Summertime

I remember the old song... beautiful woman's voice. I wonder who?
"Summertime and the living is easy....."
Not quite like that here....days are 40+ and nights around 30. Just charming.
What us good is we are home and not having to run too far for a while.
We have survived the huge wedding of Praveen's eldest.

He was run ragged but as his wife not mother of bride or anything I only had to swan around and enjoy myself.

Which I did.

Everyone's finery was amazing, and all the carrying necessary for a flashy Indian wedding unbelievable.

Never thought I would see my old man in a turban and I felt flash in a silk sari, although it took ages to get on because it was so slippery.

 Entry was via a long corridor all pink and pretty with lots of sparkly lights, in fact sparkle was the theme, sparkly lights hanging from the giant tree up one end.
Here weddings are held in open air gardens, the grounds all carpeted, a huge stage one end for the groom to sit on a throne and wait for the bride to arrive.
there is a dance floor and lots of teenage boys being silly, a huge area with all types of food set out and you wander and graze, an airy gazebo with many comfy lounges cooled by floor fans that had sprays of rose scented water being dispersed by them....lovely

 The lounge,  up on one wall was a giant screen and wandering a few photographers and video cameras....we are going to get hours and hours of film of everyone there.....ohh joy oh bliss, I will get to sit through it all at least once....haha

Finally after midnight Pretti, the bride arrived, she was escorted by many of the family under a canopy dripping with jasmine flowers....

You know how a western wedding there is a tall cake with model bride and groom on top...well Indian style there is a central stage the bride and groom mount and there the first step of the wedding ceremony starts when they exchange giant rose petal necklaces or mala.

To the sound of conch horns and bells the stage started to slowly spin, poor Pretti got quiet a shock and lucky her groom was so responsive he caught her and steadied her.

The most amazing thing was this giant leaf blower thingy that showered the whole area in rose petals.

what a fine time we all had.

I finally got to meet so many of the extended family....let me say SSSSOOOO many of the family, boy does Praveen have some relatives!!

It was lovely, my Hindi is limited but friendliness and warmth is easy to share and I was handed around everyone.

I had a truly lovely time and got dropped to my hotel at 3.00am.
Praveen and the immediate wedding group moved back to his mother's house where there we many hours with a priest and fire....poor man he was in tears by 8.00am as she finally left to her husband's house.

so that was a week or 2 ago, we are home, sweating and back in the workshop, working like crazy.

We need at least 2 more professional machinists- do you know anyone.

A woman Muna started a few days ago, I don't want to jinx it...it is so hard to keep women machinists on staff but she does seem very professional in her ability, no training needed and I DO hope she is a keeper.

work, work, work and I want to find the time for a few new samples I am imaging...

Quilts almost ready