Flagler Finds

Summer is winding down...even in central Florida...but for now it's still plenty warm. Just not quite as warm as September. Our old homestead in S Dakota just got slammed with 3 feet of record-breaking snowfall a couple days ago, yikes! (The Rapid City area.) That "world" seems ages ago...it has been nearly two years now since we left the midwest...it'll officially be two years at the end of this month.

So, speaking of our new reality...Hubby and I really don't get to the beach nearly as often as we should, but we did recently get some beach therapy...

...It was lunchtime, and not just for us but for this ruddy turnstone as well....

...And this sanderling...

The sand ghost crabs are abundant on Flagler Beach, providing free entertainment as they go about the serious business of clearing sand from their tunnel homes. It was another relaxing, pleasant day at sea side.

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.....Back at home, I've been keeping track of all the interesting things nature is coming up with in our own back yard......

This pretty bloom is actually hanging in the back neighbor's yard, just over our fence...but the scraggly little tree is actually in our yard. The squirrels use it as a ladder to get up onto the fence.

This tree has pretty, peeling bark...and white cluster blossoms up on top.

These clusters of tiny mushrooms kept appearing on and off this summer, under the magnolia "tree" (it's actually a branch sprouted from a magnolia tree stump, but it looks like a small tree and has had blossoms  :) )...

In the front yard, I recently captured a fritillary at a crown-of-thorns...

Lately, I've been sticking close to home due to a nasty head cold / bronchitis, which is finally getting better and I'm feeling more amongst the living again.