It took Miss Tweaker a little while to get used to the vertical blinds.
The swinging movement startled her at first, but she's gotten used to
them, and has learned to push them out of her way.

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1258


There is a cheeky little chipmunk living nearby. He likes to sit on the
patio and chatter at Harriet. We didn't really have chipmunks at the
old house, so Harriet finds him fascinating.

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1256


The last one was taken just after a storm system moved through, a few
nights ago. There was an amazing lightning show, and Harriet and I
spent the evening sitting on the couch, with the lights off, watching
the storm.

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1253


This is the field behind the new apartment. It's tree lined, so even
though there are a lot of dogs living in my complex, there isn't any
cross-traffic, so it's pretty quiet. There are lots of bunnies and
chipmunks, and at least one groundhog. I assume they're all living in
the massive blackberry thicket at one end of the field.

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1249

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1250


Also, nifty spiders.

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1251

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)

One eye sees, the other feels.
-- Paul Klee

On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 19:41:57 -0400, Shelly
wrote:

Also, nifty spiders.

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1251

'Round here in September till the beginning of October, we have
spiders the size of salad plates. They are not "nifty," they are
scarifying. Even that photo made me reflexively scream and beat my
head with my arms.

Darla

--
"I'm still here, you *******s!"
---Papillon

http://www.yougotta.com/DARLA/

--

On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 23:52:48 GMT, Darla Vladschyk
wrote:

'Round here in September till the beginning of October, we have
spiders the size of salad plates. They are not "nifty," they are
scarifying. Even that photo made me reflexively scream and beat my
head with my arms.

I'm not exactly a *fan* of spiders, but I've learned to live with some
of the smaller, benign ones. This last summer there was an explodiation
in the cobweb weaver population, and it got me morbidly fascinated. I
would not have been so much fascinated as right some Jesus squicked out
if they'd been *in* the house, though. Luckily, they were outside my
kitchen window, and the hunting was very good there, so they stayed
outside. The same with this new fellow. He's far too large to get
inside, so I'm not concerned about him. It's kind of like having a
terrarium.

ALSO! We have finally achieved broadband, bay-BEE!!!!! Though I'm a
little cranky that they sent me an external modem, after making a big
production of asking me if I knew how to install an internal one. But,
anyway, BROADBAND!!! And it's damnfine zippy, too. I was a little
concerned, because my mom has DSL and it's not as fast as I would have
expected. Mine is speedy, though, so I am happy, happy, happy.

That is all.

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)

It's when the parents are cannibals that the kids turn out like this.
-- Melora Creager

Shelly wrote:
It took Miss Tweaker a little while to get used to the vertical blinds.
The swinging movement startled her at first, but she's gotten used to
them, and has learned to push them out of her way.

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1258

A new mode of access to Dog TV. G Be prepared for gray
verticals - at least in the region where she pushes them aside.
(so speaks a Voice of Experience.)

Also, nifty spiders.

Just occurred to me - we had no hyooge garden spiders on the
patio this year. Now I'm wondering if we destroyed their winter
habitat when we replaced the siding and the insulation in the
walls last fall. Seeing them poised in the middle of their webs,
back-lit by the patio lights, was always a late-summer treat.

FurPaw
--
"None of us is as smart as all of us."
Oh yeah? None of us is as stupid as all of us, either.

To reply, unleash the dog.

The last one was taken just after a storm system moved through, a few
nights ago. There was an amazing lightning show, and Harriet and I
spent the evening sitting on the couch, with the lights off, watching
the storm.

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1253


it looks like Harriet is having fun in the new place.

they are all great pictures but I like this one best.

Shelly wrote in
:

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1258

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1256

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1253

Cool! I always enjoy photos of the Devine Miss Brown. What is it
about Boxers that is so comical? Even shots of the back of her head are
cute. She looks like she is watching so intently out the window, it must
be fun just watching her watching the action outside.


Also, nifty spiders.

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1251

I noticed in the caption of this picture that you haven't identified
this spider yet. I'm not entirely sure but this looks like your monster.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.ed...itage/rugSpide
r1.jpg/view.html

--
Les Hilliard & Nikki the Super Shih-Tzu

"Les Hilliard" wrote in message
.142...
Shelly wrote in
:


Also, nifty spiders.

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1251

I noticed in the caption of this picture that you haven't identified
this spider yet. I'm not entirely sure but this looks like your monster.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.ed....jpg/view.html


This is identified as a funnel weaver spider, possibly a Hobo Spider, which
is common in the Northwest and Europe. From the information on the website
above, they can inflict a dangerous bite.

It also looks a lot like the Grass Spider:
http://www.surviveoutdoors.com/refer...ders/grass.asp

I have quite a few large spiders in the two houses I own here in
Cockeysville, in a low lying area that is perpetually fairly dark and damp.
Some of them have a body over 1" long, and are perhaps 4" in total length.
I am fairly sure that they are Wolf Spiders, but they also are similar to
Grass Spiders, Giant House Spiders, and Funnel Web Spiders (but not the
deadly Australian version). The following guide has some good information:

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distrib...ng/DK1033.html

The Wolf Spider is usually found outdoors, and does not build webs, but
instead attacks its prey quickly, as a wolf might do. The female carries
her eggs on her back (I have seen one or two of my spiders in this
condition), and apparently these spiders "sing" a song to attract mates. I
don't think I have heard their song, but I did hear one large specimen make
a thump when he jumped off a windowsill onto the floor. They are mostly
non-aggressive and only mildly venomous, but there have been cases of
allergic reactions which caused massive tissue destruction that possibly
required amputation of an arm. Even their hairy body contains irritants, so
petting these creatures is not advised. I leave them alone, and they return
the favor

I found some interesting FAQs (although mostly for Australia):
http://www.amonline.net.au/spiders/r...es/general.htm

Paul and Muttley (and Photon)

On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 19:01:10 -0600, FurPaw
wrote:

Shelly wrote:
It took Miss Tweaker a little while to get used to the vertical blinds.
The swinging movement startled her at first, but she's gotten used to
them, and has learned to push them out of her way.

http://cat-sidh.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1258

A new mode of access to Dog TV. G Be prepared for gray
verticals - at least in the region where she pushes them aside.
(so speaks a Voice of Experience.)

Thankfully, the blinds can be unclipped and cleaned/replaced. I'm
seriously wondering if they can be tossed into the dishwasher. The
window is actually twice the width of a regular sliding door, which is
nice in theory, but that's a whole lotta pupkis to clean up. Windows,
alas, do *not* fit in the dishwasher.

Just occurred to me - we had no hyooge garden spiders on the
patio this year. Now I'm wondering if we destroyed their winter
habitat when we replaced the siding and the insulation in the
walls last fall.

I expect that's exactly what happened. Hopefully they'll be back next
year.

Seeing them poised in the middle of their webs,
back-lit by the patio lights, was always a late-summer treat.

I've really come to enjoy spider watching. Even the big ones are more
fascinating than they are creepy. I don't think I'd ever want one for a
pet or anything, but coexisting with them, when possible, is pretty
neat.

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with
potatoes.
-- Douglas Adams

On Sat, 30 Sep 2006 00:49:19 -0500, Les Hilliard
wrote:

Cool! I always enjoy photos of the Devine Miss Brown. What is it
about Boxers that is so comical? Even shots of the back of her head are
cute.

Boxers are super expressive, I think. Even when she's sleeping, Harriet
has presence.

She looks like she is watching so intently out the window, it must
be fun just watching her watching the action outside.

She will sit and watch out the window all day. Sometimes it's obvious
that she's watching bunnies or squirrels or birds, but other times, I
can't see anything out there that would interest a dog. She still
watches, though. And she *is* fun to watch. I never get tired of
watching her take on the world.

I noticed in the caption of this picture that you haven't identified
this spider yet. I'm not entirely sure but this looks like your monster.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.ed...itage/rugSpide
r1.jpg/view.html

Thanks! He's definitely some variety of funnel weaver. What's neat is
that funnel weavers like to build their webs right outside their little
hidey-holes. Mine is using a little recess in the window, between the
double panes, as his. Very clever!

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)

My mother warned me to avoid things coloured red.
-- Claes Oldenburg

On Sat, 30 Sep 2006 20:07:02 -0400, "Paul E. Schoen"
wrote:

This is identified as a funnel weaver spider, possibly a Hobo Spider, which
is common in the Northwest and Europe. From the information on the website
above, they can inflict a dangerous bite.

Hobos are out of my range, but the body type is very similar (though
smaller) to my spider's. Also, the back pattern, which I was unable to
get a photo of, is completely different.

It also looks a lot like the Grass Spider:
http://www.surviveoutdoors.com/refer...ders/grass.asp

I think that one is a distinct probability. It has the right patterning
and is the correct size, and is in the correct sort of habitat. Thanks!

I am fairly sure that they are Wolf Spiders, but they also are similar to
Grass Spiders, Giant House Spiders, and Funnel Web Spiders (but not the
deadly Australian version). The following guide has some good information:

Of the sorts of spiders to have inside the house, those are probably the
best, even though they're large and creepy looking.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distrib...ng/DK1033.html

The Wolf Spider is usually found outdoors, and does not build webs, but
instead attacks its prey quickly, as a wolf might do.

We had zillions of wolf spiders out in the woods. They're not
aggressive toward people, but boy are they ever impressive looking!

The female carries
her eggs on her back (I have seen one or two of my spiders in this
condition),

I've seen that, as well. It is an absolutely amazing sight!

I leave them alone, and they return the favor

Yep. I take their pictures, when they are obliging, but that's it. As
long as they try to leave me alone, I'm pretty happy to leave them alone
to do their jobs. The kill all sorts of yucky bugs, which is a Very
Good Thing.

--
Shelly
http://www.cat-sidh.net (the Mother Ship)
http://esther.cat-sidh.net (Letters to Esther)

Unfortunately there are nations. The consequence of nations is war. ... National art helps to prepare for war.
-- Kurt Schwitters