Monday, August 30, 2010

Things Aren't Always What They Seem








It has not been a secret on this blog that I am absolutely terrified of spiders. It's called arachnophobia, and I have done several posts about it. So you can only imagine my horror when I woke up one morning, went in the kitchen, and saw this shadow on the wall. YIKES!! I was paralyzed with fear, heart pounding. It looked like the biggest spider I had ever seen in my life, a monster spider of some kind. Here are some of the panicked thoughts that ran through my mind. Where's hubby...must run...find a male neighbor to kill it...call 911!! But when I cast a frantic glance around the room to find it, here is what it turned out to be. It was the shadow of a dragonfly suncatcher I had stuck to the window with a suction cup. I heaved a sigh of relief. Needless to say, I did NOT need any coffee. It's good to remember that lots of things are not what they seem, and that was a very good thing for me on that morning.


"As for those of you who seemed to be important - whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance..." Galatians 2:6

28 comments:

Kilauea Poetry said...

I don't know what to say! My nickname growing up was Gina bug! I was and am fearless of most creatures. My sons were delighted when I caught centipedes to resin them. But I generally don't go out of my way to kill them and funny, it isn't me who winds-up getting stung (lol). I've often wondered if this fear gets instilled? My mom was the opposite, she'd get excited but it was the same if a cat jumped on her bed! Your header is beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Love your shadow shot Ginny! It is funny sometimes to see a shadow and try to trace its origin. I'm glad yours was a harmless suncatcher and not a spider! Hoping you have a great Tuesday.

SquirrelQueen said...

Well you know me, first I would have grabbed by camera! Sorry, I know arachnophobia is very real. A good friend of mine in GA had the same fear. I don't mind spiders as long as they stay outside.

That is a really cool suncatcher.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue ι™ˆζ΄ι›ͺ said...

This one is actually two put together. I should have photographed them when they put them 90 degrees. Oh dear, too late, we had to return it.

Your dragonfly: When my bro was young, for art, he bent wire into shapes like dragon flies, butter flies or flowers, and dip them into foul smelling reins. The effect is like yours.

Jane said...

Oh, that really does look like a spider. I can deal with the small ones, but when the legs span into what seems like eternity, I make a run for it!

Jane

From the Kitchen said...

I can only imagine what that looked like on your wall. I really have no insect phobia--will cut flowers with bees swarming all over me. However, when I was in my first year of college and living at home, I came in one afternoon to find my mother in a lot of pain. She said she needed to go to the emergency room. Why? She had been bitten by a black widow spider!! And, she'd waited until I got home--at least three hours--to do anything. She was very fortunate to have not been super allergic to the venom. She saved the spider's body for awhile--the better to embellish her story!!

Best,
Bonnie

MadSnapper said...

CL you have killed me with this post. It really does look like a spider on the first two photos. Adorable little sun catcher causeing all that trouble. isn't it amazing how adrenaline can make your heart race? thanks for my moring laugh, the first of he day so far.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Praise God for false alarms.For me it's not so much spiders,although they are not my closest friends,but I despise grasshoppers.The only good grasshopper is a dead one.I do realise that God created the spider and the grasshopper,but somehow I don't think He intended for me to be close to them :)
Blessings,Ruth

What Karen Sees said...

I'm right with you. I HATE spiders. I walked into the bedroom 2 nights ago, and I spotted this BIG spider on the carpet by the bed. My husband wasn't home, and I knew if I didn't kill it I would never sleep in that bed again knowing he was lurking about. I grabbed a shoe from the closet and hit him, but not hard enough because he started to run under the bed. Luckily I must have slowed him down because I got another chance and was able to give him a a direct hit. Ugh, I still didn't sleep very well!

Anonymous said...

I don't like spiders either. YUK! :-(

Reanaclaire said...

oh Ginny...poor girl!! so terrified of spiders.. as for me, i have cockroach phobia, i see any cockroach, i will scream with fright!

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness! You must have been so scared! Even I would have been scared by a spider THAT big! But the dragonfly sure is pretty. :o)

Remington said...

I am happy it wasn't a spider. Next time give me a call....I will save you!

srp said...

This is the season for the spiders to spin their webs everywhere. It seems they love the position of our security cameras and work tirelessly to make webs over them. At night I can watch them work, round and round... it is fascinating. But, I prefer not to deal with them in real life. The only thing I like less are snakes.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh how funny.... (I guess it wasn't funny at the time though for you!!!).... The shadow did make it look like a BIG spider.... Yipes---I don't like them either, but am not as petrified as you are... i just don't want them in the house!!!!ha

Love your header... You should leave some of those gorgeous headers 'up' for more than one day... This one is fabulous.

Have a wonderful day.
Hugs,
Betsy

Stephanie V said...

Glad you saw the real thing before you keeled over! I love dragonflies. Love them! But I also love spiders with their beautiful designs.

George said...

I guess this is one way to get wide awake in the morning. You may have to put up a reminder that the suncatcher is there.

Mary Bergfeld said...

Isn't that the truth! I'm sorry for your scare but it retrospect I'll wager you had a really good laugh. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

Fred Alton said...

Had me laughing as it reminded me of the "snake" that crawled up my pants leg, making me throw down the two electric heaters and armful of kindling that I was carrying! After stomping on the heaters and kindling until my feet were hurting - I realized it was one of the electric cords from the heaters that had fell across my leg!!! ☻☻☻

Kilauea Poetry said...

Well, I zoomed in on your dragonfly- lovely..that's one delightful creature I can never seem to capture? Your neighborhood looks peaceful..are you out wandering around taking pictures? (I'm folding clothes) lol..cause its the sensible thing for me to be doing right now! Oh, my spidy story- when my oldest son was in-between walking and crawling, we'd been up at my folks. We used to have huge cane spiders (before digital sadly)..(Sugar cane), anyway I
I looked over at the shocked look on my moms face then over to my son on the floor..see it was my mom who traumatized him! He opened his mouth wider in fright - he had one of those spiders in his mouth!! But the best part was that only the legs were sticking out (lol)))

Anonymous said...

Hi Ginny, Good post. Sorry you are afraid of Spiders. Not that I myself like them very much. I really like your posts that are visual puzzles! Intrigue and interest are good things in a blog. Have a truly fun and wonderful day!

Glenda said...

I thought it was a spider, too, when I saw the first pic! Great story, Ginny, but I'm sorry you were so frightened. That's not a good feeling!

Glennis said...

Dragonfly is so pretty but did cst a scary shadow.

Deborah said...

YIKES! That would have scared me too! I love your new header! It is beautiful :)
Have a good day!
xxoo
Deborah

Living In Williamsburg Virginia said...

What a cute story.

Darryl and Ruth : )

Ann, Chen Jie Xue ι™ˆζ΄ι›ͺ said...

Samoa beach fales are traditional thatch huts usually on village land and owned and operated by a local Samoan family. They are scattered all along the coast of Upolu and Savaii, usually in extremely scenic locations, and can even be found on uninhabited Namua Island and the very traditional Manono Island. Beach fales are the very best way to experience genuine Samoan hospitality.

But these days, people just refer to fales as holiday chalets with thatch roofs. Even commercial places have fales.

ruthi said...

that was funny. i couldn't blame you if you were terrified. it does look like a spider. you are right. things are not always what it seems that is why we have second chances. great one Ginny.

Rose said...

very unusual photos. i don't like bugs, spiders. i don't like to to stomp on bugs. rose

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