Missouri Red-Eared Slider Turtle

This morning when I went outside
to water my flower garden,
(Yes, this is my entire flower garden,
I haven't killed it yet!)

I noticed something odd. 

 

 We had a visitor..........

one of my favorite woodland critters.

This is called a red-eared slider, a semi-aquatic 

Missouri turtle.  They are common around 

our creeks and rivers.

Notice the distinctive red mark.

They love to sun bathe on logs near

the water's edge, and quickly slide away

 when disturbed.  Hence the name.

Average size is about 8 inches, this one was

 a whopper, a good 11inches in length.  They can

 live up to 30 years.

She was very busy.............

laying her eggs.

The red-slider can lay up to 22 eggs in a clutch.

They hatch in about 65 days.

These eggs are the size of a small hen egg or golf ball.

She carefully covered them up

& merrily went on her way.

Nary a sign she'd been there.

She must have thought this the perfect place 

to lay her babies!

Cappy knows to leave turtles alone & she's not a
digger, but to be on the safe side, we covered
them up with chicken wire.

Have a great weekend!

Missouri Department Of Conservation-Red Eared Slider

Little Elsie Elephant

I had a small amount of pistachio mohair
left that was too small for a regular sized
animal.  The fur was too long for a tiny
animal, so...........I shaved it with the
electric clippers.
The result is little Elsie the 5 inch elephant.

She is hand sewn, stuffed with wool roving
and fully jointed.  Her eyes are antique glass,
 her bow is a rose colored silk & her inner ear
is a reproduction calico cotton.

This little pattern was designed by Russian
artist Olga Orel.

Miss Elsie is aged to perfection!

Her teeny weeny tail.

 I am having lots of fun with my foray into
animal land!
She is available on my "For Sale"page.