I want you to meet my new friend.
We have a lot in common. We both like gardens, especially my garden.
We both like being outdoors enjoying the sunshine.
We both like to rearrange our homes from time to time.
We're both writers even.
And we both think the only thing to do with a bug is kill it.
Meet my new friend, Charlotte.
At first when Charlotte took up residence in my garden I wasn't too keen on having a writing spider hanging around. But I thought I'd wait it out a bit and see if she would leave. She didn't. Instead, we learned to have a peaceful co-existence together.
Funny thing, I haven't had any trouble with garden pests this year. At first a bunch of ladybugs took over the gardens and not an aphid in sight. When Charlotte showed up the ladybugs suddenly decided to switch neighborhoods, but nary a creature has dared to attack my beautiful plants. Between Charlotte and the cat, I think I have pest control covered.
Each day I go out and pick tomatoes all around her. She doesn't budge but silently watches. As the months have gone by I'd say I'm not the only one who has put on some weight. She's grown a lot and is a little on the chunky side. Too much fine dining will do that to you.
Last week I noticed that another writing spider had stopped by for a visit. He stayed for lunch. In fact, he was lunch. Thus ended his writing career.
A few days ago I went out and couldn't find her. Not a trace of her or her web. I felt sad, hoping she hadn't expired. Then I rounded a corner and nearly ran smack into her new pad. Apparently, she knew I'd been redecorating and decided it was time to update her web too.
It's kind of nice having another writer around. So far she's kept to squiggly lines and hasn't left me any messages. But if that changes, I'll let you know. In the mean time, I'm glad to be hospitable to my summer friend.
9 comments:
As long as Timpleton doesn't show up! oh my. I'm not a fan of spiders. Or gardening.
But I love the book & movie Charlotte's Web. :-)
When I first saw this spider in my perennial bed, I snapped a picture and sent it to my dad (who's a biology professor, but he's a big gardener, too).
He sent back either a blurb or a link explaining that this is a "good" spider, not poisonous (my big concern).
Like you, I watched all the time. Weeded and pruned all around her, making sure not to interfere with her web. Then, like yours, she was gone, only to re-emerge somewhere else.
She has not been around all year this year, so I'm not sure what happened. But when I see a picture of her "relative," I don't get squirmy.
Well, hello Charlotte. Perhaps you will need to tell her I said "hello", unless she can read AND write.
If she keeps having bugs for lunch then she is my friend too!
She may not have any competition at your house, but she'd be in a townhouse or condo community here - we have spiders EVERYWHERE!
You had me at "we are both writers"!
Great post! When my oldest son was 3 we were at my husband's granparents house and there was a writing spider with a web. Pawpaw told my son that they used to say that if you saw your name written in the web you would die. {lovely, I know}. He told my son to go read what was written. His response was...
"I don't know, I can't read cursive."
Miss you! First day of school today.
Another Charlotte writer here! (literally)
What a wonderful illustration of the joy we can find when we re frame situations God send our way.
Oh, I've had a Charlotte or two in my front boxwoods! Really cute post. :-)
Radiant! or Some Pig. Thanks for sharing your little friend with us.
--Barbara
Oh, that was a great post!
Charlotte doesn't write because she knows she can't top you!
Hugs!
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