Spinning

[rejectomorph]

This afternoon I saw a daddy long legs spider spinning silk around an earwig caught in its web. I had to admire the spider's skill and dexterity as it enshrouded the suspended insect, but it was the first time I've ever felt sympathy for an earwig. I've known what it's like to be trapped in silk. Well, by polyester, at least.

Today turned out to have been the least torrid day in a week. Because I got the windows closed in a timely manner this morning, the house only got up to 77 degrees before I was able to open the windows and start cooling it off. That was just a few minutes ago. It's the first time I've had the windows open before sunset in quite a while. But tonight will be the nadir of the temperature, alas, and for the next several days it will get hotter and hotter again.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get a watermelon on Sunday, nor any other melon, so this week I will have to be content with nectarines and pears, and maybe a few inadequate peaches from my own tree. Perhaps I will be able to get a melon next Sunday, halfway through the next Weekend from Hell.

The problem I had getting YouTube videos to play yesterday was solved merely by closing my browser and rebooting it. I'm glad it turned out not to be something technologically complicated. In celebration (and in honor of the daddy long legs and its creepy victim), here's Peter Murphy.

Comments

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

I used to have oodles of daddy longlegs-es on my porch in MD but haven't seen any here. Never saw one spin a web! Huh.

Nectarines are gooooood.

[rejectomorph]

I usually leave the daddy long legs be if they don't encroach on space I use myself (like doorways or my laundry basket.) They are among the few predators of black widow spiders, and I find far fewer of the widows if I don't brush down the daddy long legs webs. In fact I've found only one black widow this summer, and it was gone the next day and a daddy long legs was in its place.

Nectarines are tasty, and I was happy to find them on sale this week. They also seem to be getting bigger every year. The ones I bought Sunday were Red Lions, and they are enormous.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

Black widows! Brrrrr...

The nectarines at Safeway this AM were pretty but a little on the firm side. I'll get some tomorrow and let 'em sit on the counter for a day or two, and I'll check to see if they're Red Lions.

[rejectomorph]

Those I bought were also firm, but ripened nicely in two days. I put the last two in the refrigerator so they won't get overripe.

Melons are on sale this week, and I hope to get a nice casaba.