Critter of the week…

My kitchen is a zoo.

Yes. You read correctly, my kitchen is a zoo. And more specifically  my kitchen is a petting zoo. It seems like furry creatures scurrying around my kitchen is a daily occurrence. I think it is time for me to stop fighting it. I think I shall put down food, put up a fence, hire a clown, and start charging admission. Come one come all!

Critter of the week.

Things that go bump in the night.

These beauties can run up to 10mph and they like to follow you around to stay in your shadow to get out of the sun. I am not sure why it has a white fur coat, why it has so many legs, what on earth is protruding out of it’s mouth, why it’s creepy little eyes are staring,or why I got so close to it to take this picture.
Now excuse me while I run away screaming.

::Shudder::

Now I understand that if there are any of you out there who suffer from arachnophobia, like me, then you will probably not enjoy this post. However, in the last few months I have realized that if I am to be a person living in this country in the summer months, I will have to get used to sharing my house with these creatures, and I feel that I should share this new experience with you, my readers.  In the few days alone we have killed over 6 huge spiders. One of them was a black widow. ::shudder:: We are now at a point where David does not kill then anymore. I think we have realized that this would just make more appear. I think that is what is happening. Maybe their hairy-multiple-eyed carcasses are dividing and regenerating. I have been quite jumpy the last few days.

This spider in the picture is called a “Wall spider.” They are very common in Namibia. They live behind things on the wall, they move like shadows. They are completely flat, and completely icky. I think they never stop growing, the ones in our house are about 2.5 inches in diameter.
I do have a funny story about one of these.

When David and Kyle were living in Opuwo, David was in the bathroom one day when he noticed one against the wall next to his head. He was about to squash it, then he thought about how the spider was harmless (or some such nonsense), and he decided to let it be. Then a fly flew past his face, and the spider LEAPED OFF OF THE WALL AND CAUGHT THE FLY AND STUCK TO THE OPPOSITE WALL, RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS FACE. Good thing he was already “sitting.” I used to like that story, now that I am sharing my home with these hairy beasts it makes my spine shiver. 
Now for the picture. 

Are you sure you want to see it?

Still sure?

Here it is: