Creatures Golden and Small

I really enjoy sleeping with the windows open, but it can come with a price.  This morning at 4:30, the price was a crack of lightening, and the sound of rumbling thunder that woke everyone.  When a couple of the dogs started to pace and pant, I knew I had no choice but to get up.  CarrieAnne, the most nervous hid under my feet while I sat at the computer.  Outside, the storm battered us with high winds and a torrential downpour.  Tornado warnings were issued and there was a reported siting of one in an area minutes from us.  What a way to start the day!

I delayed the morning walk with the dogs until Carl got home from work and the storm passed.  In our yard we found this cow-bird.  My guess is that it was a casualty from the storm.  When we tried to catch it, it did fly some, but not much.

Carl finally caught it and we put it into the field next to us to keep it safe from the dogs until it can regain its strength.  I have to admit to not liking cow-birds.  They are actually the very reason why I've cut back on feeding the birds.  They come in flocks, gobble down everything and chase the little birds away.  But as it sometimes is with  people, you put all those feelings aside and do what you can to help.

Running errands this morning, I saw that the creeks are full and some of the fields are flooded.  Water was across the road in some places as well.

On my way home, I found this little terrapin trying to cross the road.

I don't know if this little guy wanted my help or not, but it got it, because I always stop and and pick them up. I think it knew it was safer in its shell because it never came out, but looked at us from the inside.  

Maybe a couple of the dogs thinking I had a snack for them was the reason....

When I was a kid and we would see a terrapin on the road, my Mom would stop the car and either me or one of my siblings would pick it up and either set it well across the road, or we'd take it to a place where it would be safe.  My Mom always told us when we let it go to wish it good luck...Afterwards she'd always ask us if we did that.

So, of course when I let this one go in our woods, I wished it 'good luck'
Funny what you can remember from so long ago...

I hope if any of you have been caught in these storms, that you've had 'good luck' and are safe too!

~Sheba~