Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Fall

Happy Harvest Time!

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Wandering in the pear trees…

Who swiped summer? Seems I was just chasing critters around my backyard at midnight and now pears and apples are almost ready to pick. If time keeps speeding up like this, I need to buy a new bathing suit right now.

Dashed out of town Wednesday to refill my inner orchard fantasies. Sometimes a girl just needs to sit among growing fruit to find some peace and quiet. Had a wonderful time getting lost in the pear orchards in Parkdale. Very cute town.

Then on to grab cookies and jam at Packer Orchards and Bakery, then lunch by the Columbia River at The Riverside Restaurant in Hood River, Oregon. Having folks deliver tasty food to your table is actually one of the seven wonders of the world. Far as I’m concerned.

A large ship at anchor in the river piqued my interest. Turns out it’s the National Geographic cruise ship Quest! Imagine, science tourism going on right outside our restaurant window. I learned something new and here is a link to check it out. https://www.expeditions.com/itineraries/columbia-and-snake-rivers-journey/   Sign me up!

Part of the reason for the trip to Hood River, besides buying jam and cookies, was to do some research for the book I’m editing. How wonderful is it to be a writer who has to escape to the country and buy treats as part of my writing research?

Since the apples and pears are not ready to pick for two to three more weeks, we have to go back in October. Oh, darn it.

Here’s hoping you’re looking forward to the harvest and finding time to sit under a tree or hug one.

It really helps.

Happy harvest!

P.S. If you want to spy on one of my favorite places, check out http://www.packerorchards.com and

http://www.packerorchards.com/the-bakery

Nothing like an Apple Cider donut snack to refuel! I love hands-on research trips!

(Yes, a bit of wildfire smoke hid the mountain, but donuts help everything.)

Pumpkin Attack, Cinnamon Rolls Or Speedy Squirrel?

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Packer Farm Pumpkin Patch Hood River

Fall is officially here. I can’t deny it. During this time of year I have two distinct urges:

  1. Stay in my cozy warm bed in the morning and eat an entire pan of warm cinnamon rolls.
  2. Rush around like a squirrel on two double=espressos preparing for the winter zombie apocalypse.

The challenge is I’d look to do both at the exact same time. Does not work out. So far. And Spec Ops Cat refuses to deliver any type of warm food to my bed, so I must get up and feed him breakfast. And the time change is coming this weekend, so I have even greater incentive to linger in bed!

Last month I went on vacation for a week and had a hard time getting out of mosey mode. But I did since I was editing another book, Spec Ops Pig, which is now available on Amazon. Romantic comedy if you need a laugh. It’s the first book in the Matchmaker Cat series, starring our very own Spec Ops Cat, a spin-off from my earlier Vintage Veterans series, Mission: Purple Hearts.

Now I am editing the sequel to Mission: Purple Hearts. Whoever made up this schedule needs a firm talking to; that would be me. Dang it. So, I escape the computer when I can and head out into the wilds.

Earlier this month that included the Packer Orchards & Farm Place pumpkin patch in Hood River. There were rocking chairs in the orchards and the pumpkin patch! My kind of place. Photo above. It was a bit breezy. Bundle up time.

But now I need to get back to editing, so I leave you with this Happy Halloween video. This is one YouTube Channel I follow for research and enlightenment. Shawn Ryan’s Vigilance Elite Channel. He is a former Navy SEAL and CIA contractor. Great guy. Pretty sure pumpkins were harmed in the making of this video. 

Happy Halloween!

 

 

Lemurs, Bears, Beavers And Pumpkins?

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Do we all feel like we’re hurtling toward the holiday abyss at increasing velocity? I’ve been running around like a squirrel on Mt. Dew trying to get outside and inside chores done ahead of the rain. It arrived yesterday. Kind of got things finished. Almost.

Just managed to get the six Halloween decorations out Thursday. If I can stay six days ahead of each of the upcoming holidays, my life will be a success.  I’ve learned to lower my standards for the holidays; makes life so much easier.

But one pleasure I can’t refuse is checking out animals at the Oregon Zoo playing with their pumpkins. How cute are these beauties? Love the lemurs! I keep thinking of King Julian in the Madagascar movies.

Have a great, safe, weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

 

Unleash The Hedgehog!

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Obviously I’m not the only one starting early to celebrate Fall. Fufu, the hedgehog from the Oregon Zoo, had herself a wonderful time chowing down on grubs in Fall gourds. How cute is she?

So stock up on supplies of your choice, grubs or pumpkin, and get ready for winter. Don’t let Fufu get all the gourds!

Have a great, safe, weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

 

Harvest Or Hibernate?

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Sky view of Spec Ops Cat new favorite spot; empty paper box in the sun. Nap ahoy!

Huge Harvest Moon last night. Which partly explains my urges to nap or eat. Or eat and nap. With the golden light of Fall turning the leaves red, orange and dead, time to conserve energy.

We are having glorious eighty degree weather right now here in Oregon, so no need to hibernate. But I want to. Is it the pumpkins in the store? The Halloween candy stocked in all the aisles? The sun setting at seven p.m.? Yes.

Then that true sign of winter appeared on tv; Hallmark Christmas movies start on Oct. 26! My intent is to read, write and craft this winter. Seems I went down the rabbit hole this year and started collecting card crafting items. Swore I would not go there, but I did. (Gemini Junior! Diamond Press! Anna Griffin! Stop me now….. )

However, I will not be making my Christmas cards. Really. I send fun cards and I have a ton of those from last year’s clearance sales. I try to be cheap, er thrifty. But notice I did not say never. I’ve eaten that word so many times it’s not funny. So now I avoid it. 

The harvest festivals are starting and the farmer’s markets are closing. Can snow be far behind? Let’s get ahold of ourselves. Stop that. Time to go fondle my craft supplies. Paper therapy.

Spring will come again. Right after I eat myself into a stupor this holiday season. Time to go fire up the treadmill; for Spec Ops Cat.

Might be time to start hoarding cans of Libby’s pumpkin pie mix. Just to be safe…….    

Happy Dog Days Of Fall?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                  (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

This is the time of year we all look forward to that age-old holiday – Halloween! It’s the candy. Really. So for those of us who have eaten all the pre-Halloween candy and have to buy more to complete the taste test, here are some cuddly canines to help chase away the rainy day blues. Better than watching the news!

Have a great, safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

https://youtu.be/AcFaOobouDg