the festive season and parties galore!

Well, yesterday it was two saree day! Nip in the air makes one reach out for silks. And it was wedding reception of a colleague's son.

Delhi is known for its bling and I own only one blingy lehenga saree, which is a big no no!

So here I am draped in a traditional silk. Gold orange Khandua pata from Odisha. This saree changes colour under different lights. Sometimes gold, sometimes orangish yellow and in rare times, a bit purplish too. One of my earlier purchases, I love it. I lost count of the times I have draped it. Paired with a mix and match blouse and pearl accessories....

My colleagues were draped in sarees and looked good!

Let's come to the food part......so many choices....and all so yummy. I gorged and gorged. In fact, every one did that.....

Who else is inviting me next?!

Nov 07, 2015

64/100

#100sareepact

Middle child......one who is left alone most of the times, one who is more independent than the older and the youngest one. Technically I share that spot with my second brother. Although years apart, we had more in common in our childhood years.

According to my mom, he always wished for a sister and when I was born, he seldom left my side. I have faint memories of following him about. He was my champion, my hero. It continued till he passed out from school and got into IIT. And suddenly, he was in hostel!

As it happens with everyone, we drifted apart after that. I still looked up at him when he used to come back in holidays. But now I was the sister who pestered him and no teenager likes that!

By the time I had passed out from school, he was married.....and......I got busy with higher my studies.....

The closeness did come back.....after his daughter got married.....I realized I had always missed that. With him, I am again the little girl who followed him around, and he, my champion.

Brothers feel the same way as sisters. But they are not as demonstrative as us. I ought to know. I have three of them! In my next posts, I will talk about my other two brothers.....

It is a saree post after all. So here I go.....

Mysore silk, beige with gold black border. It belonged to my younger SIL. One fine day, she gave this undraped saree to my mom. Now mom draped it only once. I landed up with it. I have paired it with a two by two rubia blouse. I do have an Ikat blouse perfect for the saree but couldn't find it! Accessorised with bronze danglers from Odisha....

Nov 03, 2015

63/100

#100sareepact

National Museum has always fascinated me. I have visited it pretty often.

When I was in college, I had heard about the Art Appreciation course offered by National Museum. I always wanted to do it. Somehow all through my college and Univ days, it did not materialise.

When I started teaching, I didn't give it much thought. However, it was there in the back of my mind. One day, I was conversing with one of my colleagues, Nity Sharma and I told her about this wish about doing the Art Appreciation course, somd day.

It was July 2007. She told me that her husband was the registrar of National Museum and admissions were open for the batch starting in Aug. At her behest, I went the same day, filled the form, deposited the fees and voila, started attending the course from August. It was once a week, every Thursday, at 5 30 pm. It went on till mid Dec.

I had to submit four assignments too, which I enjoyed doing. I learnt about Indian art.......ancient, mediaeval and modern, Japanese, Chinese, European and lot more. 

We were also served tea and snacks each day. Best part was meeting people from all walks of society, students, journalists, foreigners, politicians etc. I still have last lasting friendship with some.

Well, now I have Certificate in Art Appreciation from National Museum. It sounds good, doesn't it?!

My saree? Maheshwari cotton with Bagh block prints. I had bought it for maa but it came back to me. I have paired it with a Gold bordered maroon handloom blouse bought from Nalli.

Hope all appreciate the art of my saree and the blouse.....:P

Nov 02, 2015

62/100

#100sareepact

Pre-Diwali week, the time when one is on a house cleaning spree, shopping spree and what not!

We must not forget the lights. I get so nostalgic when I put up the lights. My dad used to put together the holders for the zero watt bulbs of all hues and colours. I was the one who helped him. He used to sit at one place and I was the one handing him wires cut to the right length as specified by him, the holders, the pliers, the screw driver etc etc.

Or we worked simultaneously. I, with one set of wires and holders and he with another. Each year we would get those wired stuff and check out the holders.

Only then we put those lights up. Next step was checking the bulbs. The first Diwali, after he passed away in May 2002, I couldn't stay at home. I and mom went to Bhubaneswar.

However, from 2003 till date, I and mom put up those very same wired holders after checking those the same as before. And we talk of dad. His quirks, idiosyncrasies etc. He loved Diwali. He was very enthusiastic about fireworks and all.

We no longer buy crackers but we ensure to put up the lights, diyas and prepare a lot of sweets. Gifting is part and parcel of the festival. And it continues.

Coming back, my saree is a printed Kashmiri silk bought in a sale. Paired with a red Ikat blouse. I like the off white and red 

Oct 29, 2015

61/100

#100sareepact 

Not on a mood to write anything. Life is not so good. But this too shall pass.

This is a heavy art silk saree from Pune. I love the multi coloured border and aanchal. It does not slip and is pretty easily draped. Paired with my purple handloom blouse.

Needed to boost my moral by draping this saree. Not that it happened...

Posting for Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy

Saturday Snapshot: Back to saree posts!

24/10/2015

60/100

#100sareepact

#maakisaree

Dussehra. A time for introspection. How many of us do that? I am going to leave it at that....open-ended......

It seems like aeons when we used to get together to celebrate Dussehra. Maa used to do the puja by making sweets from coconut, which is known as kakara in Odisha. Any Odia will know that no puja is complete without making kakara, a sweet made from wheat flour,elaborately prepared and coconut fillings, that too elaborately prepared. After the filling, deep frying.

I can even now smell the air while all the preparations were going on. One by one, my brothers left the nest. My dad passed away. Maa lost interest. I was neutral. Now we get sweets and fruits and do the puja.

We all met for festivals in the initial years of dad's passing away. Then it stopped. I tried my best to hold the family together but one can only do so much.

I and my brothers are very close, no doubt about it. However, somewhere down the line we get busy and don't bother to meet. A small misunderstanding gets bigger and bigger.

My eldest brother lives in Bangalore, other two are in Delhi.

This year, Mom, I and my youngest brother and his family went to my second brother's place. We had no plans of that. It just happened. I am thankful to God. Festivals are about bonding. Hopefully, we will restart the tradition.

I draped maa's saree, a Sambalpuri with checks in the middle. It must be 35+ years old and I have draped it numerous times. I love it to bits. Draping it for the first time for the pact. My 60 day one! What better way to celebrate it!
Paired it with my full sleeved puffed red Ikat blouse, which I have had for 20+ years. 

Accessorised with my Silver Jewellery bought from Fabindia ......I seem to own only Pearls, Silver, Gold and Platinum. I need other kinds too.....

Maa has draped the Kargil saree........none of my SILs was in a saree....And there are no pics with my nieces. Eldest one left for her home. (she is married). Younger one was taking the pictures! Missed you, Kayrvi...Kinu

Happy Dussehra to all of you.....

20/10/2015

59/100

#100sareepact

Wrote a long post and it got lost. I don't have patience to write again. So I am doing the essentials.

I did Puja hopping with maa in two of Dwarka puja pandals. Attended the Sandhya aarti in one. I love the sound of dhaak!

Both being vegetarian, we ate nothing except a kulfi each. So much for khaana peena. Worst thing is to get home and cook!

Draped this heavy South Silk saree, pink and gold. Peacock motifs on aanchal and border. Anchal has heavy gold work. 
I had bought this saree from Bangalore in 2006. Got fall and piko done. However, the blouse remain unstitched.

I matched it with a multi coloured readymade blouse bought locally. Accessorised with pearl jhumkis bought from Fabindia.

Maa draped a grey black Bomkai cotton, gift from one of her sisters. I want that saree.

The pics have not come out well but still posting those. ..