Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Thanksgiving

Pumpkin Gratitude and Thanksgiving Wishes

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Just took this out of the oven. Should have stirred the drops in the middle of the pie before baking, but regardless, we’re eating it tomorrow. Bring on the whip cream!

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Food, family, and friends.

The best things in life.

I wanted to send a quick wish of happiness and gratitude to everyone this Thanksgiving Eve. I have so many things to be thankful for and I try not to take them for granted.

With that in mind, please remember our troops serving around the globe defending our freedoms at this minute. Having spent holidays away from home in the military, I know the troops make do and celebrate the best they can, but it is a sacrifice, part of the mission. Keep them in your thoughts.

To my fellow veterans, thank you for your service and know I recognize the challenges after service. Please seek help if you need support. You’re important to your warrior sisters and brothers.   

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving with family, friends, and fur babies.

Spread kindness.

Hugs,

Kim

 

Truly Thankful

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Getting ready to start my pumpkin pie baking and I wanted to send a quick thank you out to all our military service members, foreign service officers, and all their families serving around the world and across the USA. Of the many things I learned in the military, the big takeaway was we are one big crazy family in this nation of ours.

Everybody has nutty relatives, I think I am that person in my family, truth be told. We can’t agree on the best sports teams, beer, or how to hang the roll of toilet paper or raise the dog. We do like food of many different types with various hazardous spice levels. I think we can be called a “snack nation” for our love of sweets and junk food. Have you seen the holiday drinks at Starbucks this year?

Whether it’s pumpkin or pecan pie, light, dark or no meat, one thing is for sure; I am thankful to live in a country that is still a teenager in our young two-hundred plus years of development. And we all know how challenging trying to corral a teenager can be. Like dressing a cat. Who knows he’s going to the veterinarian. Requires metal chain mail.

I propose a toast of sparkling apple cider to our troops around the world, who keep us safe while we stuff ourselves with turkey, ravioli, or pizza as we watch football games or parades.

To our military service members, active, Guard and reserve – stay safe and know you are in our hearts today and always.

And whenever I think I’m having a bad day, I watch what some of our Marines were doing on Nov. 22 in Norway.

The Polar Plunge. Ice breaking training.

Bless Them All.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Thanksgiving Eve

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A prior classic Libby’s recipe pumpkin pie from my very own kitchen. Can you smell the joy?

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Family, turkey, friends, mashed potatoes, football, pumpkin pie, gravy, whipped cream. You get my drift. It’s also a time to reflect on all we have and how lucky we are to live in the USA.

When Debbie, my Australian friend, happened to visit our family during Thanksgiving one year, she totally endorsed this fabulous holiday. Everybody can get behind a time to be thankful.

Whether you’re having turkey, spaghetti, ham, a breakfast burrito, McDonald’s Happy Meal or eating Meals-Ready-To-Eat or mess food on a ship, it’s time to reflect.

My sister and brother-in-law just got back from a trip to California to visit family. On the way down I-5 they traveled on the road with Oregon fire crews going to backup our California neighbors in need. At the hotel in Redding they shared space with more fire crews and the displaced folks who had lost their homes in the fires.

It’s times like these that those of us who are not directly touched by the wildfires, hurricanes or other natural disasters can do our part to help. Donations are always welcome. The Red Cross is a good place to start. 

So while we thank and honor our firefighters on the lines in California, our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq spending another holiday away from home, and all our military members, veterans, law enforcement and intelligence personnel around the world protecting us, it truly is a time to say thank you for what we have.

I am blessed to be able to work on my writer dreams, have a funny family and supportive friends; plus cuddle Spec Ops Cat who thinks I’m his waitress and personal mobile heating pad.

And to my blog readers, I send you hugs and wishes for peace, prosperity and pumpkin pie.

Which means I’m now heading off to whip up the pumpkin pies for tomorrow. Somehow there always seems to be leftovers. Because we plan to feed an army on purpose so we can take turkey and pie home. Life is logistics!

The only thing better than turkey day, is turkey day leftovers.

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Bright ZooLights!

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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!

 

Giving Thanks For Small Pleasures

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by Kimberly A. Cook

Thanksgiving is hands down my favorite holiday. Food, family, food, friends and leftovers. Notice the pattern. It’s also a time for me to reflect on what I am thankful for at this time of year. Besides pumpkin pie.

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Spec Ops Cat letting me take a gazillion pictures of him.  Even though you can tell he is not amused. But he is ready for the holidays with his festive blankie.

So here is a quick list of some moments and small things that have recently made a big difference for me.

  • Five birdies having a great time in the bird bath yesterday
  •  Spec Ops Cat stalking the hair dryer cord
  • Reading the book “Soar” by T.D. Jakes
  • Hallmark Christmas movies
  • A hot shower
  • Laughing with family and friends
  • Two new kitten cousins, Thelma and Louise
  • Sunshine, rain, sunshine, wind outside
  • Reading in bed
  • Icy Hot, Tens machine, heating pad and massage
  • Dove Dark Chocolate
  • Donating furniture to homeless veterans program
  • Planning Christmas cookie baking
  • Holiday songs
  • Shopping in my Fire Mountain Gems bead catalog
  • Gathering leaves to dry
  • Spec Ops Cat cuddles
  • Spending time with family and friends
  • Folks who read my blog – the best and brightest people on the planet

What is on your thankful list this year?

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Got A Turkey Launch List?

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by Kimberly A. Cook

With everything going on right now, I think the best thing to do is to prepare for Thanksgiving. Focus on food. With less light, more rain and cold temperatures, it’s the perfect time to plot the menu for next week. Once again we must answer the age-old question – jellied or whole cranberries?

Pumpkin pies and/or cake? Both. Whip cream? Always. Turkey. Yes or homemade ravioli as one former co-worker’s family. Whatever food will grace your table, it’s time to prep.

I spent two Thanksgivings in mess halls and our Army cooks put on quite a feast. And it didn’t really count if that crab leg got away from me and flew across the dining hall. I acted cool. It might still be there.

So seafood or Italian or turkey or whatever you wish for your celebration, let’s be thankful for what we have. Let us also remember our military troops serving around the world who will be eating in mess halls and aboard ships.

For those of us who might need some help in the kitchen skills arena, Snoopy is happy to show off his sous chef skills.

Happy Quirky Friday and make your Thanksgiving launch list!

https://youtu.be/t0SAmBX-7oM