Great Grandma's Tortoise's

**** UPDATE **** The animals you are about to see are not called Turtles, they are Tortoise's. After Gabe was reviewing our blog he had to correct me. So sorry for the confusion.

After the burial on Tuesday we decided to spend the night at Grandma Pinion's house along with Aunt Bethie, Uncle Kurt, Emma and Uncle Buster and Aunt Sharron. Eli always loves going to Grandma's house - but this was the first time he has ever seen her TORTOISE 's. We are usually at her house either in Jan or Feb and its to cold for them to come out. This was a real treat for him.

Emma showing Garfield some Love!

Gabe and TORTOISE- Grandma has had them for many many years now and they still don' t have names.

In the morning Grandma saved some lettuce for Eli so he could feed the TORTOISE. Eli was loving it and decided he needed to play in the dirt with a corn cob......... boys...!

Now, Eli and Emma showing Garfield some love - or torturing him, either way i don't think Garfield cared.

What is the difference between a Turtle and a Tortoise you say. Well....

Turtles may live in freshwater, the ocean, or brackish ponds and marshland. Their front feet might be fins or merely webbed toes with streamlined back feet to help them swim. Turtles have flatter backs than tortoises, and may spend all or part of their lives underwater. They mate and lay eggs underwater or on the shore. Some turtles sun themselves on logs, rocks, or sandy banks. During cold weather, they burrow in mud and go into torpor, a state similar to hibernation. Sea turtles migrate great distances. They are more often omnivorous, eating plants, insects, and fish.

Tortoises live entirely above water, only wading into streams to clean themselves or to drink. In fact, they could drown in deep or swift current. Their feet are hard, scaly, and nubby so it can crawl across sharp rocks and sand. Tortoises often have claws to dig burrows, which they occupy during hot, sunny weather or during sleep. Tortoises are mostly herbivorous, eating cactus, shrubs, and other plants that have a lot of moisture. They rarely migrate. Their shell forms a rounded dome, allowing the tortoise's limbs and head to withdraw for protection.

There now you know!