Tag Archive | bird

Puffin and Friend Photo Art

Jun8

This is the puffin I’ve been working on, on and off for a few days. I used Photoshop mixture brushes to digitally paint him and added a texture background.

In the meantime, I have 9 more chapters to read on Best of Both Wolves. Yay! And I couldn’t sleep, thinking of how I want to get back to You Had Me at Cougar and work on the elusive Christmas novella also.

I’m excited about that! I really enjoyed both the books I was proofing/editing. I love it when they’re nearly done and ready to be released and it gives me one or two (in the case of Best of Both Wolves when it comes back for final proofing) last time to enjoy them, not in a way that I’m trying to figure out a beginning, middle and end, how to pump up conflict, or make them more romantic, or more wolfish, but that the little mistakes are being fixed and for the most part, I can read them for enjoyment.

I’ve got to run errands this morning, but hoping I can get some of the chapters read early and then when I get home, finish them up. My granddaughter and I played in the water for an hour and a half yesterday and she actually wanted to stay longer, but it was getting too crowded, so when the lifeguard blew the whistle, we went home and ate and then took a walk later. We had a 96 degree heat index, just so hot, though the water was cold still! But it was hot enough to make it enjoyable.

We were supposed to have storms last night, but if so, I didn’t hear them. It’s supposed to just be hot today and all week long. Okay, I’m off to edit some more before I have to run. Have a wonderful day!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
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Using Watercolor Brushes to Create Watercolor Photography

May14

I used Mindy’s watercolor brushes and course from Magnolia Textures to create these. They were fun and easy and just something new to do with Photoshop! I am still experimenting, so having fun with it when I have time. Since I couldn’t think last night about Billionaire, I worked on these pictures instead.

I took the picture of the great white heron on the walk with little one. Thankfully, she’s been very good about not scaring away the birds I’m trying to photograph. When I used to take the dogs for a walk, they would lie down while I took pictures of things. I quit taking them because they were such a nuisance with other dogs. They love little dogs and would bark to greet them. They bark at big dogs too. I would like to take them to the dog park again. Now that I’m vaccinated, I hadn’t thought of it, I can do that again!

The other picture is of an alpha male wolf at the Wildlife Center in Omaha. The one is with the original background, and the other is after I had already changed the background using a texture.  I so want to go to the reserve again! The last few years I’ve gone, it has been closed due to first snowfall, even in October.

Anyway, I’m going to try and get something done this morning on Billionaire before I have to go with my daughter to the pediatrician. I just still need to figure out how to end the story!

Sometimes it’s really clear to me by the end. This time, it isn’t. I’m sure that has something to do with having so many distractions in my life right now!

It’s so nice out this morning, but the temperature’s going to heat up again!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website: http://www.terryspear.com
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Baby Cardinal on Feeder–Photo Art

May13

This is a baby cardinal, added an overlay and new background to create the photo art.


It was chilly all day which made for the perfect time to plant flowers. We picked up a bunch. Note to self, don’t take 4 year old to pick out flowers. She was grabbing all the colors she wanted–pink for her, purple for me. I put one back, she put it back on the cart. Okay, so I have to admit it’s one of the ones I love best! But I was trying to get a drift of colors in the same shade rather than an individual that just stuck out. It was the only one like it.

May be an image of flower and outdoors

But we had a ball and after she got tired of helping me plant and weed, she unwound my hose to water things, which were already wet, so I had to show her how to wind it back up. We also went for our walk to feed the turtles. She has to sit on my lap so she doesn’t have to worry about the fire ants. What about Grandma?  lol

Then we headed home and she was ready. We did work books on writing her letters. I really need to work on those with her each day she’s here.

Otherwise, we had a lovely time. We might repeat more of that today. I had bought some more rocks and a couple of more pavers that I need to put out.

We got my TV up on the wall last night too. Yeah! I was afraid with little one, she’d pull on one of the stand legs and there would go my TV. I need to figure out a way to hide the cords.

I thought of a piece of furniture on top of the furniture, something that would fit there. I’ll have to see what I can find. Maybe a bookshelf kind of think to go under the TV and then I can fill it with more books. That’s always a good thing.

Well, I did a little more editing, but I really just need to write 2 more scenes. My granddaughter wore me out yesterday, so when she went home at 6, I just watched a couple of programs. I just couldn’t think.

Maybe I can get more done tonight. No nap for little one yesterday, sigh. Maybe I can get her down for a nap today.

Have a super day!!! Ours is going to be fun filled!

Terry

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy is reality.”
Connect with Terry Spear:
Website: http://www.terryspear.com
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Roseate Spoonbill Wading–Photo Art

Apr14

Roseate Spoonbill wading in the water. I did a Topaz Labs oil on top of it, and added fish to the water. This one was at the Houston Zoo, but we saw one flying overhead here too.


I’m on chapter 9 of edits on The Best of Both Wolves and enjoying the re-read. I wrote it last year, so I forgot all that I had written. On the story, the editor asks, “Are there tornadoes in Portland, Oregon?”

Not while I lived there, but we are now into Weirder Weather time. And so in 2019 they had a tornado and in 2020 they had three. So yes, they’ve have tornadoes in Portland, Oregon. I do research. Really, I do.

Does Houston get category 5 hurricanes? Not usually. Do we get 9 degree weather for a whole week? Not usually. And snow? And ice? Not usually. Though we’ve had snow twice before during a winter season over a period of 2 years since I’ve lived here in 6 years, before the latest snow. See? Weirder Weather.

I had where the rain was coming down hard, then dropped to a light shower and the editor asked, “Can it do that so quickly?” Uhm, yes. It can pour violently, stop, shower, shower, pour violently, be like a heavy fog, go to big water droplets, but not really a heavy downpour, then go to a heavy downpour or stop, or….. Really? Of course. Rain can do all kinds of things, in all kinds of order. It can fall in one spot and not another, or lightly in one spot and heavy in another at the same time. Heck, I’ve had rain in the backyard–pouring down cats and dogs rain and then out front? Nothing! Or half a mile away at my daughter’s house, it can be pouring and I don’t have a drop of rain. The same when I lived a half mile from my mom. One of us would have a downpour and the other wouldn’t, when we both wanted it!

The baby hasn’t come yet. Every time I go out to weed or replant or plant, I forget my phone and then have to check it to see if my son-in-law has called to say I have to drive him to my daughter’s workplace so he can take her in her car to deliver the baby. Or when I’ve gone to bed, worrying that they’ll drop off little one in the middle of the night and I’ll have to get her settled somewhere. Any minute now, the baby could come.

So today I had planned on all kinds of outdoor activities with little one. A walk to a pond to take pictures by a bank of yellow irises, planting more flower seeds (yesterday, she was looking for the ones we planted two days ago, asking where the flowers were, lol), and playing in the sprinkler. But we’re supposed to get storms all morning through tomorrow. Hmm, the baby will come then. At least that’s what some sources say. Storms=more deliveries.

The baby is due tomorrow, so maybe. Though it was full term a couple of weeks ago.

So, little one and I will probably be doing lots of indoor activities instead of outdoor activities today and tomorrow.

Hope you all have a beautiful day. We are supposed to have thunderstorms, not just rain. But I can always use the rain. I’m hoping to get a couple of more chapters edited before little one gets here. I have 20 to go! Just finished edits on You Had Me at Cougar. 300 more words and I’ll have a 1,000. 🙂

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
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Yellow Bird Photo Art

Mar26

This was a photo I took of a bird at the Houston Zoo. Not sure what it was. But I thought it was pretty. Then added some textures and splatter to finish the picture.

I had to also paint over the bill because of the straw the bird was gathering to build a nest, and I painted over the arm to remove the silver arm band. I quit the painting course because my writing has had to take priority and it was just taking too long to do the paintings in full. Plus, she set everyone way back on lessons, then required a month to pass before new lessons. And it’s subscription. So if I couldn’t complete them in a year, no sense in paying for an expensive yearly subscription. Maybe if I ever retire I could. But I love writing and I need the income, so the course wasn’t doable.

It has helped me in learning to paint missing parts though on a photo where something is in the way of the subject when I can’t clone it out in Photoshop. So I did learn something! And when I did one of my covers, I painted the pocket flaps of the guys’ pants that should have been ironed down, but they were twisted and that’s all the eye could see. That was fun. Plus his arms had so many muscles, so many veins highlighted, that really stuck out, so painting them helped to focus on the beauty of the body. I also painted the cougar on that cover and that turned out really well. I would still like to learn how to paint sweeping strands of hair, or extend hair on animals that get muddled when adding background textures. But that I can do on my own by watching free Youtube videos, no time limit, no month waiting, and I can watch them as many times as I want. I also learned more on how to copy a section of one side of a subject to add to the other side when something is missing.

So it’s all good. I quit the premium selection of DAZ3D also, because that takes a time to create and render objects and like with the painting class, I wasn’t taking the time to do them. I’ve been concentrating on playing the game with 4thewords and getting more writing done. If my renders looked more realistic, maybe I would be more apt to do them. I know some use the dressed bodies and then add their own people faces. I’d like to do that too. But again, it takes time, and often my renders have so much grain, they’re not quality enough for book covers. Still, it’s something I want to explore more of.

In the meantime though, I need to keep my focus on books!!! And photography, and creating simple photo art. It keeps me happy. And I’ll learn how to do the other stuff eventually.

I don’t know how I managed to do it, but I wrote 3,000 word on Billionaire, so that made up for the two days before. Not for yesterday though. But then they want the synopsis for White Wolf to the Rescue, so I need to read the novella again. I wrote it several stories ago. I guess I’m going to have to start writing the synopsis for these after I write them. It’s easier than trying to remember them again much later! They’re going into the 10th Anniversary releases, this one in Legend of the White Wolf, but also coming out in individual novellas now.

We did yard work yesterday, little one and I. Well, I did. She had to put on her garden gloves too, but then after pulling a little bit of weeds, she was done and dancing around the yard and having fun. It was a great day! Nice and warm and sunny.

We practiced her typing her letters on the computer and her numbers. Of course the letters look a little different from how she’s supposed to write them, so it’s a little confusing–like the J on the keyboard doesn’t have the top cap, and the capital I doesn’t have the top and bottom cap. And some of my letters are worn off too. But she got to the point where she remembered where the letters were even if they’re no longer visible. lol

Hope you have a lovely day!!! I’ve got to get to reading and writing!

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
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Red Eyed Bird–Photo Art

Mar23

Red eyed bird. Does he not get enough sleep? It was such an unusual bird and it was funny how he thought I was just as unusual and stared at me too!

So I planted all the rest of the plants and then had to dig up a couple of crepe myrtles for my daughter. She lost one and I have tons that are popping up all over.

Finally managed to get my 2,000 words yesterday. With gardening and having to pick up the little one at school, I didn’t get as much as I thought I would. I tried all my hoses with her, and she and I got soaked. The nozzles were broken with the hard freeze. I never have had trouble with anything like that before. Next time I’ll have to bring everything in during the winter! Just in case! So then I had to put her in some spare clothes I had so her momma could take her home with her.

And then it was back to the book. But then I received edits that have to be turned in pronto on a novella. Ugh.  I hate to stop what I’m doing to go back to a prior book to edit. I’m in forward motion!

So today I’ll be doing more weeding, but no new planting, and I’m hoping I get more written today! It was a wild and stormy night last night and I was wondering how I was going to take the dogs out in it! I lay there thinking about where I was going with the book too. Though now I’ll also have to begin editing the novella.

By the time I got up, the storms had stopped, thankfully. Everything is nice and wet. That’s good!

Have a super fun day!! I’ve got to get busy!

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
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Merry Christmas Eve

Dec24
A bird at the Waco Zoo

Merry Christmas Eve! Best wishes to all. Stay safe! Take care!

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
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Bird in a Christmas Wreath!

Dec20

Photo of a bird that shares an enclosure with a Dik-Dik. I don’t remember the name of the big bird. The Christmas wreath texture is from Daily Textures.

My son arrived safely with his dog after 15 hours of driving. Mishka is on my lap and my dogs are waiting for my son to get up–they’ve all been fed and taken outside, birds fed. I’m about to battle more monsters for writing goals. I think I managed 7,000 words yesterday. I reached 22K on A Date with a Wolf, and added more to Dangerous Liaisons, another vampire romance, at 27,704, and Warrior Elf (YA), 16K, and Bite of the Vampire (YA), 18,600. I added 6K to the novella, but on the other books a few hundred each. That’s what’s fun about the battling monsters. Once I have my word goal plus on the deadline book, I can add more content to other stories not on deadline to get some more word count in.

We are going on a drive to see a special exhibit this afternoon–drive through, more on it later, and having lunch at home and unfortunately shopping for a few items at the grocery store. He’s making a curry rice dish and forgot his curry powder, his grinder for coffee and I figure I’ll pick up some cabbage and carrots to make corned beef and cabbage for everyone one of these days.

I forgot that Miskha is a woofer. Not barking loudly, but I’m finding myself shushing her constantly while my son is still sleeping.

I’m off to write before he gets up and we’re on our way to the store.

Have a 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
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear
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Bird of Some Kind!

Dec13

What am I? This was a bird at one of the zoos, and I just thought it had such pretty plumage, I had to capture it, but he wouldn’t look my way to get a nice face shot.

I was shifting through stories I’ve started before–two of my favorite, both vampire stories. One is the 2nd story in a YA series, and the other is the next vampire adult book. Both are at about 25K. I want to finish them!

But I’m back to Cougar Christmas Calamity, want to get this out before they stop publishing for the holidays.

We have 100% chance of rain today. I think it’s raining now, and will be through the early evening.

Love the rain. Off to get to work! Have a 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
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Bird and Flowers

Jul27

We had more rain! We are supposed to have more today late this afternoon. Yay! It helps to break up the miserably hot, sunny days. The temperature is going back up again by Friday, so I’m enjoying the cooler days. I need to weed more, but I’ve got to run an errand first thing this morning, so I’ve taken my walk, put out the garbage, fed the dogs, all that routine stuff, and oh, yeah, I did pull up some spent sunflowers.

I wrote 5,000 words yesterday! Yay! I’m over halfway done. Like by 2,000. Not like near the end. But when I started, I have to remind myself, I didn’t have anything close to 42,000, so I’ve come a long way, baby.

I was so behind on writing last week–had little one on Monday and Wednesday and Friday and Saturday. I had planned to get my 3,000 on Saturday after she went home. I only managed a 1,000 words after taking care of little one until 10 and then we all got together and they took her home at 11. I was so tired, I didn’t get much done. Even so, on Sunday I ended up filling a 40 gal bag of weeds before I really sat down to write 5,000 words yesterday.

Which proves to me that I can do both and still get a lot of writing done. So no excuses!

Have a super day and stay safe!!!

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
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