Tag: Red-Footed Tortoise

Poem for an Image

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#7: Zumi’s Growth

Zumi Tye, my Red-Footed Tortoise, at 18 months old. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

my sweet, unsexed tortoise,
grows quicker than the
sun can set.

meals are three times
per day now.
at this rate, it’ll be
draping over the sides
of its terrarium in less
than two years.

Zumi interacts with me;
it licks the glass and moves
its head from side to side
at the sound of my voice.

I think it knows me.
I think it loves me.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with a previous place of employment, as it pertains to racism and discrimination, growth from the transition after resigning from that company, and life’s foibles and overall experiences. I welcome your visit.

Photos From This Past Weekend & NaPoWriMo #22

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A two-for-one special post

Saturday morning workout. I decided to cool down in the aerobics room. The fitness room was getting a little too crowded for my taste. And by “crowded,” I mean, two other people came in there. LOL! Saturday, April 19, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Besides, the aerobics room has the best mirror effects. LOL! Saturday, April 19, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Saturday’s lunch: cheesy baked potatoes with/ onions, and turnip greens. Also, a few strips of bacon. Saturday, April 19, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Zumni Tye was actually watching me move about our living room–gathering things and cleaning up. I stopped and snapped a photo because I was in total disbelief. 💙♥️💛 My tortoise baby is growing up! Saturday, April 19, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Please don’t ask me why she looks like she has lost her VERY best friend. Jernee is attitudinal these days. I never know what I am going to get when she wakes up. I just deal with it. She’s 17- she has earned the right to be a super duper grouch, and I will just be okay with it. LOL! Saturday, April 19, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
I did not go to the fitness room on Sunday. I decided to do a 2-mile walk around my neighborhood instead. I was feeling bound up and a bit more stressed than normal, so being outside in the early morning breeze was better than being cooped up in the fitness room in the basement. Sunday, April 20, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Oh, nothing… It’s just me and my shadow passing through the crosswalk. Sunday, April 20, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
I simply wanted to capture the view. Sunday, April 20, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
If you look very closely at the lightposts, you’ll see two birds. 🙂 Sunday, April 20, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday night dinner: Spaghetti with ground beef, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and spinach. YUMMY! Sunday, April 20, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

in the heat of the glory days & sun-soaked nights

haven’t had the pleasure
to enjoy basking in
the goodness of a secret shared
in decades – my glory days
and sun-soaked nights are
winding down.

soon, I’ll spend them with
a sandman who knows all
about losing sleep over
full lips instead of a
broken heart.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.

Photos From This Past Weekend

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Friday night dinner from my favorite Japanese Sushi & Steakhouse restaurant. Shrimp tempura roll and Eel avocado roll. Friday, March 14, 2025.
I was craving my favorite chips on the planet, so I copped one bag and was satisfied. Friday, March 14, 2025.
Jernee Timid was in such a good place this past weekend. She made me so happy to be her mommy. Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Zumi Tye is up to no good per usual. LOL. Zuse had just finished eating a bit of breakfast: mustard greens & blackberries. Saturday, March 15, 2025.
I had to finally sit down and watch Moana 2 on Disney+. I am so glad I took the opportunity to do so. I laughed, I teared up, and I bopped my body to most of the songs. It’s such a great movie! Saturday, March 15, 2025.
A postcard arrived in the mail from one of my dearest friends and I just love this image. Don’t you? Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Elder had given us such a great breakdown of the scripture we were closing out for this past week. Matthew 22 (The Parable of the Wedding Feast). It was a great sermon and praise & worship was on point as well. Sunday, March 16, 2025.
Sunday morning workout. I needed this because I’d skipped Friday & Saturday. It was so rainy and gloomy and I guess I was just lazy those two days. I PUT IT IN on Sunday. Although I was tired afterward, it was truly worth it! Sunday, March 16, 2025.
Sunday night dinner: BBQ chicken wings (I made the sauce), baked seasoned red potatoes, and seasoned baked cabbage. Everything on the plate was made in the oven – baked and cooked to perfection. Sunday, March 16, 2025.

Overall, it was a great weekend, and I was sad to see it go. *Sighs* Weekends never last long. They come and go so quickly before you can bat an eye. I am already looking forward to this weekend. LOL! I hope you all will have a great week ahead. Take care and be kind to yourself and others.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Photos From This Past Weekend

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I am finding peace in unexpected places.

Honeycrisp apples, canned with ginger, cinnamon, honey, water, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Homemade oatmeal made with the canned apples shown above. Saturday, February 22, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
My youngest nephew, Thyrie, is currently hospitalized for a sickle cell crisis. He’s been there since Wednesday night. If you have it in you, please say a prayer for my little fighter. Photo Credit: Thyrie’s mom, sent to me by my brother, TJ.
Saturday morning workout. February 22, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday morning workout. Sunday, February 23, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Stare-off. I didn’t win. Sunday, February 23, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday morning coffee. This is one of my favorite creamers to use. It’s dairy-free and has zero sugar as well. February 23, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Zumi’s breakfast time: freeze-dried shrimp & cucumber. Sunday, February 23, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday dinner: pan-seared lamb, chickpeas, & veggies (onions, bell peppers, 1/2 serrano pepper, spinach, & fresh chopped garlic). February 23, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I have had such a relaxing weekend, yet one fraught with concern. I have been in total prayer mode for my nephew. My brother has been keeping me updated. He and my oldest niece have sickle cell anemia. My brother and I have the trait, however, we are not carriers.

I’ve always been mindful of who I dated, when I was actively dating, knowing that I’m 1/2 of a detrimental factor for offspring. My brother, not so much. But . . . he knows and understands what’s at stake now.

Thyrie is such a little man. He’s a ball of joy and curiosity. I have been asking God to keep him around for a very long time. Maybe he’ll answer that prayer for me.

I hope you all have a great week ahead. Count your many blessings and build on them by blessing others.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Zumi Tye, the Other Love of My Life

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Zumi Tye Walking Towards Its Food. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I cannot quite put into words just how much I love my tortoise. ZuZu does not require much. It eats, sleeps, hides in its hidey-hole, and tolerates my daily antics. Jernee gives it a bit of attention occasionally, but overall, she could not be bothered with it. It is amazing watching it grow and enjoy the simple life it has. I am in awe of its presence and am glad to be its mom.

Below is a short video of my second love as it was walking to its feeding post . . .

Zumi Tye, my Red-Footed Tortoise Walking Over to Its Feeding Post.

As I stated above, it doesn’t take much to satisfy ZuZu. It is happy as long as it has enough leafy greens, fresh fruits (in moderation), cucumbers, freeze-dried shrimp, and fresh water. I cannot wait until it gets big and old enough! I will take Zumi back to the Reptile Zoo to have it sexed. I am eager to find out if Zumi Tye is a boy or a girl.

I believe I will be able to do this in the next few months; probably before the year is out. I will be happy either way, but in my heart of hearts, I’d love for it to be a girl. I have a feeling it is not, though. LOL! And that’ll be just my luck. I always hoped this home would be all women/female, but I will allow one male (if it occurs this way).

I am also certain Zumi will require a bigger hidey-hole by the end of this year. Not too much bigger, but just a hair. It spends so much of its time in that thing that I’d like for it to have more than enough room for comfort. I will keep you all updated.

I hope you enjoyed the video! Happy Sunday!