I was out weeding one Sunday evening; it was the tail end of
a busy weekend here in Bishop Hill, IL. The Fiber Fest had attracted record
crowds and the members of the Illinois Association of Wheat Weavers were
packing up and heading home. I heard an odd noise above my head: “phissh, phissh,
phissh” a pause and “phissh, phissh, phissh” again. I looked up to see the
flame of this marvelous aerial conveyance cycling on and off as it clipped the
tree tops and settled softly in the hayfield across the lane. I often refer to
Bishop Hill as “enchanted” (especially for those who have never visited) and
nothing illustrates that description more than this vision of a hot air balloon
bobbing up and down around the village giving residents and their guests rides – and
a unique perspective on this quaint utopian village.
