Search Results for: blog the amazing spider head

The Intelligent Spider

I tend to think of insects as simple creatures. Single-minded, like an ant scurrying over a huge obstacle because that’s where the trail goes and the idea of taking an easier path around isn’t there. Instinctive, like that fight or flight response that kicks in when faced with danger. But I may need to rethink that. Maybe they’re not as simple as I think they are. There’s a spider that lives on my back patio. I haven’t gotten close enough to see what kind it is, or even what color. It’s just a spider. Not too big, but big enough … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Sep 10-16

If you missed any of the Pets Blog last week you’ve clicked the right place to catch up. Here’s what Aimee and I wrote on: Monday, September 10 I related the big fun Murph has with his flying monkey. (Nope, they’re not just for Dorothy and Toto to play with anymore.) Oh what a tangled web we weave…when we walk our dogs? Well, when Aimee walks her dogs. She becomes the Amazing Spider Head! And because of her encounters, it got her to wondering about poisonous spiders. Best to know what they look like in case she comes across them. … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Spider Bites

A spider crawled out from underneath the stove last night and chased me around the kitchen. Like the calm, brave person I am, I screamed for the dogs to save me. They sat and watched the show. Their lack of reaction to a spider got me thinking about spider bites. Most spider bites are uncomfortable, but not dangerous — you can treat them pretty much the same way you would treat a bee sting or wasp sting. Relieve the pain and reduce the swelling. Keep an eye out for an infection developing at the bite site. If your pet is … Continue reading →

Poisonous Spiders

In light of how many spider webs I’ve walked into lately, I thought it might be a good time to familiarize myself with poisonous spiders. There are eight fairly common poisonous spiders in the United States. Most spiders bite when threatened — they don’t tend to run around chomping on people otherwise. Widow spiders are probably the most common kind of poisonous spider in the United States. They are approximately the size of a blueberry, and have the infamous red hourglass shape on their undersides. Body color and hourglass shape vary from one species to another. Widow spider venom is … Continue reading →

The Amazing Spider Head

You’ve probably heard of that OTHER amazing spider person… I’m not talking about him. I’m talking about me. There’s a disturbing new trend in my walks with Moose and Lally. A few days ago, the dogs wrapped me around a tree. Nothing new, really — Moose goes one way, Lally goes the other, and I have to do some quick juggling before we walk on. I ducked underneath a branch after swapping the leashes and… walked face first into a spider web. Being the brave, unflappable individual that I am, I screamed something like GAH or GUH and ducked away. … Continue reading →

Spider Magazine

From the same publishing company that brings us Ladybug Magazine we also get Spider, specifically written for children ages 6-9. I have a lot of respect for a company that doesn’t just try to hit every demographic with one magazine, but that creates magazines that children will actually understand, enjoy and appreciate. The magazine series literally grows with your child. As we look through the pages of Spider, we see many of the same elements that we found in Ladybug. The first page features letters that children have written to the insect characters in the magazine, along the lines of … Continue reading →

Give Boys Super Reading Powers

In many ways my 6-year-old daughter and 4-year-old nephew are like two peas in a pod. They both enjoy racing Hot Wheels, collecting rocks and pretending they are wolves in the wild. However, when it comes to books, the path splits and while one willingly devours tales of whimsy, the other heads for the hills in hopes that a stray title doesn’t accidently fall in his lap. It is a well-known myth that girls excel at reading while boys, due in large part to their superior spatial awareness, kill at math. And so it goes with my two cuties. My … Continue reading →

Saving on Electricity

With the price of electricity tipped to rise considerably in Australia, and probably the same in other countries, we need to find ways of saving money.So here are a few tips for saving on electricity. Switch off lights when you leave a room. It sounds simple but it’s amazing how many people don’t. Also make sure to switch off appliances when they are not in use. Don’t leave these switched on. Overhead fans are much cheaper to run than an air conditioner and quite effective. Use of blinds, curtains and awnings is another way of keeping heating and cooling costs … Continue reading →

Waiter! There’s a Cougar in my Hot Tub!

A South Dakota woman had an unpleasant surprise while soaking in a hot tub one morning — a four-legged visitor. Marlene Todd at first thought it was just her house cat roaming the back deck. Then she realized that the animal in the brush at the side of her hot tub was much larger. She opened her eyes and saw a big, tan, hairy form just inches away. It was a mountain lion. The cougar leaped onto the side of the hot tub. For a moment, woman and wild cat locked eyes, then the mountain lion leaped over the hot … Continue reading →

Grocery Clearance Deals at Target

Do you know about the grocery clearance deals at Target? If you do, you can save a lot of cash! I love shopping the grocery clearance section at Target, partly because of the great deals, and partly because no one else seems to know about this little secret of the store. I can always find great deals and stock up for my family. My local Target store is divided into two levels. The upper level has merchandise such as toys, kids clothes, electronics, seasonal stuff, etc. The lower floor has items such as lingerie, housewares and bedding. It also has … Continue reading →