Kuch Khaas Hai...

ONLY a real Marwadi can accomplish this:

A keen immigrant Marwadi lad applied for a salesman's job at London's
premier department store Harrod's. It was the biggest store in the
world and you could get anything there. The boss asked him, "Have you
ever been a salesman before?"

"Yes sir, I was a salesman in Rajasthan in India", replied the boy.

The boss liked the cut of him and said, "You can start tomorrow and
I'll come and see you later."

The day was long and arduous for the young man, but he got through it.

And finally evening came around. The boss came and asked him, "How
many sales did you make today?"

"Just ONE, Sir." said the young salesman. "Only one sale?" blurted the
boss. "No! No! You see here, most of my staff make 20 or 30 sales a
day. "If you want to keep this job, you'd better be doing better than
just one sale. By the way, how much was the sale worth?"

30,0534.00 pounds" said the young Marwari.

"What"," How did you manage that?" asked the flabbergasted boss.

"Well", said the Marwadi, "This man came in and I sold him a small
fish hook, then I sold him a medium hook and finally a really large
hook. Then I sold him a new fishing rod and some fishing gear. Then I
asked him where he was going fishing and he said "just down the
coast".
So I told him he'd be needing a boat, and took him down to the
boat department, where I sold him that twenty-foot schooner with the
twin engines. Then he said his Volkswagen probably wouldn't be able to
pull it, so I took him to our automotive department and sold him the
new Deluxe 4X4 Blazer..

I then asked him where he'll be staying, and since he had no accommodation, I took him to the camping section and sold him one of
those new Igloo 6-sleeper camper tents. Then the guy said, while we're
at it, I should throw in about $100 worth of groceries and two cases
of beer."

The boss took two steps back and asked in astonishment, "You sold all
that to a guy who came in for a fish hook?"

"No" answered the Marwadi, "He came in to buy a box of Sanitary
napkins for his wife and I said to him, "Sir, Your weekends screwed
anyway, you might as well go fishing!!!"

A tangy tasty snack prepared using Palak Pakoda / Spinach Fritters.


Ingredients:

5 Palak Pakoda
2tbsp Boiled Potato diced or boiled Peas/Channa/whole Moong
A pinch of Kala Namak / Black Salt
A pinch of Chili Powder
1tsp Meethi / Sweet Chutney
1tbsp Plain Sev
3tbsp Curds / Yogurt
A pinch of Chaat Masala Powder
A pinch of Roasted Jeera / Cumin Powder
1tbsp Chopped Coriander Leaves
1tbsp Chopped Onion
1tbsp Chopped Tomato
Salt to taste


Method:

Step 1: Arrange Palak Pakoda in a plate. Arrange potato pieces over it or spread a spoon of Peas/Channa.



Step 2: Add Onion, Tomatoes layer over it. Sprinkle Kala Namak over it. Beat Yogurt with Salt and spread it over the onion and tomatoes.



Step 3: Sprinkle Chaat Masala, Chili powder, Jeera, Sev and garnish with Coriander leaves and serve immediately

A carnation corsage is a perfect gift for the party, Mother's Day, Valentine's day, a wedding or as an anniversary piece. Silk carnations keep the corsage from drooping and turning brown as a real one can. You can make a lovely silk corsage that is just as elegant as real flowers. You can easily exchange the carnations for roses, daisies or lilies.


Things You'll Need:

* Silk carnation
* Floral tape
* Wire cutters
* 4 5-inch pieces of florist wire
* Nylon net
* 2 1/2 foot long spool of corsage ribbon
* Corsage pin

Instructions:


Step 1: Cut the stem on the carnation leaving a 4-inch stem. Bend the stem forward slightly. Wrap it with floral tape to conceal the stem.






Step 2: Cut 2 strips from the nylon net. They should measure 5 inches by 5 inches. Fold the strips in half and cut down the fold. Pinch in the middle and push the end of one wire through the bottom of the net. Wrap it tightly with floral tape to create a puff.



Step 3: Place four puffs against the stem of the carnation. Tape to secure all four nylon puff stems to the carnation stem. If you are using more than one flower wrap the two stems together with floral tape.



Step 4:Cut a 6-inch piece of corsage ribbon. Tie a knot in the center and set it aside.




Step 5:Cut a 6-inch piece of corsage ribbon. Tie a knot in the center and set it aside.







Step 6: Wrap the set aside ribbon around the corsage bow with the knot in the front of it. Tie at the back of the bow to secure it.






Step 7: Tie the ribbon bow to the stem of the corsage just under the flower.

Sock monkeys have been the protagonists of books and have starred in movies. They adorn the chairs and shelves of both adult and child bedrooms. While modern sock monkeys are made of tie-dyed fabric and neon-colored socks, traditional sock monkeys are constructed of a particular type of sock that features a white heel and top edge, and a brown and white speckled leg and foot. Old school sock monkeys have a shock of red yarn at the crown of their head. Humans wishing to borrow a fashion page from the sock monkeys may construct a hat using the following instructions.


Things You'll Need:

* Measuring tape
* 2 oz. of fine red yarn (craft quality)
* 1/4 yard of brown knit fabric
* 1/2 yard of white knit fabric
* Fabric shears
* Thread (machine and heavy duty quilting)
* Sewing machine
* Needle
* Thimble (optional)
* Traditional sock monkey socks (optional)


Instructions

Step 1

Use the tape measure to determine your hat size. Measure 1 1/2 inches down from the crown of the hair. This will give the total inches necessary for the band of the sock monkey hat. Using the pattern paper (or the newsprint) draw a circle using the head measurement. Subdivide the circle into "pie pieces" of approximately 2 inches at the widest part. Cut one pattern piece, but note the number of pieces necessary to make the complete circle.

Step 2

Purchase the fabric (or socks) and yarn. Bring the circle piece from Step 1 with you to test the overall pattern design. Tiny brown and white patterns will blend well. Large overall patterns will not look like the traditional sock monkey hat. Test the amount of stretch to the fabric. Pull the fabric lightly with both hands. The fabric should stretch approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch to be suitable to pull over the head.

Step 3

Lay out the brown/white patterned knit fabric. Place the one pattern piece on the bias (diagonal) and cut. Continue to cut the pieces until reaching the total number necessary to complete the circle, as described in Step 1.

Step 4

Cut a hat band (on the bias) from the white knit fabric using the head measurement. The width of the band will be up to the wearer's fashion sense. Begin with a 1 1/2-inch band and add 1/2 inch for each increase.

Step 5

Use a sewing machine to sew the pie piece hat knit fabric together. Use a 3/4-inch seam allowance. Once it is constructed, it should look like a beanie.

Step 6

Pin the hat band to the main hat piece (the beanie), easing the hat to be sure that any gathering is evenly distributed throughout the band. Sew this piece using the machine and a 3/4-inch seam allowance.

Step 7

Turn the hat band under and hand sew the border on the inside of the hat for a finished look. Do not use the sewing machine for this, because the seam will show on the exterior of the hat.

Step 8

Construct the top tassel from the red yarn. Cut 20 3-inch pieces of red yarn. Bunch the yarn together and, using two pieces of red yarn, and tie the group in the center. Knot the center yarn.

Step 9

Attach the tassel to the hat by using the heavy-duty off-white button thread. Knot the thread and, from the inside of the hat, loop the needle and thread through the bottom of the tassel. Continue to pull the thread around and take the needle through the hat, into the interior. Continue 10 to 12 times until the tassel is securely attached to the hat. There should not be any room between the tassel and the hat.

This Chinese style salad recipe was made to go with some white fish fried with 5 spice seasoning.
It is made from sliced red peppers, sliced Chinese leaves and Spring onions cut into rings and the green parts into sticks.

The salad dressing recipe was made from;

1 tablespoon of sesame oil
1 tablespoon of cider or white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon of real maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon of soy sauce
salt and pepper to taste
I mixed all these together and drizzled over the salad
Enjoy

Using this easy method, you can make your own rose bud paperweight. Silk rosebuds, a small jar, corn syrup, and food coloring are used to create a creative and functional piece of office décor. This craft project takes little time and effort, and the colors and decorations can be personalized to suit your tastes. A rose bud paperweight is a fun craft for kids, and it makes a great homemade gift.



Things You'll Need:

* Silk rose buds
* Hot glue gun Small jar with lid Corn syrup
* Red food coloring
* Wooden spoon
* Glitter (optional)
* Decorative fabric
* Scissors


Instructions

Step 1
Arrange two or three silk rose buds in the bottom of a small jar in an appealing way. Use the glue gun to glue them to in place. Ensure that they are securely attached to the bottom of the jar.

Step 2
Pour about ¼ cup of corn syrup into the jar. Add water to the jar to fill. The liquid should come to about ¼ inch from the top of the jar.

Step 3

Add 1 to 2 drops of red food coloring to give the liquid a pink tint. Use a wooden spoon or craft stick to stir, combining the water, corn syrup and food coloring.

Step 4

Add a few pinches of glitter to the jar, and stir to combine. This step is optional but can add a little more life to your rose bud paperweight. Alternatively, you can add sequins, baby rose buds, or any other decorations you find appropriate.

Step 5

Apply glue to the inside of the lid with the glue gun. Place the lid on the jar and secure tightly. Use the scissors to cut out a circle of decorative fabric the same size as the jar lid. Attach with the hot glue gun, and allow the jar to sit for several hours until completely dr

If you are looking for a fast and easy craft making project for the holiday's, then try making these adorable holiday ornaments made out of simple paint paddles found at your local paint store.


Things You'll Need:

* Wood paint paddles
* Acrylic paint
* Yarn
* Buttons
* Small bells
* Craft doll eyes (Small)
* Glue gun
* Fabric scraps


Instructions

Step 1

Use the tape measure to determine your hat size. Measure 1 1/2 inches down from the crown of the hair. This will give the total inches necessary for the band of the sock monkey hat. Using the pattern paper (or the newsprint) draw a circle using the head measurement. Subdivide the circle into "pie pieces" of approximately 2 inches at the widest part. Cut one pattern piece, but note the number of pieces necessary to make the complete circle.

Step 2

Purchase the fabric (or socks) and yarn. Bring the circle piece from Step 1 with you to test the overall pattern design. Tiny brown and white patterns will blend well. Large overall patterns will not look like the traditional sock monkey hat. Test the amount of stretch to the fabric. Pull the fabric lightly with both hands. The fabric should stretch approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch to be suitable to pull over the head.

Step 3

Lay out the brown/white patterned knit fabric. Place the one pattern piece on the bias (diagonal) and cut. Continue to cut the pieces until reaching the total number necessary to complete the circle, as described in Step 1.

Step 4

Cut a hat band (on the bias) from the white knit fabric using the head measurement. The width of the band will be up to the wearer's fashion sense. Begin with a 1 1/2-inch band and add 1/2 inch for each increase.

Step 5

Use a sewing machine to sew the pie piece hat knit fabric together. Use a 3/4-inch seam allowance. Once it is constructed, it should look like a beanie.

Step 6

Pin the hat band to the main hat piece (the beanie), easing the hat to be sure that any gathering is evenly distributed throughout the band. Sew this piece using the machine and a 3/4-inch seam allowance.

Step 7

Turn the hat band under and hand sew the border on the inside of the hat for a finished look. Do not use the sewing machine for this, because the seam will show on the exterior of the hat.

Step 8

Construct the top tassel from the red yarn. Cut 20 3-inch pieces of red yarn. Bunch the yarn together and, using two pieces of red yarn, and tie the group in the center. Knot the center yarn.

Step 9

Attach the tassel to the hat by using the heavy-duty off-white button thread. Knot the thread and, from the inside of the hat, loop the needle and thread through the bottom of the tassel. Continue to pull the thread around and take the needle through the hat, into the interior. Continue 10 to 12 times until the tassel is securely attached to the hat. There should not be any room between the tassel and the hat.

You have a handful of flowers and no time for complicated arrangements. Never fear -- here are 11 ways to get gorgeous results in five minutes or less.




Bright and Elegant


Elevate a handful of single variety flowers, such as these ruffly poppies, with a proper collar of hosta leaves.

--Cut the hosta stems long so you can play with the width of the collar depending on the size of the flowers.
--Arrange hostas along the rim of the arrangement.











Think Inside the Vase

--Twist a small palm frond or banana leaf into a tall cylinder vase as a backdrop for a delicate white orchid branch.
--Float a single blossom at the bottom of the vase and display.











Easier Than It Looks

This lush and romantic bouquet might look tough to make, but it's really quite simple.

--Choose a trumpet-shape vase so the stems casually fall at graceful angles.
--Start with a few geranium leaves to create a base to hold the flowers.
--Cut large-scale blossoms, such as peonies or roses, at various heights -- from the vase lip up to about 4 inches taller than the vase.
--Accent with a few wisps of trailing vine.







Relaxed Arrangement


Lavender's scent is well known for its relaxing powers, making this the perfect arrangement for a bedside table or guest room.

--Fill a vase with ruffled scented geranium leaves.
--Slip stems of sweet-smelling lavender in between the leaves.








Cluster for Impact

--Cut the stems of textured flowers, leaving an inch or so attached to the head of the flower.
--Add an inch of water to a large cylinder vase (or a large trifle bowl from your kitchen) and build up a mound of stones in the vase.
--Cover it with the flowers, nestling the stems in between the stones.









Lush Standouts

With its big blossom heads, hydrangea is a flower arranger's dream -- lots of bang for the stem. They're pretty all on their own, but try these color combos, too.

--Add bachelor buttons to enhance purple blooms. --Put a blush on white hydrangeas with pink spray roses.





Target Practice

Hit the mark with this exuberant display of zinnias.

--Gather blooms of one color in your hand to form a pleasing mound; add a single contrasting color bloom to the center.
--Secure with a rubber band and place in a vase.
--Feed in blooms of another color to form an outer ring and fill the vase.
--Place a bit of greenery, such as bleeding heart foliage, around the outer edge for added contrast







Free Falling

--Start with a ready-made mixed bunch of flowers and a wide cylinder vase or glass bowl.
--Choose one or two stems to stand tall but not taller than the vase.
--Cut the rest of the stems short and float the blooms in a small amount of water in the bottom of the vase.








Just One, Please

There's virtually no arranging to do when you clip a few stems from the yard and place them in a collection of bottles or glasses.


--To create a pleasing skyline, vary container height and stem length.
--Here, a small coleus leaf in a tiny bottle is the lowest element in the arrangement, which builds in height with fuchsia, helleborus leaf, bleeding heart foliage, Queen Anne's lace, and tall fern.





Grocery Bouquet Know-How

Pump up the impact of a mixed bouquet purchased at the grocery store.

--Cut the stems really short and arrange them in a low, medium-wide vase.
--Group flowers of the same color into clusters, rather than evenly distributing all the different varieties, to create little focal points where the eye can rest.






One-Blossom Stunner


Create this high-style display almost instantly with a pretty glass and a single bloom.


--An ice cream dish, a champagne bowl, or a martini glass all make attractive vessels for floating a showy dahlia.
--A bit of fiveleaf akebia vine gives the display an organic quality.
--Try any handy (nonpoisonous!) garden vine, such as wisteria or trumpet vine.

Here are some nice vegetable arts which can help ou to decorate your tables in parties.

What will happen if you smoke everyday in huge proportion?
Here is an interesting artwork with leaf, that showing how much is that “good” for your health.

























Don’t be desperate if you wanna to quit smoking you can quit smoking today.

Tips on Choosing Roses


1. Color may seem trivial at first glance, but it’s usually an important factor to those that want to grow roses. Usually it is simply a matter of personal preference, but you may want to try creating a complimentary color palette for your rose garden.

2. The final growth height of a rose should be considered as it would be unattractive to grow roses that are higher than the area of the garden that it grows in. Some roses can grow to be as high as 20 feet.

3. If you live in an area that is prone to cold winters, you would certainly want a rose that could survive during the off season.

4. If certain fragrances invoke an allergic reaction, you’ll want to plant roses that have a softer fragrance than the others.

5. It’s smart gardening to learn what the advantages and disadvantages would be if you were to choose certain roses over others.

6. You will want to consider the size of your garden space, so that you can ensure proper exposure to the air and other elements as well.

7. If you are hoping to make your roses into bouquets, you will want to know if they can be cut. Hybrid teas can. Some roses will fall apart at the petals if they are cut.

8. You should also consider what other types of flowers or plants you intend on adding to the rose’s environment. You want to add plants and flowers that will not create a damaging environment to your rose’s ecosystem.

Some Common Types of Roses

After you get a sense of the type of roses that you would like to plant, you’ll naturally want to know which types of roses best fit with your planting ideas. There are too many varieties of roses to list here, but this list covers some of the most popular. You should consult your nearest garden center for advice on whether your choice is fitting to your garden’s abilities.

Landscape roses - Landscape roses are great for the novice gardener. They are disease resistant, and require a little bit less maintenance. Hybrid teas are not good for the novice.

Climbing Roses - These roses are different from the regular roses that are planted as they are trained to grow upward like vines. Most people like to use these for trellises, or buildings. Some of them are hybrid teas, wichuraine, and large flowered climbers. They are a beautiful addition to the look of one’s house.

Shrub Roses - Shrub roses like the beautiful rugosa are both long blooming, and disease resistant. These are also great for the novice planter. They are gorgeous even when they are not in bloom because the foliage is so pretty.

Old Garden Roses - These roses are not very good for those with severe allergies to strong fragrances because they have a strong fragrant odor. However, they are disease resistant and continue to bloom for months at a time.

The Modern Rose - These are very special roses because they are the result of cross breeding the hybrid tea with the polyanthus. They are also referred to as Floribunda. They are a beautiful combination of the best those two flowers have to offer. They are long blooming, fragrant, and they are great for cutting.

Miniature Roses - Miniature roses are exactly what they sound like. They have all of the fragrance and beauty of a regular rose, but they have smaller blooms. These particular roses are great for indoor planting.

While note all inclusive, this article should be a great help in getting you started on the way to having your very own, gorgeous rose garden.

The first step is to decide exactly what it is you want to do. Are you just wanting to cover gray? Are you wanting a subtle change or something radical that will completely change your image? How much upkeep are you willing to do? Do you want to just do hi-lights or lo-lights to your natural color? Do you want something permanent or short term? A lot of choices I know!

If you're new to hair coloring, you may want to do either a temporary or semi-permanent color to start out with. A temporary hair color is a color rinse that will wash out in a shampoo or two. A semi-permanent color typically lasts for about 6 weeks or more (depending on how often you shampoo your hair). Compared to a permanent hair color which needs to grow out and requires frequent root touch-ups, these may be better choices for the newbie. Although any hair color can be corrected if needed most of the time, it takes a lot of time, trouble and money. Trying something a little less committed will give you more of an idea of what you like without damaging your hair in the process.

Ok, so if you just want to cover gray, the choice is relatively easy. Just find a color that matches your own. However, if you want to do something different, there are some things you need to take into consideration. That gorgeous strawberry blonde color may be stunning on your best friend, but will do absolutely nothing for you but make you look washed out and sickly. The hair color you choose has to be compatible with your skin tone and eye color. If you have very pale, cool toned skin, an ash color with its cool undertones will probably complement you. Cool toned people normally do better with black, those crazy, vibrant colors, and very light blondes. If you have warm features, like golden brown eyes and golden brown skin, then you should stick with a warm hair color.



Colors with golden and red tones normally look good on you. If you're not sure, check out your closet! You normally choose clothing in colors that compliment your coloring. If you have a lot of cool colored clothing like green, blues, and violets then you're most likely a "cool". If you have an expanse of warm colors like reds, oranges and yellows, then you're a "warm". There are some nuances you need to remember though. For instance, if your face is red from acne or other skin conditions, you don't want to choose a red color that will accentuate that. Instead, you'll want to choose a color that softens the red tones in your face. If your skin is sallow, then don't choose a haircolor with a lot of yellow to it. Compliment it instead by choosing a color with richer tones.

Remember, you can always do something more subtle at first, especially if you're choosing to go with a permanent hair color. Hi-lights are a great way to add some tones and interest to your natural color. Lo-lights add some darker tones that will help show off your natural hi-lights that you already have. You can do your entire head or just specific spots to show off some of your best features. For example, you can hi-light around your face to draw attention to your eyes, or you can add some color to your crown to accentuate your haircut. You can even just "tip" your hair with a different color to bring out the texture of a new cut.

Be careful if doing your color by yourself! If you're not familiar with color and how it works you can easily do something that will cause you to go running to the nearest salon with a scarf around your head praying someone will be able to make you look human again. Here are some basic things to remember:



1. A color will not lift a color. If you have colored hair already and it's dark, but you decide to go lighter, you're going to have to use bleach. The same goes if you have naturally dark hair and want to go blonde. A color will normally only lift four levels. I would highly recommend going to a colorist in this situation as bleach can be tricky.

2. Opposites on the color wheel will neutralize the opposite color. For example, if you have too much red in your hair, an ash color with green undertones will cancel out the red.

3. Take precautions before swimming with colored hair. The chlorine in a pool and the salt water in the ocean can turn your hair green.

4. Never perm after a color. The chemicals in the perming solution will lighten your hair color.

5. If you've used a henna hair color before, wait for that to grow out before you use a chemical color. Mixing the two normally does not bring about a good result.

Remember, if you're not sure, choose something more subtle at first. You can gradually go more radical from there. If you're having a hard time deciding what colors would be for you, head to your nearest salon. The professional colorists there can give you many ideas of what would look good on you. Hair coloring is something that can be loads of fun, just be sure to follow these basic tips!

Plant List



A. 2 pkts. Snow peas, ‘Sopporo Express’, or ‘Oregon Sugar Pea II’/ Six-foot vines; train onto trellis, followed by yard-long beans. Six-foot vines with foot-long green beans.
B. 2 pkts. Yard-long beans, ‘Kaohsiung’, or asparagus. Six-foot vines with foot-long green beans.
C. 1 pkt. Edamame, ‘Envy’ or ‘Butterbeans’. Two-foot bushy plants for fresh shelling.
D. 1 pkt. Stir-fry greens mix, a combination of mustards and bok choy. Grow quickly to cutting size of 3 inches; followed by cucumbers.
E. 1 pkt. Spinach, ‘Tamina’ or ‘Tyee’. Smooth leaves grow to 1 inch; slow to bolt.
F. 1 pkt. Cilantro, ‘Slow Bolt’. Grows to 2 inches; slow to flower.
G. 2 Cucumber, ‘Suyo Long’ or ‘Orient Express’. Long, Japanese-type cucumbers on 6-foot vines.
H. 1 Eggplant, ‘Ichiban’. Long purple fruits.
I. 1 Eggplant, ‘Asian Bride’. Long, white to lavender fruits.
J. 1 Pepper, ‘Thai Hot’ or ‘Thai Dragon’. Small, very hot peppers.
K. 1 Pepper, ‘Jalapeno’. Stubby, hot peppers.
L. 3 Basil, ‘Thai’. Green leaves with purple buds and stems; cinnamon flavor.
M. 1 pkt. Bunching onions, ‘Ishi Kura’ or ‘Evergreen Long’. Use as scallions.



Tips for Installing Your Garden

Before You Begin

Preparation is the key to creating a garden that will offer a lifetime of pleasure. Before you head to the nursery, review all garden plan materials. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I have a suitable spot for this plan? The layout diagram shows the dimensions for the plan. In general, you can enlarge or reduce the size of the garden by adding or eliminating plants, although the character of the garden may change if you alter the size dramatically.
• Do I have the right growing conditions? Check the plant list to see if the plan will do best in sun, part shade, or full shade. Be sure that the plants are suited to your Zone.
• Do I need to amend my soil? Most plants thrive in moist, but well-drained soil. If you have soil with lots of sand or clay, amend it liberally with lots of organic matter, such as compost.
• Is my soil’s pH and fertility okay? If you’re unsure, inquire about testing at your county’s extension service office. Follow the recommendations that come with your test results if you need to correct the soil’s pH (how acid or alkaline the soil is) or fertility.



Create the Bed

To lay out your bed, use a garden hose to mark the outline. (Or sprinkle flour along the hose for a more temporary mark.). Using a sharp spade, dig along the marked line to set the edge of your bed.

If the spot is currently covered by lawn, remove the sod using a straight-edged shovel or sod cutter. To make this easier, wet the area thoroughly, then use the shovel to cut the lawn into strips that are the width of the shovel and about 3 feet long. (Sharpen the edge of your shovel frequently with a file.) Use the shovel to pry
up and roll back the strips of sod. Once the sod is removed, loosen the underlying soil with a shovel or a power tiller.

Regardless of how you prepare your bed, use this opportunity to mix in organic matter (such as compost, peat moss, or rotted manure) and loosen the soil at least 6 inches deep. Don’t mix in fertilizer unless your soil test shows a need; in general, excessive amounts of fertilizer will do more harm than good.

After your bed is prepared, water it thoroughly and wait a week. This will allow weed seeds to germinate. Pull these seedlings or dig them back into the soil. Or spray them with an herbicide. Follow the instructions on the packaging, including the time to wait after application before planting.



Planting

If you have all of your plants on hand, keep them in their pots and set them out on the planting bed. This will give you a preview of how the bed will look, and allow you to make adjustments before digging any holes.

When you are satisfied with the placement, plant your garden from largest to smallest container (usually trees first, then shrubs, perennials, and finally annuals).

• Tree-Planting Tips: Dig a hole that’s twice as wide as the pot or root ball but no deeper. If the tree is potted, loosen the soil slightly around the roots, then place the tree into the planting hole. For balled-and-burlapped trees, loosen the burlap after the tree is in the hole. Cut away as much of the burlap as possible. When the tree is in place and straight, fill the hole one-third with soil, tap firmly to make good contact between roots and soil, then water. Repeat twice more until the hole is filled. Water the tree thoroughly by letting a hose run slowly for 30 minutes.

• Shrub-Planting Tips: Plant shrubs in a hole that’s about twice the diameter of the root ball. The top of the root ball should be slightly above the surrounding soil level. Backfill with garden soil, taping firmly to ensure a contact between soil and roots. Water immediately by slowly running a hose at the shrub’s base for about 20 minutes.

• Perennial- and Annual-Planting Tips: Set these plants in soil at the same level they were growing in the pot. Firm the soil around each plant with your hands, then water thoroughly.

THE DONKEY

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.




He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.



As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon,
everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.



Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less




You have two choices...smile and close this page, or mail this page to someone else to spread the fun!!

Lightly seasoned Mosaranna/Yogurt rice with added fresh veggies is my entry to this event, a much loved south Indian delicacy, is also one of the easiest rice salad to make at home.
A simple and easy to cook,healthy dish.




You need:

2 cups cooked and cooled Rice,
2 cups plain Yogurt,
1/2 cup milk, if needed,
1/4 cup sliced or chopped Pear or Grape or regular Tomatoes,
1/4 cup chopped Cucumber,
2-3 tbsp of fresh red bell pepper,
2 tbsp grated or chopped Carrots,
1 Garlic and 1/2" fresh ginger, (both crushed in 2 tbsp of water and squeeze to take out just the juice and discard the solids)
Few tbsps of raw sweet red onions, finely chopped, add only if you like to,
Salt, as much as you need.

To season:

2 tsp oil,
1 tsp each Mustard seeds and Chana dal,
few Curry leaves,
few cilantro leaves,
1-2 red or green chillies or 1/4 tsp Chilli flakes,

To make it:

1. Mix cooled rice, all the chopped veggies, Yogurt, salt, ginger-garlic juice, raw onion, mix ell in a big bowl.
2. Heat oil in a small pan, add all the seasoning ingredients one by one. When reddish, cool it down and add to the rice and veggie mix.
3. Mix well. Keep it covered and serve at room temperature when needed. Do not chill, rice gets stiff, doesn't tastes good!
4. As it sits, rice tends to absorb the yogurt and Masaranna gets very thick. If that happens, add some milk to it to thin it down, can add more yogurt if the dish is not already too sour. Dish should be semi-solid when you eat it.
Serve; as it is or with Lemon pickle, Mango pickle and/or with crispy papad on the side! YUMMY!