Thursday, September 25, 2008

The Beauty of Cooler Air

One of the highlights of the cooler temperatures that come with fall is the reemergence of hot air balloons. As long as the skies are clear and the winds aren't too high, we get a chance to see them almost every afternoon/evening.

There is nothing like a hot air balloon. I love the way the colors contrast against the sky and how they float with such grace and beauty.

They come really close to our home and sometimes even land in our development.

One time last fall I was running around the house getting ready for a night out with my friends. Mark had put Austin in his highchair to eat his dinner and he was in the kitchen getting himself something to eat. Austin started shouting what sounded like, "a moon, a moon." Mark said, "Yeah, buddy, that's nice", but Austin didn't let up.

I was upstairs and wondered why he was so adamantly and excitedly shouting his repetitive phrase. It was about then that I heard the very distinct sound of a balloon firing. I looked out my bedroom window and the balloon was right there.

We ran out onto the deck and the balloon was so close that we were able to talk to the occupants. They were about to land in the field behind our house. Needless to say, it was the highlight of Austin's month, maybe even fall.
He has become quite an expert in finding them in the sky around our home. It is so much fun to see his simple excitement about these beauties.

**He is actually sitting here as I type this post begging to go outside and find a balloon. So cute!**

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

33 comments:

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Wow, how fun. Now there's something I've always wanted to do. I think I'll just stick to the helium variety for awhile. :)

Kristen said...

OH Cade would love living where you do.

I think maybe he has only ever seen one??

Beautiful pictures!

Unknown said...

Susan, your pictures took me back to my childhood...we loved it when the balloons were low and going over our house....

So beautiful and peaceful...love it!

Chris said...

That is wonderful. I tried to take my wife hot air ballooning, for our anniversary one year, but the guy forgot the burner. There are really only three parts to a hot air balloon -- how you forget the burner is beyond me.
That second balloon is gorgeous!
Nice Shot.

Lindsay said...

That is the coolest hot air balloon I've ever seen - too cool!!

Rachel said...

Beautiful, Beautiful pictures.

I love that he saw the balloon before y'all and tried to alert you.

Fantastic pictures and story.

raising4boys said...

I can just imagine your little one staring out the window enjoying those balloons. So peaceful and beautiful.

tiarastantrums said...

gorgeous - I did this once with my hubbie (pre hubbie) - it is really fabulous!

Carol said...

Oh that is just a little kids dream right?

I've always wanted to try it.

Unknown said...

A decade ago I bought my 16yo daughter and wife a ride on one out of Eagle Village. So peaceful, except when they end like this. I'll never get that image out of my mind now when seeing balloons. That "distinct sound of a balloon firing" is sobering.

Anonymous said...

We have been seeing more and more around us, too. But not quite close enough to get amazing photos like yours.

tammi said...

How cool is that?! Those are great shots ~ the colours are spectacular in the fall sun! Someday, I'd love to take a ride in one of those things.

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

Those are some great captures! And that balloon is so very pretty!

Anonymous said...

Great pictures! Very beautiful!!!

My PSF is posted here. Please drop by if you have time. Happy weekends!

Cecily R said...

You got some fantastic pictures!! I love them!

There is a big balloon festival in the area we moved from. Your pictures make me want to make the drive next year and see it again!!

Mandy said...

My kids came home from school telling me all about hot air balloons and how they got to watch their teachers take a ride in one. I thought, how interesting, and then the next day on the front page there they were!

Great pics, how fun!

Jaysi said...

Great photos! My son calls them...hot balloons. :) It always makes me smile.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Very cool!

Anonymous said...

What beautiful balloons. So neat that you get to see them so often.

Laural Out Loud said...

We have a lot of hot air balloons around San Diego. Gabi loves looking at them, especially when we catch them filling with air on the ground. So fun for kids!

tricki_nicki said...

Wow, that is the coolest thing EVER! What a great memory to have.

Robyn said...

Those are great shots. I think it would be so neat to ride in one.

Casey's trio said...

We see hot air ballons once or twice a year very close to our house! I love seeing them.

Wendy said...

This is a great story. I do wish we saw more balloons here in OK. My friend bought a balloon ride for her husbands birthday and the ride had to be cancelled due to high winds...that is..winds above 15 miles per hour. That was two weeks ago. They hope to ride this weekend but who knows about the wind. You know..OKLAHOMA where the wind comes sweeping down the plains!!!

AutoSysGene said...

That is so cool. I'm excited when I see a blimp fly around the house, I can only imagine what I would do if I saw one of those beauties!

Tabitha said...

I grew up in Indianola, IA which used to host the National Hot Air Balloon races once upon a time. My dad used to help "chase" a balloon/crew from Texas for a couple years. I remember getting dragged out of bed in the wee hours of the morning and watching all the balloons get blown up and glow in the early morning light. And...even had some land in our big backyard too - I know how excited Austen was!

Anonymous said...

soooo awesome.

i don't know if i would ever have the nerve to try it though...

Tyne said...

What a cool story! I love hot air balloons, they really are beautiful.

scrappysue said...

i had a hot air balloon ride once - as a surprise for my birthday. it was AWESOME! it's so QUIET!!!

Midwest Mom said...

About a week ago, there was a beautiful day when our local balloon club (about 25 balloons!) had an event. The best part was that it brought all the neighbors out of our houses to watch. We spent the evening chatting and visiting. It was a wonderful time with friends.

...all because of balloons. :)

Thanks for another great post.
- MM

Danyele Easterhaus said...

those are really pretty...we get a lot of balloons too but they aren't that girlie looking! so fun!

Amanda @ notsoextraordinary said...

i've always wanted to ride in one, i think that would be so much fun!

Unknown said...

The hot air balloon with the flowers is SO pretty!
How cool that you get to see them right out your window!