This unusual beauty is a Spined Micrathena. She sits in her daily-spun web, right outside the window.
She is, of course, incredibly striking – but what really fascinates me is how quietly she sits in her web. Though winds may blow her to and fro, like a trapeze artist, she clings to the heart of her home with grace and aplomb, seemingly unbothered by the sometimes-violent swinging. Both her methodical web repair/rebuild and her pendulum-like swinging in the breeze are quite relaxing, even hypnotic, to watch.
Miss Micrathena is an inspiration: may we all be so unflappable. And may she continue to catch those pesky flies in her web! 👏