Jann in TX Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 (edited) So I go to sleep at a respectable hour--DH is out of town so I have a bit of trouble falling asleep... finally I doze off-- At 3am my 2 white German shepherds nuzzle me awake (they sleep on either side of my bed)... the male is growling some so I let them outside. I get a drink and check the locks then go to let them back in... our female (Tasha) comes in first-- our male (Data) turns around suddenly and sticks his head in our bird food storage bucket (lid was left off by some hurried person :001_smile: ) he runs in the house and under the pool table-- by now I'm awake enough to say 'DROP'-- and out of his mouth comes-- A MOUSE! Fortunately for me (not the mouse) it was taking its last breath. I grab it by the tail and toss it outside over the fence (we live on an acreage and have a fenced area for the dogs to run). When I walk back inside the house I notice that the floor is COVERED IN BLOOD! The mouse was not bloody (I think it was scared to death)... I follow the trail of POOLS to my female Tasha.... she lays down and holds up one of her back legs for me to see---remember these are SOLID WHITE dogs... her back foot was dripping blood! I run and grab a roll of paper towels...about 10 minutes later I have her paw cleaned up and notice a puncture about 1/4 in across...probably from stepping on a cactus near the back fence... the bleeding finally stops and I crawl back in bed... I almost get back to sleep when the ^&*&^ cat decides he wants out... I open the back door to let him out and a TARANTULA (albeit a rather small one but still) walks in as the cat goes out!!! I grab a cup and scoop up the tarantula and toss him back in the garage...since the garage door is slightly opened to let the cat in and out I figure it was not worth going out in the cold to toss it when it would most likely come right back... plus we LIKE tarantulas-- just not so much at 3am! After this I could NOT get back to sleep-- I was up and dressed by 7-- I even surprised the horse by feeding him earlier than usual... Youngest dd has a friend staying over tonight (giving her single mom a much needed break)... so I 'hope' the littles will go to bed at a decent time so I can collapse! Edited December 31, 2010 by Jann in TX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabelen Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 So I go to sleep at a respectable hour--DH is out of town so I have a bit of trouble falling asleep... finally I doze off--At 3am my 2 white German shepherds nuzzle me awake (they sleep on either side of my bed)... the male is growling some so I let them outside. I get a drink and check the locks then go to let them back in... our female (Tasha) comes in first-- our male (Data) turns around suddenly and sticks his head in our bird food storage bucket (lid was left off by some hurried person :001_smile: ) he runs in the house and under the pool table-- by now I'm awake enough to say 'DROP'-- and out of his mouth comes-- A MOUSE! Fortunately for me (not the mouse) it was taking its last breath. I grab it by the tail and toss it outside over the fence (we live on an acreage and have a fenced area for the dogs to run). When I walk back inside the house I notice that the floor is COVERED IN BLOOD! The mouse was not bloody (I think it was scared to death)... I follow the trail of POOLS to my female Tasha.... she lays down and holds up one of her back legs for me to see---remember these are SOLID WHITE dogs... her back foot was dripping blood! I run and grab a roll of paper towels...about 10 minutes later I have her paw cleaned up and notice a puncture about 1/4 in across...probably from stepping on a cactus near the back fence... the bleeding finally stops and I crawl back in bed... I almost get back to sleep when the ^&*&^ cat decides he wants out... I open the back door to let him out and a TARANTULA (albeit a rather small one but still) walks in as the cat goes out!!! I grab a cup and scoop up the tarantula and toss him back in the garage...since the garage door is slightly opened to let the cat in and out I figure it was not worth going out in the cold to toss it when it would most likely come right back... plus we LIKE tarantulas-- just not so much at 3am! After this I could NOT get back to sleep-- I was up and dressed by 7-- I even surprised the horse by feeding him earlier than usual... Youngest dd has a friend staying over tonight (giving her single mom a much needed break)... so I 'hope' the littles will go to bed at a decent time so I can collapse! Wow, what a night! You are much braver than me, I would have been freaking out at all of those little incidents! Hope you get some sleep tonight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Great. Now I won't sleep tonight, either. :toetap05: :grouphug: Hope you have a completely critter-free night tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueridge Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Oh my, please tell me why you like tarantulas??! :eek: Good pest control? Handy for Halloween decorations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 :svengo::svengo::svengo::svengo: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Yikes! Hoping not to have a night like that tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jann in TX Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share Posted December 31, 2010 I've always been fascinated by them--I've had friends who have had them for pets... They are gentle giants-- and RARELY pose a threat to people--their bite (if you are unlucky enough to get one) is similar to a mild bee sting... I've never known anyone who was bitten by one though... We live in the hill country of central Texas--and we live out in the boonies-- so we get to investigate all sorts of wildlife! Tarantulas migrate through our property twice a year--- usually in late fall and mid spring. This year our weather has been mild--so they are a bit 'late' (so the visitor last night was unexpected! We have had a TON of tarantula hawks this past summer(a type of wasp that is as large as your hand) so the tarantula population is down a bit from normal... but we actually had some rain this summer-- which meant LOTS of bugs so now there are lots of baby tarantulas to replace their parents... They will disappear for the 'winter' and will pass through again in spring... we RARELY see them in the summer (unless a tarantula hawk is carrying one to its death!). Now we are also a family who PICKS UP garter snakes and such... I have a 'pet' spider in my bathroom-- I fed it an earwig from my stash of potatoes this morning with youngest dd watching... as long as she stays in her corner she can stay-- I hate earwigs and such more than a HARMLESS spider... plus she is fascinating for me (and even DH) to watch while we do our 'business'... LOL If I find a spider in any other part of the house it is promptly escorted outside-- or squished depending on my mood! We also have lizards for pets-- I've been babysitting 'Bob' the bearded dragon this week while middle dd and DH are out of town on a 'bonding trip'... today I carried him around some, fed him then let him watch some TV (while is was in his tank)... he tends to like food shows more than animal/nature shows that our other beardie likes. We are geeks... I LOVE gerbils but HATE HATE HATE wild mice--especially at 3am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 I almost get back to sleep when the ^&*&^ cat decides he wants out... I open the back door to let him out and a TARANTULA (albeit a rather small one but still) walks in as the cat goes out!!! I grab a cup and scoop up the tarantula and toss him back in the garage...since the garage door is slightly opened to let the cat in and out I figure it was not worth going out in the cold to toss it when it would most likely come right back... plus we LIKE tarantulas-- just not so much at 3am! :svengo: btw, I notice you ALSO live in Texas. :leaving: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 I've always been fascinated by them--I've had friends who have had them for pets... They are gentle giants-- and RARELY pose a threat to people--their bite (if you are unlucky enough to get one) is similar to a mild bee sting... I've never known anyone who was bitten by one though... We live in the hill country of central Texas--and we live out in the boonies-- so we get to investigate all sorts of wildlife! Tarantulas migrate through our property twice a year--- usually in late fall and mid spring. This year our weather has been mild--so they are a bit 'late' (so the visitor last night was unexpected! We have had a TON of tarantula hawks this past summer(a type of wasp that is as large as your hand) so the tarantula population is down a bit from normal... but we actually had some rain this summer-- which meant LOTS of bugs so now there are lots of baby tarantulas to replace their parents... They will disappear for the 'winter' and will pass through again in spring... we RARELY see them in the summer (unless a tarantula hawk is carrying one to its death!). Now we are also a family who PICKS UP garter snakes and such... I have a 'pet' spider in my bathroom-- I fed it an earwig from my stash of potatoes this morning with youngest dd watching... as long as she stays in her corner she can stay-- I hate earwigs and such more than a HARMLESS spider... plus she is fascinating for me (and even DH) to watch while we do our 'business'... LOL If I find a spider in any other part of the house it is promptly escorted outside-- or squished depending on my mood! We also have lizards for pets-- I've been babysitting 'Bob' the bearded dragon this week while middle dd and DH are out of town on a 'bonding trip'... today I carried him around some, fed him then let him watch some TV (while is was in his tank)... he tends to like food shows more than animal/nature shows that our other beardie likes. We are geeks... I LOVE gerbils but HATE HATE HATE wild mice--especially at 3am. oh my. I really think I'm going to have nightmares tonight! Honestly, though, I had a TREMENDOUS fear of bugs before we moved to the country. I have HAD to get beyond my fear of bugs. When ds15 was younger, he had a passion for them. So I bought books and we educated ourselves on them. I found it all quite fascinating. Reading what you're written about tarantulas makes me actually think I might be able to tolerate them. I will never need to, though, because I live in NH and there are no tarantulas out here. Snakes and wild mice? I'm perfectly fine with them. I even don't get too scared when bats get into the house, which has happened 3 times in 14.5 years. We know where they came in so it won't be happening again. I don't think you're geeks. We LOVE our critters here, too. We FINALLY got our first REAL snow and dd11 went out sledding WITH HER CHICKEN. We go on walks and dd puts her chicken in a baby carrier and brings it along. The sweet little thing just sits there and enjoys herself. We've also taken our ducks for rides in the car. We place him in a lined box and he SO enjoys the scenery. :lol: I would LOVE a reptile but I really do fear I wouldn't know how to care for it properly. We do have 40 animals, though, and I love all of them, even the wild ones. I protected one chipmunk so many times last summer that it actually would come out to visit me when I was gardening. I even pet it, took pictures of it, held it. I was SO upset to see something finally killed it (one of my dogs or cats) and left it under my bay window. :sad: Oh, one more thing. I had the most BEAUTIFUL little snake curl up on a branch and sit with me All Day as I read a book! Dh hung a chair/swing in the trees for me and this little snake stayed with me ALL DAY. It was the most gorgeous green, this color: :D I really wanted to make it a pet but dh refused to let it in the house.:glare: It's a good thing he keeps me accountable. I have more than I can handle as it is!!! Thanks for sharing about the tarantulas! I really enjoyed reading about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Oh, great. I just carried my shivers over here from Aubrey's spider thread! I even saw the "creepy, crawly" part in the title! Ack! Do I not have anything better to do? Apparently not. :glare: Jann, I'm so sorry about your night, but very grateful for your math expertise!:001_smile: And Denise, I wonder about you, girl! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Oh, great. I just carried my shivers over here from Aubrey's spider thread! I even saw the "creepy, crawly" part in the title! Ack! Do I not have anything better to do? Apparently not. :glare: Jann, I'm so sorry about your night, but very grateful for your math expertise!:001_smile: And Denise, I wonder about you, girl! ;) Listen to me. LISTEN. DO NOT GOOGLE TARANTULA WASP. I think you'll be scarred for life!!! :svengo: NOTHING can make me appreciate them. I wish them well but hope to NEVER see one. I honestly think my life could end if one ever landed on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Listen to me. LISTEN. DO NOT GOOGLE TARANTULA WASP. I think you'll be scarred for life!!! :svengo: NOTHING can make me appreciate them. I wish them well but hope to NEVER see one. I honestly think my life could end if one ever landed on me. Oh, don't worry! I won't! I'm headed for bed, and I know better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Tarantulas eat mice. Enough said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Good grief, Jann! What a night! I hope you're sleeping soundly tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Listen to me. LISTEN. DO NOT GOOGLE TARANTULA WASP. I think you'll be scarred for life!!! :svengo: NOTHING can make me appreciate them. I wish them well but hope to NEVER see one. I honestly think my life could end if one ever landed on me. Well... gosh, I just have to google now! :tongue_smilie: Thanks a lot Denise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomsintheGarden Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Ya'll are making me glad we don't live in Texas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.