Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Kimberly A Cook

Would A Carnation By Any Other Name Smell Of Spring?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                     (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

The great thing about gardening is the unexpected surprises. Went out the door on Sunday and found out my carnation had bloomed, all by it’s little own self. I’d noticed the buds, but it was in full on open to the world mode. Fabulous!

The perfect pink carnations for Spring!
The perfect pink carnations for Spring!

While I love roses, carnations are like a very dear friend. The memories they bring back start with the large all carnation lei I brought home from a trip to Hawaii, my corsage for the Senior Prom and then all the way back to spending weekends at my Grandma Cook’s home. She grew carnations in her yard and they smelled like cinnamon under the fir trees.

The scents of Spring to me range from daphne to hyacinths, but I know carnations are my favorite. From their soft and lacy petals to the variety of colors, their fragrance still sweeps across me like the smell of Clove gum or butter rum lifesavers always hidden in my Grandma’s purse. Treasures waiting to be discovered.

The bright sun, the smell of the earth blooming anew once again, all the best parts of starting the growing season and Mother Earth coming back to life. Spring gives me hope and carnations; two great presents in one. What are your favorite Spring memories and flowers?

Time For A Refreshing Otter Ice Cube?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                    (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

I’m a day late and a blog post short since I took time out to nurse a stupid sinus cold yesterday. Forgot how much energy sneezing, blowing your nose and coughing takes. You think I’d burn lots of calories but pounding down the medicinal Easter candy in the house pretty much negated that prospect.

So while I recoup during the end of Spring Break here, thought we would check in on Gidget the sea otter at the Monterey Aquarium and see how she was enjoying her days. Ice cubes are a great treat for her and then she takes a quick nap. I thought maybe she was getting brain freeze. Eat then nap. I am so like Gidget!

Have a great rest of the weekend and Happy Quirky Saturday for a change!

Is It Really Possible To Be Organized?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                 (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

Finished doing my taxes Sunday so I could drop them off to my accountant. Every year I promise myself I’m getting them done in February and most years I don’t make it. They are a piece of cake with the day job, but it’s  the writing business which requires me to become OCD receipt girl.

Spec Ops Cat working hard on my desk to help me with taxes. See how concerned he is? Not!
Spec Ops Cat working hard on my desk to help me with taxes. See how concerned he is? Not!

Last week I was pondering just when my normally organized self got led astray. I’m pretty sure two major milestones are the cause. One was when I moved into my second house and the movers dumped my fabulously organized file cabinet upside down and I swear inside out. Those files never recovered.

Time two was when I went to transfer my contacts from my Palm Pilot to the Blackberry phone. Turns out the one version of the Palm Pilot software I owned was the one version Blackberry did not like and would not talk to.

I have not been organized since. Even when I migrated to the Samsung Galaxy S2 and grudgingly put in a few contacts, I kept carrying a paper list.

Then my Samsung died dead. Nada. Never to recover. The AT&T geek guy even replaced it free of charge after only three months since he couldn’t get it to work either. They thought it was me. Ha!

I’d bought the bestest niftiest backup program and all that was saved were a few photos since I still use a camera. Contacts all gone again. I’m staying with paper.

The more I try to streamline and simplify my life, the more the tech and bureaucracy gods are out to get me. I’m not paranoid if it’s true. So one more year of receipt chasing is in the books and I have grand and glorious plans to do it better next year.

Earlier! With unicorns and fairy dust! And Keebler elves……

Taxes done?

 

 

Born To Be Wild For Spring?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                 (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

Spring starts today! Except on the East Coast where it’s snowing. Again. Brutal! So sorry East Coasters.

So us best, West coasters have to make up for that and our thoughts turn to water sports! Spring Break to me always means the Beach Boys, the soundtrack of my youth.  So since I couldn’t find a “Surfin USA” video I liked enough, I went with the next best thing, Steppenwolf and Diesel!

Yes, I have the actual Steppenwolf vinyl record with “Born to be Wild” on it, still. Might be my new theme song. So Happy First Day of Spring! Happy Spring Break for those who have it! Happy Quirky Friday! Get your freak on!

P.S. And check out the great guns on Diesel’s jet ski driving daddy. Yowsa!

How About Taking A Shopping Vacation?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

Spent time at my favorite antique store last Friday and found a treasure I can’t afford. Peeking out from under a lamp base and a radio was a fabulous wicker travel desk. This little piece of furniture immediately got me to thinking of the British Empire in India and Lawrence of Arabia all at the same time.

This is how I first caught sight of this beauty....
This is how I first caught sight of this beauty….

It’s an amazing desk with cubicles and drawers and hiding spots. Perfect for someone with a small space who could put their laptop right on top of the fold out table.

While I would have loved to snap it up, for the tune of $550 I didn’t. Taking a picture was close.

I require space to spread out on my desk, but oh the mind vacation and adventures I could dream of sitting at this little piece of history. That is one of the reasons I love looking at antique stores and perusing gadgets and gidgets of the past.

My imagination loves to take walks on the wild side when shopping. Plus I might find some treasures I can’t live without for the bead, book, shoe, and teapot collections.

The weekend before I made a slow mosey through our local Salvation Army Store. Scanned for a small drawer unit to up-cycle and make into a bathroom storage cabinet, but no luck on my quest.

I did find out where vases, punch bowls and extra plates wind up though.

I’ve had great luck treasure hunting at Goodwill Stores in the past, but that was my first foray into Salvation Army. Think I must be more of a Goodwill Girl. Still love my large ginger jar shaped yellow lamp base I got for $5 and my small facial tissue box cover for $1. The prices were right.

Look at the drawers and cubby holes!
Look at the drawers and cubby holes!

Thinking about the stories behind the items I take home makes me imagine what kind of lives they had and who bought them first.

I’d really like to know the story behind that antique travelling desk. Maybe the real Lawrence of Arabia used it after all?

Got any fun shopping finds?

P.S. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Bet there is a Leprechaun in one of those wee drawers…..

 

Are You Smarter Than A Guinea Pig?

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by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

This past week has seen great weather, me wanting to eat every carb and sugar loaded treat in sight and all of my tech gadgets functioning at 50 percent. It’s enough to make you crazy, but then I see these super smart guinea pigs and I know there is hope for the planet.

So grab a treat and see if you can run an obstacle course like these two cute guys! Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!