Archive | August 2016

Anvil Cloud…No Rain, But Beautiful, Beautiful Clouds Anyway!

storm clouds 032 pink anvil photography (800x533)

This is an untouched photo. Isn’t it beautiful? The clouds were turning pink with the sunset. Then anvil clouds were white above, and the sky a pretty pastel blue. In the center of the cloud, lightning was flashing, but I didn’t catch it. 🙂

And I captured a picture of a green dragonfly! I couldn’t believe it. He was so far away and as I moved closer, he flew away, so I figured he was going to be just a blur. I was thrilled to see he wasn’t! 🙂

green dragonflyOkay, I was bad in that I didn’t get my word count yesterday. I was busy redoing some covers.  And sometimes I get stuck. Or I would have finished for certain!

Hope you all have a lovely day!!! It was 90 last night with a heat index of 106. That’s just not right! 🙂

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Nitpicky Little Things…

You know, life is full of them! Those nagging little things that need to be taken care of–the weeds pulled, and stuff readied for the mail, the garbage set out, the list made that I neglect to make, then run to the store and forget half of the things I really needed to get. Why is that? I know I  need to get them, and then…there’s all this other stuff I really want to have. Not NEED to have, but WANT to have.

So I was up at 4:45, got all the nitpicky little things out of the way, and now I have to write my blog and I’m tired. Maybe I should go back to sleep. 🙂

But, wait, I have more things to do. Lots of more things to do. Who could sleep at a time like that? Right?

Yesterday, I went out to refill a bird feeder, but the juvenile doves were sitting on it. I figured they’d leave when I got close. But they didn’t. So I returned to the house and took my camera and got really close to the birds and took photos. The one in the feeder was so tame, he just waited there the whole time.

The mockingbird landed near me too, and a house finch was on the fountain behind me, but he flew off when I turned around.

dove mother and two juveniles (800x533)Momma Mourning Dove with two juveniles.

juvenile doves close up 020 (800x625)The two juveniles came back on their own.

juvenile doves close up 006 (800x534) juvenile doves close up 050 (800x533) juvenile doves close up 013 (800x533)Okay, I’m off like a turtle. Yep. Three hours later and what have I accomplished? I could have written a book by now! lol

Have a great one!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

My First and ONLY Selfie!

I had never taken one before, and never planned to, but everyone was doing it, and so, hey, it’s like jumping off a bridge, right? Well, yeah, unless you look great in a shot where your nose is about touching the camera! I have short arms.

The location was ideal though, so why not? And I took a photo of the two friends I was with, and then look what happened!

Off in the far distance, you can see the viaduct where the Harry Potter train travels. But where my friends stood, the Highlander of my dreams–or pirate, or something–made them leave so he could get into the picture. Would you call it a photobomb or a Kodak moment? Only a true hot guy could stand in that chilly rain and bare his chest.

So there you have it! We braved the rain, the fog, the cold, and all to take a selfie with the hero of my dreams. Really.

Pirate and me2  foggy (640x480)really close up of Harry Potter train over viaduct in rain misty (640x427)And this was really why we had waited forever in the weather. By the time the train came, it was raining hard.

And that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Make up your own story day! 🙂 And have fun! 🙂

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

The Behinder I Am….

You know how that goes, right? The behinder you are, the more behind you’re bound to get?

But something happened. I think I went through that magical fairy door and suddenly, I’m two days ahead. Yes! Truly! No magical tale. And I’m still trying to figure out how that happened. But not too hard.

really up close blue and whtie flowers1 (640x427) fall colors bridge (2) toffee colors sunlight underneath bridge (640x427) bridge and purple flowers 600x400So yes, I’m 4,000 ahead, but all I do is adjust my word count, so now I’m right where I’m supposed to be! And I’m no longer behind. Until the next time. Top flowers are definitely some fairy flowers at one of the castle gardens. And then the mystical ancient stone bridge that totally looks like a fairy doorway, doesn’t it? And the last is another beautiful, ancient bridge in Scotland. Which is beautiful in its own right, but add the heather and other flowers and it truly is magical!

Wishing you a magical day too!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Cairns: Man-Made Stacks of Stones

cairns darkened (640x427)Cairns is Scottish Gaelic in origin. It’s interesting that everywhere I go now, I see stacks of stones like this. These were actually in the Highlands of Scotland.

cairns, bridge brightened vignette buttermilk(640x427)Bridge of stones.

cairn figure sunlight (640x427)A Highlander of stones.

purple flowers ane cairns (800x533)Heather in bloom amidst the stones.

cairns, mist and the loch vignette (800x533)cairns yellow flowers purple heather (800x533)Colorful flowers, cairns, loch, mountains and mist. Scotland the Beautiful. Cairns have actually been around since ancient times.

cairns purple heather (800x533)Okay, I goofed off soooo much yesterday, I didn’t get word count. ugh. So today, I’ve got to make up for it.

Have a wonderful day, and if you have a few rocks lying around your yard, get creative! 🙂

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

The Blurry Hummingbird

hummingbird vibrant (800x502) hummingbird on esperanza and recovering firecracker darker 003hummingbird on esperanza and recovering firecracker great 010 (800x614) hummingbird on recovering firecracker 011hummingbird in tree 001 (583x800)hummingbird in tree 002 (797x800)hummingbird on pentas 007 sharpened (617x800) hummingbird by firecracker 001 (800x732)It’s not easy capturing a shot of the hummingbird. As you can see from the picture in San Diego, these were hummingbirds in captivity and they rested, had plenty of food, and were safe. The hummingbird(s) in my yard are constantly on the move, but I managed to catch one sitting for a moment on a tree in my neighbor’s yard. I don’t know if there’s more than one, but he was flying under my patio cover, chasing away birds at the feeder yesterday like Mighty Mouse on speed.

The blurrier pictures were taken last night, so low light didn’t help, but also, I was moving the camera, trying to capture him as he was not holding still. The one by the fountain, he was doing a good job, but the chair was in the way, yet it sort of framed him too. And the one above the penta flowers, shows the white band around his neck well. It appears the last two photos are of the same hummingbird. The others could be too. He appears to be green with a white band around his throat, and a bit of ruby red at his throat seen in the blurrier picture where he’s facing us. So maybe a ruby-throated hummingbird.

You can think of the blurry ones as watercolors. I planned it that way. 🙂

hummingbird on esperanza  (541x800)Unfortunately, this really was watercolorish, but you can see the darker blur of him against the vegetation, and here he was actually sipping from the esperanza flowers. They’re tubular, but I wasn’t sure he was sipping from them because they’re yellow. He seems to like the penta flowers, red, and the firecracker flowers, orange. The blurry ones last night are from him drinking from the rescued firecracker from Ace Hardware before it died. It doesn’t have very many flowers, but he was attracted to it anyway. I went back to get another that was left there, but it appeared they’d thrown the rest of the plants out. 🙁

Okay, so far, so good. Went to a chapter meeting, my first, for the area. Really nice group of romance writers. Couple of great speakers. And then was supposed to get together with a friend, but it didn’t work out, so I critiqued chapters for another author, then wrote my word count. So right on track! Today will be busy though. Having the missed date with the friend. We’re supposed to have breakfast now in a couple of hours. Have to figure  out how to get there. And then it’s lunch with my daughter and SIL and Star Trek. Then hopefully I’ll be able to get word count after that. 🙂

So, a wild day ahead. No hummingbird pictures today! 🙂 Have a super wonderful day!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Making Progress on White Wolf Christmas!

baby house finch being fed 036 gentle color (800x670)

 

First time I’ve seen a house finch feeding its baby! female cardinal1 020 (800x713)A female cardinal getting a snack. This has been emptying out really fast, and I wondered why. I caught a squirrel trying to get at it yesterday morning. But otherwise, house finches and cardinals were enjoying it.

So I’ve been working on White Wolf Christmas and actually reached 4600 words yesterday! 75400 to go! Yes, lots, but this is a really good start for a day.

I’ll be attending my first RWA chapter meeting this morning, and hope I find my way okay. Then it’s hamburgers and a movie with friends! So not sure how much I’m going to get written.

Sometimes it’s time to take a break and just have other kinds of fun!

Having pizza and seeing Star Trek with my daughter and SIL on Sunday. So more fun too!

Have a super great day!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Alaska the Beautiful

Alaska snowy mountains (800x450)My son is in the AF over there right now so he sent me a couple of pictures. He said they have to wear bear spray because there are so many black and brown bears. No polar bears though. He said the moose were all over and they were even more dangerous though. And tons of wolves, and they’re not protected.

Alaska clouds 1 (800x450)

I told him I want him to take some pictures!

Anyway, I’m off to write. Wrote the prologue on White Wolf Christmas, so need to keep going. 🙂

I will have to look at these pictures to cool down so I can write about snow and Christmas! It’s 97 degrees here!

Have a super wonderful day! 🙂

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Eilean Donan, Scotland, the Castle of Dreams

clouds Eilean Donan 600x400Before and after.

clouds Eilean Donan darkening, lightening 600x400

Eileen Donan is one of the most picturesque castles there are to shoot. This one there wasn’t any change.

dusk Eilean Donan (800x533)This was from up on the hilltop where we perched and took tons of pictures of the castle as the sun set.

Before and after. 🙂

Scotland 2015 September 3631 (800x533)

Eileen Donan at sunset from up on the hilltop with light 600x400Bird’s eye view from the hilltop as the sun set. 🙂

Okay, the good news is!!! Between a Rock and a Hard Place was accepted!!!

Other good news is!!! Finished Vexing the Highlander and working on White Wolf Christmas, but first I must get groceries. 🙂

Have a super wonderful day!!! It’s time for dark chocolate for me!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com

Is My Computer Trying to Tell Me Something?

Like: Enough, already!!!

Okay, I admit, I have a million things going on at one time–photoshop, FB, my email, a workshop, and research pages, and the story I’m working on, and pictures and….and…and…

So it was mad at me this morning. So was the Internet. It refused, REFUSED, to allow me to get on. Ha! Showed me! Well, I showed it, and kept at it until I had it! Ha-ha! And then….

The computer froze on me. It showed me! Yep. So I showed it!

You see, in anything you do, there can be highs and lows and I was determined to get my high–writing, blogging, playing around with photos, and determination wins.

Terry Spear Banner 1 copy (400x640)And the guy gets the girl in the end too, and the girl gets the guy. So there. Computer. Ha!

Now, I had a beautiful photo I was reworking to share with you this morning, BUT when photoshop, along with everything else, froze, I lost it and will have to start working on it all over again. 🙁

And since I’m supposed to be writing that story about Vexing the Highlander and….so forth, I thought I’d just share a different couple of photos instead. 🙂

Dunvegan Castle gardens. (640x427)From Dunvegan Castle gardens. 🙂

macro shot of pale purple flower (640x427)It was rainy and dreary when we took these pictures, and you can see on the pink flowers, they were covered with raindrops, that were falling on us! I had to cover my camera to take pictures.

macro shot yellow flower photoshop(640x427)

Okay, off to write!! Have a super, great determined day!!!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”

Connect with Terry Spear:

Website: http://www.terryspear.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Wilde & Woolly Bears http://www.celticbears.com