My Blog primarily consists of close-up nature photos (that I've taken locally) combined with original holistic-truth oriented prose and/or poetry involving mindfulness/awareness. I love nature and I love understanding the whole (not merely the parts and the details). I'm a retired teacher of the multiply handicapped.
I have a number of interesting hobbies, such as fossil collecting, sport-kite flying, 3D and 2D close-up photography, holography, and pets. Most of all, I am into holistic self-awareness, spontaneous insight, unconventional observation/direct perception, mindfulness, meditation, world peace, non-fragmentation, population control, vegetarianism, and green energy.
To follow my unique Blog of "Nature Photos and Mindfulness Sayings" and for RSS feeds to my new posts, please access at: tom8pie.com (On my regular Blog posting pages, for additional information and to follow, simply click on the "tack icon" at the upper right corner... or, on my profile page, you can click on the "Thomas Peace" icon.)
Stay mindful, understanding, and caring!...
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
Never ever want to be that close to a spider, any spider. Thank you very much.
Oh, now, they really aren’t that bad. It’s we humans who are really dangerous! 😲
Lovely photo’s Tom.
So glad, Andy, that you are at home with nature and are not biased against 8-leggers. 😊
When I was young I had such a huge fear of spiders – no doubt from how they are used by film companies. Yet, spiders are so necessary to life – as are all creatures. I no longer fear them as I once did but I will keep a healthy distance from certain species. LOL
Fantastic shots, Tom, as per usual for you. 🙂
Thanks, Carol. 😊 Once, while napping in the living room with shorts on, i got bit by a big one of this very species. It left fang marks in my leg that lasted for months but i never had any ill effects. 😉
he knew you were a friend…
Now he’s carrying around my DNA! 🤨
I am glad you didnt suffer any ill effects
What a superb photo Tom. I don’t suppose she told you her name?
Oh, I beg his pardon. I see it is a male!
Yes, it’s a male! I could arrange for a female for you if you would like. ☺ Thanks about the photo, Peter!
Yikes … macro photography can overwhelm! But great to see all this detail from a safe distance. Halloween night I’ll be camping … and now watching for spiders!
Now, Jazz, please don’t get arachnophobia because of my photos! 😊 🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷 (Please read what i wrote to SoyBend in the comments down below.)
are these all photos taken by you??
Yes, monicat, all have been taken by me. I am 70 now and I’ve been chasing critters around outside — investigating them and appreciating them — ever since i was 4 or 5. ☺ Read what i wrote to SoyBend (down below in the comments).
outstanding photography! i’ve a bit of spider obsession too, they often appear in my dreams, and i created a collage of a large, golden web that hangs on my wall.
both spiders and webs are full of symbolism.
Interesting, monicat! 😊
A Noiseless Patient Spider
BY WALT WHITMAN
A noiseless patient spider,
I mark’d where on a little promontory it stood isolated,
Mark’d how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,
It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.
And you O my soul where you stand,
Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them,
Till the bridge you will need be form’d, till the ductile anchor hold,
Till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, O my soul.
This is an amazingly up-close photograph that you’re sharing with us Tom. I do appreciate the detail of this less-than-cuddly creature.
Thank you much, Linda! What do you mean “less-than-cuddly”? They are like little teddy bears (with super-long fangs, however)! 😁😨
Hmm – we have different definitions of “cuddly” I think Tom. It was an amazing close-up of that face and fangs! 🙂
Thanks again, Linda! 🕸🕸🕸🕸
OMG! I’m not usually afraid of critters, but yikes!
SoyBend, i got bit by one of these — a really big one — a few years ago. I was napping in the living room, with shorts on, and a big one somehow managed to sneak into the house and sink its fangs into my leg. The scarring on my leg lasted for months… but i never had any ill effects. How it got into the house is beyond me! 🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷🕷
Oh no! An appropriate story for the day before Halloween.
😁👻🕷
Wow – love this!
Thanks much, Sara! Happy Halloween! 👻