Balloon Fiesta and Parade of Homes Nostalgia

For the past five years, one of my most delightful activities has been volunteering at the morning lift off of the International Balloon Fiesta, doing jobs I had never before done before. Not only did I volunteer, I also cajoled friends and relatives to join me, promising them the best breakfast burritos in town and a sensational experience on the fiesta field as payment for enduring the bitter pre-dawn cold to raise funds for my service club.
Invariably they joined me and came back for more.

Alas, I did not volunteer this year that turned out to be one of the warmest balloon fiesta season on record.  I am sure the breakfast burritos and hot chocolate did not taste as wonderful this year. Yet, I have no doubt the show was as grand as ever.
Overlapping with balloon fiesta is another of my favorite Albuquerque fall events, the Homebuilders Association Parade of Homes.  In full swing right now, but somewhat shrunken in size, it is a bit different this year.  Warm Balloon Fiesta dmornings! Smaller Parade of Homes! So I am feeling a bit nostalgic about both events especially when I look back on follow-up reports I wrote in previous years. This Parade of Homes blog post for a previous year makes the point.

However, this year's Parade of Homes, although scaled back in terms of the number and price of homes, does have some charming, well built homes. The contemporary-style home I mention in this article  for example, does not have an opulent-looking approach. It does have a wow factor when  you open the front door. And it combines understated elegance with practicality, energy efficiency, and comfort.

I like the increasing green trend in homebuilding reflected in so many of this year's homes. I hope to see more next weekend, and will be looking to see if green building continues to gain ground  (pun intended) next year.
Eloise Gift
Gift Realty NM