Friday, April 20, 2012

Setting Phoebe Free...

Two years ago, amid the cleanup of the big Gulf oil spill, #1Daughter took Bumpers K & T to New Orleans for a wedding celebration. One souvenir BumperK brought home was a water turtle that had been rescued, cleaned up and placed in a big tank with a gajillion others in need of a home.

The man in charge of the tank must have felt sorry for the little girl who has always wanted a dog, but whose mother is inexplicably "pet-free and proud."  And he gambled that the mean momma who would deny her precious children a dog probably wouldn't object to the opportunity to do one little thing to help out the wildlife rescued from the oil spill. He gave BumperK a turtle, and she named it Phoebe.

Phoebe made a lot of friends at her new home in St. Louis, but when it came time for fun stuff like soccer and scooters, she got left behind. At some point the little girl who finally had a pet-even-if-it-wasn't-a-dog began to think that Phoebe might be better off having friends a little more like herself. So a plan was hatched to set Phoebe free in Pondorie at Le Rustique.

BumperK and Phoebe

Phoebe contemplates her new home at Pondorie.

And before I could switch to video mode, Phoebe jumped right in.
Oh, joy. Mission accomplished. And believe it or not, the mean momma is contemplating a dog once a big remodeling project now in progress at their house is completed. All's well that ends well, right?

Okay, I know it's already Friday, but I'm still linking to Rural Thursday. I had a lot of trouble uploading these photos. I thought it would be better to post a day late than present pictures that were oriented both sideways and upside down. Be sure to check out all the other posts there - you know, the ones that were posted on time. There are always such a variety of interesting photos and stories.

12 comments:

  1. BumperK is adorable! Best of luck to Phoebe and to the forthcoming of a new dog. ;) Way to go mean Mom! :)

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  2. aww. a relocated oil spill refugee! so cute!

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  3. oh i hope phoebe figures things out!! bumperk is adorable and i want a dog also. i keep fighting my urge as my nest is empty and i have a lot of freedom.

    so far so good at the not giving in part....but still i long for a tiny cute one!!

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  4. That's a great story. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! :o)

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  5. Sounds like Mom and daughter both were taught a lot by a sick turtle.....such a sweet story...

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  6. Love your post today. Great story and some lovely pictures to go with it.

    I'm delighted to have a fellow Missourian stop by my Century Farm post. Hope you will stop by again soon and perhaps see if you can find enough to keep you coming back. Are you familiar with the Monday meme Barn Charm? It is hosted by another Missourian and devoted to old barns. Perhaps you have one or two you could share.

    Ps. I signed up to be your newest follower.

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  7. What a sweet story and the pictures are wonderful.

    They have huge turtles, or are they porpoises, here in the waters of Bohol, but you are not allowed to touch them when diving.

    Cheers!

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  8. I hope Phoebe enjoys her new home!

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  9. I do wish Phoebe a long and happy life at Le Rustique! :) Cute story.

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  10. What a sweet story. I bet Phoebe is loving her new home.
    Hugs,
    Jann

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  11. Such a great moment! FREE! I guess you didn't think that a turtle would put on the "hare" moves before the camera was ready! That part cracked me up. To know a turtle can be faster than us pushing buttons...sounds like the story of my life. :-)

    Lana

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