Turtle Skies

A billowing mass of condensed water vapor floating in the air, high above the ground. Photo shot with my Nikon D200 for Skywatch Friday.

The blue skies clouded over abruptly and made things less clear in some parts of the valley below.

I started  recalling familiar phrases in reference to clouds. Can you think of some to add here? Example: Every cloud has a silver lining. I'm on cloud nine. She has her head in the clouds.

Wikipedia turtle: Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield. I have heard of snapping turtles and red ear sliders. And experiencing sea turtles in Maui has been a magical moment for me. They hear the music of the sea.

I have seen snapping turtles in Massachusetts, and land turtles at the zoo. This looks like a Box Car or perhaps these turtles seen at the S.D. Safari Park are called The Western Hermann's tortoise.

I had no idea just how many varieties of turtles exist. Familiar with the Logger Head sea turtle, or the slant neck water turtle? How about the Gopher turtle? If interested, a list can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle

These guys fascinate me. I watched them for quite sometime and studied their moves. (slowly)

So, there's the Diamondback Terrapin, Red-Eared Turtle, the Painted Turtle, Florida Cooter, Chicken Turtle, Mississippi Map Turtle, Musk Turtle or Stinkpot, Texas Tortoise, Eastern Mud Turtle, Wood Turtle, Blanding's Turtle, Atlantic Green, Spiny Softshell, Yellow-Spotted Amazon, Moorish Tortoise and Giant Galapagos Tortoise.


When our son was a young lad, the "Teenage Ninja Turtle" costume was ever popular for the day. Hubby would be in the garage using Turtle wax on the car and the kids and I would look at books and read about turtle eggs. I've made a collage of a few of our favorite 'turtle books.' Naturally, Franklin the Turtle is at the top of the list with the grandchildren. I posted a book review, http://ladyd-books.blogspot.com/2011/07/review-franklin-turtle.html. Another favorite children's book by Dr. Seuss is Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories.

 

Hardcover Book by Ann Ivans

The Friday 56: The Beginning Knowledge Book of Turtles

"The box turtle can close its top shell so tightly against its bottom shell that a thin knife blade cannot be forced between the two. But sometimes a box turtle gets so stuffed from eating wild strawberries and mushrooms that it cannot close its shell at all."

The Beginning Knowledge Book of Turtles
 

The Matilija Poppy for Friday Floral Foto. Last year I wrote about the Legend of the Matilija Poppy. These 'fried egg' flowers make the landscape a happy place.

Grandson posing with pirate tattoos for Color Connection (http://www.kids-e-connection.com)

Blessings,









“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

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LadyD Books

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