Sunday Selections #813

 

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. Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image. 

The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 

 

The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Sorry I still haven't succeeded in working out how to do a blog hop. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

 

 I usually run with a theme. This week I am taking you to our Balloon Spectacular which finished last Sunday.  The youngest of my brothers and I are balloon tragics and do our best every year to see them inflate and take to the skies.  I usually try and go twice, once to see them inflate and a second time to see them from a different vantage spot towing canoists and kayaks on our lake.  This link (which opens in a separate window) shows you some of that magic.  Sadly I didn't see it this year.

 

Balloons are entirely weather dependent.  This year the brother and I made three separate attempts to see them rise.  They didn't.  On the last morning of the festival he had to go to his volunteer job at the local zoo so I went alone.  And got lucky. You will be shocked and surprised that lots of photos follow.  My apologies since many of them are not good photos - the dread disease and my excitement had my hands shaking badly.  It was dark when I arrived but the crowd was building.  And the excitement was palpable.

 

Less talk, more photos.  Each year there is a least one 'feature' balloon.  This year we had two - Axel the tiger and Simba the lion.  I was lucky enough to see both.  Blessed blogger is fiddling with the order of these photos again.  Grrr.

 

 

It was a grey day, but magical.  As each balloon took to the skies crowd clapped and cheered.  The balloonists waved - and the crowd waved back.

 

I hope you find beauty and magic in your week.

Sunday Selections #812

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. Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image. 

The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 

 

The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Sorry I still haven't succeeded in working out how to do a blog hop. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

 

 I usually run with a theme. This week my theme is our Enlighten festival which ran in my absence.  Before the usual myriad of photos some words.

 

It has been a difficult break.  In addition to the state of the world my body continues to behave badly.  Not helped because in the first week of February a storm took out our cooler which I rely on.  It also fried our modem so I had no access to the internet.  That is back but we still don't have a cooler.  Fingers tightly crossed it will be finally repaired on Monday.

 

The balloon spectacular has also been on.  I have made numerous attempts to see it but have failed.  Today is the last day for it so I will try again, and despite being back in the blogosphere will be slow to respond to posts today.  Wish me luck.  There are two feature balloons this year, a lion and a tiger.  I do hope they can fly today.  If they take to the air they are inflated just after dawn so I will be heading off early today (again).

 

Back to Enlighten.  Buildings in the National Triangle were illuminated and despite it being a hot and horrid night we went for a look see.  Settle back with the beverage of choice.

 

I don't know what these signified - but they looked even better after dark.

At the National Library a fairy tale from Ancient China was told and illustrated - and we finally got to enjoy Lindy Lee's sculpture Ouroboros at night - and enjoy it we did.

I do love the illuminated trees.

Questacon - our interactive Science and Technology Gallery.

 February/March are festival months in my city and there is lots of free entertainment.  Which is lovely.

I have missed you and hope you are all doing well.