Kimberly A. Riley @KARiley40@octodon.social

So yeah, working on this #WIP and I'm getting close to the 'gathering of allies' so they can 'fight the big battle' at the end, right? All simple stuff. Except, I've got this set in space and space is huge and to show that hugeness off, I can't have all the allies be gathered. Instead, a huge chunk of them have to stay on Earth, 4-ish light years away from all the action, where they are totally useless. What have I gotten myself into? Lol! #amwriting.

Another shield picture? Yes! This time with the helm and axe I got for it.
https://octodon.social/media/1eir-7-tvlCWfe11VWY

‪Finished another shield. This one is 2 foot wide and not a door hazard. Made of wood, cloth, metal, and rawhide. The boss in the middle was made by someone else. #viking #amcrafting #ampainting #woodwork‬ #renfest
https://octodon.social/media/fps9ZcA2NfnA7o-v8aw

Hey all, I've joined bookbub (still trying to figure it out!). I might have to run a book deal on here at some point. Until then, feel free to follow, and if you're an author, leave me your link and I'll follow you. https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kimberly-a-riley

Little hard to see, but this is a tarantula hawk I saw this morning. They hunt tarantulas to lay their eggs on, stinging them so they stay alive, but just paralyzed. They also have one of the most painful stings in the world,second only to the bullet ant.
https://octodon.social/media/p9ghDqITqjSqwkcUH3c

Is this another shield? Yes it is. Bit smaller than the first one cause that one was catching on door frames and was a hazard to walk with. This one is just 24 inches and has a long ways to go still. And yes, the pattern was SUPER annoying to get on there cause it starts to mess with your head after awhile. #art #ampainting #viking
https://octodon.social/media/e8hmAwXWn-5ZcpAzFVM

Bit of science today from my book, the Stone of Power.

Tech talks how to make an electromagnet. Context is the Keepers are going to shoot an E.M.P. missile at a monster that's terrorizing Pairs.

If you want to make one, take a battery, an iron nail, and some wire. Coil the wire tightly around the nail. Connect each end to the opposite sides of a battery and tada! Magnet.

#science #story

https://octodon.social/media/TXo5u_13psBx9zpmj6Q https://octodon.social/media/X71OQkMBOyLqlxBz4Is

‪Pipsqueak enjoying the afternoon sun. #pets #birds‬
https://octodon.social/media/_UGOaJTw0vjo3uvc-ec

Burrowing owls are lawful good rogues with great wisdom and dex, proficiency in stealth, slight of hand, and perception. (They also like to borrow things without permission.)

Crows are chaotic neutral priests, with tempest domain who hate undead, & have proficiency in medicine, deception, and survival.

Hummingbirds are lawful good paladins, with proficiency in persuasion and religion, who always stand up to the bullies and are natural leaders.

#dnd #dnd5e

I've been having a mocking bird harass every other bird in the yard the past week. That has inspired me to wonder, what if birds were D&D characters?

Mockingbirds are chaotic good barbarians with high dex and char, who have proficiency in intimidation, performance, and acrobatics.

Cockatoos are neutral good wizards with low everything except int, who are always forgetting where their hat is. (It's on their heads).

#dnd #dnd5e

‪I must have a mockingbird nest in my yard because this pair goes after every other bird that dares to enter the yard with the kind of unbridled fury only a mockingbird can muster. Sparrows, doves, blue jays, you name it. And I know they are eyeing the hummingbirds too. #wildbirds #nature

This super grainy picture is of a bobwhite I saw today! These are somewhat rare, being listed as near threatened, so it was a real treat to see it near Austin, Texas! #texas #austin #wildlife #bird #wildbirds
https://octodon.social/media/i2946J1AA4fUcnMOyRk

Okay, #amwriting world, I've had an idea how to solve an annoying plot hole (basically, heroes have a chance to CRUSH the bad guy and his team, and so he's going to need an escape plan and some help)! Let's go!

OMG! It's so squishy! Flapjack octopus (so named for it's floppy 'ears')! Also, the science in this is pretty neat, how the brain of cephalopods are wrapped around their esophagus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxuBwfNp2wk #nature #wildlife #octopus

Daily bit of science! The egg shape of birds may be determined by how much flying they do. Birds which fly for longer or faster need streamlined bodies. Thus, their eggs would also be elongated to sit better inside the longer body. This needs further study, but it's certainly very interesting! #birds #nature #science http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-bird-egg-shape-20170622-story.html

Remembering hashtags would be useful ... Ahhhgg!

Since I've been talking cicadas lately, here is a wonderful layout of all the species in north america, north of Mexico. And boy, there's a lot! There are even handy maps, showing exactly where each species has been recorded. http://www.cicadamania.com/downloads/diversity-05-00166.pdf #insects #texas #cicada

‪Outside right now and found this tiny cicada. Beameria venosa. Here's what it sounds like. http://www.cicadamania.com/genera/species.php?q=B.+venosa #texas #insect #nature ‬
https://octodon.social/media/1uleNa62nk6OrNSVV_0

Cicadas singing in Austin, Texas on a pretty day. I really love these insects and can't wait for them to appear every year. A purple finch trills out a few notes too. #texas #summer #insects #nature #NaturePhotography #birds
https://octodon.social/media/wYWvdJK-vuzKQHyPL4o