Military Romance Author
by Kimberly A. Cook
We’ve been blessed with some sun recently and us Oregonians know how to party when the rays appear. Even our Oregon Zoo elephants get in on the fun.
Sam is enjoying the great weather a couple days ago by playing in the pool.
Have a great, safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook
Creativity is a muscle that needs to be exercised. One of my favorite ways to get the imagination train moving is shopping antique stores and flea marts. Not only is it a photographer’s paradise, it is so much fun finding treasures hiding in plain sight.
Last week on our road trip we stopped at The Old Trunk in Hood River. This killer combo of antiques and soda fountain, plus fruit later in the year is a fun jaunt. I’ll admit we were lured in by the promise of huckleberry ice cream on their website; I’d go just about anywhere for huckleberries. Ice cream too.
With the trusty camera along, my creativity gets inspired and things jog my memory or I marvel at items combined in a different way. Of course, seeing all books a buck about sent me into a buying spree. I controlled myself; my bookshelves are overflowing.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t buy ice cream! One of the owners described the crowds they are seeing now and how crazy it will get as the season gets warmer. We lucked in between the crowds late in the day at 4 p.m. for a high ice cream, instead of high tea.
Simple pleasures, good friends, good weather and ice cream. Living the dream!
Whether you wander on purpose or journey to a destination, take your camera along and prepare to experience some whimsy.
Exercise your creativity muscles!
https://www.oldtrunkhr.com/
by Kimberly A. Cook
Monday I took a road trip with a friend up the Columbia River Gorge. Haven’t been through since the devastating wildfires last Fall. Wanted to check in with Mother Nature. Glorious weather this week, so the fruit blooms and the mountains were out.
Kathy volunteered to drive, which is such a treat for me. I gave her photo lessons in return. And lunch too. Excuse to eat at my favorite restaurant in Hood River, the Sixth Street Bistro. So I wanted to share with you some pics from our adventure.
Stopped at Multnomah Falls which only allowed visitors recently. While the lodge gift shop is open, the parking lot is fenced off and the old highway too. So driving into the parking lot on I-84 is the only entrance. It was nice to not dodge crossing cars on the way to the Falls, but there were people everywhere anyway.
After doing some combat photography fighting the people, dogs, strollers, water spray and flying pollen in the wind, I got a few good pics. Shooting into the sun not the best, but I managed to worm my way on each side of the Falls to take photos.
Then it was off to Hood River for lunch, then exploring the road up the mountain for some of my favorite picture-taking sites. The fruit blooms were opening up and the mountains were basking in the sun.
We are having record temperatures right now, might be 86 today, and we broke a record yesterday. Rain back on Friday, but who cares, enjoy the sun!
Ready to unleash your cameras? Pics away!
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
by Kimberly A. Cook
Spring fever is really hitting. I’ve been working on tech and writing issues all week. And @#$%^ tech is winning. Not in a good way. So I went looking for some horse porn to settle my nerves and found Frederik The Great! Again.
Sigh. Tried to get one of my fav clips from the movie “Ladyhawke” where Rutger Hauer rides into the church. YouTube only had the church fight scene, not their entrance. Entrances are everything! So the bonus photo instead. You’re welcome.
I first became aware of Friesian horses due to that movie. They were bred for battle way back in the day, believed from Friesland province, Netherlands in the 16th century.
When Hauer rides into the church on that gorgeous horse, real name Goliath, I melted. Completely. Hauer isn’t too shabby to look at either.
Yes, Frederick looks like the horse version of Fabio and that too is fabulous. I covet my personally autographed Fabio poster to this day. It’s framed. Two words. Naked biceps.
So in honor of all pets honored this week, here is Frederick The Great to help us all run free and get our minds off everything! Except “Ladyhawke” and Fabio that is.
Happy Quirky Friday and have a great, safe weekend!
If you want to check out the Professor’s armor review of the film, here:
https://www.tor.com/2017/11/08/history-fantasy-and-weird-armor-ladyhawke/
by Kimberly A. Cook
I’m behind in my writing duties since I was waiting on Spec Ops Cat hand and paw for yesterday’s National Pet Day. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Part of his present included me spending a long lunch with family having chai tea, chicken cranberry walnut salad on a croissant and a huge cookie.
Such sacrifice on my part. Leaving home so he could nap in silence was really his gift. (I write fiction for a reason.)
He celebrated his special day by waking me up with a 5:20 a.m. hairball. Always providing me with gifts. Such a giver. But he is my roommate, buddy and vice president of security operations, so he earns his keep.
Did you celebrate your pet yesterday? Feel free to do it today and every day. Make sure to ration those treats; no matter how much they beg.
Spec Ops Cat thinks he has a magic food bowl. Since he will chow down his wet gravy food too fast, I give him a tablespoon at a time in the morning to slow his gobbling. Works great.
But he tries to use “bowl patrol” during the rest of the day before dinner. If he stares at the bowl long enough, then looks at me, maybe more food will appear out of the heavens.
Know that feeling when you’re watching tv and you feel target lock? Turn my head into the kitchen and yup, bowl patrol. He’s giving me “the look.” He has plenty of dry food, but he’s a gravy guy.
Hug your pets and treasure them while you can. I’ve had four friends lose their loving buddies in the past five months. Heart breaking. I’ve informed Spec Ops Cat he is not to go along with that crowd. As usual, he wasn’t listening to me, but napping in a sun spot.
Hug your fur babies today and every day!
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