Balloon delight
It’s a crispy cold, still morning here, so quiet because it’s Sunday on a long weekend, and across the morning sky, hot air balloons were drifting. Such a lovely sight and it always fills me with delight.
There were more than these in the photo, but I couldn’t fit them in one photo, and they were drifting low, and the next door house was in the way, so I didn’t try.
I remember last year, when we’d just come out of Lockdown, and the balloons floated above my house at dawn, it was such a sign of hope — I think I’ll always feel that now, whenever I see balloons. This morning I just stood there smiling.
It felt amazingly peaceful, not just because a lot of people have gone away for the last long weekend before winter and the neighborhood is quiet, but because the balloons were a little to the west, instead of overhead, as they often are, and so Milly-dog hadn’t noticed them, and hadn’t shattered the peace of the morning with furious barking to repel the gently hissing alien invaders, which is what she usually does.
Actually she’s the reason I mostly notice the dawn balloons. It’s generally too cold to wander out into the back yard, but when she suddenly starts barking I hurry out to see what the fuss is about, and stop her annoying/waking the neighbors.
But this morning while waiting for the kettle to boil for my morning coffee, I went out to admire the Virginia creeper in the pale rosy dawn light, and saw the balloons. A little morning gift.
It’s taken a while for my creeper to get its autumn colors, but it’s finally turning in time for my last experience of it before I move. This is what it looked like yesterday in the bright morning sun. Of course, it’s all colors as the leaves turn — from this gorgeous scarlet, to pale baby pink (the new leaves), to rich bronze and a thousand shades in between. It’s a visual feast every autumn. I know I’m going to miss it.
Hah Hah! Virginia Creeper is common in the Eastern US; Ohio, Massachusetts and Maryland, where I’ve lived. I always thought it was just a weed, probably native, but something to pull up in the garden. It is pretty in the fall. I think that is why someone made the mistake of introducing Poison Ivy to England – it is also very pretty in the Fall, as long as you are not sensitive to it. I hope no one brought that to Australia! The balloons are lovely. I have only seen balloons in the air once or twice. The downside of… Read more »
Robin, I don’t think Poison Ivy is in Australia — though I’m not sure. But I’ve only ever read about it in books, so I don’t think so. We have plenty of other introduced weeds, though.
I’m wondering now whether I’ll see balloons again from this new house. Somehow I don’t think so, or at least not as close as these ones often get, where they hover just above the garden.
We have an annual week long Balloon Fiesta. The biggest in the world. Beautiful.
How lovely, Anne. What a sight that must be. Pat Rice once posted a photo of a mass of balloons and I’ve never forgotten it.
I always enjoy your blog messages. When will you make the move to your new home? I hope you are ready, and it goes smoothly. Hopefully everything you move will find a place and make your new home feel welcoming and cozy. We do not see hot air balloons here (NW Indiana) very often. They do have them at some of the late summer festivals, but then only a few. Some have amazing shapes. I love the colorful ones. When I see one it reminds me of the movie “Around the World in 80 days” as they travelled by balloon… Read more »
Thanks, Margot — I’m now in the new house and replying to my blog comments and emails very late. It will take a while to get everything sorted, but I’m not putting any pressure on myself. I need to get back to my wip (work in progress) — ie my new book.