Military Romance Author
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
We are overwhelmed with cuteness here in Oregon. Not only are we awaiting Nora the polar bear’s debut next month, but we have baby otter Ottumn to watch too. Can you feel the love?
Not sure I’d like to learn to swim the way Mom drags the baby into the water, but it’s worked for them for generations. Cute squeaks too!
Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
Running errands on Friday I stopped at the store and saw the big orange invasion; pumpkins everywhere! White pumpkins, bumpy pumpkins, baby pumpkins, miniature pumpkins, regular pumpkins and ceramic pumpkins. Plus all the Halloween candy one’s heart desires.
Time to stock up now! If you want the good Halloween candy you have to buy in September, because the locusts come in and all that is left by mid-October is the candy nobody really likes. Consider yourselves warned.
The reason I was in the garden section was to find discounted items for the Fairy Rock Garden and perhaps a gazing ball on sale. Scored on all accounts. The garden art was twenty-five percent off, including the gazing ball, picked up some plastic butterflies, a couple mini-elves and a mini-house.
Bargains make me so happy, but I’m sure there must be a garden art intervention in my future.
More leaves are turning colors and falling off the trees, the tomatoes are giving their last crop of bounty and the weekend rainstorm reminded us all why we like sweaters and warm socks. The sun is coming back this week, but the shorter days tell the story; soon it will be time for pumpkin pie!
So the outside chores to do list is heating up. I will try to finally get the garage cleaned up and mucked out. Then it will be time to put the lawn swing away for the winter and break out the fuzzy blankets and fleece lounging jammies for cuddles.
Celebrate the seasons and enjoy the simple pleasures. Planting new bulbs is always a good idea to see what pops up in the new year. Must go back to the garden section while the sales are still raging. Plus pick up some extra Halloween candy. Just to be sure……
Got treats for tricks?
P.S. A salute to the first responders, law enforcement staff, military personnel and citizens who helped this past weekend after the terrorist acts on the East Coast. Wishing all those wounded and injured to heal fast and know you are in our hearts and prayers.
While we seek justice against terrorist acts, we must not lose our compassion. Fighting terrorism is not easy and it won’t be finished overnight. But with a United States population of more than 330 million strong, we’ve got this and we will finish it one day. Count on it.
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
Last Friday I set off on an adventure to my favorite Bead Show in Portland. Given all that had happened in the nation, I felt odd to be trekking off for a fun afternoon. Rode the MAX light rail line down to the Convention Center; not only is it fast, but the people watching is fabulous. The slogan “Keep Portland Weird” really does apply here.
Since I was born in Portland, that explains a lot about me too. A quick trip and suddenly I’m in gem heaven. The show comes twice a year and the last time I had sixty minutes tops to shop.
Friday I had time to wander at will. On my fourth booth, jackpot! Found beads I could not live without and snapped them up. The scavengers who had been there at the opening two hours earlier had depleted the pink bead stock, but I still scooped up my pretties.
The show has increased to almost fifty percent rocks and minerals in addition to jewelry. Found some fabulous geode and amethyst specimens to drag home except for the prices, but I could take pictures. Purple really is my color.
So with my bag of bead booty, continued on my route to check out every single booth. Collected more must haves along the way to add to my collection. My name is Kim and I’m a bead hoarder. Figure it’s still cheaper than a bass boat!
After three hours of pure joy, it was time to jump back on MAX with the evening commuters and head back to my car. It’s so much fun whizzing by the stuck freeway traffic on MAX and not being the one stuck for a change.
When I got home I checked out my take. Seed bead necklaces from Guatemala, necklace pendants from Nepal, beads from China, silver from Italy, almost amethyst from the fairy caves. I’d seen gemstones from Afghanistan, beads from South Africa, nesting dolls from Russia and the Larimar stones I love from the Caribbean.
It all made me smile. The vendors who attended from up and down the West Coast with their wares all came together to help people like me make pretty things. That once again proves we can do things together for a greater good. Even if we start with one bead.
Sitting on my computer is a business card I was given at Kohls in December 2013. It was part of an ad campaign by the store, but the clerk couldn’t know when she handed it to me how much it would mean. My father had passed away during the night. We were headed home after seeing him for the last time and I stopped to pay my bill. I was exhausted, grief stricken, numb and not too happy to wait in line.
That little card made me remember all the people who had been so kind to us throughout the ordeal. At one of the worst moments in my life I got a business card that said #SHOWKINDNESS.
Seems like a really good place to start to move forward in this country. So simple we can all do it. Some pretty beads might help too. The power of the good Force is strong. Hope lives.
Who’s been kind to you lately? Pass on kindness. You never know what a difference it might make in someone’s day.
P.S. Thank you to all my readers. You make my day.
P.P.S.S. For my fellow beadaholics, the www.gemfaire.com might come to your town. Don’t miss it!
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
It’s our nation’s birthday on Monday and I’ve got a lot to be thankful for these days. The simple things in life are the biggies for me right now. Since my military days I love indoor plumbing, electricity, baggage with wheels, automatic transmissions, not walking post guard at 4 a.m. at Fort Carson, Colorado and a queen size bed to name a few luxuries.
A big shout out to all the military, law enforcement and medical personnel working this long weekend at home and around the world to keep us safe. I salute you all. Thank you.
Sometimes it’s not easy being citizens of the United States of America, but it’s never boring. We may be a very large dysfunctional family at times, be we are family. Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July.
Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
After a crazy work week it’s always nice to take a breather. My Mom told me about this video she saw on the news about a moose taking time to stop and play the wind chimes in Alaska.
A very talented and gentle moose she seems to be, enjoying the lilting sound of the chimes. Maybe the moose knows how to relax better than us human types.
Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
We are finally out of the cold weather for a bit and back to the warm rain here in Oregon. With putting up holiday decorations and trying to get my list ready for Santa, thoughts turn to a warmer time of year and surfing goats! Who knew there are actually surfer goats besides the ones we met at Surfing Goat Dairy in Maui. Maybe they could be spokesgoats for the Dairy.
This California Pismo Beach kid, too true, is the cutest ever. Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
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