Mad Gringa Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas

Mad Gringa Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas

A study on Hibisus rosa sinensis

I realised the beauty of this plant when we planted it in my terracota pot. 
Deep green serrated leaves and blood red flowers- no wonder it is a darling of goddess  Durga. 
This time I observed it bloom between 7:30 and 8:15 in the morning. Tried to capture it in camera. 

China rose, Chinese hibiscus, Rose of China, shoeblack plant, shoe black, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis(noun)

-----------from online dictionary

Hibiscus: Hibiscus rosascinencis flowers are used in hair oil. They can be boiled in coconut oil and the oil can be used. Along with of course can be added Maka, Brahmi.

- Marketed by name of "Java Kusum" or "Jaba Kusum"  Tail (Tel or Oil). 
- Also Jaswala hairoil.

Large showy Asiatic shrub or small tree having large single or double red to deep-red flowers.This is the most common type of Hibiscus rosa sinensis.. and the petals have not been eaten by insects rather 

the margin of the petals are wavy... which gives it such an appearance.

The study

Not mine-please! this is the link click the link Hibiscus Rosa sinensis  a   Study 

and excerpts

Much of the claims are based on tradition and anecdotal evidence instead of scientific studies. In a rather rare study, Adhirajan et al. tested the effects of two Hibiscus rosa-sinensis extracts, one made from leaves and one from flowers, on albino rats.

The extract was made by drying and powdering leaves and flowers of the plant, extracting them with petroleum ether and then mixing a gram of the extract in 100 ml of liquid paraffin. This produced the 1% active compound, which was topically applied on the backs of shaved mice.

Here and  Here for my other posts on my China rose  have aread.

Have alovely day!

MY Dearest Dr. Revathi Balakrishnan

I gladly jumped when i got a photograph fromfao.orgDr. Revathi Balakrishnan  was my teacher when i was studying for my graduation in Home science then she had gone to US for her Post graduation in Home Science. Then  she joined back in the year 1982 in the Deptt.of FRM,CCSHAU,where I was working as Research Associate.. It was a great experience working under her guidance. Not only because she supported me in preparing for higher studies, in spite of my lacking of good grades in my graduation. For her support and inspiration, I feel very much in debt with her. Later on I did my Masters and my post graduations too. She is  Regional Rural Sociologist and Women in Development Officer in FAO Regional Office for Asia and the PacificBangkok, Thailand . 

Dr. Revathi Balakrishnan (standing)

I found some information in the report given  in fao.org, I am posting  medicinal uses of plants i have in my balcony ...You the readers can be benefited by practicing them.........more plants and their medicinal uses click the link given above.

Have a read!!

swatchh bharat abhiyaan, - Pong Research

Isn't Poetry a Research!!!!!!!!!

एक प्रश्न के जवाब में 

कितनी जल्दी बूढ़े हो जाते हैं 

हमारे चहेते काका- दादा लोग   

रोज़ नई अडंगी डालने वाले  

कमीज़ में सुराख़ करने वाले 

नई रबर पेंसिल चोरी करने वाले  

टिफ़िन बॉक्स से लज़ीज़ खाना गड़प करने वाले 

दोस्त तो सदा कड़क जवान बने रहते हैं  

मंगलू काका 

जो रोज़ इक नई कहानी को ज़मीन  पर उतारा करते  

कांसी की थाली में परोसी बाजरे की खिचड़ी को

इतनी देर तक फेंटते

कि  खिचड़ी की सफेदी खुद शर्माने लगती 

कभी- कभी लगता कि  काकी के चूल्हे ने अधपकी खिचड़ी पकाई है 

बाकी का कमाल तो काका की ऊंगलियों ने किया है  

काका देर रात गए घड़े बनाते और 

मैं उकडू बैठ उनकी  उँगलियों का जादू बिना पलक झपकाए देखा करती 

चाक पर मिटटी के  लौंदे से सुराही बनाते काका 

जादूगर के सगे भाई  दिखाई देते  

अपने उस चुलबुले दौर में 

घर वाले सिपाही के नाती लगते   

और काका फरिश्तों  के   दूत  

घर वालों की टोली में से एक बाशिंदा

मुझे ढूँढने काका के दलान में आ धमकता   

काका गिरते भागते 

अँधेरे को  टटोलते मुझे 

कहीं गुल कर दिया करते 

काका की चेचक के निशान से लदे दागिले काले चेहरे पर

आँखों की बजाये दो काले गड्ढे थे  

जिन पर मैं अपनी नन्ही उंगलियां 

कुछ इस अनुमान से फेरती कि 

किसी तरह दिख जाए काका को मेरा नन्हा चेहरा 

दिख जाये मेरे घुंघराले बाल 

एक आँख में डला काज़ल 

मेरी धुल सनी चड्डी -बनियान 

एक वक्त के बाद 

किसी शाप की छाया के नीचे आ 

काका-भतीजी का यह रिश्ता 

दो देशो जैसा कंटीला हो गया 

मेरे दादा की काका से बिगड़ गई 

इस बैर-राग का पहला और आखीरी  निशाना 

मैं ही बनी  

‘टांग तोड़ दूंगा कुम्हार मोहल्ले की तरफ दीखा  भी कभी तो’

छोटे चचा ने आँख तरेरी’

मेरे आंसुओं की कहानी 

किसी किताब में बंद हो गयी  

मेरा कद ऊँटनी से टक्कर लेने लगा 

मेरी युवा आँखों के सामने 

यह दुनिया गर्म पानी में रखे अंडे की तरह मेरे सामने उबलने लगी 

इस बार गाँव आने पर   

आँखों के गढ्ढों में गंदगी लिए मैले-कुचले काका को देख कर 

मैं अपने में सिमट 

दो कदम पीछे हट गई 

दोष मेरा नहीं मेरी साफ़ सुधरी विरासत का था 

जिसे हर मैली चीज़ से उबकाई आती थी 

मेरी बचपन की चपलता को काला चोर ले गया 

गांव के चौबारे में एक लड़की और

वह भी शहर से आयी हुई

दुनिया कुछ है 

उसकी किसी को परवाह नहीं है 

मंगलू काका तो दुनिया को चालू हालत में छोड़  

अपने धाम चले गए    

मै वापिस अपनी उस दुनिया में हाथ-पाँव मारने लगी   

जहाँ पर ना कोई मंगलू कुम्हार से  सिद्धहस्त हाथ हैं ना  

कोई स्नेहिल मंगलू काका. 

a poem by Vipin Choudhry

and something about poet Emily Dickinson    HERE

Have a Read!!!

my publications

"The quality of your life

 is determined 

by the focus of your attention"

Cheri Huber

My inspiration : today

Vintage Vixen: Jumble Sale Joy

Farm women’s recreations

Farm women, from the neighborhood meet together while collecting fuel (leaves, barks, shrubs, twigs), fodder, and wild-food like cholaai, kondra, teent, peal (wild fruit), from the nearby waste lands and, fields and during bringing water.  

Tribuneindia:fetching water  

tribuneindia:Rajasthani women carrying water..

During such discussions, women share their ideas with one another which not only create opportunities for self-expression (they also discuss misbehaviour conducted to them by older member of their families), but also symbolize some degree of group solidarity. 

tribuneindia;carrying water

tribuneindia:bringing fodder

tribuneindia:bringing fodder

On these occasions, women meet together and discuss personal, family, and village affairs as they go about the work of fuel collection or fetching water. 

  Women, especially housewives, almost universally cherish the experience of visiting houses of close kin. For a young, newly married housewife, the greatest recreation can be a piihar-a short, periodic visit to her parents from her husband's home. During such visits, women generally take a break from the burden of daily work and pass the time by meeting kin and friends.
A Drabble 
Happy reading!!!!!!!

Kantaha,research on the topic

Kantha 

Etymology

The word kantha has no discernable etymological root. The exact time of origin of the word kantha is not accurately known but it probably had a precursor in kheta (khet in Hindi and Bengali means "field").According to Niaz Zaman, the word kantha originated from the Sanskrit word kontha, which means rags, as kantha is made of rags.

Kantha Tradition

Like any other folk art, kantha making is influenenced by factors such as materials available, daily needs, climate, geography, and economic factors.^[11] Probably the earliest form of kantha was the patchwork kantha, and the kanthas of the decorative applique type evolved from this.

Kantha in Literature

The earliest mention of Bengal Kantha is found in the book "Sri Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita" by Krishnadas Kaviraj, which was written some five hundred years ago.

Kantha Making

Traditionally old sarees, lungis and dhotis were used to make kanthas. Kantha making was not a full time job. Women in almost every household were expert in the art. Rural women worked at leisure time or during the lazy days of the rainy season, so taking months or even years to finish a kantha was normal. At least 5-7 sarees were needed to make a standard size kantha. Today the old materials are replaced by new cotton cloths. Traditionally the thread was collected from the old sarees. That is rarely done today.

When making a kantha, first the sarees are joined together to attain the required size, and then layers are spread out on the ground. The cloths are then smoothed, leaving no folds or creases in between. During the process, the cloth is kept flat on the ground with weights on the edges. Then the four edges are stitched and two or three rows of large running stitches are done to keep the kantha together. At this stage, the kantha can be folded and stitched at leisure time.

Originally, designs and motifs were not drawn on the cloth. The design was first outlined with needle and thread, followed by focal points, and then the filling motifs were done. In a kantha with a predominant central motif the centre was done first, followed by corner designs and the other details. In some types of kanthas (carpet, lik and sujni, etc.) wooden blocks were used to print the outline. The blocks are replaced today by patterns drawn in tracing papers.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakshi_Kantha

photo via(Wikipedia)

some links here.......................

Handicrafts,India,SouthAsia,SouthEast Asia,Bangladesh,Bhutan,Maldives,Nepal,Pakistan,Sri Lanka
Aresearsh paper on sociological context of Bangal Kantha

stitching-stories-kantha-quilts-at-the-philadelphia-museum-of-art/

Have a read!!!!!!!