Image 1/25

@ Lost Umbrella
Shiny begins her experience of Wind!
Lost Umbrella
Did you lose an umbrella? I know where they go. The wind calls out, the leaves are cavorting already in the air, and the umbrellas want to join them. Waiting for the perfect moment when the wind swoops down and up, the umbrellas catch this drift and sail into the air to play and dance with the leaves.

Image 2/25

@ Let's Go Fly A Kite!

Blue And Gold 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.

Let's Go Fly A Kite!
You don’t need to carry a brush for cleaning chimneys or have a bottomless bag to enjoy flying a kite. All you need is a steady wind—not too fierce—and some bit of paper or cloth over a light frame, with a string attached.

Image 3/25

@ Grass Flags
"Oh, Choose a name! It says in our tour guide that no one knows who invented the fire hydrant, because its patent was destroyed in a fire in Washington in 1836!" declared Shiny.
"That is ironic for sure!" responded Choose a name.
Grass Flags
Feathery fronds of grass, like little flags, wave in the breeze.

Image 4/25

@ Tilting at Windmills
"Wind direction is given by the direction from which the wind comes," said Shiny.
"That makes sense!" replied Hoot.
Tilting at Windmills
We are in Don Quixote territory here, in Spain's Castilla–La Mancha region. The area is dotted with numerous vineyards, castles and windmills—and mountain ranges!

Image 5/25

@ Drifting Around On The Water
"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 Shiny.
"Cool!" responded Starlite. "We could make a start when we get back to our hotel tonight."
Drifting Around On The Water
All the pets are clamouring to see their duck and geese pals. We gather up some bags of seeds and enjoy a leisurely walk to the pond. Spending time outdoors is always so relaxing.

Image 6/25

@ Turning Somersaults
The ancient Greeks believed that there were four elements that everything was made up of: earth, water, air and fire. This theory was suggested around 450 BCE, and it was later supported and added to by Aristotle. Aristotle also suggested that there was a fifth element, aether, because it seemed strange that the stars would be made out of earthly elements. He would be surprised to learn that they are in fact made up of many elements found on earth, and are so hot they could be said to be on fire all the time!
Turning Somersaults
Racing across the miles, dashing for the shore, tentacles of water, reaching forward, trying to grasp what is just out of reach.

Image 7/25

@ Touchdown
“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," Miss Flicka said, offering Shiny a toffee from the bag and then unwrapping one for herself.
“That sounds like a good plan, Miss Flicka!" said Shiny. "Very relaxing, and your painting will be a great souvenir of our trip through the Elements!"
Touchdown
Sucking up and flinging out, the storm has unleashed its power and sends a column of twisting, churning air downward to rip across the landscape.

Image 8/25

@ Children Of The Dandelion
“Let's just drink in this exhibit, shall we, Shiny?” suggested fiffy, sinking down on a convenient chair.
Shiny agreed it was well worth spending some time there!
Children Of The Dandelion
Each seed has its own propeller that will allow the wind to carry it whirling and dancing across the land until the wind abates and the seed drops to find its new home.

Image 9/25

@ Flag, Great Britain
"It's turned a bit hot, Shiny. They must have put the heating on! I'm going to take my scarf off," said Lulu.
"Good scheme! I'll do the same," said Shiny.
Flag, Great Britain
A flag of Great Britain, fluttering in the breeze. Flags represent an idea or an ideal. Countries, businesses, sports, religions, railways, and clubs all use a flag to represent themselves. Flags are also used in semaphores to convey a message across a distance.

Image 10/25

@ The Power Of Water
A gale is officially defined as a wind of between 32 and 63 miles per hour. A wind blowing from 4 to 31mph is a breeze.
The Power Of Water
The tide roars in, and tons of water will crash to the shore bringing sand, rocks, and treasures.

Image 11/25

@ Translucent Blue
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.
Translucent Blue
The sun is beaming down, the day is warm, and the water is crystal clear and looks so inviting. So let us jump right in and make some waves of our own.

Image 12/25

@ Swelling Seas
The idea that four elements – earth, water, air, and fire – made up all matter was the cornerstone of philosophy, science and medicine for two thousand years.
Swelling Seas
The ocean is always in motion—the water swells—then subsides. Let’s go for a boat ride, and the waves can toss us hither and yon—hope you don’t get seasick.

Image 13/25

@ Golden Evening
A gale is officially defined as a wind of between 32 and 63 miles per hour. A wind blowing from 4 to 31mph is a breeze.
Golden Evening
At day's end, the wind gently pushes the grasses down as it sweeps across the field—as if to say— time for sleep.

Image 14/25

@ Pink and White Tulips
When humans and animals breathe, we give off an odorless gas called carbon dioxide, or CO2. Plants use this gas, along with sunlight, to make food—and oxygen too! This process is called photosynthesis.
Pink and White Tulips
These tulips, swaying in the breeze, make a fine display in the Netherlands.

Image 15/25

@ So Much Snow
Oh look ... you won a pet!
So Much Snow
A snowy ribbon of road—snowy fields on either side—if walked will lead straight to the source, the snow clouds.

Image 16/25

@ Dutch Weathervane
“Ooh, it's just starting to get a bit cold, Shiny!” said Freyja. “Can you hold my map while I dig out my jumper?"
Shiny good-naturedly took charge of Freyja's possessions while she emptied her rucksack of a pack of sandwiches, a Thermos flask, a pair of galoshes, a bag of toffees, a paperback novel, a bottle of mineral water, an address book, some postage stamps, an assortment of different coloured biros, a bottle opener, a couple of old train tickets, a handful of golden and silver moles, a door key, some shopping receipts, a screwdriver, a bottle of multivitamins, a lottery ticket and a selection of rather battered sachets of salt, sugar and tomato ketchup before locating the jumper right at the bottom. This she donned and then Shiny helped her put everything back in her rucksack.
Dutch Weathervane
This ornate weathervane in the Netherlands features a splendid full masted ship, and depending on wind direction, will point to noord, zuid, oost or west!

Image 17/25

@ Dancing Dandelion Fluff
“Let's just drink in this exhibit, shall we, Shiny?” suggested Audra, sinking down on a convenient chair.
Shiny agreed it was well worth spending some time there!
Dancing Dandelion Fluff
Oh, to be a dandelion seed swept along on currents of air sailing along on a journey that will end at an unknown destination.

Image 18/25

@ Breezy Fields
"Why do we get sea breezes, Shiny?" queried whisper.
Shiny looked baffled. "I don't know, whisper! We just do!"
whisper read out from the brochure: " 'Sea breezes occur because heat from the sun takes longer to warm the sea than the land, creating a difference in air pressure.' So—there it is."
Breezy Fields
Let’s run through the field as the grasses bend to the wind and the clouds race each other across the sky.

Image 19/25

@ Swirling Snow
"I think there'll be quite a few tired paws, wings and flippers when we get back to the tour bus," said Cutie Pie, after he and Shiny had spent some time exploring another wing of the art gallery to its end.
"Is there a gift shop after this?" enquired Shiny. "The thought of that generally keeps me going!"
Swirling Snow
The wind kicks up the snow, swirling and twirling around until—not only the land but—the very air is saturated—with white mist.

Image 20/25

@ Poppies, Red and Cornflowers, Blue
"What two elements is water made up of, Shiny?" asked Rainy.
"That's easy: hydrogen and oxygen!"
"Correct, Shiny! Two parts of hydrogen to one part oxygen, making the element name H2O."
Poppies, Red and Cornflowers, Blue
These meadow flowers make a colourful sight as they are blown by the passing wind!

Image 21/25

@ Hot Air Balloon Flight
“You know what, Shiny?” said Tilly. “Seeing all these amazing photographs makes me want to take up photography myself!”
“Sounds like a great idea!" replied Shiny. "There’s an evening class you can join when we get back!"
Hot Air Balloon Flight
Take off at dawn and glide gracefully through the countryside in a colourful hot air balloon as the sun rises over rolling hills, chocolate box villages and a patchwork of fields. Enjoy the perfect 360-degree view from 2000 feet in the air in the early morning, the perfect time to soak up spectacular landscapes for as far as the eye can see. It's an experience that will be remembered for a lifetime. It is truly the best way to see the countryside—from the sky!

Image 22/25

@ Ruffled Waters
"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 Shiny.
"Cool!" responded moo moo. "We could make a start when we get back to our hotel tonight."
Ruffled Waters
The blue, ruffled waters of this outdoor swimming pool look very inviting! Who's for a dip before breakfast?

Image 23/25

@ Rural Windmills
Water expands by 9% when it freezes. Frozen water (ice) is lighter than water, which is why ice floats in water.
Rural Windmills
What a peaceful early morning scene in the misty dawn, with the dew still on the silver grass.

Image 24/25

@ The Star Spangled Banner
When humans and animals breathe, we give off an odorless gas called carbon dioxide, or CO2. Plants use this gas, along with sunlight, to make food—and oxygen too! This process is called photosynthesis.
The Star Spangled Banner
... what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.

Image 25/25

@ Florida Storm
As Shiny's experience of "Wind" comes to an end, she receives a wonderful gift!
Short Tree, Violet
Gorgeous violet-leafed tree. Perhaps it grows in the fairy forest, or maybe the wizard worked some magic. If you can get seeds from this tree, you may have luck growing it in your garden.

Florida Storm
This is no mere wind! This is a hurricane! Stay safe indoors, all pets, you don't want to risk getting blown out to sea!
Shiny has completed her exploration of "Wind"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also explore the Elements!