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Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

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Fall leaves

Fall Leaves, Pastry and Nuts

October 6, 2026 By Kimberly A. Cook

The beautiful foliage outside my backyard this week. Glorious!

I love this time of year when the leaves turn incredible colors and the golden light in the morning looks like honey. And we all run around like the squirrels in my backyard foraging for snacks and treats for the coming winter.

We have a slight heat wave in Oregon this week and we are dashing around outside like crazy people to soak up the last rays of sun. We all hope for rain and snow in the mountains this winter. We need it. Wacky times and weird weather.

I’ve just completed a major writing project, updating all fifteen eBooks in preparation to publish them wide across more platforms. Holy pumpkin pie that about drove me to inhale straight Cool Whip.

One reward for finishing, was a day trip to Packer’s Bakery in Hood River to gather fifteen huge Gala apples to store in the refrigerator and big cookies for the freezer. Harvest time includes cookies in my rulebook.

Then I made trips to several craft stores to buy things I don’t need for the holidays, but they were so stinking cute. Because if you don’t get the Christmas stuff now, it’s gone. Then hopefully, the rains will come and I have fabulous excuses to stay inside to write and craft. With plenty of cookies. Like a bear.

I relish the simple pleasures as we head into winter, because a writer can’t listen to all the crazy all the time. Freaks out my muse. To say nothing of the potential weight gain if I stress eat too much pastry.

Which reminds me, I joined a monthly craft group, and we meet at an international deli. With incredible PASTRY. I have to be nice and purchase a treat with a drink, of course. Right? Don’t want to be rude.

My goal is to still fit in my jeans by spring. It’s good to have aspirations. And a treadmill.

But I’ve also been shopping for an advent calendar. For years I’ve gotten a craft one, but they stopped making it, and I need a change. Sweet Santa’s Workshop! The advent calendar selection includes chocolate, crafts, mini-books, shortbread, toys, dark romantasy, jewelry and even Highland cows! To name a few. This will require control and careful consideration. I only need one!

While I watch the leaves turn to vibrant reds and my squirrel customers scamper about the backyard, one thing is for sure when it comes to fall and the coming winter.

The early squirrels get the filberts.

Happy Fall, y’all!

I ration my customers filberts each day. This is Mr. Fluffy Tail. It’s the snacking season!

Filed Under: home Tagged With: Advent calendars, change in season, crafts, Fall leaves, Fall Leaves Pastry and Nuts, holiday shopping, Kimberly A. Cook, military romance author, pastry, romance readers, seasons, simple pleasures, squirrels

Have You Taken A Pumpkin Photo Break?

October 14, 2014 By Kimberly A. Cook Leave a Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

This time of year I dread the coming of the dark season. To distract myself, besides imagining writing I can get done on rainy days and baking tons of cookies, taking pictures with Fall light becomes my passion. Trying to catch the last rays of the year and the amber light is an exercise in patience and quick draw with a camera.

Since I always have a camera with me, besides my cell phone camera with no zoom, it becomes a game to see where and when I can capture the waning golden light of the season.

A herd of pumpkins waiting at sunset to be taken home and carved.
A herd of pumpkins waiting at sunset to be taken home and carved.

This first picture I had to take last week while grocery shopping. I’d only stopped for a few things, but I couldn’t resist the golden light on the pile of pumpkins outside the grocery store.

Since I long ago got over what anyone thought who might see me taking pictures of produce, life is good. Lately I’ve even taken pics of some great displays inside retail stores, since many are works of art.

So if it’s not pumpkins, then leaves are a big deal this time of year. This next picture I snapped after work at the day job. In the parking lot! One does not have to be in exotic locations to get great photos. There are several malls and one post office where I’m always watching the trees and plants because they are great for close-ups.

Sun slipping into the night - over the parking lot.
Sun slipping into the night – over the parking lot.

So, if it were not for the dratted cross walk sign you can barely see in the bottom right corner, people might think this blissful scene was way out in the woods, not surrounded by asphalt. Look around for big and small details this season. For Pete’s sake look UP too.

We have the first big rain storm coming in today after a summer of high temperatures. So while we all huddle inside and work on our creative projects, clean things out and plan the killer list of fun baking projects for the holidays, remember to take some great pictures.

You never know what you might want to send on a holiday card or in a family newsletter. Try something out of the ordinary. Let’s all celebrate the season of photography!

 

Isn't he cute? Happy Halloween photo hunting!
Isn’t he cute? Happy Halloween photo hunting!

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Filed Under: Photography Tagged With: creativity, Fall leaves, Halloween, Kimberly A Cook, photography, photos, pumpkins, Warrior Tales, writer

Copyright © Kimberly A. Cook 1997-2026 All Rights Reserved

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