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[STORYTIME]"For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one." ~ Khalil Gibran (MANY MANY inset pictures!)

MANY, MANY pictures above to show Roscoe from when I first met her until today...

I checked on Roscoe last night and this morning, and she was near her egg sac each time. This afternoon, she was further out, legs held closely to her body, sitting quietly (see the inset image above). Then, at about 4pm, I let the dogs out and Roscoe was gone. I looked everywhere on the walls but she wasn't there. Just before I went back into the house, I thought about what she would do if she needed to crawl to a dark place to die. I looked down and checked the cement...and there she was. I could barely see her because she was so perfectly camouflaged with the colors of the stone, but I noticed something moving, which gave her away.

Making her way slowly over the ground, she was just about to the edge of the porch. It was amazing that I spotted her before she was gone forever. I dashed into the house and back out, and she'd gone to the edge and crawled off the side, so I went around to the front in the garden and I saw her making her way to the edge of the cement and wanting to crawl down. She hung there for a moment, and that's when I took this picture. She wanted to go down but she had no more silk to lower herself, so after a few seconds she dropped into the leaves below and sat for a moment. I reached over and gently petted her soft, velvety abdomen, the only time I've ever touched her, and I said goodbye to my friend. After I left, I checked once more, and she had crawled out of sight. Rest in peace, dear Roscoe.
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9 comments

Pam J said:

There is a place called Rainbow Bridge ... and right now... that is where she is.. spinning shining silk and taking the next Adventure

Sail on Fair Winds and Calm Seas Roscoe
11 years ago

Dave Hilditch said:

Only you could have a pet spider, Janet. So sorry to hear of her death but I'm sure she lived a good and full life.
Lovely image. It looks like a face on her back and she seems to be smiling so I guess she died happy.
11 years ago

tiabunna said:

Very sorry to read that she has gone. A well told story and a life successfully lived, if the expected "little Roscoes" all hatch as expected. And great photos along the way.
11 years ago

sasithorn_s said:

Superb series of excellent detailed close ups of your spider friend,Roscoe.. ...
Sad to know that she has gone...
Thanks for sharing this lovely story and photos of her interesting life, Janet.
11 years ago

Phill G said:

Aw. Shame. She was a star...all those poses captured so well and put onto the worlds biggest web for us all to see! Lovely photography, Janet.
11 years ago

Esther said:

Great detail. Farewell, Roscoe.
11 years ago ( translate )

Keith Burton said:

I've really enjoyed your photos of Roscoe............so sad that that there won't be any more :( On the plus side, there are going to be some new arrivals in the not-to-distant future and I've no doubt at all that you'll be there with your camera to capture them!
11 years ago

Valfal said:

Beautiful story and photos of this special spider's life. Thank you for sharing this little saga with us, Janet. You should write a child's book of Roscoe's life! You have the photos :-)
10 years ago