Web traps

Yesterday, when I walked I became intrigued  by all the spider web traps! I’m easily amused.  Webs were covering areas of the ground creating a spider web mine field.  Webs were numerous between the barbs of the fence! Each web on the ground started in the center like a funnel making a lure to capture dinner.  Webs dotting the barbed wire fence between the strands of wire created a net to capture prey. 

The spiders that build the webs on the ground belong to a group called funnel weavers or grass spiders (Family Agelenidae). They build webs that consist of a flat sheet of webbing with a funnel leading downward near the center. The webs are not sticky and are densely woven and located parallel to the ground. They vary in size but can be quite large, sometimes as wide as 3 feet. The funnel is located near the center of these expansive sheets of silk but in a few cases it is near the edge. The funnel creates a lair and hiding place for the spiders.  They wait under the funnel for dinner to arrive just like door dash for humans. Only female funnel spiders build these webs! They man the kitchen.

Orb weaver spiders build the webs created between the wires of the barbed wire fence! These are the classic webs of circles and spokes, which expand  outward from the center with anchor points. This genius design allows them to capture anything as small as a mosquito to as large as a butterfly. Other common meals include flies, thrips, mites, moths, beetles, wasps and bees. They are not picky eaters and can have ferocious appetites. Their work helps keep insect populations in check. Orb weaver spiders have poor vision and use vibration to know when they have captured prey. 

Watching a spider at work is incredibly fascinating to a simple minded person like me!

 

August Ending

Sigrid is trying to dress professionally in graduate school. This week she had her first test in one of her classes. She made 100. Her tb test turned red and it scared her, but it settled and she passed TWO tb tests. She passed lifesaving. She was anxious when she started. Little Rock is a big city. Lots of crime there. You have to be careful and watchful at all times. She lives in a huge dorm with folks planning to be doctors etc. It’s all new experiences. The school work is hard. She’s making it and we are proud of our baby girl.

Clayton has worked at Walmart almost a month. He gets paid again tomorrow. He went with Erin to Greta’s volleyball game at Springdale. Not his favorite thing, but he wanted a new chair for his room and wanted to go to a big office store. He paid for it. This is the one he chose. Erin encouraged him to be friends with those he works with. He says, “ I am”.  He said he talks to them. But….Clayton said they’re all drug users. They spend their money and time vaping. Erin said that was not a drug. But I totally agree with Clayton. It’s a strong drug. I’m proud of Clayton. He told his Dad that he didn’t really like the new Jeep.  They’re hard to load groceries in! 😂 Clayton is also finishing up 12th grade. He is taking College English. He passed his drivers exam and will finally get a drivers license. He doesn’t strive to be like everyone else!

 Greta and the Goblins beat Springdale. She’s a middle blocker— 5’10”—playing the net. I was there in spirit rooting for her. I see the pink sneakers shining💕

Another Project Done

We got a little rain, less than a 1/4 of inch but any is helpful. It’ll green up the brown spots in the Meadow. Plus when I walked it was 67 degrees. Maybe our upper 90’s are over this year.

I finished another baby blanket. It’s for Logan’s sister. They’re using ducks and green and cream in his room. Sister Helen said this one was ugly. She has a point. 😂😂 Astrid said it’s perfect. She sent me a picture of the rug by the crib. My greens don’t show up great. They do match. The baby’s name is going to be Brendan I think. That’s different.

No Bargain

I went to exercise class. It was crowded but that makes me happy as everyone need to exercise especially those my age.

 After that I went to Ross for Helen. The dress she bought for nephew’s wedding won’t zip. Could not find one like the one she bought.  Then I went to shoe carnival.  I’m addicted to shoes. They’d sent me a 10$ off.  I checked the sale rack marked down and more off would be a bargain. First pair I checked were 30 and had been 85. There were 3 shoes in the box. Two for the left foot and an extra shoe was in the box of a different size. Every box was messed up like that. I gave up and left. I need a new 10 inch nonstick skillet. Penny’s has a sale. I found the 3 skillets. There were 2 there that said same price. I got those. Well, clerk said those were 30$. He went to check and no I couldn’t get the two pack. I thought good grief.  I’ll just go to Walmart. There I got a great skillet for 15$ and it was heavy and nice.  I’m not a good shopper. I get tired after10 minutes.

Greg bought a used Jeep. The transmission went out on his truck. He just sold it. Only thing I don’t like about the Jeep is the big tires. I hope it’s a good rig.

Greta has her first volleyball game today! Hope she plays great. 
 

Soccer

Basketball and below volleyball

I gave Greta a little money for school. She used it to buy new shoes for all her sports, she wore the soccer ones for practice last night. Erin had to help pay as shoes are expensive!

Ada was bored with shoe shopping in a sports store. No pretty dresses or heels. So she danced in front of their mirror!

 

Deer Visitors

Deer were in my yard this morning. They were looking for something to eat. I love watching the little ones.

This week is going to be much cooler. I’m ready to work outside. If we get rain, I have brush to burn. I’m tired of living in doors.

Runaway

Yesterday, Logan took Whiskey to the vet for a shot. Whiskey knew something was up when he saw the horse trailer. He went as far from it as he could. Logan doesn’t give up easy. He finally loaded Manchi and Whiskey came then. Manchi just went for a ride. I didn’t go out to help Logi as I knew I wouldn't be any help. Whiskey has a cough. Hope this helps.

 Opie ran away. When Eric came home from school, he spotted her out of the pasture. She was sure glad to be back with her Momma. I saw the place where a bottom wire was on the ground. When I walk, I’m going to zip tie it up. Maybe Logan will work on it later. He’s out of town working. They’re installing new McDonald’s lines in a Tyson plant.

Egrets

I saw egrets across Galla Lake and Iron Weed blooming, but mostly I saw brown landscape on my walk.

Pop’s Pond is getting low but still serene. The dry, hot temperatures are depressing but I’m trying to focus on other things. I’m watching the Jerry Jones story on Netflix. Reading about dinosaurs and dragons and crocheting a baby blanket. Still getting through each day being positive is my goal. I won’t watch tv all day and pickle my brain. I do enough pickling in the evening. My favorite things are outside. 

Young men are destroying their productivity with silly video games. Old folks just use tv doing the same. 

 

Boneset

Been seeing Boneset blooming when I walk. Boneset and the killer weed—Snakeroot look alike.  Boneset is also called Joe Pye weed.  Joe Pye was an Indian medicine man in New England who cured typhus using Eupatorium perfoliatum, boneset.  It relieved symptoms of break-bone (dengue) fever.

Boneset was introduced by Indians to American culture as a remedy for fever. They used it to induce sweating in order to break fevers. Supposedly they often fought fever which caused a deep muscular ache so intense that it made one feel as if their bones were breaking - thus the name, boneset - as it rid the body of the fever, the bones no longer ached. However, the history would seem to go farther back than our native Americans. There are reports of the plant also being used as far away as Asia Minor as long ago as 100-ish BC. Mithridates Eupator was the king of Pontus in Asia Minor from 120 to 63 BCE. He had to flee a murderous mother, supposedly, as heir to the throne and in his exile to the wilderness, he purposefully consumed small amounts of poisonous plants to build up his immunity. One of the plants he was supposed to have ingested was from the genus that now bears his name, Eupatorium, of which common boneset is but one of 200 species. He likely ate some White Snakeroot too.  It is extremely toxic and has the notoriety of having killed Abe Lincoln’s mother via the milk she drank from cows who’d eaten it.

Astrid loves her dogs. Blu is from her Corgi Phoebe and Larry’s Phinnie. Yesterday was her 6th birthday. Astrid fixed special doggie cake and they celebrated. 

 

Picture Day

Picture day for Ada. She’ll be smiling as she is a happy girl. She’s attending after care so there’s plenty of time to pick her up. She loves it too. Play time and it’s free. Greta said her day was boring yesterday. Ada said— I love my school.

Ada delivered the poncho to her cousin Hailey. I’ve been spelling her name wrong.

Ingrid’s started her job by the sea. I hope it’s going well. Sigrid is not liking dorm life but she’ll have to endure it. 

 

71

Had a great day with my sisters. Helen’s birthday 🎁 lunch was so good. Angel food cake for dessert. Helen packed some for me to have today.

I got to see my Harrison kids except Clayton who was working at Walmart grocery pick.

Greta is almost 5’10”. I’m only 5’31/2”. I used to be almost 5’5”. 

Laura made Helen a tote bag in her colors. It’s beautiful! I gifted her toilet paper, paper towels and containers to give food away in from Sam’s. Fleta provided the meal and a plaque about sisters.

Helen’s loves the sun and sunny days.

Helen loves family.

Helen loves our Lord!

Sisterville

 

Hiding out early to Coin. Sisters are celebrating Helen’s birthday. Here we are with our parents. Well, their dust. One day we three will be here too.