My husband and I have decided to add to our “family.” We decided long ago that we didn’t want to have children, but have recently decided that having an animal in our lives would be good for our emotional health – and add a bit of excitement!

Without further ado, allow me to introduce you to our new pet!

Not very original, I know, but we’ve decided to name her “Shelob.” Her M.O. is similar to the Lord of the Rings spider that almost made a snack of Frodo. She captures her prey, and wraps ’em up in her web to snack on later.

She has woven a web near our back door leading out to our deck. And she’s making short work out of hapless insect after insect (thereby keeping them from coming into our home). Let’s hope she has a taste for stink bugs! My husband was watching her in action last night…she has a voracious appetite!

And this, dear readers…is why we have a strict “do not kill spiders” rule in our home!