Squash and Spider Identification

Damsel said:

My neighbor gave me a couple of summer squashes from his garden last night.
I've only seen the ones that look like yellow zucchini. What variety are
these, and what's a good way to cook them? I was thinking of maybe
slicing, oiling, and grilling.

Then there's this terrifying spider that's in my bathroom. I don't mind
the light brown daddy long legs types with the 1.5" bent legs (never saw
them before moving here). But I'm scared of the ones that are fast, fast,
fast! This one is about a half inch long, and very black. I don't
routinely kill critters, but if the spider can harm us, I should probably
get rid of it. The picture isn't great, because I was too scared to get
any closer.

I'd appreciate any help with either of these. Click on the yellow squash:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Carol

The squash is yellow crookneck. I love them boiled with onion and a
dab of bacon grease. Plenty of black pepper.

--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral, 48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)

Damsel wrote:
I don't

Quoted message said:

routinely kill critters, but if the spider can harm us, I should probably
get rid of it. The picture isn't great, because I was too scared to get
any closer.

I'd appreciate any help with either of these. Click on the yellow squash:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Yup, that's a spider. (That's the identification part of this message.)
For those situations where you don't want to get too close to a bug,
the vacuum cleaner works nicely. Stand in the doorway with vacuum and
vacuum hose. Attack spider from distance.

--Lia

Julia Altshuler said:

Damsel wrote:
I don't

Quoted message said:

routinely kill critters, but if the spider can harm us, I should probably
get rid of it. The picture isn't great, because I was too scared to get
any closer.

I'd appreciate any help with either of these. Click on the yellow squash:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Yup, that's a spider. (That's the identification part of this message.)

Damn, you're good. Do you do this professionally? LOL!

Quoted message said:

For those situations where you don't want to get too close to a bug,
the vacuum cleaner works nicely. Stand in the doorway with vacuum and
vacuum hose. Attack spider from distance.

Yeah, but then I've got an angry spider in my vacuum cleaner. Crash is
getting up in a couple hours. Hopefully, he can save me. <G>

Carol

Julia Altshuler <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Damsel wrote:
I don't

Quoted message said:

routinely kill critters, but if the spider can harm us, I should
probably get rid of it. The picture isn't great, because I was too
scared to get any closer.

I'd appreciate any help with either of these. Click on the yellow
squash: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Yup, that's a spider. (That's the identification part of this
message.)
For those situations where you don't want to get too close to a bug,
the vacuum cleaner works nicely. Stand in the doorway with vacuum and
vacuum hose. Attack spider from distance.

--Lia

Oooh! Oooh! [raising hand]

BENZENE!!!!!!!!!!!

Get a squirt bottle and fill it with benzene (check printer supply
stores for cheap).

We used it to kill flying "king-kong" roaches. It's wonderful!!! The
instant it hits a bug, it totally evaporates any moisture from their
system, rendering them dead in the blink of an eye, without the
"crunch" of sledge hammer or fly swatter.

OH THE GOOD OL' DAYS!

😄

Andy

Since this is almost certain to come up in this thread eventually, I'll
beat you to the punch with this:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/brownrecluse.asp

Spider bites can hurt, but they're generally not too serious.

--Lia

Julia Altshuler said:

Since this is almost certain to come up in this thread eventually, I'll
beat you to the punch with this:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/brownrecluse.asp

There are people all over who are going to skip breakfast after viewing
those pictures. <G>

This guy isn't brown. He's dark, dark black. Like a cricket.

Carol

Julia Altshuler said:

Since this is almost certain to come up in this thread eventually,
I'll beat you to the punch with this:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/brownrecluse.asp

Spider bites can hurt, but they're generally not too serious.

--Lia

LOL! I've already explained to her this spider isn't a brown recluse. They
are... reclusive (and brown! with a "fiddle"As for not serious, I don't care
what snopes has to say, I saw a guy in the doctor's office who had a HUGE
abcess on his leg from being bitten by one. It was gross. Not deadly, but
gross.

And those *are* crookneck squash, particularly nice done on the grill,
brushed with a little oil. Also just fine cut into coins and steamed.
Slightly sweet in taste. I use them in my squash casserole. A very nice
squash they are 🙂

Jill

Andy said:

Oooh! Oooh! [raising hand]

BENZENE!!!!!!!!!!!

Get a squirt bottle and fill it with benzene (check printer supply
stores for cheap).

We used it to kill flying "king-kong" roaches. It's wonderful!!! The
instant it hits a bug, it totally evaporates any moisture from their
system, rendering them dead in the blink of an eye, without the
"crunch" of sledge hammer or fly swatter.

Or, for a more absurd answer, you could try swallowing a bird to catch
the spider ...

--Lia

Andy said:

Oooh! Oooh! [raising hand]

BENZENE!!!!!!!!!!!

Idiot.

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/benzene/health_ben.html

Sheldon

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

LOL! I've already explained to her this spider isn't a brown recluse.
They
are... reclusive (and brown! with a "fiddle"As for not serious, I don't
care
what snopes has to say, I saw a guy in the doctor's office who had a HUGE
abcess on his leg from being bitten by one. It was gross. Not deadly,
but
gross.

I was in a doctor's waiting room when someone from work came in ... she
had left her car windows open overnight and when she got in, whammo.
Holy crow, you shoulda seen this bite! What a mess, and it hurt her! Big
huge thing (okay, I guess abcess). Not a pretty thing.

nancy

Damsel <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

My neighbor gave me a couple of summer squashes from his garden last
night. I've only seen the ones that look like yellow zucchini. What
variety are these, and what's a good way to cook them? I was thinking
of maybe slicing, oiling, and grilling.

That is a crookneck squash. I usually saute' chunks and use salt and
pepper for seasoning.

Quoted message said:

Then there's this terrifying spider that's in my bathroom. I don't
mind the light brown daddy long legs types with the 1.5" bent legs
(never saw them before moving here). But I'm scared of the ones that
are fast, fast, fast! This one is about a half inch long, and very
black. I don't routinely kill critters, but if the spider can harm
us, I should probably get rid of it. The picture isn't great, because
I was too scared to get any closer.

I'd appreciate any help with either of these. Click on the yellow
squash: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Carol

UGH!!! I hate spiders. It's not a brown recluse because I've been bitten
by one, nasty little [censored]. I had a giant, infected crater on my calf
for weeks. I don't know what kind this is. Try trapping it in a jar and
throw it outside.

Michael

Nancy Young said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

LOL! I've already explained to her this spider isn't a brown
recluse. They
are... reclusive (and brown! with a "fiddle"As for not serious, I
don't care
what snopes has to say, I saw a guy in the doctor's office who had a
HUGE abcess on his leg from being bitten by one. It was gross. Not
deadly, but
gross.

I was in a doctor's waiting room when someone from work came in ...
she had left her car windows open overnight and when she got in,
whammo.
Holy crow, you shoulda seen this bite! What a mess, and it hurt her!
Big huge thing (okay, I guess abcess). Not a pretty thing.

nancy

You should have seen me when I was moving once. I had some of those
cardboard under-the-bed boxes and was sorting through clothing when out
ventured a rather large brown recluse. I jumped up, screaming. My
then-roommate screamed, too. I grabbed the vacuum cleaner and sucked it up
with the hose.

Note to Damsel: Trust me, those things don't survive what is (to them)
tornado force 5 winds 😉

Jill

"Damsel" wrote in message

Quoted message said:

My neighbor gave me a couple of summer squashes from his garden last
night.
I've only seen the ones that look like yellow zucchini. What variety are
these, and what's a good way to cook them? I was thinking of maybe
slicing, oiling, and grilling.

Hate to contradict people, but they are straightneck squash, not crookneck,
says Farmer Dora. They're cooked the same way, though. You can grill,
sauté in butter, or even simmer gently in butter. Dill is a good addition,
too.

Quoted message said:

Then there's this terrifying spider that's in my bathroom. I don't mind
the light brown daddy long legs types with the 1.5" bent legs (never saw
them before moving here). But I'm scared of the ones that are fast, fast,
fast! This one is about a half inch long, and very black. I don't
routinely kill critters, but if the spider can harm us, I should probably
get rid of it. The picture isn't great, because I was too scared to get
any closer.

Ugh. I hate crawlies. The vacuum idea sounds good, though - I usually
chase them down and bash them with a sledgehammer. We have a variety of
cricket that gives me the creeps. They *stare* at me (literally) and can
jump a mile high. I've found the only way to kill those suckers is to drop
a book on them from above (they can't look up, apparently).

Quoted message said:

I'd appreciate any help with either of these. Click on the yellow squash:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Carol

"Damsel" wrote in message

Quoted message said:

My neighbor gave me a couple of summer squashes from his garden last
night.
I've only seen the ones that look like yellow zucchini. What variety are
these, and what's a good way to cook them? I was thinking of maybe
slicing, oiling, and grilling.

Hate to contradict people, but they are straightneck squash, not crookneck,
says Farmer Dora. They're cooked the same way, though. You can grill,
sauté in butter, or even simmer gently in butter. Dill is a good addition,
too.

Quoted message said:

Then there's this terrifying spider that's in my bathroom. I don't mind
the light brown daddy long legs types with the 1.5" bent legs (never saw
them before moving here). But I'm scared of the ones that are fast, fast,
fast! This one is about a half inch long, and very black. I don't
routinely kill critters, but if the spider can harm us, I should probably
get rid of it. The picture isn't great, because I was too scared to get
any closer.

Ugh. I hate crawlies. The vacuum idea sounds good, though - I usually
chase them down and bash them with a sledgehammer. We have a variety of
cricket that gives me the creeps. They *stare* at me (literally) and can
jump a mile high. I've found the only way to kill those suckers is to drop
a book on them from above (they can't look up, apparently).

Quoted message said:

I'd appreciate any help with either of these. Click on the yellow squash:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/head_trollop/my_photos

Carol

limey said:

Quoted message said:

Hate to contradict people, but they are straightneck squash, not crookneck,
says Farmer Dora. They're cooked the same way, though.

You are correct.

Crookneck:
http://www.burpee.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=1426&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=crookneck+squash

http://tinyurl.com/anjth

Sheldon

I was bitten by a recluse about 7 yrs ago. Nasty horrible.... ugh. Was
very lucky I didn't lose my foot because of it. Ended up with just some
tissue damage, still have some scarring.

jmcquown said:

Julia Altshuler said:

Since this is almost certain to come up in this thread eventually,
I'll beat you to the punch with this:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/brownrecluse.asp

Spider bites can hurt, but they're generally not too serious.

--Lia

LOL! I've already explained to her this spider isn't a brown recluse. They
are... reclusive (and brown! with a "fiddle"As for not serious, I don't care
what snopes has to say, I saw a guy in the doctor's office who had a HUGE
abcess on his leg from being bitten by one. It was gross. Not deadly, but
gross.

And those *are* crookneck squash, particularly nice done on the grill,
brushed with a little oil. Also just fine cut into coins and steamed.
Slightly sweet in taste. I use them in my squash casserole. A very nice
squash they are 🙂

Jill

Sheldon said:

Crookneck:
http://www.burpee.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=1426&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=crookneck+squash

http://tinyurl.com/anjth

Thanks for looking that up! I had only seen the straightneck yellow summer
squash up until now.

And Burpee has the spearmint seeds we've been looking for all spring and
summer in local stores. You can buy peppermint, and you can buy mint, but
nothing designated as spearmint. We're going to plant it along the north
side of the house. We're planting the mint along our foundation, and when
it spreads, all we have to do is mow right over it, and the whole
neighborhood will smell minty fresh. 🙂

Carol

Julia Altshuler <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Since this is almost certain to come up in this thread eventually, I'll
beat you to the punch with this:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/brownrecluse.asp

Spider bites can hurt, but they're generally not too serious.

--Lia

Come live around Sydney for a while and you might change your mind <g>.

http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/funnelweb.htm
http://www.uq.edu.au/~xxrraven/funnelwb.html

http://www.amonline.net.au/spiders/dangerous/redback/

The happy news of course is that since the development of antivenoms, no
deaths have occurred <g>. Plenty of redbacks in my yard, but I've not
seen any funnelwebs - possibly gets a bit too dry where I am. Mind you, I
always check the toes of my boots before putting them on. I remember a
news story some years ago where a bloke (living somewhere in North
Sydney, I think, where there are plenty of funnelwebs) put his shoes on
and travelled all the way to work before being bitten by a funnelweb in
the toe of his shoe.

Of course, the majority of spiders are not lethal, but a couple of
species that will make you pretty sick, and could kill you, is enough for
me :-)

Rhonda Anderson
Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

Julia Altshuler said:

Since this is almost certain to come up in this thread eventually, I'll
beat you to the punch with this:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/brownrecluse.asp

Spider bites can hurt, but they're generally not too serious.

--Lia

One of my co-workers in OKC got bitten (in bed) on her thigh by a brown
recluse (she was able to catch it and put it in a jar to take to the
ER) - she permanently lost a sizable portion of skin/tissue from her
thigh because of the necrotizing action of the bite. Just FYI...spider
bites CAN be serious.

N.