UNUSUAL CAR SIGHTED ON THE ROAD/THEN AT THE FLEA MARKET

We've seen some "sights" on our travels around the USA; this car is one of those; as it drives past you, it deserves a quick, second glance.  
Amazingly, we saw it again, at the Auburndale, FL Flea Market.  The owner of this car was probably at the Flea Market searching for more little statues and kitsch, to embellish the car - more than it is! 

The birds on the fenders have moving parts.  The wings flutter up and down in the wind. 

A maze of statues and bumper stickers!

You'd think the statues, on the hood, would be a distraction while driving, guess you get used to them being there. 

Oh my, even on the dash! 

GRAND-DADDY OF ALL ALLIGATORS!

                       ONE GIANT ALLIGATOR!
Each time we go to the Circle B Preserve, we see something different.  The vegetation changes quickly, winds take down the hanging moss and weak limbs.  Flowers bloom and various grasses grow, in the water and out.  Each time we see alligators/I have so many pictures of them.  We've seen as many as 60 alligators in one day walking down the path, appropriately called Alligator Alley.  
On one visit we saw the Grand-Daddy of all gators. Look at the gator lying on the log-then look at the gator's head to the right, resting his head on the back of the log. 
His head is so large!  We would've liked to have seen his entire body.  This would be an excellent catch on the show Swamp People! 

Double click either picture/it should enlarge so you can see the monster head on the right, resting on the log. 

His head is so large in comparison to the one lying on  the log/and at first we thought he was big, at least 6 or 7 feet long.
Wouldn't want to meet the one in the back, on the path!  
They can run 35 miles per hour, in a straight line.
Guess we should practice our zig-zag running!

LAKE PLACID, FLORIDA

                   A DAY IN LAKE PLACID, FLORIDA
A day in Lake Placid is like going to an 
Outdoor Art Center.  The murals on the buildings, all over town, are so professionally done.  If you get to Lake Placid, be sure to pick up the booklet about the murals.  They are all listed, as to where they are, the artists, the sponsors, the date completed and the size. A picture of each mural will be found in the book, as well as a short "blurp" about each painting. 
With a clown school in town, there are clowns to be found in the most unusual places.  
         Clowns can be found on park benches.         

Faces of Florida history.

WOW!

Symbols of  America on one of the buildings.

We found these birders in a wide alley on a side street, amongst other sights of nature.  A little bridge, a pond with fish and multiple native plants grace the small alley way of magnificent murals.
This was my favorite "mural" place in town! 

Amazing ~ these bears were huge and appeared to look so real to life. 

Birds are found, here and there, around town.
So true to life they were.

Garbage cans around town are painted with various scenes/so unlike regular garbage cans. 

This actually looked real as you walked up to it. 

Small-sized vehicles are found in different places in Lake Placid.  Painted and people riding in them.  
So cute!
As you walk passed some of the murals and small vehicles, like this train, you trigger a mechanism that  starts sound effects for that particular mural or vehicle. 

These murals are so great!  They are also huge, taking up the entire sides of buildings in town. 
It really has to be seen to be appreciated.  

HARRY P. LEU GARDENS

Walking through the Harry P. Leu Gardens was calming, relaxing, educational and visually stimulating. Various gardens are on the grounds and kept up by many volunteers.
The Harry P. Leu house is on the grounds and tours are given every 1/2 hour. It is beautiful and worth the wait, on the porch, if another tour is taking place. 

Several sculptures in the gardens depict everyday life in Florida. 

Picking oranges, or are those grapefruits?

Tropical ~ the plants and vines growing on the trees. Notice the tiny red flowers.

Father and son going fishing.

How beautiful is this?

February and there was a Monarch caterpillar munching away on a favorite bush.  
Soon to make a chrysalis/the cycle continues. 

Harry P. Leu's house ~ wonderful tour.

Isn't this just gorgeous?  

Bird sculpture ~ in one of the gardens.

Beautiful paths throughout the gardens.
I will return in April to see the gardens in full bloom.

Large clumps of Bamboo growing in the gardens.  Bamboo has so many uses.
I have several T-shirts made from Bamboo.
Bamboo can grow up to three feet a day and creates more oxygen than trees.

Muskogee Crepe Myrtle ~
an interesting tree - with no bark.

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

Resident peacocks at the park.

               


              ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA HAS 
                THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH!
A daytrip ~ a cool, rain threatening day took us North to St. Augustine.  Starting with a great breakfast, at one of the local diners, we were off, with friends Gail and Jerry, to check out the quaint streets of the town.  After meandering through the streets and nosing around in the shops we decided to visit ~ 
                THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH!  

Ponce de Leon met the natives and saw how young, strong and vital they were in comparison to himself and his crew.  He deducted it was the water they were drinking, from the spring in the area.
Thus: Ponce de Leon discovered ~
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

A painting of the water coming from the spring when Ponce de Leon found it. 

1518 Discovery by Ponce de Leon

The original well that the natives drank from.

The original cross ~ marking the spring's location.
Ponce de Leon also claimed Florida and all land north to Canada - calling the entire area of land Florida. 
Florida meaning: place of flowers
This is the story told by our guide.

THE BEACHES

                           VISITING BEACHES 
                ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA
My sister, Geri, came from WI, for a some warmth and sun.  She missed the big snow storm and the extreme cold that WI was hit with for the past two weeks or so.  
I thought it would be fun to see Melbourne Beach.  We hopped into my VW Beetle and set off for the day.  The sun was out, with a slight breeze, but sitting on the beach, watching the pelicans wait for a hand-out, from the nearest fisherman, and collecting shells made for a great day. 

Oh, but wait...
We continued North and went to Cocoa Beach, onto Port Canaveral for lunch and then to Daytona Beach.  Driving my VW on the beach was a fun adventure!  The sand was getting soft and the ruts were deep, so we only went a few blocks, but it was great!  
Felt like "Spring-Breakers" ~ only a "bit" older!  

The yellow flower in my VW~the GPS on~the view in front of us driving on the Daytona Beach!

Seagulls having a meeting on Daytona Beach, we just happened upon them with no invitation to join/see how they turned their backs on us! 

Can't forget to add this picture.  Daytona Beach entrance to the racetrack. 

Speed limit of 10 ~ on the beach ~ looks smooth here.
When it started to get deeper we turned to the right and hit the regular roads.  
A VW Beetle doesn't ride too high off the ground!