Watching A Spider

   Well, one storm is behind us without ever making itself noticeable.  The weather was beautiful today with only one late rain shower providing us with some much needed moisture for the gardens.  I had hoped for a bit more rain but the "tropical system once known as Marco" played itself out without much ado.  Now we await the other which is predicted to be a tad (or a lot depending on who is forecasting) stronger.  We shall see.

  While out and about, I noticed a large spider in her web on the back of the shed.  I decided to pay her a visit.  As I watched her carefully remove a leaf that had become caught in her web, I had to think of how the spider had to be happy that a hurricane did not come.  If a small leaf could rip a hole in her web, imagine if a hurricane had whipped debris in on her.  As it was, she meticulously removed the silk from each part of the leaf then, literally, tossed the leaf free from the web.  It was amazing to watch.  Then, Ms. Spider went about her business of repairing the damage much like we would repair the Little Bayou House if it had received hurricane damage. 

The spider's five foot in diameter web was so intricately woven that it reminded me of the netting we use in catching fish.  How in the world did a spider have that much patience and finesse to spin such a creation?  It is funny how as humans, we tend to think we are so much smarter than any other creature.  Here, this spider with her eight legs created a web by using "building material" she formed in her own body.  Who of us can do that?  Each leg of the web is incredibly strong and has thousands of cross bands to create the mesh.  Even with multiple repairs, the web is beautifully made and functions remarkably well.  While I was watching her, a horsefly became ensnared and the spider left her work to go bundle it in silk.  Doing that kept the fly from damaging her web even more and also kept it in a safe place until she had the time to dine upon it.  Watching the spider almost made me feel insignificant and pathetically inept.  I stand in awe of her ability.

The Night Before

   Sitting and waiting is one of the hardest things for me to do.  The day was busy with hurricane preparations that must be done when you live on the water but now that the chores are completed, the waiting has started.  Is Hurricane Marco going to come our way?  Is Tropical Storm (maybe Hurricane) Laura going to follow the same path?  That, my friends, is anybody's guess and that is what makes the waiting so difficult.  What if all the preparations were done without purpose?  If the storms decide to go elsewhere, my hard day was for naught.

  This evening, I made one last run to the pier to check on the small skiff.  The boat has been pulled up into the yard but with the incoming tidal surge, it will need to be checked often.  It was on the final run before dark that the sky was ablaze with color.  Yep...the Night Before.  Those brilliant colors were the sun's rays bouncing off the gathering storm clouds.  Within a few hours, our weather can change dramatically...and for the worse.  Still, I am sitting here safe and sound in the Little Bayou House.  It has taken care of us through far worse storms and we are depending upon it to do the same with Marco and Laura.  The show on the horizon tonight was a bit deceiving for what is to come.  By morning light, the Bayou should  be rockin' and rollin' with Marco.  Stay safe, folks, stay safe.