There is nothing like the Lens Artist Photo Challenge to make me feel all philosophical. This week’s theme is It’s A Wonderful World. I have decided to focus on water because water is awesome. It’s essential to our being. Earth is the only terrestrial planet in our solar system that has liquid water at its surface.
Apart from Antarctica, Australia is the continent with the least rainfall. At the first hint of rain at the end of the recent horror drought in south-eastern Australia, swarms of flies emerged to drink from the puddles in still dry dams. How awesome is that?
A bee too quenched its thirst on the muddy shore.

And a spider, sensing a meal, walked on water.
This feat had something to do with surface tension – water molecules can bind together – and hairy feet that generate an opposing electrical current. But don’t quote me on that.

The dam now.

Water has been key to the evolution of the planet and all life on it. Our watery world birthed us. Our bodies came from water and are made of water (among other things). How awesome is that?

Water flows in our veins, oceans, rivers, lakes, aquifers, and together with other minerals, forms part of the mantle and crust of the planet. Water is the molecule that houses us and the fluid that transports essential supplies to sustain all living beings.
The Womb. The GREAT MOTHER. The jewel in the crown. This place. Our world.

See, I got carried away. And so should you.
Kind Regards.
Tracy.
Goodness, Tracy–you did get carried away, in such a good way, too. Something we take for granted way too much. First thing we are told for hurricane prep: Stock up on water. Fill your bathtub. We learned that the hard way, many years ago. This would work for today’s RDP, also.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Goodness Lois. I’m horrified. Were you new to Florida then? You survived thankfully. We always fill some water big water containers during bushfire seasons now. It was amazing last season when bottles of water were stripped from the shelves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had never lost water power except for that one time many years ago. Thankfully, next door neighbor had a built-in swimming pool, so we were able to carry buckets into the house to flush the commodes. That was the scary part.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We get used to all the electricity mod cons! During our 2003 bushfire that hit the city fringe, people were caught out because they couldn’t open their remote garage doors when the electricity went down.
LikeLike
Tracy, I’m so glad I read this just after I woke. What an inspirational way to engage with the world. Your words and photos ran chills of wonderment through my body. I’m going to read this again – and again. I’m going to sup on these images. Thank you, thank you. Water. Life. Hope. Future.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Sharon. It is amazing how I got so excited by a few flies.
I have been reading about the devastating impact of California’s long drought and the astronomical temperatures there. It must be so depressing.
LikeLike
And I have to say – love the image of the newborn baby. Water birth for sure. (Which is what I thought, by title alone, this entire post would address.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It wasn’t actually a water birth, Sharon. I was stretching the amniotic fluid analogy there. It was a C-section. That head wasn’t going to come out any other way. That was my first born. For some reason it seemed important to include that old photo that I had forgotten about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great images, a boy thats a lot of flies!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mason. The fly swarm was quite startling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can imagine everybody walking about with insecticide cans in both hands!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They were well behaved flies. 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! Well thats alright then. They can live!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my Tracy, a lovely post and your thoughts are spot-on. but my-oh-my what an incredible image of the newborn baby. Part of your family??
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Tina. Yep my first baby. Came across the photo several months ago in a box of old photos. I don’t think we have a shot like that of the second child. Second children always miss out!
LikeLike
Fabulous! I hope you shared it with him or her!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Two gorgeous boys. Both young men now.
LikeLike
♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
A remarkable post, Tracy! All living things on earth need water to survival, well said. Hope more rain coming to Australia. Great message and photos. The newborn baby, Wow…
T
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Amy. I nearly didn’t participate as I had some difficulty narrowing down the wonderful. I enjoyed it though.
LikeLike
WOW. Great post and insights. Excellent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, John!
LikeLike
Beautiful pictures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Michael.
LikeLike
It’s so easy to take water for granted. Thank you for the reminder of what a wonder it truly is. I love the last photo, so peaceful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Liz. The baby in the post took that last photo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
For heaven’s sake!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know! They grow up fast.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The day it fully hit me was when I my daughter was talking with her boss on her Blackberry about firing someone. She didn’t bat an eye.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet your daughter still needs her mum at times, Liz.
LikeLike
Wonderful water photos Tracy 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Ta, Brian. ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunning images and powerful text.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Tracy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome post, Tracy! You are such a creative person! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lisa. 😄 I’m really not. I do love stories though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous photos, Tracy.
The one in your header, which is a larger version of the post content looks amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was an extraordinary sight, Vicki. My TL took that photo. My photos didn’t turn out so well. Probably because I didn’t lie down in the mud to get them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This surely ranks among your best work, Tracy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
☺️ You’re too kind, Dries. Funnily enough when I am going through a slow patch, my family joke about how they prefer my earlier work. Hee hee. There was a mix of old and new work here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful! I don’t mind if you get carried away every day. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I kind of get side tracked though. I spent two days reading various planetary research papers on water planets. As you do, hee hee.
LikeLike
Wow! Good on you. I wish I had a brain like that. I fear I am incredibly lazy about research… let alone getting distracted down planetary rabbit holes. 🙂
LikeLike
I don’t remember any of it but it is fun at the time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep. Everyone should be carried away by beauty. I love all the photos. ❤
LikeLike
Sometimes I need a reminder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your contemplation on this very important resource and landscape – the images are stunning, as are your reflections. And as always, your humour: “I got carried away”.
The insect captures are amazing, Tracy! I am so taken by them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ju-Lyn. Of all the things I saw last year, those insects amazed me the most.
LikeLike
And you have such impeccable timing to capture them! Thank you for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome.
LikeLike
beautiful photos and truly wonderful world highlights
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Yvette. I really appreciate your comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great choices for the challenge, Tracy! I love the bee picture!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sue. Me too. It was thirsty.
LikeLike
A wonderful post again, Tracy. I love it when you get carried away…Sending my love to you and your boys and your furry ones too ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Ann Christine. Much love to you too. I feel less sore at the moment so hopefully I will have a chance to do some more exploring.
LikeLike
♥
LikeLiked by 1 person