Like A Magnet, I Tell You!!!

 I sat on the patio on THIS morning, contemplating the world of insects.  How could so many of them live in the desert and so few live in Sunny California?  It certainly keeps you on your toes, eyes scanning the surrounding 20 feet of property to be sure nothing is going to sting or bite you.

Take yesterday for example.  I'm a magnet for creepy crawlies.  I have to be constantly aware of every square inch around me.  But first, I got to witness a beautiful sunrise.  

Then the fun began.  My major accomplishment for the day required my chainsaw on a stick.  That is actually TOMORROW'S story.  On the way out to the tree, I spotted this guy.  

I don't think I've seen quite so many praying mantis' around before.  At any one time, there are two or three on my screen door.  These are the good guys, so I leave them alone.  Funny how they are brown in the desert to match whatever they are standing on.  This guy has been living on my screen for a week now.

Also taking up residence on the same screen is this beauty.  He's only about five inches long, but he's been camping out every day since I got here.  The yellow patio light bulb that is not supposed to attract any insects at ALL, attracts millions of them.  It's like a casino buffet to this guy.  He sits in one place and the food comes right to him.

The day passed ... I messed up another quilt, having a 13" pattern and only 5" left to quilt.  How frustrating.  It's not the end of the world, I just have to figure out how to fix it.  I threw up my hands, yelled UNCLE and looked up to see a gorgeous sunset.  

So there I am, in the dark, barefoot, walking across the lawn with my camera to get this picture.  I stop, focus and CLICK!  That very instant I felt something tap me on the toe.  OMG!!!!  NOW WHAT????

I kid you not, here's a tarantula making his way across the lawn and he ran into my foot.  I freak out like any self respecting person with a fear of spiders and make a mad dash for the house.  Curiosity got the best of me.  I grabbed my big flashlight and went back outside to find him still making his way.

He got all the way across the lawn to the gravel, making it easier for him to travel.  Several thoughts went through my head.  SMASH HIM was the first one.

Then I spotted several crickets coming out on the gravel.  This might be interesting ... a tarantula making dinner of the crickets.  He stopped at the edge of this concrete and waited for dinner to come to him.  Well that was fun ... and back into the house I went.  By the way, the Chance household said they've only seen one tarantula in all their many years living here.  Gee ... how lucky am I???

There is one critter the Arizona monsoons bring out that you don't want to run into.  This is the Sonoran Desert Toad.  He's poisonous to both humans and dogs.  I've already been warned to keep an eye out for these guys.  They bury themselves in the rocky sand and only come out again when there's enough rain.  Who knows how much THAT is.  Frogs in the desert??????

SO ...... it's bedtime and I'm letting Cooper out for the last time.  I always check the yard first with a flashlight.  I see the spider still lurking around, so I pick up Cooper and put him down on the grass far away.  Something moved.  OH GOOD GRIEF ... WHAT NOW?

I saw the toad, picked Cooper up in a flash and was in the house in two seconds.  Big sigh .... another wonderful desert creature!!!

A magnet I tell you!!!  I went back outside to find this guy hanging out next to the patio.  It's not the dreaded Sonoran Desert Toad, but an American spadefoot toad.  At least that's what I THINK it is.  They are toxic also, so don't touch.  

If it weren't for Cooper, I think I'd lock myself in the house with the scorpions!!  At any rate, I did finally get a nice sunset image to finish out the day.  

I did have one thought which I quickly dismissed as an adventure I didn't want to go on ... to head outside after dark and see just what critters are creeping around the house.  I'm sure I don't want to know.  I'd probably run back to California screaming all the way.  

Which reminds me ... it's time to pick up the game camera.  Maybe I should set it up in my back yard instead!!