Weird Phenomenon

While standing under a street light the other night, my friend Myra pointed up and said, "What are those strings in the air?" Tiny networks of silvery, almost invisible strands, floated in the calm, fall-is-in-the-air hush. Whispery threads that brushed against our faces. Tickly fibers that wafted on an upward journey. We brushed them away and kept on chatting.

A couple of nights later, the weatherman on our channel enlightened me and the viewing audience. He'd been getting a lot of phone calls, and the phenomenon has a name--ballooning. It's the way spiders send their babies off into the world to make their own homes. Who knew? This must have been a productive year for all the mama and daddy spiders because they are everywhere, mostly at dusk, or at least when that's when they are most visible. Or maybe I've noticed them more because of the gorgeous fall weather we've had the past week. Lots of patio time, lovely walks around the block with Zelda, our mini-dachshund, who by the way, is the Queen in this household. Not to worry--I'll save her antics for another post.

Just when you think you've seen everything, something new comes along. Isn't that just the way it is with God and his creation? Eagles push their babies from the nest, but fly beside them creating wind currents to help the fledgling babies until they find their wings. Now, spiders have their own specially designed system as well. Fine filaments that give the babies a path to follow until they find their place. Oh, the wonder.

The weatherman also reported that a legend accompanies the spider ballooning: "When spiders fly, the weather will soon be dry." Don't know how much truth there is in that, but we've had blue skies and simply breathtaking weather all week. I'm headed to the patio right now--with a cuppa my favorite brew, of course.

Be blessed this weekend.