The bug mafia...

Anybody who lives in the country knows that there are critters you may choose to live with like dogs and sheep and chickens but there are also critters you end up living with whether you plan to or not. Wild turkeys, turtles, snakes, and grubby-wormy things. Its all just part of the deal.

I'm typically pretty stable when faced with any of these and if I happen to be caught off guard by something really scary there's always a shovel nearby.

Mac Daddy, on the other hand, has issues. Spider issues. He can't stand them. 

Now, I don't really like spiders but I try to keep in mind that they eat other bugs and are just part of life. I can't even tell you how often I've been the first person to hit the hiking trails at the lake on any given morning only to clear the previous night's spider webs from the trail with my face. Luckily there's rarely anybody close enough to hear me squeal or see the jig I dance trying to wipe away the offending clingy strings and hoping all the while that the owner of said strings has moved up into the trees. 

This past weekend Mac Daddy decided to proclaim chemical warfare on the spiders that have taken up residence in our garage as the weather has gotten cooler. He was sure one of the bigger ones was going to take the tractor for a joyride and that was just too much for him to handle so he bombed the garage.

Since then I've swept quite a few curled up spider carcasses off the porch and away from the front of the garage. I've taken to looking where I step because let me tell you... some of the ones that tried to make a run for it are big and ugly. I've had to finish off a few with the broom.

So this morning I head outside as usual to feed the goats and chickens and Elmer and as I go to grab my boots which I unfortunately have a habit of leaving on the porch where all manner of creature can just move right in I am greeted with this...

 

I was relieved that it wasn't a spider but I'm pretty sure he was here to deliver a message. His eyes were cold and serious but due to the language barrier I'm not sure if he was pleased with what went on in the garage or if he was here to deliver some sort of warning. Either way he certainly didn't want to give up my boot and he had a go at me more than once while I tried to move him to a more suitable perch.

I really need to quit leaving my boots on the porch.

Comments

[clarabelle]

Now the praying mantis I can cope with. But I'm so there with MacDaddy about spiders; I can cope with the smaller ones, even with fat bodies, but the big house spider monster/tarantulas... let me say that I move out until they are located and dealt with (and yes, we get hideous armour-plated ones in our garage, eeek). It's a horrible phobia that I've passed on to my 3 (now adult) children, but there you go. I guess everyone has some sort of phobia or another!

ps actually, I think that praying mantis is rather handsome...

[Kara]

Spiders in the house, certainly meet their demise... Outside, is a different story. I'm familiar with the "spider web in the face jig". I've performed that particular dance.

Now the praying mantis... that is cool...

We leave "creek/dirt" shoes on the porch. And the oldest had a toad take up residence in her shoes. Realized it as she was putting her shoes on to go back to the creek and it jumped out at her. She screamed and jumped. We really should leave the shoes in the garage...

[bezzie]

YOu know I'm starting to become more comfy with the spiders. The ones here in Jersey aren't too bad. No more Fast Mommas or the scary spectre of Texass spiders!

[Julie]

I've heard a praying mantis means good luck! Either way, that was a really good read....great writing!

[GeekKnitter]

Tell MacDaddy I completely understand. Spiders squick me out too. They've got too many legs. And too may eyes. But mostly too many legs.

I leave 'em alone outside, what with the eating of ginormous quantities of bugs. But a spider who ventures into my house is liable to get beaten into sub-atomic particles with a steel-toed work boot.

[Valerie]

My guy is constantly killing spiders around my place... I kinda like like them, but if you leave them b they do tend to get out of hand. That Praying Mantis is cool!

[Amy]

Uh-oh. Now we've both been visited by the praying mantis messenger. Maybe I better stop feeding every bug I find to the chickens and eliminating spiders with extreme prejudice?
And tell your man those big spiders are terrible drivers - out all night wreaking havoc and whatnot.