Shelling with Janie

12/12/2025

I called this the Cut and paste method of decoupage.

12/12/2025

12/12/2025

Visited by two manatees
And before you ask, the bulge on the underside of the larger manatee is waste 💩 Soooo that answer THAT question.

Why are we all doggy paddling? Because that ensures we don't accidentally hit a manatee with our arms. The recommended method of swimming is legs crossed at the ankles and active, elbows tucked by your side.
No standing on or stiring up the sea floor. That is why we are using pool noodles to help keep us more buoyant and keep us from wanting to stand up. The sea floor has a lot of sediment and when it is stirred up, visibility becomes poor. Additionally, we asked to make sure we don't stand on the vegetation so that it stays well rooted for the animals who eat it.

Our in the water guide/photographer is the only one allowed to wear fins.

12/12/2025

Watch the interaction of this Manatee and my husband, Bob. Bob did a great job practicing passive observation.

12/12/2025

Sheephead wrasse couldn't care less about sea urchin spins.

12/11/2025

Sharing again from earlier this year to give you options for shell and Orbeez centerpieces

12/11/2025

21 days later and my Orbeez Christmas Globe needs to be rebuilt. Come along with me as I discuss; what is a water bead, how does it functions, and different ways to create temporary centerpieces.

12/11/2025

These beautiful creatures live on and feed off of the Portuguese man o' war. They are air breathers who build a bubble raft out of mucus and simple proteins. If they get detached from their raft, they will sink to the ocean floor and drowned. Once they wash up on the beach if the tide doesn't take them back out and they are separated from their food source they die. Shell is extremely lightweight, and fragile. This adds to its buoyancy.

12/11/2025

When I say these manatees wanted to interact with us, I really, REALLY mean it.