Hermit Kingdom

I have decided to call myself the Hermit Kingdom.  Ok the name has been used before and it does not conjure up good images, but the name seems appropriate.
The reason I am by myself is Merril went to visit her dad, and when he greeted her, she thought “he looks terrible.”  Turns out he had covid.  She stayed to attend to him.  He is better.  She got covid.  What was going to be a few days has turned out to be about a week where she will not be here.
So I am the Hermit Kingdom.  Merril suggested this morning I needed followers.  Not a problem.  I am following me.  That can be like a fulltime job.  I am so ready to do my own thing.  My watching me can be like herding cats.
The birds are my followers to.  After a fashion.  I sorta bribe them to come in the first place.  I leave food out for them.  I think they are fickle subjects though.  Rather than stay and swear allegiance to me, I think they fly off and look for food elsewhere to.
But I think the spiders in the yard are my subjects.  Even though the ones I saw yesterday did not seem very happy.  They probably had good reason.  I really do not think spiders are good at holding their breath.
I was cleaning out our worm farm.  The legs have a hollow area where they meet the first level.  Great place for a spider to live I reckon.  Turned out two rather large Huntsmen lived there.  I think they decided another place may be better to live when I turned the base upside down and filled the holes with water.  They went running for the garden bed and I do not think they were leaping about for joy.
I am pretty sure I have other subjects, but I get the feeling they just do not know it.  I was walking up the carport path and a butterfly fell into line in front of me.  I thought that is more like it.  But unless it thought I was going to climb over the fence and head up into trees then I do not know he really knew I was walking up the path to the front door.
As for the bees I really think they have no idea.  As far as they are concerned, I don’t exist.  They seem to go about their daily activity without giving me a second thought.  And I only ever see the worms in the garden when I dig the soil.
Still I am not bitter and twisted.  I do not take it personally.  My subjects seem to be happy (the spiders got over it).
I have told Merril I am looking forward to seeing her.  As long as her papers are in order, she is more than welcome.