Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

romance writer

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. 

 

 

 

Time For A Spring Whittle?

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Wreath bells and decorations. The pine cones are in the garage. Somewhere.

I’m rebooting myself. If we can do it to computers, we can do it to ourselves. Between the crazy cold weather, my too long sick bay recovery and the state of my house, something needs to be rebooted. So I’ve decided to start with moi.

Mucking out the house seems a first priority. Since Spec Ops Cat refuses to do dishes and housework, I had to keep up with those necessities. But cleaning out closets when homebound has led to a plethora of boxes in the living room bound for Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity and recycling.

Normally I would move all this flotsam into the garage, but it’s a mess too. Seems when I’m not feeling well I order things from Home Shopping Network to cheer me up. Then I throw the empty boxes into the garage until I can break them down. That also includes my Christmas wreath.

Miracles of miracles Monday, the sun came out and it was pleasant outside. I toddled out to the garage and proceeded to breakdown cardboard boxes and fill the entire recycling cart to the brim. Then I actually unwound the wire off the wreath, salvaging the bells and pine cones, and put the very dead fir limbs into the yard debris. 

Now I also kept the round wire frame. I’ve been doing this for years, buying holiday wreaths and then saving the frames. Haven’t used one yet. But I might. I’ve watched too many YouTube craft videos this year and I own an unused glue gun. Chaos will certainly reign at some point when it comes to these two items. I can only imagine the things I can stick myself to with a small amount of effort.

Yesterday I almost took the electronic recycling in the back of Subie to the drop off place, but I couldn’t get my butt out the door. Today is another day! The old HP printer and monitor belonged to the ancient computer I finally switched to my new computer. It only took six months, two technicians and a ton of chocolate. I’ve kept the old desktop just in case. I might need a doorstop or a boat anchor.

But I like to think this is progress. I also dragged some boxes to sort from my parent’s house out of my exercise room, it holds equipment, not that I use it. I am happy to say Subie will be driving a vintage punch bowl set to a friend of mine to donate to her church. One more box out of the house.

I watched a lot of videos while cooped up and stumbled upon Mari Kondo’s Netflix series about Tidying Up. Basically it all comes down to one thing – you have to sort your crap, er stuff. But the series gave me hope that one day I will again park Subie in the middle of the garage and perhaps see the rug in the exercise room.

Don’t get me started on my office. Between papers and books, it’s easier to fight my way to the computer and ignore it. But I am whittling on it all. That’s my new word for sorting and cleaning. Whittling. Doesn’t seem that hard to whittle away a box at a time.

My goal is to have it done by this Fall. Or at least by the time I buy another holiday wreath.

It could happen! 

Got anything to whittle at your house?   

Fierce Little Lamb Becomes Leader Of The Pack

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If you’re one of the four people who have not seen this video this week, you’re in for a treat. How cute is this little lamb? Proves the adage good and fierce things come in small packages.

Where do we buy the designer lamb sweaters? Get patterns? Anybody know?

Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

Beware Of Handsome Marine Biologists

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Think this was my overnight guest. As soon as said pup was put with the other three, could not tell them apart!

I’ve done some stupid things in my life for handsome men. I’m a sucker for a pretty face and biceps. (Lordy, there were men with amazing biceps in the Army!) But, last Friday’s harbor seal video reminded me of an adventure in my newspaper days.

While working as a reporter and photographer at the Newport News Times in 1984-85, two of my favorite (very handsome) marine biologists asked me to deliver something to Portland. I was driving to my parents house after work on Friday night. They did not tell me what it was.

I figured papers or something that needed to go to the big city. Showed up at the Hatfield Marine Science Center to find the guys tube-feeding a baby harbor seal who needed a ride to the Oregon Zoo for rehab. Surprise!

“Since the zoo will be closed when you get there, you can keep him overnight in the bathtub and take him up in the morning.”

Right. A quick call to Mom and Dad to see if that was okay. God Bless my suffering parents, they never knew what the next adventure might entail. They said fine.

Baby seal was put in a largo red Igloo cooler with the lid propped open for air and stowed in the front seat of my 1974 maroon Nova. We seat belted the cooler in and I was instructed to drive carefully.

“What if I get stopped by the cops?” I asked. “Don’t I need papers?”  I knew it was a federal offense to handle or transport marine mammals due to the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

“It’ll be fine,” they said. “Just give us a call if you get stopped.”

From my jail cell no doubt.

Another possibility of foster pup.

It’s a two to three-hour trip to Portland from Newport given the weekend traffic. My memories of the trip are fleeting incidents.

The smell of seal poop. Can’t really describe it. Think of eating only fish and then it being poop. Baby poop. Killer light yellow-greenish baby poop.

Baby seal did not like riding in the cooler. He especially did not like railroad crossings and curves in the road. He called for his mother. “Ma, ma!” That is exactly what it sounds like.

It was summer, so luckily I had the windows rolled down. Remember seal poop. This was fine until I stopped at a red light in McMinnville. Folks next to me had their windows down too. “Ma, ma!” kept coming from the cooler. I knew they were looking at me. I stared straight ahead. Ignore the seal in the front seat.

The drive seemed to take forever and I worried about him the entire time. The guys told me he should be okay, but it’s always iffy with stressed marine life. I was now his foster mom.

When I got to my parent’s house, Dad took the cooler into the backyard followed by a  group of neighbor kids. We washed the little guy off with the hose to clean him up; seal poop marinade. Then Dad airlifted him into the bathtub, complete with the non-skid pink shells on the porcelain surface.

By this time, he was hungry. I had nothing to give him or any way to feed him. We opened the bathroom window to the backyard for cool fresh air and in case of incoming or outgoing seal poop. “Ma, ma!”

Nobody slept that night.  The constant “Ma, ma” broke our hearts. The little guy also had a damn good set of lungs. Since the main bathroom was surrounded by the three bedrooms, we all felt his pain.

About 7:30 the next morning the front doorbell rang. I was getting ready to take pup up to the zoo. I answered the door. It was the neighbor who lived behind my parent’s house.

“Is everything okay?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“We heard odd noises during the night.”

We’d never been huge friends with our backyard neighbors. “It’s the seal in the bathtub,” I said.

He looked at me. A confused expression on his face.

“We’re going to the zoo,” I added. It took everything in my soul not to say, and then shopping and a movie. I did not elaborate.

He stared at me a bit longer. “Oh, okay,” he said and then left the front porch, shaking his head.

I delivered my “Ma, ma” package to the zoo staff and took some pictures. I couldn’t bring myself to take his picture while he was in the bathtub. I felt it would be exploiting his situation.

Minor damage to the bathtub included repairing the shell non-skids he had managed to loosen the edges of during the night. Which was then followed by a thorough washing with bleach.

My handsome marine biologists, who got out of driving to Portland that weekend, let me know my foster pup did make it through rehab and was released back into the wild. Think that is one reason I take so many harbor seal pictures. It’s personal. Might be great-grand kids of my overnight guest.

Beware of handsome marine biologists.  Trust me.

Pup visitor is one of these four guys. Notice the 80s gear on the zoo staff. The quest to find these pics was epic.

 

 

 

 

Got Blown Glass?

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Glass shopping heaven on the Oregon Coast!

Getting out of town is a time to find new places to see and visit old friends. That’s what we did on our beach trip. On the way home we decided to stop by the Alder House III glassblowing studio. It had been decades since we visited, so the time was right.

When we walked into the studio, Treasure was demonstrating his glass blowing techniques and educating the onlookers. We quietly joined the small crowd and realized everyone was listening and learning. Not a piece of tech in use!

Treasure hard at work using the 2000 degree furnace. Another reason this studio is at the beach.

He was working on a glass vase and went through the process of firing, blowing it hollow, shaping and adding embellishments to it. Fascinating. From the hot glass to the super hot furnace, his artistry was on display.

I know it’s really hot everywhere right now, but this is a true furnace.

      After the presentation we wandered the wonderful glass items on display. Three pieces of artwork magically jumped into our hands. We had to take them home.

Treasure applying the detailing on the outside of the vase. Art in action.

            My friend Kathy started with one bowl and then the matching two pieces in the set also jumped into her hands. We happily packed them up and put them in the back seat with the seat belt on. Precious cargo.

This glass heart insisted on going home with me. Who am I to fight destiny? Inspiration for my romance writing. Truly.

If you want to visit, the Alder House III, it is located a half mile north of Salishan Lodge on Highway 101, at 611 Immonen Road, between Lincoln City and Gleneden Beach at Siletz Bay. The lovely three-fourths of a mile road leads you along the river and through the woods. Literally. There is also Mossy Creek Pottery studio next door.

You can check out their website at www.alderhouse.com They are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May 1st through the end of October. The five glass artists make creations for everyone, so don’t be surprised if one launches itself into your hands. It’s a good thing!

Art is for everybody!

Alder House awaits for those willing to venture down the less taken road.

Is Fiction Editing Like Spray Painting?

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This park bench has been in my family for years and ended up at my house this summer. Little worse for wear. A first draft.

Yes. Yes it is. When you think you’ve finished a chapter or a book, the editing process really begins. A first draft is just that, a draft. In spray painting prep terms, it might look like a good specimen, but the closer you look, the more cracks and peeling paint you see. This is a good thing.

First you need to assess the situation. If this is the first draft of book chapter one, keep writing! Otherwise you might polish the first draft of the first chapter into nothingness. Any piece of wood or metal can only take so much sanding or polishing before it becomes dust.

After using my new mouse sander. Looks like how I feel before makeup in the morning.

If you have a finished first draft of a book, it’s time to take a much closer look and find its flaws. They may be minor or major, but taking off the layers will show you the bones and if major or minor revisions are needed.

Some coarse sanding might be in order, then medium, then fine. Once you have a manuscript stripped down to the bones and not a word wasted, you can paint on the layers of polish, aka paint.

Polishing of a first written draft is the same as a first coat of paint; you’re going to need more paint to fill in the gaps.

Take your time to round out the fiction world you have created. Bring in multiple coats of paint and words to create a smooth story and paint surface. Allow time in between layers of words and paint to let it dry and show itself.

You will make editing mistakes. Be patient with yourself. Whether you are spraying your toes or making the book worse, scrub the book and your toes to make them both sparkle.

Then on to final finishing with fine sanding and words to get all the pieces in place, sanded and glowing. One more coat to seal it and then you are good to go.

Whether you are finishing a painting or a writing project, attention to detail and time are key. With each project you undertake, you improve your skills. You find out how you write a book or chapter, not how someone else does it.

The biggest surprise? You never stop learning. With writing or spray paint!

Perfect priceless pink!