Monday, July 28, 2014

Up, Up & Away...

Saturday, Chuck and I went to
 
We look forward to and attend this festival every year.
It is, hands down, one of my favorites!!
 
The balloons rose with the sun and the sight of
125 balloons in the sun streaked sky is just breathtaking!!
We enjoyed a hot air balloon ride a few years
ago and it was an amazing experience.
 
On this day, we did not ride...
the view from the ground was all we needed.
 
 So get ready for "my beautiful balloons" ...
and when I say "get ready" and put my hands on my hips, I mean business!!

125 Balloons in total...

It's a beautiful morning...

and when I say morning,

we are talking 7:30 a.m. in New Jersey!

Definitely worth getting up for...

this view is breathtaking!!

Panda...

Alaska...

The QuickChek Balloon!!

The Hubs and I...
 
always smiling, always enjoying the moment!!

I think this is an "Angry Bird"...I have never played.

  And here I am holding up my purple humming bird,
this was exhausting...
I got hot and tired and was "faking" my smile!! hehehe

 This guy was real and a little scary
but I just can't seem to pass up a good, or bad, photo opportunity!!

Now on to the highlight of the day...
"getting noticed" by Jean.
Jean has been reading and following my blog for 2 years,
 she recognized me, as I walked past her.

Here we are together!!

What a coincidence that our paths would cross,
that she would recognize me from my blog pictures,
(it's not like I share a lot of selfies...hahaha)
and that we would have the opportunity to meet,
exchange names and become Facebook friends.
Jean does not have a blog, she just reads mine,
and is one of the kindest souls I have ever met, her husband as well.

She attended the festival because she has read my posts about it
in the past.
She said she was hoping somehow she would see me.

Serendipity for sure!
You are a very special woman Jean, I am so happy I got to meet you.
 

25 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Debbie, I love all the balloons. what a cool sight to see so many up in the air.. And it was wonderful you were able to meet your friend Jean.. I have to remember this festival next year. Have a happy day!

MarmePurl said...

FANTASTIC! The beautiful balloons, the serendipity...all if it!

EG CameraGirl said...

OH! How wonderful that Jean recognized you! The festival looks like a super one and I wish I lived closer!

Bethany Carson said...

Awesome photos! Looks like a fun event; the balloons are beautiful. Also very neat that you could meet one of your blog readers!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh someday I am going to make it to one of these festivals you make me want to go and see all the beauty that you capture.
Lucky Jean lucky you I can't wait to meet you someday and I am sure I may recognize you because I seen a photo of you once:) Hug B

Andee said...

Oh yay!!!! It turned out to be a beautiful morning your pictures are stunning!!! I am so excited for you running into a blogging fan!

Michelle said...

You captured some great shots of the balloons!

TexWisGirl said...

that's so cool! waving hi to jean from texas!

loved the 'you holding the hummingbird' shot. too funny. and the hand on the hip - i'll remember that in case we ever meet! :)

Muffie said...

Gorgeous balloons!! I can't decide which one I like most! I'd be too afraid to get into one, though! What serendipity -- to run into one of your readers! Glad your day was great!

Rose said...

Love, Love the balloons!

You are a great photographer.

I also love that you and hubby go to so many places and are having fun.

Farm Girl said...

How fun is that? I am so happy she found you. That had to be so much fun. What a beautiful day and I love those wonderful shots of all of those balloons.
It looks like you had such a wonderful time Debbie.

DIMI said...

What a great post Debbie!!The ballons are so beautiful!!Gorgeous pictures!!And you look so happy enjoying the festival!!How lucky you are meeting your blog reader!Jean is a sweet lady!Thank you for sharing!!
Dimi....

Lisa Gordon said...

What an amazing sight, Debbie!
I just love the panda bear balloon. So sweet.

How wonderful that you met Jean!!!

DeniseinVA said...

Awwww, how wonderful that you got to meet Jean. What a very special experience. Loved the photos Debbie, you and hubs always look great and those balloons are colorful and fun. I would be so excited to see something like this.

Jackie See said...

What a beautiful way to spend a morning! I have never been to a balloon festival but now I am going to put it on my list. Your photos are always so true in color and tell such a good story. Amazing that you got to meet Jean, just by chance! We just got home from helping our kids move and I couldn't wait to read your blog and get caught up on the photos. My favorite photo is the one of you holding up the balloon, it made me laugh! New Jersey is a beautiful place to live!

Brian King said...

Those are awesome balloons! I'm not real sure I'd want to ride below the panda's butt, though. :-) Love the photo of you and the hot air hummer! So glad you got to meet Jean!

Maureen @ Josephina Ballerina said...

Well hi there Miss It'sAllAboutPurpleDebbie!
I agree with Brian. That panda DOES look like it's taking a wee little pooie.

Funny, you call him "Hubs" so much, that when you mention "Chuck," I'm like, "Chuck? Who's Chuck?"

xxoo, m & jb

Sally said...

Such beautiful, awesome photo's. Wow! Thank you for sharing this, Debbie. And, how wonderful you met a friend through your blog. :)

Judy said...

Isn't that meeting the very coolest thing??? We just had our Balloon Fest here--I watch them as they float over my house.

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

Spectacular! This must really be a sight to see in person.

That is so cool that Jean recognized you and you got to meet! I hope I get to meet you someday. I will have to plan a trip to New Jersey. I'll bring my knitting. :-)

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i love the smiley face, the lighthouse, the angry bird one ... so fun!! what a great festive ... fun, fun, fun!! so enjoyed this post. ( :

Gail Dixon said...

Meeting the sweet blogging friend was a serendipitous moment indeed! Wow. The festival looks like a ton of fun. But I had to laugh because I think you're the only person I know who'd flash that beautiful smile while zombies lurch around and one even holds a saw to your neck. LOL You are so funny.

LeAnn said...

Oh loved all of the pictures and especially the smiling ones of the two of you. I think it is so awesome that you ran into a sweet blogging friend. I loved it. I too would like to bump into you someday.
Thanks for sharing this special adventure; I could tell you were loving the moments.
Blessings!

A Colorful World said...

Wow! What a wonderful chance meeting! And the balloon fiesta looks awesome! We went to the Albuquerque Fiesta when our daughter was small, and would love to go back. I should try to plan that for next year! I remember how cold it was over night...we camped in a tent right there on the grounds...and before the sun rose, the balloons were lifting off, like lightbulbs against the dusky sky as they gave them flame for the rise. It was magical!

Jenn Jilks said...

Is that ever fun! The balloons are amazing. I like meeting bloggers in person, although I've only met two!
I love Angry Birds, as do my granddaughters!