Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Oregon Zoo

Big, Gray And Fabulous – Samson And The USS Portland

By Leave a Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook

The sun came out this week and all of Oregon went crazy. Sun party! In addition, we got two huge gray presents to add to the celebration; Samson the new male elephant at the Oregon Zoo and our city’s very own Navy ship, the USS Portland.

Both huge, gray and beautiful, Samson is getting accustomed to his new digs before he meets the rest of the herd.

Likewise, the USS Portland has completed her sea trials, but gets commissioned here tomorrow to send her off on duty. She cruised 125 miles inland up the Columbia River to visit Portland. She brought Navy and Marine crew members with her. She needs staff. Next up? Anchors aweigh!

So have a great, safe, Quirky Friday and fabulous weekend! Go big! Go gray!

 

 

 

 

#USSPortland      #LPD27

Ready For Bunny Romp?

By 1 Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook

Celebrated Spring Break this week by attending a private crochet camp. I flunked. Actually, it was two friends and my Mom with her friend teaching, but private crochet camp sounds so fancy. It confirmed I’m a knitter and got me back to a blanket project, so success.

Spring is my favorite time of year with the flowers blooming, more daylight and bunnies! I have been a huge bunny fan since I was young. We had a wild rabbit sighting in my backyard as a kid and I’ve been bunny bonkers ever since.

So while other folks might be dealing with basketball brackets, I’m enjoying bunny brackets. How about these seven-week-old Rex rabbits who have joined the Oregon Zoo family farm? So adorable!

Bet they are the star attractions for the Oregon Zoo’s Rabbit Romp tomorrow. Remember, don’t give rabbits as live gifts, but do eat your greens like these baby bunnies demonstrate. However, they are eating kale; good for them, but I think lettuce is fine too.

Have a great safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

 

Go Condors, Butterflies and Turtles!

By 2 Comments

by Kimberly A. Cook

I know this is Super Bowl weekend and these teams are not in the game, but they’re still winning! Since this week we’re celebrating victories, thought it was a great time to check out the Oregon Zoo’s conservation accomplishments for 2017.

And I’ve never seen anything cuter than a pygmy rabbit. Seriously! But the western pond turtle is a looker too.

Stock up on chips and dips, don’t forget Kitten Bowl Five on the Hallmark Channel, and root for the condors, butterflies, turtles and pygmy rabbits!

Have a great, safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

Happy Bright ZooLights!

By Leave a Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook

While we’re still full from Turkey Day celebrations, it might be time to go for a walk and work off those 4,000 calories from yesterday. The ZooLights program at the Oregon Zoo is one way to support the animals, get exercise and see fun lights!

Whatever your community offers, get out there and mingle. Then you have an excuse to eat leftovers. More pumpkin pie please. I have my own personal can of whip cream.

Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

 

Sea Otter Awareness Week?

By Leave a Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook                        (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Can you believe it’s Sea Otter Awareness Week? I didn’t know about it until Wednesday, but it has been going on for a couple years. So in the interest of informing the public, zoos and aquariums had a #SeaOtterTweetOff  – talk about the quantity of cuteness.

In case you missed the posts, our own Eddie from the Oregon Zoo updated his basketball dunk video and went for the gold in the competition. But the Vancouver (B.C.) Aquarium also competed with rescued sea otter pup Hardy meeting 13-year-old Tanu for the first time. Adorable.

If you want to check out all the events before they end tomorrow, go to www.seaotterweek.org for all the info and to purchase the commemorative water bottle. Then we can all plan how we will celebrate next year.

I found out sea otters eat 25 percent of their weight every day. I’m a sea otter too!

Have a great, safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

 

 

August Summer Daze?

By Leave a Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook                      (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

August has gotten away from me. Between a record heart wave with à la mode forest fire smoke for 11 days, a house guest, roofers, a plugged up garbage disposal and a two-day writer’s conference, time marched on.

Today is our first half day of clean air and more humane temperatures. Yeah! For awhile there breathing was optional and not recommended. Thank heaven for air conditioning and forest fire fighters! And marine air from the Pacific Ocean.

So before it became harmful for everyone to be outside in August, including our Oregon Zoo residents, here is how they were enjoying the summer days.

Have a safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!