. . . and with tarantulas.

My younger son and I set up a tent this evening (see Item #11 of the 13-Point Plan). The usual comedy of errors ensued, but the job got done. About the time that we were disassembling/reassembling it for the third time, I noticed a large tarantula fleeing the scene. I took this photo of it climbing up a rock wall, and then realized that the picture needed scale to truly depict how big this thing was. Before placing a stick of Chapstick next to it, I asked my son if these things can jump. He confidently stated that they did not. I reached out to place the Chapstick next to it whereupon it sprang into the air, performed a 180-degree spin that would have made a Chinese gymnast proud, and executed a perfect landing at eye level, directly facing me with its fangs bared. It was either very upset or had really chapped lips. Either way, Taylor has some studying to do if he’s going to pursue that career in arachnology.

Here’s a photo of the completed setup. (Those are my cows just beyond the tent.)

So it’s off to sleep outside tonight. With the coyotes, bobcats, owls, scorpions, and tarantulas, all of which frequent my property. Oh yes, and the stars.