Truett and I were having coffee on our front porch early Sunday morning when I spotted movement in the driveway. "Hold that thought, Truett. I see something coming down our driveway."
So I stood up, opened the front door, and stepped out on the porch steps.
That's when I spotted this gopher turtle truckin' toward the house.
Quietly I went back in the house, grabbed my camera, and headed out to the front gate.
You can tell how fast she's moving by the strides of herlegs. By that time Truett had joined me. We did not walk toward the gopher, but just stood as still as statues while I clicked away. Snap! Snap! Click!
Then it turned it's reptilian head toward the fence and headed that way.
So I turned my reptilian neck to see what had forced a change in her direction. It's been so dry lately that I only surmised the gopher was looking for water.
Uh oh! Annie (with her summer cut) stood gazing at this creature in our yard, heading her way.
"You've got to rescue the gopher!" I told Truett. He seemed to think Annie wouldn't harm the turtle, but obeyed my command. Notice how she tucked herself all inside her shell.
And she stayed that way for a while. Truett referred to the gopher as a she so now I do, although I don't know how he figured that out.
We went back to the porch and eventually the gopher unfurled and headed back up the driveway toward the woods. Annie went out and sniffed her, figured she was boring, and left.
I worry about the gophers and dogs because we've had turtle-flipping dogs in the past. One of our dogs, Rufus, used to flip them over and leave them that way until they died. Another of our previous mongrels would chew at the shells and tear at the legs. So that was my concern with Annie.
Back on the porch, I kept my eye on the gopher, but seemingly she trucked on to safety for I couldn't find her again.
"Now what were we talking about, Truett?" I asked as we sipped lukewarm coffee.
You are so observant...love the stories & pictures.
Posted by: Sherry | May 12, 2009 at 02:09 PM