We don't have the heart to take it down

I wonder, how long will the Cross Spider who this morning spun a GIGANTIC web across our front stoop, totally blocking our exit, stay in its current location? Anyone?

***

7:15 am:

"Christie, get down here! Quick!!"

"What is it?"

"It's a trap! Jesus!! That thing was just waiting for me to walk out half asleep and get tangled in that web and then it would have put its fangs right in my eye!!"

***

Unbelievable! The web really spans the entire front porch and there is no way around or under it. We watched (me from 5 inches, Scott from 5 feet) it as it finished putting the final strands in place. Touching the bottom of its abdomen to an anchoring thread, it would then pull away leaving a new length of web trailing behind, which would then be fixed in place with the gentle touch of its hind leg.

***

Christie, observing: "It's really beautiful."

Scott, in all seriousness: "Be careful! Don't let it jump on your face!!"

***

So we did what any nature lovers would do. We used the back door and left the spider in place.