The warmer weather is upon us here in Pennsylvania, and with that comes the turtles that will visit the creek! Today, I saw two different kinds while I was out. One in the morning, and the other just a few moments ago. Just look at them!

It won’t be long until the creek dries up (it’s been happening too frequently in the summer), so they’re enjoying the water. That’s the unfortunate part of the summers here. It wasn’t like that when we first moved here, but the last two to three summers, the creek has dried up completely for weeks to months.

They’ll leave around the fall season and go elsewhere around October or November, but they’ll come back in the springtime. I honestly thought they’d return next month, so this was a happy surprise!

I’m a sucker for these reptiles; I don’t want them as pets, but I love to go out onto the trail and visit them whenever I’m walking. My wife will roll her eyes, but she does enjoy seeing the happiness on my face when I shout out, “My turtles!” Every time they’re in view, they’re either swimming in the creek or just hanging around in the grass. I haven’t named them; I just call them my turtles, and that’s it.

We’re not naive; we will not go up to them and touch them, for some are snapping turtles and would take my fingers cleanly off. So, from a distance, I’ll stop by and take a few pictures of them.

One did sneak up on me one morning, because they were hiding in the tall grass. I don’t believe this breed of turtles would bite me, but I didn’t risk finding out the hard way.

Is there a point to this blog? No, just that I get excited when the turtles make their way back to the creek for the few months before it gets cold again. You’re welcome to some turtle pictures and some quality writing here!

Speaking of quality writing (the ego on me…), my short stories are now being published strictly on my Substack, so if you want to read the latest ones, check it out and be sure to subscribe!

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