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Military Romance Author

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Kimberly A. Cook

Spring, Squirrels And Snow?

April 11, 2022 By Kimberly A. Cook 2 Comments

Looking North to Mt. Adams in Washington from the Packer Bakery last Thursday. Peach blossoms in the foreground.

Several days ago at midnight, I was herding a possum around my backyard wearing my long puffy pink bathrobe, nightgown, and black Skecher running shoes. It dawned on me I might have gone a bit off the edge. Not sure possum cross-fit training is a thing. Yet. But given all that is happening in the world, who knows. I’ve never been “normal,” so why start now.

Spring in Oregon is always a bit quirky, but this year Mother Nature seems to be going for the gold. Last Thursday a seventy-seven degree day was forecast. My friend and I headed for Hood River to catch the opening fruit blossoms and do cookie research. Packers Orchard and Bakery is our go to destination to perform this grueling task. We were not disappointed.

Peach trees blooms were pink and open, the white blossoms of the apples and pears, right on schedule. (There is a bloom watch website at http://www.hoodriverfruitloop.com) Purchased an array of needed cookie supplies and empanadas, took some pictures, sat in the glorious sun. Then off to The Riverside Restaurant for lunch, because it is right on the Columbia River. As the name suggests. Never did a tuna melt taste so good.

The hour drive home landed us in the middle of a freeway traffic jam, but we didn’t care; there were cookies in the car! My friend went home and mowed her lawn, since it was supposed to rain over the weekend.

Then this morning we woke up to snow. In April. In Portland. It’s the first time PDX has registered snow in April since 1940. Go figure.

Think this bird is as confused as I was about the snow this morning. But breakfast was provided!

Our fabulous Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood has had thirty-six inches of snow in the last seventy-two hours and expects to get about that amount in the next three days. The mountain looks so pretty all covered in white. And us valley dwellers cheer the rising snowpack for summer water reserves.

Since today is a snow day, decided to catch you up on all the goings on around here. The possum has disappeared. It may have been my outfit in the wee hours of the morning that did the trick. Or crossing the road. Always a gamble for critters. Not sure.

Also had a potential stray cat in my backyard and was trying to feed her/him/it when it took off. But the possum had found the cat food. Which he liked much better than the birdseed he’d been hoovering up. Which explains my midnight workout with the furry thing. But the possum rodeo might have done the trick.

But the squirrel is back. After the crows and hawk left. And now the little birdies and Mourning Doves have returned.

Nature is nothing if not resilient.

And so are we.

Enjoy Spring!

Recent sunbathing squirrel on my back fence. This is how I hope to spend my summer afternoons. This furry one is getting an early start. Watch and learn.

My blog post would not be complete without an Oregon Zoo video. This springy baby is adorable. It’s about how I felt in the orchards last week. But I can’t jump that high!

 

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Filed Under: home Tagged With: and Snow?, cookies, fruit trees, Hood River, Hood River Fruit Loop, Kimberly A. Cook, military romance author, Oregon, Oregon Zoo, Packer Orchards and Bakery, romance author, romance readers, snow, Spring, squirrels, weather

Sending Valentine Wishes

February 14, 2022 By Kimberly A. Cook 4 Comments

Wanted to make sure everyone gets a Valentine today. And if it’s from me, you know it’s going to be a little quirky. Because that’s how I roll.

First, I wanted to share some chocolate cake. Too bad I can’t send it through the Wifi, but feel free to scavenge your own. I use Betty Crocker Super Moist Devil’s Food cake mix for birthdays and Valentine’s Day. Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting tops it off. I got the small six-inch heart pan from Michael’s some years back. Think it’s the Wilton brand. Takes about twenty-four minutes to bake. See box for directions. And the leftover mix makes cupcakes. A two-fer! You still have time to bake. (If you only have a round or square cake pan, just carve a heart after it bakes. Frosting hides everything.)

Second, do something for yourself today. First thing in my home office this morning I went to my craft corner and die cut a pink foil paper castle. It’s an Anna Griffin die set I adore. Made a purple one earlier, and a couple for cards, but I needed a pink castle to add to my writing desk. Because writers are dreamers and castles in the mind are where we spend a lot of time. Now I have a classy abode to stay in when I visit.

Third, hug a fur baby, a loved one, a stuffed animal, a potted plant, a friend, a tree, chocolate cake (though that might get messy – go for it.) Given the roller coaster tilt-wheel ride we’ve all been on these past several years, do what works. A walk around the block can help too. I’ve been keeping a close eye on my neighbor’s crocus patch, and they opened yesterday. Spring is coming!

Enjoy your day.

And try to light up somebody else’s. 

From me to you, Happy Valentine’s Day!

For a cute bonus? How about Leaping Lemurs from the Oregon Zoo. 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: joy Tagged With: cake, chocolate, chocolate cake, Kimberly A. Cook, lemurs, military romance writer, Oregon Zoo, romance writer, Sending Valentine Wishes, Valentine's Day

Be Kind To Yourself

December 21, 2021 By Kimberly A. Cook 4 Comments

In the midst of holiday chaos, gloomy weather, and a never-ending pace of challenges for us earthlings, I find it best to focus on what I can control. Which is not that much these days, luckily, so that works with my limited ability to concentrate. I’ve been thinking about what I’m grateful for at the end of this year.

Here is my starting list.

  • My HVAC was fixed and I have heat again. After eleven days. REALLY like that.
  • When I showed up for my free flu shot, I got the booster too. Bonus!
  • My favorite new gadget is a manual can opener which replaced the ancient, rusty one. I’m smitten. It actually cuts metal and has a large cushy handle. Be still my heart.
  • I’m able to keep the birdies, squirrels, and chipmunk’s fed in my backyard. Barely. But I may need to get a dump truck load of seed. Impressive appetites.
  • My family and friends are relatively stable after this crazy year.
  • There are still health care workers, delivery drivers, grocery clerks, police officers, restaurant workers, teachers, banking clerks, tech workers, airline pilots, postal workers, military members, and city, county, and state workers who keep showing up to support us all.  

I’d be happy with three things on my list, so six is golden.

Today we celebrate the Winter Solstice and getting one more minute of daylight. I’ll take it! At my former day job, we used to celebrate this day with Hawaiian shirts, Macadamia Shortbread cookies from the islands, and Jimmy Buffet music. It always perked me up.

I’ve had Beach Boys music playing in my car this entire year. When things get a little dicey, I bring in the big guns and head straight to disco. Never underestimate the power of music.

And being kind to others.

Animals show us how to stay in the moment and enjoy life. We need to be kind to them too.

This year has been challenging for everyone.

Take time to be kind to yourself during these winter days.

Happy Holiday Hugs for you and your furry or feathered friends. Like the ones below at the Oregon Zoo.

I plan to have fun in 2022.

Who’s with me?

 

 

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Filed Under: home Tagged With: 2022, animals, be kind to yourself, gratitude, holiday blues, holiday stress, Kimberly A. Cook, military romance author, New Year, Oregon, Oregon Zoo, pets, romance readers, Winter Solstice

Ahoy Hugs And Bon Voyage Heat!

June 29, 2021 By Kimberly A. Cook 1 Comment

This is what I do for fun in a heat wave. Take pictures!

Life is odd. Yesterday I had concerns my plastic bird bath was melting. There was a definite list to port. But the marine air fought its way in from the coast and saved us from the crazy weather we’ve had for three days. It was thirty degrees cooler in Maui than Portland on Sunday. That’s just so wrong.

But I’d prepared last week and stocked up on ice cream. Like most of my neighbors, if the decimated ice cream bar case was any clue last Wednesday. We Oregonians treat heat over ninety like a snowstorm; go home and hunker down. With snacks.

But I celebrated an early birthday present this month too.  I got to hug my mom for the first time since March 16, 2020. It felt longer, let me tell you. I managed to get two hugs. I became fully vaccinated June third and my first visit inside mom’s apartment was June 10. Fabulous!

Hugs are what I’ve missed most during the pandemic. I consider them energy transfers. Hugs are back!

I even got a hug from my computer repair wizard last week. Plus he gave me a ride in his new Tesla. Scared the bejeezus out of me. I’m not a fan of going over seventy miles an hour and quick acceleration with other traffic around. Maybe if I was driving? No. Don’t think so. But it was an adventure! I would like to drive an M1A1 tank. My fancy vehicle choices are different. And much more expensive.

But Oregon is very close (69.4%) to having seventy percent of our adult folks vaccinated. By tomorrow we should be there and the Governor is lifting restrictions. But we have to be on our guard, because mutant variants are literally roaming the country and multiplying. The unfortunate thing is unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people are at higher risk of hospitalization and death from the Delta variant. It takes five weeks from your first shot, of the two-shot regime, to be fully vaccinated. Run for the vaccines!

On flight status with the Air Force Reserve, I had to keep shots current for worldwide deployment as an Aeromedical Evacuation Operations Officer. We had monthly printouts to remind us what shots we needed. It was a bunch. Then if we deployed, we got more shots for that region. Please get the vaccine. Let’s put a wooden stake through this virus’s mutant heart, cell, replication, you get my drift.

Because I have a lot of missed hugs to gather and I need to know you’re all covered. Vaccinate to hug up America!

And with our new Oregon seasons of wildfires, ice storms, and heat waves upon us here in the West, I bet we get a snow storm in August. Time to buy more snacks!

I finished off that two pound bag of peanut M&Ms because they were past their good by date. I hate waste. That’s my story and I’m using it.

Summer Snacks ahoy!

Marine air from the Pacific Ocean works a four-hour miracle last night. This is what I call a happy ending! (No, I did not put the outside sensor in the freezer.)

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Filed Under: home Tagged With: heat wave, Kimberly A. Cook, military romance author, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, romance author, romance readers, vaccine, weather records, West, writer

Satan, Cookies And Bears?

January 28, 2021 By Kimberly A. Cook 2 Comments

Is it just me, or is 2020 having an epic hangover into 2021? Have you seen the above Match.com commercial with Satan and 2020 getting connected? They’re still dating! Maybe Mother Nature can split those two apart, she’s got massive game.

As a romance author I’m not usually encouraging the break up side of things, but in this case I will make an exception. On the other hand, is Satan built or what? Far be it from me to ignore the amazing muscles on this guy. It’s research. I’m REQUIRED to check out men. Love my job!

It’s one of the many writer things I miss not being out people watching. I need input! In the before times, being free range gave me all kinds of human behavior to observe and use in my stories. And eavesdropping is awesome. It’s amazing the ideas you can get from people out in public on their phones who think no one can hear them. Beware. Authors lurk in person. Hah!

Those times will return when we get our vaccine shots and move forward. I had so many immunizations in my military days, I’m a well preserved Twinkie. Bring it on! Actually got a shot for the plague when I went on Desert Training at Fort Irwin, California. You would think that one would count now, but no, viruses are sneaky!

(The Fort Irwin prairie dogs had the plague, so in case we engaged with infected ones, we needed to be immunized. Fun fact, Army folk spend a lot of time in the dirt. As do prairie dogs. I love prairie dogs. Not sure who gave them their get well shots.)

While out on my once a week excursion to pick up mail and groceries this week, I added a very important item to my basket. The pink love bear I didn’t buy the first time I saw him. But he waited for me and came home to join my stuffed animals squadron. He was also on sale, thirty percent off. A bear bargain!

(Bag one bear at checkout along with hand sanitizer, veggies, fruit, and eggs. The glamour of it all.)

Then while picking up my mail packages, I discovered a pile of fliers on the counter for contactless ordering for Girl Scout Cookies. Local delivery. YES! We will make it through this mess if we have delivery cookies. I am a thin mint addict. They also freeze really well. If they make it to the freezer.

I will do my patriotic part and support this young woman entrepreneur by ordering rations. Keep the economy moving. You can go to www.girlscouts.org and look for cookies by zip code starting Feb. 1!

And keep moving/walking too, especially for those of us eating cookies.

Now I’m going to do some card crafting for my mental health. Mailing cards I make is fun for me and people seem to appreciate getting them. A definite two-fer! I’m working my way up to finger painting. Embrace the mess. Why not?

Hang in there people of earth! Safety first, shots next.

P.S. BIG NEWS – I forgot to let you know our beloved Polar Bear Nora, former Oregon Zoo resident, is moving back to the zoo this spring! We have fabulous new digs for her and she gets a wing woman buddy in the fall. Excellente!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Fiction Writing Tagged With: 2021, Girl Scout Cookies, Kimberly A. Cook, Match Made In Hell, military romance author, Nora, Oregon Zoo, Polar Bears, romance author, romance readers, Satan Cookies and Bears?, teddy bears

Kick 2020 To The Curb!

December 31, 2020 By Kimberly A. Cook 4 Comments

I’m sitting here with Crunchy Cheetos dust on my fingers while I fire up a send off to 2020. A year that defies description. But like steel, when forged in fire, we get stronger. And part of that is to acknowledge the staggering loss of life here in the United States and around the world, due to the pandemic. A moment of silence with respect and compassion for all the families and friends grieving right now.

Things will get better. Our science and health care warriors are geared up and wearing invisible capes every day.

So let’s celebrate what makes us human. Joy and laughter. Because without the pain, we wouldn’t appreciate the joy. And we will work together to make sure this doesn’t ever happen again. I’m thinking AI robot dogs virus sniffer teams. They’re working on them!

So let’s dance with robots, appreciate the animals, support our troops serving around the world and thank our veterans. 

Happy 2021 everybody!

 

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Filed Under: Personal Essay Tagged With: 2020, 2021, animals, dancing, dancing robots, Happy New Year, Kimberly A. Cook, military, Oregon Zoo, pets, zoo animals

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