The Perfect Christmas Tree

The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect!”
~ Charles N. Barnard, American author, travel writer.

Every year for the past 12yrs (of my marriage to Vj who is a Roman Catholic), decorating the Christmas tree is one of the things I have looked forward to. I have my box of baubles and crystal stars and little Santas and elves for Christmas decorations, that I add to each yr and no one, not even the boys, is allowed to touch them. Every year I spend hours trying to make the tree look perfect. Even the years when we are travelling to India for Christmas, the tree is done up in advance before we leave for our holidays.

This year, however, the planning got a bit messed up. 

This year, we will be spending Christmas in a service apartment in Singapore as we are yet to move into our new home. 

Our tree and the box of baubles is still on its way and will reach us only after Christmas is over. 

This year, for the very first time in the last 12 years, I will not be cooking any elaborate feast for Christmas.

This year after a long time, we will be celebrating Christmas alone, minus any one in my or Vj's family with us. 

But Christmas is the time to count one's blessings and I have many to be thankful for - 

for the 3 men who complete my life, 

for being in a city I love and am familiar with so I am not lost for ideas on what to do and where to go, 

for the love of my family 

for old friends and new ones; for friends who have been there through thick and thin; for friends who have been there with advice and food and laughter when I have needed it.

for all the love, encouragement and support I receive from each and everyone of you who is on Rainbows and Cloudbursts.

This year, we were tree-less for Christmas till I took the boys to an art class. This class is run by my friend Bhavani Suryavanshee who runs a arts and crafts class for 3-6yr olds out of her home in Singapore and is great fun for kids and parents alike. I have been to two and have enjoyed myself thoroughly as have the boys. 

And over 2 sessions, my 2 little brats made a Christmas tree and the decorations for it - one far more beautiful, far more colourful than my perfect tree...

Sharing a few pictures and as I sign off, I wish each and every one of you a magic filled, perfect Christmas in the company of those you love! 

Loads of love, 

Moushumi

And finally 2 Santas for my twins who fight about everything under the sun! 

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.”
~ W. T. Ellis

Some long forgotten projects from the past

The other day, my brats went rummaging through my bookshelf and dragged out an old forgotten scrapbook. As I tried to pry it away from their fingers, I realised with a pleasant surprise that it was a long forgotten (very small) collection of photographs of some glass paintings I made ages back. 

The one on the top of this page, the Two Swans, I painted for a friend, as a wedding gift. This was a period where I was obsessed with glass paintings and made many as gifts, though I am not even sure if the people I made it for, even liked them or wanted them. Except for my sister of course, who loved them and still has hers hanging from her wall.

This Sunflower I made for my sis, who even after all these yrs,
still  keeps it hanging from her wall

An Egyptian themed painting

Fish, Fish Everywhere....

And finally this one below was my favourite - a glass cylindrical lamp with paintings of autumn leaves. The picture does not do it justice at all, but it looked really, truly gorgeous when lit! And the best part of this was, when I took it to the lamp shop for fitting, the shopkeeper had liked it so much, he actually made me a business proposition! Which sadly I couldn't accept as I was relocating out of India, but it definitely made me grin from ear to ear for the next 1 week! :-)

There were some grand ones that I intended to do, one of St. Basil's Cathedral Moscow and one of Marilyn with her skirts flying, but I never got down to doing either of them.... Suddenly finding the scrap book brought back all the enthusiasm and the zeal with which I made each one of these. 

Looks like its time to go to the art shop and buy some more colours after all.

Addendum - 23rd January 2012

One of my close friends posted this on my Facebook page a few days back - Cannot express how thrilled and touched I was to read it and so had to share this.....

"Was reading your blog 'some long forgotten projects from the past' ... I loved the glass paintings you presented me, I have since moved 4 houses... And the paintings have adorned walls of all our homes. Every time we move, the paintings are carefully bubble wrapped... Safe and sound ... Intact. My favourite possessions." . A