Jan 10th, 2015: MN Testudine
 

Pity poor Mrs Bartz in New Brighton, Minnesota. Severe polar vortex on top of normally brutal Minnesota winter, AND three boys in the house.
What's a mother to do?
A smart mother throws the boys out for at least a few sanity preserving hours a day, and it appears Mrs Bartz is one smart mother.

So Austin, Connor, and Trevor, find they have to amuse themselves outside and what better way than terrorize the neighbors.
Not wanting to incur too much wrath, they settle on building a giant snow Testudine. In this case a twelve foot high Sea Turtle.

http://cellar.org/2015/MN turtle.jpg

Now these three neighborhood terrorizers are not just good old boys temporarily misguided by vortexing winter.
No they're not some first time offenders, they have three "priors" as we say down at the station.

Here's the evidence.

http://cellar.org/2015/MNsnowstuff.jpg

Now I don't want to sound petty, or like I'm jealous just because their stuff puts any of my attempts at snow sculpting to embarrassing shame.
But I think the blowfish, their first endeavor, is the most impressive probably because of all the spikes.
The second offence, the walrus, is also very cool. I think it's a tie with last year's shark.
However I think the turtle is weak compared to previous years, looks to me like they phoned it in.
Possibly they've trapped themselves into having to produce something yearly. You know, community expectations, family honor, big busted groupies, but last year's pictures clearly them jumping the shark. http://cellar.org/2015/shades.gif



link

I think maybe they're committed to the "sea life" theme and they couldn't think of anything else. I'd like to see them take on a seahorse.

The texture on the skin is good, though. But did they make it an igloo? That would be cool.

oh and are you sure that isn't a dolphin?

An octopus would be a pretty neat feed for next year too. what about and octopus fighting a seahorse?

Marlin. Manta ray. Frogfish.


!!!

Dragonfish!!

Whale penis

I like them all. ("Those that can, do. Those that can't, criticise.)

Testudine? Rly? Ya couldn't just say turtle?

Stop making me learn shit.

The turtle one is cool because their mother's car is inside of it.

I found Testudine when I was checking the turtle vs terrapin thing, and found out I was completely wrong on terrapin.

Plus I wanted to give you stuff you can use to dazzle the boys on poker night. Might distract them enough to bluff a pot or two. ;)

Oh, that would lock 'em up tight.

I'd have to give 'em a tiny shove on the shoulder to get 'em back.