Ribena

Ribena

What I was raised on...

From Kindergarten drink bottle

Oh, our mother 

raised us with best

there is to feed us

-- the poor eaters 

I have ever known

yet were tireless

as children

and relent;ess as adults

we grew...

As I gulp the Ribena

- A mature adult in Singapore  -

the blackcurrent juice

fills my thirst

and I thirst for that love

relentless kind I even knew

Mum...my

The best mother

one could only wish for...

GOD... my GOD...

How you have Blessed me

Already...

Even before I existed!

 I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

Shaping Stars

Shaping Stars

   

Can we shape 

who is free

Spirited & bright

already shining

Can we shape

the stars

who's bright & spirited

fresh old soul

from the light of GOD!

 I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

The Grads Visit

 I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

Blessed Blooms

 Blessed Blooms

Blessed Blooms

for the feet

of our 

colorful creator

Blessed Be!

  

I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

My Manchavanna

 

Manchavanna

 - my மஞ்சவண்ணா

 மஞ்சவண்ணா/ மஞ்சநாத்தி

 மஞ்சவண்ணா/ மஞ்சகத்தி /

name -MORINDA TINCTORIA.

family: RUBIACEAE            

நுணா: மஞ்சள்நாறி ?Morinda Pubescens 

தணக்கம்: Morinda angustifolia

Nuna (cousin of Noni) /

வெண்நுணா (நோனி): Morinda Chiripola

Called Ahivah in Maldives/ Ahivah-fushi (the island of Ahivah in Maldives)

Note: நுணாவில் (pond of Nuna) in Jaffna

*{ உடுவில்: pond of Stars?}

Traditional Use: The timber has been used to make legs for beds. Younger branches are flexible &  were dried to use in making bricks. Long & strong Manchavanna branches tied and utilized as wood frames for building up walls & floors for multistoried houses (with clay & local soil/ limestone) 

இதன் மரக்கட்டை மஞ்சள் நிறத்தது, மணமுள்ளது. இரண்டுக்கும் காரணம் இந்தக் கட்டைகளில் உள்ள குவினோன் என்ற வேதிப்பொருள். 

துளிர்,இலை, பழுப்பு, காய், பழம், பட்டை, வேர் ஆகியவை மருத்துவப் பயனுடையது. மருத்துவப் பயன்கள்: வெப்பம் தணிக்கும். வீக்கம் கரைக்கும், மாந்தம், கல்லீரல், மண்ணீரல் கோளாறுகளைத் தீர்க்கும். பசியைத் தூண்டும். தோல் நோயகளைக் குணமாக்கும். துணிகளுக்கு நிறமூட்டும். (Ref: http://mooligaivazam-kuppusamy.blogspot.com/2008/10)   

https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/uyir-moochi/217883-44.html

 Wow! மருந்து வீட்டுக்கு வீடு வேலிகளில் இருக்க  நச்சு ஊசிகளை நம்பும் நிலை எப்படி வந்தது?

My Grandma was right....How did we lose our ancient knowledge?

My Manchavanna

                 - by VeerajaR

You were lost... now found

Really, we were lost not you

You were there always

Ingnored... dismissed 

Even hacked and disposed

How ignorant have we been

But, you dismissed our ignorance

Came out of the earth with vigor

Prolific where others coudn't survive 

Strong as ever your branches

Shadowed the hot sun

And I found you

Your worth

THANK YOU...

My Manchavanna!

You were there marking the north fence boundry of Grandma's. Now I know why my ancestors trusted you... your humble resiliance and vigor!

I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

Kurakkan Iddly

Always Experimenting..... with Ancestral diet - with authentic ingredients. This time made Kurakkan -Venkaya Iddly. Came out bulging... soft and appetizing. Mummy would be proud and Grandma would be very impressed. It's not easy to impress Grandma. She had excelled in studies geting through senoir Metriculation (quoting her terminology). My mummy got that strict decipline from grandma... but,  allowed us freedom to enjoy life within set boundry and goals. We knew our life goals before even knew or alphabets...

My grandma always complaint about people using white flour and thus getting sickly. kurrakkan is what our ancestors used to eat (did not have white flour/wheat was not cultivated in ceylon) and they were so strong - she used to exclaim. 

We had enough chickens free ranching producing good supply of eggs for our famillies use. Grandpa would take 2 half-boiled eggs every day with pepper and salt. At that time we were drinking raw eggs through a pinhole. I used the eggshells to make chineese dolls, Tea-cup sets & eggplants.

Eggs were reaching 20 cents and she was reminiscing the time when she remembered an egg used to be half-a-cent. I did see half-a-cent from grandma's collection. My little child brain pondered... I could have bought so... many Orange candies for the 5 cents that I had in my undiyal (Terracotta piggybank).

Now I reminisce & say as I heard my Grandma say often... 

Those were the Good Old Days!

 I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

Light The Way

 

Light the way - Our Lord

Always... as you have

For us to live the way

You have designed

For us!

I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

Forget Me Not

FORGET ME NOT

East to west from morn till night...

You shall cheer me up!

 

 

I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

Inspired To Inspire

 Be Inspired to Inspire...! 

                      - JoyPoet VeerajaR

I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

Daniel A Hero

 An exemplary Life Celebrated with much Respect & Love for a Community Hero!

I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

Daniel Alfred Uncle

Daniel Alfred - my Uncle

 

I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

Kurakkan Iddly

Research goes on in my Kitchen... Using ingredients my grandma used as per her ancestors... thus mine! Accoring to grandma Kurakkan (Tamil)/Raggi (Hindi)/Millet (English) was consumed daily and people were very healthy. Quoting her (circa 1960s) the reason for all the sickness in current generation is due to the increased use of white american flour (refers to the imported bleached wheat flour). As we now know... Grandma Is Right!

Kurrakan is used in many breakfast items like Puttu & Idyyappam. I have not eaten or known anyone making Appam (Hoppers) & iddly (world's Best Healthy Breakfast) with Kurakkan which involves fermenting process and I have been trying. Finally got it coming out nicely since 2017! Still tweaking & refining the recipe. Getting better everytime... 

 I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

Grandma's Soothing Candy

Soothing Candy - for Soar Throat

👌Home Remedy to Prevent/ Sore Throat & Upper respiratory Infection: For children can give - black pepper size ball at a time! Adults Marble size at a time to chew slowly! Great to make & Take when Traveling👍

RECIPE:

1.SL- Cinnamon bark (thin &layered roll): Thumb length

2. Bl.Pepper: 20-25

3. Cloves:6

4. Cardamom: one (skin Removed)

*Lightly Roast & make fine Powder & SAVE!

5. Ginger: Thumb size & grate 

6. Coconut or Palmyrah Jaggery: 2Table Spoon

7. Water:1Tbl Spoon 

Add water to Jaggery on heated pot as it dissolves

Add the Ginger & cook for 2 mins

Add 1 Tbl.Sp of the Herb/Spice Powder mix till thicken!

*Can make marble or M&M size balls & store Air tight ( RT or in fridge)

Chew on them slowly to sooth & heal Sore Throat

(& Upper Respiratory Infections!)

 Remember grandma’s quick homemade Rock Candy / Black Pepper Syrup remedy for soar throat & dry cough?😀GOD Bless🙏🌹Dr. VRa

I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

Grandma's Kothamali

Kothamali is an Ancient household Remedy for Cold or Fever & everyone growig up in Ceylon would have drank it one time or another.  The receipe may vary a little from family to family. But, every ingredient is added for a specific reason and out come. In my Grandma's time they took so much time to carefully prepare & store every ingredient in a specific manner. 

In modern times, most of us try to relearn the Receipe from friends or an old family member. We just order the ingredients online & request overnight delivery! 

I have taught everyone of my kids how to make Kothamali & send them with a bottle of Ready Dry mix! I am proud of them as they have not only used it but also have helped their multiple room mates with kothamali drink when they were down with seasonal FLU. Now they all are convince of the healing power of Kothamali.

It is important to share our knowledge with others outside of family & a duty to help other human beings in preventing disease or heal from it  - if we hold the ancestral Knowledge or an ancient home remedy proven to heal!

Here's my Grandma's Kothamali Kashayam:

(In SL Even  6 m baby are fed/ drink - diluted 1:1 with boiled water)

Oomam (Ajwan) - 1 table spoon

Milaku (Bl. Pepper) - 25 corns

Ingi (Ginger) - good thumb size/ peeled

Corriander - 1 & 1/2 cup

Roasted or not - but all incredients need to be washed in clean water & drained

On Slow boil with 6 cups water - till reduced to 5 cups

Never drink cold. Drink hotter than warm 3 - 4 cups through out of the day!

(Acrostic Receipe! 1- 4 pinch of  Turmeric is added as necessary)

I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR

A Healing Balm

This Receipe is A GIFT from the Meditation Class I attend!

  

Many friends vouch this to be helping with Congestion, Lung Ailments & to preventing even Asthma attacks (personal experience of my Uni-friend Minna).                                                                               

My Tiger Balm is all done with Covid (Original & Delta)! Why not give this a try?

I am my Mothers' Daughter.......

Copyright©2022VeerajaR