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.

7-4-2015  Independence Day with Fireworks at Mullin Park in Coral Springs:

 We were dog sitting again.  For the last few years Angie and Josh have been meeting up with some of Angie's college buddies and they've been taking turns "hosting" the get together.  This year they went to Washington DC.  Last year it was up by Arcadia National Park.  The year before that it was here in Coral Springs.  So Ken stayed at the house and tried to keep the pups calm while all the fireworks were going on.  I went to the local display and played around with my camera to take fireworks photos.  
Looking towards the Art Museum before the fireworks started. 

 I lucked out with my parking spot.  I paid $3 to park and was directed to the front row with no obstructions to the fireworks other than a rope to keep people back.  So I sat there and watched them.  As soon as it was over, I was able to be one of the first to drive out.  A lot of people walked, so it took awhile to get to the main road, but I still made it back to the house in about 30 minutes.

 It was a fabulous show!

 7-2-2015  food trucks at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield:

 
Food trucks have become a big thing within the past few years.  It's fun to take our chairs and sit and watch people while we eat something from the food trucks.

 7-1 2015 Loxahatchee by our apt.:

 This is a place we're going to be returning to quite frequently.  It's only about 10 minutes from our apt. and away from civilization.  Great place to look for wildlife, sunsets, storms, and just get away from traffic.
alligators watching a crane. 

 only rabbit I've seen in Florida!  We have millions of them in the midwest.

 sun going down

 an alligator waiting for some one to throw some food to it.  Even though you're not suppose to feed them, we almost always see people throwing dog food to them.

 another beautiful evening coming to an end.

 beautiful Florida moon.