This Way To My Blog

This Way To My Blog

Friday, July 22, 2011

Guess What We Saw Today

I had to make a choice this morning early. Sleep or go to the ranch what will it be? Ohhh I was sleeping so good and wanted to continue but I was afraid I would miss something. Sure enough if I had stayed in that bed I would have missed it. As we were driving to the back forty John spotted something moving along the fence line. I didn't even see it. All I saw was a dried up cow patty. John said it looks like a dry land turtle . He stopped the truck and I'm awake and out in a flash. Ohhh it was so cute trying to crawl as fast as it could not knowing who or what he/she was dealing with. I got in front of it to stop it and talk to it. It was a young one and Jack I'll bet it is kin to Toby. Toby is the one that used to come near our back door about every three days when we lived at the ranch. We wrote our initials on it's back with fingernail polish and it was never afraid of us and never drew it's head into it's shell to hide. That is the last one we have seen on the place and it came to a sad dimise. When we came to the ranch to tend the cattle some renters with a young boy had just moved. We found Toby by the grain tank upside down and a stick was by his side. John had to do the unthinkable to relive his misery. The odd thing about seeing this young dry land turtle this morning was as I was feeding the turtles I was thinking how long it had been since we had seen a dry land turtle and how I have missed seeing them. I'm so glad to know there are still some around along with the horned toad we saw not long ago.

10 comments:

Jill said...

So very sad about Toby! I'm glad you got to see a new one today though. :)

~mel said...

Well that's a nice surprise ~ as was that rain you got. I hope there's more of both in store for you:)

Helen said...

Glad that you got to see the turtle. I hope you all get more rain. Helen

DD said...

I am glad you pulled yourself up out of bed this morning! You would have missed out. You may have to add some polish to this turtles back too.

Have you still not seen any jack rabbits? We did not see even one on our last trip.

Unknown said...

All right, worth the trip for sure...I haven't seen one for a long time...still no rain here!

jack69 said...

What a nice thing, Toby's cousin. LOL. Kids love Toby, but of course I never tell of his demise, that was a shame. Funny you were just thinking of a land turtle earlier. The mind is a magnificient thing, no one can fathum it's abilities.
Good entry as usual
Love from North Carolina
Sherry & jack.
PS: Sherry got here first tonight, she could hardly hold the story but she let me read it myself. We think of you often.

DD said...

Until researching land turtles, I did not realize how rare they are and lucky you are to have seen one. You and John are natural explorers! I wish I was....oh well, I can follow you on blogspot.

Lucy said...

Paula I am so glad you saw a land turtle. It really does not take much to make you happy, rain and a land turtle. I am glad you got out of bed.

TexWisGirl said...

no. scamper rat is just my nickname for them. not an 'up north' term. :)

Toon said...

It's always good luck to meet a new turtle friend!