Welcome to Saturday Snippets ..my one-word prompt today is “Balloon”

Where did the word balloon come from? It is like every one-word prompt my muse just drops it in my lap…I was ruminating and conjugating and just about to give up when “balloons” came to me…

Balloons...a flexible bag that can be inflated with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, and air. For special tasks, balloons can be filled with smoke, liquid water, granular media (e.g. sand, flour or rice), or light sources. Modern-day balloons are made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or nylon fabric, and can come in many different colours.

Some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig bladder. Some balloons are used for decorative purposes or entertaining purposes, while others are used for practical purposes such as meteorology, medical treatment, military defence, or transportation.

The rubber balloon was invented by Michael Faraday in 1824, during experiments with various gases. He invented them for use in the laboratory.

Balloon angioplasty...is a procedure used to open narrowed or blocked arteries. It uses a balloon attached to a catheter that’s inserted into an artery. At the place where deposits of plaque have closed off or narrowed the channel for blood flow, the balloon is inflated.

Balloon Fish…also known as the “pufferfish” of which all pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them foul tasting and often lethal. To humans, tetrodotoxin is deadly, up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide…not something you want to get too close to then…

Balloon Lump Fish…Balloon lumpfish belong to the Cyclopteridae family and grow to more than 10 centimetres in length. The fish cling to seaweed, rocks and other hard surfaces, and rarely move. …

Balloon lumpfish are carnivorous and prey on shellfish and soft-bodied creatures.

Balloon Molly…Molly fish are one of the most popular and commonly kept fish in tropical aquariums. These brightly coloured, lively little fish are very easy to care for, living happily in a community of other peaceful fish, and bringing lots of fascinating behaviours that will keep onlookers enthralled for hours.

Mollies make a great first fish for newbies to the aquarium hobby.

Balloon Flower…Balloon flowers make excellent plants for border gardens or rock gardens and the blooms attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies thanks to their wide-open petals.

It is native to East Asia. Balloon flowers are some of the few herbal root remedies still used in wide common practice in the world, but their popularity stretches back centuries. The roots of this powerful plant can be dried and crushed into a powder for supplemental forms or can be used in salads and various culinary creations.

Up, Up and Away in my Beautiful Balloon…from Nancy Sinatra, The 5th Dimension, Andy Williams, all a bit too sweet for me so I opted for this one it had a bit more Oomph

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Balloon Neck Monkey…

Siamang gibbons have shaggy black fur, except for a grey area around their chin and mouth. Infants are entirely black. Males and females are similar in appearance. Their large naked throat sac acts as a resonator for penetratingly loud, deep, and expressive sounds.

Balloon Rocket Experiment…What is the aim of the balloon rocket experiment? This simple and fun science experiment teaches children about Action and Reaction. Using everyday household items, children learn how the force of air moving in one direction can propel a balloon in the other direction much like a rocket.

Balloon Skirt…In the 1950s, puffball skirts were a popular women’s fashion item often worn at cocktail parties and proms. French designer Yves St. Laurent designed a puffball skirt under his apprenticeship with Christian Dior, and the skirt was also a signature piece of The House of Balenciaga…after a few years of absence, the Puffball skirts made a comeback in the late 2000s, and were accompanied for the first time by “puffball sleeves” sewn using the same folded-under technique. Today, puffball skirts are a popular feature on prom dresses, wedding dresses, and dance costumes.

Hot Air Balloons…A hot air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft consisting of a bag, called an envelope, which contains heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket (in some long-distance or high-altitude balloons, a capsule), which carries passengers and a source of heat, in most cases an open flame caused by burning liquid propane. The heated air inside the envelope makes it buoyant since it has a lower density than the colder air outside the envelope. As with all aircraft, hot air balloons cannot fly beyond the atmosphere. The envelope does not have to be sealed at the bottom, since the air inside the envelope is at about the same pressure as the surrounding air. In modern sport balloons, the envelope is generally made from nylon fabric, and the inlet of the balloon (closest to the burner flame) is made from a fire-resistant material such as Nomex. Modern balloons have been made in many shapes, such as rocket ships and the shapes of various commercial products, though the traditional shape is used for most non-commercial and many commercial applications. Source: Wikipedia

Bristol Hot Air Balloon Festival is a marvellous sight with all those colourful balloons filling the sky over Weston…North Somerset will host the largest balloon race in Europe. -The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is Europe’s largest annual meeting of hot air balloons, attracting over 130 hot air balloons from across the globe. North Somerset will play host to the UK’s largest hot air balloon race – with balloons of all shapes and sizes flying above the district.

The race’s date and launch location this year are being held under wraps due to Covid guidelines, but residents have been told to keep their eyes peeled…The winner of these races are decided by who can drop their markers on targets set in open countryside first…not an easy task methinks.

My best friend Gilly lived in Weston once she retired which was her birthplace and she presented me with a beautiful image of the balloons flying high it is such a stunning image and it has travelled with me as it is a lasting memory of her…Those beautiful balloons…

Barrage Balloons…

Balloon Whisk…when you are whisking eggs, cream or salad dressings a balloon whisk is an essential piece of kitchen equipment…

Whether you are whisking your matcha tea, making meringue or a salad dressing your kitchen needs at least 3 in different sizes and materials ..bamboo for your matcha, metal and maybe a silicon one for whisking a batter…

 Wine Balloon…how do they work? The balloon floats on top of the wine, and once the balloon touches the side of the bottle, the wine is completely sealed from the outside air, preventing further oxidation. You can see that the Air Cork is working and the bottle is completely sealed. Go ahead – you can even turn the bottle upside down…

Finally, just a little craft idea which I think is super cool…I’m sure Lily would love to make these for her friends birthdays…But please make sure that whatever you use is biodegradable and environmentally friendly even the sequins if you are adding them…Think green…

Thank you for joining me for Saturday Snippets feel free and if you would love to suggest a one-word prompt for me…That would be great…Have a great weekend and stay safe