Hello to all my reader friends, browsers, and chance visitors who stumble onto my brand new blog. Like most of my good intentions, this method of communication is proving more difficult than I imagined. Please bear with me while I sort out the mechanics of going paperless in the cyber age.
Most of you who visit here already know me from Country magazine and my books, ‘Good-Bye, Boise…Hello Alaska”, and “Dear Cora…”. I also publish fiction under the Legend Books imprint.
So….Today is April 9th, 2009. Snow and ice pellets are screaming past my window. Chapter nine of my work in progress is waiting on my desktop.
My energy tip for today is, save money by immediately pouring your fresh brewed morning coffee into a thermous and turn off the coffee maker.
Cora, Thanks for sharing this moving tribute of love, fear and hope for your granddaughter (Dakota). Straightaway I felt emotionally pulled into the intensity of this experience.
Love, doris
Cora, I’m so happy to have found this site. My mom read your stories in Country some years ago and then read the books when they were published - the other day during our spring cleaning we ran across the books and I read them this week! WOW…they were so interesting - we think you are a brave woman to have gone on such an adventure with 2 children. I hope you can share some family updates on this site. We hope all is well!
Take Care, Darla
Hi Darla,
I’m happy to hear you and your mom enjoyed the books. I will try and keep you all up to date with our island goings on with this site. I’m inn the middle of a new project and only surface periodically to pay bills and kiss grandchildren so please be patient.
Best Regards,
Cora Holmes
Hi Cora,
Thank you so much for letting us all into your lives, I first read your book 3 years ago when i was actually floating past your island while working on a tug boat. Your book captured me so much i couldnt put it down. When i got home after the season i bought it and read it again. I hope life continues to serve you and your family well. Once again thank you
I sent a letter to you a while back but don’t know if it reached you or not. Thank God Dakota is ok. How frightening. I didn’t know Milt had gone on to his reward. I loved reading about him in your books. He was a wonderfully tender man. Thank you for writing your books because they sure are very special to me. Take care Love ya Peg
I was wondering if I could get a copy of Goodbye Boise Hello Alaska from you. About 10 yrs ago your two books were lent to me to read. I bought both books and gave as a gift because I enjoyed them so much. I would like a copy for myself. I did find Dear Cora but have been unable to find GBHA. Can you help me?
Cheryl Terry
Cora,
I read both of your first books last week.I got them from my aunt. They were the first books I have ever read front to back. Great books!!! I have a question. Who is running the ranch these days? Or is anybody–DO YOU NEED SOMEBODY! What a life, I would do it in a heartbeat. Take Care, Keith
Hi Keith,
Forgive this long delay. Half the time I cannot make this blog work. Today Randy’s wife is helping me. Randy is off to Kodiak deer hunting with his fifteen year old son. A lot of time has passed since we were all living at the ranch. We have been gone from there since 1997. The ranch is only partly used anymore by a sheep rancher from California who spends part of his year there. When we left we sold our cattle to a Canadian company who has a lease on Umnak island. They ranch with helicoptors, internet, and no regard to money, so working for them would be vastly different that our own brand of ranching. They are called Bering Pacific Ranches and I know they used to have a web site. I believe they are pursuing an orgaic beef market, which would be an ideal set up, if they can make it work. Just google that ranch name and perhaps something will come up. I’m sorry I don’t have their address.
Again, thanks for your kind words; I’m glad you enjoyed the books.
Best Regards,
Cora Holmes
Hi Cheryl,
Forgive the long delay. I’m much better with my spinning wheel than I am with this computer. I’m glad you liked reading the books and wish I had a copy to send you. I depleted my local supply long ago. Good-Bye, Boise…has been out of print for several years but I think you might find a used copy on Amazon. Alibris is also a big used and rare book store that sometimes has a copy. Okay, I found some on Amazon, so hope that helps.
Again, thank you for your interest and good luck.
Best Regards,
Cora Holmes
Hi Peggy,
Forgive the delayed response. Now that I know more how to navigate this site I will try to do better. Thank you foor your condolences. Milt was indeed a wonderful tender man. This October 10th is the third anniversary of his death. I am on vacation during this time and trying to do house cleaning and head cleaning at the same time. I’m making myself go through boxes and books and get used to seeing his handwriting on cards and flyleafs. Memories are nice but very bittersweet. Dakota is good right now, after a very rocky start on treatment and meds. What a hard thing for a five year old.
Again, thank you for your interest in my books.
Best regards,
Cora Holmes
Hi Cora I wrote you so long ago and just “dug up” a letter you sent me in reply, while moving. I have lived severla different lives since ‘01 as you have, i read. You told me “never say you are not a write” so I am gearing up to start in again although the old word processor no longer allows me to bring up my bio that I have on about six discs. Age cought up to it and like me at 80 not much revivaling can be done. Who knows? It wa so good to find you again and catch up along with the kids and grandkids. INcidently, I still have ONE wish on my “bucket list” and that is to DRIVE and camp up the Al Can highway to Youcon, MacKinsey Rive and more…..My husband who was stationed in the Aluetions sp? is long gone and we never made it back there for his wish. Warm Regards Joan Dayton Santa Rosa Ca
Hi Joan,
Thank you for dropping in. 80 is the new 60, you know. I’ve never done that Al Can road trip. I’d love to back pack it but I worry about becoming part of the food chain. Chuck did it several years ago. He loved the scenery but hated the long hours of driving.
Yes, the Aleutian campaign was a long time ago. I still get an occasional letter from someone who was stationed here.
Well, we are having a howling storm; rain crashing into my windows like surf. Mother Nature at its finest.
Best regards,
Cora Holmes
Today I am thinking about you and pray it will be a day of being thankful for the wonderful years you and Milt were together and wishing they had gone on forever. I have been married for 53 years and I know life would never be the same without him. Take care friend Peggy
Dear Peggy,
Thank you for your thoughts. This is always a hard day to get through. Besides Milt’s death, it is the birthday of my grandson, Ryder, so he is three years old today. He is a little bundle of energy. Milt would have loved him.
Again, thank you. I hope you are having a nice fall.
Best Regards,
Cora Holmes
Cora I was wondering if you are writing another book. I sure hope so. I read and re-read them.
Peggy
Hi Peg,
I write every day. Right now I am engrossed in a long historical fiction that probably does not have a ghost of a chance at publication but one that is close to my heart. I should have been born a couple centuries ago. I’m much more at home in that pioneer and pre industrial revolution era. I know that is why I liked chernofski so much.
Best Regards,
Cora Holmes
Hello Cora,
I’m so happy to have found this website. I just read your book GOOD-BYE, BOISE…HELLO, ALASKA. Just loved your book and found you and all the family amazing. I’m so sorry to read about your health issues related to your hand but again you have somehow not let that hinder you from writing.
I kept going back & forth looking at pictures in the book, studying the dates and wondering about you and your family. I found some information online and wondered how difficult it was for Milt & you to leave the ranch. When did Milt pass? I saw a picture of Milt on his 84th b-day. Life is so different for you now with all the latest conveniences. How have you adjusted? And how did Milt adjust to such a different life style? Were you able to stay in touch with your own family in Idaho?
My father passed this year and he mentioned spending time on the Aleutian Islands during his WWII days. But he rarely talked about his war days so I have no further details regarding his time on the Aleutians….your book gave me a glimpse of what it may have been.
My family traveled to Alaska in 2003 to visit a friend that lived in Anchorage. We spent time in Fairbanks, Denali and some other areas…. wonderful experience but at the time I thought we were in some of the remote areas ….nothing compared to your lifestyle…again all of you are amazing and love adventure.
My sympathy in the loss of Milt and my best wishes for your continued success and enjoyment of life. I would enjoy getting an update on your family.
Take care,
Ann Schroedl
Note: I used to work for a printing company in Milwaukee, WI not far from your publisher Roy Reiman. We printed various items used by Reiman. So that was a interesting connection to your book.
Oh wow, I finally found a website for you. I keep searching the library systems in Tulsa, OK and nothing surfaces. Today, is Thanksgiving 2009, and what a please to come upon this website. I purchased several sets of your first two books and keep one set for myself and six for gifts. I must say I have enjoyed your books and photos the most of all books that are about peoples lives and families. Now I am ordering the third book immediately!!!
I could not break away from the books in 1995 and 1998. They were spell bounding. What a brave family to take on a chore so far away from the HUMAN RACE. Being able to improvise in times of need are wonderful experiences. So sorry to hear that Milt has been gone 3 years. What a wonderful and sweet couple who were brave to take on the Bering Sea and Unalaska Village and Island.
What is so special about your books are the true photos so readers like me and visually see what we are reading about. Best regards and can not wait to read the new 3rd book RUTH ANN DAVIS-TULSA,OKLAHOMA
Oh wow, I finally found a website for you. I keep searching the library systems in Tulsa, OK and nothing surfaces. Today, is Thanksgiving 2009, and what a pleasure to come upon this website. I purchased several sets of your first two books and kept one set for myself and six for gifts. I must say I have enjoyed your books. The photos followed with the story settings. I enjoy reading about (pioneer) people’s lives and families and how they adapt to nature and environment. Now I am ordering the third book immediately!!!
I could not break away from the books in 1995 and 1998. They were spell bounding. What a brave family to take on a chore so far away from the HUMAN RACE. Being able to improvise in times of need are wonderful experiences. So sorry to hear that Milt has been gone 3 years. What a wonderful and sweet couple who were brave to take on the Bering Sea and Unalaska Village and Island.
What is so special about your books are the true photos so readers like me and visually see what we are reading about. Best regards and can not wait to read the new 3rd book. (Spell Corrected to previous version) RUTH ANN DAVIS-TULSA,OKLAHOMA
How nice to see a blog from you. We are back in Fla for 6 months and I brought your books back with me so I could read them again. We are having a severe thunder storm tonight with tornado warnings. I don’t like them at all espcially living in a mobile home. No safe room to go to. We will head to NY for Christmas if the weather cooperates. I don’t like to be in snow storms when we travel. Our daughter is coming to visit this
Saturday and will be here for a week. That will be fun. Think about you very often. take care.
Peg
JUst a line to wish you a very Merry Christmas. We are going to NY for Christmas with the kids. Take care Peg
Dear Cora,
After borrowing your two books (Good-Bye Boise… and Dear Cora) from my Mom and Dad I couldn’t put them down. Fascinating. Inspiring. Charming. They were a refreshing pause in a whirlwind kind of life. Thank you for sharing your life story with those of us who only dream of suchlike adventure.
May God Bless you and yours this holiday season!
Tim
Reno, NV
I wrote to you exactly 20 years ago this June 15 and have kept your letter and the Country magazine in my book shelf all these years and at times thought about you living that rich life on the Island in the Bering Sea. June 20th this year I am taking my grandson’s ages 18 and 21 on a Cruise West adventure out of Juneau. At present am reading Michiner’s Alaska and when I got to the part about the Aleutians and Unalaska I got out the letter from you. Then looked you up on the internet and found I have missed out on a lot of your writings and life while living my own life. I will try to find your books to read and catch up on your life. Sorry to hear of the loss of your husband. Your had a rich life together.
Norma Erickson
This morning I was telling my 13 year old grandson about your life with Milt and the boys and how rough it was but you still enjoyed life. Kids are very spoiled by the
games on Tv they play etc. I hope your arm is healing well. The story of the foxes greeting you was sure scary to me. I read and re-read your books and look at the pictures and find something new every time. Thank you for sharing the wonderful books. God bless you and your family.
Peg
Hello–
Just a quick note to let you know how much I enjoy your writing! You write in such a way as to make me feel like you’re family and I can’t wait to read more updates on your blog. Thank you for sharing such a big part of your life with us. You are a true gem.
Dear Cora,
My daughter-in-law found this website for me and will print and forward any response from you. I have missed our letters and would love to talk to you soon. Sorry to hear about your accident. At 93 years old, I have had my share of injuries as well. Would you please send your phone number for me to call. Would sure enjoy catching up. Love, Ann