Hilltop Academy - Spider Deja Vu

Sep. 28, 2007

Spider Deja Vu

Posted in family

{Sigh}....I really, really don't like spiders.

About a year ago, I blogged about a banana spider who set up residence right below our front porch. I wrote about how we named her Shelob, about how my kids were fascinated with her web, about how we used to experiment with her by throwing stuff on her web, about how she laid and partially hid her egg sac. Oh yes...it was quite the living science lesson and a beautiful example of humankind and bugdom coexisting in perfect harmony. If you'd like you can read all about this miracle that puts the story of Charlotte's Web to shame by clicking here. There is even an awe-inspiring photograph of our arachnid friend. I warn you, though, you will be humming "Kum-Bay-Yah" after reading this entry. You just won't be able to help it.

I also then wrote about the horror story that ensued and disrupted our idyllic little lives. I chronicled how Shelob ultimately betrayed and very nearly attacked us, about how she took advantage of our innocence and general naivete, about how she scared us nigh to death and made us all struggle with incontinence for about 3 days. You can read this horrific little tale here....but only if you dare.

About two weeks ago, I found what I am quite certain is one of Shelob's icky little spawn, seeing as how we never found and destroyed her egg sac, sitting on a web exactly where Shelob used to be. Reason would tell you that we would just squash the foul beast on the spot, wouldn't it? Of course, but you are not dealing with a very reasonable family. We have proceeded to get just as wrapped up in this spider's spidery little life as we did before, albeit with a bit more caution and a touch of distrust.

Why would we do this? Well, friend, I'm not really sure. Perhaps we are less freaked out because this spider is a good bit smaller than Shelob. Maybe we are feeling a bit sentimental about the arachnid race as a whole having just read and watched Charlotte's Web. Or maybe deep down we've missed Shelob all these months and the appearance of Spidey (what we've been calling this one) just made us feel complete. Perhaps we are just plain crazy.

I don't know, but what I do know is that a few days ago, Spidey turned up missing (insert "The Twilight Zone" music here). And then, lo and behold, a few days later, I find this attached to my living room window:

Spidey!!!! And guess what else?!

Spidey's spawn!!!! People we now have a front row seat for Spidey's life and times! We have only to get on our knees on the sofa, and ta-da!....our noses are a mere four inches from all the web action we could ever dream of! Here she is from the inside:

You can get on the phone and turn us into the funny farm if you want to, but unless she follows in the footsteps of her assumed mother and heads into our house, we're going to sit back and enjoy, sort of, this little bit of spooky nature. Pass the popcorn!

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Sep. 28, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by BChsMamaof3

That is an awful looking spider !!! But I guess it is okay that it is outside :) We had one on our front living room window a while ago to and we would watch it wrap up flies that landed in its web but that is as friendly as I get. With the weather turning cool we have had a ton of those big huge hairy type ones coming in and I'm running around squishing them. No sympathy sorry... don't want to find one in my bed *grin*
Blessings,
BChsMamaof3