#sareespeak #womenofsareespeak

#SS 9/2021

#79

#silk #kanjivaram #kanjivaramsilk

Today was one of Those Days.
When Virtual Became Real.
When a friendship struck in Cyberspace, on a facebook group,
more specifically,
on a Post,
Culminated in a
Face to Face Interaction.
A long time coming.
Comments on posts.
Replies.
Messenger hellos.
A sudden realisation that we lived in the same city.
Exchange of phone numbers.
WhatsApp chats.
An almost meetup.
Cancelled. No transport.
Voila, The Call to apologise due to a visit cancellation.
A Call again to reschedule.
Finally,
The Visit.
Absolutely wonderful to meet the lovely, calm, gorgeous Poornima Ghanta Poornima.
She was nursing her little one when Geetha Arun Thamotharampillai and I arrived.
And just like that, we hit it off, as if we’d known each other for ages.
So much to chat, words tumbling over each other.
Exchanged tea recipes, yes, tea recipes, meaning shamelessly shared my oh-so-unhealthy-but-extremely-satisfying condensed milk tea.
Discussed pets with her son.
Rabbits, Guinea pigs, Budgies.
She has a pair of love birds. Budgies. Released, they flew around in the hall, then perched on the TV, as calm as their owners.
Found out we had mutual friends.
Found out we had both lived in Melbourne.
Discovered we had family connections in Andhra Pradesh.
She must have been exhausted, having had visitors all day, and her son’s playdate, yet she’d stylishly draped a chiffon black and white saree over a red cardigan and held it together with a red belt, looking every inch the chic young mum.
And her husband served us steaming cups of chai masala and muruku.
Felt the warm fuzzies cuddling her beautiful angel, eyes wide open, expressive face trying to interact with me.
Took our leave as the little one needed to settle, after taking kumkum, fruit and a sweet (chocolate 😍).
A Mini SS Meet of sorts.
Photos are of
Poornima and I at the angel’s cradle, photo credit Poornima’s husband, and one of me at home, clicked by Daughter#1, who was in the midst of altercations with Google Drive, YouTube, and iMovie (stop, please don’t ask me to explain); (Daughter#2 was baking a second chocolate cake, once again, please, no explanations will be provided).
Elegant Poornima is in a chiffon black and white saree over a red cardigan, red belt, an easy drape to support nursing her angel, a quick drape for visitors.
Am in a saree presented by my mother in the late 70s, a single border red, as red can be, Kanjivaram silk, with gold buttis on the body, and bluish purple and gold borders and pallu. Matched with a red embroidered cotton blouse. A comfy, light, easy drape.
As easy and light hearted
as
the Visit earlier today.

#sareespeak #womenofsareespeak

#SS 8/2021

#78

#silk #kanjivaram #kanjivaramsilk

A Two Saree Day.
More accurately,
A Two Saree Evening.
Unintentional.
As luck would have it.
But a One Saree post.
Sticking to the Rules.
Continuing from previous post..

Turned around to join my saree clad friends,
And,
Horror of Horrors!
Heard my friends shriek, giggle, laugh.
Initially, I believed it to be from sheer admiration.
Until the hostess insisted I drape one of her sarees.
I stood right in the centre of the hall, disengaged, detached, having an out of body experience. Even managed to observe a beautiful sunflower and its bright green leaves in a vase on the snack table, teasing my choice of yellow green saree.
A friend patted me on the back, well, maybe, not quite a pat, but a thump, exclaiming, “Black and White Theme!”
Then I remembered.
Or I think I remembered.
The Invite.
The Dream Scene ended. Morphed into a Black and White movie.
Everyone was in some shade of black and or white.
And to think that books were titled ’50 Shades of Grey’.
Am going to sell movie rights for ‘Innumerable shades of Black&White’.
Daughter#2 drove me home. A 5 minute drive down the road.
Of all sarees to choose, trust flamboyant me to come up with the sunniest yellow and the springiest green.
Went through the cumbersome ritual of dragging my heavy camphor wood chest from under the mirror ledge. Rummaged through the piles for a black.
Saree #1 black, bottle green, gold? A vehement “No” from Daughter#2.
Saree #2 cream and black with a little rust. A painful moan from Daughter#2.
Finally found a black Black.
The blouse, sigh, had been sewn for a foxier version of me, low cut back, shorter than short sleeves. Discarded blouse. Matched saree with Saree #1’s black and gold blouse.
A quick drape,
an even quicker drive,
a Confident Saunter across party hall
in a magnificent Black Kanjivaram,
with copper, black and gold pallu and border. Presented by husband a long time ago after his Millenium India trip. Couldn’t have gone with him then as Daughter#2 was a few months old.
Coincidentally, this Saree has been a part of many a musical dance drama. Have worn this Saree for prior productions in which I have been a member of the orchestra on the Veena – Krishnaarpanam, a production of Oothukadu Venkata Subbier’s compositions, with music, dance and theatrics/drama.
And now,
A part of Party Theatrics.
Anyway,
All’s well that ends well.
Friends, Aunties loved the Saree.
And most importantly,
I had my
TWO SAREE DAY,
More accurately,
MY TWO SAREE EVENING.

#sareespeak #womenofsareespeak

#SS 7/2021 #77

#silk #kantha #embroidered

A Two Saree Day.
More accurately,
A Two Saree Evening.
Unintentional.
As luck would have it.
But a One Saree post.
Sticking to the Rules.

Friday.
Work, home.
Was supposed to visit a dear young friend and her new born angel, but some last minute changes and I wasn’t able to. Spoke to her in the afternoon and I believe I woke her sleeping baby. Apologised. She had draped a saree for the visit. Hope we get to see her in a post.
Promised to reschedule soon.

Saturday.
Chores, shopping, cooking, sheets, laundry.
Got ready for a friend’s son’s 21st.
Found the brightest happiest saree I possessed, gifted by a beautiful free spirited soul. Evident in her choice of gift.

Embroidered Silk Saree, a spring green and summer yellow. She had purchased the beautiful yellow green silk in India, then got it embroidered and sent here. Two years ago. She has an identical one in pink and purple silk. Must plan to drape it together and post a pic. Blouse is saree’s embroidered green silk.
Had all the time for a leisurely shower, careful drape and a mini photo shoot. Daughter#2 conceded to click as she was driving me. Husband at lectures, Daughter#1 celebrating another friend’s birthday.
A pose in the garden constituted 15 shots, 5 with eyes shut, 5 with mouth agape, a pose in the hall revealed the decor rather than the saree and the wearer. Managed to salvaged a few to post here, me merging with the trees and home decor. Have added an old shot to better showcase saree.
Chauffered to party by Daughter#2. Got a perfect parking spot. Trudged up the little hill in my flat Indian slippers. Was welcomed at the door, hugged the birthday boy and delivered his present, then,
Turned around to join my saree clad friends,
And,
Horror of Horrors!
To be continued..

#sareespeak #womenofsareespeak

#SS 6/2021 #76

#cottonsilk #kanjivaram #kanchicotton

14th January.
Makara Sankaranti. Lohri. Harvest festival. Uttaraayanam. Commencement of the sun’s six month journey northwards.  Pongal, meaning, to boil, overflow. Signifying abundance.
A traditional dish prepared from the new harvest of rice boiled in milk with jaggery (raw sugar).
Boiled milk, watched cautiously as it overflowed. Towards the East? In all directions? Convinced myself that the milk behaved well, as it should.
Used store bought kiribath rice, jaggery,  ghee roasted cashews and raisins.
Reminisced Malaysia days. Sugarcane stalk structures, terracota pot with turmeric plants tied around the mouth, atop stove on verandah, mango leaves strung on front door, milk boiling over, amidst cries of Ponggalo Ponggal. Stirring the rice, jaggery and finally adding cashews, raisins, cardamom powder, ghee.
Here, quiet brief prayer outdoors, offered some ponggal to my winged friends, then off to work.
Home again, Temple. 14 day Mahotsavam.
Watched the Vettai Thiruvizha (Hunting Festival) wherein Lord Ganesha, seated on a horse, conquers the 5 senses of lust, greed, anger, hatred, jealousy.
Got home, dinner of dosai and a spicy tomato chilli chutney prepped by husband.
Went to bed, too drowsy to read books written by two dear friends, or to write any food or saree post.
Slightly disturbed, not knowing when I or my family would be able to physically meet up with parents, siblings.
Managed to muster up some gratitude that I’d been able to celebrate Ponggal, and attend a temple Mahotsavam during these testing times, knowing that in some countries, the pandemic is out of control.
Draped a Kanchi cotton silk presented by my daughters’ vocal teacher, 10 years ago. Photos taken pre-temple visit by Daughter#2 who had ventured out of Yellow Den and was too lazy to budge from sofa, therefore had convinced me that behind the corridoor door was the best place for a photo shoot.
Saree is a slightly heavy double toned lime green golden yellow Kanchi cotton silk with maroon red and gold borders and pallu. Mis-Matched with a red, yellow, green, gold striped silk blouse. To uplift the spirits. To remain hopeful.

sareespeak #womenofsareespeak #4/2021 #74

#kanjivaram #kanjivaramsilk #silk

Disclaimer – Post reads like a Diary excerpt. Promise to be more philosophical next time.

The Final Day of Rest before Work.
Rose at 5, left for Hamilton at 7am.
For a Coming of Age celebration for a friend’s daughter.
And our previous drive down was a fortnight ago..Last Year 😎
Beautiful cool morning. Got there one and a half hours later.
Had a lovely time catching up with some friends. All in resplendent, beautiful sarees, looking like veritable goddesses.
Performed combined duties with other ladies, blessing the young one, taking Aarthi. She looked absolutely gorgeous in a peachy orange kanjivaram with thin bottle green borders and pallu, and gold buttis on the body.
Messed my saree quite a few times. Once when applying manjal on her face, arms, feet, managed to get some applied on my pallu! Had a delicious vegetarian spread before driving home. And the saree had its fill too. Clumsy clumsy me, signs of aging. Attempted to remove some stains with baby wipes.
On the way home, Daughter#2 called, asking if I’d like to spend the evening with her : Daughter#1 had gone for a friend’s pre wedding Sangeeth celebration.
Got home.
First things first.
Used powers of bribery.
Photo shoot then outing.
Photo shoot conducted in hall, NOT Yellow Den, saree-wall contrast would not have helped post approval.
Then applied stain remover.
Dozed off for half an hour.
Out to the Mall with Daughter#2 to get birthday gifts for her friends’ upcoming 21st parties.
Chatted over some chai masala.
Home, dinner was..
Maggi Mee with tofu and greens. Refreshingly deliciously unhealthy.
Located office phone, keys, cards, the works – whatever deemed essential for a non eventful first day back at work. Draped this gorgeous deep sky blue kanjivaram silk. Saree is quite heavy, with a soft pink and light gold border. Pallu has gold buttis and wide gold stripes. Body is lined with intersecting horizontal and vertical pink thread to form medium sized checks. Purchased in Chennai over ten years ago.

#sareespeak #womenofsareespeak

$silk #cottonsilk #christmas

#sayitwithflowers

#themeofthemonth December

#SS 68/100/2020

Merry Christmas one and all. 2020 is almost over. Many of us have had not so pleasant memories and experiences. May we try to remember the lessons learnt and be grateful for the good. Sadness is tiring. Though very very difficult, let’s try to see glimpses of happiness in the little things around us, birds feeding on rice kolams or stale bread, jasmines in the garden, a waft of a rose’s fragrance, sharing a meal with people you love..
My wish for you is that you have a Christmas, New Year and lifetime of love, light, laughter, peace, bliss, good health, prosperity and that you are always grateful/thankful for all the blessings you have and will continue to receive. God bless.
Here I am draped in a silk cotton saree, a pinkish red with undertones of green. Colours of Christmas. With buttis of green maple or khalsa symbol like leaves. Borders of green and gold. Pallu of striped green and gold. My purchase at a friend’s boutique here.
Photographed in garden while chatting, on the way out to a Christmas dinner.

Let’s embrace 2021 wholeheartedly together, let’s find strength and support in unity and friendship/sareeship.

#sareespeak #womenofsareespeak #handloom #silk #kanjivaram #kanjivaramsilk

#SS 3/100/2021 #73

The Last Saturday before Work.
Planned completion of master bedroom spring clean with Daughter#2.
It all started with her taking down Christmas decorations. She’d asked husband to help her store the tree and ornaments in the garden shed. It then went on to reorganizing shed, checking trunk contents, adding unwanted utensils, devices, contraptions ftom various parts of home. All spring cleaning plans flew out the window. Completed dusting, vaccuming chores with the girls.
Then they unpacked a new toy.
Air Fryer!
While I prepped lunch, the rest tried their hand at oil free tofu frying, once plain and once with chilli marinade. Delicious.
Rested awhile.
Got ready for dinner with my new Malayalee-German-Kiwi neighbours and their 3 boys 15, 11, 5.
The shortest journey ever.
A hop, skip and a jump next door.
They’d invited their neighbours on the other side too, a lovely  Vietnamese-Chinese-Kiwi couple with 2 young sons 8, 4.
My girls were the oldest Akkas, and yet they all seemed to have a good time playing board games, video games while we chatted. Interesting amicable conversation as we were a group of academicians, IT and health professionals all having migrated from Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Kerala, Germany, India.
Dinner was a delicious variety of entrees, briyani, assorted vegan dishes and salads, and a separate table for non vegetarian dishes. Dessert was vattayappam, lime jelly and panna cotta and my berries and cream dessert.
Said our goodbyes, my petticoat cutting into my tummy, and another short walk next door.
Went to bed feeling blessed and happy having spent the evening with friendly generous kind neighbours.
Had draped a simple Kanjivaram silk. You may ask why dress up for a simple dinner? Out of respect – respect for the hosts,  the occasion and self-respect.
Kanjivaram silk, my favourite weave. Why my fave? Easy comfy drape, simple yet elegant. Two toned light grey/lilac striped body with maroon, gold borders and pallu. With green and gold leaves on borders. Wore saree’s matching maroon blouse.  Purchased ten years ago when in Chennai on a music trip.
Apologies, photos shot after we got home past 11pm, in Daughter#2’s Yellow Den 😶😎

#cotton #cottonsilk #2/100/2020 #72

What I did not do in 2020.
At first glance, this may seem like a whinge about regrets.
But then, on quick reflection, we could come up with a list of not only Did Nots but Dids, for what is a Did Not without a Did?
Here goes – I Did Not

1. Drape as many sarees as I would have liked, but Did make beautiful connections over this extremely supportive and friendly Saree in Style group
2. Enter physically my place of work for most of the year but Did work from home, virtually, remotely, training, supporting clients
3. Have face to face music classes as much as I would have liked to, but Did conduct online learning.
4. Travel to see mum, sisters, friends, family overseas, but probably Did connect more than ever before
5. Socialise as much, but Did spend time with husband and girls
6. Dine out too often, but Did occupy myself in my own little kitchen with family.
   The World went into lockdown, but each of us found, are finding our coping strategies, albeit with difficulty. We’ve had our share of losses, joys, meltdowns, health scares, tantrums, yet we reached out to family friends or looked within for peace and support.
   This platform was personally, one of my coping mechanisms and still is.

Rose early,  chores, lunch, spent the afternoon with Daughter#2 at one of the new shopping malls. Felt like a villager visiting the city..
Dinner at a lovely sakhi’s new home. Great food, company, conversation.
Draped a simple red cotton silk, with triangles/korvais on the border and pallu in black and gold and tiny gold and black triangles on the body.
Got Daughter#2 to click some shots before leaving, as the other option would have been a photo shoot in her Yellow Den.

Dinner at friend’s new home.
Remembered that I had to make a dessert for dinner the next night at our new neighbour’s home.
Am not known for my desserts.
On the way home, we rushed into Countdown past 10.30 to get some cream, frozen berries.
Got home, layered berries on bottom of tray, whisked cream, condensed milk, poured over. Placed in fridge to set. Chopped up pistachios and cashews.
Took nuts and dessert next door. Checked if anyone had nut allergies, then sprinkled nuts over the top of the set dessert.
Turned out alright.

#therapy #foodtherapy #healing

#onepotmeal #lockdownsimplemeal #minimalisticmeals #recyclefood #leftovers #NoJudgementPlease is this even a hashtag? #servelovegive #cookwithlove #cooknoairs #vegetarian #vegan #eggless #mykitchen #simplefood #kitchendiaries #comfortfood #bitesbybavani #bluffsbybavani #inmykitchen #kitchendiaries

#sareespeak

#womenofsareespeak

#kasavu #keralakasavu #silk

#SS 1/100/2021

Reset saree counter.
New Year’s Day 2021.
One of the first countries to herald in the New Year.
On the eve, a prayer of gratitude, a sweet prasad after midnight.
So grateful for today, my yesterdays and my tomorrows.
Rose early,
Standard celebratory breakfast of
Paal soru/coconut milk rice with daun pandan/rampa/screwpine leaves and
Lunu miris/ground onions, red chillies, himalayan salt, lime juice.
Oxymoron alert – A simple rich meal signifying abundance and auspiciousness.
Video chatting with niece in the UK minutes before her midnight, 12 hours behind us, her mum from Australia, her dad in Malaysia, sharing the screen. Watched the amazing fireworks display from Her apartment window.
A little music, a little prayer.
Prepped lunch. Girls packed some food for friends they were visiting.
Packed for trip.
Dinner at a friend’s home. An evening of good food, company, conversation and laughter.
Took out a bright purple cotton silk, a pink Bengal cotton, a rich light blue and pink Kanjivaram silk.
And settled on my mum’s Kerala Kasavu silk saree which she’d left behind when she visited last year with my sister in law. Matched with a gold brocade blouse. Love the cream and gold, the simplicity and purity of this saree.
A reminder that life is how we perceive it, make it, participate or engage in it.
Let’s not make it out to be so complicated.
Let’s just believe Life’s good,
And simple.
Happy Blessed New Year 2021.
PC : Daughter#2 in Yellow Den, after dinner.