Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Kimberly A Cook

Looking For A Warm Spring?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                         (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Living in the land of denial is high on my list. Especially right now when the majority of us in the good old USA are freezing our giblets off. In the Pacific Northwest we get cranky when it gets down to 32 degrees in the city, so these 20 degree temperatures plus wind chill are a force to be reckoned with this week.

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Took this picture of Mt. Hood on Dec. 28 while on a quick photo field trip in my neighborhood. Wanted to work with the fading light and my zoom lens. Clouds came in faster than expected and mucked up the visibility.  Snow belongs on the mountain, not in the city. Just say ‘in.

 

Our Mt. Hood snow skiers might find this face freezing cold fun, but I do not. My days pulling 4 a.m. post guard at Fort Carson, Colorado wearing full arctic cold weather gear pretty much gave me all the thrill I needed with high altitude cold weather training.  You haven’t lived until you’ve tried walking in Army Mickey Mouse boots in a snowstorm.

If I wanted to live in these temperatures I’d move to Antarctica or someplace colder, like Wisconsin. (Go Packers!) So I’ve taken precautions. Moved the Gardenia plant into the garage for a balmy 37 degree spa experience. Duct taped the foundation vent hole blockers to ensure they stay put in the high winds forecast for tonight.

Bought four more holiday blankets on clearance to hang over the big windows; plastic blinds are not the best for insulation. Stocked up on goodies from cookies to beans. Got myself a plug in Warm-Me-Up Heated Pocket Wrap to cuddle into while in the LaZBoy.

My sister got Mom one for Christmas. I beat feet to Bed, Bath and Beyond and bought one using my 15% off coupon. When I combine that with the heating pad, will be toasty as long as I don’t trip the breakers.

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Spring Bunny Squad! It’s just around the frozen corner.

 

So you can imagine how excited I was at the store today when I spied this row of new merchandise on the shelves. Spring bunnies! We will make it through this cold and the daffodils will rise again. They started peeking up last month then all this cold hit and they went back down into the ground. Smart move.

Stay warm, stay safe and keep any important body parts covered. Words to live by this New Year. Happy 2017!

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Had to take this picture before Christmas. How happy are these giant bears? If you can find one on clearance, snap it up. Big teddy bear snuggles will keep you warm!

 

 

 

Time To Explore Our National Parks In 2017

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by Kimberly A. Cook                (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

This final Quirky Friday of 2016 calls for something good to start off the new year. I’m promoting visiting our National Parks. Since the National Park Service celebrated their 100th Anniversary in 2016, it’s time we get out there and enjoy the amazing lands owned by We The People. We also need to thank the wonderful National Park Service employees for their dedication and service.

I’ve visited the Grand Canyon, Crater Lake, Olympic, Pearl Harbor Memorial, Yosemite, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Wall, Arlington, Olympic, Fort Vancouver and The Capitol Mall for a quick list; only about 399 to go.

Thank you all for reading my blog this past year. Have a safe holiday weekend and a very Happy New Year! Let’s go hike in a National Park in 2017!

This link will help you find a National Park near you.

https://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm

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!

 

 

Need A Holiday Laugh?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                             (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Between too much sugar, salt, shopping, tight jeans and snow, I can always use a good laugh this time of year. So I decided to go back to one of my favorite crazy cartoons for a quick hit of nostalgia from 2005.

Who can go wrong with the Madagascar Penguins? Is this a wonderful creative country or what?

Have a safe holiday weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

 

https://youtu.be/wqCY0joOEcU

 

Got Fun Snow Pics?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                            (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

For the three people in the lower 48 states who don’t have snow at the moment, I wanted to send along some photos to get you in the holiday mood. For the rest of us who’ve about had it with the ice/sleet/freezing rain/snow debacles, maybe these will give you a smile.

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This little hedgehog guy was a gift from a friend and graces one of the impatien pots in the backyard. Thought I’d rounded all the critters up and put them in the garage, but I missed this cutie. He appeared out of the melting snow. Got to love that smile!

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Always on the job, farmer bunny is still hard at work trying to remove snow when he’s not pushing around posies during the summer. He’s got quite a good crop of snow in this picture. Bun also insists on wearing his overalls without a coat, even in this cold weather. Iron Bun!

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Ever alert, the gnome guard at the Fairy Rock Garden stayed at his post and kept up surveillance during the storms. He must have gotten wind of the mouse family who invaded the garage and isn’t taking any chances. Even though the fairies have not yet moved into these cottages, they are still under construction, he is on the job keeping their future homes safe.

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Of course the only things left behind by these invaders were their tiny footsteps. Or claw prints to be exact. They all seemed to be right around the pile of bird feed put out before the storms started. Not sure I can get an ID on these perps, but bet they have feathers.

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This little guy doesn’t have any snow on his feet, but I bet he’s the lookout for the bigger gang. He found time to bask in the short sun spot, like I’ve done when it shows up.

If you’re up to your keister in snow and sick of it, try taking some fun snow pics or at least coming up with new swear words. I tried both yesterday while I was scraping ice off the front sidewalk. The ice won!

Wishing you all happy holidays, warm homes, holiday cookies, eggnog and may all your tv and tech devices stay on!

 

 

Happy Birthday Jane Austen!

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by Kimberly A. Cook                   (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Enough of the weather! Let’s get onto important things, like romance. Today is Jane Austen’s birthday, she was a truly amazing author. While I’d heard about Jane Austen, I never studied her work in school.

Then the 2005 movie of “Pride and Prejudice” came out. I was hooked for life. The words, the actors, the cinematography, the music; breathtaking.

Besides the scene in the rain, this is my second favorite; the happy ever after. When he walks across the pasture with his coat flying behind him and his shirt collar open, big time swooning commences on my part.

We all need more romance. Fire up the tv, grab a bowl of popcorn and watch Jane Austen tonight.

Happy Quirky Friday! Have a great weekend. Who cares about snow and cold weather when we have Jane Austen?