I noticed on Halloween Eve that there was one last writing spider left alive on the front porch. She was in her web all day long, and when it got dark she went up to the top of the porch. I thought she was getting out of harm's way during the party! But when I went out the next morning she'd made an egg sac.
Since then she has made two more egg sacs, each one in a single overnight session.
I learned tonight that the argiope aurantia makes up to 4 egg sacs each year.
The idea that she is out there working so hard while I'm inside making my own creation makes me happy.
Apparently come spring we will have literally thousands (based on the number of egg sacs I see out there!) of the lovely writing spiders hatching out.
I just printed out the novel and hope it hatches into its own thousands of copies.
And I celebrated the ms being back in business by buying the Pretenders' newest album on iTunes, which is playing right now. Love love love it.
Oh! How exciting. I hope you will post about the 'birth' of all those baby spiders come Spring.
ReplyDeleteShe must be very happy there to produce egg sacs. I'm guessing she feels all that positive and productive energy emanating from inside your house. :)
I fell in love with Writing Spiders after eading Charlotte's Web. I've never seen them in New Mexico, though.
~Lisa
Very interesting facts about the writing spider. I should probably import some here, they could be my muse and get me motivated. Anyway good luck with your novel, hope lots of copies hatch for you.
ReplyDeleteLisa, I love these spiders. I loved Charlotte's Web too!
ReplyDeleteFor most of my life I've had a spider phobia, but since moving here to the farm there has been a big shift in my feelings about them.
Arlene, they are quite striking. Thanks for the good wishes!
ReplyDeleteI love looking at them up close in your pictures!
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd taken a photograph when she had the big beautiful web up. She's abandoned that now to make the egg sacs, and since the last one (in this picture) she has stayed by the sac and it appears maybe she is at the end of her life cycle.
ReplyDeleteI just checked on her and it appears she has died.
Lots of creativity and weaving of dreams going on, huh? Sounds good! ;-)
ReplyDeleteHarmony,
Janet
It's been a good week that way! :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! You must feel so good - Now, we'll all send out the positive voodoo to attract publishers to your web.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Victoria - LOL about the publishers in the web!
ReplyDeleteOH no. Poor Mama spider. She worked so hard and doesn't even get to see all her babies born. :(
ReplyDelete~Lisa
Spiders mostly don't, I think, but it's odd not to see here there in her web anymore.
ReplyDelete