Well, as many of you know, we have pet turtles. We adore them, perhaps the truth is more that I adore them, and the boys just "like" them. Mickey and Leo were our original pair. Mickey passed away in December while we were in New York. So we felt that we needed to get Leo a friend, you know, life is better when you surround yourself with like shelled folks. ;-) It took us awhile to find a LEGAL sized turtle for sale. We finally happened upon Tuck. (a name Entomologist chose from "The Wonder Pets") Tuck was in a flea market reptile store in a small tank, without a basking lamp, no water to speak of, just overall deplorable conditions, and we were there to save him. He has been a wonderful addition to our unique pet addiction. I love them, I love to sit here in the early mornings when the house is quiet, enjoying the first cuppa of the day, and I listen to my turtles "sing". They will lay on the basking rock, and make little chirpping type sounds, kinda like squeaks. (my mother says I have too much time on my hands to be able to hear them, I say she's just jealous)

So are you wondering why I am rambling on and on about my tortugas? Well its because one is missing tonight. You see, we take them outside to enjoy natural sunlight on days that reach at least 80 degrees. They swim in the kiddie pool, and have areas to hide, and bask. It's really neat. (secretly I could watch them for hours!) So the boys were outside playing, while I was getting dinner ready. Picasso was playing with the turtles, pouring water into the pool, then sand, then more water, and on and on until I told him to not do it anymore. Well eventually I brought Picasso in, got him in the bathtub, and while he was drying off, Entomologist came running inside, "Mommie, LEO is missing! You have to come quick!" (so pull up on Picasso, out the door we ran) We searched for at least an hour, had the neighbors searching their yards too. I asked Picasso if he was playing with Leo, he said,

"Yes, Leo gone bye bye."
"I know honey, where did you take Leo?"
Without missing a beat, he replied, "I ate him!"

Ok, so I knew we were getting nowhere fast, and I was starting to get a bit concerned about Leo. Turtles need water you know. If they don't have it, their skin will get dry, and eventually so will the shell, and it's just not a nice thought for a turtle lover. Not to mention, Leo wouldn't know how to catch his own food if he had to, he has been humanized, for lack of a better word. So he is out there, somewhere in our backyard. Poor thing. I have the lid to a rubbermaid container filled with water, so that he can get in it, if he actually finds it. While I am typing this, Tuck, the other turtle, is in the tank clanking around. I think he misses the little guy.

So here is the last picture that was taken of Leo and Tuck. This afternoon, while I was trying out my new lens. Leo is the one in the background swimming. Tuck was looking right at me, as if to tell me where to put my camera! (I don't think he was thinking happy thoughts!)

Hopefully we will find Leo, before something else does.