Hi

There has been a lot of changes in my life recently -Shifting into a new home is one of the most recent.Another is giving up a job I had recently taken up[just 3 months].So there is a lot to tell,but not much time for the same.I hope to be back once we have 'net connection [which may take a couple of months] and things are somewhat settled.So until then,Auf Wiedersehen !

Am I here or not?

When Deepa asked me if my blog has been closed,I was taken aback.I did not write anything since May 19 th because Things became really busy for me at the Home front first and later because of my new job as a Principal in a newly started school.It has only the First Std. and has a lively class of 8. It is very challenging for me not only at work dealing with new people after staying confined in my house [figuratively] that is not meeting/working with anyone other than my family or at the most my neighbours , but also trying to fit in my commitments to myself and my family. I will admit that that there have been times in the past one-and-half months if I had made the right decision in starting to work outside the home for pay. But I decided to stick-on regardless,for the work can't get worser than cleaning up after a Tsunami,would it? And Hard work does not Kill , either.

There are two things that make me like working :-

1. working with children ,helping them learn.

2.the fact that I get home to bring a modest but considerable packet now that is all mine.[this is my first decent job]

So, for now I have decided to continue,come what may.I want to do the best that I can in this job so that ,atleast'that thought will stay with me.I dont expect to be appreciated.So far ,I have not seen that;I am looked with askance as I am the only person who is new in the Teaching staff category;and people are watching me ,to see if I would make a wrong step. But still I mean to plough on.

Frustrations vs.Hope

The past week has been one of frustrations for me.I found I could not sign in to join Sharon's stichinfingers.ning. site.Today I found myself shut out of my mail.At least the situation is better now than earlier in the day,when Couldn't access any of my Google account.Now ,at least I could blog about my frustrations.Hopefully these minor glitches would resolve itself by tomorrow.

Disasters-manmade/natural;personal/regional/national/international

This week was filled with a lot of sadness and cruelty-both man made and natural.My heart goes out to those who were caught by Nature's fury and to those ripped by the terrorist attack in Jaipur.The feeling of shock on the faces of people brings back my experiences and feelings to the fore again,even though it has been three and a half years since the Dec./26/04 Tsunami which destroyed many homes[including mine],families and lives [many of my friends lost their loved ones] in its wake.It would be the same in Myanmar,which was devastated by the Supercyclone Nargis and China ,where an earthquake struck damaging buildings,roads and lives.
In Yangon, human activities and Politics are aggravating the disaster.The earthquake tells us of how disasters come unexpectedly.
What Happened in Jaipur was really cruel -some five to six blasts in a matter of 30 minutes killing and maiming innocent people is truly shocking.So are the instances of honour killings and Infanticides that are being a part of everyday news.
We ,as a society ,must not loose our humaneness and become insensitive to these instances of beastliness.Each of us must try to ensure that in our everyday life ,we are showing kindness and tolerance to our family members and neighbours,at the least.Forgiveness,seeing things from a different perspective and resilience would help us to tackle these kind of hate-crimes.It is really heartening to see Jaipur-vaasis say they will not let terrorists break the harmony in their city.

Kolam ,in Tamilnadu / Sona in Angola

It has been a long time since I wrote a post[it seems so to me,at least].but I have been reading some posts ,visiting friends and also finding that I have lost some links,too.Remember,I had linked to a post/hub on Kolams when I wrote on Tessalations.I could not find Mr.Ramanathan's post on Kolams at that spot anymore.Ramanathan had written extensively and interestingly on Kolams,and had created the various grids used in Kolams ,and had made the Kolams that I do on the doorstep beautifully on the computer using Autocad.He had also written on Srilankan Tamil Weddings,the temples of India,and on the Indus scripts and its similarity to Tamil he had given a lot of links to those who had studied and written about them. I have not yet searched on the google for hi posts,but if any one who reads my blog knows where it has moved,I would be greatful to youif you let me know.I have taken a snap of a kolm I did on the area in front of my frontdoor[doorstep?]It hasbeen refferred as the Threshold by many who has written on Kolams;but I don't agree with that definition.In my understading/in my way of using English,the "threshold"is the line/area which holds the door-frame --the lower side of the rectangle that makes the door.
I had heard somewhere that if you need something-whether information,or help,The Lord [with Whatevername or Whateverform]whom we worship sends it our way;it has always been so with me.So I am hopeful of finding those interesting hubs /blogs again.Meanwhile I will give you something interesting,which had first caused me to believe that the world and its people are the same underneath;and that any difference seen are but superficial--be it music,art or even Kolam.

Sometime in 2004/05 ,I came across a book on Math for Children ,explaining the different folk forms of Math across the world.In it I came across a design from Angola which lookedlike/was same as Kolam but for the execution.In Angola these designs are called the "Sona" or the "Lusona";they were drawn on the sand by the village elders[usually male] as they told stories.The designs were the sameones I draw in front of my doorway ,only they were drawn to illustrate a story ,while I draw it at the start of the day as a prayer and as thanksgiving to the Sun and Mother Lakshmi .
Though this post is dated 23/4 ,I wrote it only on 2/5 as I couldnot get a flow of thoughts and words to express myself --which,incidently,is the topic or a part of the topic for this months TIFC.This is strange,as did not think I would be writing on the Topic of TIFC.The colours for this month are pale /lighter this time which I feel suits our summer and the winter DownUnder.

TIFC-How it Sensitises our Thinking

This,Lagerterra square, was a sample which I had worked just a few months before the Tsunami[sometime in October '04]

It had been inside one of my many sewing bags, covered with the mud that the wave brought into our house.At that time,I thought I could not retrieve it.;it was covered with the red soil and other debris left by the Tsunami .Even now you can see the Reddish brown tint [burnt sienna?]of the red soil that is used for gardening on the unstitched portion of the canvas .This was designed by the Anchor Design Studio,which also publishes the needlework Magazine - Needle'n'Thread .I am yet to start the bigger piece,as the Xerox of the design has got partially damaged,and because of the several uncomfortable,but necessary changes,that was happening on my home front,since the Tsunami ,that does not contribute to making me feel settled.I seem to be in a constant state of flux,which does not help me in anyway.

I noticed a strange coincidence,happening since I joined the TIFC;I don't know if it is the same with others who have joined :- My thoughts and the words that come out of me[I don't feel as if I am in charge],all seem to revolve around the thought that is posted.It is the same with the colours.I seem to notice immediately in the surroundings ,only the colours that are given for the Challenge,especially in their combination.

This only shows that our mind is getting primed by the challenge to take note of the issues presented and the colours chosen for the Challenge.This is the basis of the psychology of Advertising/Marketing ,too-to prime the prospective consumers, by using a multi modal package that would sensitise all our senses , to take notice of their product .

Change,what it means to me/ The Cat's Hold.

The Topic of this month's TIFC is change .Sharon has mentioned in her post how she viewed a change she wanted and how her friend viewed the same.
Change is a fact of life that is a constant.No matter who you are or ,what you do ,you are faced with it.
Some people resist change;others embrace it with both hands.I find that fortune favours those who embrace change. Change is like a wave and those know how to ride it are successful.
For some ,change happens;others make it happen.
Some have constant encounters with change -ranging from the drastic but sudden variety,like natural disasters etc., through the moderate but sudden kind [of falling ill to Chikungunya ], and the milder,but still sudden, everyday variety :- "the auto -to -take -your -child- to -school -is -not -coming-today" kind. Also,the momentary kind as when the electricity goes off just when you want to Blog,sew,or put clothes in the wash.
It is these sudden kinds that cause feelings ranging from mild irritation to frustration to anger,sadness and Rage. Most stress and stress related illnesses like Hypertension,Type 2 Diabetes etc. are due to the after effects of these unresolved emotions .
Those who make Change happen for them are more prepared for the uncertainties that follow it ,like its pet dog .They are the ones who land on their feet;not fall flat on their face , because they were not prepared for it.
Well,I think I fall on my my seat and not my feet , usually. So, I suppose I am slightly better off,than those who fall on their faces , who I think , are better off than those who refuse to get up however way they fall.
I know that we can't cover for every possible liability;that we could not anticipate every fall or setback.There comes a time when you should just put your trust in the Supreme Being .and believe that He /She will never make you face something that you can't handle;or,at least not without resources to help you surmount the Change. For,what is Change if not an exam set to test whether you have picked up the necessary skills to survive it and also His/Her test to teach you to think less of yourself and more of others.,especially,Him/Her . In Indian [Hindu Philosophy] ,this kind of surrender is likened to the way the kitten lets its mother take care of him.

I am in the midst of a period of Change,myself. We will shortly be moving into our own apartment.It is under construction,now.We have to plan for the change we want there -like planning for storage in the Kitchen,the Bedroom,utility,hall etc.I am getting all sort of advice on that.--"have more storage"--"don't have a lot of storage ;you would invite clutter" and so on.

Another Change I am facing is that of entering the world of being employed(being paid for my work). I got an offer to head a school that is growing into its "Primary Years".They are starting First Grade /Std in June.
Managing change is about making Decisions that would help us grow.We feel anxiety when we are not certain of this ,that the change we are seeking is good for us. This is where Belief in ourselves,or in in the One above us ( "oopparwalaa"-they call Him in Hindi) that would help us.
I pray that everyone is able to make such Transitions without undue distress;that they are able to choose wisely and without feeling guilt or fear;that they have the necessary resources to make the Change happen the way they planned it.

Tessalations And Kolams-I

Today I read Sharon's Post of 17/March titled Tessellation toy online.She has given very helpful links to sites on Tessallations.Tessallations are practised in India as a tradition called Kolam in Tamil.It is a Pan-Indian artform where the ground/floor is decorated with designs drawn with white rice powder or paste(diluted)or stone powder.Sometimes coloured powders are also used.It is one of the 64 artforms an educated person should know (atleast in the medieval times ie.c.I BC.E. to 10 B.C.E.)Both men and women were adept in this art.For the past few centuries it has been reserved exclusively for the Woman of the house ie.the Grihini;but she is expected to learn it before she is married,so that she would be an accomplished Kolam artist by the time she was married.Infact ,it was considered as a mark of her Intelligence to be adept in Kolam Drawing!Nowadays a man would not know anything about this art.He considers it surprising that there is anything of note in the humble Kolam which is noticed only in its absence.It is one of the details only burglers notice.(b'cos a house whose residents are away wont have a fresh Kolam drawn in front of the entrance.)All the inmates of a house(with the exception of the woman who drew it)do not notice the Kolam.But if the "artist"were to mess her work,it will immediately be noticed,commented upon ,criticised,ridiculed etc.,leaving the person concerned quite in tears!?! These days not all girls are willing to learn this art form from her elders.Doing Kolams is looked down upon(very slightly) and is considered as being"too girly"by the present generation of Jeans-wearing Teenagers.
Kolam-The Traditional Floor Drawing of South India gives a fairly good overview of this Tradition of ours.I wish I knew how to create those computer generated Kolams!Nowadys,some Men are also showing a lot of interest in the way Kolam deals with Mathematical subjects/problems.One is ,as mentioned above,Tessallations;other areas are fractals,progressions,Spiral geometry[(?)i'm not sure of the correct terms,as i'm not into Math]and computing, too.This site gives further informative links on kolams.
Beyond Mathematics,Kolams touch on the subjects of Art, Religious Rituals,Spirituality,Anthropology,Sociology and Psychology.I will deal with them in subsequent posts.

Finally, A picture.

I have finally got the pictures of my work taken and also got it uploaded thanks to my husband's and childrens help.It was a total joint effort.As for me,I was feeling pretty bewildered by the wholething.My husband had to find the most appropriate setting-with flash or without flash.He also had to find the correct setting for focus.The Camera is something we bought recently to replace our previous manual one.I have to learn how to use it so that I could take pictures myself.
The work pictured here was designed By the Anchor Design Studio.I had done it in the Summer before the Tsunami.I had wanted to make it into a bag or something instead of the small cushion it was supposed to become.The threads and the stitches to be used were as per the design.But i executed the work with a variation to the straight stich recomended.[I used the economy verstion.I am feeling very sleepy so I'll sign off now.I 'll comeback tomorrow with more to share.

A little bit of Detail

I want to tell the story of why I named my blog Tangled Web.
About Twelve Years ago when my firstborn was a little girl of three,I had gone to a Lifestyle/Home-Life Exhibition to spend the coupons I had got from Madura Coats for buying their threads and other needlework supplies.They had given them as I subscribed(& still do)to their needlework magazine Anchor Needle'n'Thread.I had wanted to try the beautiful designs featured in their eye-candy of a mag.{I had gone berserk buying a lot of things-emb.skeins,crochet threads,knitting cotton,pearl cotton etc.}.My very-curious-and-couldn't-take-no daughter was fascinated by those threads.I saw her interest and told her that it was a no-no and she should play with something else.Was there ever a child who can keep their curiosity under control?!Mine didn't/couldn't.So she waited for when I was engaged doing something else,so I couldn't dissuade/distract her;she got her friend Sai to help her take the small closed bucket where I kept those "fascinating"threads and made off to the shade of casuarina trees that grew just beyond our compound ,to a corner where I could not spot her easily[behind a tree].They both must have had such fun separating the numbertags from the skeins [30-40 nos.] and entangling the crochet and knitting cottons[5-6 balls]and skeins as thoroughly as only two three year olds could.What an amount of time and effort it took me to unravell the whole thing! I was not in a position to throw away the whole lot after going to all the trouble of assembling my resources for the eyecandy stuff that was published in the Magazine. Infact it was a nightmare.After that event ,I packed away all my supplies so that all my attention does not go any where else but in engaging my daughter.It took me almost a month to remove the sand[beach variety]and dried casuarina needles from this Mass;another six -nine months to separate the skeins from each other; and it was three years before I cold go back to the thread supplies shop in Madras/Chennai to help me match the number tags to the appropriate coloured skiens.I thought that was that,until I found ,recently,a ball of fine deep blue tatting /crochet cotton amongst my precious hoard with the tangles still intact.So, I decided that there was /is some ununderstandable connectionbetween me and Tangled Threads that is difficult to explain. This became the name of the blog I had first created.Why did it become Tangled Web?I was always fascinated with a spider spinning her web so diligently and expertly without any formal training of any kind ,but with instinct alone. That's why!

So many Details-Exam Blues

The past week has been crazy.My daughter is having her Board exams(6 exams spread over Four weeks).She had finished her Social Science Exam on the 3rd.She had her Math Exam on the 11th.We are not very comfortable with maths,not because it is difficult but because we cannot be bothered by the many details like the steps involved in the solution of the problems.Actually,she has come a long way-from being gutwrenching scared of the M word to saying "Amma,I love the challenge in doing Maths".So whats the problem,you might ask.The same matter of noticing DETAILS-on her part as well as mine,I feel.She forgot to take her Hall Ticket(so necessary to be allowed to write one's exams).The Teacher had to yet come to her desk when she had realised what she had done.The Invigilator was very kind and understanding,infact very empathetic.She asked the class if they knew my daughter and confirmed her Number and then allowed her to write the exam.She only asked her not to repeat her foolishness.I was feeling agast to know that my dear daughter had not taken my advice to keep her HT safely in her bag and not to take it out until her exams got over;that I did not check /ask her if she had got all that was required.I felt miserable and very incompetent.It took me a week to be able to even think about the incident without feeling mortified.Meanwhile,my younger son who is 10 years old and is in the IVth grade had started his exams too.He needed help with his Hindi which is a subject I dont know much about except to read and write!EVS,English or Math-no problem at all.But Hindi-Written is difficult as he has difficulties with writting ie.Dyspraxia and Dysgraphia with ADHD.
It feels much better now that the worst is over and I am able to put them into words.

Happy Women's Day

I have been busy the past two days teaching/coaching my son(not yet 10,but soon) for his annual exams which start on the 12th of this month.Making a child to sit with his sums when he would rather do something else is very tiring ;I suppose I have not mastered that particular art of parenting.Meanwhile I joined a typing tutorial to learn typing.It tells me that my error rate for the First(home row exercise)is at 12%.I find that I could not use my new skill yet.I am still looking at the keyboard than the screen ,which I suppose is the reason for the pain in the neck region.Embroidery is also done looking down.I wonder how most people get around that difficulty.I suppose I must do some stretching exercises for the pain.
I have a problem .My friend Diana sent me a clip to view.I was not able to see the joke.My daughter tells me I lost my funny bone.I wonder if it was because I am tired-bone tired.
Yesterday was Women's day.There was a discussion in one of the cable channels on the status of women especially in Tamil society.The panel had a lawyer, a Psychiatrist,a poet,a filmaker among them.[The psychiatist is a very savy person who also has/had a slot,Manam Malara(meaning-"let the mind blossom") in the Tamil DD channel in their Morning show.It is my favourite because she manages to connect the way the mind functions with societal mores/norms/expectations.This is a programme for every one.] In the Women's day programme she said that research shows that all babies were made as females ,at first,when they are concieved ;and that Testosterone production starts the differentiation when the feotus is about six weeks old.Very interesting isn't it?

March!

Today I tried something new.I tried to join a webring for the TIF challenge.The TIF colours for march is very attractive.So far I had not thought of the feelings that are aroused in me when I see /consider the colours for the month.This time it came in a very strong manner.I finally learnt that I can save the colours onto my computer.So ,I did it with the previous Challenges too.Only a few colours strike our eye &remain in our memory.Why does it have to be so.1) b'coz I am not able to work the challenge as much as I think about it.2)I find the Thought for the challenge more absorbing that the doing part does not come so easily.this month,funniy,it is the colours that struck me first.I have to go back to Sharon's blog to look up at the idea for the month.

Meditation- Needlework

The last three days were quite busy with attending a workshop for teachers (on Reading)on Saturday to attending a very sick chid(my younger one)at home. Today,I learned about meditation techniques on the T.V.(Podhigai Channel.The presenter is renowned for conducting personality development workshops.He spoke on
1).Shabda Meditation:-We close our eyes concenterating on the sounds we aere hearing.Later we focus on only on sound.
2).Vipasana Meditation:- We concenterate on the sound of our breathing only.
3).Zen Meditation:- We count our breaths (inhaling & exhaling is considered as one cycle)to a predetermined number say 25.Then, we count backwards to 1.
I was thinking how handwork/needlework is meditation in a way.We have to focus on what we are doing with our hands.That kind of focus leads to a calmness of mind;speaking of which,ironically ,I have to admit that I am not at all in a calm state now.
{I just had a shouting match with my 15 year old daughter over her jumping in to take over my seat(literally).We have one computer for the four of us.I could only get to blog/google when I have done atleast a part of my housework(which I find is a never ending one)and My daughter is so avid scrapbooker/chat-erthat she sits at the net whenever she gets the chance,especially when someoneelse has openned the net.Somedays I couldn't even come near the computer;so my frustration levels hit an all time high when I find someone purloining my time,especially when I am writing a post.}
Another thing which contributes to my frustration with the net is the frequent current/electricity cuts that we have here in Coimbatore.It makes me wish that I was back in Kalpakkam.As talking about Kalpakkam would fill up a whole page or more I will save it for later.
I will write another post ,soon,on how I think needle work is like meditation or Yoga

Things great and small

I learnt how to upload pictures,Made sopme pikcles &a fair amount of housework today.I posted the picture on my other site for which I wrote my first post today.I also got ideas about how i wanted to keep my work for the TIFC together.I must next learn atleast some rudiments of typewriting so that I can do this more easily,atleast without this pain in my neck(literally).I also want to be able to do that again(adding pictures to my documents,i mean).This is the picture I had uploaded .It is a picture of Sri Ganesha,the Lord of Beginnings.He is my personal God,to whom I offer all my prayers and actions.I feel/know he is always with me.We hindus start everything,great or small with prayers to Him.He is considered as the Lord of obstacles(Vignesha)too.

Changes in Traditions

It has been a while since what I am going to say here stewed in my head.Many things prevented me from putting it down;but I dont want to talk about that.I want to discuss what Sharon had written on change in her blog ,In A Minute Ago,on the February TIF challenge ."Change is the only Constant"said Prof.K.G.Rama when taking class for us,the '89-'91 batch of S.W. students at Stella Maris College,Madras/Chennai.She was quoting someone whose name I dont remember ,but this aphorism stuck to my mind and kept playing whenever I had to face a change,both mild and/or drastic.Change happens everywhere-within ourselves,and outside,in our surroundings.Some are Changes that are sought while others creep on us,taking us unawares.I believe the ability to deal with the change gives one success.
The most visible change nowadays in our life is ,as Sharon Said ,is theway our lives revolve around the internet/cellphone& lso the way we celebrate Festivals
The one that I find funny is the way Valentine's day is celebrated in our country.I first heard/read about Valentine's day in a Dennis the Menace Comic as a child.I did not know why it was celebrated or what it stood for.But,today even a toddler knows when itis celebrated ,for what,etc.(It is called Lovers' Day in my native tamil).Earlier Shiva Rathri and Vasantha Panchami were the only festivity associated with February.Vasantha Panchami heralds the Spring season,is mostly celebrated as a North Idian festival and Shiva Rathri is an allnight vigil spent worshipping Shiva.Generally,it is considered that winter is over after Shiva Rathri(i.e. the raise in the mercury level is marked).Today this is observed only by the pious/believing Hindus&quite forgotten by the others.
Another change happened today,now infact;I learnt to "link" and "italicise" and "boldise" thru the relevanticons that have mysteriously(to me,atleast)appeared on my posting site. <

A Post,a Comment&a Response

Dear Mr.Nagata Shojiro,
I read your response to my comments on Kolam on Anil Menon's site,and thank you for the same.I appreciate your kindness in telling me of your work with Kolams.I am also glad you are using Kolams/Psykolo to help the visually impaired too.While kolam has been considered to be a woman's/female art ,it has always been scorned at by the men in the same society.One's Kolam skills will draw comment only when it is poor/nill.When I explained the benefits of kolam they were always surprised.It seems that it has gained some respect only in the past 5 or so years,especially by mathematicians.Mr.P.K. Srinivasan was the one to inform me of Kolam's significance in math.
Traditionally it has been held that Kolam drawing is a skill that shows the woman-artist's intelligence,diligence , manipulative/spatial intelligence,clarity of thinking,creativity&many more .I have personally found pre-occupation,&attention deficit invariably causes me to make mistakes in new/not-well-learnt kolams.At those times ,only the well learnt/practiced Kolams are easy to draw.So I use the Kolam ritual as a guage for my mental preparation for the day.I dont know if the posibilities of kolam in emotional intelligence has even been explored.
regarding Psykolo's use (yes i read the document authored by you &dr thangaraj;it is very good) for the LD children,It will bring far more benefits ,if it is done on paper/ slate/blackboard because it will give them practise of drawing the curved/straight lines that Kolam & handwriting(atleast English/indian languages)demand;Especially with dysgraphia !
Please let me know how I can help.I am talking mainly from my personal experience ,without the backing of any academic certification,except that sas a student of Psychology &a trained primary teacher.I suffer from dysgraphia,too :though I learnt of it Only when I did my teachers training.
with regards
Sita
I had read a post on Kolams a long time ago;on revisiting the site to check something I saw that there were responses to my comment on that site.Mr.Nagata had written to me asking me to contact him,but I could not as it was a mechanical reply ,it seems.I thought it might as well go to my blog as I felt it to be good ,and this being my area of work,informative too

Mistakes Galore!

The past few days have been very frustrating.I have been making a lot of mistakes in my blog( i had typed a blog on the theme of this months TIF challenge &tryied to link ,and SPOOF! the whole thing disappeared).I still haven't figured how to link.Now i am very wary where I put my finger on the keyboard.
That is not all.I opened my g.mail today to find 5 mail in my spam section. There were from people I didn't recognise (one persn called Pamela had sent more than one mail).I noticed another that said something erotic and I literally panicked and what do you think I did! I didnot open any of the mail and pressed the delete button impulsively thinking that there would be some virus if i opened any of the mail there. THen I wondered if it(the legit ones,I mean) might have been someone from one of the various blogs I had visited or from the response from someone who visited my site and left a comment or maybe even TIFC Fellows/Sisters.Irealised if you delete something you cannot get it back,and I felt very FOOLISH for reacting the way I did. I am very sorry Pamela I did not give you the benefit of doubt and read your mail.Now I know better.I now know it is alright to open the mail to findout if it is genuine or not.(this from my very net/computer savy daughter).

Then and Now

The next TIF challenge has been anounced.The theme is (as I understand it )is A view of the past -the things that have changed &your memories of them.I have A Real Lot to share,too.Reading In a minute ago brought back to me memories of my Holidays in our mothers native village of Mudikondan.This village is a fairly large one.The days were spent in removing the seeds from tamarind pods,rolling the blackgram & greengram on an inclined wooden plank(which doubles as a seat at other times)kept on my lap to remove the stones and other debris from the field,sitting amidst a group of farm labourers(women who also did house work in our houses)in the Open-to-sky quadrangle in the middle of our house(atleast a hundred years old).This was just one of the many that we did.I'll write about them in the subsequent blogs.
Now,of course the tamarind is still being deseeded in the same way there,but I am no more the carefree child who sat there talking to the women offering them some lighthearted occasions in which the tedium& the monotony of their tasks got relieved (I hope).My children refuse to do what we (my sister & I)willingly did.That is Change,Isuppose.
Ithought it would be easy to translate the memory these activities which are recorded in my head in my native Tamil idiom into English in which I have been trained to communicate.I find myself searching for the appropriate words that would describe the appliances/processes involved.
I find that this exercise has increased the value of my Language &Traditions in my eyes.

Its Feb already !

And I'm yet to finish my TIF challenge for Jan.

Many things to do

Its been along time since I sat down to write and a lot of things have happenned affecting me in mostly a positive way.
first, I've been invited to join a private school as the Principal.It is a new school,starting with the first and second classes.It starts in June'08.It would be an interesting and challenging assignment.
second ,I ve met new people ,whom I think would become close friends.
third I must start putting my head into my books and prepare for my exams in coming June.
fourth the Take it Farther challenge- I keep getting newer ideas before I could follow thru on the previous ideas.Right now it involves fabric painting with acrylic fabric paints.
finally I have to admit I find myself on the back foot as I realise i must learn certain skills to blog successfully, to be able to link with other sites ,and to be able to put pictures of my work on the site.I alsomust learn how I can draw kolams in my computer and also how to develop Kolams to enable children to overcome their Learning disabilities;i.e.how to guage and record progress made.,choosing the appropriate kolams for the many tasks invoved in thinking &writing and eye hand coordination.I also found that I didnot know the English language that well(atleast,not as well as a native)when I came across the fact that Tangled web had a different connotation from the one I had supposed it to have.I thought it meant confused!

The TIFC

The colours for the TIFC are purple,mauve,turquoise green,dark gray-green&cream.the theme is some one we look upto.Many ideas come to me.the pictures that I see are of the tall himalayan mountains.The way it can be treated-many viz.1)cut paper ;2)fabric /paper applique; 3)needlepoint-hungarian/florentine.So far,only that much.Many people come to my mind ,when I think of someone I look upto-1)my mother; 2)my sister; 3)my friends -Dr.Vasudha,Shobha,Sudha,Viji & many
others.I have to think on this more.
It took me a lot of time to put this together.At first I could think of only only my immediate circle of family & friends;thinking about the theme helped me find "Reference" figures in my society/country.So here they are.
Dr Kiran Bedi is the First Woman to join the IPS(Indian Police Service).She was ,also,a Junior level National Tennis Champ.As a Police officer she faced a lot of challenges and was frequently given what is euphemistically called "Punishment"Postings which she took up with as much zeal as if it had been a reward and brought about change for the better.The most famous of her contribvutions to the Indian Nation has been the change she brought about in the Tihar Central Jail,New Delhi(one of the most dreaded places in India).She caused the Prison to be a place for Reforming of characters &Personalities &attitudes and not just as a place of Punishment.She also improved the management of this Prison.She was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for her tremondous work ,for which she used Yoga and Vipasana Meditation.

The new year New beginning.

I have a lot to say but no time for it all.So im going to keep addinng to this post as I find the time.First :i have joined Sharon's Take it further Challenge.I feel thrilled about it .It is aConcept and Colour Design Challenge presented by her every month on the First.This months challenge is about Someone we admire.I have to check her blog (Sharonb's In a minute ago)again To get the rest.