Nature abounds

While my friends and loved ones are freezing up north I constantly amazed by the weather, flora and fauna of my new home. The weather is by far the best calling card of this city. Every day I come across new sights that just amaze this city kid. Yesterday we took a trip up to Boca to meet with some folks. It was nice, very well off -- you could tell -- but really if I had that much money I'm not sure I'd want to be so close to my neighbors. Those houses were smack dab on top of each other. Now while they had NO view to speak of from the sides, I must say the view out the picture window to the back was quite spectacular. I assume that was the golf course of the country club that was back there but first was an amazing pool of the likes I had only seen on my favorite HGTV. The pool was irregularly shaped (as in not a rectangle or oval) with exquisite landscaping all around and coming right to the edge and hanging over the pool. Very beautiful. The meeting was okay but the house and view was much better. I would have taken a picture but it seemed gauche to snap a person's house....

But here's something I found in the parking lot!!!

I'm told these are cactus flowers and they were funky. Very spiky and pretty all at once. Cool.

Then there are the peacocks. They live wild in Janet and Nancy's neighborhood. It is getting towards mating season and if you've never heard peacocks mating.... its quite the sounds. Sort of like a grown woman being attacked. That's the thought I had when I first heard the noise. Its terribly disturbing.

But the peacocks themselves are so bold and used to humans. They barely move out of the way when you drive down the street. Or rather, their street. I finally saw some with their tails spread last mating season but somehow never managed to get pictures. I am more determined this time. Here are a few... not my best work yet but I assure you, I'll get it sooner or later!!

Here are a few to amuse you....

This first couple are just general. One is of a peacock sitting in a tree. If you really look you can see the blue of his chest and the tail hanging down. It looked cooler in person but he wasn't in the mood to cooperate. They hop pretty well. I'm not sure about actual flying.... but they sure do get around. Sometimes they hop up on the screen surround of the pool.... and on a bad day they fall right through!

And a full fan tail display. Not for me of course, but I was a lucky on-looker. This time through the fence... next time -- FULL ON!

Now here's a whole different thing. The full moon the other night was just spectacular. This was a hasty shot from my car so its a bit fuzzy. But it gets the point across. Anything framed by a palm tree, especially a full moon, just catches my eye. There is something so special about the sky here. Maybe its what Elliott talks about when she refers to the open expanse of sky in the midwest. Since there are no hills or mountains anywhere to speak of.....there is just sky as far as the eye can see. The clouds, the colors. It makes for good watching. Add the beach on and well, I'm just a sucker for a pretty picture I guess. So next time there's a full moon... you look up, I'll look up and we'll both enjoy!