My Hot Air Balloon Girl

I was wondering what she was so busy doing with all her construction paper that she was taping and weaving together. 

She had made what looks like a large mat, about 3 ft x 3 ft comprised of many layers of paper taped and woven together.  Along the edges she had stacked rolled up papers about two rolls high.  I thought perhaps she was making some amazing art project like she tends to do.  Turns out she intended it for so much more.

She had casually mentioned to me one day that she was going to build a hot air balloon.  Hot air balloons had caught her attention lately.  Aven commended her on her big idea and then told her that when she had completed her engineering degree and researched exactly what goes into building a hot air balloon she should certainly go for it. 

Seems she didn’t want to wait that long.

This paper mat was actually the basket to her hot air balloon.  The rolled up paper edges were the sides of the basket.

She says to me that she is planning a trip and will be gone probably about two nights.  I shouldn’t worry, though, she’ll be just fine in her hot air balloon. 

I ask her if she’s sure that the basket she made will hold her.  Oh, she is definitely sure.

“Well, what will you make the balloon part out of?” I ask her.  She thinks a large sheet will work. 

“How will your hot air balloon get off the ground?” I persist.  She thinks the wind will do a fine job, just like it lifts a kite, why wouldn’t it lift her sheet?! 

I mention to her that a hot air balloon actually rises off ground through the use of heat to warm the air inside the balloon causing it to rise. 

“I guess I’ll need a lighter, then.” She says, bless her heart.

“I don’t know if the lighter will be enough”, I respond.  “A hot air balloon usually uses a huge fire.”  I make an awesome hot air balloon fire sound.  I’m all about sound effects.

“I’m worried a fire like that will catch your sheet on fire” I say.

So our intrepid hot air balloon traveler is grounded for now but I know she’ll make something amazing one day.  I love that she doesn’t let a few details like having actually no idea what she’s doing and having no proper materials stop her from trying to get it started and off the ground.  This is an ideas girl.  She will go far, you mark my word.