CUCKOO IN THE HILLS

 Friends, this one, happens to be my 400th post as a blogger!


Cuckoo's sonorous notes inspire one and all. This black beauty and its melodious songs touch mind's softer recesses with a silent recognition: " Life is good." A modest looking cuckoo's musical voice evaporates all the worries and anxieties and fills you with hope and feeling of resilience.  The unique and distinct quality of its rhythmic renderings rise above the cacophony of the world and transports the initiated into a magical and receptive attitude.

 I'd been conscious of the presence of this cuckoo since I've come here. Its notes were stirring my soul and a couple of times I'd a fleeting glimpse of it. Fortunately, yesterday as I's busy in the kitchen, suddenly I saw it through the window pane, descend on the large stone on the mound in front of our apt. It seemed to be in a pensive mood. I knew that if I'd go out it will fly away forthwith. I took a chance and stood behind the net door and took these pictures of her in different moods. This is the first time in a couple of years that I'd imprison her in my camera.

 Its singing is a constant feature in hills as well as in plains in the coolness of early summer and during monsoons.

  Friends welcome here as always!


Linking to:     Saturday Critters, Camera Critters,
id-rather-b-birding

SKY WATCH FRIDAY

Part of my hill series:

Linking to:



Good Fences,  Sky Watch Friday

It is a hazy morning and sun light is subdued. Cool breeze is blowing  and that compensates amply  for the unfriendly atmosphere, though. At about 11am I ventured out to forage for the theme based images which i needed to post on two of my favorite memes. I'd decided that I'll only use new ones. Luckily I succeeded. Below is the proof of my efforts. Hope you like them. 

There is a light veil of haze and the sky looks almost white.However, I went ahead for this click of the skyline beyond the top of the mountain. The click is simple but freshly procured.

Location: From inside our community, at Kumarhatti, Solan.

Friends, welcome here as always!

TREES ARE OUR MENTORS

“We have nothing to fear and a great deal to learn from trees, that vigorous and pacific tribe which without stint produces strengthening essences for us, soothing balms, and in whose gracious company we spend so many cool, silent, and intimate hours.”

― Marcel Proust

'T' is for Trees

Kumarhatti nestles amidst  pine forests. Pines stand tall and  patiently wait for rains to come to rejuvenate their vitality and freshness after the onslaught of winter. I hope within a short period of time the dullness will be forgotten and  lanky pines will overwhelm us with their green lustrous growth.

 

When the pines rustle  and sway during strong winds, they sing a melody, which only the initiated can appreciate. Their message of courage and steadfastness under all circumstances is universal. They're never angry and are least demanding.Their calender never wavers and keeps its dates joyfully sans complaining.

Trees not only bless us but nurture us and soften  the rough edges of our short journey. They don't discriminate.They're sentinels of hope and positivity.We're pilgrims and they are eternal.

Location: Nahan road, Kumarhatti, Solan.

Friends,welcome here as always! 

Linking to: 
Wordless Wednesday
ABC Wednesday, 

OUR WORLD

  MY NATURE SERIES IN THE HILLS

 The flowery bush is  slowly but surely coming to life after withstanding winter cold. This one is growing in a small lawn in the ground flat of a friend in the community.

The light green fresh looking leaves of the bush have a soothing effect when you stroll  in the common lawn here in our community.

   

 The Marigold matches the golden sunlight.

 

 Dwelling units on the lower slopes, on Kumarhatti- Nahan Highway. An evening shot.

 Friends welcome here as always!

Linking to: Our World, image-in-ing ,Nature Notes,Today's Flowers,I heart macro

Out door Wednesday


 

CRITTERS FOR THE WEEK

 Black hill cow grazing on the upper slopes about thirty ft. below our flat. Our dwelling unit is on the top of the hill. I tried to capture her  with her whole body visible but she didn't look up. Busy as she was in the act. Her body glistened in the morning sun light.

The hop-pee intent on pecking at something, which seems to be playing hide and seek. Our front lawn at Patiala.

Something interesting down there! Is it so Mr. Parrot? 
 Transmission wires near our house.

Friends welcome here as always.

Linking to: Camera Critters,Saturday Critters ,

IMAGES CLICKED IN THE HILLS

 Linking to: Good Fences,  Sky Watch Friday

The above fence is built with chiseled stone which is found in plenty amidst hilly areas. This one constitutes one side of the driveway of our community here. The designed depressions are embellished with a  special creeper,which clings to the surface sans any support. During monsoons it turns lush green and thicker.

The sky watch is  from my archives of last summer. I captured the painting like avatar of the skies while on an evening walk on Nahan Road,which encircles Kumarhatti.

Location: The entrance to our community and sky watch in Kumarhatti,  Distt. Solan.

Friends,welcome here and thanks for the support!

THURSDAY CHALLENGE

This week's Thursday Challenge is:

"SPRING" (Fresh Leaves, Baby Animals, Warm Weather,...)


FLORA IN THE HILLS

The rose bush above is aglow with  warm sunshine and newly minted leaves.

An array of trees-silver oak with yellow thread like clusters, gulmohar with purple blooms and on the right pines- are regaining their freshness and glory after  going through severe winter conditions.( A dried pine tree happens to be an eyesore here.)



There are ample signs of life and freshness in the vegetation in and around  the place where we're putting up these days. In our community there is a large enough lawn which is bordered with all types of flowers and  perennials, which soothe and calm the nerves and bucks up the spirits.

Location: Kumarhatti, Distt: Solan, Himachal Pradesh. 

Friends,welcome here as always!
Linking to: Thursday Challenge

OUR WORLD

Linking to:
Our World Tuesday, 
image-in-ing

New look of the hill scape!

We've reached hills for our  annual short stay during summers. Here the weather is cool, breezy and invigorating. The after effects of intense cold of past few months are evident partly. The new shoots are sprouting on pine trees. However,  large variety of sundry bushes, trees and flowers  already look fresh donning thick green new leaves. 

While scanning the area from the balcony of the apartment,which is built on top of a hill overlooking a narrow valley, I saw the above scene. Concrete unplanned  jungle is overpowering the fragile ecology of hills all over Himachal Pradesh. Trees have been felled mercilessly by the locals as well as  the builders. Commerce has overshadowed all other considerations. It is the joint responsibility of the residents as well as the administration to implement laws for preventing the abuse of the forest cover at least in the future.

Only one picture this time,because the slow  internet speed is  making it  difficult and time consuming to upload.

 Friends welcome here as always!

'STAND AND STARE'

Linking to: Good Fences,Sky Watch

Nature's splendour

We live in this area.(above) On the left of the picture is the community park, which i frequent for walks. Outside the railing of the park are a pair of 'Gulmohur' trees resplendent with their deep orange blooms.The riot of color often entices me to linger on  a while and have  some clicks. However, this glory is going to end soon as the summer is approaching with its blazing sun shine and sweating bodies.

The thin formation of clouds on a  grey sky in the midst of  urban landscape makes them  look so near though actually fathomless. Appearances are pleasantly deceptive. The picture taken from the road in front of our house.

Friends, welcome here as always!

THURSDAY CHALLENGE

 The challenge for this week is:


"PEACEFUL" (Calm, Relaxed, Sleeping, Landscapes , Water,...)

The stately 'Ashoka' trees stand serene, tranquil and neatly pruned as if keeping a solid watch on the big house behind. The picture clicked a few days back during a late morning outing.   

Friends, welcome here as always and thanks for  the support.     

Linking to:Thursday Challenge 

NO SCAR ON THIS MOON!

 'R' is for round.

           The full moon exuding the mystery of the unique natural phenomenon.

The picture taken around 10 pm in mid April.

 
The fresh and green looking pomegranate bush  bearing some round fruit contrasted with the pitch dark above.One of the life promoting charms of nature's gifts.

 Round shape is the theme of this post.

All celestial bodies are round in shape. The emperor of the skies,which gives life, sustains its growth and preserves all life on the earth is round and blazes the year round and dazzles with its unbound potency. It too is round. 
Our fruit fraternity boasts of this shape in most of its products. From apple to most of the berry families and oranges, tangerines, plums,guavas,melons and many more are round in shape.
 The word round has significant say in idiomatic and phrasal expressions i.e. going round and round and not coming to the point; to take a round of some particular place; round something off-to smoothen the curves; round of applause after a performance to name a few. Not to forget the proverb, Round pegs in square holes- some body unfit or not suitable for a particular position or activity etc. One can go on and on.....

Friends,welcome here as always!

Linking to: abcwednesday ,Wordless wednesday,outdoor-wednesday

OUR WORLD OF FLOWERS

FUSION

              The Gulmohur attired in riot of orange stands imposingly outside the fence of our community park.

             
     The red blooms above have come up late in the same park.

   The bush with  clusters of mauve flowers is pensively  facing the morning sun.

Linking to:
ourworldtuesday,
image-in-ing, 
Nature Notes
flowersfromtoday
I heart macro


Friends,welcome here as always!

CRITTERS FOR THE WEEK

 Front Yard Sightings:





This one is totally in sync with the cool breezy evening.






 Mr. Parrot seems to be mighty perplexed.

A pair of mynas relaxing  on top of transmission lines.


Neck and shoulder pain has temporarily  put a break on my forays of exploring the world around. I's resting during the week. I'll have to restrict my sittings before the computer on doctor's advice. Let me see how things come out to be. I'm already missing my amazing interactions with all my cyber friends. Pl. bear with me.

Linked to:
 camera-critters,
Saturday Critters
id-rather-b-birding



Friends, welcome here as always.

WE ARE ALSO HERE

                                Evening capture during a walk in another area.

                               Total mindfulness.

                                Fluffing the feathers to soak in the coolness  of the evening.



camera-critters.Saturday Critters,id-rather-b-birding

ENJOYABLE MOMENTS

  Linked to:

 GOOD FENCES
 Sky watch

  

This picture from my archives was taken last summer, when we're spending the hot summer days in a small flat on the Shivalik hills at Himachal Pradesh. The block of flats is in the midst of a valley profuse with pine trees and sundry bushes. Above is the balcony of our flat, which first rays of the rising sun embellish with its golden light.  The shadow display is mesmerizing.

Last week, the weather took a strange turn. It's cloudy and threatening when it should have been sunny for wheat harvesting. Such is nature's whims and fancies. I think even nature is being impacted the way the bulk of the human race is conducting itself notoriously. The shot taken from the roof of our house on one such day.

 

Friends, welcome here and thanks for the support!