Black Widow!

To state that we are infested with Black Widow Spiders would be a drastic understatement. From the time we moved into our first house, Mister and I have had to wage war against this poisonous arachnid, on average crossing paths with at least one specimen on a weekly basis, and; thus, encouraging us to become proactive about teaching both the Dreamer and Caveman to recognize and respect this omnipresent creature. These regular meetings make this latest encounter with the spider who almost bested me, a relatively humdrum, mundane story. 

We discovered her shocking black shiny body hanging upside down in a corner of the front stoop of our home. She was eagerly going about her ritualistic vampire  activities as she victimized and devoured the innards of an unsuspecting beetle who had the misfortune of stumbling into her cobwebs. 

After observing briefly, I realized that she must die. Although beautiful and reclusive, the threat of having a deadly venomous animal so close to entering our dwelling and being underfoot of a curious, creepy-crawler loving Caveman was too legitimate of a concern to ignore. Out of routine habit, I grasped the nearest fallen stick and yielded my weapon above her, but; alas, she darted into a protective crevice where the settling of our home created a cavernous retreat ideal for a gorgeous arachnid to take up residence!

The hunt went on this way for 5 days before we resorted to the only option for a human of whom has been outwitted by a spider; we purchased concrete caulk and sealed her into her home forever, left to perish in the depths of her spider paradise. 

   Indulging in her last meal--cockroach

Perhaps any fellow resident arachnids of the toxic variety will take heed of her fresh mockery and final sentence when they spot human beings out in the yard searching for earthworms...