Thursday, June 12, 2014

5 Random Friday Finds

Find No. 1


I am so impressed with the National Park Service. When a kid sends in a Flat Stanley, or in this case a Flat Ranger, as part of a summer project, the NPS takes the time to send somebody out to someplace beautiful in the park and have the Flat Ranger's picture taken. Here beautiful Lake Michigan is in the background, as well as North Manitou Island. Yes, that is my hand assisting in the Flat Ranger photo taking.

Find No. 2


I think there is a conspiracy among rental cottage owners. Make sure there are NO sharp knives for the renters to use. They might hurt themselves and then the cottage owners might be held liable. Do you know how hard it is to cut a lime with a VERY dull knife?

Find No. 3


I found this bowl here at the cottage and have fallen in love with it. Do you think anyone will notice if it goes missing at the end of next week? By the way the salad in the bowl is the start of a Quinoa Chickpea and Avocado Salad.

Find No. 4


I have a confession to make, I really prefer to take photos on vacation with my iPhone as opposed to using my dSLR. First of all, it is convenient and works well with my joy of photographing random things. Second, the instant gratification. I can take a photo do a little editing and then send it right off to Instagram, or add it to my photo stream, so I can post to my blog while away. Third, I LOVE the apps and filters that I can use on the iPhone. Take for instance this photo....


becomes this...


I love the app. DistressedFX, one of my favorites. I like the moody landscapes I can create with it.

Find No. 5


I found this burger - Black Bean Pesto Burger - I have been thinking about this burger for two years now, ever since I had a bite of my husband's last time we were here in the summer. And yes, it was worth the wait, so good. 

Joining Kim for Friday Finds

25 comments:

Unknown said...

Love the editing you did on the photo! Perhaps you could buy a similar bowl and substitute it for the one you love? Or you could just ask! I see why you have taken to it. Looks like you are enjoying yourself!

Donna Hopkins said...

Your picture of the Flat Ranger brought a smile to my face - remembering the many Flat Stanleys who have come our way. Yes, the knives are always dull in the summer cottages - but good for you that you persevered. The quinoa salad sounds delicious (I'm making one with asparagus for today). That bowl. . . I love it, too! You will find one just like it. And, the iPhone camera sounds perfect for travel picture-taking. Love that textured effect on your photo today! Enjoy every minute of your summer adventures! I'll be on similar adventures soon!

Lynne said...

It looks and sounds like you are enjoying the best of Michigan summer . . .you and Flat Ranger make for a great team . . .

Karen Lakis said...

Wow - looks like a beautiful place for a little getaway! And - five fun finds!

Unknown said...

I looks like you are staying at a fabulous location - I feel peaceful just reading this post. And yes, I adore my iphoneography - it's the perfect tool to document the simple wonderful moments of our days.

Michelle B said...

Lake Michigan looks so beautiful. The bowl is a great photo prop, take lots of pictures while you are there. I like the iphone for picture taking on vacation too. It is so much easier to pack and I can play with the images right then. I love your edit of the lake picture. Enjoy the rest of your vacation!

4 Lettre Words said...

Oh...that burger is for me! Yum! Love that Flat Ranger program, too. So fun!

nameless faceless said...

Great photos and random finds! I'm glad you helped with the Flat Ranger. With the Flat Stanley I just had, I found my arms not quite long enough for a good photo! I have been known to sharpen those pesky knives on vacation. I've been so desperate I've used the bottom of a steel can or even a rock! I hope your vacation was wonderful!

Anne Payne said...

Lovely photo edit! I had no idea you could do something like that with a phone.

stacie said...

Love the editing on the photo. Looks so peaceful there. Enjoy yourself.

Bonny Bonafilla said...

Lake Michigan looks dreamy, and how wonderful that the rangers go to all that trouble for the children. Hope you have a fabulous rest of your holiday. All the best, Bonny

Anonymous said...

The irony is that you're much more likely to hurt yourself with a dull knife than with a sharp one. I agree with you about iPhone photography. I love the spontaneity and ease of it and the ability to edit and share pics directly from the phone. Distressed FX is one of my favorites, too. Happy to see you're having such a great time on your vacation and looking forward to more photos!

The Artful Diva said...

The Iphone does take great photos - I'm going to give that app a try.

Ahayes1225 said...

When I was a Girl Scout leader we did Flat Stacey. She went all over the world, I wish I could have traveled with her. Looks like you have having a wonderful vacation.

Cathy H. said...

Looks like you're have a great vacation time! Love the beautiful reflections in your IPhone image and love the app you used. Kudos to the park rangers; loved that you helped them out! I must say your eating well, too...looks delicious!

Dotti said...

It looks like you're having a fabulous time ... and that's what vacations are for. Yup! I'm with you on the knife thing. And a few other kitchen essentials, too.

Unknown said...

I.m leaving for a cruise on Monday and I almost just want to leave me DSLR at home and just take my iphone for the exact reasons you just explained...how crazy is that? That's funny about the knives in your cottage. A black bean burger is right up my alley!

Simon said...

Your randoms are so random and fun. I was sent a Flat Rachel once and had great fun taking her on sites around my area. That burger looks delish, and yes-you totally rock what you do with your iphone.

Sylvia said...

Great finds ... as always, Sarah !
Looks like a wonderful place ... and mmm, I would love to taste that burger :-)
Have a nice weekend,
Sylvia

Kim Klassen said...

i love your friday posts.... i feel like I've sat down for a cuppa... with you.
your salad sounds so good.... as I sit here.... and supper time has come and gone.... too lazy to cook....
I'd really like a bite of that burger....
hope your vacation has been full of plenty of peace....

Michelle said...

Editing phone photos is so fun. So many apps and Instagram is great, as well. Love the editing you did!

sweetbriardreams said...

Your editing is great, it's amazing what can be done to photos with a quick click now. My daughter was showing me the wonders of her iPod the other day and it made my camera look pathetic! I hope the rest of your break goes very well (now, don't forget to leave the bowl!!).

Suburban Girl said...

Yummy - glad you enjoyed the burger after your longs wait. Oh the things in rentals...I agree. They are either tempting you (bowl) or making you curse at them (knife). We vacationed in a place every year and there was fiesta ware pieces that tempted me. One year, they were no longer there. I don't know if they tempted someone else or if the owner removed them. I was disappointed!

Denise Fabian said...

Wonderful photos! My Ed brings a knife sharpener when we go to rental homes. Love the processing on the lake photo!

Jeanne said...

I am reading backwards here, but am really enjoying your vacation. It is fun to use the apps on the iphone. Only sad part is that they don't print up well in any size that is, although I often print waterlogue on sketch paper and use the shots in my journaling. Have had fun with that. ENJOY