Lucy: Since when do we have a turtle?
Me: Since six years ago.
You should be honored that he decided to come out and meet you.
His name is Steve and his appearances are few and very far between.
Steve popped out to meet Lucy Sunday morning. We were heading out on a ride and I didn't have the right camera
with me for turtle portraits, so I asked him to stick around until we got back. He did.
Long-time readers of this blog might remember that Steve usually times his appearances to coincide with guests in his home.
He made his first appearance the day I moved in; he showed up again when my sister came to visit;
and he came out to greet Carolynn when she was visiting last year around this time.
Click on turtle in the "Looking for something?" list at the bottom of this page if you're interested in his storied history.
I'm pretty sure that Steve is a Western Ornate Box Turtle. He is about half a foot long.
I've questioned him repeatedly about his musical preferences but have yet to find
the one song that will make him cut loose and dance. I will keep trying.
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Turtles aren't the easiest pets to shower with affection. How does one pet a turtle?
Roll your mouse between the margin and the picture to witness my feeble attempt.
An appearance by Steve absolutely makes my day, my week, my month.
He was here long before I showed up and has stuck around despite the disruptions that I have inflicted upon his home.
I am honored and privileged when he lets me see him.
So glad to see Steve again! I wonder where he lives. I think of turtles near water, but even in monsoon season you don't appear to have ponds or streams nearby. BTW, I'm having problems with the "roll over" photo. When I roll over it into the margin, the picture disappears and I have to reload the page. Or is that your point? You pet Steve and he disappears?! Happy trails to you and the gorgeous Ms. Lucy!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Am soooooo glad Smooch is home safe and sound!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are indeed fortunate to have Steve! Does his appearance mean you will be having company soon?
ReplyDeleteI love Steve stories and I love that you see and value Steve (and everything else around you)and share him (it all) with us.
ReplyDeleteI have a turtle I watch for on US 62 - a horribly fast/busy country highway here in Kentucky. I've picked the same heavily scarred box turtle up twice now trying to cross that road. Once headed one way, and a month or so later, headed back. Quick trip to the grocery?
Steve kinda looks like a curmudgeon but I think he enjoyed being pet/rubbed by you! You can see it in his eye, he was liking that attention.
ReplyDeleteHi steve,,waving from CanadaEH ;-)
ReplyDeleteHandsome isn't he...Did Lucy give you those ears up on seeing him?
ReplyDeleteThe next time you see Steve, could you please let him know we'd sure like to meet him? Being from Maryland, we really like turtles. :)
ReplyDeleteHey Steve! Glad to see you again. Linda, do you think Steve has grown since the first time you saw him?
ReplyDeleteJudyB, there are burrows (and burros) all over the area where I usually see Steve. I'm pretty sure he lives in one of them.
ReplyDeleteEstella, Lucy saw Steve before I did. I was tightening her cinch when I saw her ears go on alert. She misses nothing...but you knew that.
Anonymous, I don't think Steve has grown at all since we first met.
It really is cool how he comes to introduce himself....
ReplyDeleteHave you ever counted the growth rings to see how old he is?
ReplyDeleteAll the photos are fabulous (the one with Lucy's ears is sweet... I'm becoming addicted to those long ears) and the second one was well worth your going back and getting the right camera! :)
ReplyDeleteMs. Linda, being the turtle wrangler here in the city, I just adore your post on Steve. As you know, I have donkey envy but the dozen or so Steve size to fifty cent size turtles we have in the backyard don't require all the work you have exert on the longears. Steve is gorgeous. Is a fine specimen of ornate box turtle manhood.
ReplyDeleteTurtles take a while to cotton to a person picking them up. Our herd enjoy the neck and head rubs we lavish on them but we see them almost every day.
So glad Steve comes out to visit you and that you get to enjoy his beauty.
so damn cute! steve seems to be a big part of the family, he's a lucky turtle..is he the only turtle out there? wonder how he got there?
ReplyDeleteI love Steve. He's adorable.
ReplyDeleteWe had turtles in our back yard in Albuquerque. I assumed someone had turned their pets loose, but maybe they were wild things like Steve.
Just found your blog from Paw Curious. and I LOVE IT! I love all your animals. I think you need to get I LOVE STEVE shirts made. Maybe we can rally him to come out more often.
ReplyDeleteWhat an accommodating little guy! Please stop by my new blog and say hi.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think you have a Western Ornate Box tortoise. Turtles live near wateror in water and tortoises don't. Steve is a beauty!!
ReplyDeleteI have four turtles in our pond. Two are smaller, ( children maybe?) I love to see them sunning on the big log in the water.
ReplyDeleteThey will go away for Winter and then each Spring they show up again.
Of course, I guess I don't really know if it's the same ones each Spring or not :)