A Turtle for Elizabeth .... .... ....Happy Birthday, m'friend!
As we walked around the pond in the park today, I was about to take more pictures of the beautufil algae patterns when I heard a "Plop"! Ken alerted me to a number of turtles sunning themselves, and I walked slowly toward them in the hope of getting a close up. All dove into the murky water, but for this one brave little soldier...with a bit of his meal still dangling from his "lip"... I think these may be "Red Earled Sliders"...there sure are a lot of them, and in all sizes!
I was asked about the location of the algae and the perspective from Saturday's picture. I added some more views of the pond and park on my Shutterfly site; I'm delighted to share this lovely area with you! http://365daysintheyear.shutterfly.com/323
Safe travels, Elizabeth! I Googled "Turtle Symbolism, and the first thing I saw was the shell is a symbol of Heaven & the underside, the Earth... May Heaven watch over you as you travel this Earth...
Kelly Wright, in the way she worded her comment, reminded me of this wonderful childrens' poem...
I Had a Little Turtle
~ Author Unknown ~
I had a little turtle
And he lived in a box.
He swam in the water
And he climbed on the rocks.
He snapped at a minnow.
He snapped at a flea.
He snapped at a mosquito.
And he snapped at me.
He caught the minnow.
He caught the flea.
He caught the mosquito.
But he didn't catch me!
THANK YOU SO MUCH! That is a beautiful thought. I used to keep red eared sliders!! They're fast! This comment is being written at 7.40 am in Turkey. We're seven hours ahead of New York.... That's a fantastic picture but adore the fact that it was for me! Thank you too for comments on Shutterfly. It is a good place to store the extras!
I saw wider shots through the link above. I agree the place is so beautiful but for the trees. Why the water is green? Sorry I'm asking too much questions... (I had another one but I'm shy to ask about it)
Nature never fails to amaze me. This guy blends right in with the rock he's on. Excellent find. Usually animals are looking at the camera. I like that he is completely unaware of you.
awww!! I love turtles...I used to have 2 pet ones :) One was named Snickers...and the other Buddy. They were actually "wild" turtles we found in a reservoir...so we had to release them back to their natural habitat after a few days. but I still loved them while I had them :)
Louise, I believe that you're right about this being a Red-eared Slider. I have one in my classroom. Her name is Gertie and here's a link to her portrait: http://365project.org/ZG/365/2010-01-27
Love the fact that you get to see these fresh water turtles in the wild. One of my favorite things to do in Hawaii is go swimming with the sea turtles (and, yes, you can count on me to post pics this summer)!
This turtle was a nice size, with a shell maybe 8-10 inches long. What delighted me even more was to see small ones in the pond...they seem to be propogating well.
I like the idea of my fly having a fluffy bolero on!! You always make me smile :-) Your turtles are lovely..we saw quite a few in Morocco. When they sunbathe you can almost hear them going..'Aaarrrrrrhhhh.........' Btw how is it that whatever time I come on here in UK you are always here?? Don't you sleep??!
We had a teeny turtle we kept in one of those crazy little plastic ponds that had a fake palm tree. They're great pets! Love your shots on shutterfly -- especially the baby ducks and that upsidedown squirrel. Very cute!
I concur with Denise: When I was given 4 red-eared sliders for my classroom a few years back, I discovered that the 60s toy store fad animal was back! Remember the little plastic bowls about the size of a dinner plate with a little green palm tree in the middle? Those tiny lil guys were linked to salmonella problems and disappeared for a while. Your guys MAY have been releases by owners who didn't realize they can GROW to huge sizes! Nice catch!
now this is more my animal. squirrels tend to run and birds fly away from me so i can't take pictures of them. turtles can try ... but i'm sure they can't get away that far.
great shot of a great find, louise. sweet dedication to elizabeth, louise. and that's why you're loved by everyone. have you left for your vacation?
awww his so cute , soaking in all those sun rays !!! great shot !!! how nice of him to wait around for u , not the others that ran off first chance they got. Must be a bit like u , gives everyone a fair go !!!
man im going to miss u xx pack to come to australia lol
Louise--I just read your comment on my photo with my sister...thank you for your sweet words...You mentioned I had shared other info...you said it was a few months back and I couldnt recall when that was....do you remember which photo it was?
I cannot believe this awesome photo!!!!!! I have been trying to get a turtle photo but am never quick enough...even with my camera ready they get in the water before I can focus and take a photo...who knew they could move that fast!!!!
thanks for the comment.. my book club just finished reading the Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe... and it is the story of a sea "turtle" lady in South Carolina... You would enjoy the book...
Re: your nod to G. for book suggestions - you may want to take a look at my book suggestions on Denise Vetromile's "Shades of Grey" photo. I recommended 3 small (6" square) photo books. You would also like them.
Louise, at your suggestion, I tried to figure out the YouTube thing. It is my first, so probably not perfect Amazing how sound and image quality goes away when you compress a file. But, here is an audio recording I did about 4 years ago. All of my recording equipment is currently in storage 1,000 miles away, so I only have older stuff. I'm going to try to post a couple more too. I'll let you know. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLln8OzMO8c
my uncle lives in chicago and we go there a couple of times a year. my brother and his girlfriend (whose shoes are much better to look at than their faces. hahah) were there just last week for the weekend and my sister went this friday, coming home today. it's just an 8-hour drive from here....i'm jealous that you guys get to meet up...you don't have a stopover here in toronto, do you? =)
What a cute turtle!!!! An what a wonderful poem!!! ;-)))
Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my salad picture, Louise!!!! I am so happy you liked it and you shared it with your friends!! I love salds, and I am never lazy to make them, You are absolutely right - nothing compares to the taste of home-grown tomatoes! We put a small gareden here - I hope they grow OK and produce us some delicious salad material! ;-))
P.S. I always enjoy your photos and your commentary!!!!!!
Dear Louise, thank you for your nice comments...
I live in Jakarta, Indonesia...and also my sister Nunik.
You may contact me should you travel to Jakarta someday....
Hi....love your comments. I have friends Ken and Eva who have an apartment here. Ken is international Bible Teacher - spends maybe a quarter of his year in US and the remainder between other countries, his home in Ireland and apartment in Turkey. They gave me this trip as a birthday gift!! It is the big 60 so gets a bit more of a "splash" than other ones. I'm enjoying meeting their friends here and getting to know some of the local folk as well. Fantastic holiday and getting to the church built in memory of Saint Nicholas' was just unbelievable. To do it on a private tour for just Eva and me was special. Anything else you'd like to hear about - just ask! God bless.
Turtles are wonderful. (The one in our pond continues to elude us!) According to a book I have on Native American teachings, when a turtle crosses your path it is reminding you "to honor the creative source within you, to be grounded to the Earth, and to observe your situation with motherly compassion." This is also interesting: "like Turtle, you also have shields that protect you from hurt, envy, jealousy and the unconsciousness of others. Turtle teaches you, through its habit patterns, how to use protection. If you arebothered by the actions or words of others, it is time to go inside yourself and honor your feelings. If you are attacked, it is time to give a warning snap!" Turtle power!
Turtle Power! How awesome is that. I have two red-eared sliders. They are in a few of my images. Next shot of them will be under the shell. Hmm maybe tonight :) I like your shot L!
In California...you're the squirrel whisperer...in Nova Scotia, you can be the turtle whisperer!
I have it on good authority ( mine ) that turtles like to eat hot dog wieners...in case you were wondering!
Louise, I haven't been able to keep up again the last few days, but I just want you to know how much your lovely notes always mean to me, Dear friend!
I know YOU know the time it takes to make the comments you want to make ( and how we all love you MORE for making the effort to catch up with everyone every day!), and I find looking at the computer for any great length of time tends to hurt my head even more.
But, I am ALWAYS thinking of you! :-)
Such a character. Reminds me of the time a friend, Tony, who has turtles needed to get them out of their pond to clean it. He got them all except one. A bit later he saw the last turtle resting on the edge of the pond. So Tony grabbed a net and walked slowly towards it, so as not to frighten it, until he realised he'd been trying to net the concrete one that decorated the edge of the pond, and the real turtle was still in the water!! He did get in the end
May 8th, 2010
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Love the fact that you get to see these fresh water turtles in the wild. One of my favorite things to do in Hawaii is go swimming with the sea turtles (and, yes, you can count on me to post pics this summer)!
great shot of a great find, louise. sweet dedication to elizabeth, louise. and that's why you're loved by everyone. have you left for your vacation?
man im going to miss u xx pack to come to australia lol
I cannot believe this awesome photo!!!!!! I have been trying to get a turtle photo but am never quick enough...even with my camera ready they get in the water before I can focus and take a photo...who knew they could move that fast!!!!
safe travels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLln8OzMO8c
Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my salad picture, Louise!!!! I am so happy you liked it and you shared it with your friends!! I love salds, and I am never lazy to make them, You are absolutely right - nothing compares to the taste of home-grown tomatoes! We put a small gareden here - I hope they grow OK and produce us some delicious salad material! ;-))
P.S. I always enjoy your photos and your commentary!!!!!!
I live in Jakarta, Indonesia...and also my sister Nunik.
You may contact me should you travel to Jakarta someday....
I have it on good authority ( mine ) that turtles like to eat hot dog wieners...in case you were wondering!
Louise, I haven't been able to keep up again the last few days, but I just want you to know how much your lovely notes always mean to me, Dear friend!
I know YOU know the time it takes to make the comments you want to make ( and how we all love you MORE for making the effort to catch up with everyone every day!), and I find looking at the computer for any great length of time tends to hurt my head even more.
But, I am ALWAYS thinking of you! :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHNCOqWX6Hc
It's an old British sitcom :-)