Its a Name Your Baby Contest!

Finally, I have pictures of the baby turtle's face.  She wasn't terribly cooperative.  And either she's not very photogenic or I'm not a very good photographer cuz it took a million tries to get these not so amazing pictures. - probably both!  

There is one thing I learned while taking the pictures.  At one point she stuck her little head all the way out.  Of course this was not when I had the camera in my hand.  But anyway, it enabled me to see that she has tiny orange speckles all over her face.  That means I was wrong.  She is not Claudette's baby.  Rather the mother of this baby would have to be Cleopatra.  Her babies always have her distinctive orange speckles.  Here is a pictures of Cleopatra.  

I did take one where you could see Baby's cute little tail.

As someone else has noted, this baby simply must have a name since she is now known by the whole world.  So, I've decided to have a Name Your Baby Contest.  So here is what you will need to know.  I always name my turtles after either a movie star or a character in a movie.  I really like old movies.  (And if you are young like my daughter, old movies doesn't mean the 80's.  I mean really old.)  Turtles live such simple and plain lives digging in the dirt and eating worms, it just seems fun to give them glamorous names.

I will choose the name that delights me the most.  I promise to be fair and not choose based on the person that submits the name.  If you knew how seriously I take my pet's names, you would know this is not a problem.  It took a week and 30 tried names before choosing Kenya for my most recent rescued cat.

The author of the baby turtle name that I choose will receive a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" notecard with a printed version of my Dance with a Cat collage and matching envelope.  (The green is just the background for the picture)

To enter the contest I just ask three things of you.

1.  comment here with your name idea

2.  sign up to follow my blog

3.  take the time to read my previous blog post about my friend and at least look at her drawing.  Then leave a comment there so I know you have done that.

I will make a choice on Thursday May 21.  

I look forward to lots of creative and fun name ideas.

Elizabeth

Baby pictures

Per many requests, here are baby pictures.  She is with Mama, Claudette Colbert for size reference.  Claudette is about the size of a grapefruit that is flattened on one side.  Baby would not come out for the pictures - sorry.  And Claudette was determined to leave.  So I had to be quick.

We are contemplating creating a turtle nursery in the flowerbed outside of the fence.  So she hasn't gone to the country yet.  At the house we used to live at, we had a turtle nursery and they lived in it until they were as big as biscuits, which was usually their 3rd summer.  Until they are that big they are tasty morsels for large birds.   The nursery was not moveable when we came here.  And Captain Jack, our male decided to skip town.  I guess his name fit.  So we didn't think there would be more babies.   But sometimes the eggs can stay viable for a couple of seasons before they hatch. So.....

Anyway, its too late in the day for any face pics today.  They are already starting to snuggle in for the night.  Baby is staying in a hotel called The Clay Flower Pot on the Front Porch temporarily.  I won't be here tomorrow cuz  I'M GOING TO SEE THE LION KING PLAY!!!!!!    Excuse  me.   I'm terribly excited.

Anyway, the point is, I will try to get some pictures of baby's face Monday.  I usually don't name the babies cause then I get too attached.  They have no handicaps so I like to let them go in the country when they are bigger.  So she will just have to be "Baby".

Elizabeth

Babies are blooming in the Garden

Spring is officially here.  The rains have come and the perennials have risen from their winter sleep.  And Saturday mornings are begun with the buzz of weed eaters in the background.  How I wish someone would design a silent weed eater!  But on a more positive note, yesterday when I was pulling weeds (silently, by hand) from my flower garden, I found a tiny baby box turtle.  She was about the size of a silver dollar and sooo cute!  And yes, she is a she.  Yes, you can tell.  If anyone really wants to know how, you can contact me and I will tell you.

I am sure this tiny garden dweller is the offspring of one of my backyard family members.  Today I will take her out to the country far from busy city streets where she can live a long and happy turtle life.  She could simply live in my backyard with her mama and 2 aunts.  However, although I've taught Lydia that turtles are not balls with legs, I'm not sure this cookie with legs might not be beyond her limits of self control. 

Speaking of garden blooms, I've found the cutest shop on ETSY - WarmandFuzzyBaby.   In her love of a handcrafted life, Hilda has designed these precious baby caps.   They will keep your little one's head warm while expressing the hope of new life.  I can hardly wait for a friend to have a baby so I can buy one.  Just look at these little rose buds.