Preparing for Scrap Season
- posted by: Angela
- posted in: Uncategorized, My Life, Scrap Life
- on: September 7, 2008
You know how sometimes you get “scrapper’s block” and just don’t feel like doing any kind of crafting at all? I notice I tend to feel this way in the summer a lot. I guess it’s because I’m so busy enjoying the warm weather and I have my kids home all day. Even though I do very little scrapping though, I do unconsciously prepare for “scrap season” (which for me is when the weather turns cold and I’ll be spending more time indoors) by taking lots and lots of photos.
Yesterday, I woke my family up at 4 am to go to Reno’s annual hot air balloon races. If you get there before dawn, you get to see “dawn patrol,” about 5 hot air balloons launched in the dark. It’s awesome to see these balloons light up in the dark because they’re so colorful. As the sun rises, they do the morning launch of what feels like hundreds of hot air balloons and we get to sit right in the middle of all of them getting prepared- it’s fascinating, loud (as they fire up), and perfect for photos. We sat next to a photographer who encouraged us to do fun shots- like positioning Parker and Tabitha so it looked like they were holding the sunrise. So now I have yet another batch of photos ready to scrap as the weather turns colder.
P.S. If you’re wondering what the wacky sitcom angle of this morning was, let’s just give you a few plot points: Waking 3 reluctant people up at 4 am (not to mention the dog), forgetting to make sure 5 year-old had a jacket (then having to give her mine until it warmed up- which, to me, felt like an eternity), truly believing dogs were allowed because, well, we went to the dog park side and there were tons of other dogs (the sheriffs seemed to keep zeroing in on us with the tiny dog- what’s up with that sheriff Cheryl?.. meanwhile we were right next to the biggest great dane in the history of dogs. It didn’t help that Hamlet has never seen this many people before and he started out the morning (in the dark) uncharacteristically barking his head off, much to our embarrassment (luckily, he got over this as we left the parking lot). And then there were the hot tempers in the parking lot, uh, dirt before the sun came up- note to self: people’s tolerance and friendliness is directly proportional to how much sleep they’ve gotten. Including ours. So we had a little bit of a wobbly start (typically) but everything fell into place when Tabitha exclaimed: “This is my most favorite day EVER” as all the balloons launched. Isn’t it great when someone writes your scrapbook page title for you like that?
Debby 2852 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 9:11 amWhat beauty! I would be in awe of all the colors and excitement! Too Cool.
VickiF says:
September 7th, 2008 at 9:42 amSounds like fun (and an adventure!). I sooo want to see an event like that! My DS is facinated by hot air balloons! Hey, who can blame him!?
Katie #4052 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 10:13 amWhat gorgeous pictures Angela! I’ve never seen anything like it! I especially love the first two shots in the dark…spectacular! What kind of camera did you use? Sounds like a good day was had by all!
Thanks for sharing!
Angela says:
September 7th, 2008 at 10:32 amThanks, Katie. I am a big fan of my Nikon D40x. I give it all the credit when I manage a good shot! But I also have a less expensive Canon Powershot S2 IS that is fantastic too. I would highly recommend either, depending on your budget.
Michelle 3624 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 11:00 amGreat shots and I wish that I had been there I was up at that time this morning but nothing that cool in my backyard!
cheryl says:
September 7th, 2008 at 12:00 pmThis is awesome! Wow . . . what a sight! Love the colors and you’re going to have fun scrapping those. So glad you had some great family time . . . love the smiles.
Heather Q #3770 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 12:10 pmWow — beautiful! I’m not sure I could’ve gotten up early enough to go to an event like this, but I bet it would be a great experience!
Tona says:
September 7th, 2008 at 12:14 pmBefore moving to WA we lived in Napa county, CA so we got to see hot air balloons all of the time but you never get over the wonder of it.
Karen #3441 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 12:37 pmI went to a hot air balloon festival in NJ last month - it is a very cool sight when they launch them all at once. I have a page I made in my gallery.
NanaBeth #2906 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 12:44 pmEver been up in one? Add to my resume!
Laura #1943 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 1:25 pmVery cool !! GREAT colors…very inspiring ! (note to self: search for closest hot air balloon event!)
Thanks, Ang !!!
Laura #1943 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 1:47 pmGuess what ?? I FOUND ONE !! For all you Fiskateers close to Queensbury/Glens Falls, NY…Sept 19-23rd…Adirondack Balloon Festival. 90+ balloons ..We will be there SUNDAY MORNING 5:30-6ish AM at the breakfast tent !! If you are going LET ME KNOW and we can meet up! Just google “Adirondack Balloon Festival: for details and directions!
Thank you Angela for your inspiration!
Colleen #2970 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 4:42 pmLOVE the pictures of the balloons in the dark. We have a balloon festival every year, but for some reason (wind) the night glow always seems to get cancelled. Hoping that next year it will be held and my family can see such an awesome sight in person.
Cherrie #1790 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 4:56 pmooooh such great pictures - what an awesome experience for your family. I went to a Balloon festival in Arizona once - but my pictures did not look this good at all - your camera rocks!!
Thanks for sharing these!!
Laura B says:
September 7th, 2008 at 5:00 pmGreat shots. Love the eagle. I went to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in 2001 and your pix brought back the thrill of standing among all those beautiful giants. I am sure you were cold. I ended up having to buy myself a hat to keep my head warm! A tip for anyone planning to go for the first time: early morning in the mountains is cold, especially in October in New Mexico.
doverdi says:
September 7th, 2008 at 5:02 pmGorgeous pictures! Looks like a fun time inspite of the early morning hour & lack of sleep.
Rae Harper says:
September 7th, 2008 at 5:45 pmAngela,
Great shot of all of you. Isn’t it a blast?!!!!!
Pass the hot chocolate please!
Betsy #2572 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 7:11 pmSuch fabulous pictures!!!!!!!!! and love the title!!!
RobinV #4844 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 9:00 pmThat is so cool. I have always wanted to see one. Great pictures and I have done the jacket thing many times too. You would think I would learn. lol
Julie Overby says:
September 7th, 2008 at 9:24 pmWhat a sweet thing that she concluded with! Makes it all worth while doesn’t it? Those photos are amazing Angela! Can’t wait to see them scrapped!
Patti Smith says:
September 7th, 2008 at 9:48 pmWhat beautiful pictures….oh I would have loved seeing that. Oh and how sweet of tabitha to tell you that…perfect page title…
Lisa #1989 says:
September 7th, 2008 at 10:36 pmNow that sounds like one cool event……minus the getting up at 4am part! LOL
Lisa M. Pace says:
September 7th, 2008 at 10:48 pmThese are awesome photos. I love the one of Tabitha and that bumble bee balloon is too cute! That would be the one I would own if I wasn’t afraid of being in one.
[Amy] says:
September 8th, 2008 at 12:28 amsadly, i missed out this year. it dawned on me this morning [after it was too late] that i might not be living here next year, so i may have blown my last chance to see them for a while. ah well. looks like you had fun though. gotta love the parking battles that ensue around rancho during those events. eek! :]
Amanda #4550 says:
September 8th, 2008 at 1:28 amSo bummed I couldn’t go this year! You looked like you had fun, and i’m sur Tab’s comment made the early rise worth it.
Patty 2832 says:
September 8th, 2008 at 9:46 amFantastic photo’s !
lydia #3510 says:
September 8th, 2008 at 2:16 pmYour Pics R FABULOUS…it definately was worth getting up 4..and I so love the eagle ballon that is so cool!!
Agnes Verkroost says:
September 8th, 2008 at 2:26 pmWow, I love the colours of the balloons. Ever thought of making one yourself? from all the scraps you have for your kids? Maybe glue them over a big balloon and see if that works to keep them like a large big balloon/ globe?
I have tried this with coloured paper (magazines) and ended with a lovely globe look a like. Heaven knows where this ended up but the hours of glueing pieces of coloured papers was fun.
Sprayed the lot when it was dry with a lacquer type of spray to keep it firm and the mould out.
Anyway, you had a fab day.
I am a new fiskateer and still have not worked out how to get my photo on the board or tell anyone I exist in this world.
It may come, one day…
Getting out of bed so early is a chore but once up we wonder why we never do that more often….
See sunrise and the beauty and stillnes around us, untill you hit the field and the noises of course.
Have fun scrapping these photos.
Agnes
Agnes Verkroost says:
September 8th, 2008 at 2:31 pmHave a great day
Agnes Verkroost says:
September 8th, 2008 at 2:32 pmWhat a fantastic lot of photos!
You will have fun scrapping these.
Maya says:
September 8th, 2008 at 6:30 pmwow, gorgeous photos! I am impressed you were able to wake them up so early - that would never happen in my house LOL
Groovy Deborah says:
September 8th, 2008 at 7:37 pmYeah it is! Great title it will be too
Looks like it was fun even if it did begin at my bedtime, lol!
Deborah
Ursula #2228 says:
September 8th, 2008 at 8:58 pmGreat photos. Love the colorful balloons and that you made this into a family event. I keep missing the balloon festival out this way but may have to check it out…if I can get over my chicken-ness and wake the little guy up EARLY for it!
Casey #4508 says:
September 13th, 2008 at 6:33 amwhat a wonderful experience….to just be so up close and in the midst of the beauty. Treasured memory. Angela I am looking forward to meetiing you in Virginia City in November. I am a Cali girl. Haven’t spent large amounts of time on this board. Am very very excited though