A Break in the Weather

Today is the first day in what seems like forever that both Frankie and I are enjoying a wonderful cool morning. The temperature is 73º F and the sun is gentle.

I can't remember last time I opened my back window and just watched the morning. Frankie has joined me by sitting half in his pool half out of his pool just basking in the morning sun. He is just under my window. He has stretched his front legs wide to his side. Every now and again he will dip his nose in the water for a small drink.

With the window open I get to hear what Frankie hears: birds, crickets, trains, wind. How lovely.

Some may argue that tortoises don't express emotion. I disagree. They may have a less complex emotional scale than humans but looking down at Frankie right now I see a sense of peace.

A break from the searing hot summer weather. Finely.

Something New

Frankie got a delivery today - a new Rubbermaid outdoor shelter. Yep, he has completely outgrown the Rubbermaid shelter we bought for him five (?) years ago.

Since Spring, when Frankie gets into his old shelter, he can't turn around inside without causing the doors to burst open. Just to help extend the time of the old enclosure, I removed some of the insulation so he could maneuver a bit inside. Still, the door would often open. Now the door never stays closed.

Since last summer, I have challenged Greg to get Frankie an updated enclosure knowing time was ticking on his current one. Greg wanted to make a foam insulated concrete structure but problems with zoning laws, materials and location was making this all near impossible.

Greg since then started to look at pre-fabricated outdoor shelters. Most were within the same dimensions of Frankie's present one which made them useless. Other shelters were so big that they would never be warm or at least economical to keep heated in the winter.

Last week the right shelter was found. The Rubbermaid Slide Lid Shed. Top lid moves back, front doors open, five foot by five foot inside. Perfect for Frankie, I think..... Some work needs to be done like insulation but at this point I am happy.

Now, where to put the thing. No, we have not decided that even yet.