They say you must take time to “smell the roses”. For me, at the beach, that usually means observing the simple wonders of nature — a baby kingfisher flying into our glass doors, a pair of newborn chicks, a frog or crab in the pool, etc. City dwellers have a tendency to forget some of the simply fascinating natural beings that abound in a more bucolic setting. Bats zooming by and taking a drink of water from the pool, snakes shedding their skins on your lawn and fireflies lighting up a particular roadside bush. On this most recent trip to the beach, I was fascinated by several spectacularly anal-retentive spider webs in our small yard.
The Teen managed to snap these two shots of two different spider webs, the spiders still at the center of the web, waiting for unsuspecting flying insects or “food” to get caught in their traps. This brought up an interesting comment from Mrs. MM — at what point does a spider web become a cobweb? :) The answer? Our collective years of education led us to GUESS that the spider web becomes a cobweb WHEN it is no longer actively used by the spider to catch its intended prey. That seemed logical and simple enough. But a quick google when we returned to the city led to a Wikipedia entry and this added little tidbit: “cob” is derived from an old English word, coppe (pronounced “kab”) which also meant “spider”… So you learn a little something every single day… even while “smelling the roses”. :)
17 Responses
Hey MM , I would like to greet you and your family a Happy & a Prosperous Year of the Dragon !
Savor every moment, they might not be here next time. But we are always hopeful for more beautiful roses this coming 2012. Happy New Year MM. Teen did a very good job with those shots!!!
Happy New Year to the MM household, the Mrs., The Teen, the staff and everybody, the readers, webs and all!
I’d say a spiderweb becomes a cobweb when it no longer serves it’s purpose as a food trap but becomes a dust trap instead…..:)…..thought provoking indeed…..appropiate for the new year. Happy 2012!
Yes “smelling the roses” should always be part of our lives….taking those breaks revitalize us…Happy New Year MM and family…we thank you for all the posts …you are a blessing to so many in your own different way. A prosperous 2012!!!
nice shots! May everyone find more opportunities to stop and smell the roses.
Here’s wishing you, Mrs MM, Teen, Crew, Sister and the rest of the MarketManila family and readers a very happy, prosperous, healthy year of the Dragon!
Have a wonderful 2012 Mr and Mrs MM and the Teen! May we all have a prosperous New Year in many aspects–may we have the patience of spiders in building our lives (webs) and in going for our prey ( careers)….
Very nice pics. Kudos to the Teen. Happy New Year to you, MM and to everyone within your circle of family, friends and crew!
Beautiful nature photography! Made me feel guilty for the times I would get rid of spiderwebs by poking them with a stick, taking for granted the many hours a small spider spent making a web like this…a work of art indeed! Thanks for reminding us that we share this world with other living creatures as well and they need our appreciation too. Happy New Year!
remembering “charlotte’s web” with these shots …
So cobweb is to british english as spiderweb is to american english?
ami, I think cobweb as spiderweb is archaic, usage wise. So even the English might already say spiderweb for an active web, rather than cobweb…
For me, a spiderweb becomes a cobweb when it is in my house and has to be swept/dusted off.
It remains a spiderweb, untouched by my broom and rag, when it is in the yard and garden.
Happy new year MM, family and to all! Abundant graces always.
is it accurate to say the spider population is dwindling? it is difficult to spot even one in places where they used to thrive back in the day –> meralco wires, lamp posts, vacant lots, big shady trees, etc. especially the ‘gagambang hari’. another such insect is the praymantis. my eldest is 10yo and she hasn’t been able to see a live one yet. my search goes on…
happy new year mm!
Happy New Year to everyone. This is my first time on this site and and am on my third hour of reading and imagining all the food that you cook and concoct. I am a foodie and I imagine recipies and try them. I like to bake more than cook. I am impressed by all your postings and generosity in sharing them with tips and all.
Late summer is spider season around here. Big yellow garden spiders weave large webs that glow with dew in the early morning light. Spiders are a very interesting photography subject due to their webs, and their otherworldly appearance up close!