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 I am showing you the start and the finish of a very busy, and sometimes beautiful, day.
Enlighten finished last weekend, and our balloon Spectacular started. It finishes this morning.
I am a balloon tragic. I love them and will go considerable distances to see them. They are an entirely weather dependent event and sometimes they simply don't take to the air. Often too much wind is the culprit, but early last week there was not enough, and they stayed grounded. And uninflated. On Thursday morning my youngest brother and I decided we would risk it (his high and skinniness stayed in bed). Just after six, we were at the launch venue. We were lucky and the balloons did take to the air. Naturally I took many, many photos - which will get a post of their own in a few days.
The dawn was beautiful though.
The day was v busy, and included a routine boob squashing. Sigh. I am sure that if men were more subject to breast cancer the test would be considerably less painful.
I was a tired puppy by the end of the day, but the sunset had me out in the road doing mad woman with camera dances. Again.
Definitely a good day. A wonderful start, and a beautiful finish.
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 I am showing you the start and the finish of a very busy, and sometimes beautiful, day.
Enlighten finished last weekend, and our balloon Spectacular started. It finishes this morning.
I am a balloon tragic. I love them and will go considerable distances to see them. They are an entirely weather dependent event and sometimes they simply don't take to the air. Often too much wind is the culprit, but early last week there was not enough, and they stayed grounded. And uninflated. On Thursday morning my youngest brother and I decided we would risk it (his high and skinniness stayed in bed). Just after six, we were at the launch venue. We were lucky and the balloons did take to the air. Naturally I took many, many photos - which will get a post of their own in a few days.
The dawn was beautiful though.
The day was v busy, and included a routine boob squashing. Sigh. I am sure that if men were more subject to breast cancer the test would be considerably less painful.
I was a tired puppy by the end of the day, but the sunset had me out in the road doing mad woman with camera dances. Again.
Definitely a good day. A wonderful start, and a beautiful finish.
I love to "balloon chase" too, when the art/air fest comes in August. The balloons sometimes, depending on wind, come down all over town, in the strangest of places. I just hope they carry insurance in case they do damage where they land. Speaking of boob smashing, the last event for me was so severe, I looked like I'd been assaulted. I haven't been back and I should have said something to the office because the Xray attendant seemed angry and seemed to take it out on her job.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: They come down all over town here too. Luckily not in the lake. A difficult retrieval job - and not fun for the passengers.
DeleteAn angry x ray attendant for those images would be vile. And yes, you should have reported her.
beautiful. as always. i love balloons also, and enjoyed the one time i went up in one. perhaps if men were tested for testicular cancer the way we are breast cancer, they would improve the test considerably. we were hopeful to see the northern lights last night, but cloud cover prevented us from seeing anything. oh well. they do make beautiful sunsets at least.
ReplyDeleteThings Are Looking U.P: I have enjoyed balloon rides too - but also love just watching them.
DeleteI do hope you see (and capture) the northern lights soon.
I love dancing with you this way! You are such an uplifting friend :)
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
Cloudia: My heart soars with the balloons. Always.
DeleteNice sky shots.
ReplyDeleteDelores: They were lovely skies. Really lovely.
DeleteWoo hoo! Can't wait to see the rest. "I am a balloon tragic" - this made me laugh. What a time to be seeing them too, against that gorgeous sky.
ReplyDeleteAll Consuming: It was still dark when we arrived, but watching the balloons inflate into the growing light was magic. At one point there were over thirty of them in the air - and my heart sang. Loudly.
DeleteYou have wonderful skies lately. And you take good pictures of them, too.
ReplyDeleteWe had a balloon over our house once. It was off course and in trouble but managed to come down in a nearby field. Awesome. My closest encounter.
Joanne Noragon: They are awesome. And beautiful. And very, very noisy. Glad your errant balloon landed safely.
DeleteI LOVE hot air balloons--rode in one with my daughter-in-law a few months after she & my son were married!!
ReplyDeletefishducky: I love them too. I have been up three times now - and hug those memories tightly to myself.
DeleteI want to ride along with you EC! Wouldn't it be cool to do a 'mad women in the sky with cameras' dance, lol.
ReplyDeleteHot air balloons were a staple part of my childhood as the father of friends owned one, and had a private airstrip which he and his friends used regularly for... as he called them... balloon-a-thons. My parents would never let me go up, despite repeated invitations, for fear of what I might do. After having found me, as a toddler, 3/4 of the way up a fire tower I wasn't even allowed on a stepladder! No fear of heights here, lol.
Jacquelineand...: The more mad women doing the camera dance the better. In the sky, on the ground, on the water...
DeleteIt was water my parents had to keep me away from. I just crawled in, without regard to depth. And still love it.
A private balloon-a-thon would be a treat.
Soothing colors - these look like paintings. Take care, EC.
ReplyDeleteRawknrobyn: It really was a sublime start to the day.
DeleteI like the balloons lined up. It is fun to watch the beasts come alive from their flattened state.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: I am always fascinated watching them, as you so eloquently put it, come alive. Particularly some of the novelty balloons. We were lucky. The spot we chose to stand was beside two of the specialty balloons, so we watched both Yoda and The Angry Bird inflate. And fly.
DeleteAbsolutely stunning, the balloons and the evening shows sunsets, fabulous, and there is a bird in number 8, magic.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: It really was a lovely day. Magic was how I thought of it too.
DeleteBalloons are so fascinating to watch. Even if we don't physically soar to the heights in them, they allow our minds to escape to places only visited in our imagination.
ReplyDeleteFriends of mine shared their marriage proposal aloft in a balloon over the Lakes Country in the UK...and, as it turned out, their romantic interlude became a segment on a TV show...I think it was on an episode of "Escape to the Country - The Lakes District". A show similar to that, anyway...about five or six years ago. It was actually the sister of the young man whose wedding I attended on Valentine's Day just gone.
I hope you, the Skinny One and the two Js have a great week, EC...take care. :)
Lee: I love them. To ride in, or just to watch. A friend went for a balloon trip over the Serenghetti and I am still jealous.
DeleteI hope you are your furry pair have a good week too. How is Molly doing?
Molly is still at the vet surgery, EC. I was allowed to go and spend some time with her on Friday, which was great. She's still very weak, but she is making progress...slowly but surely, the poor little girl. I ring every day...most days twice. I didn't ring today because it's Sunday, but the vet rang me to keep me updated, which I thought was great. I'm going to see her again tomorrow to give her lots of love and to let her know I've not deserted her. I don't expect her to be released until later in the week...perhaps. I've felt sick in the stomach all this past week, and have been in a state of constant anxiety. But, the good news is...she is on the mend. Thanks for asking. I appreciate it. :)
DeleteLee: I am so glad to hear that she is improving. And I love that the vet rang you.
DeleteBeautiful balloons and sky! One of these days I am going to a festival. I would like to go for a ride. But just all the awsome balloons would be super to see!
ReplyDeleteTeresa: It really is worth the trip to watch them take to the skies. Flying in them is special too.
DeleteOh, the dawn, that dawn! :-) Perfect. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
A Cuban in London: I do love the dawn. Dawn plus balloons was a bonus. A big bonus.
DeleteDawn is my favourite time of day.
DeleteIt must feel wonderful up there, look at the sky, so beautiful. Is it true that it's completely silent up there?
Guyana-Gyal: It is incredible. If the propane burner is not going, it is blissfully quiet. When the burners are active it is fairly noisy. Always beautiful though.
DeleteI'm glad you had a good day! Balloons are beautiful as well as skies. Have you ever been up in a balloon? Nope, not me. Love seeing them sail across the sky though...looks peaceful up there.
ReplyDeleteBookie: I have ridden in a balloon. Three times now. I loved it. It is peaceful. And very, very beautiful. I don't think I could get into the basket any longer, but still love to see them soar.
DeleteNever see them in Sydney or not near me but I too like them, I think it would be a great day to watch them.
ReplyDeleteMerle....................
Merlesworld: We often have balloons flying across the city, but this festival is special. There were forty-five balloons this year, and three with quirky shapes. Quite a sight.
DeleteHa! I saw this cartoon that showed a man in a laboratory with a machine that looks a lot like the boob squasher, and it said, "Just put it between these two devices..." The look on his face! I hear you. Do we get to see the titty balloon again this year? :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: I would love to see that cartoon.
DeleteNo titty balloon this year. Sadly. The owners didn't apply to join the festival in time. Some other special ones though.
Mad camera dancers are not mad, they’re very sensible if they come with pictures like yours.
ReplyDeleteso, when are going to see pictures taken from up in the air, inside a balloon basket?
Friko: The neighbours do look at me strangely as I head out with my camera - early or late. The best photos of the sky I take standing in the middle of the road.
DeleteI have flown, and loved it, but it is (I think) physically beyond me now.
I agree with you that if men had to do it- the process would be easier (I heard it was invented by a man).
ReplyDeleteLove all the sunset and hot air balloon pictures. So beautiful! I rode in one once and it was quite a ride! Glad you had a camera ready to take all of these!
Stephanie@Fairday's Blog: Balloon trips are wonderful aren't they? Serene and beautiful. Particularly if the flight takes you over water.
DeleteA beautiful start and finish to the day. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteCountryMum: It really did bookmark the day beautifully. And, as I said, there are a LOT more balloon photos - which I will show in a day or so.
DeleteHoorah! I LOVE your balloon posts - looking forward to seeing some more.
ReplyDeleteIn our Sunday paper this morning there was a big two-page spread on Canberra. The headline was "Time to Shine", and the sub-head was Canberra is stepping out of the shadow of its flashier siblings. One of the accompanying photos was a fantastic balloon shot!
Recently someone sent me a cartoon which I think must be the one that DJan mentions above. Very funny!
Alexia: I am glad that you enjoy me posting my balloon obsession each year. I like Canberra, but a lot of people don't. And part of me enjoys the fact that its boring reputation keeps visitor numbers down.
DeleteI am guessing that the balloon shot was of Yoda. They really are beautiful en masse. Special shapes or not.
Beautiful sunrise, beautiful balloons and beautiful sunset. What more can we ask for? I would choose many of those pics enlarged to place on my living room wall. I love those with the trees silhouetted against the sky.
ReplyDeleteRe your other little trip....your remark is so true. It is some years since my visit to such a place as my doctor said not to worry once I reached 80. Hope he is correct. Incidentally, men do get breast cancer but I doubt they would be subject to mammograms the way ladies are.
Thanks for once again sharing such delightful photographs.
Mimsie: It really is a magical experience watching the balloons inflated and floating through the sky. An annual treat.
DeleteI do know that men get breast cancer but they are not so prone to it that mammograms are considered an essential part of their health care. And, as I said, if they were I suspect the process would become infinitely less painfull.
Your sunsets (and sunrises) are spectacular.And the b'loons-well! Thank yyou.
ReplyDeletedinahmow: More b'loons on Wednesday or Thursday. Rather a lot more.
DeleteBoob squashing aside, it does look like it was a wonderful day! I'd like to climb into one of those baskets and sail away...never to land again.
ReplyDeleteRiver Fairchild: When I put up the rest of the balloon photos you will have to tell me which one you would most like to take your never-ending journey in...
DeleteI like the second photo with one of the balloons bowing to the great god of Dawn (*~*)
ReplyDeleteI hate boob squashing day too. The squashing is painful enough, but on top of that there is the painful pulling on the chest muscles above too.
River: It isn't fun is it. Sadly one side had to be done twice because the technician hadn't got the angle right.
DeleteThe bowing balloon hadn't fully inflated - but your perspective made me smile.
Ah, the dreaded boob squashing! Still prefer it to a pap smear though. Do they have a testicle squashing machine for men's stuff? Hope so.
ReplyDeletelynners: Neither of them are fun. Some years back a helpful (not) doctor put the speculum into warm water to make a pap smear more comfortable. Except the water was hot. And burnt me.
DeleteAnd I love the idea of a testicle squasher. I suspect it doesn't exist though.
Ah the balloons are fabulous Now this is STILL something I want to do on my bucket list. Your sunsets are stunning and very uplifting. Lovely post and have a great week ahead
ReplyDeleteMargaret Adamson: Ballooning IS fabulous. When you get the chance - go. Soar.
DeleteYou could easily substitute balloon for swing.....
ReplyDeleteHow do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside -
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown -
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!
Grannie Annie: How right you are. That is a perfect description.
DeleteOh and I am very sure that poem is by Robert Louis Stevenson.
ReplyDeleteGrannie Annie: Thank you. I was just about to google.
DeleteA dawn sky. Magical!
ReplyDeleteBalloons. Magnificent!
If men had to have their testicles squashed between two plates, I'm sure there would be a more comfortable alternative dreamt up pretty quickly :)
Although, I think I'd prefer a boob squash to a finger up the whoo-haa.
Vicki: The finger up the fundament isn't pleasant - but both genders endure that one.
DeleteWe will forget about that - and just focus on balloons. And sky.
That's great you got to see your balloons go up.
ReplyDeleteThe sky pictures are amazing.
And hey, you might get your boobs smashed, but we get to meet Dr. Jellyfinger and get our balls fondled. Neither is fun.
Alex J. Cavanaugh: Both are necessary evils. Sadly woman also endure Dr Jellyfinger (love that description).
DeleteAnd yay for balloons. Much more fun than either.
Ugh! Boob smashing is no fun. But it looks like the rest of the day was a feast for your eyes. I enjoy watching the balloons too but the event is over three hours away so I rarely go. Thanks for sharing your joy. I love the sky pictures.
ReplyDeleteMyrna R: The balloons and the sky - at both ends were the sugar which helped the medicine go down...
DeleteBeautiful skies! I would like to try ballooning, but there is nowhere to land near here except in winter. Then it's too cold.
ReplyDeleteJono: How sad to have nowhere close by to float through the air. Our balloons fly pretty much all year round.
DeleteI go to see the balloons every summer. I just love them. Glad to hear you got your squoosh. I'm overdue to get mine here. Putting it off won't get it done. ;)
ReplyDeletemail4rosey: Another balloon tragic? Nice to hear. And no, putting off the crush doesn't help. Tempting though it is. I should sign up for a pap smear too. Shudder.
DeleteFrom sunrise to sunset, and a lot between - that is a long day indeed. I can't take the long days like I used to. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the balloon pictures. And I hope your and SP's illnesses are a distant memory, although I've heard that cough lingers on and on.
jenny_o: I am not good with long days either. I have at least one a fortnight but find them difficult. And pay for them.
DeleteYou are right. The cough lingers. And lingers. And sadly, we are about to start the surgical madness again. At least one more operation for himself - and probably more.
What a lovely day - despite the boob crushing. Those balloons are amazing! Can't wait to see the full post on them :)
ReplyDeletemshatch: I do love balloons. Lots and lots and lots of balloons. A special treat.
DeleteI love a skyfull of balloons! Once a festival was held directly behind my house in an old farm field and the balloons took off and came back to what felt like my porch each day for a long weekend. It was magic. And loud! They're not nearly as silently dreamy taking off and landing as they are sailing along on the breeze. But the colors.......I swoon to remember. And interesting lot of people, too:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sweet skies,
Jennifer
Jennifer Richardson: They are loud when they are being inflated, or the burners are alight. Beautiful though, and just floating through the air is peaceful. Until the next jet of propane. I would love to watch them for a whole weekend though.
DeleteHot air balloons are magical! Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteKathleen Cassen Mickelson: Definitely magical. And wonderful.
DeleteI LOVE clicking into your universe, S!
ReplyDeleteYou. Lift. Others. Up.
Hope the boob squashing goes well.
:Last time I was there, I told the boob lady, "You really should serve chocolate and wine afterwards!!" xxx
My Inner Chick: Chocolate and wine (and rather a lot of both) would be a good end to the squashfest.
DeleteAnd I am happy to lift your inspirational self up.
The only time I ever went to a balloon festival they didnt take off! That must be ten years ago, at Cowra. You seem to have better luck (you also try harder!)
ReplyDeleteI see reference to the skinny one having a cough, did I miss something?
kylie: The first couple of times I attempted to take a balloon flight they didn't take off. Frustrating. I hope there were other things in Cowra to keep you amused.
DeleteThe cough was mine rather than the skinny one's. He has more surgery coming up though. Sigh.
oh! i knew both those things. i get vague though :)
Deletewe went to the ag show and visited a friend in eugowra so it was all good
kylie: You are not alone on the vague front. I used to live not far from eugowra. Home territory so to speak.
DeleteI didn't know sometimes they don't take to the air! I just assumed they always go up.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Faris: Nope. It is a safety issue. Really windy, or gusty days make the flights unpredictable. I don't think they fly in storms either.
DeleteThe no wind, no fly was new to me though.
ahhh...very cool
ReplyDeleteAuthor R. Mac Wheeler: It was. Very, very cool.
DeleteThose are glorious skies. I'm glad you enjoyed and shared them.
ReplyDeleteDo you ride in balloons, EC? I'd be too scared. But they make for great photos.
Rawknrobyn: I have ridden in balloons. I don't think my legs would allow me to climb into the basket now, so I watch. And dream. And smile.
DeletePeople say planes are statistically the safest way to travel. I think hot air balloons would have them beat :P
ReplyDeleteMichael D'Agostino: Hot air balloons are prettier too. And this person MUCH prefers them.
DeleteI love to see how pretty the balloons are. I have never been near them to even consider whether I would go up in one? Maybe? Your right about the boob test lol
ReplyDeleteKim @ Stuff could...: Some of the balloons are works of art. And flying over water is magical. A friend flew over animals in Africa which fills me with envy.
DeleteBalloons in the sky as the sun rises? That was outstanding.
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: It was. An annual event that we do our very best to get to every year. Sometimes two trips are required - and it is worth it.
DeleteGorgeous way to start and finish the day!
ReplyDeleteladyfi: Oh it was. Most definitely.
DeleteGorgeous, EC, always gorgeous! Sorry about the squishing but it sounds as though the rest of the day made up for it. I love balloons! Best wishes to the SP for the impending surgery and good luck to you for all the stress that brings.
ReplyDeleteCarol: I too love balloons. A generous spoonful of medicine to help the squishing go down.
DeleteHopefully this will be the last surgery - but the surgeon is talking up to three more. Aaaargh.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: If you are unhappy with another blogger, this is not the place to say so.
DeleteGorgeous pictures. Looks like a lovely morning. I was wondering if you'd ever been in one and checked the comments. ..yes you have. I'd love to but should have done it younger. Think I'm too scared now.
ReplyDeleteJackie K: Never say never. It really is magical.
DeleteHow wonderful to see the launch of these balloons. In June we have a balloon festival in our neighboring town. It goes for the entire weekend, but the main attraction is the dawn patrol - if you're up to it (literally). We went there in our first year here (when we still did EVERYTHING because we thought we would be here for three years only) and it was amazing.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of mammograms, but it has to be done. I have to say though that our facility is very good and they make it as comfortable as possible.
Carola Bartz: Our balloons only fly in the early morning. Dawn patrol or nothing. I am an early riser so it suit me, but I know it is difficult for many.
DeleteMammograms are a necessary evil. And our health centre didn't make it as comfortable as they could.
What a beautiful day! You have such fun things going on around you. We have snow and melting snow. I think you are winning in the fun category. ;p
ReplyDeleteSonya Ann: It was a beautiful day - but I would like to see some snow too. Rather a lot. We are going to be hotter than I like for the next week or so.
Delete