Child #3 (age 10) was getting ready for church recently and I heard him make an alarming noise. Not quite a scream. Not a yell. Obviously somewhat distressed.
Something bit his foot when he put his shoe on. Something the size of the baseball.
I should clarify, it didn’t bite him. He felt a pinching sensation on his toe through his sock but there were no puncture wounds.
This is a big but fairly harmless and secretive grass spider. It builds a funnel trap. Guess the shoe was a natural funnel. Dunno. But it was good times for a few minutes there.
Try not to think about this as you put your shoes on tomorrow. lol
Chism Heritage Farm 
Gee….thanks. I already have a hard enough time sticking my feet in my big black boots! This might call for hosing them out every time before wearing them. 😉 I’m glad your kiddo was okay!!!
The size of a baseball? That is a BIG spider. I would have done more than make a distressed sound. Glad it was “relatively” harmless. I once stuck my foot in my boot (on the porch) and a mouse jumped out – probably got there when the cat brought it home during the night – but I definitely uttered a somewhat distressed sound that morning.
Years ago, when I was younger we brooded our turkey poults in the back room in a 100 gallon tank. Found one stuck in a rubber boot. No idea how it got out of the tank let alone how it managed a hole in one.
Turns out it’s not what I thought it was. It doesn’t appear to make a web. It generally waits in a quiet place to pounce on unsuspecting prey. Often in unusual places. Cracks in the ground, inside of shoes or under the toilet seat.
We primarily use a sawdust potty. I was washing dishes the other day and said, “Julie, did you notice the fuzzy black spider on the sawdust? Look out. It might be a jumper.”
I guess she thought I was kidding. Hilarity ensued.
Hilarity for whom?