Bloggoversary and TUSAL

Goodness, it's actually 4 years since I started the blog. Thank you all my dear friends who have kept me going real strong and made me stick on to this world. Thanks to you all, I now am much more courageous in trying out new things in baking, beading and mostly cross stitch. I am not sure I would have achieved even half of what I have done, if I had not started the blog and come to know you all by means of this vast world. And not to mention the number of new friends I have made with the help of the blog. It's amazing how small the world can be with the help of the net. Thank you all again

And now to update you on what I've been up to. Well, I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post. So much has happened since then - my cousin's wedding, then a trip to Trichy to celebrate M's uncle's 80th birthday and the festival of Karthigai deepam.

First, today being new moon here's the TUSAL for the month. I actually am posting it on time - woohoo

We had great fun during my cousin's wedding, the mehendi being the grand start of it all. V, the bride's sister and I got a small "tattoo" made.

That's us showing it off

V wore a ready-to-wear saree for the main event.

She was swarmed by people and the photographer as soon as she stepped out of the room all dressed up. She got so upset with all the attention that she ran inside the room again and refused to come out. Soon she started crying and wanted me to change her dress :)

I baked a cake - a vanilla walnut sponge with choco buttercream frosting.

This was mainly to celebrate Bhagwan Sai Baba's birthday which was just the day of the mehendi.

Now for the stitchy update.

Here's where I am with July - yep still stuck with it. With so much activity there's not been much progress. And then Mr. froggie made an appearance and I had to frog out all of the cottage and the tree on the left, and re-do the entire part.

So, with that my dear friends I take leave today. Till next time.. Take care.. Be happy.. Keep stitching.. Au Revoir

A jinxed start

What else can I say about March start, but a jinxed one?! I had to start it over thrice and I think (and hope) am going to be 3rd time lucky
The first time, I had started it too much to the right, so frogged it all out and centered it. 2nd time it was too much on top of the fabric as compared to Jan and Feb. So, no this time I did not frog it, but retained the line, and re-started it a 3rd time. Without any further ado, here is where March is as of now

But all said, doesn't it look pretty. Am already loving the colors. Hope to finish this fast and get started with April.
We had a wedding in the family last week, it was my cousin's. The wedding took place in my native town of Trichy. I went there after years and what nostalgia
Let me share some of the moments with you all

This was the first sight that welcomed us near the hotel we stayed. Isn't he beautiful

That's the Rockfort temple from a distance. To view the deity we have to climb over a 100 very steep steps. But finally when we do reach there, it's beautiful to just be there on top of the rock there.

This is the main entrance to the Srirangam temple, known as the Raaja Gopuram.

No wedding post is complete without a picture of V :) Beside her is my cousin's daughter, V's best pal

Another one of V :)
I also made a necklace for myself to wear during the wedding

After all the family fun and activity, hope to get back to my cottages with full vigour

Till my next update my dear friends.. Take care.. Be happy.. Keep stitching.. Au Revoir

A wedding, baking and a finish!!

Hello my dear friends. I have been bad and not updated the latest happenings for a few weeks now. There was just too much going on. So, here I go..Let me start with the wedding.

Sep 11th was my cousin's wedding. And what fun we all had. It was a great family get-together after many years. Uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews.. everybody enjoyed alike.

And the kids especially had a gala time. It was good to watch them have so much fun. Took me back to my own childhood days and how we all used to enjoy weddings. Ok, now for some pictures.
Vaishnavi wanted "long hair" for the wedding. So, here she is with her hair all braided up.

That's me (first on on the extreme left wearing the brown saree with the purse) with all the cousin sisters, showing off our brand new sarees :)
I baked a chocolate cake for my cousins for the mehendi ceremony. Decided to try my hand at some icing. So, made mint icing.

I used fresh cream for the topping. I saw in a TV show that if we beat fresh cream it becomes nice and fluffy where it just stays as a "peak". But am not sure if I did not beat it enough. It was quite runny. Tasted yummy though.. Would like to try this fresh cream again and get it right. Any suggestions or ideas please on how to go about this?
Another cake I baked was for my dad's birthday. This was again a chocolate cake.

This time I tried Coffee butter cream frosting. Came out yuuummmyyy...

And dear friends, yes I finally have finished Welcome!!! Isn't that absolutely great.

I simply love the way it has turned out. Love the way the black stands out of the fabric. I can't wait to get it framed and put up at home. Am definitely going to do this again later as a gift
I do not think I am going to start on a new cross stitch project just yet. I am going to concentrate on some beading for a while before taking up a project.
So, dear friends that's it from me for the day. Thank you sooo much for your continued support and comments.
Can somebody help me with showing how to reply to a comment? I do not see the "Reply" icon below comments left. Tried to read up help, but am sure that I am missing something.
Till next time.. Take care.. Be happy.. Keep stitching.. Au Revoir