Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

romance author

Celebrating Jane Austen

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Some of my teacups surrounded by my two new Jane Austen books. It’s always time for a relaxing tea party and a good novel.

Want to escape?

Me too. So that’s what I did last weekend, I retreated to Jane Austen.

For me this meant rewatching Hallmark’s Paging Mr. Darcy and then streaming Austenland. And then I was down the research rabbit hole.

Discovered this is Jane’s 250th birthday year. Then I found a new book about the women authors who inspired Jane’s writing. Off to Barnes and Noble I went and pounced on that volume, then found a collection of all seven of her novels. Score! Snatched that up too.

Austen confessions. I haven’t actually read the books. Not growing up. Not sure how I missed her in all my high school literature classes. But I was reading Harlequin books from the git go. And a huge Shakespeare fan, so not sure how I got derailed. But then, I saw the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice. With Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfayden.

Sweet mother of boots and breeches.

I know. Let’s all take a moment. In reverence. Make sure to breathe.

The rain scene?

Then when Darcy strides across the fields?

Never in all my born days… Vapors. Swooning. Breathing optional.

I adore that film so much I have two DVD copies in case one gets scratched.

Say what you want about us Baby Boomers and our analog media, but the Army taught me; if you don’t have it, you don’t HAVE it.

Then I discovered something else.

It’s the 20th Anniversary of the movie and they are bringing it back to the big screen in selected theaters on April 20th!

Not sure my heart can take it. I checked locally and it is in three theaters here in Vancouver, Washington, and in Beaverton, Oregon, on April 18. Ladies and gents, check your theater listings. It’s movie go time!

Now, if for some unromantic reason you don’t prefer Jane Austen, you do you, but here are some other escapes.

Opening March 28th is The Penguin Lessons, which I didn’t know about, based on the book of the same name. A story of a teacher and his bird. Based on a true adventure. This is a must see for me.

Last night on Netflix I started watching The Residence, a murder mystery series set in the White House. It is brilliant. Of course, Shonda Rhimes produced it, so expect only the best. I stopped at three episodes. Not easy. Had to get some sleep. Back at it tonight.

Or go outside for a promenade.

It’s been rumored we might have three days of sun next week. Always a win.

Or hunt down where you can view other Jane Austen inspired movies from Hallmark like An American in Austen, Sense and Sensibility, and Jane and Love from 2024, or Unleashing Mr. Darcy from 2016. Or the gazillion others made over the years. Emma is a big favorite of mine too, with Ann Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, and Bill Nighy.

Right now, I am reading Undressing Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos.

Love is the greatest power on earth.

Let’s refill our hearts and work toward everybody getting a happily ever after.

Inside and outside the book pages.

I leave you with the 20th Anniversary film trailer to make your day.

You’re welcome.

 

 

 

Sending Valentine Wishes

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The Double Delight rose is one of my favorites. You can see why. From my backyard in a past summertime. Ah, summer. Soon…

They say people give the gifts they want to receive, so I must love cards, Dove dark chocolate, and roses. I do! But I can’t push those things through the interweb, so a photo will have to do. Was going to use a picture of my blooming Yuletide Camillias, but it snowed on them last night. They’re a tad droopy and cold this morning.

So, into the archives! Wanted to share a rose bloom from a while ago.

The thing I love most about today is we celebrate love.

And the world needs so much more love these days.

Only one of many reasons I am proud to be a romance author.

Spreading love every day of the year!

Cheers to more love on our planet.

And the comfort only love can provide in challenging times.

Love is the greatest power in the galaxy.

I hope you take some time to be kind to yourself and others today.

And all the fur babies.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

P.S. Happy 164th birthday to the State of Oregon too! 

 

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!

 

Ahoy Hugs And Bon Voyage Heat!

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This is what I do for fun in a heat wave. Take pictures!

Life is odd. Yesterday I had concerns my plastic bird bath was melting. There was a definite list to port. But the marine air fought its way in from the coast and saved us from the crazy weather we’ve had for three days. It was thirty degrees cooler in Maui than Portland on Sunday. That’s just so wrong.

But I’d prepared last week and stocked up on ice cream. Like most of my neighbors, if the decimated ice cream bar case was any clue last Wednesday. We Oregonians treat heat over ninety like a snowstorm; go home and hunker down. With snacks.

But I celebrated an early birthday present this month too.  I got to hug my mom for the first time since March 16, 2020. It felt longer, let me tell you. I managed to get two hugs. I became fully vaccinated June third and my first visit inside mom’s apartment was June 10. Fabulous!

Hugs are what I’ve missed most during the pandemic. I consider them energy transfers. Hugs are back!

I even got a hug from my computer repair wizard last week. Plus he gave me a ride in his new Tesla. Scared the bejeezus out of me. I’m not a fan of going over seventy miles an hour and quick acceleration with other traffic around. Maybe if I was driving? No. Don’t think so. But it was an adventure! I would like to drive an M1A1 tank. My fancy vehicle choices are different. And much more expensive.

But Oregon is very close (69.4%) to having seventy percent of our adult folks vaccinated. By tomorrow we should be there and the Governor is lifting restrictions. But we have to be on our guard, because mutant variants are literally roaming the country and multiplying. The unfortunate thing is unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated people are at higher risk of hospitalization and death from the Delta variant. It takes five weeks from your first shot, of the two-shot regime, to be fully vaccinated. Run for the vaccines!

On flight status with the Air Force Reserve, I had to keep shots current for worldwide deployment as an Aeromedical Evacuation Operations Officer. We had monthly printouts to remind us what shots we needed. It was a bunch. Then if we deployed, we got more shots for that region. Please get the vaccine. Let’s put a wooden stake through this virus’s mutant heart, cell, replication, you get my drift.

Because I have a lot of missed hugs to gather and I need to know you’re all covered. Vaccinate to hug up America!

And with our new Oregon seasons of wildfires, ice storms, and heat waves upon us here in the West, I bet we get a snow storm in August. Time to buy more snacks!

I finished off that two pound bag of peanut M&Ms because they were past their good by date. I hate waste. That’s my story and I’m using it.

Summer Snacks ahoy!

Marine air from the Pacific Ocean works a four-hour miracle last night. This is what I call a happy ending! (No, I did not put the outside sensor in the freezer.)

Satan, Cookies And Bears?

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Is it just me, or is 2020 having an epic hangover into 2021? Have you seen the above Match.com commercial with Satan and 2020 getting connected? They’re still dating! Maybe Mother Nature can split those two apart, she’s got massive game.

As a romance author I’m not usually encouraging the break up side of things, but in this case I will make an exception. On the other hand, is Satan built or what? Far be it from me to ignore the amazing muscles on this guy. It’s research. I’m REQUIRED to check out men. Love my job!

It’s one of the many writer things I miss not being out people watching. I need input! In the before times, being free range gave me all kinds of human behavior to observe and use in my stories. And eavesdropping is awesome. It’s amazing the ideas you can get from people out in public on their phones who think no one can hear them. Beware. Authors lurk in person. Hah!

Those times will return when we get our vaccine shots and move forward. I had so many immunizations in my military days, I’m a well preserved Twinkie. Bring it on! Actually got a shot for the plague when I went on Desert Training at Fort Irwin, California. You would think that one would count now, but no, viruses are sneaky!

(The Fort Irwin prairie dogs had the plague, so in case we engaged with infected ones, we needed to be immunized. Fun fact, Army folk spend a lot of time in the dirt. As do prairie dogs. I love prairie dogs. Not sure who gave them their get well shots.)

While out on my once a week excursion to pick up mail and groceries this week, I added a very important item to my basket. The pink love bear I didn’t buy the first time I saw him. But he waited for me and came home to join my stuffed animals squadron. He was also on sale, thirty percent off. A bear bargain!

(Bag one bear at checkout along with hand sanitizer, veggies, fruit, and eggs. The glamour of it all.)

Then while picking up my mail packages, I discovered a pile of fliers on the counter for contactless ordering for Girl Scout Cookies. Local delivery. YES! We will make it through this mess if we have delivery cookies. I am a thin mint addict. They also freeze really well. If they make it to the freezer.

I will do my patriotic part and support this young woman entrepreneur by ordering rations. Keep the economy moving. You can go to www.girlscouts.org and look for cookies by zip code starting Feb. 1!

And keep moving/walking too, especially for those of us eating cookies.

Now I’m going to do some card crafting for my mental health. Mailing cards I make is fun for me and people seem to appreciate getting them. A definite two-fer! I’m working my way up to finger painting. Embrace the mess. Why not?

Hang in there people of earth! Safety first, shots next.

P.S. BIG NEWS – I forgot to let you know our beloved Polar Bear Nora, former Oregon Zoo resident, is moving back to the zoo this spring! We have fabulous new digs for her and she gets a wing woman buddy in the fall. Excellente!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Valentines Day! Eat Cake!

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This is the mini chocolate cake I made for my Mom’s 94th birthday. I took a picture of today’s, but WordPress won’t let me upload it. Gah! Suffice it to say, it looks like this, but on a red heart plate. I use Betty Crocker Super Moist Devil’s Food cake mix and also Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy milk chocolate frosting. In case you need the secret recipe. For emergencies.

Happy New Year! Happy Valentines Day! I lost a month. More like two. Actually three, to be exact. Long story short, my mom had medical challenges and three months later here we are, coming out the other side. Tonight we get to celebrate her 95th birthday at her new Assisted Living home.

Since she is also a Valentines Day baby, it is especially sweet she is doing much better and we know she has a fabulous group of minions helping her out. Besides my sister and myself. We’re good, but very human. We wear down.

So now that mom has more staff, we are trying to get back on track with our to do lists, right after we finish clearing out her apartment this next week. And sell the car. And sort paper files.

Can we chat about stuff? I had too much of my own mess before this move. Still haven’t cleaned out all the stuff from Mom’s prior move two years ago.

If you’re thinking about downsizing or moving, start cleaning out yesterday. But not my new craft supplies I purchased when I had five or ten minutes to kill between running errands, buying groceries, and helping mom. I call it craft therapy for when you don’t have time to get to an actual therapist.          

On this holiday I am grateful for family, friends, hugs and well wishes. Good thoughts helped too. Especially appreciated my friend Kathy helping me wrangle two bookcases, one LaZBoy, and a very stout round kitchen table into my house. My dad built the kitchen table in my youth and it could withstand a nuclear blast.

It also didn’t fit inside the hatchback. I volunteered to be ballast and we drove with the tabletop on the bumper and me holding on for dear life to the bottom pedestal. It was a long block, but we made it. Now Spec Ops Cat thinks he has a new cat enrichment gym. And I need to rearrange my house and get rid of more overstuffed chairs. Still stuff.

While we celebrate this day of giving thanks for love, I want to acknowledge all the good in this world. Especially by the people who give a small part of themselves when they don’t realize how much it can mean to a brain dead, exhausted caregiver unable to even do simple math. Bless you all.

Like texts from friends just checking in, when they know all you’ve got time for is to maybe send an emoji. And they still care.

Grocery checkers who smile at you and make you laugh, when you really need a lift to your spirits.

Medical professionals who can’t give you a definite answer, but try to help.

Your dentist gets you in pronto to fix a tooth you just broke in half eating a Wheat Thin.

Your brother-in-law figures out why the new GFCI plug isn’t working so you don’t have to keep manually hurking your garage door up and tripping over the extension cord running from the house to the freezer in the garage.

Les Schwab mechanic angels figure out your flashing low tire pressure light isn’t right, but it needs to be replaced. And they do it.

The two sets of craft stamps you really want and thought you missed, miraculously show up on a flying trip in and out of Tuesday Morning.

Chocolate chip cookies, Goobers, cinnamon toast, a Big Mac and fries. And I only started gaining weight this week. It’s back to chicken, broccoli and rice!

For all the caregivers out there, hugs and best wishes. There are no calories for you today. Really. Take a deep breath. Now another. You’ve earned it.

Yes, you can make a cake just for yourself. Or buy cupcakes, cookies, or anything else you need to cope. And there are free meditation lessons on YouTube.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day everybody!