Clouds Of Blessing

As I mentioned in one of my post earlier that we didn't receive any rain since mid September, lucky we received much needed first winter rain today, breaking the long dry spell. Though the rain was not continue like the rains we generally receive in winters, but still we got enough rain. This rain will not only help in increasing wheat production, but will also help the farmers to plough and prepare land for tobacco plantation. The rain will also bring relief in seasonal diseases.

Clouds Of Blessing

What Do Spiders Eat?

What Do Spider Eat? Generally spiders eat a variety of things like flies, bees, wasps, ants, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, bugs and even other spiders. Some large species eat small birds and lizards. However a non predator species of jumping spider feed on the nubs produced by acacia trees. Baby spiders also feed on nectar and pollen caught in the webs. Here are some pictures of spiders with prey for the best explanation of What Do Spiders Eat?

What Do Spiders Eat?

Swabi Pakistan

Swabi is a beautiful and peaceful district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Swabi was given the status of tehsil in 1867. When in 1937 Mardan was upgraded to district level, Swabi become one of its tehsils. It was on 1st July, 1988 that Swabi was given the status of separate district. It has an area of 1543 sq km and is distributed in 4 tehsiles (sub-divisions), Tehsile Swabi, Chota Lahore, Khudu Khel and Topi. According to 1998 census the total population was 1.026 million. According to recent eduction survey District Swabi is on the eighth position in 24 district of NWFP. The major tribe is Yousafzai. In 327 BC Alexander came here through Hund. Hund was also the capital of Hindu Shahi dynasty. The people of Swabi participated in the War of 1857, Mujahideen Movement, Hijrat Movement and Independence movement
        Swabi has the beauty of rivers, dams, mountains and forests. Some most popular tourism spots including Terbila dam, Ghazi-Bharota dam, Gadoon Amazi, Kund park, Hund and Mahaban Hill.
        Its weather ranging from extreme to moderate. The soil of Swabi is very fertile therefore a variety of crops are cultivated here. The main crops including wheat, tobacco, maize and sugar cane. Besides these crops a number of vegetables and fruits like citrus fruits, guava, peaches and apricots are also grown here.
Here are some pictures, I took at different locations in district Swabi

Swabi Pictures

Homemade Bird Trap

The homemade birds trap you see here is made of a curved iron rod, a piece of rubber and two wooden sticks. Some time ago this type of traps were very common, but now people almost stopped using these traps, however still some people particularly kids use them. Personally, I will never recommend this trap for catching birds, because it can harm the birds and even can kill them, if not removed immediately. The pictures below are taken by my 10 years old nephew.

Bird Trap

Peacock Pansy Butterfly

The Peacock Pansy (Junonia almana) is a medium size butterfly (wingspan 60-65 mm) that belong to family nymphalid. This specie is found in South Asia. There is a difference in wet season and dry season species. The wings of the dry season specie are highly angular while the underside is dull and cryptic, hence the specie look like a dry leaf from underside. In both species the upper side is orange-yellow in color, having two eye spots on each wing. The eye spot on the upper margin of the hind wing is comparatively large.

Peacock Pansy Butterfly (Junonia almana)

Peacock Pansy Butterfly (Dry Season)

Peacock Pansy Butterfly (Dry Season)

Peacock Pansy Butterfly (Wet Season)

Inauguration Stone

Here are the pictures that will help you to understand Pakistan politics in a view. This Inauguration stone of Higher Secondary School Zaida road was inaugurated by the MPA of Awami National Party Sikander Irfan from PF-35 (Swabi-5) on 27th September 2009. The first picture was taken on 29 September 2009, while the second picture was taken on 3rd October 2009.

Inauguration Stone

Raindrops

I shot these raindrops pictures in August 2009. Last year from mid August to mid September we received a few monsoon rains and after that we didn't receive any significant rain. The wheat crop of barani (rainy) areas which depends on rainfall for its growth is almost wilted. As we already facing shortage of wheat, the dry weather will worse the situation. There is also a fear among the farmer regarding the shortage of fodder for their cattle. Besides the crops damage, dry weather is also contributing to transmission of viral infections. The number of patients with diseases like influenza, bronchitis, asthma, soar throat, chest infection, pneumonia and cough increasing day by day. Through this post I want to make a request to the world community to pray for us, so that God bless us with rain.

Raindrops

Pet Monkey

Some people like monkeys and keep them as pet. But whenever I see a monkey with a chain or rope in the neck, I feel pity for it. I'm not concerned with whether keeping monkeys as pets are good or bad, rather I'm concerned about their proper care, including food, cleanliness, caging and proper health care. I'm also concerned with the harm or diseases they can pass to human. Anyhow in the country where people facing shortage of food and health facilities, how would these pets get proper attention and care?

Pet Monkey

My Favorite Walking Track

The track on the left side of Pehur canal is a best walking track for the villagers of Bamkhel, Baja and Kalabat. It's my favorite track for walking and I always try to compel my friends to walk on this track. Actually I like the tracks with almost no traffic and free from dust. This track satisfies both criteria and that is why I prefer it.

Walking Track

Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket

Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket (Phaneroptera falcata) belong to family Tettigoniidae (Katydids or Bush-crickets), subfamily Phaneropterinae. They are very similar to great green bush-crickets, but have slenderer bodies and longer hind pair of legs. In great green bush-cricket both wings are of the same length, while in the Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket the top wing is shorter. They have very long hind wings almost double the body length.

Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket Male

Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket Female

Blue Moon

The term "Blue Moon" refers to the second full moon in any solar month. This phenomenon occurs after ever two and half years. Last time the Blue Moon occurred in May 2007. However the Blue Moon on the new year's eve occurs after every 19 years. The next time New Year's Eve will fall on a Blue Moon is 2028. Our people don't celebrate new year night and even a large number don't know about the new year night. So I all alone enjoyed walking in the Blue Moon and took a few pictures of the Moon, though not very clear.

New Year's Eve Blue Moon (31-12-09)