Friday 18 October 2013

Arachnophobia?



I went to the rotary clothes line the other day with a wet towel in one hand and clothes pegs in the other.
The next thing I knew ... thwack.... a sticky mess in my face. I'd walked straight into a spider's web.

This is the worst thing about Autumn, the spiders are out en masse, making it impossible to do any gardening without the risk of being wrapped in gossamer. Even worse, the possibility of a huge spider running up your arm or down your neck!
I'm not a full blooded arachnophobe and I know that they help to keep garden pests down and I wouldn't ever kill one intentionally. However, I don't like them.
Last night, I had to catch a huge one that was sitting on top of a mop, armed with just a mug, hoping to release it in the garden. I didn't get a chance as it jumped over the top and hid itself in a dish rack.  I usually put something over the top of the container but didn't have time on this occasion because it was so fast and large. It took me a long time to track it down as it was carefully camouflaged in its surroundings.
I sometimes see one scuttling across the carpet and I have to catch it.
Do others mind these squatters in their home and gardens?


18 comments:

dianefaith said...

I can just see you trying to locate that elusive spider :-)
Earlier this week my daughter thought her cell phone had fallen off the back of her truck, so I spent some time walking along the side of the road helping her look for it—and brushing spiderwebs out of my hair. They were everywhere! (The phone was safely inside the house the whole time.)

Jackie said...

It is interesting that you mentioned spiders and mops. Why do they go there? And they do.
Yes! I've seen spiders in my mop, and it makes me sick. I don't like spiders AT ALL!
Their webs are quite strong, too. I've noticed that as I walk outside in areas not used very much by man that their webs abound. I discover them as they attach themselves to my face and hair. Argghhh. Again. I do not like spiders!!!

Akelamalu said...

I don't mind spiders and would never kill one but I don't like their webs in my house, they definitely have to go!

Celia said...

I'm okay with spiders but the ones that jump kind of freak me out.

Suburbia said...

My Garden is full of spiders! They are the really fat juicy ones!! Some have found their way indoors and I normally deal with them as you do, however the other evening there was nothing for it but to just squash one. The children laughed at me as i was shouting sorry to it as I killed it!I do so hate killing spiders.

Gail said...

I don't think much of them except for their job in nature. I've had them for pets as a child and we feed the garden spiders.

Irene said...

I don't normally mind spiders inside, but ever since I was bit by one this summer and got a nasty wound from it, I have been more wary of them. Now I do trap and release them outside, where before I would just let them be.

Wisewebwoman said...

I love spiders, love what they weave and how patient they are and oh my all the insects they catch.

they are a meditation to me.

XO
WWW

Sally Wessely said...

This is the second posting I've read today about spiders. One posting on FaceBook was written by a friend who walked into a web and the spider attached itself to her hair. She said she is just sure it had babies while there and she won't sleep tonight.

I feel your pain. I hate spiders. I don't like them in my house. I am not as patient with them as you are. I get out the vacuum and get rid of the mess as quickly as I can.

Sally Wessely said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rose said...

I have a family full of arachnaphobes, but I'm not one of them. However, I don't like them in my house, and it seems every fall they somehow sneak in, looking for warmth, I suppose. My phobia is with snakes--I know they are supposed to be garden friends, too, but I don't want to be within 20 feet of one!

Formerly known as Frau said...

Sorry I know they have their purpose but in the house I usually kill them....my vision of them crawling in my mouth while sleeping is too much! Happy Sunday May!

Brian Miller said...

smiles....we get spiders in the basement....some i relocate, some i dont mind...depends on where they are....and how many, you know...for my wife it is in how big...ha.

Jinksy said...

Eek! I watched a super, long legged one crawl up my wall the other night, when I was talking on the phone, and had to let it disappear up behind my curtain pole, and from there - who knows? I had to concentrate hard on sending it a thought message to get lost, if it valued it's life! LOL

Dimple said...

I had an enormous spider this summer, living below my mailbox. It is a rural box, by the side of the road and not near the house. The spider was really interesting, but if it had been in my house, I would have killed it.

Haddock said...

Ha ha .... like that though message of Jinksy.

Hilary said...

Frank would gladly keep them in the house knowing they go after other insects. I am very squeamish about spiders though and try to relocate them like you do.. but shuddering all the way.

On the other hand, I quite like ladybugs but they've been getting into our place by the dozens this autumn. The other day, I awoke during the night to find that one had crawled into my mouth.. ugh.

Leilani Schuck Weatherington said...

I love spiders. We always catch and release if they are in the house.