I uploaded some of the pictures I've taken this year of the hot air balloons passing by. I'll continue uploading them under this tag query on flickr as time goes by (though balloon season is just about over): http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericri/tags/balloons/ .

At the end of this post is a flickr slideshow. But first, my balloon story, because I'm not sure I've told it before.

We moved into our Tree House back on Halloween 2004. Late that next spring, I was outside getting ready to fire up the leaf blower and blow fir needles off of our driveway when a huge, furious sound erupted, seemingly from the open garage.

I stopped and stared intently at the garage. What in the world could have made such a loud, rushing, furious sound? I stared and decided that, ehm, nothing could have made that sound so, ergo, I didn't hear anything. Back to laying out electrical cable for the leaf blower.

Of course, as soon as I convinced myself I didn't hear anything, another loud rushing furious burst of sound ripped through the air. It's times like those you wished you had a picture of your own face.

Then I heard voices.

Above my head.

Way above my head.

I took a peep upwards, and not too far above our tallest fir tree floated a eye-poppingly colorful hot air balloon, practically filling the sky. It was silent, except for the conversation of those in the basket and the occasional loud and furious burst of flame required to keep the hot part of the hot air balloon going.

Since then, not only have we enjoyed the balloons passing over many times, we've even taken a ride (unfortunately not passing over our own house). There's one time I wish I had taken a photo when the balloon was traveling so low that I swore I was looking down on it from our deck halfway up the hill.

Flickr slideshow: