Knit Days, Rasam Nights

Just back from New Orleans, I decided to keep myself occupied until school starts. I added length and half-sleeves to my chevron stitch cardigan this week. For those who need it the pattern is available for free at milobo.wordpress.com, it's a top down yoke and really versatile pattern. I couldn't get a photo of the adjusted sweater because I'm wearing it and I can't find my camera for the life of me. (Actually, I'm sure its right in my desk but I'm still in denial about the mess down there and I'd prefer not to look.)
I promised to post my version of the patiala salwar and I'm getting to it as soon as I find three yards of spare fabric laying around. :)  In fact, I have a ton of saris laying around but since they are Bengali handloom saris, they are much too thin to make salwars with. I can make a bunch of lined gopi skirts or ghagras with the thick slips inside instead and I'll post those as well.
I've been practicing my knitting again and this time I decided to use a bulkier yarn to make a simple scarf. I swear I'm a crocheter not a knitter. I also said knitting was for losers but I also forget that I'm stubborn as a mule and will not submit to the knitting gods. I shall master knitting! SOMEDAY!
Lately we've been having a lot of rasam, its easy to prepare and it tastes like tomato soup's kick-ass Indian cousin.  The first time I tried it, I felt nauseated all day and swore it off for my lifetime. But again, I forgot that I'm stubborn as hell and would not let a little nausea defeat me. The other day, (I forgot which day it was supposed to be below freezing again), we went to Maharaj's house to drip all the faucets and open the cabinets when I spotted a package of Rasam powder in his kitchen. I knew it was a sign, I hadn't yet been able to get down to the Indian market to fetch me some and last time I totally forgot to pick it up and I ended up with two packs of fish curry masala instead.. I was annoyed by my absent-mindedness and so I yanked the powdered spices. This winter there is gonna be a lot of frickin' Rasam  because it is so quick and  easy prepare that you could feasibly make some right away and have it within a half hour! All you need is some tomatoes (3), grated ginger, spices (curry leaves, mustard seeds and 1 teaspoon rasam powder) and oil or ghee for frying. Boil and peel the tomatoes and blend it along with your ginger, a few curry leaves and water. You can also add a green chile for more heat. Heat some oil or ghee in your saucepan and fry the mustard and fresh curry leaves. Add the tomato puree, spices and salt and boil for five minutes. Add more water and boil it for another five minutes. Offer and enjoy!
I never had rasam before because it smelled too  pungent, it usually contained onion or garlic and each time it was usually on a train. Apparently Indian Railways likes to gorge their passengers on Rasam and breadsticks and I had no idea that such a combination was even possible! In my experience its usually not a good idea to combine spicy meals and travel; I never personally made this mistake because 1) I'm not an idiot. 2) I don't eat garbage from a plane or train or otherwise 3) I'm not naturally inclined toward spicy foods but I learn from others' mistakes well. Now that I've discovered rasam and confirmed that it is not decidedly gross as I thought from my previous railway encounters, I'm a fanatic. It really helps open up my sinuses and clearing up colds, its perfect for those cold evenings when you need something to really warm you up but it is really acidic so take care not to over indulge if you have a weak stomach! 

Craft Habit

Today I'm working on a new pair of socks, this pair will be knitted on double-point needles, unlike my previous ones. This autumn I was busy crocheting away and made several pairs of socks. I made myself two pairs, one for a friend and another pair for my husband. The pair I'm working on now will be for our local temple's Srila Prabhupada; this is the first knitted project I'll work and though I know it's risky, I'm going to try and work these size 3 dpns like a pro. Wish me luck, I know I'll need it! I wish I had photos of the crocheted socks I made but I already gave my friend his pair and wore my pairs ( I don't feel comfortable photographing my socks for you, even though they're clean, as it might degrade your spiritual standing : P)
I was at Wal-Mart looking for knitting needles today when my husband remembered that we needed a new picture frame for our spiritual master's photo; I agreed to look around with him but as I followed behind him, we passed the fabric section and just like a sultry seductress or crippling addiction, it lured me in. I was a goner before my husband even realised I was missing. Several minutes later, he came wandering back my way and found me roaming around looking at plaid flannel and fantasizing about all the flannel shirts I could make for myself and dress up like Al from Home Improvement... I would look totally hot in a flannel shirt and jeans.  ::sigh::
Today was weird, it seems to me that there was a lot of friction between friends, a lot of disagreement and discord in the air, it might have been Punarvasu nakshatra along with the Sun in Vrschika.. who knows?

Up, Up and Away

Today I've started working a new project for the winter season. I figured that if I started them now I'll have them finished by next week or week after in time for the cold and rainy season. Also, I've been knit stitching a scarf for my husband but it's taking a long time, as scarves tend to do, and he's asked me to give up on it. I think I have a better chance of just half double crocheting a scarf all the way and making it bulky using double strands. We'll see. In the meantime, I'm going to work on my sock skills. Knee socks are next on my to-do list.  The tunisian-broomstick lace scarf is kinda almost finished, I haven't worked on her since last week. Probably. I think. I'll try and get in a few rows today. God I hate the material body, I can only crochet so much in a day before my hands get tired or stiff and I have to remember to drink and eat at the appropriate times, go to the bathroom, wrist exercises etc. Why is it such a hassle to maintain the body? Why can't it be simple? Anyhow... I have to remember to do these things or my husband will kill me; okay, yell at me and possibly slap me really hard on the face. Okay, he'll just roll his eyes in contempt, but, isn't that exceedingly violent? You have no idea what he puts me through. ::sigh::

I made a dress using Simplicity SewSimple pattern E1988 and a lavender/purple synthetic sari. I want to make my own full slip to use as a lining, though, I won't be able to wear it at the temple or during winter, unless I wear thermal leggings or thigh high leg-warmers too. LEG-WARMERS! I need to put those on my list too along with garter belts to hold them up. Winter is great for crochet and knit projects, you can get really creative. Summer and spring is nice too, bikinis, beach bags, sun-hats, ahhh. I'll remember to photograph my projects so you can see what progress I've made so far.

Today I forgot to do my pranayam/yoga in the morning, well, actually I was a little rushed. I didn't wake up until six am and got into the shower late. I needed to prep the offerings, bathe, dress and decorate the Deities with about half an hour left before Krishna Chandra woke up. Luckily he woke up late too, everything else was on time but I had to sacrifice my yoga until after shopping this morning. I feel better now, I did bhastrika, agnisarkriya and anulom vilom but no yoga or stretches but I think I can get it in this afternoon. I'll just turn on a DVD and get it done before I flip out and murder someone again. Don't ask. Okay he was a fly but he was really pissing me off, I was trying to finish my drink and watch a movie but he kept interrupting with his buzzing.

Yesterday I was feeling anti-social and lonely and down and moody etc so I pushed myself out of my shell and tried to socialize with humans a little bit but didn't help much, eh. Whatever. I still feel a little bit of the blues coming on but I figured that if I listen to enough White Album, maybe it will pass. No? It'll cause instances of madness and even homicidal rage?
Okay, Eagles it is, I guess.
I gotta split. No, that would be painful!

Obsessed, Again.

Alright, so it occurred to me that perhaps, with the weather being all schizophrenic and all, I should crochet some socks and scarves etc. and be prepared for the winter-apocalypse so bound to happen in the somewhat near not-so-distant future....

I hit up the old pattern search on Ravelry but had a hard time finding a crocheted sock pattern. Except for one pattern in Tunisian stitch, everything turned up with knitting patterns. Why socks? Why not just Afghan up some scarvey-mothers? Scarves, scarf, scarf-y? Not sure how to spell that word. Sorry. Okay, as you have probably noticed by now, I get a little carried away. I am a little mad but resourceful as well... just add a hint of obsession and you can begin to understand the inner workings of my mind. So, instead of crocheting anything at all, which is ridiculous because I have at least three perfectly good patterns that I'd like to start up as projects soon, I decided to teach myself how to knit. Why? Why am I telling you all this crap? Because, I found my sister's knitting needles in a craft box and took it as a sign. The universe wants me to knit, people. Plus I have the right yarn for them, they're threes. Okay, I know what you're thinking, I have to be insane to teach myself to knit on 3.25mms. Hah! You're right but I'll be knitting up some woolen socks with double-points in no time. Until then, I have to practice my purl stitch and work on my tension but I'm making a joke of a scarf in the meantime. My advice to you folks is that you do the same, learn how to crochet and knit because if you hadn't already noticed, Mother Earth is bent on demolishing our so-called civilization and building a pretty winter wonderland amusement park on top of it. You should be prepared.

Also, I drank coffee yesterday, caffeinated coffee.... it wasn't pleasant. I think I took too much and it made me all jittery and such. Speaking of jittery, the other day I heard a loud noise and it shook me to the core, really. I thought I was going to have a heart-attack.

I'm still in the process of getting rid of my old stuff, I'm going to start with my old saris, sewing machine and anything else that I have an abundance of. Obsession or insanity, anyone?? I don't think they'll allow me to post that up on the temple bulletin-board. Still, it wouldn't hurt to try.

I'm really happy with my Deities, the altar is pretty simple but clean and tidy. We bought cute little German silver cups for Them in India along with a ton of crowns and outfits. While cleaning out my old craft boxes and storage containers, I found a big bag of assorted tilak. I thought I ran out of Radha Kund tilak but in fact it was not so. Plus, there's tons of brahmana thread, crochet thread, trims, fabrics, Velcro, hooks and eyes, fasteners, ribbon, lace, etc that need to be engaged in devotional service or thrown out forever. I have too much stuff.