New month - new beginnings

Well, that was a nasty bug.  The hacking cough, which kept me 

awake, has almost disappeared.   Feeling so much better today.

The photos have been uploaded at last.    I can spend a

happy few hours going through them.  The jury is still out on

the Nikon DX.  It's a heavy old thing to carry round.  Guess I

should make a considered opinion after looking at the pix.

I have a Cannon Sureshot, my second one.  I like the micro

lense, not available on the Nikon.   Both Cannons suffered 

from stuck lenses, usually when traveling. This might be

due to the heat and dust?  Decisions, decisions.

Meanwhile, signs of spring - taken on the Cannon.

No heat and dust to worry about in Dorset!

A much needed haircut this afternoon.  The 'to do'

list to be consulted, and the 'shop' to be stocked.

Plenty to do then.

There and back again

We returned from Rajasthan on Tuesday, descending through the grey

 clouds (and I know there is blue sky up there).  

A great trip exploring southern Rajasthan.  The wheat we watched being 

planted in November is now almost ready for harvesting, along with mustard, 

coriander and caster oil plants. which are so high. The mango trees are in 

flower and the countryside generally looks green and lush.   Interesting

to note the changes over two months.   Lakes are already drying out

and the migrant birds have flown home.

I have neglected my blog!   Most times we were way out of

civilization, no hot water never mind internet access.  Oh the joy of a

hot shower and clean clothes when we returned to Udiapur.

I have been given the loan of a Nikon camera by my man.  I think I

like it, but have yet to come to grips with getting the photos on the

computer.   Eventually.  Meanwhile, I have lost my voice - aircraft

germs?!!   Lots of things I should be doing, the list is long, but 

right now I think I will take up the horizontal with a cup of hot 

lemon and honey.

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

Spots, dots and ticks

All boxes ticked for January.  What a mind numbing month!

We are off to India next week and on my return I will be

raring to go.  The shop will have my immediate attention 

then.  No point in stocking it now since I won't be here

should I be flooded with orders!  Ha, ha.  

The Craft Materials sale was a hugh success.  

Had to dye threads and felt this week to 

replace stock.  More frozen fingers!   There will be 

another sale on 25th February, four days after 

I get home.  I'll be gathering exciting things from

 the Moti Wallers and fabric shops.

I am looking forward to creative and colourful days.

How about purple?

Crazy mad

This month has whizzed by.  So many things to achieve,

 and so many things getting in the way.

A shed load of paperwork, then getting father in law's 

house up to scratch for renting.  Today I ironed six sets 

of curtains (ready made) in time for the new tenants.

Note, I only do creative ironing so this was a bit

of a challenge, and very boring!  Nice fabric though.

Natural cotton from India.  Thinks, if all else fails it

will work a treat in an indigo vat.  

Then there is the Materials Sale at the Mill on 

Friday.   Yards of fine cotton thread dyed.  Fabric in

the dye pot tomorrow. Time is running out, and I think

 I have just about done my stint on the house to rent. 

As ever there is always the unexpected - Keith's

car refused to start this morning, so now I have

the job of driving him here and there for last

minute needs on the house to rent.

Oh for a simple life.  You wake up in the morning.

Ah, yes I will stitch/dye today.  No hassle or

interruptions.  I am hoping that after this month

things will get easier - ha, ha!  We live in hope.

I have gathered together indigo fabric for my Shop.

More on that next week.  All is in place, apart from

understanding the Paypal thing.   I will add items

to the Shop in February.

Well, it has been a mad/crazy month.  What to do?

Escape to India of course.   Just a short trip this

time.  There is the cattle fair at Baneswara, and

a village known for block printing to check out.

There have been fun times too, like when Will and

Ben came down for a couple of days.  A little cold

but not too much that you can't wrap up against it.

Mr. Ben took his first steps on sand.  The hard sand

on the pavement was interesting, lots of trial

stamping.  Soft sand altogether a different thing.

Then we get to the wet stuff, very interesting!

And we can collect shells and stones, perhaps

throwing some of them into the sea.  Result,

wet feet and cold hands all round.  Fabulous.

Hey, this is good!

photo by courtesy of Will - thanks!

Work in Progress

New Year - New Look. It's just about three years since I set

up this blog to record my travels in India.  My, I have been 

on a very big learning curve.  About time it had a make over.

I've grappled with adding 'pages'.   Spent most of the

morning trying to understand Blogger instructions.  The

answer was lunch, and to return to the task.  It works!

You will notice I have added "Shop".   I hope to get this

together within a week or two.   Just a few more hoops

and technicalities to jump through.

Meanwhile, here is a quilt that was given to me on

my last trip.  It's delightful, and makes me smile.

All those busy little people.   No explanation given,

but I am pretty sure it is not Indian.  I think it comes

from South America.  Any thoughts?

the little girls have hair made from wool and

woven plaits.  They don't look very happy!

If you are in the area!

I'll be there with my fabrics and threads,

plus Indian beads and mirrors.

Time to shiver in the conservatory.  Perhaps

I'll leave it for a week.  Who knows it might

get a little warmer!  Ha, ha.

Two things

from the Bonovitz and Kramrisch collection of the

Philadelphia Museum of Art.

A wonderful reference book.  It's quite a tome.  

For ease of reading I prop it up on a pillow.

A Kindle.  Who would have guessed I would

abandon the paper page?   It arrived

yesterday.   Duly charged etc. I read all

the helpful hints.   And so to make a purchase.

It appears to me that a Reading List is

required, so as to make an informed choice.

You can always go for the best sellers, of

course.   Then there are the free classics.

My first dip into the wonderful world of

Kindle - Rudyard Kipling collection.

There is enough reading material here

to dip into for months!

I shall, of course, continue to buy hardback

books.  The Kindle is going to be fab. for

traveling though.  I can load up travel 

guides, books for the jourrney etc.

This alone with save space and weight

in my luggage!   I am also saving trees!