This comic strip (Garfield by Jim Davis) was not our recent experience--we were there at the beach, in Florida, relaxing and enjoying the sun and warm water.
My friends and I recently enjoyed one blessed week in south Florida--a respite from winter's darkness, snow and cold. Being in Florida is like being in another world, in the sense that it's hard to believe you can travel from bitter cold to blessed warmth by plane in the space of about three hours, within the same country. We rented a townhouse in Deerfield Beach this time around, a few blocks from the ocean; last year we spent a week in Fort Lauderdale at an apartment on the intercoastal. This year we had warm and sunny days for the entire week we were there. Balm for the body, mind and soul. We managed visits to Butterfly World in Coconut Creek (near Deerfield Beach) and Constitution Park & Arboretum, as we enjoy anything botanical and nature-related.
 |
At the entrance to the beach near where we lived. An hour on the beach can
also provide perspective. |
 |
| I love the plants and flowers in warm climates. |
 |
| our townhouse |
 |
| one of the Morpho butterflies in Butterfly World |
 |
| at Butterfly World |
 |
| one of the birds in the aviary at Butterfly World |
 |
| another colorful bird in Butterfly World |
 |
| overhanging tree branch in Constitution Park & Arboretum |
 |
| a eucalyptus tree starting to shed its bark, leading to an array of colors |
 |
| the ocean and the beach on a warm sunny day--there is nothing like them for relaxation |
