Take Me For a Ride in Your Hot Air Balloon . . .

Three "special shape" balloons with a conventionally shaped hot air balloon at the Canberra Balloon Festival,
in Australia, 2004

Talk about fun! Don't those big things look like it? Even though I'm afraid of heights (a high ladder makes me dizzy. Eeeek!), I think I'd like to ride in one. I might sit on the floor the whole way with my eyes squeezed tightly shut, but at least I could say I'd ridden on one. Makes good research experience for my novels, especially the current one.

(Anyone out there in cyberspace want to volunteer to give me a ride? With hubby along, of course. If I've gotta die, he's going with me.)

Anyhow, in my current romance novel that is done, except critiquing and editing, Starli--the protagonist, says she'd loved to ride in one--and what?

Come to find out, Joel (the hero, drool) has already had practice in flying in them. Hmmm. Where's this gonna lead? And what's that guy NOT done?

My brainstorming friends--remember? Jam and Lyn?--they say to let Joel kiss Starli, or at least, begin to, up there in the clouds, so she can't get away. Cause she doesn't trust men, because . . .

Ah, you thought I was going to tell all. Nope. BUY the book (when it's published, of course) and you'll find out what happens. What do you think?

ANYHOW. We've seen the balloons from the balloon festival in New Mexico. You wouldn't believe the awesome balloons they have.

• Animals: cows, turtles, fish, penquins, birds, bees, mice, chickens, eagles, ducks, frogs,

• People: smiley faces, famous people, cartoon characters, Uncle Sam, pirates

• Plants: sunflowers, daisies

• Objects: space ships, coaches, buildings, flags, lighthouses, trains

• Advertisments for: real estate businesses, dog food, batteries

All of it fascinating and beautiful.


Here's the Balloonist's Prayer:

May the winds welcome you with softness.
May the sun bless you with its warm hands.
May you fly so high and so well that God
joins you in laughter and sets you gently
back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.

Rainy day hints for fun things to do with or without your kids:

• Experience the world through your PC or library. Learn about animals, outer space, and the water. Learn new words and phrases from other far-away lands.
• Plot out your next vacation. Use maps and the PC. Study the planned area. Find out what would be fun to do there.
• Explore your artistic nature. Use your PC for fun digital effects, or use crayon, ink, pencils, or other mediums for your work. Try writing poems or short stories. Write a collective story together. You start, your kid finishes the story. Use a funny beginning sentence and each develops something from it.
• Exercise your brain and your body. Do fun puzzles and games together. If someone has a special interest, try to find games or puzzles that include that interest. Look up information of why certain exercises work. Discover new ones.
  

Quote:
Recall it as often as you wish, a happy memory never wears out. --Libbie Fudim


Blessings