Markie

This is Markie. He's a little old man, so he gets special treatment, going for walks in a stroller made especially for small dogs. There are several doggie strollers in the community. Sometimes the owners bring the stroller along on walks just in case the dog gets tired and wants a ride.

My son used to tell me about the designer baby strollers he would see as he walked Central Park near his home on the Upper West Side of New York City, but I bet he never saw a doggie stroller!

Next I met Riley and Marina. They are Portuguese Water Dogs. At two and one half years, Riley is the younger of the two. They were very friendly and well behaved - so much so that I actually felt very comfortable with them.

This breed dates back to around 500 AD when fishermen used them to herd and catch fish, retrieve things that fell overboard and guard the ships when in port. They are excellent swimmers and their owner showed me their webbed feet. He said the best thing about them is their coat. They do not shed. I hope I see Riley and Marina again.


This cute grey squirrel (or as Bill would call him - a sport model rat) was just sitting in a tree looking at me - almost asking to have his picture taken.



Just outside our lanai we have this beautiful Mahogany tree, the national tree of Belize. I learned it is an endangered species here in Florida. The fruit (or is it a nut??) looks like a dull brown tennis ball. According to what I could find online, it is an evergreen. I like that it blocks the late day sun.

I saw lots more this morning that I wanted to photograph, but the battery in my camera needed to be charged.

My vote was based on color!

National politics has nothing on our little community. We attended the HOA (Home Owners Association) meeting and the big controversy centered around color - red or brown - mulch, of course. Currently, we have red mulch but the brown would be a little less expensive. There was so much discussion, they tabled the final vote until the next meeting. I love retirement!

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

We have a wonderful nature preserve just down the road from us. We've been there a couple of times to walk the boardwalk through the Slough (pronounced "slew"). It is 2,500 acres of wetlands measuring approximately 9 by 1/3 miles. This linear ecosystem is home to a diverse population of plants and animals, including a few considered to be endangered.

Besides the usual white heron and ibis that are everywhere we saw a Yellow-crowned Night Heron and a Great Blue Heron sitting in a tree.




Another nice place to walk in Ft Myers is Lakes Park. Currently, there is some construction in the area, but it is still a great opportunity to see some diverse wildlife.



On our first trip, we saw an alligator but it was too far away to photograph. Since Lakes Park is very close to where we live we asked if there are alligators in our lakes. One of the residents who lives here full time said "of course" as if I was asking about squirels. We've seen otters but no alligators.

The black bird seen drying his wings is an Anhinga. They are commonly called the "piano bird" because, I am told, during breeding season the feathers on their wings resemble piano keys.

Charlie, Maci & Ty

This is Charlie. Charlie is a shih tzu and loves people, but he does not like other dogs. He enjoys his walk and, as you can see, is a real ham for the camera. Charlie lives in the next building, so I am sure I will see more of him.

When I looked up the breed online I learned they are great pets but can be hard to housebreak. Since they are pack animals, you have to let them know who is boss or they will try to to be the leader which can cause behavior problems. Obviously, Charlie has been well trained.

Maci (pronounced Mutt-z) is a Puli, a Hungarian Sheep Dog or Water Dog. They have unique corded hair which can reach to the ground on a fully grown adult. Maci had a nice hair cut so her coat was not long or tangled. She was very well behaved.

I had never heard of the breed before and her owner told me all about her. I'm really enjoying getting to meet my new neighbors!

Ty is all dog. A cross between a bull dog and a lab, his owner rescued him from the pound. (Two thumbs up!) She told me he is very friendly and would happily go home with anyone that invited him.

He sat nicely to have his picture taken but I could tell would much rather have a tail wagging frolic.



After such a nice walk I found this insurance salesman (with a British accent) waiting for me on the steps up to the condo.

Geckos are everywhere down here. I can see as many as 10 or 12 just going to check the mail. Many of the residents don't like them because they leave numerous small black calling cards behind. All of the dogs have their owners well trained to follow along with plastic bags to clean up after them but no one cleans up after the geckos - except the many birds that eat them before they have a chance to make any more mess.

Dozer

This is Dozer, the Bull dog that lives next store. It looks like he is in jail with the porch railing between me and him. Dozer, I discovered, does NOT like to have his picture taken and was quite vocal about it. Brad (the fireman) had to put a leash on him and hold him for the second shot. Bill explained why I wanted to take a picture - but kept my distance.

Later this morning, Bill and I headed over the Caloosahatchee River Bridge to Cape Coral where we found both an outdoor flea market and a farmers market. We ate smoked pork sandwiches (YUM!) at a stand operated by one of the RC fliers Bill met at The Sea Hawks Park. Coming home, we came down McGregor Blvd. from downtown Fort Myers past the Edison/Ford Estate and Museum. The ride was beautiful.