Sky Lanterns

 

On the 4rth of July we did the usual fireworks thing on the front lawn and out over Mill Bay. Mill Bay is local hot spot for fireworks and on the 4rth and New Years the bay resounds with blasts and retorts.  By the evening's end a hazy layer of smoke lies over the water.  

But I think our favorite firework does not explode or make any noise at all - the sky lantern.  It just slowly floats up into the sky and glows.  It is a hot air balloon that rises from the heat of a small paraffin fire suspended at the opening in the bottom. 

This 4rth of July the winds were practically calm, and we'd watch the lantern go up, up up way into the sky.  And then the fire would use up all the fuel. the balloon would lose its loft, and we'd watch it descend. We watched them as they came back down to earth or into the bay.  Very mesmerizing to watch.

Patrick