THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

15 October 2013

RED FILM NOIR SPIDER


I just found this little arachnid on the wall on the way up the stairs. You can tell how small it is by the paint-brush marks. What isn't exactly coming across in the photos is how red it looked. I had to use a head torch to illuminate it, hence the Film Noir look, which seems to have reduced what appeared to be a scarlet body, to a rusty brown. I've never seen a red spider and, after blowing these pictures up, it looks like I still haven't. I'm hoping that Margarethe Brummerman (http://arizonabeetlesbugsbirdsandmore.blogspot.co.uk/) may be able to identify it. Since putting it outside, I've been faced with two more HUGE ones that barely fitted under my removal glass. Autumn is most definitely here.


We all go swimming on Sunday morning, usually at Okehampton pool, which is clean and warm and as lovely as a swimming pool can be to someone who only does it because I know it's good for me. This last Sunday, we decided to drive across the moor to Tavistock, where there lies a pool with a slide and some kind of whirly water arrangement very attractive to nine year old boys. Never again. Not wishing to go into too much detail, I came out feeling the need for a bath in carbolic. The changing rooms were peppered with hairs whose origin I can't be sure of and areas of mud and slime. When the water slide started, doors swung open in the side wall of the building allowing the super-chilled air to blast in over the pool. Said pool is shaped like a splat so you never quite know what direction to swim in and as for swimming on your back - forget it; I banged my head twice. The pipes in the disabled toilet (I couldn't use the other one as the latch was hanging by a thick thread of what I hope was glue), were covered in a strange white crust along with green powder which I really hope was copper oxide. So - a bad experience. I ran out into the air and took some pictures of Mallards, a dove and a pigeon to make me feel better. It didn't work.






A few more pictures from the last week.....


Evening Hawthorn


Happy dogs


Swollen river


Shiny dog


Storm clouds on the horizon


Dodgy Wheatear picture - nice to know they're still living up at the rocks


Wet dog


View from the car window on the way to Tavistock


Pretty cow


Last of the hardy Geraniums flowering 

The Christmas cards are ready to go but I need to put them on Etsy, which means photographing them as a group, which I didn't have time to do today. I should sort it out by the end of the week; thanks for your patience. Lucky it's only October really. I should say that the international postage is horrendous which may well make them impossible for anyone not in this country. I couldn't believe it when the woman in the post office told me how much it would be. So, until next time, here are Snippet and Jack looking very wet after an unexpected downpour yesterday. 




33 comments:

  1. Public pools can be a nightmare! But those are lovely shots of the pigeons!

    Jack looks to be growing. How big will he get?

    International postage is awful! I just sent a small book to South Africa and the darn thing cost twice what was paid for the book! Heavy items I no longer ship international for that reason.

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    1. We're not absolutely sure how big Jack is going to get. We were hoping he would be a similar height to Snippet but I think he's going to be a bit smaller. Nothing wrong with that in our small house. A friend's giant Labrador came in the other day and nearly destroyed the place with his tail!

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  2. I refuse to swim in pools...it's like bathing with a stranger and makes me feel grubby.
    I love the pigeon shots...because I love pigeons ,I have two rescues and a rescue dove, I'm not biased...oh yes I am!
    Jane x

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    1. I still feel a little grubby if I'm honest Jane.

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  3. Watch out for the False Widow spider, all the way from the Canary Isles.

    About two inches across, with a 'skull-like', white pattern on it's back, the bite will cause you extreme pain, ditto swelling, and - in extreme cases - necrotising fasciitis which can result in the loss of either limbs, or substantial muscle tissue. There are about 10 million estimated to be in Britain right now, as far North as Birmingham.

    Cheery soul, am I not?

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    1. I currently have an expression on my face which is a mixture of horror and disbelief. Okay - just looked on Google and am feeling lucky I haven't seen a scull yet. I'll be looking out for them Tom - thank you oh cheery one.

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  4. as always love your photos. Do not swim in pools either....

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    1. The one we normally go to is an operating theatre in comparison, so I'm pretty happy there!

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  5. Great photos Em, the ones of the moor look lovely with the light and darks on them.

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    1. I love that phenomenon of bright sunshine against those dark grey clouds. Shame I was drenched a few minutes later.

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  6. Spider time; ours (the tiger ones) are disappearing from the garden, Autumn has set in and they have presumably gone off into the woodpile. Have not been in a swimming pool since childhood, their 'yuckiness' and the smell of chlorine puts me off. Lovely photos as always especially of the pigeons...

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    1. One of the big ones last night came out of the wood for the fire......running scared.

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  7. And there was me thinking, gosh, and Em KNOWS what sort of spider it was too!!! Easily impressed, me : ) A brilliant photo though - you can even count the hairs on its wee legs (think it's left it too long between shaves, personally).

    I am not a keen swimmer either. I used to enjoy a dip in my b-in-law's pool in the back garden, but public swimming baths leave me cold. Hate the chlorine and as you mentioned, other people's body hairs are not pleasant . . .

    What happy dogs, and I LOVED the photo of the storm clouds gathering - lovely contrasting colours.

    If you have our weather today (pouring with rain and windy) you will not be walking far I fear.

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    1. It's suddenly cleared up here after a dreadful morning, but unfortunately, I'm stuck in waiting for the supermarket shopping. Despite the fact that we do this every week, the dogs always look surprised that we're not off out.

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  8. Beautiful photos as ever Em - great spider photos at the beginning of the post. I'm the only one in the family to like spiders - so am getting plenty of calls for help now that autumn has arrived!!!

    Must admit haven't been to the swimming baths since the children were little - and from your exceedingly unpleasant experience I would be in no rush to return :(

    Look forward to hearing when your Cards will be available.

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    1. After Tom's mention of the False Widow, I feeling a little less inclined to be nice to them!

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  9. Sometimes water phobia can have its uses.
    I love the shot of the hawthorn against the sky.

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  10. Absolutely; I think I'm developing a phobia involving other people's discarded hair.

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  11. I love the film noir spider! I shuddered a bit at your swimming pool experience, I must admit I don't like public baths. The photo of the distant storm clouds and sunlit moor is wonderful and your lovely dogs look as though they're having lots of fun, as usual!

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  12. I always enjoy your collection of photos. Today's favorite of mine is the cow. I've come to really like cow lately. : ) I had one lick my hand the other day.

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    1. I love them too but don't have as much direct contact with them since Trigger moved to where he is now.

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  13. I would rather like ten of the sheep cards. Is there any way I can buy them by sending you a cheque? I have absolutely no idea about Etsy.

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    1. I wish I could do you ten sheep cards but that would mean four other people would be missing their sheep! If you don't mind there only being two, of course you can send a cheque. I'll pop over and give you my email and then you can send me yours and I'll send the address.

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  14. Cool spider!! Not so cool swimming experience! The swollen river looks wonderful - don't think a swimming experience in that would end too well!

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    1. Lovely in summer but swept away in winter definitely!

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  15. Hi Em, I love the happy dogs and the storm clouds images best of all. I hate dirty places like that pool, how horrible-there is just no excuse for dirt. Great news about the Christmas cards I will go onto Etsy and buy a pack this weekend-just catching up on everyones posts after my London trip.

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    1. Glad you're back safely. London makes me feel grubby but not as bad as that pool....

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  16. Oh and I forgot to say anything about your spider-rather marvellous looking creature. I should catch one of our many false black widow spiders on camera-like the idea with the head torch.

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  17. Oh I so do HATE Spiders, I think you know Em. Yech ! Happy to see the "Sheep" made your Christmas Card collection *smile* and the next fav of mine was the barren tree. Hooray on the commissions !!! x

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    1. I know you hate them - sorry. My mum does too. Hope you sleep tonight!

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