Poem writing

“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words” – Robert Frost

Poems are one the beautiful things in the literature world.  Poets have done a really great job in the past and in present, as there are some poems which are written in past and yet are still fresh and beautiful as it was before. Writing and expressing your thoughts is not really easy but we can always try.

Many times, my older school use to arrange poetry writing competition though I never won. But as I came to know that our school’s newsletter is coming up, I decided to contribute by writing a poem. I am inspired by many poets namely Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Rudyard Kipling and many others. I haven’t read many poems of these authors but I have read few. Once my friend told me “Poetry is an expression of life in a way it really sounds”. I thought about it and decided that I would narrate my story, feelings through my poem. I have never really written a poem properly before, this is my first time. I am ready for this new challenge and hope all of you like my poem.

For all the things given,

Lies a hidden agenda.

Cruel is the word,

For itself and for people.

Though people stabbed; front or back,

No hatred was established.

In Silence, Smile, Laughter and Eyes,

Lies all the pain.

Still no hatred for pain,

Cuz it’s the infection and the cure.

Through which we learn,

Is the not the end but the beginning.

I never knew that I would write a poem like this. I tried my best to arrange my own rhyming scheme, but I really couldn't.This is one skill which i didn't learn and I hope to learn it soon. It’s not necessary that every poem should have a rhyming scheme.  I did learn some new skills, like how to write down your thoughts and experience in a poetic manner, how to use figure of speeches in the poem. The next time I write a poem, I hope it would have rhyming scheme. I hope everyone who ever reads this poem, likes it. I have tried my best and hope to see it soon in the newsletter. Till then enjoy! 

Baking Cupcakes

“Good teachers know how to bring out the best in students.”

On any special day we always tend to bring cakes or pastries to make the celebration more special. And all thanks to the pastry chefs who make such tasty cakes and pastries. So for the next two days, including today, I decided to become a pastry chef. The reason behind my decision is that teacher’s day is coming close and to make the celebration a little bit special, I decided I would bake cupcakes for my teachers.

I have never done baking before and this will be my first time and I was really excited. It was a new task for me, a new challenge. I had a goal to complete. In total I had to make 43 cupcakes for all these teachers present in my school. Making 43 cupcakes is not an easy task and one needs skills to bake. I was completely unknown to all the skills needed in this activity. Firstly I planned what to do and when to do. I decided that today I would make at least 2 sets of cupcakes i.e. total 12 cupcakes. So first let me tell you all the thing needed for baking cupcake. Things needed:

·         Cake flour or all purpose flour.

·         Baking soda

·         Baking powder

·         Salt

·         Unsweetened cocoa powder

·         Unsalted butter, softened

·         Granulated sugar

·         Pure vanilla extract

·         Milk

For chocolate butter cream frosting:

·         Unsalted butter, softened

·         Unsweetened cocoa powder

·         Confectioners’ sugar, sifted

·         Milk 

 

The procedure is as follows:

   Fir take two separate bowls, one for dry ingredients and other for the wet ingredients. 

·         Take 3/4^th cup of flour and add it to the bowl.

3/4th cup of flour. 

·         Now add 1/4^th teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of baking powder into the bowl.

1/4th teaspoon of baking soda.

1 teaspoon of baking powder. 

·         And add 3 table spoon of cocoa powder to the bowl n mix the ingredients.

Adding cocoa powder.

·         Now add 3 tablespoon of butter in the second bowl, which for wet ingredients and make it pomade.

·        Now add ½ cup of granulated sugar into the bowl and whisk it properly until it’s seems to be fluffy.

·         Add 1/4^th teaspoon of vanilla extract into the mixture in the second bowl.

·         Mix it well.

·         Now add ½ cup of sifted dry ingredients in the second bowl and add half cup of milk and mix the batter well.

·         Now add the rest of the dry ingredients and half of the other milk slowly and keep mixing it with the batter.

·         Adjust the thickness of the batter by adding 2 or 3 tablespoons of milk.

·         Now once the batter is ready, put it into the molds.

·         Put the mold inside the oven and set 180 degree Celsius for 20 to 25 minutes. 

After taking out the cupcakes, let it cool down for 10 mins and then take them out of molds. For decorating the cupcake and hiding some cracks, I used frosting. You can buy ready-made frosting from any bakery shop but I made the frosting on my own.

Baked cupcakes. 

It was my first time and I had to make so many cupcakes, but I was nervous thinking that will it be successful or not. Making the batter for first two times I failed. First time it was too runny and second time it was too thick. Then I took a deep breath and calmed myself down and started again. It was a new experience and I learned many baking skills like how to put the frosting on cake in patterns, how to mix the batter properly and how to put the batter properly in the mold. I had with myself while making cupcakes. Somewhere or the other I explored myself and tried something new. I thought I would never try baking and though that I would have no fun in this. It was like a fun challenge kept in front of me for trying it. I had planned and tried my best to keep the kitchen clean, but as it was my first time, it had to be messy. No wonder Next when I cook, it’ll be more and something new I guess. Till then have fun!

Bookmarks

“Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future.”  - Corrie Ten Boom

On some very special occasions we always give away gifts to people. These gift are reminders.  It reminds us of the people whom we are connected to and their memories. I decided that to make this teacher’s day more special and memorable I would make bookmarks for my teachers. Not only for the teachers who teach me but then why not organize a small exhibition, where students can buy and give it to their teachers. First I planned that I would make at least 50 bookmarks and sell them. For me this was a new challenge because it really not easy to make simple bookmarks. I certainly got confused by many ideas in my mind and it gets difficult to decide how to make them or should I not make them this particular way.  I bought all the materials needed and kept them together. I first planned how my bookmarks would look. I made a blueprint in my mind so that I can make all bookmarks simple and beautiful. My goal was of 50 bookmarks and I was ready for this new challenge. I had three days for this activity so I decided that at least in one day I will make 20 bookmarks.

Day 1

On the first day I decided that first I would cut the base out and then start off with decorating it. I made the base and I really didn’t imagine that I made the base for 40 bookmarks. It was amazing to know that I had increased my speed in the technique of cutting paper. Now I would cut the second base for the bookmarks and that would be only after I measure the paper properly and then cut them out. But I had to match the color of the second base with the first one so I could only make 20 of the second base. The next thing I do is stick the second base on the first one. I did this with all the 20 bookmarks and left them to dry. Till then I started off with quilling. I though why not put some quilling decoration on the book marks. I sketched the design on the book mark and then accordingly I made leaves and petals. Its better to make them in different part because it’s easy to assemble them and the quilling strips wouldn't be wasted. I realized that people who make handmade bookmarks and even customized by computers have to be very careful about the measurement and the design according to it. I was tired therefore I decided I would do the rest next day. I was happy that the first day I completed my goal.

Day 2

I started off by cutting more ten base for the book marks and according I made more 20 second base. After this I stuck the second base according to the colors. I started arrange the leaves and petals which I made from the quilling strips and stuck them together. Now total I had 20 bookmarks ready and 30 left. I did get nervous in between and thought I won’t be able to complete my goal. But then I remembered a quote “In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can.” - Nikos Kazantzakis. I then made up my mind that I can do it and I will. Now I stuck the second base to the first one. So now there are more 20 bookmarks and 10 are left. In order to complete my goal I made more 10 bases and second bases. I stuck them and left all the thirty to dry.

 I started off with quilling and more petals and designs. The cutting is really time consuming activity in this. I didn’t measure 5 bases properly which is why I had to do it again. Though I had increased my speed, but I need to be really carefully about the measurements that’s why it took a lot of time. I didn’t have time to stick the petals and leaves so I decided that I would do it tomorrow. I was disappointed that today I could not complete my goal. I felt as if I was failing to achieve my goal. As we learn from our failures, I decided that tomorrow I would complete it anyhow.

Day 3

The only thing I was left was putting up my quilling designs. So I quickly arranged all the designs on the book mark and stuck them one by one carefully. This did take a lot of time because we need to tick the quilling parts carefully otherwise they don’t stick properly and come off. I didn’t want this to happen so I did it slowly and patiently. I finished almost 20 bookmarks now. This task is a very time consuming but I know I had to complete the task. That is why I was determined and showed my commitment. The next twenty bookmarks were made with all the patience I had and with all the creativity in my mind. I was happy that I finally completed my goal. It was really exciting activity for me. By staying determined, confident and committed I have achieved the learning outcomes. And my goal too. At the end of this activity I realized how important it is for a person to be creative all the time. Being creative keeps one’s mind fresh. If I had to change something in this activity then I would want to make bookmarks using reusable things. Helping the environment by reusing is a very great contribution. Because when we start from small things then only we reach big things. But as I couldn’t this time, I would surely try to do it next time. Under taking this new challenge, staying determined and improving my skills helped me complete this activity and my goal.

Till then stay happy!

Tree plantation

In the past few years the rate of global warming has increased. The temperature of the earth has been rising slowly. Due to the human activities the CO₂ percentage in the atmosphere is increased by 30%. Due to the increase in the temperature of the earth, there are climatic changes occurring, melting of glaciers and depletion of ozone layer is taking place. This is one of the main global issue which we are dealing with today.

One of the simplest way of reducing the global warming is by planting trees as much as possible. I and my school go an opportunity to plant the sapling near our school area. One of the most famous township in Nagpur in Mihan is the Mahindra-Mahindra Bloomdale. The main owner of the township itself is planting trees in their township and also in their surroundings. They invited our school for the tree plantation. We gathered in their community hall and settled down. There were two main chief guest who were present. They spoke on the importance of tress and tree plantation. They made a PAT oath and all of us were supposed to take the oath. The oath was said and taken in Hindi. The oath said that I would be a PAT worker and keep my city clean and green and pollution free.

As we completed the oath, we gathered outside with each sapling. All of us lined together with our saplings. We dug the hole to put in the sapling. As the sapling was planted we were really happy. I was really happy that I was a part of this tree plantation and I was contributing to this global issue which is very important. If we have to save our beautiful earth we have to act quickly and smartly. When we start from small things, then only we reach our big goals. Every person should individually contribute to this global issue by his or her means. By doing small things like saving water, electricity, planting trees, giving a sapling as a gift instead of other materialistic stuff would be a great contribution in reducing the global warming all around the world. The only thing which i realized in this activity is that though it was my responsibility  it is beneficial for he society for the city. As this responsibility is towards the betterment of the society itself. One should always know his responsibilities and help the society to improve in some or the other way. 

Till then stay happy!