Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Oregon Zoo

Happy Pumpkin Dunking Season!

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Happy Pumpkin Season everybody.

I got the first clue seeing the huge stacks of pumpkins outside the grocery store a few weeks ago. Then inside, I spotted pumpkin donuts and Cheerios. I had no clue those existed. Where have I been?

It’s official. Snacking season is off to the races!

It’s pumpkin everything. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin eggnog, pumpkin decorated cookies.

Really, we all just need to walk around in sweatpants. Oh wait, many folks do. Gotta love an elastic waist for the holidays. And the kickoff event is tomorrow. Candy palooza. Whether you take the kids or grandkids out, or stock up and eat at home, you do you.

Given the current crazy in my hometown of Portland, Oregon, I am sure there will be a brigade of frog costumes on the march this Halloween. Support the ribbits!

For those of us who just eat candy at home and are proud of it, Oregon might have another dousing rainstorm, but we’re good. We’re not the beaver and duck state for nothing. If we didn’t do things in the rain, absolutely nothing would get accomplished.

Plus, Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood got lots of snow last weekend. SNOW!

You know what that means. On Halloween I will be kicking off the Crock Pot season, with a recipe I stumbled across on Pinterest. Crock pot creamy chicken parmesan soup. It looks so good. And I prefer the appliance does the simmering, while I relax. Genuis invention. In case you want to try it, here is the link. https://ladysavor.com/crock-pot-creamy-chicken-parmesan-soup

And what will I be doing while waiting on my Crock Pot?

Binge watching more of Ted Lasso on Netflix. I’m probably one of three people on the planet who has not seen the series. But I recently did my free trial to watch a baseball game and here we are, after the trial is over. Better use it before I stop it.

In the meantime, why did I bring up pumpkin dunking?

Because the adorable, rescued otters at the Oregon Zoo, Lincoln, Juno and Sushi, are practicing their moves. Why don’t we have an otter basketball league? Right?

Oregon Zoo Otters

Stay safe and spooky on Halloween!

Time change: Don’t forget, it seems early, but here in the USA, we turn clocks back an hour on Saturday, Nov. 1st. Except for the places that don’t. Like Hawaii. Such smart people…

A Fresh Start For Kindness

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Happy New Year, my fellow earthlings. Think I was kind of waiting to see if we actually made it. So far, so good. Bumpy, but we’re coping.

My goals this year are kindness, play, writing, and decluttering.

While I have been doing the last two, I need serious retraining for play, plus I’m working on kindness by trying to do a good deed each day. If I make you smile, this post counts for today’s good deed.

One article I read a long time ago said if you changed three things in your morning routine, it would turn your world upside down. Can’t even imagine what a multiple-year worldwide tri-demic does, but we’re beginning to find out. Think we are upside down, turned inside out, and floating in space.

While the entire planet is in various stages of flux and upheaval, we can recognize we are all in recovery. And that will take as long as it takes and is individual for each person and animal. Basically, this event screwed everybody, mammals, insects, all organisms.

Kindness to ourselves and others is a powerful way to move forward.

On Dec. 8, 2013, I was standing in the customer service line at Kohl’s to pay my almost overdue credit card bill. My dad had died early that morning, and my family were on our way home from saying goodbye to him at the foster home.

Sleep-deprived, grieving, in shock, and pretty exhausted, I felt like an empty vessel. Standing in line was taking way too much energy. After I paid my bill, the clerk gave me a business card. On it said #SHOWKINDNESS. I held onto that little card as if it was a surprise daisy in winter. I still have it.

You never know how you will touch someone’s life in a positive way. And sweet sea biscuits, we need as much kindness and love as we can produce right now.

Take positive baby steps. Whatever you can handle.

Elizabeth Lyon, a favorite writing instructor, talked about one percent improvement a week at a long-ago writing conference. She said we have to “chop wood and carry water” every day to be better writers.       

That goes for kindness and love too.

In that vein, I’m adding some of my new favorite videos to enjoy. I need more play and nature in my life, and given our winter weather, these videos help a lot.

The Movie Squirrels are from Norway and their humans are working to save the forest for the animals. Let’s do this!

(It’s eight hours, so pace yourselves. I watch it on my TV. You have to see The Nut Bar!)

https://youtu.be/cIvEGjm0qGM

And let’s finish up with some positive news from the Oregon Zoo!

https://youtu.be/gwBkeiHfFds

Gear up people.

Let’s get kindness trending!

Spring, Squirrels And Snow?

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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!

 

Sending Valentine Wishes

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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. 

 

 

 

Be Kind To Yourself

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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?

 

 

Prepare For Pumpkins And Comfort Food!

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Gala apples in full beautiful bounty at Packer Orchards and Bakery. Harvest time!

Dashed up the Columbia River Gorge for a pre-harvest comfort food haul before Labor Day. What to my wondering eyes appeared but a pile of mini pies at my favorite bakery and fruit stand, Packer Orchards. With the first of much needed rains coming in tonight to help drown our forest fires and clean the air, I am secure in the knowledge that tucked in my freezer are two huckleberry and peach mini pies. Plus a bunch of huckleberry empanadas. Emergency rations for the coming winter.

This is the time of year I’d like to gather a fuzzy blanket, a pumpkin pie, a can of whip cream and head for my overstuffed chair with a pile of books. Not only does the coming cold wet weather give me a chance to snuggle in and read, but the eats are amazing. Which is why I also have an electric treadmill. Actually using it seems to be an issue. But even my stretch jeans have limits.

Tower of mini pies! Heaven on earth.

Its been a summer of three months of August, according to my temperature chart. I find one month of August quite enough, but the three we had this year kept everyone confused. And holding our breath. At this time last year we were coming off fire evacuation alerts and trying to breathe in a smoke inversion which outdid Beijing, China, on their worst day. Hoping we can all take a deep breath and relax after this weekend. We are supposed to get a couple inches of rain. The trees will be so happy. And the wildland fire fighters. I may frolic in the drops myself.

This has been a summer, a year, and a couple years of crazy for everyone. For me, I’ve learned to really appreciate the little things and keep life simple. My decluttering work goes on, so maybe by next year I can find my carpet and the garage floor. Gives me something to do when it rains.

Monday is the Harvest Moon and Fall officially starts on the twenty-second. The Halloween candy in the stores is getting picked over and I just bought my new Christmas gnome decorations at Dollar Tree. Tis time to shop for the seasons. Or hoard mini pies.

Enjoy these waning days of summer and the glory of the changing leaves. We’ve been through a lot lately, my fellow earthlings. But we’re made of tougher stock than we realize.

Spring will come again. And boy howdy, do I have some pent up adventures to take. Make your travel list now.

A day trip to anywhere counts. Including the backyard or a city park.

Cans of whip cream and holiday cookies count too. COOKIES!

Fall Ho!

P.S. Filbert at the Oregon Zoo shows the exact attitude that makes him our state animal. His work is never done on that blasted dam and he has to cut and haul major snacks back to his den. I appreciate his commitment. We snack seriously here in Oregon. He illustrates me getting food ready for the NFL football season! Did you SEE the RAIDER game Monday night? Good times!