Morning rounds

I got up early this morning and patrolled the fence and garden, all by myself. In fact, Tortellini slept in. She might have been tired from all her recent burrow "remodeling." She's definitely a DIY tortoise! President Obama could hire her for infrastructure projects. She's one very short bulldozer!

Weighty Matters

The scale doesn't lie: I've been eating! I've gained 156 grams in two weeks! My weight is up 90 grams since my last weigh in and that was before my weekly soak! Plus yesterday I took my first drink of water on my own since my surgery. It was out of the tree well, quite fancy as tortoise drinks go. You know we only like fresh, running water. Rainwater is like Perrier to us tortoises. Clean, refreshing and worth flushing the bladder to stock up on a new supply of water.

Tortellini weighs 3900 grams after hibernating all winter. I have a lot of catching up to do but now weigh 3190 grams after two weeks outside, with lots of "salad bars" and prodding by my tortoise mom and dad. But just two days of sharing the new burrow with Tortellini is reminding me to get busy being a self-feeding tortoise again.

I even came out of the burrow by myself this afternoon. I didn't stay long, but I did sniff everything and see what Tortellini was up to. Of course she was busy eating every flower in sight, plus my salad. Maybe she's finding that being my burrow mate is a pretty good deal afterall?

Sad news

The world is a little sadder because Aunt Darlene died today. She always sent cards and asked how I was doing. She called us turtles even though we are tortoises, but that's ok because we knew she cared. She was very funny and lovable and so it's hard to know she's gone.

There were many tears at our house today and everyone will miss her. Even though I never met her in person, I'll miss her funny cards and fake tortoises that make me do a double take. I know the color is wrong on this "turtle" but I still had to bob my head and check it out. Fake-out!!

Guess who came to dinner?

Since I have to stay on my own side of the barricade until I perk up and eat better on my own, Tortellini hitched a ride over to my side of the yard to remind me to get busy. Boy, she can make hibiscus, cordia and desert willow flowers plus romaine disappear in a hurry! Chomp, chomp, chomp! So I perked right up and started eating too, although my manners are far more delicate than hers.

Then Tortellini prowled the barricade wanting to go back to the main attraction, our old burrow. But it's hot and they decided I need some company so she ended up being my roommate in the new burrow instead. She did her bulldozer thing and suddenly dirt was flying out the doorway as she dug out a cool spot for herself. She is one busy gal! Then she snuggled right down in the best corner, farthest from the doorway. So I have a roommate in the new burrow now. As roommates go, Tortellini is about the best. I'll bet she wakes me up and gets me moving tomorrow morning. I think the lazy days of rehab are now officially over with Tortellini as my new therapist. Eat. Dig. Walk. Prowl the barricade. Oh a tortoise's work is never done!