What a wonderful time you had with the manatees. It sounds like they had a great time with you also! Cool! ## The best of Happy Birthdays to you, Janice! Yep, those 00's birthdays can be a bit startling, but you starting a fresh, new decade in fine style :).

I brought Seaweed over to a nearby cove for the night. We are experiencing our first cold front of the year. Tomorrow I will dig out my 12-volt electric blanket!

You comments are always appreciated. It was nice to see while off the grid. Having WiFi on the boat sure is a treat.

I find when anchoring my circadian clock resets. I must say Seaweed sure looks pretty with her oil lanterns burning. And I look fabulous in low light!

That's it from the cove... Thank you again for your message. You're right about the zero birthdays too. Your friend in the south, J.

Glad to hear that you're enjoying anchor time in a cove, Janice. The perfect way for you to relax and restore after the traumas with Irma. We're you able to use the big, new lantern you'd gotten a while back? You said it puts out enough heat to help warm Sea Weed. Sounds like perfect timing with the cooler weather. And yes, we all look gorgeous by lantern light! ;)

I remember the manatees in the ICW when I was a little girl, mom called them "Sea Cows." I continue to be amazed and thrilled by them, while living in a marina on the Indian River. Thank you for always sharing your experiences. You help keep me sane when I'm overwhelmed with boat life. Happy, happy birthday!

Gosh Sharon I understand all too well Boat Projects. I started a half hour quickie in Algae at ten a.m. It was one of those simple ones. I finished at six p.m.!!!

The good thing is that it's done. However every step so it seemed meant getting in and out of Algae, then climbing over the transom. That is never pretty. One of these years I will have a tuna door cut into my transom.

I know a couple of sailboat mast steps would work as a temporary aid in the climbing. I fear falling. A tuna door is definitely moving up The List.

The plan, written in beach sand on a rising tide, is to head over your way. Perhaps we can get together in the springtime.

Thank you for your note Sharon. Your mom is correct. We called them sea cows when I was little too. J.

Hi Pam. I still have not tested the Aladdin lantern theory. Instead I lit three of my lanterns -- I love oil lanterns -- and they cut the chill. I look forward to trying the Genie III by Aladdin as the winter proceeds.

In the meantime I have dug out the floor length flannel nightgown, put the 12-volt electric blanket on my bunk and unzipped the feather comforter. That was a thrift store find. The feathered lap blanket folds inside a pillow cover during the rest of the year. It squishes very well though shoving it in the pillow is not easy.

That is warm without being too hot. Because I'm petite, it is adequate ough I do wear warm fuzzy socks. Hey, this being single means I go for comfort. In the winter I may not be the most attractive however I am comfortable.

I remember sucking in my (in retrospect, nearly invisible!) tummy. Now? Well, now is loads more comfortable. I am far more at ease now than I was decades ago. Such is life.

I've rambled tonight. I'll get this latest article up and then back to work on yet another Good Idea. (laughs) Thank you so much for your notes... I'll follow up on the emails tomorrow. Life has been crazy busy. J.

We traveled through a canal between Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon, man was it rough on the river, only the third time on this trip we have been bounced around like that, water crashing over the bow! The canal is pretty cool as it’s where every Manatee in Florida comes to vacation, we crawled through the 1 mile canal with Cindy on the bow watching out for them – there could have been easily 50 of them. We traveled through a canal between Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon, man was it rough on the river, only the third time on this trip we have been bounced around like that, water crashing over the bow! The canal is pretty cool as it’s where every Manatee in Florida comes to vacation, we crawled through the 1 mile canal with Cindy on the bow watching out for them – there could have been easily 50 of them. We traveled through a canal between Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon, man was it rough on the river, only the third time on this trip we have been bounced around like that, water crashing over the bow! The canal is pretty cool as it’s where every Manatee in Florida comes to vacation, we crawled through the 1 mile canal with Cindy on the bow watching out for them – there could have been easily 50 of them. WWe traveled through a canal between Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon, The canal is pretty cool as it’s where every Manatee in Florida comes to vacation, we crawled through the 1 mile canal I was on the bow watching out for them – there could have been easily 50 of them. I had a big zero in October- it only gets better! Happy birthday!

Manatees are gentle giants. I will look forward to slowly puttering along Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River.

If memory serves me, I believe we anchored there for rocket shots back in the 1960's. That was always exciting.

Thank you for the alert re the rough water too. That long fetch can make a washing machine effect. Not fun! I will be certain to stay put if the winds have been kicking. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Thanks too for your comment. I really appreciate that. J.