A Southern Painted Turtle basking in the sun at Reelfoot Lake State Park.
What does a snail say when he rides on the back of a turtle? “Whee!” ~Will Durst
Southern Painted Turtle
turtle
Sitting on a log
A few shots from a recent trip to Reelfoot Lake State Park.
“Five frogs are sitting on a log. Four decide to jump off. How many are left? Five, because deciding is different than doing.” ~Unknown
Enjoying the sunshine
These are only a few of the turtles that we saw when we recently drove around Oneal Lake in the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge.
“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.” ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
Finding a warm spot
Due to mild temperatures this past weekend, this turtle found its way up out of its muddy winter hiding place and found a nice spot to sit and enjoy a pleasant day.
“She thanked God that life was not always winter, that spring always came at last to chase away the cold and heaviness, and to release one to warmth and movement again.” ~Janette Oke
Down at the creek
“Come forth, and bring with you a heart
That watches and receives.”
~William Wordsworth
Enjoying the view
“Never lose an opportunity to see anything that is beautiful. It is God’s handwriting – a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, every fair sky, every fair flower.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Taking charge
As I was taking photos of some turtles sunning on a log, a Great Blue Heron boldly landed on one end of the log and very assertively began marching herself right down the middle of it, scattering the turtles as she went.
“Givers have to set limits because takers rarely do.” ~Irma Kurtz
Jumping off the log
“New habits can be launched … on condition of there being new stimuli and new excitements.” ~William James
Higher ground
Reelfoot Lake and the Mississippi River were at flood stage this past weekend. This had some of the little critters scrambling for a dry spot on higher ground.
Flooded campground at Reelfoot Lake
Duck on a campground picnic table
Turtles along the Mississippi
Fox squirrel
Mississippi River overflowing
Turtles along the Mississippi
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Tho some may dwell where these abound,
my pray’r, my aim, is higher ground.
~Johnson Oatman, Jr.
Catching some sun
Turtles of Reelfoot Lake State Park
“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” ~Victor Hugh
walking on a country road 