I did see, Dina. It's good to have her back. Dina and I are speaking of a blogger in Mashhad, Iran with whom we've become friends.
It's amazing, Eamon. The Arroyo is full of them and the light catches them through the trees. It's dry here, so the dust catches them, too. Or they catch the dust.
Shell, I wonder if I never read it or if it's just been too long so I don't remember it. I should read it again, either way.
Me too, Hilda. And the LA/Pasadena area is spider city! We do get black widows and brown recluse spiders, which are dangerous. But most others I welcome.
Spiders amaze. They've been around for millions of years, unchanged, as various evolutionary experiments have blossomed and died. Perfect example of how, given sufficient materials and dumbfounding lengths of time, the forces of chance can produce successful designs. Turns out "blind watchmaking" is the best way to keep everything running, in an unattended cosmos.
I mostly enjoy spiders, even though I have more than my fair share (two large trees tower over our house, and the spiders love those trees!). But this week one of them went too far: I had a PTA board meeting in my living room, and one proceeded to march right through the middle of the meeting like he owned the place. Unfortunately/fortunately, the woman in charge of the safety subcommittee cut short the spider's stroll through our meeting...
But I love spiders. They have many homes in our yard. And they do a decent job of keeping the rest of the insect population manageable. My daughter loves tarantulas, but they don't make lacy webs like the one in this picture...they make cool welcome mat webs on the ground.
I always say "sorry" when I have to move a web to walk down my garden path, but I bet the spider's thinking "Sorry isn't enough," because it will have to weave that web all over again, and go hungry for hours.
We get "wolf spiders," gentle giants who keep other bugs away. They used to freak me out but I've learned not to mind them.
I'm coming to you from the Pasadena Central Library, where they're shooting scenes from TV's "Ghost Whisperer." It's charming to see crew guys tiptoeing through the library wearing their utility belts.
I tried taking a photo inside and they asked me not to. I got a nice one outside but I don't know if I got any utility belts in it. Really they're just tool belts, aren't they? But calling them utility belts makes the crew sound like the superheroes they are.
Just love to speak to the spiders and all the little insects that seem to feel that my space is their space..HAH! Yet, lately I've had some friends who have had some serious bites...from perhaps spiders or ticks, they couldn't tell. Big time ding to the immune system, so friends or no, I simply relocate who I can and request the nature beings leave lots of room for them so we can live on this planet together and appreciate the good of all....but those bites..ugh!
I read Charlotte's Web as a child and am always sorry when I have to, uhmm, kill certain ones. My home/studio is in a heavily treed(is that a word?) area and we have a constant battle going on. I mean - enough is enough. I did have an ugly (blah) reaction to some bite.
It was the black widows that I had to get rid of at my old store-front studio on Figueroa that bothered me. They never would attack. They would just hang there upside down with hour glass visible until I got around to (sigh) dealing with them or rather it.
My trick now with the ones I get inside is to spray them with Resolve. Yep. That carpet cleaner works and doesn't wreck my lungs.
Hey, I'm a pacifist. Flies get dirty—I'm just trying to get a shine on 'em. Y'know—spiff 'em up a little. (They don't call 'em "bluebottle" for nothing.)
The Arroyo is arrayed with spider webs. They dangle like ornaments from the branches of innocent trees who have no idea of their complicity.
Words and picture are so poetic.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
Shabbat shalom, dear Petrea.
Did you see Sarah started a new blog?
The spider worked hard to produce that one. A master weaver.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Petrea - you've reminded me of Charlotte's Web!
ReplyDeleteSpiders are some of my best friends!
ReplyDeleteI did see, Dina. It's good to have her back. Dina and I are speaking of a blogger in Mashhad, Iran with whom we've become friends.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing, Eamon. The Arroyo is full of them and the light catches them through the trees. It's dry here, so the dust catches them, too. Or they catch the dust.
Shell, I wonder if I never read it or if it's just been too long so I don't remember it. I should read it again, either way.
Me too, Hilda. And the LA/Pasadena area is spider city! We do get black widows and brown recluse spiders, which are dangerous. But most others I welcome.
Spiders amaze. They've been around for millions of years, unchanged, as various evolutionary experiments have blossomed and died. Perfect example of how, given sufficient materials and dumbfounding lengths of time, the forces of chance can produce successful designs. Turns out "blind watchmaking" is the best way to keep everything running, in an unattended cosmos.
ReplyDeletefling!
Finally, J+P got a WV that means something.
ReplyDeleteI really like this one. Great capture.
ReplyDeleteI took a very similar shot the other day, P! I am always amazed at the amount of spiders here in the summer.
ReplyDeleteI love the web within the tangled branches.
ReplyDeleteLovely.
ReplyDeleteI mostly enjoy spiders, even though I have more than my fair share (two large trees tower over our house, and the spiders love those trees!). But this week one of them went too far: I had a PTA board meeting in my living room, and one proceeded to march right through the middle of the meeting like he owned the place. Unfortunately/fortunately, the woman in charge of the safety subcommittee cut short the spider's stroll through our meeting...
But I love spiders. They have many homes in our yard. And they do a decent job of keeping the rest of the insect population manageable. My daughter loves tarantulas, but they don't make lacy webs like the one in this picture...they make cool welcome mat webs on the ground.
spiders...hmmm i have mixed feelings, but i must say this shot is tres cool.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a web like this. It reminds me of a driftwood and macrame piece from the 70s.
ReplyDeleteI always say "sorry" when I have to move a web to walk down my garden path, but I bet the spider's thinking "Sorry isn't enough," because it will have to weave that web all over again, and go hungry for hours.
ReplyDeleteWe get "wolf spiders," gentle giants who keep other bugs away. They used to freak me out but I've learned not to mind them.
ReplyDeleteI'm coming to you from the Pasadena Central Library, where they're shooting scenes from TV's "Ghost Whisperer." It's charming to see crew guys tiptoeing through the library wearing their utility belts.
Oooh, I love those utility belts!
ReplyDeleteOoooh! Hello, Bellis. How nice to see you.
ReplyDeleteI tried taking a photo inside and they asked me not to. I got a nice one outside but I don't know if I got any utility belts in it. Really they're just tool belts, aren't they? But calling them utility belts makes the crew sound like the superheroes they are.
By the way, speaking of opportunists: J spotted the spiderweb pictured here, pointed it out to me and said, "opportunist." I ran with it.
ReplyDeleteJust love to speak to the spiders and all the little insects that seem to feel that my space is their space..HAH! Yet, lately I've had some friends who have had some serious bites...from perhaps spiders or ticks, they couldn't tell. Big time ding to the immune system, so friends or no, I simply relocate who I can and request the nature beings leave lots of room for them so we can live on this planet together and appreciate the good of all....but those bites..ugh!
ReplyDeleteI was talking about the spider.
ReplyDelete… or was I?
I read Charlotte's Web as a child and am always sorry when I have to, uhmm, kill certain ones. My home/studio is in a heavily treed(is that a word?) area and we have a constant battle going on. I mean - enough is enough. I did have an ugly (blah) reaction to some bite.
ReplyDeleteIt was the black widows that I had to get rid of at my old store-front studio on Figueroa that bothered me. They never would attack. They would just hang there upside down with hour glass visible until I got around to (sigh) dealing with them or rather it.
My trick now with the ones I get inside is to spray them with Resolve. Yep. That carpet cleaner works and doesn't wreck my lungs.
Thanks for the tip, Shanna, I'll try it on the next black widow I see in the basement. My husband also uses Windex to kill flies. It's effective.
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm a pacifist. Flies get dirty—I'm just trying to get a shine on 'em. Y'know—spiff 'em up a little. (They don't call 'em "bluebottle" for nothing.)
ReplyDelete… proel …
I like everything on this post: photo, title and comment too!
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you, JM.
ReplyDelete