Tarantula!!

Why are the most interesting creatures also some of the creepiest specimens?


A friend caught this hairy arachnid on the side of the road and was so kind to pass it along to us for the kids' nature study.


Okay, so I wasn't thinking of him as so thoughtful at first to suggest we take in a live tarantula. Frankly, these things have always given me the willies. I remember one run-in with a live tarantula and it still sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it. I guess they wouldn't be so creepy to me if it wasn't for their "medically significant" venom and hairy legs.


The kids want to show their friends after they get back from school.


Ummm...I guess the kids didn't realize this at the time, but that lid wasn't on very securely.


That calls for some tape.


Much better!

After Kathleen took a few close looks at the spider she said, "Did you know that tarantulas have more than 20 elbows?"

Again, where do they get this stuff?
So I ask, "Where did you learn that?"
She replied, "Oh, I'm not sure. It could have been in a Magic School Bus book or the I Wonder Why Encyclopedia...or something."


"Ella" is waiting under our sago palm...waiting for the neighbor kids' return!


Then Dad will make Ella very happy, happy, happy, and release her to a new home...with lots of bugs to eat...far away from the grass the kids scamper across. Barefoot.


For the love of nature!