I Clicked it Up a Notch-Contest

My first photo contest. (biting nails) My favorite photo taken in August~It was tough. I've never had to pick a favorite of my own before. I liked them all for different reasons. But this one seemed the most fitting with this being the last day of August and the last of the summer daisies slowly fading as fast as the days seem to....
Happy Snapping
xo                        
Kelly

~Farewell...

...to Summer!

Do you need help out the door to make way for fall?

I know some of you will moan and groan to see your summer fade-but for me living in temps in the  high 90's & low 100's just doesn't cut it for me. (Even if it IS a dry heat.)

I'm giddy with all the fall decorations in the stores!

Even in death, the last of the daisies are a thing of beauty to me.

I'll wait patiently as the dog days of summer linger for just a bit longer. The tastes and smells of Fall are worth the wait & that's when everything comes alive for me!

Happy Snapping!

xo

Kelly

What you see...

...is what you get!
Over at the Shutter Sisters, the theme is your environment & what you see-but you can't compose anything.
So...
when you come visit our abode, you'll be greeted by two very noticeable items:
This sun that we bought literally in our car as we were driving over the Mexico/US border and...

...this blue eyed chef-who has one very important task!

To handle the chocolate!
Pretty skimpy there boss...
Can't greet guest's like that!

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!

Don't mind if I do! ( I had to eat this one cause it kept falling off the tray!)
 One thing you should know-I always eat or drink my props.
Uh....unless I happen to shoot cooked frog legs or animal innards! LOL

It's NEVER to early for chocolate! (I ate this at 9 a.m!)
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly

~Thankful...

...that's me.
I had quite the morning-I plopped down in front of the t.v. to watch the much anticipated Ree from the Pioneer Woman make her debut on the Food Network. Right after the Sunrise Punch was getting served, I heard an awful noise & the house filled with a haze. Right away I'm sniffing the air for smoke-nope, don't smell anything-but there is something not right. So I dashed through the house searching for the source of the noise-running past & opening the front door to let that haze out as I am. I followed the noise upstairs & knew it was the attic fan. Shut it off...ok...THINK...adrenaline is pumping-still not smelling smoke-that's good. Try to call Frankie-he's working out at the YMCA-got his voicemail-shoot-gotta call 911.  In my calmest voice-(shaky at best) gave all the info in a clear & concise manner.  Ok-fire dept. on their way. Call the YMCA-tell the girl at the front desk the situation & Frankie needs to get home. (still holding it together). Ok...hear the siren-wait outside to flag down the engine-look up at the roof-no smoke or flames....that's good. The guys come in-I tell them what happened-they asked for a ladder-ok...off to the garage to get a ladder-then...the Captain saw IT...
IT is a helicopter Frankie is building in the garage...Yes...a real turbine engine helicopter. (I'll save that story for another time!)  The Captain was completely captivated by this vision! Hey, it's not every day you get a house call and there's a helicopter in the garage. He starts asking me all these questions & I'm thinking, "my attic could be burning can we talk about this some other time?"
Basically the attic fan overheated and has been replaced, it's working just fine & all is right in the Kardos household. After the fire dept left..I lost it-tears and all! I am NOT an adrenaline junkie to say the least-So today, I'm thankful for the Porter Ranch Fire Dept for your swift arrival & assessment. I promised to invite them back once the helicopter is up and running. It's the least I could do.
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly

~Build it...

...and they will come~
A great line from one of my favorite movies-Field of Dreams. What? You haven't seen it? Well go put it in your movie queue straight away! :-)
For some reason this photo reminded me of that line & that I haven't seen the movie in awhile.
We have this majestic pine on our property that's a safe haven to many fine feathered friends! But the "homes on the block" are run down & haven't seen life for years. SO...on my platter goes one more project! I'm going to clean up the neighborhood and hopefully will get to see new families in the spring! Fingers crossed we'll get some takers!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

~Let it Go~

The bane of my existence! Linking up over at Courtney's, I have learned & trying really hard to let go & shrug stuff off, be flexible, and sometimes even the best laid plans can go up in smoke-then rethink, regroup & it's usually not the camera's fault and it's certainly not worth losing sleep over! Yup...Just let it go!
I am happy to say I snapped this photo of "my" baby raven flying off after being scared half to death from a neighboring falcon who seems to think it amusing to dive bomb others while enjoying their breakfast at our feeder. The bokeh is mine too! I need to find a way to make it available to you all-as a gift of sorts....it's pretty-and GOTTA love Kim Klassen's clone stamp!
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly

~The Heart of the Matter...

...Is love! For my One and Only. I get these ideas & while they don't start off  cockamamie-the process to get to what I see in my minds eye can get pretty cockamamie! My "table top" was too formal looking & not my color. So I thought-"just strip it." Yeah....1/2 bottle of stripper & 3 different sanders later-I got what I wanted-but it's always Frankie to the rescue! The stain on that floor sample I use as a table top did NOT want to come off. But it's perfect...for now...until I get a NEW cockamamie  idea!
Thank you Kim Klassen for your awesome stamp!

I love keys...found these at Michaels-
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

~Revelation...

...I had one, yesterday! Yup...I was a bit of an emotional sap yesterday. Austin turned 16, my daughter turned 25 on the 19th & don't even get me started on my oldest who's birthday is in January! But anyway, I was all excited (still am) about this new photography path I'm on-but I haven't been totally 100% happy with my work-(are we ever?) I thought, how difficult can it be going from a self portrait artist-to everything else? Hah....boy...that's when my revelation hit me. I have the opposite camera view from a lot of people. I got SO use to being in front of the camera, that being behind it is something really quite new to me. It sounds odd I know. I blame it on being a slow learner & those "aha" moments take a bit longer. But yippee when they do! Understanding the problem is 1/2 the battle! So why I pick myself up & dust off the "boo hoo me" blues...I thought I'd share a few of my personal favorite selfies so maybe you'll understand a little bit more of what I'm going through:
Courtney, over at Click it Up a Notch, is talking about  negative space. I love it & how it can emote  emotions. This was towards the end of my self portrait 365. I was ambivalent to say the least-even though I knew I didn't have the strength to do another one. I equated it to giving up your child that you've cared & nurtured for-  and then all of sudden-poof-it's over, done, gone, no more....Now what?

A friend of mine just lost her husband unexpectedly right before school let out for the summer-they have 10 year old twins. This was my way of expressing my sadness. It's entitled, 

          "I Cried A Tear For You"

I LOVE Make believe...
(it started with Stella, my alter ego!)

...Photoshop





...and wigs!

And let's not forget peace! I love peace!
So you see, I've been way more comfortable in front of the camera than behind it.
But I'm here to learn, for as long as it takes & i'm going to put forth my best effort.
Thanks for sticking around!
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly

~Charmed...

...I'm sure!
I know I'm 100 years late having an Italian charm bracelet-but honestly...I don't care cause I'm in love with this unexpected gift from my One & Only.
Frankie was up in AK a few days ago & while out for a walk, he went to a small sidewalk fair. He knows me so well and got me off to a great start on the charms. I'm all about peace baby! He knows how much of a chocoholic I am~(i eat it every single day!) I have 11 more spaces to fill & I'm tickled pink at what I'm going to fill them with...there'll be a camera one for sure, a wine bottle, a Navy Brat, Proud Military Mom & quite possibly a happy face cause I really am one happy chick!
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly

~I Learned...

...that sitting in 95* heat, under a covered patio, a little sweat & patience can be totally worth the reward!
Happy Snapping
xo
Kelly

~The Foodie~

Well now, THIS is something I could talk about all day!  Food! Are you a foodie? 

 A foodie is defined as an amateur who simply loves all aspects of food-to eat it, study it, prepare it & just plain read about it. It's an ardent thirst for knowledge. Pure devotion & sensuous enjoyment....uh....is it hot in here or is it just me?!

 Ok-moving on-today I have 2 stories wrapped in one-I didn't realize in all those years of reading Bon Appetit & Gourmet & yanking endless numbers of recipes from magazines, collecting & reading cookbooks like people read dime store novels was preparing me to become a foodie! Now add one more dimension to my already passion for food-Food Blogs! I love 'em and so I bought this great book: Plate to Pixel-Which, by the way I'd seen over at The Pioneer Woman's blog.

Not ONLY is it about food, it's about taking photos of it! *swoon*

 I had already thumbed through the book several times dreaming of one day taking photos that good & as I was driving through a parking lot, I noticed a flooring store. I had a light bulb moment! I walked in, introduced myself and asked what happened to the wood floor samples once that style was discontinued. They get chucked! Now my wheels are spinning, my hearts beating a bit faster. So I explained I was an amateur food photographer (well- I am) & needed several samples to simulate table tops. He took my name & number & just happened to have a sample sitting outside (see above!) I was thrilled-not my 1st choice in woods but beggars can't be choosers & its wood-it can be stripped! I thanked the man 100 times & practically giddy I carried it to the car, loaded it-& was so excited to get home & share my excitement w/Frankie. 

Pulled in the driveway-grabbed that sample, babbled the story to Frankie & then his eyes got as big as dinner plates. Now, he's a no nonsense kind of guy- and with his big eyes & stern voice told me to PUT THAT WOOD DOWN-he said it twice-at that point, I did NOT question him like I usually do. He grabbed that slab of wood and laid it on some bushes-I brought home the biggest black widow we'd ever seen. I carried her next to my skin-twice-& twice by the grace of G-d she didn't bite me. Most people bring home cute little puppies or fuzzy kittens. Your's truly brings home spiders and great big ones at that-

Gives me the shivers-Humble Frankie doesn't think he saved my life but grateful me thinks otherwise!

So, that's your "twofer" for the day-the spider (which we let go, both our lucky day) & my new "tabletop" for foodie pics!

Happy Snapping

xo 

Kelly

~You Are My Sunshine...

...My Only Sunshine
Yup-this goes out to my one and only! He saved my life Friday!
Yup-He doesn't think so...but you'll come back tomorrow to hear the tale won't you?
Frankie is one of a kind and anyone who knows him, knows how true that is. He's always looking out for the ones he loves...(Glad i'm one of them!)
Yup...Thanks for saving my life babe!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

~The Look of Love~

     So, the only room in the house I have not cleaned out was Austin's. It really doesn't do any good to force him into it-I knew he'd eventually ask for my help. That day was yesterday We spent hours meticulously going through book shelves, drawers & papers upon papers!
      With Austin turning 16 in a few weeks, I'm a hot bundle of emotions, so it was fun reminiscing back through the years & spending quality time together.
     Meet "Nigh Night Bear"! He sits on the top shelf in Austin's closet with a few other "friends" that he's not ready to dump. (Shhhh-he can NOT know I said that!) Austin used Nigh Night bear as a pillow & i'm pretty sure that's how the name came about. You can see he is well loved & was quite the world traveler!

There was ALWAYS room for a boy's best mate!

And now it's like he'll watch over that boy for ever.

The time Austin has left at home is fleeting & some days I feel like I can't catch my breath. In a blink-he'll be off chasing his dreams.
 Life's a trip Austin, I hope you'll always know the way home....Same goes for you Justin & Jamie~
xo
Happy Snapping
Kelly (mom)

~Aye Aye Skipper~

You know those stories where people go about their day, lets say gardening...and they dig up a small trinket or coins that end up being worth tons of money? Well, that didn't happen to me today as I was weeding!   lol
 Yeah, I figure the people that that happens to are in need & I say good for them! All I found was an empty snail shell, a bird feather, got stuck by a rose thorn-twice, grimy fingernails and mud in my eye when I yanked a weed to hard! But if I wasn't out enjoying the cool(ish) fresh air, I would have never seen that Skippers were out early today. They don't sit for very long!
 Frankie also planted milkweed for me in hopes that the Monarchs will pay us a visit next year.  Hope you are having a fabulous day! Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

It's the Little Things' eDition

Its Texture Tuesday over at Kim Klassen's Cafe & the theme is "it's the little things".  But what these represent aren't little at all, in fact they are really quite big. But how do you capture, affection and gratitude, trust, kindness, love and devotion or any of the hundreds of other adjectives I could list? This was the only way I knew how...In the little things.



I used Kim's new Water Stained frame and Scripted here and converted it to Florabella's  B&W Chestnut.

Happy Snapping!

xo

Kelly

~West Side Story~

Just having some fun on the movie title. So besides the ravens we have scrubs (playing the part of one of the Sharks.) That is a ringtail dove in the background, (playing the part of one of the Jets). Unlike the movie, these two "gangs" don't really give a darn about each other-but they ALL sing! The scrubs come for peanuts every morning. There are 2 clans on opposite sides of us but it's really hard to get a good photo of them in the same frame. It's really like a zoo at my house until about 10 a.m. when it starts getting too hot. I've been building trust with these little guys and they let me stand pretty close to them as long as I'm throwing peanuts. I do talk to them and i've learned a "birdcall whistle" they respond to! At any rate...here are a few more.

Are they not stinking cute? I'm loving my new camera-I'm ready to sell my rebel!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

~The Grapes of Wrath~

You know, I'm embarrassed to say I've never read the book OR seen the movie but I think I'll put it on my "bucket list". I know it's a classic and shame on me for letting it go unread & unseen this long.  I didn't go to a winery, these are actually growing on our property. You know, there's an Italian proverb that says, "One basket of grapes does not make a vintage." So...then...what do I have with so few hanging from a fence? Exactly that, a few hanging from the fence! lmao
They are not sweet yet, & I'm not sure if they even will. So....I guess I'll just have to eat one a day until they are all gone! I'll get back to you!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

~Blackbird singing...

...in the dead of night~
But actually early, early morning! Some people have roosters, some pooches & kitty's to wake them up. But we have the joy of this little guy. A family of desert ravens have decided they liked the food we put out & every morning this little one comes between 6 & 6:15 like clockwork. (Glad I'm a morning person!) He croaks and belts out songs like nobody's business! He was very brave as I was sitting on my patio with my big honking lens staring at him. He's calling for his mama here~she's never far away. I suppose because we are privileged to be watching the adults rear their fledgling-this little one is  beautiful to me....Yes-beauty IS in the eyes of the beholder.
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly

~Fruit of the Vine~

Our tomato plants are looking pretty sad this year so how lucky am I that "Neighbor Sharon" has an abundance of red, juicy tomatoes!? What makes this even sweeter is this is the 1st photo with my NEW 50D! Yup-I took the plunge after Frankie found a great deal for me & she came yesterday. I'm glad this wasn't my 1st camera-because for sure i'd have been a bit lost and more than confused! My Rebel has been good to me & even though she's been on the fritz-i'm not ready to give her up so quickly! HTT for anything goes e-Dition over @ Kim Klassens!
P.S. YES they taste delicious!
Happy Snapping!
xo
Kelly