I'm Officially Freaking Out

Okay, I'm pretty strong when it comes to critters.  I've lived and played in the outdoors for eons and come up against LOTS of spiders and snakes.  I battle black widow spiders at home constantly, but nothing ..... and I mean nothing ..... comes close to the spiders in the desert.

As it is, I can't use my guest bathroom any more since this guy and his buddy visited me last week.  In talking to the awning installation guys, one said if he found a wolf spider in his house he would burn the house down.  I was feeling brave up until he said that.

Still, I never go outside now without sandals on, and it's a good thing.  Time to take the puppies out for the last time.  As I flipped on the light and my foot hit the first step, I saw something big and dark brown by the steps.  I froze.  Oh come on Nancy, it's just a leaf or something.

That's when the SOMETHING moved!!  I totally freaked out, screaming at the dogs to get back in the house.  I almost tripped as I slammed the door, leaped over the steps to the patio and reached for the shovel.  WHAM!!!!  WHAM again and again until it quit moving.

That's the biggest spider yet .... HUGE ... the size of the palm of my hand ... and seemed to be darker brown than the others.  Lord, please make it stop!!  I don't think I can stand another encounter.  I scooped him up and dumped him in the trash can, only to find a huge wet spot ... probably pure venom!!!

I'm paranoid now.  No one can go outside unless I scope out the steps first with the lights shining brightly.  I do a quick search even as I move room to room in the house.  You thought I had gray hair before .. you should see it now!

At any rate, here's the best image I could get of the shade cover.  Built for 90 mph winds and luckily situated in line with most of them, as well as being protected by the houses above, it is cemented into concrete and should last a long time.  It is much bigger than I expected, but I love it!!

The kid fixed the sprinkler lines, installed downspouts and cleaned up as good as I would have before starting on the gutters in the back yard.  It's funny I don't see many gutters in this country.  With as much rain as they get, I am surprised.  

Even in my house, there are a couple of window sills that have received water damage due to the waterfalls coming off the roof.  That's not a problem on the front now, but the back really needed something over the four big windows.

Another job well done as I now have both the left and right hand side of the building covered, as well as the patio cover.   Drains for the house are installed outside the concrete block wall.  This edge of the back patio cover will have the only downspout.  Now I can't wait for it to rain again so I can see just how good it's going to work.  I don't know ... as much rain as I've seen here, they may just overflow.

In the meantime, Miss Patty's plants are going crazy!!  I've never in my life seen anything bloom like this one!!  In a mere three days, this baby has grown to ten inches long.  I can't wait to see it flower!!!

Well maybe I can, because seeing it requires I go down those steps where the big spider was.  Don't worry, my shovel now sits right by the door within reach!!!