Sweet Things That Aren't Crap

The back yard was landscaped with turtles in mind. Everything there is for their enjoyment and safety. Any workmen who need to do work out there are escorted back and warned to be careful. I can't have them drop heavy things willy-nilly, not knowing who might be underfoot. A painter was once fired on the spot for leaving the gate open, through which a turtle might escape. The turtles are more important than any repairs.

They eat the plants and insects, bathe in water puddles and bask in the sun or hide in the shade of bushes. Oh yes, they also breed.

The Mama turtle digs down in the ground and lays her clutch of eggs. When the time is right, each baby will use his little egg tooth at the end of his mouth to break through the egg, then crawl up through the dirt to join on on the surface of the earth.

All this is done with no fanfare, so I only know there is a new turtle when I find one. Or two. Like I did today. We have a new Eastern Box turtle, still so young that he still has his egg tooth. And we have a new Ornate Box turtle.

I've brought them indoors, as I do all the babies. They go outside when they're a little older and bigger. When their skins are thicker and their shells sturdier, they're ready to face life on their own.

In the meantime, they need to be named. And I'm taking suggestions. What are some good turtle names?