Magnificent Monday: Water

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Magnificent Monday is the child of Jim from http://holesinmysoles.blogspot.com/, each week is a different theme, this weeks theme is water. It can be anything about water, reflection on water, boats on water, ect. We have a lot of fun with this and would enjoy a post from you. If you would like to join us drop your link by Jim's blog on the Mr Linky and leave a comment.


 Water in our country is severely taken for granted. How many of you have done a load of dishes or laundry with very few items, because you needed them in a hurry. I have.



While we are doing this other people don't have enough clean water to drink and stay healthy.

We pour our water from the sink fill a cup don't drink it and just pour it down the drain. Seems simple enough to give it to a plant instead, I have made a habit of pouring mine into the watering can, saves me money too! Realistically only a dime or two, but they add up.

Not filling the washer is also a waste of energy and water, I know it can be a pain, but fill it up. Remember every time you run it some one somewhere is thirsty.
In this country, we buy our water in a bottle, filling the landfills all because we don't like the way tap water tastes. We are blessed we have it at hand at all. Taking anything for granted for me means it will soon be gone. Besides you end up paying for your water twice, how silly is that.

My flowers would not grow and bloom into the beauty you see here if were not for water.

My car would not run if not for the water that cools it.




The grass you see here so very over grown and more than ready to be mowed would be brown and ugly if not for the rain we receive on a regular basis.

Seattle, Washington

 We build our cities on the waters edge, then seem to be dumbfounded when the power of water destroys what we have built reclaiming her place.

 We make art out of water as we attempt to control her flow.

Beautiful pieces of art, built by man in coordination with nature.








In my community we are at last attempting to reclaim some of the land destroyed by our greed. Natural habitats are being restored and much is being done to improve preserve areas never before considered necessary. Wetlands  are primarily what is being worked on at the moment.  Sadly this has been a considerable battle; the powers that be; don't seem to understand that if all this is destroyed for the greed of  things they desire;  their world will be destroyed as well.

 I am not a tree hugger per-say,  I do however realize that if you keep taking and taking and return nothing besides the waste of what you desire. There will be nothing left to take. I believe in responsible harvesting, sharing the earth with all the creatures.

 Sadly some people just don's get it. I went to a water reserve the other day in my town I had never been to before. Posted everywhere "No Dumping", the water is used to supply the town. I saw garbage, cans, plastic bottles, sleeping bags from homeless camps with all the waste you can imagine. I even saw a tire in the water I was ashamed.


I also know the power of water, as a child of 7, I visited the  shipping locks of the Great Lakes, the power of the water channeled by man to move those massive ships was awe inspiring for a child. So much so that I can still see it in my mind.

One of the dangerous beauty's that live in water. 

Don't think I don't recognize the destruction water can cause. I was raised on the coast near a river outlet. I have seen horrendous destruction from storms. Our bus shelter was an uprooted tree (it toppled after mass amounts of wind and rain,it was 20ft tall). There are never ending stories of people losing their lives to the ocean; some out of lack of respect, some tryng to make a living off the water and her bounty.

We so take everything the earth has given us for granted, only to be reminded periodically that it is we, who are temporarily occupying this earth.


We build dams to corral the water, to build lakes for recreation and power. Often without a thought to the people and creature's habitats we destroy. All in the name of greed.

We enjoying playing in the water and with it.

Water is used for transportation, for pleasure here and in many places, or survival in others. We take our food from the water without even a second thought, with all the fancy gear money can buy. What chance do our fellow creatures have. Don't get me wrong food for survival is one thing, killing for the sheer pleasure or greed is another.


                                         
 We take pictures of the water, build bridges over it, we accept it's beauty, forgetting its value and power.


               My attitude may differ from yours, I believe I was married to nature as a child, I visited nearly every National Park in the United States, listened to my dad, mom, and the rangers for most of my childhood on the importance of preserving nature. Attempting to co-exist, I know that the earth has given me life, I have no desire to take hers.

Following are some photos of the power of water along with the beauty.

My photo

Mom's photo 30 years earlier.

                 How anyone could ever take water for granted after witnessing this power I don't know.

There is nothing quite like the sun setting or rising over the ocean. Sadly I have no photos of this. I don't quite understand why...maybe my own complacency after seeing it every evening for nearly 30 years.

This Sunset over one of our local lakes will have to do.

Photos Thanks to Ruth Jones Vanderhoof and  jvnphotos. Seattle photo thanks to Randy Neel and his IPhone.