Email OF The Day

Thursday, 18 September 2014

[www.keralites.net] Make Canvas Grocery Bags

If by chance you're not using your own grocery bags when you go shopping, I'll give you three good reasons you should start.

1. It's better for the environment to shop with reusable bags. Let's try to create less waste for landfills!
2. Some places are going to start charging for the bags they give you at checkout, if they aren't already.
3. And finally, when you can make and carry your own bags as cute as these…why wouldn't you?

Make Canvas Grocery Bags

Here's What You'll Need

Canvas drop cloth (from any Lowe's, Home Depot or hardware store)
Scissors
Letter stencils
Pencil
Wine cork
Colored pens or paint
Paint brush (if using paint)
Ruler or tape measure
Fabric ribbon
Sewing machine
Iron

STEP ONE

Measure out front, back, sides and bottom of what will be your bag.

Front and back – 13″ in width x 15″ in height
Bottom – 13″ in length x 8″ in width
Sides – 8″ in width x 15″ in height

Cut your pattern to the measurements and your fabric should look like the image below.

STEP TWO

Iron out the wrinkles, then place your stencils where you want them to be. I chose the phrases "Be Healthy", "Be Happy", and "Be Loved" for my bags. You can follow along with the exact sentiments, or create your own.

Pencil in your letters, then use a cork to create polka dots in a pattern that appeals to you on all sides of your bag.

Color in your letters and dots and outline with black. The colors I chose were, white for the writing, brown for the dots on the "Be Healthy" bag, gray for the dots on the "Be Happy" bag and pink for the dots on the "Be Loved" bag.

STEP THREE

Follow the four steps in the image below to construct the bag.

STEP FOUR

There are tons of ways to attach straps to a bag. I chose adding them to the outside because I liked the look. But you can sew them on however you like. I purchased a few rolls of jute/polyester fabric ribbon from a craft supply store. This ribbon does not have wires in it and it's very strong, perfect for handles.

Measure out 27″ of ribbon for each side. Fold under the ends about an inch and pin each end to outside of bag about 3″ from the side and about 2″ from the top. Now for the tricky part. First, sew an X to attach the ribbon to the bag. Then sew a box around the outside of the X to make the attachment even stronger.

Repeat for remaining 3 straps.

And that's it. Now you have some really cute, eco-chic bags to use and reuse when you go shopping.

www.keralites.net

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Posted by: Fereshteh Jamshidi <fayjay81@yahoo.com>

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[www.keralites.net] The Fact Of Life.

The Fact Of Life.

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Posted by: Murli dhar Gupta <mdguptabpl@gmail.com>

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[www.keralites.net] An Unusual Advice from a Doctor

Advice From a 101 Old Doctor

Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, Japan, turned 101 last year.

As a 97 year old Doctor, he was interviewed, and gave his advice for a long and healthy life.

Shigeaki Hinohara is one of the world's longest-serving physicians and educators. Hinohara's magic touch is legendary: Since 1941 he has been healing patients at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo and teaching at St. Luke's College of Nursing.

He has published around 15 books since his 75th birthday, including one "Living Long, Living Good" that has sold more than 1.2 million copies. As the founder of the New Elderly Movement, Hinohara encourages others to live a long and happy life, a quest in which no role model is better than the doctor himself.

Doctor Shigeaki Hinohara's main points for a long and happy life:

* Energy comes from feeling good, not from eating well or sleeping a lot. We all remember how as children, when we were having fun, we often forgot to eat or sleep. I believe that we can keep that attitude as adults, too. It's best not to tire the body with too many rules such as lunchtime and bedtime.

* All people who live long regardless of nationality, race or gender share one thing in common: None are overweight. For breakfast I drink coffee, a glass of milk and some orange juice with a tablespoon of olive oil in it. Olive oil is great for the arteries and keeps my skin healthy. Lunch is milk and a few cookies, or nothing when I am too busy to eat. I never get hungry because I focus on my work. Dinner is veggies, a bit of fish and rice, and, twice a week, 100 grams of lean meat.

* Always plan ahead. My schedule book is already full until 2014, with lectures and my usual hospital work. In 2016 I'll have some fun, though: I plan to attend the Tokyo Olympics!

* There is no need to ever retire, but if one must, it should be a lot later than 65. The current retirement age was set at 65 half a century ago, when the average life-expectancy in Japan was 68 years and only 125 Japanese were over 100 years old. Today, Japanese women live to be around 86 and men 80, and we have 36,000 centenarians in our country. In 20 years we will have about 50,000 people over the age of 100...

* Share what you know. I give 150 lectures a year, some for 100 elementary-school children, others for 4,500 business people. I usually speak for 60 to 90 minutes, standing, to stay strong.

* When a doctor recommends you take a test or have some surgery, ask whether the doctor would suggest that his or her spouse or children go through such a procedure. Contrary to popular belief, doctors can't cure everyone. So why cause unnecessary pain with surgery I think music and animal therapy can help more than most doctors imagine.

* To stay healthy, always take the stairs and carry your own stuff. I take two stairs at a time, to get my muscles moving.

* My inspiration is Robert Browning's poem "Abt Vogler." My father used to read it to me. It encourages us to make big art, not small scribbles. It says to try to draw a circle so huge that there is no way we can finish it while we are alive. All we see is an arch; the rest is beyond our vision but it is there in the distance.

* Pain is mysterious, and having fun is the best way to forget it. If a child has a toothache, and you start playing a game together, he or she immediately forgets the pain. Hospitals must cater to the basic need of patients: We all want to have fun. At St. Luke's we have music and animal therapies, and art classes.

* Don't be crazy about amassing material things. Remember: You don't know when your number is up, and you can't take it with you to the next place.

* Hospitals must be designed and prepared for major disasters, and they must accept every patient who appears at their doors. We designed St. Luke's so we can operate anywhere: in the basement, in the corridors, in the chapel. Most people thought I was crazy to prepare for a catastrophe, but on March 20, 1995, I was unfortunately proven right when members of the Aum Shinrikyu religious cult launched a terrorist attack in the Tokyo subway. We accepted 740 victims and in two hours figured out that it was sarin gas that had hit them. Sadly we lost one person, but we saved 739 lives.

* Science alone can't cure or help people. Science lumps us all together, but illness is individual. Each person is unique, and diseases are connected to their hearts. To know the illness and help people, we need liberal and visual arts, not just medical ones.

* Life is filled with incidents. On March 31, 1970, when I was 59 years old, I boarded the Yodogo, a flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and as Mount Fuji came into sight, the plane was hijacked by the Japanese Communist League-Red Army Faction. I spent the next four days handcuffed to my seat in 40-degree heat. As a doctor, I looked at it all as an experiment and was amazed at how the body slowed down in a crisis.

* Find a role model and aim to achieve even more than they could ever do. My father went to the United States in 1900 to study at Duke University in North Carolina. He was a pioneer and one of my heroes. Later I found a few more life guides, and when I am stuck, I ask myself how they would deal with the problem.

* It's wonderful to live long. Until one is 60 years old, it is easy to work for one's family and to achieve one's goals. But in our later years, we should strive to contribute to society. Since the age of 65, I have worked as a volunteer. I still put in 18 hours seven days a week and love every minute of it.

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Posted by: prasannam n <iampresanam@yahoo.co.in>

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[www.keralites.net] Ekadasi Vratam

DASAMI

EkAdhashi Vratha begins with the sankalpa on the Dasami day, fasting on the Ekadhasi day pArane on Dvadashi day. The evening meals on the Dasami Dvadashi days along with abstaining from both the meals on the Ekadhashi day will make a total of four meals forbidden on these 3 days.

EKAADASI

Shri Vishnu Sahasra nAma stothram calls HIM Ekasmai Namaha meaning salutations to the ONE. So in the very name of Ekadhasi Shri Hari is present so it is a very auspicious day. Since Shri Hari is the presiding deity for Ekaadashi, it is also called 'Haridina' meaning a day to be dedicated entirely for worshipping Him, meditating upon Him, listening to His glory studying the scriptures. Sri Purandara Dasaru says vrathagalellavu hardina vrathadahinde. This is a unique concept of the followers of Dvaita philosophy.

Observance of Ekadashi by fasting meditating on the Divinity with implicit faith, is an excellent reflection of sathva guna. The Lord mentions in the Gita that none born of prakruthi is free from the influence of three gunas, viz, Sathva, Rajas Thamas. Of the three gunas, sathva is given the highest place because the jeeva in whom sathva guna dominates moves towards the Nivruthi marga i.e., Jnana-Bhakthi-Vairagya-Moksha. To such souls, God reveals Himself. Ekadashi observance cleanses the mind paves the way for Jnana. It is an established fact that when one does not take food even though there is a desire for it, there will be increase in self-control it develops a strong will power. One who controls hunger will be away from sin because hunger is the root cause of many a sins. Srimad Acharya says in krishNAmrutha mahArNava that the fire of merit that accrues from observing an Ekadhasi reduces to ashes the sins of hundreds of births.

SIGNIFICANCE OF FASTING

The moon is not in its full glory during Ekadashi due to its movement. The food that is, therefore, consumed on these days remain undigested. Moon is the solicitation deity for food. UpavAsa does not mean mere fasting, it means sAmEpya vAsa (dwelling in proximity to the Lord) with archana, japa, katha shravana, nirAhara jAgarna. So, after setting apart sometime to basic necessities the whole day night is to be spent in thinking about His glories. Even if Shraadha falls on this day, it is to be performed on the Dwadasi day only. VarAha purana says the pregnant woman, mothers of young children those who are very weak can partake fruits like dates, banana, grapes, coconut milk, milk, curds grains which are not cooked. All sins indulged in by the body mind are wiped out by UpavAsa

EKAADASHI VICHAARA

It has been discussed before in the list (KrishnAmrutha Maharnava).

There is another occasion for two days of fasting when Dvadashi has a contactof the Shravana star reigns during the afternoon. Such a Dvadashi is called Shravana Dvadashi. So along with a fast on Ekadhashi, it is compulsory to fast on Shravana Dvadashi day. Shravana is the Lord's star the day associated with the Lord is Haridhina. It is sacred. Shastras permit some relaxation for the aged the sick in fasting on the first day but not on Shravana Dvadashi. During a year, Shravana Dvadashi fasting generally comes thrice, Bhaadrapada Shukla Dvadashi, Maagha Bahula dvadashi Phaalguna Bahula dvadashi.

EKAADASHI AACHAARA

Ekadhashi is a fasting day to atone for our sins of indulging in undesirable acts through Dashendriyas. It is a Vaishnava Vratha which is greater than all Yaagas its power to destroy sins is unmatched if we follow the dos don'ts of it strictly.

Dos: Worship, meditate think about Him.

Keep awake during the night of Ekadhashi.

Make a sankalpa for three day vow.

Break the fast on the Dwadasi day as per rules.

On Ekaadashi, take theertha only once no thulasi to be eaten have only angaara mark(Black mark) on the forehead.

Tell the greatness of Ekaadashi to others.

Perform Ekaadashi shraadha on Dvadashi day.

If shraadha falls on sadhana dwadaashi day, serve food to the brahmins before Dvadashi passes off.

Even on vridhi, suthaka days, ekadhashi is to be observed.

Even while in their periods, women have to observe Ekadashi.

Do nots No food, water or sleep.

No sleep during day time on Dasami, Ekadashi Dvadashi.

The first part of Dvadashi thithi is called Harivaasara no food to be taken during that period.

No cooked food to be offered as Naivedya on Ekadashi. No Ramaa (Lakshmi) naivedhya.

No shraadha or homa on Ekaadashi day.

HARIVAASARA

The last part of Dasami Viddha Ekadashi viddha Ekadashi the first part of Dwadashi are known as Harivaasara.
These are also ausipicious merit fasting. On Dasami harivaaSara day, food is to be taken before the time mentioned in the panchaanga since ekaadashi will encroach on Dasami after that time. On Dwaadhashi harivaasara day, food should be taken after the time limit mentioned since dwaadhashi may not have come before that time. During harivaasara, no homa, no tharpana, no Ramaa naivedhya to be performed. Shrimad Acharya in his KrishnAmrutha Maharnava says"A thousand solar eclipses, ten thousand
Vyateepaataas a lakh of amaavaasyas do not have one sixteeth merit of the auspiciousness of Dwaadhashi. Hence the supremacy of the Dwadaashi has the greatest punya thithi.

SANKALPA MANTHRAS

dashamee divase parapte vrathastoham janaardana
thridinam devadevesha nirvigham kuru keshava (Brahmavaivartha puraanam)

Janaardhana! Today being Dasami, I am ready for the three day vow. Oh, Lord! Deva Deva! Keshava! ss that no obstacles come in the way of my vow.

ekaadashyam niraharaha sthithvahani parehyaham
bhookshyaami pundareekaaksha saranam me bhavaachyutha
(Brihannaaradeeya puraanama XXI-15)

After fasting on Ekadhashi, I will eat on Dwadaashi, Please be my refuge, Oh, Achyutha!

adhyashvasheha niraahaaro bhoothvaaham dwaadashee dine
vidhaasye paaranam dheva preetho bhava ma maanisham (Varaaha puraanam)

I will be on a fast tonight tomorrow break the fast on Dwaadashi. Lord! may you be pleased.

ajnaana thimiraandhasya vratenaanena keshava
Praseeda sumukho natha jnaanadristi prado bhava
(Brihannaradeeya puraanam, XXI- 20)

Oh Lord! Keshava! I am blinded by the darkness of ignorance. By my undertaking this fast on Ekadashi, may it please you to bless me with the light of knowledge.

ekaadasyupavaasena dwaadashee paaranenacha
yadaarijitham mayaa punyam thena preenathu keshavah
(Brahmavaivartha Puraanam)

May Lord Keshava be pleased with the merit that accrued to me by fasting on Ekaadashi breaking the fast on Dwaadashi.

na kAshi na gaya ganga na rewa cha gowthamI
na chApi kauravam kshathram, thulyambhoopa haredrinaath
(Padma purAnam)

That sacred rivers like Ganga, Narmada, Godavari etc holy places like Kashi, Gaya, Kurushetra etc., cannot equal the merit of Ekaadhashi vratha.

bhAgavatharodagodi upavAsa jAgara ondhina mAdalillA
rAgadhi shukamuni pELdha harikaThesuyOgavembodhilla
nIguvamThe bhava bhayava bhakuthi vairAgyavembodhilla
yOgivamdhe gOpAlavitTala thalebhAgi ninnane bedikombe

HyAmge mAdalayya kRuShNa pOguthidhe Ayushya |
mangaLAnga bhava bhamga bidisi ninna dingarigana mAdo anangajanakA ||