Holi, by Caprilicious

Hello everyone, how are you today? Spring is here and the daffodils are out in the garden, my camellia bush is blooming and the sun is shining, resulting in an immediate uplift to everyones outlook! It feels like we might be able to cope with almost anything if the weather meets us halfway. 

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 I know I'm late to the party, but the Indian festival of Holi was with us last week. Holi is a festival that celebrates spring, love, and new life/fertility, and as with all Hindu festivals, the triumph of good over evil. Although Holi has religious roots, not much religious activity is involved in its celebration.
I took this picture in a market one year - these are the coloured powders that people smear over each other - by the end of the evening, everyone looks a fright, but no one seems to care as all of them are in the same boat. The intake of alcohol and other inebriants at these parties help with the rose tinted spectacles too, and a lot of fun is had on the day, followed by a lot of scrubbing of the skin to get the colours off - I don't mean to sound like a killjoy, it is most definitely a lot of fun. I hated getting so dirty, though and my memories are all of scrubbing brushes and scalding hot water.

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Holi, the Necklace

I usually make an extremely colourful necklace around this time, and this year is no different. This one has a handmade pendant from Nepal, and I picked out all the beads I had in my stash to mirror the colours of the pendant.

I've used turquoise, coral, carved yak bone, lapis, lava and resin beads to concoct a colourful piece worthy of its name. 

We're off to the Keukenhof gardens soon - that time of year is here! Every day the sun shines brings the tulip bulbs closer to putting on a show for us, and I can't wait to take hundreds of photographs. I'll share a load of them with you on these pages as soon as I'm back.

That's all I have for you folks, have a wonderful week and I'll catch you next Friday, same time, same place,
Until then
​xx

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