Little Miss Muffet

 

spider with a thicker strand of web
Miss Muffet gets top billing but we all know it is really about the spider. This gorgeous one is a St. Andrews Cross spider. I saw it when coming back from my run one day. [I see things better after a run since I walk REALLY slowly coming up our steep drive when returning.]  A couple of days later, the web looked like this

spider behind a white web cross

Hence the name. Per the latest (link worth reading), the cross reflects ultraviolet light, attracting insects. I think this one caught a moth. 

This guy was not so pretty IMHO. A wolf spider. Two were hanging out in the back yard when I was moving stuff around. Not aggressive toward humans but actively hunt their prey (insects) vs waiting for prey to get stuck in a web.

wolf spider head on

Someplace in that head are 8 eyes arranged in 3 rows. 

The one below was also spied on a return up the drive. 

hanging spider

We have seen several red-backs in the garage and around the house. Those suckers are dangerous so usually go for insect killer vs camera. This image is from wikimedia. 

red-back spider

Also had a snake come visit when it was nice and sunny- the image is through the screen. I didn't offer it admission

snake on other side of screen door

It is a red-bellied black snake. Not super aggressive unless bothered. Apparently they keep out the more aggressive brown snakes. Since I wasn't super happy with its proximity, Scott managed to convince it to hang out further from the house- at least for now.

Most of the time we just have daddy long legs in the house and can go outside without too much worry. It is good to not put your hands in dark spots without cleaning them out first! 

We currently have lots of wind after a deluge of rain accompanied by even more rain. I got booted out of a zoom meeting when the internet connection got lost (our satellite link stopped momentarily). The grass (already happily growing) will love it. The sheep are happier now that it stopped.

We had just returned from Canberra for doctor appointments. Glad we were able to make it back in before it all let loose. The drive wasn't fun but we managed it without road closures. Those happened yesterday when fallen trees managed to close the main highway north of us. 

Just finished a session of Stardew Valley with the kids. We are not so good but they are relatively tolerant of our skills and we get to see them. All is good. Matt now being shifted to the cardiac unit at Childrens on occasion, away from his preferred general ICU and Casey starting work again with the Washington state fisheries group next week.  

Have to find some more nursery rhymes! Meantime,  this eastern Rosella duo says hi from Canberra

colorful parrot




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Arrival in the Land Down Under

Image
  view from Long Point St across the park to the inlet We are here! We landed in Moruya on Thursday Aug 14 , after leaving Seattle on Monday Aug 12. It was a 2 hour skip to LAX , a long jaunt to Sydney (crossing the international date line ), another 2 hour skip to Merimbula and then a super short hop to Moruya where Scott's Mum was waiting with the car.  I took the picture from just down the hill from the house where Scott's parents live along with his sister and her partner. Currently it is just the four of us as Kristy and Pete are white water rafting guides and away for now.  Our mailing address (although this would be a silly move) is 11 Long Point St, Potato Point, NSW, 2545, Australia This shire is south of Sydney, and on the coast (note the blue of the inlet above).  Map of Potato Point We had lots happening the past month and I will attempt to fill you in on that later! We left Matt is his new house in Roseville and spent a few days visiting Casey in Seat...
Read more

Our ship is coming in (slowly)

Image
  The Maersk Biscayne  (Panama flag) holds our container of goods. It is due into New Zealand about Sept 5 and then should make its way to Sydney, with any luck.  We loaded the trucks for the container on July 23 and then mostly moved into Matt's new house. His stuff was moved out the Saturday beforehand. After that it was goodwill runs, care corners drop offs and a dumpster bag! Habitat for Humanity now has our house and is fixing it up. They say it is ideal for a multigenerational family and love the welcoming neighborhood.  It may be a year before it is lived in again but hoping the new family finds it as good a home as we did! For those of you out of the loop, Matt moved to a smaller house a few blocks away. He has a 50s rambler with 3 bed, 1 bath and a large basement. No real dining room but a nice airy living room. Great neighbors and even closer to Culvers.  We helped do some minor fixing up while there. Please admire my kitchen cabinet work! The individ...
Read more

Potato Point

Image
  This is Potato Point from the view down the beach. There is a path winding up the hill at the far end of the beach. About three houses up the street is 11 Long Point St. Not bad! Whale watching /imagination occurs off the point and on either side of the point. More pics on that later.  Potato Point is somewhat of a weekend retreat. The internet definitely gets more sluggish on weekends with more users! There are now only about 3 vacant lots that I have identified but many houses are quiet during the week. Most have wallabies or kangaroos snoozing in them. There are still a couple of houses for sale if interested; unfortunately the third just got marked "sold".  The house is set up well for a shared home. Kitchen in the middle with two beds and one bathroom on either side. Each side also has a living space. While the living spaces and kitchen are open floor plan, it still feels divided. There is a "fenced" off backyard (no 'roos) with lots of flowers, herbs and...
Read more