Sunday, September 7, 2008

Family values

As I was coming in tonight I barely noticed something on the bricks by the back porch light. I had to put my reading glasses on and lean way over the railing to see it closer. Once I realized what it was I quickly ran to get the camera.


Make sure you click on it to see it closer. It's a mother wolf spider carrying her young on her back. I've only seen this sight a few times and was glad I could capture it with the camera. Mama wolf was very cooperative and let me take several flash pictures relatively close to her until I got one that wasn't too blurry. If you look at the mortar lines on the bricks you can see that she was pretty big. I'm glad she and her brood were outside the house.

I also saw two adult cicadas up close today, but didn't have my camera with me.



The best I can do right now is post this picture of a cicada emerging that I took in August 2005. I'm always fascinated by the natural world in which we live.

8 comments:

Becky said...

I've seen cicadas but have never seen a wolf spider carrying her babies. Amazing! Hope to see some nice examples of the natural world soon - of the seaside
variety.

Be back soon! Enjoy class!

Ron said...

creepy, creepy, creepy

Unknown said...

WOW, that is sooo cool. she is so wild, and creepy and beautiful. What a load. Imagine doing that!! What a woman. so glad to see it.

Big Al said...

I'm new to your blog. Picked it up from Ron and Elaine's blogs. Dad, cook, husband...can relate to all of them. Not a potter but I started following Ron's blog (he is married to my wife's cousin)sometime ago and got hooked. Heaven help me I am thinking of taking an intro pottery class here in Raleigh! I'll likely follow your postings and add your blog to mine, which is all about Families and growing older. Hope you start making pots soon.

jbf said...

Becky, I'm sorry you've never seen it. It's pretty cool. Despite what Ron says.

Ron, I agree it's a little creepier than a mud dauber, but look at the maternal part of the equation and it's suddenly not so creepy.

Elaine, 'scool. The babies never moved the whole time I was leaning in close and the camera was flashing away. I know if MY mom had ~100 babies she couldn't carry them all at once. :^)

Big Al, if you have a hankerin' go for it with the pottery. You could be like me: start on a whim and still be hacking at it sixteen years later. :^) Seriously, give it a shot and see if you like it.
Thanks, I hope to be making by Wednesday.

doug Fitch said...

shudders!

jbf said...

S'not that bad, is it? See my answer to Ron about the maternal instinct --kind of makes it easier to think about. :^)

doug Fitch said...

No, still don't like it!