The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Alexandra! You have won the compostable toothbrush from World Centric! Congratulations! Please get in touch with me at fivecoat@ozarkmountains.com with your snail mail address!
I have another nature post this Tuesday, one you will either love or hate.
Dale came home from work the other day and said, “I got to see a tarantula this morning on the way to work.”
Before we built Our Little House, we had never seen a tarantula outside of a pet store and really didn’t know they were here in Arkansas.
When we were building, we drove up to the construction project and saw something on the side of the foundation. “Is that mud?” I asked and as we got closer, I could see it was a huge, hairy spider.
I’ve never been afraid of the creatures, so it didn’t freak me out then and since we’ve seen so many of different sizes and colors.
Call me crazy, but I truly believe them to be one of nature’s most beautiful critters.
So, I was a little envious when Dale said he got to see one in the road on the way to work the other day.
The weather has been truly strange here and the tarantulas have been hiding out.
Do you have tarantulas where you live? What do you think of spiders in general?
Oh my lord. Just looking at the picture gives me the willies. I don't *think we have any of those this far north (I hope), but our log home seems to make a nice gathering for all sorts of other spiders. When we were building, I saw (and killed) one of the biggest spiders I've ever seen — a wood spider, I think it was. Shudder…
Ah, I bet that spider would have done some good eliminating sme other pests, Jane!
I love spiders too, but don't like to touch them. I have about four little spider friends who live in my office and keep me company.
They really are good for eating all of the other little critters and if you don't bother them, they will do no harm to you. I think it's cool you have some in your office that actually keep you company.
I'm a spider fan. I think they are gorgeous, in their own arachnid way.
I imagine you have some pretty big ones there in NZ, Melanie!
Eek! Not a fan!
LOL, Brette!
We have Wolf spiders, which are just as large as the tarantulas you have there. They are very large, hairy brownish-black and when mom spider takes the kids out for a walk, they all ride on her back, TONS of them. They usually live in wood piles and dead fallen trees.
I have seen two, a large female with the kids, and a smaller juvenile.
They look ferocious, but are bug getters, and when you come across one, they put on a display of defensiveness to beat all displays. As far as I know, they are not poisonous but I am sure they would bite if teased as they have small fangs.
They are facinating to watch.
We have wolf spiders as well, Vicki. They are mean looking. When we first moved to Our Little House, there was one on the bedroom floor. I went to try to scoop him up and get him outside, but he lunged at me and I reacted and killed it.
I am always fascinated to see the webs they produce, ever since reading Charlotte's Web as a girl. We had a huge tiger spider here the other day. Had never seen one before. What I don't like is when tiny spiders stroll through the smoke detectors and set them off. Does that happen to anyone else in this community?
I've never heard of spiders setting off the smoke detectors. Yikes.
"I'll take 'hate' for $200, Alex…"
Sorry — as my description on my blog says, "appreciator of wonder, afraid of spiders." I only watched the part with Shelob once in LOTR, then I forward it every other time. *shudder*
But hey — they serve their function in the world, they eat other creepy crawlies, and they have their own unique beauty, so bless their multi-legged little hearts.
*shudder… twice*
You had me LOLing at your comments, Cal!
I'll try not to post about spiders a lot.