Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

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Is It Time For A Swim?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

It’s been wet and windy here in Oregon and the last thing I’ve thought about is taking a dive in the pool. But the folks at the Oregon Zoo thought yesterday was the perfect time to open the new elephant pool!

And guess who is acting like a little submarine? Baby Lily! With the rest of us human creatures running around getting ready for the holidays and trying to finish our to do lists, Lily shows us what is really important; play time!

The Oregon Zoo’s new pachyderm pool is 12 feet deep and 80 feet wide and the water level can be adjusted to be deep enough for big boy Packy or make it shallow for baby Lily. Amazing stuff.

So while we humans are thinking about gray days and rain, the Portland pachyderms are having a blast on the beach at their new swimming hole. Maybe that’s a good lesson for all of us these days. Take time out to play in the puddles.

Know a good place to swim in December?

How About Cheetah Friday?

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by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Ever played fetch with a cheetah? Bet not! But Ranger at the Oregon Zoo has keeper Beth trained to hit balls over the fence, then Ranger brings them back. How cool is that?

Who says cats can’t fetch?

And how good a photographer do you have to be to keep up with a cheetah playing ball? Fast!

Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

Need Help Smashing Pumpkins For Pie?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

If you’ve got some leftover giant pumpkins from Halloween you might want to use for pies, I don’t recommend letting Lily and her pachyderm pals help in the kitchen. See what they did to two giant gourds for the annual squishing of the squash.

I particularly like the way Lily straddles her food. A girl after my own heart! Our butts kind of look the same too.

Have a great weekend everybody and Happy Quirky Friday!

Let’s Play Indoor Games!

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by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

The rains are finally coming tonight and I could not be happier. This unexpected weekend rain storm should really help with the forest fires here in the West. Mother Nature must have heard our prayers for our neighbors, firefighters and Oregon and Washington National Guard troops out fighting the blazes.

So let’s all do our part by enjoying this rainstorm and play inside. Let’s follow the lead of these two buddies, Jet and Emilia, having a fun time in the house. Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday. Let it rain!

Summer Loving, Photography and Grease?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twittter@  WarriorTales)

Some of my best summer kid memories are staying outside late playing when the weather was warm and the air smelled like endless time. Those days seemed to last forever.

Summer sunset in the park with John Travolta singing "Greased Lightning!" Damn!
Summer sunset in the park with John Travolta singing “Greased Lightning!” Priceless!

Even riding in the bed of my Dad’s pickup to go watch the fireworks with family and friends was a big thrill. Yes, current safety concerns aside, many of us boomers did survive the attempt to perhaps thin the herd when we were young; no bike helmets, no air bags and no seat belts for a while. It may also explain a lot about some of us, come to think of it.

This past Friday I joined family and friends and went to see a free movie at the park, “Grease.” I always have my camera with me. After I plopped my butt in my fold up chair, I took a couple of pics of the pink sunset.

Now I didn’t move, mind you, I just clicked away. I like this one the best of the lot, given I was using telephoto to block out fellow movie goers and buildings, the scene might be in a forest. Think fairies and unicorns.

But to prove I am true to my word, here is the rest of the Friday night movie going herd waiting for the fun to begin in the second photo. One of my favorite scenes in another movie “The Wedding Planner,” is when they are watching black and white movies in the park. How romantic! Us real people can actually do these things, especially during the summer.

Used telephoto on this pic too, since we were back in the cheap seats on the hill. This is what America means to me! Outside free summer movies and people watching!
Used telephoto on this pic too, since we were back in the cheap seats on the hill. This is what America means to me! Outside free summer movies and people watching!

So check your parks and library folks and see if there might be a fun free outside movie in your future. In downtown Portland they even show them on top of parking garages. Maybe it’s just us West Coasters who enjoy the outside movies, but I doubt it. Enjoy summer and be a kid again!

Grab your folding chairs, blankies, hoodies, snacks and get outside for movies! Don’t forget your camera too. Magic might happen!

Can You Crocodile Rock With The Gnomes?

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by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

It’s been so great to have all the gnomes back on the patio this week I can’t help but go a little nuts. What better way to celebrate the coming weekend and beautiful weather than a Gnomeo and Juliet dance off! Since I know the gnomes run around and have great fun when I’m not looking, it’s nice to be able to catch their antics on film. Check out the moves by the pink flamingoes!

Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

https://youtu.be/uXyT9tlQ9Pc