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@ An Apple For The Picking
Bella begins her experience of Water!
An Apple For The Picking
A red apple, ready to eat, nature has washed it clean of dust and soon it will let go of its hold on the branch, let’s pluck it and eat it and enjoy the crisp taste of autumn on the way.

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@ Graceful Water Lily

Navy Flower Power Egg
The first painted eggs came from Mesopotamia, and because eggs were forbidden food during Lent, people painted eggs while Lent was being observed—after Lent, they would eat the eggs on Easter Day.

Beautifully decorated eggs “pysanka” are associated with Ukraine, and the oldest painted egg that was unearthed in northern Ukraine is dated to the end of the 17th century.

Graceful Water Lily
The Nymphaeaceae family (a very fitting name for these elegant water plants) offer the ideal finishing touches to a garden pond. Water lilies add practical features and also beauty to any pool. Fish use them to hide from predators, and as shady retreats from the hot summer sun. Plants growing in a pond help keep the water clean and aerated. These specimen is especially beautiful!

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@ Rain Tracks
"Did you read what it said under that exhibit earlier, Snipsnap?" asked Bella. "It stated that early windmills' sails turned anti-clockwise but later makers shifted mainly to clockwise."
"Wow, Bella! It's one of those things I'd never have thought about!"

Rain Tracks
Today is raining and the raindrops have gathered on the window pane. The drops are racing each other and chasing each other to see which drop can make it to the bottom of the window first. Dear pets, if you would like to play a game with these raindrops, choose one and follow it with your paw, or talon as it heads downward.

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@ Lake Baikal, Russia
"A trivia question for you, Volodymyr!" announced Bella. "Who is the largest consumer of fireworks in the United States?"
Volodymyr pondered. "I don't know, Bella, who is it?"
"It's Walt Disney World. The park launches the fireworks with compressed air instead of gunpowder to reduce fumes and gain better height and timing."
Lake Baikal, Russia
Lake Baikal, in southern Siberia, Russia. It is considered to be the oldest lake in the world, at 25 million years, and the deepest lake. It contains 20% of the world's total unfrozen freshwater reserve. A Unesco world heritage site. Beautiful in winter, a huge chunk of ice looking like a massive diamond.

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@ Frog on a Lily Pad
"There's a fun project in our brochure on how to make a weather vane from an ice cream container lid, scissors, a marker pen, a skewer, a straw and a pin," remarked Bella.
"Cool!" responded Tilly. "We could make a start when we get back to our hotel tonight."
Frog on a Lily Pad
It's an endearing, iconic image—a frog on a lily pad! The lily leaves are attached to stems about four feet long connected to the plant growing on the bottom of the pond. These stems and the water's surface stability make the lily pads strong enough to carry a frog. It may look a peaceful scene, but the frog is in reality remaining motionless, waiting for unsuspecting prey!

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@ Victoria Falls, Zambezi River, Africa
"A trivia question for you, dragolia!" announced Bella. "Who is the largest consumer of fireworks in the United States?"
dragolia pondered. "I don't know, Bella, who is it?"
"It's Walt Disney World. The park launches the fireworks with compressed air instead of gunpowder to reduce fumes and gain better height and timing."
Victoria Falls, Zambezi River, Africa
One of the world's largest waterfalls, with a width of 1708 m (5604 ft) Victoria Falls, on the Zambezi River, in southern Africa. In the Lozi language, Mosi-oa-Tunya, "The Smoke That Thunders"; In the Tonga language Shungu Namutitima, "Boiling Water") The Sotho language name Mosi-oa-Tunya is the name used most commonly.

David Livingston, a Scottish Missionary, was the first recorded European to set eyes on the falls in 1855. Livingstone named the falls Victoria after Queen Victoria, the World Heritage List officially recognizes both names. Mr. Livingstone also cited an older name, Seongo or Chongwe, which means "The Place of the Rainbow", as a result of the constant spray.

Victoria Falls, though not being the largest in width or height alone, combined these falls are indeed the world's largest sheet of falling water.

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@ Regal Swan
"Did you know that fire can only burn on Earth, Bella?" asked Bella.
"I guess I hadn't really thought about it, Bella! Why is that, then?"
"It says here that fire can exist on no known planet, other than Earth itself. This is because the rest of the planets in our Galaxy don’t have enough oxygen to support the burning of a flame."
Regal Swan
The mute swan, or Cygnus olor is a very large white waterbird with an orange bill. In the UK they are most commonly found in England, but to a lesser extent in Scotland and Wales. In cold weather, some mute swans arrive from Europe into eastern England.

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@ Many Waterfalls
"The Great Fire of London in 1666 gave rise to many changes, you know, Bella," remarked Hoot. "Many streets were widened across London. New building regulations meant that instead of wood, brick had to be used for all houses."
Many Waterfalls
Looking like so many mini waterfalls, the ocean surges, and retreats over a large flat rock. The sound must be wonderful, so soothing.

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@ Ripples On The Water
A natural gas vent in Iraq known as The Eternal Fire has been burning continuously for over 4000 years, and it has been mentioned by Herodotus, Plutarch and in the Old Testament Book of Daniel.
Ripples On The Water
Water rippling over the rocks below creates abstract patterns that shift and change.

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@ Tudor Rose
“Oh hello, Bella!” cried Myrtle. “Didn’t we bump into each other at the Fiat racetrack in Turin last July? This is quite the change of scene, isn't it!”
Tudor Rose
In the 15th century King Henry VII of England introduced the Tudor Rose, which combined the red rose of the House of Lancaster with the white rose of the House of York. The Tudor Rose was adopted as the national emblem of England, and was a symbol of peace and unity in the period following the long civil war.

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@ Leaf And Water Drops
The fastest gust of wind ever recorded on Earth was 253 miles per hour.
Leaf And Water Drops
Magnifying a subject—as in this leaf and water drops—can produce some wonderful almost abstract art.

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@ Swimming With The Fish
"It says in our tour guide that 96.5% of water on Earth is in our oceans, covering 71% of the surface of our planet," remarked Bella.
"That's amazing, Bella!" responded Debbie.
Swimming With The Fish
Where do I want to be? Under the sea. The water is warm the fishes are darting around in colourful schools—nibbling a bit of plant here and there.

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@ Water Drops On Pine Needles
Bella and Bindy shook paws, said “How do you do?” and posed for a souvenir photo. “Why am I always on the left?” grumbled Bella. “Let’s change sides.”
“No,” said Bindy. “This is my best side.”
Water Drops On Pine Needles
Come along dear pets, we are going to take a walk amongst the trees. The rain has stopped and the air is fresh with the scent of pine all around, it will lift our spirits and refresh our minds.

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@ Rain Soaked Twig
"When was silver identified as an element?"
"Eek—no idea, Pneuma!"
"Don't worry, Bella! It was as far back as 4000 BCE!"
Rain Soaked Twig
Don't you just love the play of light on the foliage, with the foreground in sharp focus and the background grasses a soothing blur, and this twig weighed down by raindrops at dawn?

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@ Hello, Anyone Home
Oh look ... you won a pet!
Hello, Anyone Home
Raindrops bejewel the web of a spider. I wonder where the occupant of this web went when the rains came. A spider can’t hold an umbrella, so I hope it found a big leaf to hide under while waiting out the rain.

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@ Refreshing The Rose
"I think there'll be quite a few tired paws, wings and flippers when we get back to the tour bus," said Hoppy, after she and Bella had spent some time exploring another wing of the art gallery to its end.
"Is there a gift shop after this?" enquired Bella. "The thought of that generally keeps me going!"
Refreshing The Rose
The dusty pink rose, is ready to unfurl, perhaps today when the sun shows its face, but for now, the rose has been washed of dust and refreshed.

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@ Playing With Waves
"Did you read what it said under that exhibit earlier, FLAPPY?" asked Bella. "It stated that early windmills' sails turned anti-clockwise but later makers shifted mainly to clockwise."
"Wow, Bella! It's one of those things I'd never have thought about!"

Playing With Waves
Take your shoes and socks off, the sand is soft, and the water is warm as the waves gently roll in and out. Playing tag with the waves is a favourite pastime of many people and pets. A great way to cool off during the heat of the summer.

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@ Dewy Iris
"Wind speed is measured with a device called an anemometer. There's a project here for making an anemometer, Bella. We could try it out tonight when we get back to the accommodation."
"Goodness, Esmeralda! Isn't it terribly technical and scientific to do that?" queried Bella.
Esmeralda studied the diagram helpfully provided in the brochure. "Nah. It seems to be made of empty yoghurt cartons and stuff. We'll give it a go!"
Dewy Iris
A beautiful iris with dew-laden deep blue petals in an atmospheric close-up image.

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@ Tantalizing Cherry
Air pollution is measured with the Air Quality Index, or AQI. The lower the AQI, the cleaner the air is. However, if you are outside when the AQI is over 100, it’s about the same as breathing in exhaust from a car all day! Things that cause poor air quality are forest fires and cities with lots of car traffic. If the AQI is higher than 100 you shouldn’t spend too much time outside.
Tantalizing Cherry
Water drops on a ripe red cherry, how mouthwatering is that. But is this cherry for eating or is it a model for an artist? Don’t help yourself quite yet.

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@ Heron at Dawn
Ray Bradbury wrote a book called The Fireman, but the editors found the name boring. They called a local fire station to ask at what temperature book paper would burn at. The firemen put Bradbury on hold, burnt a book, and reported that the temperature it burnt at was 451° Fahrenheit. The rest, as they say, is history.
Heron at Dawn
This tall, almost prehistoric looking, grey heron stands like a statue on the edge of the pond, contemplating its next meal. Dawn is just breaking and the water is shrouded with mist.

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@ Canine Hydrotherapy!
Ray Bradbury wrote a book called The Fireman, but the editors found the name boring. They called a local fire station to ask at what temperature book paper would burn at. The firemen put Bradbury on hold, burnt a book, and reported that the temperature it burnt at was 451° Fahrenheit. The rest, as they say, is history.
Canine Hydrotherapy!
Most dogs love to swim! Those that take to aquatic frolics most readily will be dogs with a water-resistant coat, evenly distributed body weight and a large tail to act as a rudder!

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@ Ladybug Going For A Walk
"The Great Fire of 1666 started in London, on Pudding Lane, in a baker's shop. The baker believed he had put the fire out but in the middle of the night the fire grew and his house was in flames. Pudding Lane is still there today. If you want to visit it, Monument is the nearest tube station. The place where the fire started is also marked by a monument topped by a fiery gold ornament," said Bella.
"It makes it sound like it's the only monument in London, Bella!" chuckled Violet.
Ladybug Going For A Walk
Little ladybug taking a stroll on a leaf, it rained this morning and the ladybug stops to sip at a raindrop. Refreshed the ladybug will move on to do ladybug things.

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@ Teal & Purple Peacock Feather
"Do you know how matches came to be invented, Choose a name?" queried Bella.
"No, how, Bella?"
"An English apothecary, John Walker, used a stick to stir a pot containing antimony sulphide, potassium chlorate & sulphur and some of the mixture stuck to the end of the stick. When he tried to scrape the lump, it easily caught fire and this led to the birth of friction matches. This was in 1827."
Teal & Purple Peacock Feather
Birds waterproof their feathers with oils from the preening activity, which prevents water droplets sinking further into the feathers. Instead water forms into droplets which run off the feather. Feathers have a unique and highly complex structure and their arrangement with neighbouring feathers maintains their "waterproof" integrity.

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@ Water Drops On A Rose
“If there's time at the end of the day when we get back to our accommodation, I might do some initial sketches for a watercolour painting from the postcard I bought in the gift shop," Amethyst said, offering Bella a toffee from the bag and then unwrapping one for herself.
“That sounds like a good plan, Amethyst!" said Bella. "Very relaxing, and your painting will be a great souvenir of our trip through the Elements!"
Water Drops On A Rose
A white rose in full bloom, sprinkled with drops of water. Did it rain early in the morning, or did a gardener come by with a watering can and drench the flowers before the sun came out?

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@ Plop, Water Drops
As Bella's experience of "Water" comes to an end, she receives a wonderful gift!
Lotus Flower, Violet
For thousands of years, the Lotus flower had been used as a symbol of purity, beauty, and transcendence. The Lotus flower also represents connection. In Feng Shui the lotus is seen as an embodiment of the mandala, the petals have a center point that expands outward. Beautiful, delicate flowers that only grow in swamps. "All the wisdom is within us, so the 'jewel,' the 'treasure,' is in us—and we are the lotus flower," Anjie Cho

Plop, Water Drops
As the rain falls and lands on the water’s surface it creates craters and small pillars of water. It is endlessly fascinating to watch the raindrops fall.
Bella has completed her exploration of "Water"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also explore the Elements!