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@ Molten Universe
Nancy begins her experience of Earth and Fire!
Molten Universe
Fire and water and earth combine, is this world emerging to join the universe, or is its time over, descending into oblivion.

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@ Plasma Phenomenon

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.

Plasma Phenomenon
A beautiful purply-green plasma phenomenon. You can almost feel the energy fizzing from it!

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@ Earth Tones
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.
Earth Tones
Don't you just love these rust-like, earthy, orange tones? They provide a brilliant way to embrace the calming properties of nature in your home and are very "in" at the moment!

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@ Nature in Neon
"Why do we get sea breezes, Nancy?" queried Ozzie.
Nancy looked baffled. "I don't know, Ozzie! We just do!"
Ozzie 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."
Nature in Neon
This map of the continents has a stark black background that emphasises the colourful neon creatures in an eye-catching way.

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@ Firework Trails
"A trivia question for you, Spike!" announced Nancy. "Who is the largest consumer of fireworks in the United States?"
Spike pondered. "I don't know, Nancy, 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."
Firework Trails
Sparks shoot out and leave trails of light, only for a moment, like the memories of all the fireworks gone before.

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@ Spark Of Celebration
"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 Nancy.
"It makes it sound like it's the only monument in London, Nancy!" chuckled Audrey.
Spark Of Celebration
Celebrations bring people together to share their customs. Lights and fire have always been part of celebrations. The fizz and crackle of a sparkler held in hand bring delight, casting its tiny glow on happy faces.

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@ Celebrate With Candles
"Today's trivia question, Choose a name!" announced Nancy. "When were the first ever windmills built?"
"Oh, goodness! I've no idea, Nancy, but I imagine they're pretty old!" responded Choose a name.
Nancy grinned. "Windmills have been in use since 200 BCE. They were first developed in Persia and China."
Celebrate With Candles
Ever since candles were invented by the Romans in 500 BC, candles have been a part of celebrations and life in general. A candle is a light to banish the darkness, placed in a window as a beacon for a weary traveller. Candles have been used to tell the passing of time, to warm a room, and as a symbol of hope. That tiny flame means so much to so many people.

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@ Campfire At Night
"I think there'll be quite a few tired paws, wings and flippers when we get back to the tour bus," said Lami, after he and Nancy had spent some time exploring another wing of the art gallery to its end.
"Is there a gift shop after this?" enquired Nancy. "The thought of that generally keeps me going!"
Campfire At Night
The earthy, musky scent, the crackle, and pop as gas is released from the wood, the warmth and soft light emitted by the dancing flames, this is a campfire, a welcoming place to relax and tell stories when the adventures of the day spent outdoors are done.

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@ Remains Of The Light
The air in Earth’s atmosphere is made up of approximately 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. Air also has small amounts of lots of other gases, too, such as carbon dioxide, neon, and hydrogen.
Remains Of The Light
Wispy trails are all that remain when the candle is extinguished. The smoke swirls and curls and heads ever upward on currents of air until even the smoke has vanished.

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@ Flamboyant Phoenix
“Oh hello, Nancy!” cried Archie. “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!”
Flamboyant Phoenix
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a phoenix of colourful smoke effects!

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@ Abstract of Smoke
"Did you know that fire can only burn on Earth, Nancy?" asked Ucil.
"I guess I hadn't really thought about it, Ucil! 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."
Abstract of Smoke
How can such prettily coloured smoke in shades of pink, grey and parchment, be so free-flowing and yet have the appearance of being almost textured in its twists and turns?

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@ Tender Life
"This is an extremely varied set of exhibits, Nancy!" remarked Emerald. "We're going from really cosy pictures of pets to amazing scenic landscapes!"
Tender Life
Starting from seed and some moisture, warmth, and the ability to find water even though tiny cracks in concrete, the little plant struggles upward and continues to grow.

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@ A Little Fern Seeks The Sun
“I could stay here in front of this image forever, Nancy,” said Splash. “This is an amazing place!”
“Well, you never know what lies ahead, Splash. I wouldn't be surprised if the next exhibit is even better!” said Nancy.
A Little Fern Seeks The Sun
Tiny stem, delicate fronds, a new fern has struggled and pushed its way from beneath the soil to seek the sun as it continues to grow.

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@ Leave A Light On
The four elements were even used to described the four temperaments a person could have, and Hippocrates used the four elements to describe the four “humors” found in the body. These theories stated that the temperaments and humors needed to be in balance with each other in order for a person to be well both mentally and physically.
Leave A Light On
Light chases away the darkness and reveals what our imagination would make into horror as nothing more than a jacket over a chair. Light reveals dangers, so don't wander into that room without light, or you may encounter the legendary lego trap and your feet will forever feel betrayed.

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@ Firework Compilation
Oh look ... you won a pet!
Firework Compilation
A selection of fireworks—looking like a new form of firefly—caught the moment they burst into colour and light.

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@ Tillers of the Earth
"Do you know how matches came to be invented, Lucifer?" queried Nancy.
"No, how, Nancy?"
"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."
Tillers of the Earth
Whether it is on a small-scale domestic allotment or larger scale smallholding or farm, an annual task is to turn over the soil ready for crop-planting, to produce that satisfying harvest later in the year!

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@ River Thames From the Air
"Hey, this is interesting, Nancy!" declared Utterly Ridiculous. "It says here that if the entire world’s water were fit into a 4 litre jug, the fresh water available for humans and pets would equal only about one tablespoon."
Nancy fidgeted with the corner of her brochure. "I'm not sure I follow, Utterly Ridiculous!"
"It's a proportion thing, Nancy. Nearly 97% of the world’s water is salty or otherwise undrinkable. Another 2% is locked in ice caps and glaciers. That leaves just 1% for all of our needs!"
River Thames From the Air
Starting as a small trickle in the Cotswolds, the River Thames travels over 210 miles (338km) through the heart of some of England’s most picturesque towns, right into the centre of London and eventually, out into the North Sea. Here we see it snaking its way through central London.

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@ Determination Of Life
“Ooh, it's just starting to get a bit cold, Nancy!” said Choose a name. “Can you hold my map while I dig out my jumper?"
Nancy good-naturedly took charge of Choose a name'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 Nancy helped her put everything back in her rucksack.
Determination Of Life
Fragile green life fights against all odds to burst forth into the air. The determination of living things to grow and thrive is magical, inspiring, and perfectly natural.

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@ Aerial View, France
“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," Nutsy Mouse said, offering Nancy a toffee from the bag and then unwrapping one for himself.
“That sounds like a good plan, Nutsy Mouse!" said Nancy. "Very relaxing, and your painting will be a great souvenir of our trip through the Elements!"
Aerial View, France
This panoramic aerial view of a patchwork of agricultural fields in rural France is an amazing image.

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@ Celebration Sparkler
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.
Celebration Sparkler
This is an ideal accompaniment to celebratory dark winter events, a hand-held firework emitting and fizzing with cheerful sparks! Try writing your name with one!

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@ Festive Candle
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.
Festive Candle
Find the matches, turn down the lights, light the candle and enjoy.

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@ Meditation In Pink
“Ooh, it's just starting to get a bit cold, Nancy!” said Otto. “Can you hold my map while I dig out my jumper?"
Nancy good-naturedly took charge of Otto's possessions while he emptied his 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 he donned and then Nancy helped him put everything back in his rucksack.
Meditation In Pink
Celebrations are made of this, looking back while anticipating what is to come. The soft glow of a lit candle catches the eye, draws you in, and erases the now—for a moment.

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@ Welcoming Warmth
"Wind direction is given by the direction from which the wind comes," said Nancy.
"That makes sense!" replied VioletMystic.
Welcoming Warmth
Where is the cat that should be basking on the warmed tiles, stretching in sublime relaxation? Where is the cat that should be sleeping, curled up in this welcoming warmth?

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@ USA at Night
"Wind speed is measured with a device called an anemometer. There's a project here for making an anemometer, Nancy. We could try it out tonight when we get back to the accommodation."
"Goodness, Fyzbana! Isn't it terribly technical and scientific to do that?" queried Nancy.
Fyzbana 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!"
USA at Night
Using satellite imagery, this aerial view of the United States of America lit up at night presents a striking image.

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@ Magic Of A Candle
As Nancy's experience of "Earth and Fire" comes to an end, she receives a wonderful gift!
Double Blooms Flower, Violet
Looking like a watercolour that Monet would be proud of, this delicate violet flower duo will add a touch of softness and romance to your art.

Magic Of A Candle
Candles are magical, they bring smiles when the room is darkened and the birthday cake is brought in with all the candles alight. Candles bring a feeling of coziness and romance when placed on a dining table and the lights are turned down low. Candles light the footpath, can warm a room, and light a darkened corner.
Nancy has completed her exploration of "Earth and Fire"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also explore the Elements!