Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 15 March 2015

Sunday Selectons #215

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.

110 comments:

  1. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Strayer: They come down all over town here too. Luckily not in the lake. A difficult retrieval job - and not fun for the passengers.
      An angry x ray attendant for those images would be vile. And yes, you should have reported her.

      Delete
  2. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Things Are Looking U.P: I have enjoyed balloon rides too - but also love just watching them.
      I do hope you see (and capture) the northern lights soon.

      Delete
  3. I love dancing with you this way! You are such an uplifting friend :)



    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^=

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cloudia: My heart soars with the balloons. Always.

      Delete
  4. Nice sky shots.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Delores: They were lovely skies. Really lovely.

      Delete
  5. Woo 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All 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.

      Delete
  6. You have wonderful skies lately. And you take good pictures of them, too.
    We 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne Noragon: They are awesome. And beautiful. And very, very noisy. Glad your errant balloon landed safely.

      Delete
  7. I LOVE hot air balloons--rode in one with my daughter-in-law a few months after she & my son were married!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. fishducky: I love them too. I have been up three times now - and hug those memories tightly to myself.

      Delete
  8. I want to ride along with you EC! Wouldn't it be cool to do a 'mad women in the sky with cameras' dance, lol.

    Hot 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacquelineand...: The more mad women doing the camera dance the better. In the sky, on the ground, on the water...
      It 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.

      Delete
  9. Soothing colors - these look like paintings. Take care, EC.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rawknrobyn: It really was a sublime start to the day.

      Delete
  10. I like the balloons lined up. It is fun to watch the beasts come alive from their flattened state.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew: 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.

      Delete
  11. Absolutely stunning, the balloons and the evening shows sunsets, fabulous, and there is a bird in number 8, magic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bob Bushell: It really was a lovely day. Magic was how I thought of it too.

      Delete
  12. Balloons 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.

    Friends 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. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.
      I hope you are your furry pair have a good week too. How is Molly doing?

      Delete
    2. 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. :)

      Delete
    3. Lee: I am so glad to hear that she is improving. And I love that the vet rang you.

      Delete
  13. Beautiful 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Teresa: It really is worth the trip to watch them take to the skies. Flying in them is special too.

      Delete
  14. Oh, the dawn, that dawn! :-) Perfect. Thanks.

    Greetings from London.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A Cuban in London: I do love the dawn. Dawn plus balloons was a bonus. A big bonus.

      Delete
    2. Dawn is my favourite time of day.

      It must feel wonderful up there, look at the sky, so beautiful. Is it true that it's completely silent up there?

      Delete
    3. 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.

      Delete
  15. I'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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bookie: 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.

      Delete
  16. Never see them in Sydney or not near me but I too like them, I think it would be a great day to watch them.
    Merle....................

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Delete
  17. Ha! 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? :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DJan: I would love to see that cartoon.
      No titty balloon this year. Sadly. The owners didn't apply to join the festival in time. Some other special ones though.

      Delete
  18. Mad camera dancers are not mad, they’re very sensible if they come with pictures like yours.

    so, when are going to see pictures taken from up in the air, inside a balloon basket?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.
      I have flown, and loved it, but it is (I think) physically beyond me now.

      Delete
  19. I agree with you that if men had to do it- the process would be easier (I heard it was invented by a man).

    Love 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephanie@Fairday's Blog: Balloon trips are wonderful aren't they? Serene and beautiful. Particularly if the flight takes you over water.

      Delete
  20. A beautiful start and finish to the day. Great photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CountryMum: 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.

      Delete
  21. Hoorah! I LOVE your balloon posts - looking forward to seeing some more.
    In 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.
      I am guessing that the balloon shot was of Yoda. They really are beautiful en masse. Special shapes or not.

      Delete
  22. 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.
    Re 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mimsie: It really is a magical experience watching the balloons inflated and floating through the sky. An annual treat.
      I 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.

      Delete
  23. Your sunsets (and sunrises) are spectacular.And the b'loons-well! Thank yyou.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. dinahmow: More b'loons on Wednesday or Thursday. Rather a lot more.

      Delete
  24. Boob 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River 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...

      Delete
  25. I like the second photo with one of the balloons bowing to the great god of Dawn (*~*)
    I 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River: It isn't fun is it. Sadly one side had to be done twice because the technician hadn't got the angle right.
      The bowing balloon hadn't fully inflated - but your perspective made me smile.

      Delete
  26. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lynners: 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.
      And I love the idea of a testicle squasher. I suspect it doesn't exist though.

      Delete
  27. 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Margaret Adamson: Ballooning IS fabulous. When you get the chance - go. Soar.

      Delete
  28. You could easily substitute balloon for swing.....

    How 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grannie Annie: How right you are. That is a perfect description.

      Delete
  29. Oh and I am very sure that poem is by Robert Louis Stevenson.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grannie Annie: Thank you. I was just about to google.

      Delete
  30. A dawn sky. Magical!
    Balloons. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vicki: The finger up the fundament isn't pleasant - but both genders endure that one.
      We will forget about that - and just focus on balloons. And sky.

      Delete
  31. That's great you got to see your balloons go up.
    The 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: Both are necessary evils. Sadly woman also endure Dr Jellyfinger (love that description).
      And yay for balloons. Much more fun than either.

      Delete
  32. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Myrna R: The balloons and the sky - at both ends were the sugar which helped the medicine go down...

      Delete
  33. Beautiful skies! I would like to try ballooning, but there is nowhere to land near here except in winter. Then it's too cold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jono: How sad to have nowhere close by to float through the air. Our balloons fly pretty much all year round.

      Delete
  34. I 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. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mail4rosey: 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.

      Delete
  35. From 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!

    Looking 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.
      You 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.

      Delete
  36. What a lovely day - despite the boob crushing. Those balloons are amazing! Can't wait to see the full post on them :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mshatch: I do love balloons. Lots and lots and lots of balloons. A special treat.

      Delete
  37. I 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:)
    Thanks for the sweet skies,
    Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Delete
  38. Hot air balloons are magical! Lovely photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathleen Cassen Mickelson: Definitely magical. And wonderful.

      Delete
  39. I LOVE clicking into your universe, S!
    You. 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Inner Chick: Chocolate and wine (and rather a lot of both) would be a good end to the squashfest.
      And I am happy to lift your inspirational self up.

      Delete
  40. 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!)

    I see reference to the skinny one having a cough, did I miss something?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.
      The cough was mine rather than the skinny one's. He has more surgery coming up though. Sigh.

      Delete
    2. oh! i knew both those things. i get vague though :)

      we went to the ag show and visited a friend in eugowra so it was all good

      Delete
    3. kylie: You are not alone on the vague front. I used to live not far from eugowra. Home territory so to speak.

      Delete
  41. I didn't know sometimes they don't take to the air! I just assumed they always go up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephanie 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.
      The no wind, no fly was new to me though.

      Delete
  42. Replies
    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: It was. Very, very cool.

      Delete
  43. Those are glorious skies. I'm glad you enjoyed and shared them.
    Do you ride in balloons, EC? I'd be too scared. But they make for great photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.

      Delete
  44. People say planes are statistically the safest way to travel. I think hot air balloons would have them beat :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael D'Agostino: Hot air balloons are prettier too. And this person MUCH prefers them.

      Delete
  45. I 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kim @ 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.

      Delete
  46. Balloons in the sky as the sun rises? That was outstanding.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan 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.

      Delete
  47. Gorgeous way to start and finish the day!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Gorgeous, 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol: I too love balloons. A generous spoonful of medicine to help the squishing go down.
      Hopefully this will be the last surgery - but the surgeon is talking up to three more. Aaaargh.

      Delete
  49. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous: If you are unhappy with another blogger, this is not the place to say so.

      Delete
  50. Gorgeous 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jackie K: Never say never. It really is magical.

      Delete
  51. How 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.
    I'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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.
      Mammograms are a necessary evil. And our health centre didn't make it as comfortable as they could.

      Delete
  52. 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sonya 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