July 29, 2015---Sanibel!  Finally, I got to go to the other coast for the day.  Unfortunately the weather wasn't very cooperative, but the couple we were meeting made the trip well worth it.

Our son's father-in-law and his girlfriend were down vacationing in their condo in Siesta Kay.  So we arrange to meet them about half way between ours and their place, which happened to be Sanibel.  It was about a 2.5 hour drive from each of us.  There is a fee ($6 if I remember correctly) to enter the island, but it's worth it.We met them at CheeBurger CheeBurger (recommended by our daughter and son-in-law).  It was great.

 I was hoping to be able to play in the water, but before we left my husband said, "You aren't taking your swimsuit are you?"  But not really in a questioning tone.  So I didn't.  Brenda and I walked the waters edge and waded farther and farther out.  Finally we decided swimsuits or not, we're getting in!  It was a lot of fun!

 At least it was warm, even though it wasn't sunny.  
We did find some interesting walkways, too.

 And a National Park on the island that had an additional fee.  Ken had his Senior Pass, so our carload got in free.   We stopped a few places in the park and watched the fish jumping.  I believe they said they were mullets.  I even caught a fish jumping in a picture I was taking of an unusual bird.

 Better picture of the bird.

 better picture of the bay side.  Even saw a little blue sky for a short while.

 I hoped to see sunset from Sanibel, but it was totally overcast by then.  So we went to another restaurant on the bay.  I forget the name of it, but it was very good, too.

  Looking towards the bridge back to the mainland as we were leaving the restaurant.

 Looking back at the restaurant as we were leaving.

 It was a fun day.  Hopefully we don't need an excuse to get back there some day.

July 28, 2015  riding along A1A to Boca Raton and surrounding neighborhoods.
a main street through Boca.

 looking over the ocean at Boca.

 more of the Boca neighborhood houses

   love all the glass

 love all the foliage.

  love the criss cross decor of the vines.

 aside from the palm trees, a house I'd expect to see in Florissant.  Bet this one is a tad bit more pricey, though!

July 25, 2015  Eats and Beats in Parkland
We like going to the food trucks and eating dinner while people watching.  At least Angie, Josh and I like to.  Ken just goes.  They had the food trucks up in Parkland not too far from us a couple times this summer.  We made it to this one.  They even had a couple musicians performing during the evening.  While we were there it was 2 sisters.  One played the guitar and the other one sang.  They were very good!

 wandering around the trucks.

  I thought the skirt steak dinner sounded good.  Unfortunately, the skirt steak was inedible!  Hope it was just a one time thing for their sake.  But the sides were good.

 We were there pretty early.  A lot more people came by the time we left.  Another fun evening.

July 25, 2015--back to Deerfield Beach; this time to a new area that Angie and Josh just found a short distance from where we use to always go.

 The water was very calm today.  You could even lay on an inflatable raft and not go anywhere!

 Not only was it calm, but it was exceptionally clear.  So clear we could watch the little fish nipping at our feet.

 Maybe not as clear as the Caribbean, but much clearer then I've ever seen it here before!

July 19, 2015 fishing pier at Pompano Beach near sunset.

 Unlike the fishing pier in Deerfield Beach, this fishing pier is free.

 Looks like there's some driving done on this beach.

 looked like a group of people were checking out a place for a wedding or some sort of celebration.

 Not much of a sunset as far as clouds go, but still pretty.

 July 17--Tradewinds Park

 near the Costco, we always pass Tradewinds Park.  So this day we decided to drive through it.  Turns out to be free during the week.  There's a fee of something like $5 on the weekend.  Within the park is a Butterfly Garden (for a fee) and on the other side of Sample is an equestrian park.  It was neat seeing the horses.  Reminded me a bit of Grants Farm in St. Louis where the Clydesdales are kept.

 another pic nic place to remember.

 notice the "hill" in the background---one of Florida's Mount Trashmores.  At least it looks pretty here and didn't smell.

July 17---swimming in our pool in the rain.

 I love swimming in the rain.  I'm surprised at how underutilized the pool at our complex is.  Not disappointed, actually happy about that.  Hours are suppose to be dawn to dusk, but noone has bothered to come kick us out on the few occasions we lingered a little past dusk. 

 This room to the right is even a 24 hour fitness room.  I keep telling myself I should go.  It, too, is free (or we pay for it in our rather high rental rate).  One of these days I will!  It, too, is underutilized.

July 11---Deerfield beach and north along A1A:

 Deerfield is the closest beach to where we live and is a very nice beach, so we go here quite often.   Why not---with as beautiful as it is?!
 I could gaze at this forever.

And I LOVE the sound these grackles make!

 The fishing pier.  Bet it would be interesting to snorkel under it, but I'm afraid I might be terrified of what I'd see!

 I also love riding through the nearby neighborhoods!  This one almost reminds me of a midwest home---aside from the palm tree.

 Toys of the nearby neighborhoods.  Although I'm rather surprised to see ladders going down into the water.  I can't imagine swimming in the intercoastal with the bull sharks.

 I also love to look at the houses right on the beach (East side of A1A).  And wonder where the people who live in these homes get all their money from?!

July 9---Hugh Taylor Birch park near Fort Lauderdale.

 Today was the day Angie and Josh were flying back from their trip to Washington DC so we headed towards FLL a bit early and thought we'd check out Fort Lauderdale  beach.  I was rather surprised when we drove down A1A and hit a lot of construction.  Not much beach to see!

 But I remembered driving through a park nearby once so I suggested we go there and have our pic nic dinner of sub sandwiches.  There was an entrance fee to get in the park, something like $10/car.  There's even an underground tunnel to the beach from this park, so it wouldn't be a bad place to park and go to the beach.  I thought I'd walk over to the beach.  Took a few pictures along my walk.

 But when I got to the tunnel, the sign said it closed at something like 5:30pm, so I didn't take it since it was already that time.

 So we drove around the park and found some pic nic tables along the intercoastal where we stopped

and ate our dinner.Views along the intercoastal.

 There's even a stop for the Water Taxi.  Another thing I'd like to do again some day!  This park also is a place a lot of people go to ride their bikes.