Spidey Senses Tingling?
One of the challenges of this blog is that I have people who read the blog saying, "I don't get the rabbits, but I do enjoy the birds." Or I have people telling me that they disapprove about all the birds and demand more bunny. You know, I have had two people in two separate states tell me they are president of Cinnamon's Fan Club and have had no one ever tell me they are president of the birdchick fan club. So...how on Earth shall I toe this tenuous line of birds and bunnies in this blog entry?
With this:
Warning! If you didn't care for the post about the spider in the wren house last week, you are indeed not going to enjoy this post at all. Scroll down at your own risk. I do have to chuckle, I have been having trouble loading photos into this post all day--perhaps blogger is not happy with spiders as well? This entry is not for the faint of heart.
I think I'm getting past my spider discomfort from writing in Mr. Neil's Gazebo. They are everywhere in there! I found a photo card from last week that I forgot to download and it was chock full of spidey photos that I chronicled. Since he writes in here, I can see why spiders are so prominent in Anansi Boys (also lots of good bird references in that novel too).
Webs are everywhere and one night a spider covered the door knob with a fresh web. I had a heck of a time as I tried to get the door open without touching the web.
When I finally opened the door, the spider popped out from under the knob and dropped on the ground--with a THUD. It was big enough to create a thud sound--eeeeew. There was a green crayon that I tried to put next to the spider for scale, but it didn't seem to care for the crayon and I didn't want to anger it. Speaking of big I noticed that there was a ball in one of the corners of the gazebo.
Upon closer inspection it revealed itself to the the exoskeleton or outer layer of a spider. Here you can see where the legs fit inside.
Here the exoskeleton is attached to a twig and that is my pinky finger next to it for a size comparison.
This was about the time I realized that if the exoskeleton was this large, how big is the spider now...and where exactly is it lurking in the gazebo? Ack! Above, you can see the hatch popped off and you can see the eyes, it looks like there are four. I'm fascinated and grossed out all at the same time.
While searching through photos for the Adventure Pages I came across this wolf spider carrying hundreds of young on her back. I had heard of this, but had never actually seen it. I took this photo from one summer when I volunteered to help Blanding's turtles cross the road during egg laying season. We would encounter box turtles, map turtles and snapping turtles on their way to lay eggs besides just the Blanding's. At one point, this spider decided to cross the road. I decided to apply the snapping turtle rule to the wolf spider--hands off!
That should be the last of the spiders in the blog for awhile.
With this:
Warning! If you didn't care for the post about the spider in the wren house last week, you are indeed not going to enjoy this post at all. Scroll down at your own risk. I do have to chuckle, I have been having trouble loading photos into this post all day--perhaps blogger is not happy with spiders as well? This entry is not for the faint of heart.
I think I'm getting past my spider discomfort from writing in Mr. Neil's Gazebo. They are everywhere in there! I found a photo card from last week that I forgot to download and it was chock full of spidey photos that I chronicled. Since he writes in here, I can see why spiders are so prominent in Anansi Boys (also lots of good bird references in that novel too).
Webs are everywhere and one night a spider covered the door knob with a fresh web. I had a heck of a time as I tried to get the door open without touching the web.
When I finally opened the door, the spider popped out from under the knob and dropped on the ground--with a THUD. It was big enough to create a thud sound--eeeeew. There was a green crayon that I tried to put next to the spider for scale, but it didn't seem to care for the crayon and I didn't want to anger it. Speaking of big I noticed that there was a ball in one of the corners of the gazebo.
Upon closer inspection it revealed itself to the the exoskeleton or outer layer of a spider. Here you can see where the legs fit inside.
Here the exoskeleton is attached to a twig and that is my pinky finger next to it for a size comparison.
This was about the time I realized that if the exoskeleton was this large, how big is the spider now...and where exactly is it lurking in the gazebo? Ack! Above, you can see the hatch popped off and you can see the eyes, it looks like there are four. I'm fascinated and grossed out all at the same time.
While searching through photos for the Adventure Pages I came across this wolf spider carrying hundreds of young on her back. I had heard of this, but had never actually seen it. I took this photo from one summer when I volunteered to help Blanding's turtles cross the road during egg laying season. We would encounter box turtles, map turtles and snapping turtles on their way to lay eggs besides just the Blanding's. At one point, this spider decided to cross the road. I decided to apply the snapping turtle rule to the wolf spider--hands off!That should be the last of the spiders in the blog for awhile.
posted by birdchick at 8:15 PM
21 Comments:
we have wolf spiders here in Utah and they can get really big! I let them be if they're outside, but I hate it when they get in the house (with babies on their back). Then I have to decide whether to "catch and release" or kill. No matter what, those babies go running all over the place. YUCK!
Susy
Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
Jesus, Sharon! I can't keep my shoulders still...Yeeeewwwwww!
Oh, man. I need a minute.
***long pause***
Okay, thinking happy thoughts.
When I first saw that exoskeleton, I thought you were pulling our legs and it was actually a tarantula.
No wonder Neil's books are the way they are. He's surrounded by monsters.
I am a rabbit-owner who started reading your blog because of the disapproving rabbits. However, I have enjoyed reading the birding stuff too. I just wish I knew more about birds so I could keep up.
thanks Sharon!
I hadn't a clue as the the Mr. Neil you were talking about, would you tell him my book club just finished Good Omens and we loved it!
thanks
Dawn
Hey Sharon - No one is paying you to write the blog - so you should write what you want to write - I thought that's what blogs were for.
And why should anything in nature gross anyone out? Nature is what it is. It's we humans who have the problem.
You must be thinking on the same wavelength as the Star Tribune. There was an article in todays Metro section about spiders at the Guthrie theater with icky spider pictures.
I guess it's been a year since I found your blog, and although dissapproving rabbits is the highlight, I LOVE reading about birds. I never ever thought about birds before I found your blog, and although I still know little, I'm much more observant now and enjoy watching them.
***SHUDDER***
I thought I was gonna DIE when I saw that exoskeleton!
More bunnies, more birds...NO MORE SPIDERS!!!
Thank you.
EEEEWWW!!!
OK, that said, bring it all on!
Lynne
http://hastybrook.blogspot.com/
Like you, I'm fascinated and creeped out all at the same time. I'll admit, though, that this many spider pics--especially the thought of those millions of babies on that wolf spider's back--eeeewwwww! I'm more than a little freaked.
Still--birds and bunnies are a great combo! And the occasional spider isn't that bad. But I don't think I could work in that room with all the spiders, no matter what kind of good writing mojo Mr. Neil has left in there.
Very cool exoskeleton photo! I didn't know spiders did this! I'm glad I don't live where spiders get as big as this.
I forgot to add another creepy moment in the gazebo. In the morning, the sun streams in through one of windows and makes a perfect light on the table. I was typing on my PowerBook from notes on my notepad next to me. The sun hit the notepad perfectly...and then...a silhouette of a spider crawled across the page. I looked up to the window and there was a large spider crawling across the glass.
Eeeeew.
Try this....Put on a headlamp and walk outside at night and look for spider eyeshine. Spiders are everywhere. We are surrounded by them. I like spiders, especially jumping spiders. I have made pets of them around my kitchen sink. They eat the flys & mosquitos that bug me. Spiders are great pets.
I forgot when I was in Arkansas last year, there were many nights when I would be walking back to meet the van and I would see all these little specks reflecting off of my headlamp. Curiosity got the better of me and I stopped to see what was reflecting. Like elizabird said, it was all spider eye shine. The swampy area that is ivory-bill habitat has millions of spiders.
I agree with Larry S. You should write what tickles your fancy, and if it tickles us too, then so much the better. I came for the bunnies, but stayed for the birds!
Spiders are Creepy
I Loathe Spiders T_T
I live in WA, there are quite a few (least in seattle)
They're very serious and SOMETIMES :O!!
Too large :|
For 'Me' to deal with em'...
At that size.
I (choose) To rid myself of pests. some spiders are just that. PESTS.
EWW GO AWAY PESTS T_T DIE LOL.
These are 'big' 'scary' Spiders.
Eeeew!! The gazebo story sounds like the opening scene of a horror film. *shudder* I'm here for birds and bunnies both. Of course, if you ever add a dog I'll not complain.
I just finished cleaning the garage this past weekend and killing hundreds (thousands?) of potential spiders by getting rid of all those fuzzy white balls of spider eggs. They really seem to love us this year.
Last summer I saw a very pretty spider that looked a bit like a glass bead. I've no idea what kind he is, but he's here:
http://pics.livejournal.com/stardustgirl/pic/0002a9xf/g7
Yeeeee-eeesh! Those photos are definitely interesting from an 'educate myself on nature' perspective, but totally gross too! I can get down with the Daddly Long Legs, but anything more 'robust' freaks me out.
I love the bunnies the best, but am really looking forward to learning more about birds.
Came for the birds.
Stayed for the bunnies.
LOVING the spiders!
That exoskeleton picture where you can see down the leg-holes: AWESOME! Also, I am fascinated by the picture of the wolf spider carrying her babies across the road. Although, I admit, I would have applied the snapping turtle rule to her, too.
You have redeemed yourself in my eyes and regained your status as Cool Nature Chick with these spider photos. I approve, and grant you a reprieve from posting any more.
Kathi
Thank you, KatDoc, for keeping me on my toes.
;)
Birds, bunnies and spiders,all good...keep the peace with the spiders they are fascinating creatures.
I love the term "eyeshine". If you read sci fi then Spiders are sort of like our own personal aliens.
Claudia
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