A dawn smile
Last night I went out for dinner and to play cards with friends — only the second time in over a year, because we’ve been under various levels of Lockdown for most of the year. Anyway it was a “wee small hours” finish, but I had to get up early for a 7am zoom meeting with the Word Wenches — my blog group.
Fitting in with US (east and west coast times) as well as UK and Australian times is tricky. So I got up at 6.30am to be ready (I’m generally an early riser, but not after a 2am + finish the night before.) I made a large mug of industrial strength morning coffee and gave my dog Millie her morning bone. She raced outside with it and immediately started barking furiously. So, aware of my neighbors who live close and were probably still asleep, I raced outside to shut her up, and lo! She was defending me from these gently hissing floating monsters.
It was not only a beautiful dawn, but it’s the first time the balloons have flown in over a year — since CoVid happened. They used to be quite frequent — they take off from a field near my house, and I always saw them because my dog goes bananas — so this was a really cheering and hopeful sight.
I stood there like a loon, waving at the tiny figures in the baskets, which I don’t normally do but seeing them floating overhead once more felt a bit like a good omen.
And then I went inside and chatted on Zoom with my Word Wench friends.
What a lovely start to the day.
How absolutely wonderful. One of the surprise ‘bon bon’ moments of life. An unexpected gift.
It was lovely, Malvina. A perfect start to the day.
Magical! Sign of things to come?
Yes, Alison, let’s hope so. Certainly a sign of more balloons to come.
Beautiful photos and words Anne, I hope it is the first of many balloonable mornings.
Thanks, Jacque. I think we need to be aware of these small special moments and appreciate them.
That sky is gorgeous though I suspect it’s in part because of the debris in the air from the fires that the sun is reflecting off. But the balloons are magical! The first spring in this house, we had a balloon drop into the back yard. A that-day married couple liked the yard and wanted some pictures. It was pretty amazing.
Theo, what an exciting visitor to have. My back yard is small so a balloon wouldn’t fit. Re the sky, we’re not plagued by bushfires at the moment and the sky was perfectly clear of smoke and ash. In fact we’ve had quite a cool and damp summer, which has given the bush a chance to recover somewhat.
This was them landing
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EEwv7LRBoSk7GVd76
Wow that looks amazing.
Magic
It certainly felt like it, Lec :)
A perfect start to your day ❤️
It was, Helene, and for once I had a gorgeous dawn sky of my own, instead of having to go to your FB page to see glorious dawns and sunsets. ;)
If I can manage it, may I save your pictures? For my own pleasure? Living in a mountain valley has it’s own beauty, but not sunrises, sunsets or balloons!
Yes, of course, Marianne. :)
*its
Beautiful pictures. And I would have been waving my head off too.
The sky is breathtaking. Congratulations on the honors….Well deserved I might say.
Take care and stay well.
Thanks, Annette.
Spectacular sky and to top it off balloons.
So happy to hear that you have been recognized over and over in the Australian writers circle by readers. I think I have most of your books and love to re-read the series.
Thanks, Margot, I’m so pleased you enjoy my books and reread them. :)
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful morning, Anne. I hope it’s a sign of continuing good things to come.
Thanks, Meg — I hope so too, for all of us.
How lovely. I live in balloon country, too, and have missed them greatly. There are wineries a few miles from me with lots of open fields for launches and landings.
Sounds lovely, Leslie. I am fairly inner city, but we have a few very large parks nearby so they take off from there and float over my house. We had three more this weekend. I never miss them because Milly-dog is very vigilant.