Two animals that live with me

I spent yesterday afternoon reading and relaxing with Cassie. As we had near-record warmth (31°C at O'Hare, 28°C at Inner Drive Technology WHQ), we spent the day mostly outside. The highlight for Cassie may have been the woman who gave her a couple of fries before her partner and toddler arrived. Cassie's lowlight might have been unsuccessfully trying to psychically will the toddler to toss a couple of fries in her direction:

Back home, I've inadvertently taken in a boarder. This orb weaver has been hanging outside my kitchen window for the past week or so:

For scale, she's about 12-13 mm (½ in) fangs to spinner, and about 25 mm (1 in) all spread out as above. She looks like a neoscona crucifera, which is very common in the area. I hope she's getting all the food she needs. I'll let you know when her eggs hatch, though I haven't yet located her egg sac.