Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Life with Kim

Happy Pumpkin Dunking Season!

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Happy Pumpkin Season everybody.

I got the first clue seeing the huge stacks of pumpkins outside the grocery store a few weeks ago. Then inside, I spotted pumpkin donuts and Cheerios. I had no clue those existed. Where have I been?

It’s official. Snacking season is off to the races!

It’s pumpkin everything. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin eggnog, pumpkin decorated cookies.

Really, we all just need to walk around in sweatpants. Oh wait, many folks do. Gotta love an elastic waist for the holidays. And the kickoff event is tomorrow. Candy palooza. Whether you take the kids or grandkids out, or stock up and eat at home, you do you.

Given the current crazy in my hometown of Portland, Oregon, I am sure there will be a brigade of frog costumes on the march this Halloween. Support the ribbits!

For those of us who just eat candy at home and are proud of it, Oregon might have another dousing rainstorm, but we’re good. We’re not the beaver and duck state for nothing. If we didn’t do things in the rain, absolutely nothing would get accomplished.

Plus, Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood got lots of snow last weekend. SNOW!

You know what that means. On Halloween I will be kicking off the Crock Pot season, with a recipe I stumbled across on Pinterest. Crock pot creamy chicken parmesan soup. It looks so good. And I prefer the appliance does the simmering, while I relax. Genuis invention. In case you want to try it, here is the link. https://ladysavor.com/crock-pot-creamy-chicken-parmesan-soup

And what will I be doing while waiting on my Crock Pot?

Binge watching more of Ted Lasso on Netflix. I’m probably one of three people on the planet who has not seen the series. But I recently did my free trial to watch a baseball game and here we are, after the trial is over. Better use it before I stop it.

In the meantime, why did I bring up pumpkin dunking?

Because the adorable, rescued otters at the Oregon Zoo, Lincoln, Juno and Sushi, are practicing their moves. Why don’t we have an otter basketball league? Right?

Oregon Zoo Otters

Stay safe and spooky on Halloween!

Time change: Don’t forget, it seems early, but here in the USA, we turn clocks back an hour on Saturday, Nov. 1st. Except for the places that don’t. Like Hawaii. Such smart people…

Summer Honey Wishes

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On a writing research trip to Hood River last week, I came upon this mug I had to add to my collection. I am a huge fan of bees, and honey too. Especially on warm buttered biscuits. Not only do the bees work hard to make the honey, but so do the rest of us worker bees to earn the cash to purchase the liquid gold.

On the eve of America’s 249th birthday, I wanted to say thank you to all my fellow worker bees this long holiday weekend. From the grocery clerks to the postal workers, the construction workers and the folks picking crops in the fields, we are all very busy bees these days. We are living in challenging times in the United States and around the world.

A special thank you to our military members serving around the globe, keeping us safe twenty-four seven, in the air, on the land, and under the sea. Every generation faces choices in the defense of democracy. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. Let us not forget their sacrifices. We have much work to do toward building a more perfect union for all.

Just as we need to help our neighbors, the bees also need help. Grow a pot of bee friendly flowers this summer. Getting your fingers in the dirt is good for the soul, and it helps the bees. Plus, seed packets are still one of the cheapest things to buy these days. With a promise of both beauty and bee support!

I was thinking of a favorite book I read in high school the other day, the wonderful Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury.

Think I will reread it this summer. I still have that original copy, but for some reason the print is much smaller than I remember. Things change.

But so can we.

Wishing you a July with mild summer days, good friends, and great books.

And hoping for warm biscuits with butter and honey for everybody.

We are all members of this earth colony with the bees.

Kindness is contagious.

Bee-lieve it!