We have tons of critters in Southern Florida. Some are cute, others...not so much. We have the baby sea turtles, dolphins, even native parrots. These animals I am completely fine with.
However, snakes (rattle snakes, coral snakes, cotton mouths, pythons, boa constrictors), nile monitors & tegus (they are lizards-look them up, eeww!), palmetto bugs, jelly fish, and sugar ants I am not fond of.
And, as a side note, if you haven't seen Swamp Wars yet, tune in and see what South Florida residents deal with.
After a decent day at work, I come home after running errands with the family to find a sugar ant invasion in our master bath! I am talking in the hundreds on the cabana bath door. This is NOT what I wanted to have to deal with. Dennis got the bug spray and it seemed to make it worse, not better. The ants came out of no where! So then we got bleach and tried to drown them with that. Needless to say our next call was to our landlord. The exterminator is coming tomorrow evening, which is not soon enough in my opinion. I would rather them be here now as I don't know how I am going to sleep knowing they can invade again over night.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Turtle Season
We live in a really cool area of Florida. Each of the beaches near our home are also home to some unique and endangered species. There are three main types of sea turtles that nest in Southern Florida. These are the leatherback, loggerhead, and the green sea turtles.
This weekend before heading to the beach we visited a Nature Park that also houses a sea turtle hospital. We got to see one of the largest lobsters ever. His name is Butter. The students at Florida Atlantic University who are studying marine biology care for him as well as some electric sting rays, and the cutest baby sea turtle hatchlings! We visited the rehab center where the juvenile green sea turtles are infected with a virus where the turtles develop tumors (or growths) on various areas of their body. They use a very expensive laser to removed them. The turtles then recover and are released when they are given a clean bill of health. The researchers at the center suspect that mercury run-off and other pollution may contribute to these tumors growing.
After leaving the nature park we went to the near-by state park and beach called Red Reef. It is a jewel of a spot. The beach was quiet and not too crowded. The water was bath water clear, calm, and shallow enough for even Lou to enjoy. Red Reef is home to just that...a coral reef. Some of the reef is in the shallows and accessible off the shore. The reef is home to fish, live coral of red, orange, and green, tons of sea snails and crabs of all sizes! Further into the ocean the reef extends and even more creatures can be seen. One woman and her daughter even tried coaxing an eel out of the shadows of the reef! We found some shells to add to our growing collection as well.
An ever-present reminder of the sea turtles are the nests which are marked off all around the beach and shore. The nests hold precious sea turtle eggs that are getting ready to hatch the babies that will make their way to the ocean from the end of July until mid-September. We are hoping to catch a glimpse of the hatchlings in the near future!
This weekend before heading to the beach we visited a Nature Park that also houses a sea turtle hospital. We got to see one of the largest lobsters ever. His name is Butter. The students at Florida Atlantic University who are studying marine biology care for him as well as some electric sting rays, and the cutest baby sea turtle hatchlings! We visited the rehab center where the juvenile green sea turtles are infected with a virus where the turtles develop tumors (or growths) on various areas of their body. They use a very expensive laser to removed them. The turtles then recover and are released when they are given a clean bill of health. The researchers at the center suspect that mercury run-off and other pollution may contribute to these tumors growing.
After leaving the nature park we went to the near-by state park and beach called Red Reef. It is a jewel of a spot. The beach was quiet and not too crowded. The water was bath water clear, calm, and shallow enough for even Lou to enjoy. Red Reef is home to just that...a coral reef. Some of the reef is in the shallows and accessible off the shore. The reef is home to fish, live coral of red, orange, and green, tons of sea snails and crabs of all sizes! Further into the ocean the reef extends and even more creatures can be seen. One woman and her daughter even tried coaxing an eel out of the shadows of the reef! We found some shells to add to our growing collection as well.
An ever-present reminder of the sea turtles are the nests which are marked off all around the beach and shore. The nests hold precious sea turtle eggs that are getting ready to hatch the babies that will make their way to the ocean from the end of July until mid-September. We are hoping to catch a glimpse of the hatchlings in the near future!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Things I Am Loving...
It is now the rainy season in Florida. However, we have been able to squeeze in a day each weekend to do something fun without the rain totally keeping us indoors.
Lots to love.....
-I love the fact that if we want to go to the beach (or one of the beaches, as we have several to choose from), we just pack up and jump in the car and go! 20 minutes and there we are surf, sand, and sun!
-I am loving that we have a pool in our backyard and we can use it most any time we like, even if it is sprinkling outside!
-I am loving Landon's new found excitement over swimming! He has become quite the little fish!
-I love Lou's new fondness of the ocean and the waves! Her little laugh while in the water is priceless!
-I love it that my kids have an "up for anything" attitude and get excited even when we are just going to the local market!
-I love our kids routine at the local market. First a cookie at the bakery counter and then to see the lobsters at the seafood counter! Always. in. this. order. (oh, and I love our fish guy! But not like you think. He has the best advice and never steers me wrong when buying the local fresh fish!)
-Though I prefer sunny days, I do love hearing the rain fall on the palms outside our window. It is such a mellow sound and a gentle reminder that we live in a "tropical" environment now! I still need pinching from time to time-surreal!
-I love Lou's hair! It is three shades of blonde and has the prettiest ringlets. There is one curl on the left side of her head that is longer than the others and I don't have the heart to cut it!
-Speaking of hair, I love Landon's short hair cut. It is so much easier to deal with and he looks so much older with shorter hair!
-I love our kids' tan lines! (don't worry they wear sunscreen!) But, those little sun-kissed backs and shoulders are too cute!
-I love Lou's new question "mamma, what ya doin?"
-I love how well Landon can read and that is going to first grade! No tears here, all smiles with such pride for my smart little man!
-I love our new church home, Church by the Glades!
-I love wearing dresses and sandals (who are we kidding, flip-flops) just about year round!
And.....
-I love that a year ago this month we made the decision to move to Florida and start a new adventure as a family! It hasn't been easy at times, but we are so blessed and so thankful to have this opportunity!
Lots to love.....
-I love the fact that if we want to go to the beach (or one of the beaches, as we have several to choose from), we just pack up and jump in the car and go! 20 minutes and there we are surf, sand, and sun!
-I am loving that we have a pool in our backyard and we can use it most any time we like, even if it is sprinkling outside!
-I am loving Landon's new found excitement over swimming! He has become quite the little fish!
-I love Lou's new fondness of the ocean and the waves! Her little laugh while in the water is priceless!
-I love it that my kids have an "up for anything" attitude and get excited even when we are just going to the local market!
-I love our kids routine at the local market. First a cookie at the bakery counter and then to see the lobsters at the seafood counter! Always. in. this. order. (oh, and I love our fish guy! But not like you think. He has the best advice and never steers me wrong when buying the local fresh fish!)
-Though I prefer sunny days, I do love hearing the rain fall on the palms outside our window. It is such a mellow sound and a gentle reminder that we live in a "tropical" environment now! I still need pinching from time to time-surreal!
-I love Lou's hair! It is three shades of blonde and has the prettiest ringlets. There is one curl on the left side of her head that is longer than the others and I don't have the heart to cut it!
-Speaking of hair, I love Landon's short hair cut. It is so much easier to deal with and he looks so much older with shorter hair!
-I love our kids' tan lines! (don't worry they wear sunscreen!) But, those little sun-kissed backs and shoulders are too cute!
-I love Lou's new question "mamma, what ya doin?"
-I love how well Landon can read and that is going to first grade! No tears here, all smiles with such pride for my smart little man!
-I love our new church home, Church by the Glades!
-I love wearing dresses and sandals (who are we kidding, flip-flops) just about year round!
And.....
-I love that a year ago this month we made the decision to move to Florida and start a new adventure as a family! It hasn't been easy at times, but we are so blessed and so thankful to have this opportunity!
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