A day off from shopping today and a trip to Homosassa Springs to see manatees.

I was fortunate enough to visit here back in 2004 and fell in love with the manatees so it was a treat to see them again. Words can't express just how strange, beautiful, peaceful and beguiling they are.

The springs are a lovely place to visit and are filled with all types of creatures native to Florida including a spectacular hippopotamus I fell madly in love with. I so wanted to feel his skin as he lay in the sun, or perhaps lay next to him with my head on his back. But the sign soon cured me of that desire.

I'm pleased to say I'm still wandering around with scary camera and doing my best to figure out what I'm up to with it. I spent a lot of the day looking for little details I could photograph close-up and continued my new favourite hobby of playing around with the settings.