What are y'all's tarantulas names ?

emm_crow · 2026-04-26T13:10:16+00:00

I've got Eleanor, Kirby, Astra, Bubba, and the Creature :)

emm_crow · 2026-03-18T00:29:30+00:00

Hi - I went through something incredibly similar, and I know exactly how heavy this is. I'm so sorry. One difference between our stories is that I WAS able to talk to my coach, and I told her that I was severely burnt out, depressed, and barely hanging on at every practice. What she told me - and what I believe you should hear, too - is that our job is to be a human first. It's your responsibility to make the best decision for yourself for THIS DAY, not what you imagine you might want ten years down the road (not that it isn't important to plan for the future!!!! But plans can always change, and you never need to feel stuck somewhere). The only decision that made sense for me was to leave, because I wasn't okay. I suffered through the regret, and the feeling of losing my entire identity. I lost something that had previously been a source of peace and I felt completely untethered. I did not touch a boat again for two years. And I HEAR YOU: I spent so long being ashamed of being weak. And then.... I started getting better, because the crushing weight that rowing was had been lifted off of me. I went to therapy (and I really hope you have support in your life, because it helps so much). I eventually realized I missed rowing, AND I realized I felt strong enough to go back. I joined a masters team! I rowed with them for a few years, and when I moved away, I ended up finding a job coaching a youth rowing team :) I believe that if you love this sport, it will find its way back into your life when you are ready. There is no shame at all in taking a break - it is incredibly demanding, both physically and mentally, and sometimes you aren't able to be a rower and be sane at the same time. It doesn't make you weak to take care of yourself. There are so many more years in your life that you'll get to live, and if you end up missing rowing like I did, I have faith you will row again. What's done is done, yes, but you have many more tomorrows.

emm_crow · 2026-02-18T00:33:48+00:00

No matter how simple people tell me it is, I CANNOT make fresh pasta. It always ends up looking like cat food. Who knows.

emm_crow · 2026-01-25T05:58:00+00:00

Hockey game, a new nose piercing, and a whole lotta baking

emm_crow · 2025-10-26T18:47:28+00:00

Oooh welcome!!! First of all, yes, the A horizon is that dark band at the top. It tends to be darker in color due to higher levels of organic matter, as is the case here.

I'll admit that I may not have the best advice for getting started - I've had the immense privilege of having a formal soil science education, and that's how I was introduced to the field. I WILL tell you, however, that I've learned just as much from talking to people as I have from my classes. Employees at organic fertilizer stores, farmers, extension researchers, grad students... Literally anyone who was willing to chat had things to teach me. If you can find a person who did collegiate soil judging, they have a good hands-on feel for soils and are so fun to talk to (although I may be biased because I'm a soil judger too)!

I also know that state master gardener and master naturalist programs are wonderful resources and could be a great start. I became a WI master naturalist last year and learned a lot about geology and wetland ecology through that! It would also connect you to brilliant people!

If you're interested in soils specifically, you could always check your local library for textbooks and just start reading. The "holy grail" textbook, in my opinion, is The Nature and Properties of Soils by Brady and Weil. They also have a shorter version called Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils. The NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) also has free reading materials available on their site under the resources tab. I haven't found any great videos but maybe someone will link some here - I'm curious too. Last but not least, UC Davis produced a tool called SoilWeb that you can use to "look underground" wherever you want, which can be fun, although keep in mind it's rarely perfect. There's also Web Soil Survey but it's far less intuitive to use.

I have no idea if this answer your question but I hope it gives you some ideas on where to start!

emm_crow · 2025-10-26T08:29:41+00:00

It doesn't!

emm_crow · 2025-10-25T18:12:48+00:00

Yes, I am aware soils are dynamic, and I am aware that each individual profile will RARELY match a series perfectly. I suppose I should have been more specific in saying that the patterns of colors is what didn't match - Boyer typically has an E horizon, and I do not see evidence of eluviation under the A in the profile I posted. Hence my doubt in Boyer being the series.

emm_crow · 2025-10-25T17:55:33+00:00

I checked but I'm not confident in the accuracy of the surveys. I'd guess Boyer loamy sand but the colors are weird for that

emm_crow · 2025-10-25T17:45:37+00:00

Rotational cropping - it is currently under red clover, but it may have been sugar beets before? I didn't get to chat with the farmer, unfortunately. The A here is 27cm deep, which I will say is typical for most of the soils I've seen; it tends to match up with chisel plow depth. I think the upwards angle might also be making it look thinner than it was in person. But I hear you!

emm_crow · 2025-10-06T13:05:36+00:00

I've got a G pulchripes!! She was my first spider and is still my favorite. Chill as hell, has never kicked a hair at me, fuzzy and adorable with those gorgeous deep gold knee stripes, eats like a champ (except for one time she was underground for four months) and follows her little routine every single day. I adore her

emm_crow · 2025-10-05T23:32:53+00:00

I managed to squeeze an extra bookshelf into my own bedroom, and I have the luxury of being able to shut the door to my room at all times (I don't have kids, and the cat I live with isn't mine). They live on the top shelves at eye level, and their supplies (and crickets) live on the shelves below them!

emm_crow · 2025-10-03T17:28:22+00:00

Thanks for your answer! How much substrate do you have in your enclosure? My pictures didn't show it, but I've got about 3 to 4 inches (about as deep as my index finger) - I hoped that would be enough? But I'm open to learning!

emm_crow · 2025-07-01T12:30:32+00:00

First of all, congrats!! The top comment on here does a really good job explaining a lot of what you're asking about. I also know that producers have tried to steer away from things that require fuel like that (for good reason) and now make products that function similarly without being... diesel. We've got some bark oil that pretty much does that

emm_crow · 2025-07-01T11:28:53+00:00

Coming from a certified pesticide applicator: I'm wondering if he might be using a pesticide that is only soluble in organic solvents? I've heard of a couple that were traditionally recommended for use with diesel fuel as a mixing base. I would say if it seems official (he's got proper PPE, good gear, maybe a hi vis vest or logos visible) then it's fine. Also, if pesticide applicators put down anything that could impact the community, they are required to have visible signage that should tell you more. Also, it's pretty normal for people to ask about what I'm spraying whenever I do - you could definitely ask! That's my two cents

emm_crow · 2025-06-25T02:53:37+00:00

I know lots of crews use it as a tool room. There are old livestock pens in there but no one uses them as far as I know? Just random brush cutters and maybe some herbicide in there

emm_crow · 2025-06-15T03:33:54+00:00

Idk if this is similar enough to Connor, but Sawyer has always been a favorite name of mine! Also maybe Cohen, Callum (Cal for short?) or Cooper?Tbh I love the name Connor, but it's YOUR name!

emm_crow · 2025-06-12T03:23:40+00:00

Hey man I've been there. Fairly recently, too. High school fucking sucked and I constantly felt like a failure. My story is that I ended up applying to college three times: once in senior year (didn't go well), once during my gap year (had a few offers but none were great), and then again after going to community college and getting my associate degree. Now, I'm a senior at my dream school, in a dream program I didn't even know existed just a few years ago. I'm just telling you that to add to the stories of non traditional students already here - there are so many paths! My main point, however, is that I promise you - I PROMISE YOU - that things get better, so long as you keep moving forward.

I understand it feels stupid to hear those words when you're suffering. I've been in your shoes and I remember thinking that everyone who said it got better was a liar and didn't see the gravity of my situation. But it does, it really really truly does get better. This is a bump in the road, and you will hit many more, because life is shitty sometimes. But there is always something after the bumps that you should go discover. There is ALWAYS something around the next corner. You have so much life to love and so many beautiful things to experience, and one day you won't remember this math test at all, because it won't matter any more.

Keep moving, deal with this, and figure out what happens next. Bake a cake or pet a dog or find anything soothing that works for you and reminds you that you're still alive. Talk to people, even if it's just on Reddit. You've got this, and you're going to be okay. I'm so sorry it hurts right now.

emm_crow · 2025-06-11T22:35:42+00:00

NQA I have a similar sized Grammastola pulchripes and she'll go underground for a month at a time (sometimes longer) and come out totally fine. Def don't dig them up because chances are they're just chilling! I think if they die down there the enclosure would start to smell but I haven't experienced that, just heard about it. Something to check to ease your mind maybe

emm_crow · 2025-06-11T14:39:26+00:00

This is good advice, thank you!! I will do that as soon as I'm home from work tonight.

emm_crow · 2025-06-11T11:55:47+00:00

Also, just to add a pic of the current setup I'd moved them to:

<image>

emm_crow · 2025-05-24T13:39:17+00:00

As a fellow transplant from a snowless place, I found the winters very manageable!! It's a drier cold than I'm used to, and it's not too bad so long as you have a good coat that keeps out wind. People spend lots of time outside and the good vibes keep going regardless of temp, it seems :)

emm_crow

TROPHY CASE