Time for turtles

She lumbers through the yard.



Her speed is nothing on land.
In fact, were it not for her quick turns to snap as I approach, she’d be an easy mark. Her shell barely covers her muscular legs and long tail. But her relatively long neck aggressively lunges forward—the accuracy of her sharp, powerful jaws, nothing to be tested.



She may well be one of the five I saw in the pond just a few days earlier. Now, dragging her heavy body, full of eggs to the perfect spot to dig a hole and leave them.


I remember, years ago, when this time of year meant softball for my girls—on a neighborhood team that held its games at the township field.
It was game night, and we gathered with all the other parents to watch our home team and cheer them on. A “real” game, with real umpires and… bleachers--
when, in the middle of an inning, the field Ref all of a sudden stood tall, raised his arm and suspended play.

While onlookers puzzled at the pause, he pointed off into right field.


A very large lump was marching determinedly across toward a little girl, absorbed in the game, in center field.
Play resumed when she decided to leave.
The snapping turtle, that is.

It was 2 days earlier. last year, that I also found a large snapper in this spot.
I wonder if she chooses the same path each year.



Thanks to Mrs. Nesbit for hosting ABC Wednesday!