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 (I hope her hands have allowed her to participate this week). Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
Like River I usually run with a theme. And this week those of you who know me will not be shocked and surprised to learn that it is balloons. While I was having a break the Balloon Spectacular took place. And of course the balloon 'tragics' in the family (myself and my youngest brother) were there.
And we were lucky.
I am only going to show the feature balloons in this post, but there will be another post later in the week.
The main feature balloon this year was a beagle. A humungous beagle. I read somewhere that the balloon canopy (without the basket and firing mechanism) weighs over 300 kilos (660 pounds).
Just starting to inflate - and you can see just how big it is.
Taking off - you will notice that he has a gammy leg, which never properly inflated. It didn't hinder the flight though.
In some of the flight shots I think it looked more like a cow than a beagle. I did like it resting in the tree though.
And then to the Airforce's feature balloon. Darth Vader look alike?
There was another feature balloon 'Nudie'. I am not fond of it, and will probably just show a photo next week.
And a sadness. Every year Black Magic (aka Golly) has featured at the festival. This year our local government banned it, because it might cause offence.
I was sad about that, but there have been a couple of letters to the local paper from people who said they were demeaned and offended, so I accept the decision. And no, I don't think it is political correctness gone mad. While I would be very surprised to learn that the balloon's owners meant it as a racist gesture, no-one should feel demeaned by other people's fun.
Just the same I am going to show some photos of it from previous years.
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 (I hope her hands have allowed her to participate this week). Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
Like River I usually run with a theme. And this week those of you who know me will not be shocked and surprised to learn that it is balloons. While I was having a break the Balloon Spectacular took place. And of course the balloon 'tragics' in the family (myself and my youngest brother) were there.
And we were lucky.
I am only going to show the feature balloons in this post, but there will be another post later in the week.
The main feature balloon this year was a beagle. A humungous beagle. I read somewhere that the balloon canopy (without the basket and firing mechanism) weighs over 300 kilos (660 pounds).
Just starting to inflate - and you can see just how big it is.
In some of the flight shots I think it looked more like a cow than a beagle. I did like it resting in the tree though.
And then to the Airforce's feature balloon. Darth Vader look alike?
There was another feature balloon 'Nudie'. I am not fond of it, and will probably just show a photo next week.
And a sadness. Every year Black Magic (aka Golly) has featured at the festival. This year our local government banned it, because it might cause offence.
I was sad about that, but there have been a couple of letters to the local paper from people who said they were demeaned and offended, so I accept the decision. And no, I don't think it is political correctness gone mad. While I would be very surprised to learn that the balloon's owners meant it as a racist gesture, no-one should feel demeaned by other people's fun.
Just the same I am going to show some photos of it from previous years.
I thought it can't be Sunday yet … can it?
ReplyDeleteBut of course in the Southern Hemisphere it is!
I loved seeing all of your photographs.
Loved the beagle, and still nice to see your photographs from last year too :)
Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member~Jan: Sunday it is. Still relatively early, but Sunday just the same. I liked the beagle too. I am always pleased to see the feature balloon.
DeleteCor blimey, I'll bet that a fellow takes a hefty blowing it up, ha ha. Perfect balloon images.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: You are right, the beagle took a very long time to inflate. Fun though.
DeleteThat beagle is huge. I think I'd be so terrified in that basket controlling the heat. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics.
XO
WWW
Wisewebwoman: I have flown in balloons a few times now and delight triumphed over terror. I was grateful for the skilled pilots though.
DeleteYes, the beagle did look like a cow, for one tiny second. Or two, when I went back and looked. Great pictures, as ever.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: I am glad that someone else could see the flying cow. The people I was with couldn't.
DeleteLove the beagle! Great shot of him resting in the tree. I know you had a wonderful time there.
ReplyDeleteGoogle seems to have erased my other photo and I don’t have it on my phone so I’m now the spare parts cat. ;)
River: I wonder what Google is doing with people's profile pictures? Weird.
DeleteI did have a lovely time. I went later than usual so missed a lot of the early morning magic, but thoroughly enjoyed what I did see.
That beagle was a big one. The basket looked like a cow’s udder to me. Love those festivals.
ReplyDeleteMarie Smith: I am so glad to hear that there is another who sees the 'cow' link. I really, really love our balloon festival and look forward to it every year.
DeleteI love the beagle...the look on its face makes me smile...and the memory of "Homer", the beagle my late brother once had...and loved. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week, EC....cuddles to Jazz. :)
Lee: It was a marvellous creation wasn't it? There are some people who regularly walk their beagles in our street. I asked if they had seen the balloon version, but they had missed it, which I thought a shame.
DeleteIt is a huge but rather adorable beagle, with cow-like features on the underside. Thanks for sharing these great balloons, and every year I enjoy them anew. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: I am very happy that you enjoy them each year.
DeleteI'm so glad you were successful in seeing lots of balloons this year. I love the beagle - my childhood companion was a beagle/bluetick hound girl and I have many fond memories of her, especially her silky ears :)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the rest of your pictures.
jenny_o: There is something irresistable about the silkiness of a dog's ears isn't there?
DeleteAs usual there are a LOT of photos to come.
Cute Beagle, with his short little Beagle-y legs and goofy grin!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for posting Golly. They don't seem offensive to everyone. Certainly not to me.I remember English children saving labels from the "golliwog" jam jars.I think if you saved enough labels the company sent you a little enamel golly pin.Then someone complained that it was offensive...
I find guns far moreso...
dinahmow: I too find guns more offensive than Golly. And while I am sad not to see it again, if it offends people I support the ban.
DeleteThe beagle certainly does look like a cow from some angles. He's very handsome, though - and huuge! I remember Golly from last year, and Yoda.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're having lovely autumnal days; it's been beautiful here lately.
Alexia: It has been very variable here, but mostly lovely. I couldn't get over just how big the beagle was.
DeleteThe beagle in the trees is a good one. Today temps almost hit 60F! Hope you're weather is comfortable :)
ReplyDeletemshatch: We are currently in the low 50sF, but will climb beyond that. I am loving the cooler weather, and hope you get some welcome warmth.
DeleteThe beagle is adorable and the Darth Vader one is good. When I was young and had a golliwog, I never connected it with black people and I don't think anyone else did either really. What offends in North America, like blackface performances too, shouldn't necessarily offend here where both have no meaning to us and are not part of our cultural baggage. God knows, we have enough of our own baggage and mistakes to deal with.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: I never had a gollwog but my extremely politically incorrect (and indeed often racist) father DID connect them with black people. You are of course very right about our own baggage.
DeleteIt looks like great fun to be there and see the balloons rise. Once in a while someone with a balloon will take off or land in the field across from us.
ReplyDeletemessymimi: It is lovely. Seeing dozens of balloons inflate and take to the skies is a wonderful sight to see.
DeleteAwesome photos. I love watching huge balloons. Love the photo of the beagle peeping through the trees.
ReplyDeleteRasmaSandra: I really liked seeing the beagle peeking through the trees too. As I think everyone there did.
DeleteGreat photos. Love the dog one.
ReplyDeleteJamie Ghione: Wasn't that beagle BIG?
DeleteI don't get it. What is demeaning about a black balloon? People don't get offended about white or pink balloons. I call unfair!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the Yoda, really love the Yoda :)
You're right about the Beagle, he does look like a cow when viewed from under.
River: I think that Black Magic's other name of Golly is what caused the problem. When black people are referred to as golliwogs it is not meant as a compliment. Which is sad and bad. Andrew loved his golliwog toy, as many children did (and probably do).
DeleteWonderful! The giant dog would certainly get my attention if I came around a bend and suddenly saw it!
ReplyDeleteBill: They do. Years back we came around a corner to be faced with a huge polar bear butt floating on the horizon. It got our attention.
DeleteThese must have been so much fun to watch from beginning of inflation ot up in the air Sue.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Birding For Pleasure. It was - from beginning to end. I smile just thinking about it.
DeleteThat beagle is huge. Too bad they banned Golly. That is so silly. Love your photos as usual
ReplyDeletemxtodis123: Thank you. I will miss Golly, but do understand the ban.
DeleteI was shocked at how heavy these balloons are. They could do some damage falling on a group of people. Still they are fun and funny.
ReplyDeleteGranny Annie: I was shocked at how heavy the material was too. I doubt that it would ever fall on a person uninflated though.
DeleteI love the beagle. It is so cute. Sad that letters from a few people banned the balloon but such is a way of life lately. It seems the few outweigh the many. Always enjoy your photos.
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: The beagle is cute isn't it? Sadly I do understand (and even reluctantly support) banning Golly. I wish it could come back under a different name...
DeleteThe beagle rising to life slowly as it is pumped full of hot air is fun. Nudie may have been done in, but he's cute in the past years photos and who exactly would take offense? We have yellow smiley face balloons and white ones too, but a black smiley face balloon is now offensive. Hmmm. I can't keep up.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: It wasn't the depiction but Golly's name which caused the problems (I think).
DeleteA short-legged fat beagle floating in the sky isn't something I see every day.
ReplyDeleteJono: Or me. I can think of a a lot of days which would be improved if I did.
DeleteDer Beagle als Ballon ist klasse eine Fahrt mit dem Ballon ist mit Sicherheit ein Erlebnis.
ReplyDeleteNoke
Noke: Balloon flights are precious memories of mine - though I have never ridden in a 'feature' balloon.
DeleteI like the big Beagle. I couldn't tell one leg didn't inflate. The balloons have always been a fave for me too.
ReplyDeletemail4rosey: The gammy leg mostly inflated - just the paw was a bit soft. And yay for balloons.
DeleteSo glad your weather has tempered a bit. We are having spring, finally! I love balloons like these. I used to want to go up in one of them, but have decided I won't do that now. Great photos! As for offending others with the black balloon, I am so out of step with what is politically correct today and I'm sure I put my foot in my mouth often. I have been corrected for saying chairman instead of chairperson, for saying a person is Chinese instead of saying Asian, for saying "we need someone to man the booth" instead of staffing the booth. I never heard of golliwogs, so didn't get it until someone explained.
ReplyDeleteDitto here.
DeleteGlenda Beall: Our weather is finally turning into a very pleasant autumn. I loved my balloon trips and if my health/agility allowed it would be up again in a heart beat.
DeleteGlenda Beall and Olga Godim: I am, mostly, fairly politically correct. Language is powerful and I prefer not to offend.
DeleteI love seeing that big beagle air ballon. It must be quite a pricy air ballon and I had no idea it could weigh so much. It's amazing seeing it floating up in the air. It must be a spectacular event. Your photos are great. There's always something happening in your area.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Hugs, Julia
Julia: I expect the balloon was hugely expensive to make/buy. It would have taken some intricate cutting and sewing. It is amazing seeing a sky full of balloons and I am so grateful to see this festival each year.
DeleteThose hot air balloons are big and cute.
ReplyDeleteMary Kirkland: They are. They are a wonderful start to the day.
DeleteI like Black Magic. Don't know why it would offend anyone, but some people are offended by the darnedest things.
ReplyDeleteOlga Godim: I think that it was Black Magic's alternative name which offended. And am sorry that it did. Just the same, whoever coined the phrase 'sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me' was wrong. Very wrong.
DeleteThey look great all.
ReplyDeleteCarol Henstra: Seeing the sky full of balloons is an amazing sight.
DeleteYour photos of the Beagle balloon are fabulous. Imagine flying along in the belly of a beagle.
ReplyDeleteKalpana: Thank you. Balloon flights are ALL fabulous - or I think so anyway.
DeleteAmazing is the Beagle and Airforce balloons, pity about the black one, can see the point..
ReplyDeleteMargaret-whiteangel: Sadly I can also see the point about Golly. I am glad that you liked the Beagle and the Airforce balloons though.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteThe Beagle/cow made me smile.
I used to have a Golly toy and I do remember the Robertson's jam gollys. However, things move on and so should we. (I do have to say that as a child, I didn't realise there was any racial significance to them - they were just toys and images on labels).
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: Thank you. I don't think many (any?) children would have thought about the racial issues linked with Gollies. Or at least no white child.
DeleteI am glad that the Beagle made you smile. It did/does me.
Hi EC - I love the Beagle ... he looks precious though no doubt he's '500 foot high' - they are incredible those balloons. How they envisage them is beyond me ... oh I used to love the Golliwog symbol on our marmalade jars, and Little Black Sambo ... totally off the wall now - I understand ... but they take me back to my early childhood. So pleased to see you posting again - take care and all the best - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: He is huge. I cannot begin to imagine the work involved in designing and creating the feature balloons. I am sad that childhood memories of Golliwog and Little Black Sambo have been tarnished for so many...
DeleteI definitely don't have the courage to go up in a balloon, but I can't help admiring all that creativity. That beagle is pretty dang amazing! Sure hope you're feeling much better these days! Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteRO: Going up in a balloon is amazing. The first time I went up I went up with a brother who is afraid of heights. Very soon into the flight he was employing his sharp pointy elbows to get to the best viewing points.
DeletePlanes on the other hand, scare me. Particularly little planes.
So cool especially the beagle
ReplyDeleteSue in Italia/In the Land Of Cancer: It was. Really, really cool.
Deletebans run against my nature ... but then you can't trust folk to remain inside the boundaries of good taste.
ReplyDeleteAuthor R. Mac Wheeler: If only we could trust people's taste, mannners, consideration...
DeleteOh wow that is great.. those look amazing. What an incredible experience.
ReplyDeletehttp://henatayeb.blogspot.com
Hena Tayeb: It is a wonderful experience and I try and get to it every year.
DeleteI am with the beagle lovers!
ReplyDeletetaking a balloon ride is not on my to-do list.
Susan Kane: The beagle is lovely. What puts you off a balloon ride? I loved it the times I have been able to participate.
DeleteHow marvelous to see these balloons. I loved the whole series but the beagle shots were fascinating from start to finish.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: You know an experience is special when hundreds and hundreds of people get up before dawn in the hopes of seeing the balloons rise, despite knowing that there is every chance they will be disappointed.
DeleteI know I wrote a comment here the other day...I love the Beagle and all the fun shapes and colors...Thanks for sharing your adventures. May you have many more...
ReplyDeletee: You did comment on the beautiful Beagle, but the comment landed on my Enlighten post. In the next little while we hope to get to an exhibition of pre-Raphaelite painting at the National Gallery and a Chinese calligraphy one at the National Museum. Parking is however a bit problem at both.
DeleteThose balloons are amazing! And just look at the size of them.
ReplyDeleteLady Fi: They were huge, and yes, amazing too.
Deleteyou live in the most enchanting place, children must be amazed at the balloons
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: It isn't only children who are amazed...
DeleteWow. These are really something. The basket looks so tiny compared to the beagle balloon.
ReplyDeleteSandra: There were at least six people in that tiny basket.
DeleteThe beagle is supercute. I think he looks like a cow because the basket reminds me of a cow's udder somehow?
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your Sunday posts. Lot of backlog in my reading this month! I hope April s going well for you.
Nilanjana Bose: Thank you. I think the basket/udder thing is what made me think of a cow too.
DeleteMy April is not nearly as busy as yours (thankfully). A-Z and WEP would do me in.
Wow! Absolutely gorgeous balloons. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.untetheredrealms.com
Gwen Gardner: Thank you. I am always happy to share my love of balloons.
DeleteI simply love all your balloon pics, but Yoda is my favorite. I've never been in a balloon but it's on my bucket list. We have a balloon festival each year about 20 miles from where I live, so maybe this year I'll go and finally cross it off my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteMildred Ratched: Yoda was the feature balloon a few years ago (and shared the limelight with Angry Bird). I adore balloons and watch them take to the air every chance I get. I do hope you can cross ballooning off your list - and report back to us.
DeleteHey My friend! You made me laugh, when you said, it looked like a cow, more than a beagle, in some of the flight shots! LOL! I can't believe how big that beagle was! That was amazing! The airforce balloon was cool! I think Golly is cute! I don't understand people! I hope you are well! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteMagic Love Crow: I am glad that other people can see the cow in the beagle. It was HUGE, and very impressive. I really love all the balloons and am so glad we got to the Balloon Spectacular again this year. I am ok(ish). How about you?
DeleteI have never seen those balloons up close. Very impressive. Riding in a hot air balloon is definitely not my idea of fun.
ReplyDelete:))
Caterina: They are impressive and I have LOVED the balloon trips I have been able to take.
DeleteHi EC, Golly the balloon causing offense.. I know hes a balloon but I guess some folks believe in the powers of black magic.
ReplyDeleteSpacer Guy: I suspect it was Black Magic's nickname of Golly which caused the offence.
Delete