Today started well. The horses were happily grazing, and Harry had a turtle view outside the bedroom window.
Turtle #1
Jane and I had an appointment for a morning ride. I decided to start with the only horse that was upright when it was time to tack up.
Jane spotted the next two turtles from horseback!
Turtle #2 along a trail in the woods 
Turtle #3 at the edge of the field north of the ring 
Riding around the hay field
It was hot. I bathed Stone after our ride, and while he was on the wash rack, there was thunder. So much for riding the other horses!
I decided to run an errand to the chainsaw store, loading the defective saw that let me down yesterday for a trade-in. But the sky was looking ominous, and then red alerts started coming in to my phone warning of a severe thunderstorm. Harry was in Wentzville buying groceries, so I notified him. He said the weather was clear there. With the prediction of hail here, plans changed again, and I stayed home.
Blue skies and gray 
Heavy clouds to the north, and thunder 
Seriously stormy sky 
Heavy rains, but no hail
Harry endured raging storms in the bank parking lot, and he elected to do his banking business tomorrow, because Weedy was freaking out. Harry told him that the storms were visited upon him for running off on Monday. Poor Weedy! Both boys made it home unscathed, despite some hail and emotional trauma. I was very happy to see them.
Tom Morris rode out the storm on the front porch. Roscoe enjoyed the enclosed back porch in a comfortable chair, overlooking the newly designed water feature. The promised work to finish the project will probably be postponed now, because we got a lot of rain – more than an inch according to the new rain gauge (I dropped and broke the old one).
Tom Morris 
Roscoe 
The pondless waterfall
Nathaniel arrived to mow just before the storm, so he hastened home and will try again on Saturday afternoon.
Beautiful, cool weather arrived on the heels of the storms, and the horses were able to go out a little early this evening. Stone had a brief nap in the damp grass and I caught him getting up.
Still not much luck on bird pictures. I did get a female cardinal in the rain today.
Stay safe, stay well, stay dry. Peace.
I love the resolute Madam Cardinal on the water bowl. She is being.
Peace
Did you notice that turtle #2 has a turtle face on his shell? Right side half way down…
I have been told that turtle shells are like finger prints in that no two turtles shells are the same. Have never had enough turtles around to check that out….
Love the photos you take, especially of the critters…
I think I have heard that about turtle shells, too, Judi. I have been taking pictures for ID reasons for three years now, but have not had time to really study them. Some have shocking scars, and are readily identified. One of these days I will make a strictly turtle post. #2 shall be called Turtleface from now on!