Monday, August 06, 2007

"Step Into My Parlor....."

....... said the spider to the fly.

I don’t think he meant me exactly, but I blundered in anyway, as we hiked through the woods yesterday afternoon. His parlor was strung across the path, between two trees. I didn’t know it was there until I felt its sticky walls wrapped 'round my face. Extracting myself, I fervently hoped that HE was not in my hair too.

I needn’t have worried. He was sitting, inscrutable, in an undisturbed corner, waiting for more palatable tidbits.


We kept moving, since standing still was understood, by the hordes of blood thirsty mosquitoes, as an invitation to belly up to the bar. It was hot and muggy and there was thunder in the air.

There are deer in these woods but, no matter how stealthily we step, they always hear us coming. As I fumble frantically to focus, they flick their tails and bounce away.

Once we saw a diamond backed rattler, slithering quietly through the dried leaves. I won’t mind if I don’t see him again. And there was the time we happened upon a family of armadillos, so intent on snuffling through the undergrowth for supper that they hardly noticed us.

With thunderclouds threatening, and the persistent whine of mosquitoes in our ears, we traipsed through the trees in record time. There’s always some little surprise though, to make you glad you came, even on a dull day. Yesterday it was this pristine beauty...



And these fine fellows.....


.....who were happier than we about the bounteous selection of frogs and mosquitoes.......

And, of course, the surreptious pictures I took of Spiderman's parlor.

17 comments:

Jess said...

The cranes are beautiful!

The spider, though, a bit alarming...

Stomper Girl said...

I really hate walking into spiderwebs. Especially that moment when you think you have the spider in your hair. Glad yours wasn't!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Lovely! I am a woodland person, too, and could smell the green around you as I read this.

Unfortunately, mosquitoes always belly up to me and ignore whoever I'm with. I could happily do without being singled out for special treatment (and lunch.)

Your photographs are beautiful! I'm so glad you take your camera on these jaunts.

Anonymous said...

I am so glad that you took your camera with you! Last week my Pete tried to knock a spider away and only succeeded in throwing it onto my lap! Neither the spider nor I were impressed.

nutmeg said...

I like nature, I really do - just not spiders and definitely not snakes. I know when I am stressed - I dream about snakes!

Great photos Molly!

Aunty Evil said...

Well gee, THANKS FOR THE SPIDER WARNING!!

Oh my goodness, I need to lie down.

Thimbleanna said...

Eeeewwwww, Molly! You need to put the spider warning in your title -- then we can close our eyes until we scroll past him! ;-) The birds are beautiful though and were worth that little bit of squeamishness.

Melinda said...

Hi Molly! I followed you over from Aunty's site. Beautiful birds/ We have a raptor center at GSU and Rob and I always argue over who takes the kids in to see the HUGE snakes. Sadly, they are completely unafraid while Rob and I are trembling in terror!

ancient one said...

I would have loved to hike along with you until you saw the snake.. then I'd be gone. Loved the pictures. Spiders don't bother me!

Molly said...

I like all of your pictures. The sandhill cranes stop at a preserve on their flight south about 45 miles away from our home. We have a Thanksgiving tradition of visiting the cranes at this preserve, where you might see 30,000 at one time. It is an amazing sight.

velcro said...

I love armadillos, they are just so adorable. Spiders don't bother me any more. Used to be scared of them then I had a tarantula walk across my hand and that cured my fear fast.

Pam said...

Spiders don't bother me in general, but the other night I awoke to feel a tickle on my arm. I put on the light and there was a spider on the floor regarding me with interest. I draw the line at sharing my bed with them.

What's the flower? Lovely pictures.

meggie said...

Thanks for sharing your ramble with us. I would love to see an Armadillo. They seem so prehistoric somehow.

molly said...

Don't know what that flower is, Isabelle, but it was the only one I saw, and even more amazing for being so unexpected.
But,my friends, if you like these pictures, you should go visit J's quilting blog [Joyce]---in my sidebar. She has the most stunning photos of butterflies on her post today, Tuesday &th. Aug. Pay her a visit. You won't be sorry.

Eastcoastdweller said...

I agree -- what beautiful pictures. And if we humans feel panic upon blundering into a web, imagine how some little bug feels making the same mistake. Of course, if it's a mosquito, I don't feel sorry for it in the least.

I've never seen a rattler in my east coast woods although they supposedly do live here. There's a certain plant that grows in one section near my home that's actually called rattlesnake weed because it tends to like the same habitat -- dry, rocky slopes.

Eastcoastdweller said...

Speaking of mosquitoes, my Grandmother always used to say that they are attracted to sweet people.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Love it all... except the spiders.

Ew and yuck!

But the rest is pretty great!

Scarlett & Viaggiatore