Friday's finds...

...and letters

Good Morning and happy Friday my friends.

 I'm playing over at Kim's cafe  today-care to join me to see other fun finds?

Before school let out I started making a list of day trips I wanted to do sprinkled throughout the summer. I crossed Descanso Gardens off that list yesterday! 

Just a short 20 minute drive out to Pasadena & you are in another world.

There were pops of color and contrast everywhere.

Then I ran across these sunny side up "fried egg" flowers! 

I showed up late in the season for all the pretty blooms...

But there's a lilac garden...A LILAC GARDEN-400 plants & 250 types of lilacs!

 I'll have to be sure and mark my calendar for next March.

 I found amazing places all over the garden to just sit, reflect, breath and take in the views.

My next field trip is Monday...

...a little cruise out to Catalina & then on down to Mexico. I'll be posting pics on IG (@kellykardos) if you want to ride along!

Dear Dad,

This Alzheimer's stinks. Getting sucked into your world is scary for me I can't imagine what it's like for you. Now, I'll admit, our conversation last night started out amusing...but when you told me you were worried I was going to be kidnapped when I come to visit you & that you'll be in the trees working to protect me with your M-14, well...things sort of went down hill from there. I learned a new phrase last night-Sundowners syndrome. I don't think I'm going to call you in the evenings anymore.

Dear summer vacation,

I love you.

Dear Mom,

I decided it was time to pick up the book we started to read together. It's been over a year-actually it's been that long since I've picked up any book to read. I had to start it again so I traded the bookmark for one that you made me. I sat in the same cozy couch corner so you'll know where to find me if you care to look over my shoulder while I read. The late afternoon sun blazes through the window and bathes me in warmth and it feels good. 

Dear Fibroid,

You suck. 

Dear Teresa,

I could not have asked for a better sister-in-law. 

You are a hoot and are down right hilarious.

Dear peeps,

Thanks for visiting today!

Happy (summer) snapping

xo

Kelly

App Happy...

...Wednesday

Oh My! 

This day got so busy and is quickly running away. I had the best intentions to be here early to play over at Barb's. 

The thing about summer vacation is that at first, I have to force myself to slow down and take things as they come and be totally ok with how my day goes. (that would be today!) I got it in my head last night that since Wednesday is app day I wanted to share 2 with you, one photo related and one not. 

So let's talk game apps!

 My husband and I LOVE to play Scrabble and  WORDS BY POST has an awesome, free, and easy game that we play sometimes sitting across from each other and other times we play when Frankie's away on trips. We always have a game going. Did I mention it's free? The ads are at the bottom and quite honestly, I never even notice them. 

Sometimes Frankie will play a word that I have NO idea what it is. See the word DOGE? Yeah, I had no idea what it was. You can click on a word, a ? will appear, click again and the word is defined for you. The game will not let you submit a word if it isn't recognized-not sure under who's authority tho! You can recall your tiles at any point within your turn.
BTW-doge is the chief magistrate in the republics of Venice and Genoa. 

You can swap tiles. (hmmmmm, like what was I going to do with 3 A's?)

Your points and your opponent's points appear where the word was placed.

 ( 22 points! I got lucky on this word.)

The banner up top lets you know whos turn it is.

You can chat too!

You can "Shuffle Tiles" while they're on your letter rack. This feature helps me "see" words! You can see I'm losing! (What's new!?) You can resign on your turn...but that would mean you're a sore loser!

(as in "BE NICE AND DON'T TAKE MY SPACE FOR THE AWESOME WORD I HAVE!)

It let's you know when your opponent has 3 tiles left!

 And if you've won or lost!

That's always fun! (I see this a lot!)

Right away one of us hits REMATCH. It's a great way to keep your brain synapsis firing. But really, it's just fun and even though it's another sign of the times and keeps us engaged in electronics, the key word is "engaged" and it's mutual and that's what is important.

Are you still with me?!

If you follow me on IG (@kellykardos) you'll know this was my #dailyclick. 

I used PicFrame. 

Five pages of different frames styles, use of an adjustment tool within your chosen frame, FX Effects, rotate/mirror, frame shape and frame pattern options. To add text, tap on the photo for TONS of font options. There's a rotate text option, and finally, save to camera roll or other apps, and/or share to IG, Flickr, Twitter, FB and Tumblr are other options. It's VERY intuitive, fun and easy to use.

Ok, I think I'm going to head over to Barb's now. Care to see what "app-ening" with me?

"appy" snapping!!

xo

Kelly

Friday's...

...letters

Dear Me,

SUMMER VACATION STARTS NOW!

 Let the decompression, early morning house cleaning, room by room purging, plan dinner before 

2 p.m., afternoon playtime, pool dipping, play tourist in your own state, begin! 

Yippee!

Dear Ms Kitty,

Us humans have a saying, it goes like this,

"Don't bite the hand that feeds you." You pissed The Mr. off last night & there is absolutely no reason that you need to hiss and swat at us anymore. Especially when you're the one that lays down to be loved on...What's up with that? You DO NOT want to go toe to toe paw to paw toe to paw with The Mr. He WILL break you of that habit. Consider yourself warned.

Dear Baby Raven,

Could you be any cuter?

Dear D,

I can't imagine what you are going through. I feel so helpless wondering how you are surviving your day, getting through simple tasks and hoping that you are not forgetting to take care of yourself. The one thing that I had a hard time getting past sitting with my mom was that my world seemed to have stopped, like I stepped off a bus and everything around me kept spinning. I was upset and more than a little jealous that everyone else got to go on with their lives. Everything in their world was normal while everything in mine was everything but normal. I'm pretty sure this is normal. I will continue to check in on you everyday. I won't forget about you and the burden you are carrying on your shoulders. 

I'm sending hugs through the universe sis.

Dear Kim Klassen,

Thanks to you I dry all my flowers now :-)

Thank you for your imagination and constant inspiration!

Dear California Chrome,

I'm not into horse racing-But I am hoping you win the Triple Crown tomorrow! There is such excitement in the air for you and your humble beginnings. 

Good Luck

Happy (summer lovin') snapping!

xo

Kelly

The fledglings...

...and Texture Tuesday Nature e-dition

It has happened every year for the past 4 years.

Frankie and I look forward to it every spring wondering if the fledgelings from the previous year will return and continue the tradition of bringing their own "babies" to our backyard oasis where there's an endless supply of stale bread and leftover meats and fats. 

The signs were there that Mama Raven had her little ones as we see her & her mate so sparingly.

I got the text yesterday.

Mama Raven had come to introduce not 1, not 2, not even 3...but 4 fledglings! Like any new and proud parent (or total nature nerd) shared the news with co-workers and any one else that would listen! 

So, the early a.m. feedings begin! 

Seriously, these babies have very unique and unmistakable squeaks and squawks and announced themselves at 5 a.m. And just like a new mommy that runs to her baby because of hunger, I ran downstairs to gather the leftovers-all the while the babies sit form their perch and wait for me to put food in their feeder. I slip back into the house, return to my seat at the kitchen table and watch with wonder and humility that I get to witness another year of one of Mother Nature's most glorious gift. 

Sharing over at Kim's Cafe