Monday Musings: After the Monsoon

We have some pretty nasty, terrifying monsoon storms here in the Arizona desert each summer. We get a whole year’s worth of rain in a half hour, which makes driving dangerous. I am terrified to drive during a monsoon storm. I got lucky so far this year and only found myself out on the road once the storm had passed and dealt with a small amount of rain. But what happened was I forgot that because of the hot, dry weather, windshield wipers don’t last and need to be checked before the summer. Well, while out on the highway, I turned on my wipers only to have them get stuck in the middle of my windshield. Yikes. Anyway, despite the downside to summer storms, after these rainstorms pass, the air smells so clean and everything that was dry blooms.

 

I don’t think I’ve ever seen this cactus bloom.

 

A bee finds this bloom enticing.

 

This plant was dry and looking dead before the rainstorm.

 

In the wake of the storm: beautiful sun-painted clouds.

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

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Favorite Friday

Favorite stone: Turquoise

Turquoise is a hydrous copper aluminum sulfate found in every color of blue, greenish blue or deep green. It has been prized by every culture, including Egypt, Persia, Tibet, and the Aztecs and Incas of South America. In the East and Far East, it was honored as a lucky stone and was given the nickname, ‘Turks’ stone. For the Indians of Mexico and Southwestern U.S., it was used to guard burial sites. Indian priests wore Turquoise in ceremonies when calling upon the great spirit of the sky. Turquoise manifests spiritual qualities, healing, friendship and love. It helps with communication and the 5th chakra, grounding.

 

 

 

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Guest Blog: Kelley Heckart: Research Isn't as Boring as I Thought!

Guest Blog: Kelley Heckart: Research Isn't as Boring as I Thought!

Weird Word Wednesday

Aiguille

ai·guille

noun \ā-ˈgwēl, -ˈgwē\

Definition of AIGUILLE

:  a sharp-pointed pinnacle of rock

Origin of AIGUILLE

French, literally, needle — more at aglet

First Known Use: 1809

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

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Monday Musings: AZ Monsoon Storm

Nasty cloud bank.

 

This was part of two nasty storms.

 

The beauty of a storm.

 

Coming at us.

 

The storm clouds create a pretty sunset over the mountains.

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Favorite Friday

Favorite book

Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

This is one of my favorite books based on the King Arthur legend. What I really like about it is the story is told from the point of views of the women in Arthur’s life, which gives us a different perspective. This is mostly a fantasy tale with magic, focusing on the mysterious Isle of Avalon. The Mists of Avalon's Camelot politics and intrigue take place at a time when Christianity is taking over the island-nation of Britain; Christianity vs. Faery, and God vs. Goddess are dominant themes. Highly recommended.

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

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Tabby's Nocturnal Nights: The scary vampires are back

Tabby's Nocturnal Nights: The scary vampires are back: I read The Strain and now I am watching the TV series based on the books. The premise behind The Strain is that vampirism is more like a vi...

Weird Word Wednesday

Aigrette

ai·grette

noun \ā-ˈgret, ˈā-ˌ\

Definition of AIGRETTE

1

:  a spray of feathers (as of the egret) for the head

2

:  a spray of gems worn on a hat or in the hair

Origin of AIGRETTE

French, plume, egret, from Middle French — more at egret

First Known Use: 1630

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Monday Musings: Death amongst the beauty

On the morning I was driving home after watching my dog get euthanized, I couldn’t help noticing all the beauty in the world even though my dog had just died. Inside, my world was bleak and empty of any joy. Outside, the sun was shining and life was evident in the smiling people going about their day.

I thought maybe all that life and beauty was meant to taunt me. And then I realized that I wasn’t the only one that had just lost something precious to me. Every day people and other living things die, which means there are grieving people around at all times affected by death. And yet there is still beauty in the world even when death is present. The sun still shines, painting the sky in layers of light and dark shades of amber rose, the birds still sing as if unaware that death is present—a silent, grim shadow hidden amongst all the beauty…waiting.

While I was driving, this one thought rose to the surface: Maybe all the beauty is meant to help us move on, to be inspired to keep living.

 

 

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Favorite Friday

Favorite TV Show
Almighty Johnsons
This is a new show on SyFy. At first I wasn’t sure about it, but I really like it. It’s funny. It’s about four brothers that are descended from Norse gods, but their powers are diminished. The youngest one just found out he is the human incarnation of Odin, which is a big deal. If he can’t complete his quest to find the goddess Frigg, Odin’s wife, then all of them will die. If he succeeds, then they will become the complete gods and get all of their powers back. The goddesses hate the gods and are trying to stop him. This is a New Zealand show so they all have sexy accents and there are funny jokes like: “Who the frig is Frigg?”



Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/CelticChick
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Weird Word Wednesday

Aiblins

ai·blins

adverb \ˈā-blənz\

Definition of AIBLINS

chiefly Scottish

: perhaps

Origin of AIBLINS

able + -lings, -lins -lings

First Known Use: circa 1605

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Monday Musings: Arizona cloud formation pics #2

This one has a calming effect on me like I’m floating.

This one looks like paint strokes on a canvass.

I like the light and thicker layers plus the contrast with the palo verde branches that reach toward the sky.

I like the light, wispy clouds hanging above the thicker clouds and the blue space between. Nature’s artwork.

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/CelticChick
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Favorite Friday

Favorite gemstone

Amethyst

The amethyst is a purple variety of quartz and the February birthstone. Ancient Romans and Greeks wore this stone to ward off intoxication. It is also a healing stone and used for healing the soul, body and mind. Amethysts hold the universal vibration and this enables the holder of the crystal to be connected to it, so this makes the amethyst a good meditation stone. I feel a connection to amethysts, possibly because of their properties or maybe because of their beauty.

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Weird Word Wednesday

Agog

agog

adjective \ə-ˈgäg\

: full of interest or excitement because of something

Full Definition of AGOG

:  full of intense interest or excitement : eager <kids all agogover new toys>

See agog defined for English-language learners »

See agog defined for kids »

Examples of AGOG

1. The news has chemists agog.

2. Her supporters were agog at the idea.

3. The town is agog over the plan.

Origin of AGOG

Middle French en gogues in mirth

First Known Use: 1559

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Monday Musings: Mountains in Arizona pics

This was taken at the archery range where I go with my friend to shoot at targets. I love being outside in a place with no other people. It’s so quiet, except when gun shots go off at the nearby gun range. I see lizards running around, and we are usually bothered by a pesky fly that won’t leave us alone. Haven’t seen any rattlesnakes yet. Don’t really want to unless it’s far away from me.

This is Cupcake Mountain. This picture was also taken at the archery range.

Favorite Friday

Favorite Show—Witches of East End

Yes, I do like my witch shows. This one is dark. I really like how they have linked the witches to Asgard and the Norse gods. Long ago these witches came through a portal to escape their hateful father, the king. They escaped his wrath but ended up cursed. The witches have different magical powers to aid them, but magic can’t solve everything. This season they have to defend themselves against something that came through the portal. And for the ladies, there are some hot guys in this show.

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Weird Word Wednesday

Agita

ag·i·ta

noun \ˈa-jə-tə\

Definition of AGITA

:  a feeling of agitation or anxiety

Examples of AGITA

1. <took a deep breath to dispel her agita as she stepped onstage>

Origin of AGITA

S Italian dialect pronunc. of Italian acido, literally, heartburn, acid, from Latin acidus

First Known Use: 1982

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

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Monday Musings: Losing a pet is never easy

On July 15, 2014 we lost our older male dog. This isn’t the first dog we’ve lost and won’t be the last, but it’s never easy to lose a pet. I don’t understand how these creatures worm their way into our hearts. I mean, they are only animals, right? They aren’t human. And I think that is the answer—they are not human. They give us what a human cannot—unconditional love and constant companionship. So we love them differently and we mourn them differently. I always worry that I didn’t do the right thing for them. They can’t tell me what hurts them or what they want, so I have to guess. This time I think I guessed it right. This gives me some comfort, but losing a pet that is a constant in your life is heartbreaking, no matter how you lose them.
Hercules wasn’t like any other dog. He was a chi-weenie, so he was part dachshund—a hound. Hound dogs lead with their nose and prefer to be out sniffing things. Herc didn’t care if he pleased his masters. He did his own thing. So when he was always at my side, I knew he was there because he wanted to be there. We tried a training technique on him once. The idea behind this technique was that dogs don’t like to be shunned by the pack, so they won’t repeat whatever they did to get them shunned. This technique worked great on our other, people-pleasing, dog, but not on Herc. When it came time for him to be let outside and shunned for 15 minutes, he didn’t care. He just went about exploring the yard with his hound nose. And that made me love him more.
In the end he lived up to his sturdy name, fighting for his life as long as he could, and then I told him it was okay to stop fighting. Farewell, my sweet boy, I sure hope we meet again.
RIP Hercules
1998-2014


A few of his many nicknames throughout the years: Monkey Butt, Stinky Man, Peanut, Mouse, Mr. Grumpy Jeans, The Badger, Old Man.

One of the first pics I took of him as a puppy.

He always thought he was a bigger dog.

Hunting in the grass in CA.

1998 or 99 in CA. Happier times.

Can you believe he was red-flagged at the vet? LOL

This is one of my favorite pics of him playing with his sister. Devil Dog!

Even as an old man he still had some fire.

His favorite place was on my bed right next to me.

Patrolling his yard.

Hanging out with Loki.

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/CelticChick
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Favorite Friday

Favorite music—Loreena McKennitt

 

I wrote a bunch of books to her music. Her songs create an otherworldly atmosphere that takes you back to another time. Mediterranean style beats evoke ancient Rome and Greece, while more primitive music and earthy vocals call upon the ancient Celts, white-robed druids gathering in a moon-splashed grove.

 

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Weird Word Wednesday

Agamospermy

aga·mo·sper·my

noun \(ˌ)ā-ˈga-mə-ˌspər-mē,ˈa-gə-mō-ˌspər-\

Definition of AGAMOSPERMY

: apogamy; specifically :  apogamy in which sexual union is not completed and the embryo is produced from the innermost layer of the integument of the female gametophyte

Origin of AGAMOSPERMY

Greek agamos + English -spermy

First Known Use: 1944

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: agamospore
Previous Word in the Dictionary: agamospermic
All Words Near: agamospermy

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Tabby's Nocturnal Nights: Dealing with change

Tabby's Nocturnal Nights: Dealing with change: This has been a time of big changes for me. After losing my second dog—a dog I’d had for 15 years, a dog that was always at my side and a do...

Monday Musings: Arizona sunsets #2

This is my favorite one because of the reflection in the pool. I caught the light at just the right moment.

 

Magical.

 

I like the blue spaces between the clouds painted by the sunset.

 

I like the deep hues and different layers of color.

I like this one because of the different colors.

The sky looks like it’s on fire. Beautiful.

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Favorite Friday

Favorite TV show

Defiance

I wasn’t sure about this show at first, but I watched it and was drawn into the story of a post-apocalyptic earth and different alien races living alongside humans. What I like about this show is that instead of taking place during an alien invasion, it takes place after an alien invasion that almost destroyed earth, and we get to see how all of the different races try to come together and rebuild society. I see parallels between our world today and a world where aliens replace different races. There is racism and differing religious beliefs that cause conflict in the new mixed society.

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Weird Word Wednesday

Agammaglobulinemia

agam·ma·glob·u·lin·emia

noun \ˌā-ˌga-mə-ˌglä-byə-lə-ˈnē-mē-ə\

Definition of AGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA

:  a condition in which the body forms few or no gamma globulins or antibodies

— agam·ma·glob·u·lin·emic adjective

Origin of AGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA

New Latin, from a- + International Scientific Vocabularygamma globulin + New Latin -emia

First Known Use: circa 1952

agam·ma·glob·u·lin·emia

noun (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of AGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA

: a pathological condition in which the body forms few or no gamma globulins or antibodies—comparedysgammaglobulinemia

Variants of AGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA

agam·ma·glob·u·lin·emia or chiefly Britishagam·ma·glob·u·lin·ae·mia

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Monday Musings: More backyard wildlife--Godzilla pics and mysterious holes

Godzilla has been hanging here for a couple of weeks. He doesn’t run away from me anymore.

This one is hard to see, but he is looking right at me.

I hope he eats all the bugs in my yard.

This freaked me out. I saw it the other morning. Something big was digging in my yard. I think and hope it was a rabbit trying to hide, but I don’t know. Yikes!

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Favorite Friday

Favorite TV show

Motive

I didn’t want to watch this show at first. I was kind of bored with all the cop procedure shows, and I didn’t see the point of watching a show that reveals the murderer and victim in the beginning. It turns out this is a genius idea. I started watching it because there wasn’t anything else on at that time I wanted to watch. And now I want to watch it every week. Why? Because after I see the murderer and the victim, I have to know why that person killed the other person. At first, it appears so unlikely that the seemingly normal, nice person would kill someone. But I guess everyone has a breaking point. And that is the draw for me to keep watching. This show focuses more on the killer and victim and less on the private lives of the cops, though we do get to see some of their private battles play out.

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Weird Word Wednesday

Agamic

agam·ic

adjective \(ˌ)ā-ˈga-mik\

Definition of AGAMIC

: asexual, parthenogenetic

Origin of AGAMIC

Greek agamos unmarried, from a- + gamos marriage

First Known Use: 1816

Rhymes with AGAMIC

Adamic, balsamic, ceramic, dynamic

agam·ic

adjective \(ˈ)ā-ˈgam-ik\ (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of AGAMIC

: asexual, parthenogenetic

—agam·i·cal·ly adverb

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Monday Musings: Moon pics #2

Moon at sunset (This is my favorite and the most beautiful time of the day.)

Moon in the black of night (I like the contrast between the bright moon and night sky.)

Moon with a side of palm tree

Moon in the midst of sunset colored clouds (This one was captured by accident. I caught it at just the right time to get the moon’s detail and the clouds colored by the setting sun.)

Crescent moon framed by palo verde branches

Crescent moon and jet stream (Another happy accident.)

Crescent moon glimmering in the night sky between branches

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Favorite Friday

Favorite TV show

Dominion

I just watched the pilot for this new SyFy series. It’s based on the movie Legion about the archangel Michael siding with the humans in a war against the angels. In the movie, he protects a young pregnant woman who carries the savior who will end the war. The series picks up 25 years later when the “savior” is all grown up and just discovers what he is. The war between humans and angels has been on hold. Factions run the country. This is a dark series and not for those who believe angels exist to help us. In Dominion, angels, all but Michael, hate humans and want to destroy us. I like it. Maybe because I tend to like dark tales and don’t believe angels are nice with halos and white wings. SyFy has also turned up the heat lately. There were a few partial nudity scenes in the pilot. I can live with that. Recommended to fans of dark angel stories with angel orgies (yes, this is true) and post-apocalyptic worlds.

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Weird Word Wednesday

Afreet

afreet

noun \ˈa-ˌfrēt, ə-ˈfrēt\

Definition of AFREET

:  a powerful evil jinni, demon, or monstrous giant in Arabic mythology

Variants of AFREET

afreet or afrit

Origin of AFREET

Arabic ʽifrīt

First Known Use: 1786

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Monday Musings: Writing help—Revision Funk

Lately I have been in a revision funk. What’s a revision funk? For you non-writers, a revision funk is when a writer has trouble revising, or making improvements, to the story they are trying to finish. You’d think after writing and revising 7 books, the 8th book would be a piece of cake. But no. It seems I’ve hit a wall for some reason. It may be that I’ve become too lackadaisical, or I’ve become complacent and not taking the process seriously, thinking I can just breeze through revisions without much thought. Not a good attitude to have if you want to put out a good book.

Looking for inspiration, I bought a book on revision to help me refresh my memory. Even experienced writers need to keep learning and exercising the writing muscle. And my writing muscle has been in need of some toning. This book has some really helpful tips and techniques for doing revisions and self-edits. I’m glad I decided to do something about my funk rather than just sit around and complain about it. Or even worse, turn out a crappy book. This doesn’t mean I can skip the editor, but it’s given me some inspiring ideas and helped me turn revisions into something fun instead of a tedious chore.

The book I’m reading is called Revision and Self-Editing for Publication (2nd edition) by James Scott Bell.

 

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Favorite Friday

Favorite Movie

Let Me In

This is a fantastic vampire movie. The vampire appears as a young, innocent girl, but she is anything but innocent. She is a dangerous predator—to everyone except the young bullied boy who is ignored by his troubled mother and father who abandoned him. To him, she is a savior, a guardian angel. The two form a unique bond, one based on need but also affection. She needs him to protect her during the day and help her find prey. He needs her because he is alone. A compelling look at what I think is a true relationship with a vampire. This is not a sparkly, beautiful love story. The wintry New Mexico setting also helps set the bleak mood of this haunting tale. Highly recommended for fans of horror and vampire lore.

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Weird Word Wednesday

Afebrile

afe·brile

adjective \(ˌ)ā-ˈfe-ˌbrī(-ə)l also -ˈfē-\

Definition of AFEBRILE

:  not marked by or having a fever

First Known Use of AFEBRILE

1875

Rhymes with AFEBRILE

Anglophile, country mile, cyclostyle, domicile, family style,Francophile, Gallophile, hypostyle, in denial, juvenile,projectile, rat-tail file, rank and file, single file, statute mile

afe·brile

adjective \(ˈ)ā-ˈfeb-ˌrīl also -ˈfēb-\ (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of AFEBRILE

: free from fever : not marked by fever

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Monday Musings: Wildlife in my backyard—Godzilla vs. Cactus Wrens

I don’t even have to leave my house to see a variety of wildlife. We don’t live on the edge of town, but we have a side yard outside our wall filled with nasty cactus that protects small animals from larger predators. I know for sure that rabbits, lizards and kangaroo rats live in there. I’m not sure I want to know what else might be residing in our side yard.

Since we moved here, we have had an injured hawk in the front yard, a sick or injured vulture in our backyard that I had to herd out of the yard because my husband was afraid of it, and we’ve opened our front door in the morning to find pieces of rabbits leftover from marauding coyotes. That thankfully stopped once we started leaving our porch light on at night. One morning, I opened the sliding back door because I heard a bunch of shrieking bird noises to find the yard covered in gray feathers and one bird foot. Ick. I think a raven killed a mourning dove.

Today I heard some loud, scolding bird noises and went outside with my camera to find two cactus wrens beneath our palo verde tree. I took a picture of the birds and then saw Godzilla, the large white lizard that inhabits the side yard, confronting the birds. He scared the hell out of me one day when he got stranded in our garage. I had to call my dad over to help me get him out of the garage because I was afraid of him. I didn’t want him to die in the garage though. Besides, he eats bugs and I hate bugs in my house. Usually Godzilla is elusive, but I was able to get some good pictures of him this time. I’m not sure what was happening, but I think the lizard and the birds were fighting over the grub worms in the soil beneath the tree.

That’s a popular spot in our backyard. The area beneath our palo verde tree is like a popular animal bar or restaurant. I get mad because birds and other unknown nocturnal creatures dig and mess up my rocks. But it is kind of cool to see all the wildlife in my backyard. I just wish they could put the rocks back after they dig up their worms.

I took this picture and didn’t even see Godzilla.

I think he’s posing for me. lol

He’s looking at me!

This was taken a few days ago. How would you like to walk outside

and see this on your wall? This is the first time I saw this lizard.

I haven’t named him yet. The pattern on his back reminds me of tiger

stripes. I might call him Tigger.

 

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

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