Just a quick post to add a Call Me button to my blog.

I took a little trip this afternoon to the Delray Oaks Natural Area to soak up some nature. It is a beautiful day in Delray Beach today and perfect for a walk in the woods. Well, as close as one can come to woods in South Florida.

Another view of the Delray Oaks Natural Area. It is less than a mile from where I live. Very much in the center of Delray Beach. It is an area of about 33 acres set aside to preserve what Florida was like before civilization hit.

Another view through the Delray Oaks Natural Area. It looks so tranquil here, but looks can be deceiving. The area is very close to I95 and the railroad tracks, so the whole time I was there, I could hear the roar of the traffic on the highway. While I was there a train went by, too. Looks calm but sounds like a city. It is in fact, in the middle of Delray Beach.

Not exactly the yellow brick road, but the walkway through the Delray Oaks Natural Area.

This was the only spot of color I found at the Delray Oaks Natural Area this afternoon. We have had a really dry winter and there wasn't a whole lot going on at the Natural Area today. Mostly greens and browns. The red flower in this picture is about 1/4 inch in diameter. The white flower maybe an inch across.

Long Ago and Far Away

This is a picture I took with my Pony 135 camera in early January 1954. It was taken while I was standing on the front porch of our family home. I was facing toward the Philipsburg High School where I was a student in my Junior year.

It was a school day because I can see the lights on in the school library. The people in the picture are teachers walking to school. That is how we got to school in those days. We walked. Or, if we were from out of town, we rode in somebody's car. No snow days.

Gawd, I am so glad that is all history!

Cactus Garden Part II

Another shot of Grace's cactus garden.

The Cactus Garden

Ben and Grace's son, George came down to visit his parents on Sunday. He went to Home Depot and bought the makings of this cactus garden. Grace has it on their patio.

Alomost Affordable

Well, not really. It is used and is only $26,000.00. Of course, there is the small matter of insurance and maintenance on this beast. But then, I don't play the Lottery either.

Red SRT

Here is a lovely new C Class convertible. A Sporty Red Thing. My favorite color. My favorite body style. The perfect South Florida car. Now all I need is the $65,000.00 to buy it. And the $1000.00/month to maintain it. Oh well...

Wishing and Hoping

Here is Ben looking at a C Class sedan. If he wins the Lottery he is going to buy this car. Of course, he doesn't buy Lottery tickets, so I guess he won't be getting a bright shiny new Mercedes-Benz any time soon.

View From The Heights

This morning my buddy Ben and I stopped at the bright shiny new Mercedes-Benz dealership right down the street from where we live. This is a view of the front of the place. Very nice. Very pretty. Very lacking in customers.

Object of His Affection

Turns out, the peacock wasn't guarding my car, he was looing after his mate. The peacock is in the foreground and toward the back of the picture to the left is his peahen. Isn't love grand? And on Valentine's Day too. Ahhh.

Car Guard

When I left Green Cay and got to my car I discovered it was being guarded by a peacock.

Walk A Mile

This panoramic shot shows the boardwalk that loops for about a mile and 1/2 around the wetlands. It is a great way to observe what Florida looked like before civilization hit. It is also a good way to get some exercise. Much better than walking beside the road and inhaling exhaust fumes and much safer, too.

Tranquility

Just a picture at Green Cay natural area. The name says natural, but Green Cay is actually a water treatment facility. It used to be a farm but was donated to the state to be used for nature preservation. It is wonderfully successful. http://www.pbcgov.com/waterutilities/waterfacts/green_cay.htm

Natural Beauty

Another shot of Green Cay. There is a white bird, I think a heron, in the middle of this picture. It is really easy to get pretty pictures here, the plants and animals are so beautiful.

More Green Cay

Here is another shot of Green Cay. There are a few birds in the central area of this picture.

Green Cay Panorama

This is a picture I took at Green Cay Natural Area in Boynton Beach, Florida. It is a panoramic shot made by combining three pictures taken with my Motorola/Kodak cell phone camera. The stitching together of the three pictures into one is done automatically by the camera.