Hit the Road Jack

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Way south Texas

Dad and I at the Pecos. Dad's telling me we're almost to El Paso. We weren't.

Mom and I are telling Judge Roy Bean about how Dad lied about almost being to El Paso.

Oops this was a few days ago when we went to the Alamo the day after the 175th anniversary of the battle.

Visiting Ladybird's Garden

Dad, Mom and I on top of the main water collection cistern.

We really liked the stock tank garden.

Pretty moth

Time for a lunch break.

Cactus and rock garden

Experimental rooftops- some had native plants, some turf, and some concrete tiles.

A constructed stream garden, I wanted to play in the water but there was a sign saying not to.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Another day in Jacksonville

We really liked Jacksonville and the Timucuan Preserve so decided to spend another day there on our way out of Florida.

Driving down the lane to the Kingsley plantation.

The plantation house (behind the trees) and the kitchen house. The history of slavery in Florida was different than the rest of the country because it was a Spanish colony for most of the time. The displays were really well done.

Dad and I looking at one of the slave houses.

I'm looking at the tabby walls that all the slave cabins were made of. Tabby means that it's a cement made with shells and sand.

On to the beach part of the preserve. The dunes were protected but we got to walk around the beach.

Dad and I against the wild Atlantic.

It got misty later in the afternoon.

Ok. Florida has been great but it's time to

Space shuttle Discovery launch

We had a great time in Naples and loved seeing Auntie Sophie but eventually it was time to go. Since we hadn't seen any manatees in the Everglades or any of our little trips around the area we decided to stop at a park where they often hang out in the winter.

No manatees at Manatee State Park, but lots of butterflies like this Monarch.

We had to really hurry across Florida but we managed to make the Discovery launch with about ten minutes to spare.

Then instead of watching the shuttle, I had to turn around and get my picture taken with it and Mom

and Dad.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Floating in Fla

We rented a canoe so we could see the mangroves from a different angle.

Mom and I in front of the Estero River lighthouse. (Grandma have you seen this one? heehee it's just in someone's yard.)

We don't know what this is but it was pretty. It was growing between the mangrove trees and the river and the bulbs were huge-large sweet potato sized.

This pelican sat so still on top of the post that we weren't sure if it was real or a carving. Then it moved.

Cormorant trying to figure out how to swallow the fish that it caught for lunch.

Little Blue Heron looking for his lunch.

Dad and I as we stopped for our lunch.

Mom thought that Green Herons were pretty cool little birds. Until...

we startled this one and made it run. Now she thinks they're super cool.

Don't worry folks, I've got this totally under control. I let first mate Dad take the helm when I napped.

Another unknown pretty flower. This one was on a 2 foot tall stalk growing above the high water line but it was coming out of such a tangle of plants we're not sure what it's leaves look like.

Mom and I discuss the flowers and whether I should go ahead and eat some of them. She said no, but I think they would have been tasty.

First mate and propulsion system Dad on the HMCS Mitchell.

A power boat splashed us and got my hat wet so I got to wear Mom's hat on the return trip.

TURTLES!

A Tri-colored Heron perched up in a tree. These are pretty but not super smart. This one kept striking the little branches around it then spitting them out because they weren't actually little fish.