Monday, August 24, 2009

The Melon has landed


Our first Persian melon came off the vine this weekend…though not intentionally.


You see, I went out the other morning to test if it was ready~ it should come unfastened from the stem when it is properly ripe, so I put on my green gauntlets (remember the rabbit protectors?), reached down gingerly through the scratchy vines, & heaved it up (it’s the size of a basketball & at least 15 pounds) to see if it would come loose. I was bent over, the melon about 18 inches from my chest, when a half-dollar sized black widow jumped out from the underside straight for my face! I yelped, reared back, & simultaneously dropped the melon over the side of the raised planter, snapping the stem & barely missing Dahlia who had come to “help”, and bolted for the house screaming “RAAAAID!!!”


Sam came running to the rescue clad only in boxer shorts, armed with a pellet gun & a spray can of bug killer (don’t ask me~ it must be a guy thing); unfortunately for him, the falling melon did the job before he could, but he was kind enough to extricate the cat from under the potting table & clean off any “residue” from the fruit before bringing it inside the house.


I sliced & served half of the melon with breakfast, but not before Chris christened it:


 

13 comments:

Dory said...

LOL !!

It's a beaut Meg! :o) Shame on that ole stinky spider though...scaring you like that was most uncalled for!

Junie Moon said...

I'm glad you didn't get bit, but I must say I'm having a bit of a laugh over your melon bomb. Your cantaloupe looks gorgeous and who knew melons could serve as weapons? Brilliant!

Tulabell said...

Oh how scarry! I a glad she didn't bite you!

mumof3boyz said...

Another reason not to garden - SPIDERS! I hate them.

Andrea said...

I don't believe I've ever told anyone that I liked their melons but for you I will. lol

Becca said...

I hate spiders and we sure do get them big here on the west coast! But the melon looks very good!

Debbie said...

That is a gorgeous melon. Was it as good as it looks?

Katidids said...

Looks so good! We had a few. Now the deer are getting them! Can I borrow the pellet gun?...not joking

Cathy ~ Tadpoles and Teacups said...

Spiders. . . my worst nightmare!!!

Jen said...

Yikes. I would have freaked out too!
Beautiful melon ~ glad you were able to salvage some of it!

BEK said...

It looks so juicy- I am sure it tasted fantastic! Yikes about the spider!!!

Lisa said...

Mmmm ... a black widow spider? Good for you for using that defensive weapon of a melon!

Ann said...

Uhg, I hate black widows! Some spiders don't bother me, but those creep me out. I loved the pellet gun! Yeah, it's a guy thing.

Good luck in your house hunting. At this time in the economy, I sure wish I was buying instead of trying to sell... it's so not good.