I believe this to be an Orb spider, not that I am in any way an arachnid specialist, (or a good photographer!) but, it did seem to wink a green eye at me when I took its picture ;-/ Maybe its not an eye..anyways, For almost all eight legged little beasties I will make some utterance, whether a small squeak or a resounding scream – depending on their size and proximity naturally -before heading off asap in the other direction, until I feel safe enough to turn and evaluate the situation! This, only happens indoors, I am perfectly okay to see a spider on the outside and appreciate its beauty….at a distance of course! Whilst, if you have read my previous post, may be aware I am not a hairy multi-legged beast fan….! I saw the other early morning the most amazing thing I think I will ever witness!!!! We have had a resident Orb spider, which has been growing steadily over the past couple of months, string its beautiful web out each day over our garden parasol and the adjacent honeysuckle bush. Each morning I get up and wonder how long it took through the night to produce this incredible structure??? On gazing upon the new structure with the first dew the other morning, I was intrigued to see the spider sprint out to its web along the tension line, there was nothing in its web apart from the hanging droplets of dew! The next thing I saw was an astounding feat…Suddenly the Orb spider ‘snipped’ a couple of strands of its web making the first quarter of its web (Imagine a clock) collapse it then proceeded to haul the strands in, I was so close at the window I could see its forelegs working…! As it pulled the quarter segment, it was drawn into an ever decreasing ball of sparkly dewy water…by the time it had pulled it close enough, it was about the same size as the orb Spider……THEN….it completely ingested the ball of liquid and gossamer WOW! At first I glanced down thinking it had dropped it but no…I had seen a spider consume fluid WOW….TOTALLY AMAZING…WOW!!!!! Quietly it turned and resumed its hiding place in the Honeysuckle bush! I was totally awestruck, not that it had had a drink, but the super efficient way that it had pulled fluid from its own web in such an easy fashion and with such skill. Nature is truly amazing! This picture might not be the same actual spider, but it is close enough that it could be and it does look to be the same size and colouring 🙂
Spiders – both scary and amazing too!
Caren's Creative Canvas & Craft 
I have to admit spiders don’t really bother me ….but worms !!!!!!!!!!! OMG freak central. On cold crisp autumnal mornings, when there is a slight air frost on a spiders web they look so intricate, cue number one on my bucket list … to knit a cobweb AKA a wedding ring shawl.
To witness such a show by your own pet spider must have been quite something, as you say nature is totally AWESOME 🙂
I have to say, knitting a cobweb wedding ring shawl is the most amazing thing! A future web of intrigue to be battled through from the alter onward……What an exciting voyage of discoveries…Hopefully!?! LOL ;-/
I love the fact that I can have a ”pet” spider without any ado’s…no; feeding/cleaning/tending—definitely no petting!!!!! I totally find them interesting – but ONLY at a distance whilst you don’t find wriggling things so charming I hate the thought of scurrying multi limbed hairy beasts!… though I can quite happily catch a May Fly in my hands and send it on its jolly way – strange what gets under our skin – don’t you think!
I have had to tell as many people as possible about my witnessed moment – I feel so privileged to have seen it! 🙂
The wedding ring shawl will probably be a retirement project…once Beloved is ensconced in his man cave doing manly stuff I can quietly lock him in while I knit un disturbed, only letting him out at convenient moments LOL
I know logically there is no reason why should find certain creepy crawly’s distasteful and as you say from a distance they appear quite fascinating, but oh my days as long as they stay well out of my way I’m sure we will get on famously.
I do hope your attire of rubber gloves, and high topped boots ….with tucked in skirt, has set a new fashion trend amongst your local community, one so does relish the thought of being associated a fashion icon 🙂
Going off Your Beloved thinking knitting time is perfect to start conversations…its probably wise to wait till you have stowed him away especially with something which sounds like it will be very intricate!
Suddenly there does seem to be a growing number of local lasses taking to wearing their bustles tucked in high boots as they peg out their washing in rubber gloves -I’m not sure what the Elders around this neck of the woods must be thinking….but I wouldn’t like them to start hitching their skirts into their bloomers to keep up!!!
I have visions of a local beauty pageant looming in your neck of the woods I can see the Town Crier now advertising ‘Best boots in show’ ‘ Best Marigold Glove Decoration’ ‘ How To Wear This Seasons Bustle’ ….if your ladies are this fashion concious just pegging the washing out Market Day must be a riot 🙂
My Dear Mrs P….
you’ve simply no idea how much all these new fashion styles are brightening up and giving us ladies a more practical way of manoeuvring in our daily lives in our little back and beyond! Although the bustle does still sway, but is so much less of an encumbrance at the ankles…its so liberating and having the gloves mean us working women are ready for any eventuality!!! the plus side of having things tucked in, reduces almost all puddle splashes on rainy shopping trips! Market Day is in fact the perfect place to parade our new fashions, though there does seem to be a new breed of market perusers of late for some reason??? I’ really must go off to spit and polish by boots for the upcoming competition 😉
Mrs T
The new Autumn fashion statements in your neck of the woods must be a sight to behold when all you ladies set off en mass for the market…I have to confess of having pangs of jealously at your high end Haute Couture,
What’s that you say minimum rain splashage ???? how refreshing to get home and not ones woollen skirt beginning to steam once you hit the warm air of indoors, I suppose the smell of wet sheep as you skirt dries has also dissipated??
Please do keep me informed how the spit & polished boots fair in your up and coming competition…just a simple question though …was your coal lump used for the final rub and wipe to perfect the shine on your foot wear ??
Yours in anticipation of competition results & answer to my novice cleaning question
Mrs P
Great post! Nature is totally awesome. 🙂
Thank you so much Jackie – it certainly is !!! 🙂
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