Cypress trees reflected on the still waters of the lake.
“There is something more beautiful than a beautiful thing and that is a beautiful thing which has a beautiful reflection on the water.” ~ Mehmet Murat Ildan
Autumn Reflections
Reelfoot Lake State Park
Spiders and Their Webs
A spider lives inside my head
Who weaves a strange and wondrous web
Of silken threads and silver strings
To catch all sorts of flying things,
Like crumbs of thoughts and bits of smiles
And specks of dried-up tears,
And dust of dreams that catch and cling
For years and years and years …
~Shel Silverstein
Dragonflies
During these hot and humid days of summer, while other critters are hidden away in shady, cooler places, dragonflies seem to be out in good number, enjoying the sun.
“When the heat of the summer
Made drowsy the land,
A dragon-fly came
And sat on my hand.”
~Eleanor Farjeon
Snakes
We often see snakes tucked in amongst the vegetation while walking around the boardwalk at Reelfoot Lake. Occasionally, they will fall from trees or slither along the handrails. Many are water snakes which are nonvenomous, but there are also cottonmouths in the mix.
“The serpent subtlest beast of all the field.” ~John Milton
Lots of Turtles
“Do not let fear confine your life inside a shell of doubt; A turtle never moves until his head is sticking out.” ~ Charles Ghigna
Regal
Driving along the road, we spotted this elegant-looking eagle sitting serenely at the top of a cypress tree.
“There’s a nobility in his eye, a regal serenity about him. Does he not personify all that men try to be and never can be?” ~Michael Morpurgo
Frozen Methane Bubbles
Bacteria feeding on decaying vegetation at the bottom of the lake release methane bubbles. The bubbles rise to the surface and become trapped, one over the other, in the newly frozen ice.
“In the stillness of a frozen moment, we can find the magic that life has to offer.” – Unknown
Autumn Meets Winter
Some of the remnants of autumn staunchly stood their ground, while others lay intertwined just below the surface of the winter ice.
“Winter, come rest your soul on autumn’s weary head. Twirl, shimmer, soften before tucking fall to bed.” ~Angie Weiland-Crosby
Icy Feet and Frosty Knees
The trees and animals weren’t the only ones with icy feet, but we still enjoyed walking around and seeing the frozen lake and cypress trees during the latest arctic blast.
“January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow.” ~Sara Coleridge
A Tiny Kingdom
One of the types of spiders commonly seen around the lake are the funnel weavers. Their webs remind me of tiny kingdoms spread out among the vegetation. The spiders use silk to construct sheet-like webs in which to capture insects. The webs have a narrow funnel-shaped “retreat” where the spider hides out, sometimes camouflaged by leaves and other natural debris. They then rush out when an insect lands on the web, and use their venom to subdue the insect before dragging it back to their retreat.
Here are a few photos of funnel weavers and their webs.
Recently I spotted a funnel weaver, perhaps a male, climbing down a web. Male funnel weavers will cautiously approach a female so as not to become her next meal. A female, which had been sitting in the retreat, came out to check out the situation.
“A little kingdom I possess, where thoughts and feelings dwell; And very hard the task I find of governing it well.” ~Louisa May Alcott
walking on a country road 