Natchez Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival, 2010

This week has been very busy for us and our town. The last 2 weeks, Fall Pilgrimage was celebrated when most antebellum houses are open to the public for touring and hostesses are wearing southern belle costumes.

This past weekend, the annual Natchez Balloon Festival was celebrated. This is the busiest weekend here when most tourists come and visit our city.

I am linking with Blue Monday http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ at and Yellow Mellow Monday at http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/. You will know why when you see the photos I posted.

With all these going on, I have also been busy caring for my mom, who as most of you know had a bad accident. She is doing so much better, thank God!

In addition to all these happenings, my stepdaughter Kerri and her 3 very active toddlers are visiting until tomorrow. I tell ya, I ran out of high places to store breakables away, lol.

Do you spot the hot air balloon at the very end of the street? It just took off.

We went to my store in the morning and we were wondering why the streets were full of people. Then we found out, there was a parade. We had the best of seats inside the store.

See the cheerleaders and band uniforms mostly in yellow and blue? I am taking these pictures from the store window.

Rangers on horses.

As if there weren't enough activities going on, there was an antique automobile show too.

We got there late that's why we did not see a lot of balloons but there were still some flying over the Mississippi River.

This is one of Greg Iles' homes. It is located by Rosalie where the festival is held. There were rides for kids, lots of food and concerts. John and Kerri with the kids went for the 3 day weekend but I only went on Sat. We hired a grandma sitter to watch mom.

I am still amazed how the balloon does not burn when the fire shoots up. Hmmm, I don't know why I have a lot of orbs in this picture. Could they be spirits? The location of this festival is the lot right by Fort Rosalie where a lot of Natchez Indians were massacred by the French.

This is inside the balloon. I took the picture from down under. No, not in Australia, lol.

This balloon was being deflated. It's huge isn't it?

We have amazing sunsets of the Mississippi River.

We went to the little theater to watch a play but we got there too early so we drove by the cemetery. I took a picture of the Turning Angel. I have never taken one at night before. You would know what the Turning Angel is if you have read Greg Iles' book. If you haven't, you should because it is really good.

We watched Big River which plays in Natchez Little Theater every other year. I first watched it 4 years ago. The last picture shows grandson Noah posing with Huck and Jim from the play.

Thank you so much for stopping by and thanks to our Yellow and Blue Monday memes hostesses. Don't forget to visit them!