It’s the last leg of the long holiday; for some it was a four-day weekend, and for others just today.  And sadly, the next long holiday will signal the unofficial end to Summer.  At any rate, it was an occasion to enjoy our independence from the daily ritual and celebrate this Independence Day.

For me, it was more time spent toiling in the basement, but I’m making progress, even though I don’t have as many bags of stuff, stuff and more stuff to drag to the curb for next garbage day.  Personally, I will be glad to return to my normal daily routine, sitting at the table pecking away, just to give myself a break from the basement chores … until next weekend, anyway.

This morning, the streets were littered with spent firecrackers, especially near the former Mixter School, where the asphalt parking lot must have been the site for many fireworks launches.  I went to bed later than usual last night, and, no, it was not because of my mid-day nap, but my internet went out for a few hours last evening, so hopefully none of you were waiting with bated breath for a July 3rd post, as it didn’t happen until close to midnight. 🙂 Last night, the skies and my ears were battered by fireworks zooming through the air, in colorful twizzles and even some fizzles, eventually plopping their spent cardboard wrappers onto the ground.  That light show ended just around the time I turned off the computer, at about 11:59 p.m., the local curfew for shooting off firecrackers.

Despite the late hour, I got an early start today, and headed to my favorite nature nook, where I reveled in the Park’s peace and quiet.  On the first loop, I heard the bellow of bullfrogs as their deep croaking noises echoed between the banks of the Ecorse Creek.  I heard a few splashes from time to time and peered between the bushes and bulrushes, but saw no activity.  I figured it was the frogs jumping off the lily pads which are plentiful and grace the surface of the murky water.

But, as I kept walking, the plunges were more plentiful … well, what in the world was that splashing noise?

I knew I had to investigate.

Lo and behold, I discovered a new and different log filled with turtles, and, they were very large and noisily belly flopping (er, shell flopping?) right off that log and into the water.  I decided I had to take a picture of them, as they were lined up like swimmers awaiting their turn at the diving board, but this log, unlike the other turtle-laden log, was not out in the open, thus it was difficult to get a good view of them.

Just then, another walker saw me and asked what I was looking at and I told him.  He pointed at the cement precipice and suggested I go there for a better view.  We both retraced our steps, and, just as we approached that cement landing, we saw two very large turtles, that had been sunning themselves along the ledge, suddenly push off and into the water, one right after the other, as a multitude of water droplets sprayed up.

Those two turtles fled the scene post-haste after taking the plunge and we could see them propelling themselves through the water, in an attempt to get back to their log and away from these humans who had intruded their domain.

So, it was plop, plop, fizz, fizz this morning at the Park.  These two terrapins were similar to a pair of mischievous young lads who might execute the perfect cannon ball into the deep waters of their favorite local swimming hole on a hot Summer day.

I really like this yard ornament that I pass every day on my walk, so I decided this tea-stained and weathered-looking garden flag would grace this Fourth of July 2017 post.

Happy Independence Day one and all!