An Enmeshed Tale - Deep in the Heart of Texas

A treat from our popular guest blogger Mai-Liis Peacock

How can scorpions and mixed media art possibly relate? 
This is an easy question for any mixed media artist, but not so for anyone else.

As a California transplant recently moved to the Austin, TX area I was warned about "bugs"...and, indeed, I discovered that all of my neighbors are visited by a variety of exterminating companies on a rather regular basis.  I decided that I would do no such thing!  I'll take bugs over poisons any day, thank you very much.

All went well for eight months.  I had ignored the time that someone else found five scorpions in my garage.

I think I had said something like "I never have my glasses on when I'm in the garage, so I have never seen any" based on the out of sight, out of mind theory.

Everything changed last week.  I found a large scorpion in my livingroom!  Before I could swat him with a magazine, he had disappeared under the couch.   

Two days later, when I sucked him up in my vacuum cleaner, which upset me more than having him in my livingroom, I called an exterminating company which promised success by only treating the exterior perimeter and crawl spaces.

The large, good-natured Texan killer tried to make me feel better about killing future scorpions by telling me how the female scorpions carried their babies on their backs and ate them....one at a time... when she got hungry.  I only mention this to let you know that this was definitely a bad day for me.

A little later, I glanced out the window and saw the scorpion killer with a beautiful golden, coppery ball of mesh glistening in the sun. He was using it to stuff the weep holes. 

Just a little sheepishly I asked him whether I might have a small piece and did he know where I could buy more.  He handed me the entire roll.  I could have kissed him!  I was so thrilled that I couldn't wait to tell everyone!

Dancing around with my major score, I soon discovered that no one understands the incredible joy of such a find except another mixed media artist.

Susan Reynolds understood.  She made me laugh in delight when she asked whether we could alter scorpions for fun and profit....or just for fun. 

While searching for a picture of a Texas scorpion that I could send her, I discovered that they already have been altered....encased in clear plastic resin used as paperweights. 

Personally, I agree with the Hawaians who believe that killing a scorpion is bad Karma.  What began as a mere scorpion in the livingroom has turned into a week from hell for me.

Now, to bring myself to actually use my precious copper mesh!
   

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Comments

[Cecilia]

Mai Liis, so fun to run into you here, through this fun tale! My first Texas tale turned out to be full of armadillos.

But scorpions....ugh...No wonder they looked at me oddly when I wanted to go skinny dipping in Magnolia!

I'm going to mention this story in my journal!
Cecilia

:)

[KAthy LaRocco]

Ha! Loved your tale! I think we can totally relate! I will be walking the dog, watching the ground as I walk, and then voila, a perfect find for a current work appears. It could be anything from a unique beer bottle closure to a scrap of burlap. I think sometimes I am a bit touched in the head!

k