Hot air balloons are one of those things in my life that brings back the childhood sense of utopia to me. When I see a hot air balloon I’m left with the feelings of total awe, and light I’d feel as a small child in my Grandpa and Grammas yard, watching the hot air balloons fly overhead and wave at us. They lived right along the balloon route to the Flint airport in Michigan, so balloons were constantly overhead during the nice months. I remember playing outside waiting for them on the days we knew they’d be coming overhead, and squeeing with glee when they flew over. I still feel that same excitement, and contentment by the sight of the balloons, like I’m home, and happy with Gramma and Grandpa, bugging Gramma as she sews, or asking Grandpa questions about how to fix a truck, a bike, or other things. Oh, those happy childhood days!
The Albany Art and Air Festival is the event we look most forward to every year, with a night glow on friday night- synchronized light show with the balloons, concerts, and awesome artists and crafters from all over the NW. The event takes place right out in our backyard, and for those mornings we can sit outside our house in the morns and watch the balloons launch, sometimes they even fly right over us! That above photo was taken right off our front porch.
This year I decided to be more adventurous, and instead of watching the balloons from my yard in my PJs sipping my morning coffee then going back inside, I decided to follow them, and I’m so glad that I did! First morning I got a call from Curtis that they were landing along hwy 34 going into Corvallis, so we loaded up the car and headed off to watch balloons land.
Here was the beautiful view east of there we watched balloons land.
I’m not religious by any means, but this view of the WWJD balloon with the heavenly, majestic clouds seemed all too fitting.
Sunday morning Galaxy and I got up before the rest of the family to watch the morning lift-off at Timber Linn park, and to follow the balloons to watch them land. Unlike the previous days where they went south, landing along hwy 34, this wind was blowing north so the balloons headed to the beautiful town of Jefferson!
I wished Dea was there with me, as her favorite balloons are the rainbow colored ones, so she would have really enjoyed this scene!
Going to Jefferson was so much fun, Galaxy and I ended up right down the road from Dana of Round Hound’s place (Roy’s co-owner) so we were sure to wave as we drove part!
The above balloons were what these llamas were interested in. I can only imagine what it’d be like to be a llama, and have these big bubbles up in the sky around you!
Saturday night I spotted a raffle quilt I adored, and my gut said I *had* to enter. That tingly feeling in in my gut I either trust and am rewarded by, or blow off. I’m glad I did, as the next afternoon I got the call we’d won, so we picked up our beautiful balloon quilt! A great keepsake, and celebration piece of the event we love so much.
This all comes as a very bitter-sweet as we’ll be moving from this wonderful place very soon. The career field which Curt just graduated from is very bleak in this area, but booming in others. After a year of discussion on where/what we’re willing to do, we’re moving to the Dallas-area of Texas this month. It’s scary to think about packing up and moving, leaving this land we love and call home, but the opportunities being offered are so exciting, and the horizons look very bright for our family there. There’s a great dog-scene in Texas, and I’m looking forward to teaching dog classes again- something I’ve missed so much the last few years! We’re all really excited, including Dea who’s been obsessed with Texas since last year, begging to go there. It’s a huge adventure, and big risk but we feel it is the right thing to do, and we’ve had the feeling for a while we’d be headed south in our near future.
