The wind was calm, the air cool and crisp for the mass ascension to kick off the 2023 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Hello Kitty!
Red Devil for Herman
Peek-a-Boo!
pTerodactyl Balloon
For Inchie
Goodbye Kitty!
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta / Animals / balloons / Birds / Bosque / Corrales / Cottonwoods / Ducks / Great Blue Heron / Rio Grande / Sandias / Sunrise / Trees
AIBF 2023 Ascensione di Massa
Off Center & Not Even 
Wow! Quite a varied collection of balloons flying, Tim! They are fun to see. Thank you! Looks like good weather down there. It is in the upper 80s and sunny here this afternoon.
Clear and cool. I think it was in the upper 70s. Thanks, Lavinia.
It looks so fun!!
Have you ever gone for a ride?
I have not flow recently, but I have flown many times in the past. I flew with Carol Rymer-Davis. She was a record holder. She and Richard Abruzo died when their gas balloon gas caught in a thunderstorm over Italy in 2010.
Oh, yay and ohhh noooo.
I haven’t hot air balloned yet
It’s fun.
I was supposed to go 20+ years ago but it didn’t work out. I consider going to Temecula but it’s soooo dang expensive (I’d want a room for the night before).
I always enjoy your photos of the balloons. I’m sure that this is a site to behold.
Thanks, Rebecca. Always fun to see the balloons.
Tim, awesome balloons this year. The photos are perfect. Thanks for the smiles! 📚🎶 Christine
Thanks, Christine.
Love love love these images Tim. I attended this balloon festival 28 years ago and still remember it vividly. I’d like to see it again sometime. Thank you for these captures.
It’s a memorable event. Thanks, Sylvia.
Fabulous.
Thanks, Gigi.
Yay! It started! These are spectacular, Timothy!
Thanks, Michele.
Oh wow! So much colour and fun in those skies. I’ve been up in a hot air balloon twice but never in a kitty balloon! Fantastic photos Tim 😁
Thanks, Miriam.
All amazing, these various shapes of balloons!
Thanks, Heidi.
Each year I’m blown away by this event. But this year is special, with a cat and a red devil… 😉
There’s also a balloon meeting in a local city nearby, but only 10/20 balloons will go up in the air.
When I saw that lovely red devil, I though of you. There are 657 balloons this year. Thanks, Herman.
That’s a lot of balloons Timothy ! I like the special shapes, some are realy funny. It must be a fantastic balloon meeting. Thanks for the many images.
You welcome, Rudi. There are 657 balloons this year.
Nice assortment of balloons. Rarely am I on the road in October.
Thanks, Danzig.
Nicely colorful subject. I liked the one you caught peeking over the tree.
Thanks, Brad.
The sky is full from yesterday
Lots of balloons. Thanks, Shey.
Oh gosh, this is amazing!!!!! Like, I’m literally in shock at how fantastic this is! The variety and creativity of these balloons are a treat to gaze at! It’s like balloon heaven…wow! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
You are welcome, Samantha. Lots of colors and shapes to stimulate your imagination.
Re-looking at these again, I finally picked a favorite – Princess Nelly!!! (As printed on the pink princess elephant balloon!)
She’s a fun balloon, and a regular and the AIBF.
There is such variety among the balloons, it must be hard to know where to look first. My favorite is the VW bus.
I love the VW Bus, too. You can take in all in at once looking at it. The camera doesn’t really capture the overall impact. Thanks, Liz.
You’re welcome, Tim.
What a show!!!! They all look so happy together!
Balloons are happy. Thanks, Marina.
They really are!
Well, I got that acronym! 🙄
I love all those balloons.
Thanks for all the fab shots, Tim! xx
You are welcome, Resa. Some of today’s balloon shots are backgrounds for the paper doll of Boogapony Holly. Thanks for stopping by and for the brilliant doll and outfits.
I love it Tim!
I’ll be reblogging in a few days.
The temp here plunged last night…. like wild crazy. I was so cold, I tucked into bed under our big wool blanket almost right after dinner.
It was in the 80’s day before.
Heat’s going on today! xx
Thanks for the inspiration, Resa. We are in the big temp change days here. It will be 80 during the day and mid 30s in the morning. I’ve had six cats on me some mornings. Glenda got under the covers and tried to keep me in bed one cold morning last week.
Oh man! It’s so hard to get out of a winter bed when the cats have all built up a huge head of heat.
They take it personal! xx
Especially when there are six cats on me that weigh from 12 to 20 pounds.
Wow! You have some healthy cats. Is Spunkie- Poo 💋 the biggest?
Spunk is the 12 pounder. Sasha is up to 20. Loki and Silver weight 18 pounds each and G&G are 16 pounds each. Marble is a 10 pound kitty, but she is usually on Laurie.
Oh my! Spunkie-Poo 💋 only thinks he’s big.
Marble is obviously the cute little baby of the bunch. His markings are outstanding.
Even though Marble only weighs 10 pounds, when she jumps on me from the cat tree she’s a harder hit than the big cats. She’s a live wire.
Lol!!! Go Marble!
Wow! This is beautiful! I love Hot Air Balloons! Great shots Timothy. Aren’t they amazing, I loved to be aboard sailing under the clouds. 🎈❤️
They are fun to ride. Thanks, Holly.
Well, I haven’t exactly been in one , it’s just a dream of mine. 🎈
It’s fun, but can be a little slow moving.
I can imagine looking down as the earth moves beneath , I really must do it one day.
You need to plan a trip to the Balloon Fiesta.
That’s a fabulous festival of likeminded airborne folks, I’d love to be there.
Hop on your Harley, get on Old Highway 66 and head west! Thanks, Holly.
How wonderful that the weather was in cahoots with the great ascensione!
And what a cool selection. I am still hoping to one day go up in one.
So far we have had three calm days for the balloons to go up. Thanks, Dale.
Oh how lovely!
What an amazing balloons captured, Tim. It wouldn’t be complete without Hello Kitty!
The kitty made it right. Thanks, Cindy.
Kitties always do as we know! They must’ve known you were coming lol
Apparently.
EAch year you manage to amaze me with these balloon shots, Tim, thanks!
I just commented on your other comment that there is a Brit Balloon dedicated to you in this post. Thanks, Inchie.
H o l y C o w, that looks amazing. I have to say, I am partial to the female vamp – she looks hot (almost went with another pun, but decided to keep your comment section less adulty ha).
Fantastic Tim! Wow just love these pics …
Thanks, Julie.