The Frogs that Came out in the Rain

Public Domain photo via Pixabay

You may have heard that it's been raining a lot in the Tampa area.  Truly, our yard looks a lot like the lake down the road right now. Here's the view from our front door.
 

And here's the view from the back door.

When the rain really started coming down, we began to hear a frog song that we don't often hear, right outside our window. It turns out, the frogs live near the lake. Apparently, they now think our yard is a lovely lake, too.

I followed the sound of a loudly chirping frog with my camera. This is what I found. Seeing this little guy enjoy the rain made me not mind the weather quite so much.
 

Discovering the West Coast of Florida

I didn’t want to leave South Florida. I love the tropical weather, I love my friends and clients, and I love being in such an international and diverse culture.

I am returning to South Florida at least once a month to see my friends and clients and enjoy the tropics.

But the West Coast of Florida is actually showing a lot of promise.

There are fewer billboards, and more trees. Prices for many things are lower. In many cases people are friendlier.

Automobile insurance is cheaper – presumably because my chance of hitting a Bentley or a Ferrari is somewhat less.

I haven’t been to the ocean yet, but I hear it is lovely. I can’t imagine it is better than the beaches in Miami, but we’ll see.

We have plenty of flora and fauna here on the West Coast. I have seen a red-wing blackbird, an alligator and a grove of banana trees.

We have culture here too. I have already visited the Dali museum.

We have fewer palms, but lots of tall trees, unlike what you find in South Florida.

We are also a few degrees cooler, which, for me, is not a plus.

I will enjoy exploring a new part of Florida. I’m already feeling at home here.

But don’t worry, South Florida, I’ll be back. Often.