Hairy Beasts and Beautiful Butterflies

SPIDER. Okay. So hopefully you've heard that age old wisdom about not getting a bunny for your kid on Easter. That although it might seem like a grand idea, the holiday inspiration will soon wear off and you'll be left with a high maintenance mammal to care for... bad plan. Well apparently J Leslie did not get the memo, because two Saturdays ago he went to PetCo (yes, we have one within 15 miles... some parts of Alaska are not really that remote) and purchased a large hairy tarantula, just in time for Halloween. It is, in theory, for his science classroom ("I'm doing a unit on spiders!") but of course it had to come home to our house to "adjust" first.

Adjusting...

So later that Saturday Indigo and I take off for our annual Mommy-Daughter-Retreat and have an absolutely lovely time at a B and B in Homer, soaking in the hot tub, thrift store shopping (Indigo is like a fabulous 5-year-old personal shopper; it's amazing. "Momma, this is totally your style... try it on. Really, try it on. You'll love it.") baking and decorating and eating donuts, beading, paper crafting, movie watching and generally reveling in our mutual girly love. And we return home to Kenai, turn on lights, open curtains and begin to settle in. UNTIL WE NOTICE THAT THE TARANTULA IS NOT IN HER TANK. Mind you, J has gone off pack rafting (see last blog post) and isn't expected home for several hours. Again, THE TARANTULA IS LOOSE IN THE HOUSE.

Pause for a moment and consider what you would do. Leave? Stay and look for it? If you can't find it, do you just continue about your business, cooking and eating and showering and sleeping? (Think "Accidental Tarantula Stew," Tarantula shampoo, Tarantula crawling in your mouth on an exhale!!!!!) My mind is racing... J is going to have to call in to work and use a personal day and stay home to look for the spider. We're going to have to sleep at a friend's house until he finds it. Or maybe sleep in a zipped up tent in the living room. But then again the looming shadow of the spider on the outside of it in the morning might be too much...

Well Indigo did not pause for a moment; she leapt into my arms, screaming, "Pick me up! Pick me up! We have to get out of the house!!!" Now when we'd gotten home, we had noticed that ZigZag was honkered down in a corner of Indigo's room, very interested in a particular area near the base board heater. With Indigo in my arms, we crept into her room and pulled aside her stuffies and toys. ZigZag was nose to heater, his hackles raised. I went into the kitchen, set Indigo down on the counter top ("Momma!!! Are you sure it can't climb onto the counter?") and grabbed a flashlight. Back in Indigo's room I shined it into the base board and sure enough, the hairy beast was crammed against the metal corner, legs scrunched, presumably avoiding the whap-whap paw of the cat.

With some patience, a good old fashioned large glass ball jar, and some leather gloves, we managed to get the Tarantula back into her tank. ZigZag is still considered the cat of the hour, a protector, a hero, and deserving of all our attention. If he hadn't cornered the spider, our last week would have been significantly different. And Indigo and I are pleased to report that the spider is happily enjoying life at the Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science.

Two hairy beasts.

BEARD. On Wednesday, October 29th, Halloween Celebration Day at Kaleidoscope School, J Leslie called in sick and a substitute teacher appeared in his stead. This clean-shaven, short haired, handsome man had a slight German accent and was quite a snazzy dresser. J Leslie has not been seen since.

The substitute.

BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES. Happy Halloween!