Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

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Giving Thanks For Small Pleasures

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by Kimberly A. Cook

Thanksgiving is hands down my favorite holiday. Food, family, food, friends and leftovers. Notice the pattern. It’s also a time for me to reflect on what I am thankful for at this time of year. Besides pumpkin pie.

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Spec Ops Cat letting me take a gazillion pictures of him.  Even though you can tell he is not amused. But he is ready for the holidays with his festive blankie.

So here is a quick list of some moments and small things that have recently made a big difference for me.

  • Five birdies having a great time in the bird bath yesterday
  •  Spec Ops Cat stalking the hair dryer cord
  • Reading the book “Soar” by T.D. Jakes
  • Hallmark Christmas movies
  • A hot shower
  • Laughing with family and friends
  • Two new kitten cousins, Thelma and Louise
  • Sunshine, rain, sunshine, wind outside
  • Reading in bed
  • Icy Hot, Tens machine, heating pad and massage
  • Dove Dark Chocolate
  • Donating furniture to homeless veterans program
  • Planning Christmas cookie baking
  • Holiday songs
  • Shopping in my Fire Mountain Gems bead catalog
  • Gathering leaves to dry
  • Spec Ops Cat cuddles
  • Spending time with family and friends
  • Folks who read my blog – the best and brightest people on the planet

What is on your thankful list this year?

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Holiday Observations And Blessings?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                      (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

This week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is always a time for me to think about what the past year taught me and what I might learn in the New Year. Part of that is because between all the cookies, cashews, pie and turkey I’ve eaten, I can’t move from my LaZBoy coma of watching Hallmark holiday movies with football thrown in for variety.

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Spec Ops Cat is a Zen Master at relaxing and enjoying the moment. Watch and learn. 

 

I’ve convinced myself that thinking about exercise counts, but my jeans do not agree. The treadmill is waiting patiently for me to return, but it knows I will not be as nimble and light as the last time I jumped on it. Cookie weight. Hope it’s ready for 2017. May need to get a roll bar for it. Plus a Wide Load strap.

Family and friends are worth more than their weight in gold; up that to diamonds and platinum. The folks who put up with me each year should be getting Starbucks stock for their challenging duty. Thank you all for the support. Cuts the cost of therapy.

Dreams are for all of us. Especially when we think they are not. I’ve had more fun starting my Fairy Rock Garden in the backyard. Playing in the dirt can be the best idea. We all need time to play and dream and create. Fill up your creative well. Take time to be.

There are a lot of things that can be cured by a purring kitty snuggle or a doggie lick. Our four-footed friends are much better at living in the moment than we are. They also don’t carry smartphones and calendars. That must be a big part of their secret to relaxing.

This is a time for renewal. We get a new calendar! A time to start over and give it another shot. Life has bumps, dumps and sinkholes, but it also comes with joy, fun and laughter. I try to lean toward the fun side if at all possible. Being a cranky pants ends up annoying even me, besides others. I’ve always found the best antidote is to MOVE. Do something.

If I’m really upset, I clean. Not only does it accomplish something positive, it also poops me out and gets out some of that bad juju. I can’t keep that stuff inside, it will constipate me in too many ways. Medicinal dark chocolate is a good reward after cleaning too. Just saying.

Here’s wishing you new dreams and adventures in 2017. In the meantime go find a pet to cuddle, a person or a cookie. I’ve got my chips and dips for the holiday weekend. Let the parties begin!

 

 

A Walk In The Woods?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                      (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Last week I headed out on an adventure with my Mom. Decided to take her to see my favorite places in Eastern Oregon, the town of Sisters to be exact. Showed her all the hot spots from the place where I get my bark pieces at Suttle Lake, to the Crescent Moon Alpaca Farm, the always great Camp Sherman and the Richardson’s Rock Ranch.

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We both tried our hand at taking pictures of this cabin on the Metolius River by Camp Sherman. This one is for my Mom.

 

We had a good time and made memories. The weather was sunny and clear, while it rained back home. Somehow that made it even better. We both took pictures and had fun testing our photo skills. We had laughs, good food and slept a lot. Perfect vacation.

When I attended Elizabeth Gilbert’s author talk last Fall, someone in the audience asked her what was on her bucket list. She said she didn’t have places or things on her list, but people. That hit a very strong cord with me. She took her Mom on a walking trip in Ireland. We had fun in Eastern Oregon.

With the first great days of summer heading towards us, it can be easy to forget to slow down, enjoy friends and family and snooze. Must be time to break out the lawn swing.

Who is on your bucket list to visit with this summer?

 

Can You Make Furry Friends?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Somehow whenever I’m looking for Friday videos, I always end up watching Cesar Milan old “Dog Whisperer” shows. Then 45 minutes later I remember what I was trying to do. So what better way to head into a weekend then to learn about making friends.

We all need buddies and sometimes the furrier the better. Check out how this young kitten tried to make friends with a furry hoppy thing. Don’t think he was quite sure what kind of cat it was. There is also a follow-up video when the kitten is a teenager meeting the bunny again. And then there go a few more minutes out of my day.

Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!