Orbille the Spider

This orb-weaving spider placed its web directly in front of our door. If we had any visitors - this would scare them away. Our kids named it Orbille. Then we found four other ones around the yard! Don't walk around our house at night.

I don't mind spiders outside. The orb-weaving spiders are actually really cool! They make a beautiful web every night at dusk. Then catch bugs all night and eat the web before dawn. You've got to love a bug that cleans up after its self.

They are a lot better than these spiders:

We have been trying to get rid of these horrible house guests. They do hide well and don't really bother anybody. But, if you try to put on a shoe with this guy in it - he will bite you! Then you will have a flesh rotting wound that could put you in the hospital. The kids help me find them. If they find a spider alive I give them a quarter and kill the spider. Now they find teeny little (non-poisonous) house spiders in corners and run to get me. I had no idea we had so many spiders. I have to go get more quarters. Amelia keeps reminding me that I still owe her one.

Tennessee is really beautiful and we are enjoying the nice fall weather. The trees here are so thick and beautiful. I can't wait to see how everything looks when the leaves change color. But as beautiful as it is...last week at church they were talking about an upcoming Relief Society meeting about emergency preparedness. They mentioned the flood last May and the Tornado a few years back. Our president mentioned climbing over fallen trees and walking all night to check on old ladies to see if they were okay. I was just sitting there with wide eyes wondering "where did I just move to?" Out here bug control companies thrive. Mosquitoes attack you if you go outside without bug spray on. Then Jordan got a tick on his baby bum! About once a month there is a HUGE rain storm that lasts all day and night. Humidity is horrible.

We live right by a wooded area that used to be the home of Andrew Jackson. We have our share of ticks, squirrels, deer, spiders and butterflies. It is just one adventure after another!