Last week, a snake slithered across my naked toes and surprisingly, I did not suffer a myocardial infarction. I did flip him off, but only after the cheeky little guy turned around and stuck his tongue out at me.
So, I’m not too squeamish about reptiles. Or vermin, for that matter. I’ll totally pick up that mouse that’s terrorizing you in the kitchen.
But there is one order of animals I cannot stand, and that’s spiders.
Yes, I know they eat bugs, and bugs are annoying. Yes, I know they provide food for birds, and birds are beautiful.
I don’t care. I’ve had one shower with me. I’ve had one visit me while I was on the toilet. I’ve had one crawl into bed with me.
Look, guys, I have a space bubble. I have intimacy issues.
And spiders are just prone to getting way too personal.
So it’s strange that two years ago, when this lady set up housekeeping outside our front door, we didn’t bother her. In fact, we fussed at visitors who insisted we sweep her away, or squash her.
She stayed for a couple of months, keeping our porch bug-free and spinning beautiful new webs each morning. We took to calling her Charlotte.
Look, I never said we were original.
Anyway, when she went away at the start of winter, we were kind of sad. We knew she’d laid her last clutch of eggs and died at the first frost. Like Wilbur, we were somewhat lost without her constant presence.
Last year, we waited anxiously to see if any of her progeny might return. Not one orb weaver could be spotted anywhere in our yard, which was strange. Normally we have half a dozen or so.
Fast forward to present day. When we returned from Texas Sunday evening, we were greeted by the sight of something that might make most people cringe.
But we were overjoyed. Our eight-legged gargoyle – she was back. Reincarnated maybe, likely even offspring of our original Charlotte. And while she’ll probably skeeve out the postman, she might also discourage the solicitors – and that’s fine by us.
The seasons are changing! Did you snap a pic of your Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte? Are the leaves turning already in your neighborhood? Show us your camera phone pics from this week!
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.mamamash.com" title="Mamamash"><img src="http://mamamash.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/ippp-polaroid-125-x-125.jpg" alt="Mamamash" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
What in the world kinds of spiders are those?? Yeesh. If I got sleeved out about every spider I saw, I’d never be able to relax out here. But those are big and colorful.
She’s an orb weaver. I think she’s very talented in her craft. And she’s OUTSIDE, so I don’t need to stomp. But I will stomp anything with more than four legs in my house, for sure.
Between your pal and her snakes and you and these- ugh. I don’t think we can be friends any longer. Just kidding- but seriously I consider myself a strong mama- and I cannot DEAL with spiders. Nope. I would take that snake any day that got in our house over one spider that disappeared somewhere. Well, wait. On second thought I just might move.
I don’t mind them outside! Not at all. But in my shower, OH. I was unhappy.
My husband is brave and all but he would scream like a little girl if he saw that!
It’s really big, too. I rode a lawnmower into one and made “girl noises” as my cousin says. I forgot to take my foot off the gas and ran into the fence. But as long as she’s just there to look at, and doesn’t try to share my breakfast, we’re cool.
I tried to get a picture of a blue and green skink but he was too fast for my fingers. I don’t mind when they stay outside either, but I don’t need them in the shower and certainly not hiding in corners of the basement. I’m looking at YOU, black spider!
P.S. – I like the new background.
Skinks are pretty! And thanks.
I’m all about autumn.
She’s freaking me out a little, but I agree that outside is okay. I need to send you a link to something on my husband’s blog about spiders. He has a lot of extensive thoughts, including a treaty with the spiders allowing them to live if they stay outside
Haha, I’d be interested to read that.
f#$@! WordPress. Try two.
Your snake story made me clench in places I previously thought unclenchable, but I like these spiders. Glad you made a friend.
WordPress is being mean to you because it’s mad you don’t blog anymore. So am I.
As long as they are OUTSIDE…I can try to be okay with it. It’s when they crawl out from my shirt sleeve after I’ve gotten dressed at 5am that really causes problems.
As long as they are OUTSIDE…I can try to be okay with it. It\’s when they crawl out from my shirt sleeve after I\’ve gotten dressed at 5am that really causes problems.
Yeah, spiders are kind of like inlaws. As long as they mind their own business, we’re cool. When they’re all up in my koolaid, I kind of want to squash them.
OMG!!!!
Haha!
AAAAiiiiiieeeeee! Did you hear that ear piercing scream? You’re much more generous than I am.
Really, she’s pretty.
I’ll come squish a spider for you any day. But you’ll have to revive me if a snake ever comes near me….much less across my toes!
I think snakes are actually kind of cool. The poisonous ones will meet my bootheel, but the other ones are neat. I had a giant yellow boa wrapped around me in elementary school. My mom nearly passed out when she came into the assembly.
Well, I’ve just had a stroke. But I’m going to love you anyway. My fear of spiders is great. Kind of funny that both of our link up posts are on the subject lol
Oh, you were so brave to get the one in your window! The ones in the house? I scream and make my husband smush them.
So, I have the same issues with spiders – they love to find me in the bathroom. Showers, toilets, bathtubs, sinks. I really hate those things. Glad to see this one actually made you happy. The pics are creeping me out and now I feel them crawling on me.
Sorry! If it’s any consolation, she doesn’t even move. We’ve never seen her budge from her spot.
We’ve got a few of these guys hanging around. I don’t mind them as much as the earwigs.
Oh, that just made me squirm! I hate spiders!
They’re really creepy, I know. Sorry.
I can’t even look at the pictures. So not a fan of spiders!
little miss latey late. Sorry i’ve been buried! I thought I would comment since we had one of these little guys last year and we killed it then had anothe rthis year and let her stay. I too am ok with snakes but am deathly, like start crying a little, at spiders and I am desperately trying to kill that fear instead of the spiders. i’ve attached my link to my little guy who kept my tomatoes company of late.
https://www.facebook.com/New2Two/photos_stream#!/photo.php?fbid=433365036713542&set=pb.100001201493177.-2207520000.1348167543&type=1&theater
that Kerry is Kerry B from new2two