Flamingo Road

flamingoroadchurch.com

Derek is the dressed as the Easter Bunny for the church egg hunt.  Go Derek!:)


Flamingo Road Church


I really enjoy our church and so do the kids. Derek works the video and lights for the youth group and Madison helps teach 1st grade most Sundays. My two favorite things about our church is the free Star bucks coffee that is offered every service and Pastor Troy and his wife, Stephanie. They have a true understanding of what is happening in South Florida, the good and the bad. Pastor Troy offers a modern day approach to apply biblical advice about life and everyday situations. Their website offers a pod-cast filled with his series. Check it out!

S'mores Night

S’mores Night:

We have movie nights, game nights, different-types of food nights, but my favorite is S’mores nights. We just sit, eat, and chat by the wood-burning fire. Funny, the kids enjoy it as much as we do and like sharing about their lives, their thoughts, and their silly jokes. All they need from us are to have the items for the S’mores and for us to listen. The stories never end until bedtime.

Sarussi Cuban Cafe' & Restaurant

Sarussi Cuban Café & Restaurant

http://www.miamibeach411.com/news/index.php?/news/comments/sarussis/

After the 15-mile bike ride in the Everglades, our friends took us to get Cuban sandwiches at Sarussi. This is a family-owned Cuban restaurant located in Miami that has been in business for 40 years. I now understand why as It was the BEST Cuban sandwich that I have ever had. These sandwiches are 16 inches long and very plentiful. For six people, we ordered two beef and one chicken and no one walked out hungry. All were served on soft, warm Cuban bread that held a thin layer of their secret sauce, loaded with meat, and sprinkled with potato strings. YUM! Also, they brought us some fried bananas with a melted garlic butter. What a great mix! If that wasn’t enough, for dessert we ordered Tequenos or Ditos, depending on your background of Spanish. They are a dough-filled pastry with guava marmalade and cream cheese that is deep fried and served warm. Goes great with a shot of Café Cubano. If you are looking for a casual, authentic Cuban restaurant this is the place to try.

          

Cool Birds

                   

Shark Valley, The Everglades

Shark Valley, Everglades National Park

http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm

On March 6th, my husband and I got invited to join some friends and ride the 15 mile trail at Shark Valley, just west of Miami. Years ago, I had done this with parents, but never with DT and these friends. Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. we loaded our bikes in the truck and drove to the Everglades. WOW! We saw at least 100 alligators, and tons of beautiful birds, butterflies, and flowers; what a great bike ride. The trail is a 15 mile loop through the everglades. At the midpoint of the trail, there is a 65 foot tower which offers a spectacular perspective of the Everglades and offers semi-clean bathrooms. 3-hours later we arrived back to the car. My gluteus was numb and my stomach was growling, but I got some great pictures and spent a fabulous day with friends.

The Everglades

Unveiling the Beauty:


I must share that when I first visited the Everglades, I was not “awe-inspired” by the brown “River of Grass” and the swampy, muddy waters filled with frightening alligators. For me, the Everglades have been an unveiling of beauty starting with educating myself with the history and the importance of it and by observing the exotic creatures that call it home. A book I read, “The Everglades: River of Grass” by Marjory Stoneman Douglas, enlightened me to some of the history of the Everglades and of South Florida. Written in 1947, this classic helped focus world attention on the importance of preserving the Everglades. It is an interesting story. Along with studying the history, I have become a bird watcher. I know, doesn’t it sound funny…me a bird watcher. Wow, in South Florida we have some of the coolest birds flying around and I wanted to learn what they were. So above are some of my pictures of our flying stars. They are so cool!

Shooters Waterfront Cafe

shooterscafe.com

Shooters Waterfront Cafe

I love this Indoor/Outdoor restaurant located on the intracostal waterway. When we have new people in town, we always take them here. The attire is casual and the menu consists of deli fresh sandwiches, a variety of salads topped with their homemade dressings, fresh fish, and signature hamburgers. I have never had a bad meal at Shooters. Through the week, this restaurant is low-key, a relaxing place to eat and enjoy the beauty of the water. However, on the weekends, especially Sunday afternoon, the atmosphere becomes more exciting; the crowd is a bit wilder than the weekday crowd. A major reason is they share the outdoor patio with the restaurant next door, La Playa. La Playa is more of the “party” type place where on Sunday afternoons they play techno- music, they also hold a “hot body” contest. If you are looking for a “party” on the weekend, this is a great place to go. However, remember to sit on the Shooter side; the food is better, the price is better, and you still get to see the contest.