New Year Partiers

Really? Pink?



The Turtle Tamer

Fine Turtle Art from Istanbul

Keeps Rollin'

Santa brough my friend Slack a new skateboard for Christmas. Nice.



Lavish Mouse

Everyone needs a gold turtle mouse, but only a chosen few actually own one. And it's not Mama, she's lucky when her machine starts up and keeps running. But I think Santa may now have an idea...

Ho Ho

Santa will go to any depth to take care of all creatures this holiday.
Hope it's a good one for everyone.



Tootle Target

Don't like this game. Don't throw things at turtles, kids, it's not as fun as it looks.

Häns the Spy

I'm doing nothing but minding my own business and there he is, at eye level, having a snoop.

I don't mind, really, he has become my winter friend.

Missing

You Can Run

But you can't hide, especially when you are hidden by the turtle towel, from which I always escape! Global warming allows me to catch an occasional sunny day in December. I'm supposed to be hunkered down for the winter, you know.

Stupid Human Tricks

Friends for Life

*You might want to "mute" at about 26sec when Michael Bolton starts singing... just saying

Hop On!

Seagulls in this area just don't know what to do with themselves in the winter. I say "hop on, let's go for a ride!"

The Hitcher

Looking for a ride? Well, I'll happily transport other lightweight shelled critters in need. It's my obligation.

Exhausted!

The stress in the weeks before the holidays makes a big boy real tired.

Baby Slowsky's First Word

Awesome Austin

Human youngsters in Austin, Texas, rally to support not only saving our planet but also my kind with their wacky costumes!

Disco Turtle

Sometimes you just wanna rock!

Happy Birthday, Disco Joe!

One More Run

Another run through the cool grass before it gets too cold to frolic outdoors. Sure feels nice. Mama is giving me every opportunity to enjoy the sun before the snow and slush arrive. Good mama.

Tuttu Turtle Toy

From a nice children's toy online shop (called Momentum Meaningful Things), may I present "Tuttu":

Turtles at Etsy

Mama loves Etsy.com and its a great place to shop for turtle related items.

It's Cyber Monday, so why not check it out?

Life in the Balance



All I can say is "weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee - look at me!"



Shopping Idea No. 1

Don't know what to get the kids for the holidays? How about a Mutant Ninja turtle car? Not sure, but the spikes certainly add a certain fear factor to this remote-controlled turtle car. Looks fun, too.

Giving Thanks

And on Thanksgiving, turtles may not be the first thing you think about when you sit down at the dinner table (at least I hope not), but these temptations fresh from the oven may change your mind.

Thanks to all my visitors and fans for loving turtles!

Serenity Today

Thank you, http://www.anythingscuba.com for this video!

Sea turtles are characterized by a long, streamlined shell. Depending on the species, sea turtles color range can be olive-green, yellow, greenish-brown, reddish-brown, or black. Limbs and flippers are adapted for swimming. Adult male and female sea turtles are equal in size.

Sniffing for Freedom

Today I found an opening in the barrier off the deck and sniffed it out. I could have flown the coop right there, but decided against it. Life's too good.



Cupcake

Don't call me 'cupcake' or I'll say "eat me!" Perhaps an idea for your sweet tooth for the upcoming holiday.

Packed and Ready

With mobile storage like this, who wouldn't want to have a little turtle pack in their life? Even though I don't need one, I still want one.

Yertle the Turtle

From the collection of Dr. Seuss:

On the far-away island of Sala-ma-Sond,
Yertle the Turtle was king of the pond.
A nice little pond. It was clean. It was neat.
The water was warm. There was plenty to eat.
The turtles had everything turtles might need.
And they were all happy. Quite happy indeed.

...Then Yertle the Turtle was perched up so high,
He could see forty miles from his throne in the sky!
“Hooray!” shouted Yertle. “I’m the king of the trees!
I’m king of the birds! And I’m king of the bees!
I’m king of the butterflies! King of the air!
Ah, me! What a throne! What a wonderful chair!
I’m Yertle the Turtle! Oh, marvelous me!
For I am the ruler of all that I see!”

Exit Stage Left

Another nice day this weekend and I'm ready to go play outside. I keep thinking my outdoor days are coming to an end and next thing you know... Indian summer. Love it. I'm running....

VERRRRRRRRY Interesting.....

This one goes out to all of our troops, on 11.11.11.

The Humpty Dance

What can I say about the love being exchanged between two consenting terrapins... in public. On the front lawn. For all to enjoy. (the little lady seems so demure compared to his long, heaving "neck")

Apologies for the topic, but it is nature, after all!

Nature's Stacker

Spider on frog on turtle. How cool is that?

Get a Grip

Who doesn't love when critters play with each other harmoniously?
All I can say is: HOP ON! The Turtle Train is Leaving!



The Flopty Dance

Let this little fella show you how to do it! (but you gotta click on him first...)

Butterflies are Free

To play with! And boy, does it feel good when they flutter my back and neck! I noticed that the monarchs are still in the area and they are awfully pretty. I wonder what they taste like.

Hop On

Even though I support the "Do Not Stand on Me" movement, I will cave for a furrball this cute, so hop on – let's go for a ride!

Ravenous

I will attack this tasty, juicy treat with a vengeance reserved only for those I despise. (Watch out, Roger, I haven't forgotten you are still around)

Please Don't

You can stand BY me, just not ON me, thank you!



Trick or Treat!

My Cousin: The Indian Star Tortoise

Indian Star tortoises are one of the world’s most attractive tortoise species, found in semi-arid, thorny and grassland habitats and native to India, Sri Lanka and southeastern Pakistan. These highly-decorated graphic terrapins are known for having quite a personality. Females grow larger than males and she typically grows to 7 or 8 inches, while males typically only reach 5 or 6 inches in length. Under the right conditions, captive star tortoises can live from 30 to 80 years. Native to grassland habitats, it grazes extensively upon mixed grasses and is a diehard herbivore. They are not a territorial species. Multiple males and females may be kept together without fighting and aggressive biting.

The Star Tortoise is a common sight in pet stores and markets throughout Asia, but many die an early death because owners fail to provide an adequate diet and living conditions. Star tortoises will graze happily on lawn grass which seems to prevent most health problems at the source. An adequate supply of calcium and vitamin D3 are essential as is exposure to sunlight and water.

Last Run

This may have been my last run for the season. Mama let me loose after work tonight but I noticed it was quickly getting dark, then drizzly, then windy, then cold. Real cold. Yo mama, I want BACK IN! Then I noticed why – Mama was cleaning out my scuzzy tank and I always appreciate that.

Peek a Boo

My Cousin: The Soft Shell

Here's a soft shell variety of terrapin. Just look at this guy. He seems so flat and floppy. These turtles look like big leathery pancakes. The adults are brownish-green or tan with blotches on their skin. Their shells are covered with skin, and are soft around the edges. Their noses are long and round. When they swim, they stay underwater and stick their nose up to breathe, like a snorkel. Their feet are webbed and their necks are quite long.



Softshell turtles can be very aggressive, and they sometimes bite each other and turtles of other species spontaneously or when feeding. Turtles with soft shells tend to be more aggressive than their more protected relatives. Florida softshell turtles are found on the coastal plains south of Mobile Bay, Alabama, and Charleston, South Carolina, including all of Florida except the Keys. Their preferred habitat is slow-moving bodies of fresh water with mud or sand bottoms. They spend much of their time buried in the soft bottom with only their head exposed. Softshell turtles are primarily carnivorous, feeding on aquatic insects, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, waterfowl and amphibians.

Flapjacks, anyone?

Slow Down Season

I'm always happy to have a fresh, clean tank. Who wouldn't be? Now that the weather is getting cooler, I'll be slowing down a little after an exhausting season of running free in the great outdoors – and around the house. Now if she would give the 'ol shell a decent scrub, I'll be sitting pretty for the winter!



The Crusher

Sometimes the little ones don't make it. You've gotta know when to run. And when to steer clear of The Crusher.



Hippie Wicker Turtle

I appreciate all forms of turtledom, even in a hippie parade like this. Gotta love those Europeans!