SOOC Saturday - Orb Season

 [WARNING - this post may be disturbing to some viewers.]

As much as Autumn is my favorite season, it's also a time that I despise in terms of arachnid.

Orb Spiders to be exact. Blech!

I never experienced them until moving near the beach almost 10 years ago. But, ugh, ever since... from late August through early October we have to be on guard not to walk into any spiral webs.

It is not always successful, as was the case last fall when I traumatized my child.

We were leaving for soccer when Harrison went running out the front door, down the steps and right into a web [that I saw at the last minute] - spider and all - before I could grab and stop him.

Immediately after I didn't see the spider, I thought we had dodged a bullet as I looked around the ground.

Harrison turned around, still seemingly unaware of the whole web thing to see why I was making such a fuss, when there it was... planted comfortably right in the middle of Harrison's chest.

What happened in the next few seconds was miserably out of my control; as my eyes locked onto Harrison's shirt, a half scream impulsively popped out of my mouth before my hand could fly up fast enough to suppress it. I felt like I was frozen in time there - staring a the FREAKIN' HUGE SPIDER on my child's chest.

"What?" he asked nonchalantly, catching my eye, following my gaze [before I could divert it] down to his shirt. And then...


BLOOD-CURDLING, HAND-WAVING, TOTALLY HEART-WRENCHING SCREAMING! and if that's not bad enough...my hand left my mouth to let out the rest of that scream...and another one.

{lucky for me} Daddy FLEW out to save the day and remove said spider.

Yeah, NOT one of my better Mommy moments.

Then my three-year-old continued to stroke my bruised ego for the next few days by retelling the story to all who would listen.
All. Who would listen.

yes, I got {that} close...

Fortunately, based on his ceaseless retelling of the story {how mommy screamed, then he screamed, then mommy screamed} and the fact that he is still enthralled with these spiders {at a safe distance} and their webs a year later, I can safely say he isn't too traumatized from the experience. 
I think I still am though...

Seriously, if this guy wants to hang out in our front yard for a few weeks - so be it.

Just remember the rules, Mr. arachnid.

1. no webs across any entry way to the human's home
2. no webs blocking human pedestrian sidewalks, in front of, or leading up to door
3. no use of human cars and/or driveway structures to build, secure or display webs

You live by these rules and we'll get along just fine.

Head over to Melody at Slurping Life for more [not-so-creepy-crawly] SOOC Saturday.

Inspired

Sometimes a small disaster can evoke new inspiration; sometimes we just need to view life from a new angle.  After a crazy-busy, frustrating, tearful week I spent the day with the wee-one in dramatic play. I was Princess Guinevere to his Prince Caspian (no, not Sir Lancerlot or King Arthur). Apparently "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" trumps "King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table" in his book; but there is a lack of good damsels in distress so enter 'Princess' Guinevere.

I also put the {quite neglected} kit lens back on my camera on Friday. Then it struck me. I've taken pictures through the Viewfinder, through a mega phone and even through a funnel so why not through broken lens glass!

I. Love. It! The birth of new inspiration.

Plus, I just let these be, SOOC. Embracing the moody lighting (and blur).

We borrowed "The Pianist" from the library {gotta love the library} yesterday to watch finally. [are we one of the last few people that hadn't seen "The Pianist"?] Anyway, we ended up watching "War of the Worlds" on regular TV - in it's chopped up, commercial-riddled glory - we still loved it. All to say I was feeling some alien love today with these funny little aliens.

happy Monday!