Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 20 August 2017

Sunday Selections #341

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

Like River I usually run with a theme.  This week? A kite festival, 'Flying High', which runs in a nearby city.   Each year they advertise giant feature kites and the two years we have gone there has been insufficient wind for them to take to the air.


A lot of fun was still there for the taking though.  In my usual minimalist fashion a lot of photos will follow.

Starting with a huge kite which took to the air for thirty seconds or so.




And then focussing on the family fun which was had by those with smaller kites. 













This sulky moppet made me smile.  She wasn't having fun and was taking her kite and going home!!!!















The final shot shows just how many of the smaller kites were able to take to the skies.  

In other news, we are moving to the NBN (National Broadband Network) tomorrow.  Hopefully it will all go smoothly, but some people have had shocking experiences and have been off line for days/weeks.  Cross your fingers for me please.

168 comments:

  1. WOW! I started to pick favourites, shouting "pirate Ship!" and "No!Dragon!" :Pteradactyl!"

    Then realised I need more coffee. And a kite festival...somewhere...
    Thank you so much for these.

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    1. dinahmow: I was sorry not to see the giant whale but loved rather a lot of the smaller kites. And we will be back next year.

      Delete
  2. I am crossing my fingers for you 👏 ... pretend crossing hands mean the same thing.

    I like your minimalist way. 😀😀

    I am sure it was a fun day for the kite runners (remember the book?), for the photographers and the others who were just there to watch.

    The small ones were more successful. :)

    Have a great week.

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    1. Caterina: Thank you. I do indeed remember the book. And loved it. I have another of his to read somewhere in my unread towers too.
      I hope your week is a joy.

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  3. Love these gorgeous kites!!! I cannot pick a favorite kite but I adore the one with the "moppet"...she is so cute :)
    Such a happy, colorful post :D
    Best wishes on your NBN move! I hope that all goes well for you~

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    1. Jan: She had most definitely had enough. And was v cute with it.

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  4. cross my fingers love from Poland

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  5. I don't think I've ever seen kites that large before. They're beautiful.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Janie Junebug: They were. The ones which didn't fly were GINORMOUS. Over thirty metres long so of them. Next year. Perhaps. In the meantime the smaller ones were great.

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  6. When my kids were small I didn't have a lot of money. One day I took them to buy a huge rainbow kite with a new roll of heavy duty kite string. Within a minute of getting the kite nice and high the string snapped and the kite flew away. It is one of those things that they say that you'll laugh about later but it still upsets me. Because I had so little money I never really had an opportunity to do something special with my kids and spending a lot of money on a kite was a big deal.

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    1. Birdie: I wouldn't be laughing either. What a huge disappointment for you and your children. Perhaps most for you, because it was a gift you were giving which was snatched away.

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  7. Wowee EC, What a spendid kites, I love the dragonfly, fabulous.

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  8. Spectacular! I wish we had something like this near us.

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    1. Marty Damon: It was in the next state, but still quite close - we were very glad that we heard about it and could go.

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  9. I like the boat and aeroplane the best. We used to go to kite festivals when I lived along the lake, but have never seen one here in the woods.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: I suspect the woods are too dangerous for kites. My favourites changed throughout the time we spent there, but I was smiling broadly.

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  10. The dog with his tongue for a tail made me smile. All very pretty.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: That was one of the first kites up - and was still flying when we left hours later.

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  11. Those are some amazing looking kites, I like the pirate ship along with the brightly colored ones.

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    1. Jimmy: I really liked that one too. I have multiple photos of it.

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  12. I'm off to wind my clock back....it surely can't be a year since the last Kite Festival! My clock must be on fast-forward!!

    With the strong winds experienced over a couple of days this past week, the kites would have been in their element!

    Have yourself a good week, EC...cuddles to Jazz. :)

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    1. Lee: We have had some of those strong winds too. Just too later for the Googong kite festival.
      I hope you too have a lovely week and that your furry overlords do too.

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  13. What a lot of fun! You captured these vert well!

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    1. Bill: It really was a fun day. Despite the big boys staying on the ground we were glad we went.

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  14. I love all the color in your languishing file

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    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: Some of my photos don't languish long these days...

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  15. Dear EC
    What a happy festival with the bright colours and lovely weather (well, unless you were the sulky little girl, who obviously wasn't feeling happy!) We all need happiness whenever we can get it.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: She was a tired puppy. She had been good as gold, but had obviously had enough.

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  16. Good luck with the change. The kites were beautiful but the little moppet was the best!

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    1. Marie Smith: I felt for her. She had had enough. More than enough. And my introverted self often feels the same way around crowds of people. She was a little cutie too.

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  17. Brilliant! These fun photos really cheered me up - so good to see all the bright colours on a grey, rainy morning. Hope the 'move' goes well!

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    1. Alexia: There is insufficient fun in the world - and I am always ready to revel in it. Mind you, I would revel in some of your rain too. Some people have made the move easily, and for others there have been weeks of problems. Time will tell.

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  18. Aren't the kites just wonderful. I want to go to a kite flying festival. From experience, kite flying is not easy.

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    1. Andrew: Not easy at all. There were some people getting a LOT of exercise. Hopefully next year the big ones will fly - we certainly have had enough wind for them this week.

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  19. Love all the kites. They are all so beautiful and colorful.

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    1. Jamie Ghione: I thought so too. Colour, and whimsy are winners in my eyes.

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  20. What beautiful kites. I love the photos. I wish I were there.

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    1. Ann Bennett: It was a colourful and delightful few hours.

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  21. Kites are such fun! I remember going to a park as a kid for a similar smaller festival. I'm crossing my fingers...

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    1. mshatch: As a child I can remember making kites and flying (with variable success) but don't remember any festivals. These days we go to any we hear about.

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  22. This is so much fun. Did they also have great hot Dogs there? Here at the Marina Greens,in SF, when the kite people meet, the hot dog (and ice cream) vendors compete.

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    1. Martin Kloess: Steak and sausage sandwiches but no hot dogs that I saw. And no ice-cream. We are still (just) in winter. The queues for the steak sandiches were very long.

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  23. Uh oh, I hope your move goes easily, but those shifts seem never to go off without a hitch. I love kites. The beaches are usually packed in kite flyers all summer here.

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    1. Strayer: I really like rather a lot of flying things; birds, a lot of insects, balloons and kites. Interestingly I am not really a fan of planes.
      And yes my fingers are firmly crossed.

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  24. My goodness, these are some really creative kites, and I bet everyone had so much fun with them! I remember flying kites as a kid, but definitely don't see many people doing it these days. I don't even think I see a lot in the stores. The last one I saw was a year ago, and was Lord of the Rings, and it fell apart before I could even put it together. (lol) Thanks for such precious memories. Hugs...RO

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    1. RO: Aren't there some beauties? I was really impressed and smiled a lot. We will be back next year.

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  25. There's a lot of great looking kites there. Kites always make kids smile, so how can you not love them? :)

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    1. mail4rosey: It wasn't only the kids smiling. Not by a long shot. I noticed that there were several groups there who, like us, were adult (chronologically speaking).

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  26. Replies
    1. Karen: It was a heap of fun. Something there should be more of...

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  27. How fun! Some of my best childhood memories involve kites. :) I now have this song from Mary Poppins in my head too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBkSy3dnIY8

    -Marty K

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    1. Marty K: Earworm time. I have always been impressed at kite flying, and love it.

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  28. Crossing my fingers for you. Hate those internet moves.
    A dragon! A pirate ship! A shark! It looks like you had a ton of kites to look at. :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. River Fairchild: Even without the feature kites there were indeed a ton of kites. And quite a lot of them made us smile. Broadly.
      I hate the internet moves too. I suspect we will have to spend more and will achieve much the same download speeds - despite the advertising to the contrary.

      Delete
  29. what colourful kites and it must have been great fun to Watch Sue

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  30. All fingers crossed for an easy changeover.
    Those kites are all so fabulous, such a variety and so colourful. Love the pink-hatted moppet.
    I should find out when out kite festival is on next. The last one I went to was a bit of a wash-out, no wind most of the day.

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    1. River: Last year there really wasn't enough wind here either. This year, despite the giant kites not taking to the air it was a lovely day. And I really liked the grumpy moppet too.

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  31. Hi EC - good luck with the move/ changeover ...

    Wonderful kites - some are so so creative - e.g. the ship! Little soul - grumpy and determined to do her own thing - I'm sure she was placated somehow. Great viewing to sit peacefully and watch the kites in the sky ... lovely - thanks - cheers Hilayr

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: The small person had been there for hours and was tired out. I think her family gave in to her wishes and took her home - they had all had fun earlier though. I really loved the pirate ship. The first couple of times they tried to launch it were unsuccessful, so I was pleased to see it finally scudding across the sky.
      Thank you for the hopeful wishes about the transfer. It is with our same internet provider so perhaps it will go smoothly.

      Delete
  32. Great colourful kites great to watch too.
    Merle.............

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    1. Merlesworld: They were. It was exciting and delightful.

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  33. Just love those colorful kites. Awesome.

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  34. I had no idea kites could look so fun, the only ones I've seen are the boring ones. I think I'd be just like that kid with the kite. "I've had enough of all this crap, I'm going home!" Ha.

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    1. LL Cool Joe: The feature kites which didn't go up were enormous - and definitely not boring. I was surprised at how varied the smaller ones were too. She really did make her feelings clear didn't she?

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  35. For some perserve reason I enjoyed seeing the shark kite.

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    1. Treey: If it is perverse you are not on your own. I smiled too.

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  36. Those are very cool kites. Who needs high tech when simple things can bring such joy.

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    1. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: Agreed. The little things are huge in my life, and I am glad.

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  37. Lovely kites but most especially the dragon kite caught my eye.. Oh yes, indeed, fingers crossed.

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    1. only slightly confused: Dragons are high on my list always. So far so good on the transfer. Most things are working, though we are told the phone could take a week.

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  38. who was it said you never go anywhere?

    I like the kites

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    1. Kylie: Some days he is an exaggerator - but aren't we all? And we both liked the kites.

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  39. I love kites. I made kites out of newspapers when I was a kid. These you photographed are beautiful.

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    1. Rick Watson: We made kites from newspaper too. They didn't usually fly very well, but we had a lot of fun.

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  40. Well, good luck. I used to make my own kites with my Dad and we ripped old fabric for the tails. I think kites go back eons to the Chinese. Need to read up on that. Fun time.

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    1. donna baker: I have it in my head that kites are Chinese too - and love them anyway.

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  41. Such awesome photos and so many beautiful kites. There's no way to pick just one favorite. It looks like it would be great fun. Love the photos.

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    1. Mason Canyon: My favourites changed with the wind. LOL.

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  42. I remember my dad buying me a kite that looked like an old fashioned red biplane, and going up on the hill above our house to fly it, so exciting! My littlest grandies made paper likes at school and had great fun running down a hill making them fly. Such fun.

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    1. Shammickite: We made our kites when I was young - and yes, it was fun. And there was a lot of fun on the oval when we were there.

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  43. oooops I meant kites, not likes. Sometimes my fingers don't obey my brain.

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    1. Shammickite: I suffer from finger dyslexia myself. Often.

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  44. I've seen the bigger ones in other years, but I sure have enjoyed seeing these smaller ones today. The sulky moppet made me laugh out loud. :-)

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    1. DJan: I managed not to laugh at the sulky moppet (out loud) but certainly smiled.

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  45. Looks like so much fun! I kind of love that shark kite. We have kite flying stuff over here sometimes since we're right on the beach. It's always very cool to see from my house when they do it.

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    1. Robert Bennett: Of course you love the shark. And I did too.

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  46. Wonderful, and it looks like nice weather for kite flying, too!

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    1. e: It wasn't quite windy enough, but it came close and was a lovely day.

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  47. It looks like kite flying season! Nice photos!

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  48. I used to enjoy kite flying on the beach. My favorites are the pirates ones and the dragon of course! Thanks for a fun post.

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    1. Truedessa: Dragons are always welcome. Very welcome.

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  49. What a super post.
    Lovely to see those kites flying high, they are so colourful.
    Hope the move to the National Broadband Network goes well.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you. The move is mostly ok, and they have promised that we will have a phone again this week (or perhaps next).

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  50. Beautiful kites! Thank you. And good luck with the NBN -- I am most jealous!

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    1. Dawn@Lighten Up!: Thank you. Knocking firmly on wood we seem to have got through it pretty well.

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  51. Kites have certainly come a long way since I was a kid. They're literally works of art.
    I love the way you two are always going to interesting events.
    YOU, have a colourful day:)

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    1. Sandra Cox: Kites are a joy aren't they? It has occurred to me that I like rather a lot of flying things - birds, balloons and kites. Planes not so much.

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  52. What a great bunch of kites! The pirate ship and dragon are among my favorite. Heck they're all fabulous.

    Hope your new connection to the great WWW has no hiccups.

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    1. Bish Denham: Welcome and thank you. I loved both of those - but hope that next year the giant whale flys.

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  53. The little sulky moppet made me smile too, as did all of your photographs. It looked like the perfect day with a lovely blue sky.
    My fingers are crossed - hope it's all going well.

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    1. Barbara Fisher: Thank you. It was a lovely day, and the transition to the NBN went surprisingly smoothly.

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  54. Is that a Yosemite Sam kite?! That's incredible! I also adore the shark one. You captured a lovely mix from the cute to the gorgeous. There is no kite scene in my area, so I really appreciated this.

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    1. John Wiswell: I really appreciated the range, and as you say it covered cute and moved effortlessly to gorgeous. We were glad we made the trip.

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  55. What a happy place to be with all those colorful kites.

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    1. Linda Starr: It was - though I felt sorry for the man who had brought along the huge kites. It was a fun day for most, and a failed commercial venture for him.

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  56. Kites. Kids. Fun. They all go together, don't they? Well, even big kids must be included because flying a kite is still right up there with eating chocolate cake or me. I loved the dog and the butterfly.

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    1. cleemckenzie: I hope never to grow up. Kites, rainbows, bubbles, seeing shapes in clouds, balloons...

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  57. Its a great way to break free flying a kite and fun too.

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    1. Spacer Guy: I am a firm believer in fun. There is not enough of it in most of our lives.

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  58. Fingers crossed for your move.
    You have the most glorious air displays over there.
    Be well.

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    1. Rawknrobyn: As a beauty addict I am so grateful for the magic around me.
      I hope life is treating you kindly.

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  59. There sure are some beautiful kites in your photos.

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    1. The Yum List: Welcome and thank you. We thought so too.

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  60. I love those big kites. Wish I knew how to make one.

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    1. Jono: I think the giant kites were commercially made, but I was impressed at rather a lot of the others too.

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  61. What fun - there is something so joyful about kite flying!

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  62. I'm finally catching up on my reading, EC - too late to wish you good luck with the new hookup but I'm happy to see it seems to be going smoothly so far.

    The kites are a lot of fun ... such a mixture. And that child would be ME at any age - had fun, please take me home already :)

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    1. jenny_o: I suspect you nailed why the sulky moppet made me smile. In rueful recognition. And indeed, by that time I was ready to go home too. I had a lovely time, but...

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  63. Replies
    1. J Cosmo Newbery: Me too - and it is fun that I rarely see.

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    2. Took a twin-string delta kite to the beach a few months back - had a ball.

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  64. Somebody said to them, "Oh, go fly a kite" and look what happened:-)

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  65. These kites are all amazing, but the dragon kite....takes my breath away.
    How did the move to NBN go?

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    1. Sandra Cox: Wasn't the dragon spectacular? Knock on wood, the move to the NBN went surprisingly smoothly.

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  66. Oh! Oh my heart:) I LOVE kites!
    It feels so heavy and oppressive here, the air,
    that this is bliss to my eyes and soul:)
    Thanks for sharing the wind from where you are:)
    -Jennifer

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    1. JenniferRipplespeak: Isn't it lovely to feel the fresh air... I hope the oppression leaves you soon. How is your husband doing after his surgery?

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  67. Wow! Love the photos of the kites on the beautiful blue sky! All them are amazing... the dog, the toucan, the butterfly...
    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. sonia a. mascaro: I had a lot of favourites - but I do love dragons...

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  68. Oh my what pretty kites of alll sorts. I found the airplane one eye catching! Hope you moved your network etc smoothly?

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    1. Kim Standard: The airplane's propeller moved independently which blew me away. The move was surprisingly trouble free. There are a few glitches to sort out, but we actually had internet and the phone back on the day of the move. One of my brother's friends a few suburbs away was off line for weeks.

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  69. Goodness, good luck with all the changes, sometimes before it's better it takes a lot of down time (so been there) before they workout all the kinks. This was a wonderful time and gee can't decide if the little munchkin is cuter than all the lovely kites, especially the animal ones. It's all wonderful, thanks for sharing it with us.

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    1. Karen S: We were lucky. The down time was minmal and the aggravations minor. I think the munchkin's parents would say 'no contest' on the cuteness front, but I was grateful for them all.

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  70. My Grand would love that pirate kite:)
    YOU, have a colorful day:)

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    1. Sandra Cox: I was thinking you have a grandmother with different tastes - and then realised. And there really was a kite for everyone to enjoy.

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  71. Dog, shark, butterfly dinosaur, they're my favourites, I've always been pants at flying kites, like that little cherub hahahaha. Great photos and a lovely day out by the looks of it, keep well dearie Xx

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    1. All Consuming: It was a fun day. And I have made kites and flown kites - in the dark ages - and was fairly woeful at both. Love watching other skilled players though.

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  72. I hope that move went well EC. Enjoyed your kite photos, a great variety of what was flying up there. We were in Washington DC one weekend, a while ago now, and they had a kite festival near the Washington Monument. It was fun driving by but as we had to be somewhere else we did not stop. Thanks for sharing yours :)

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    1. Denise inVA: So far the move has been pretty good. Some minor aggravations but (knock on wood) nothing too big. I suspect that we would be late if we drove past a kite festival...

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  73. Dear EC, what a delightful event! It reminds a little of the times I looked to the sky in Stillwater, Minnesota, and saw a plethora of hot-air balloons of many shades and colors. Stillwater is along a river--the St. Croix--and that provides a wonderful pathway for the balloons to follow.

    My favorite kite was the pirate's ship. So inventive. Peace.

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    1. Dee: Balloons and kites both stir my heart. Balloons a little more I think, but they are both a joy.

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  74. Some really beautiful kites. One of them was inspired by SciFi's 'Sharknado,' I think.
    Nancy

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    1. N.R. Williams: Welcome and thank you. You could be right, but sharks are an obsession for many.

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  75. Oh dear ,these kites are so pretty !!!
    never saw such beauties before
    thank you for sharing

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    1. baili: Aren't they lovely? I am glad you enjoyed them.

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  76. So many kites. So little time.
    Hope your day is wondrous.

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    1. Sandra Cox: Thank you. It isn't daybreak yet, and the day is going to be busy. Productive (I hope) but busy. Hope yours is going well.

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  77. Got to love the kite photos, so magical to look at isn't it. Nicely done and thanks for sharing!

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  78. Your post has reminded me of the kite in the cupboard! I shall aim to take it flying in the coming weeks, though there is a fair chance that I'll end up rather like the wee sulky moppet

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    1. Kim: I hope you can take your kite flying. And the sulky moppet looked very sweet. I can think of worse things to resemble.

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  79. These pictures are so cool. I can't get over all the different types of kites. So many beautiful ones- and unique ones too. They must have been beautiful to see in person. I haven't flown a kite in a while- but I have always found it fun. The sulky moppet made me smile (she is too cute). ;)
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~Jess: She was cute wasn't she? And the kites were a delight.

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  80. I'm glad the weather cooperated by providing clear skies and a nice breeze for the festival. Those kites are so colorful and imaginative. I don't remember seeing anything like that when we were kids. Half of us didn't even have store-bought kites. We made them out of sticks and newspaper. :)

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    1. Susan: We certainly didn't have store bought kites. Making them was fun too - which was just as well because our home-made ones often didn't fly well.

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  81. I love to watch kites flying, but am not a fan of actually trying to fly them. Too much running involved for my lazy self! I do remember flying kites with my kids, but that was so many years ago, I can barely remember.

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    1. Terri@Coloring Outside the Lines: Watching the kites suited my lazy self just fine.

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  82. So lovely kites, and the joy of small children is also lovely to watch.

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    1. orvokki: There was fun for the whole family that day. And lots of families took advantage of it.

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