Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Turtle Crossing

Midland Painted Turtle
(Chrysemys picta marginata)

This is Spencer's first summer of running free on the Two Hundred Acre Wood, and as such, the experience is bringing me back to early rambles with my darling departed Cassie. There will never come a day when I don't think of her and sometimes shed a few tears - she was an amazing companion, and I shall miss her all the days of my life.

When Cassie came to us as a battered and emaciated rescue many years ago, she had the same boundless curiosity, enthusiasm and joie de vivre that Spencer has now, and it is marvelous to be seeing the world again through such spirited, adventurous and loving eyes.

I have been studying dragonflies for years, but it appears that this summer's study of the winged beauties will be held in abeyance for a while. Spencer wants to help me do everything, and his assistance consists of dancing through the shrubbery and dislodging whichever dragonfly has consented to pose for the camera and be interviewed for my field notebook.

Turtles are something else again - they just tuck their heads into their shells and wait for the adventurous canine to go away and leave them to their own rambles. This puzzles my furry son, and he doesn't know quite what to make of it.

5 comments:

Michele said...

What species of turtle is Spencer? He's a beauty!

kerrdelune said...

Greetings Rapunzel, The turtle is a Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata), and they are usually called mud turtles here, for their habit of hunkering down in the muck and peering out at passers by.

Spencer is my darling doggie (although he insists he is NOT a dog at all). He's a rescued German Shorthair Pointer, and he really is a beauty, as well as a fine spirited companion. He thanks you for the compliment!

Shell said...

I know Spencer is going to have fun roaming this Summer.

Michele said...

Oh, geez, I'm sorry I should never post comments before my second cup of coffee! *blush*

Anonymous said...

Turtles are awesome. I'm sorry about the loss of your other dog--the love of a dog is inherently bittersweet because they have shorter lives. But Spencer sounds like a honey.