Where Have I Been? Where May I Go?

Posted on April 16, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

With apologies for missing my Wednesday blog post, I attempt another Throwback Thursday.  I have done a few things this morning, not many of course:  took a mile and a half walk, met friends for breakfast, talked to my parents, met with a contractor (long story, not very interesting)… OK, I have not done much.  I have a hair and toenail appointment this afternoon and a murder mystery rehearsal this evening (preview of coming attractions).  I certainly hope I remember to take a couple of pictures at rehearsal for a Post-Rehearsal Post.

Now what did I do with that little silver purse?

This is a picture of my bestie Kim and me at a Prohibition Party at Gerber’s 1933 Tavern in Utica, NY.  I actually have some better 1920s outfits now, and I am always hoping to add more. Note to self:  make the next murder mystery a 1920s theme.  I thought I would throw back to businesses previously visited, but of course I cannot get away from my theatrical (not to say drama queen) nature.

Cheers to a Cute Little Blonde!

Here is a local business I need to return to soon, Heelpath Brewing in Frankfort.  The Cute Little Blonde mentioned in the caption refers to the wine Kim is drinking, from Rustic Ridge Winery in Burlington Flats.  That would be more of a drive for me to visit, but it is a delightful place.

The bunnies were still there last week!

Now here is a place I have been recently and intend to return to today: Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY.  I go for their weekly tastings, for a naughty sip and some pleasant conversation.  I must see what they are tasting today.

I have cheered myself up, thinking of these places I have been to and can go to again.  I miss my Kim, who has moved halfway across the country, but perhaps she will return for a visit sometime.  In the meantime, there is no reason I cannot enjoy some Mohawk Valley Adventures with other friends or even on my own.

 

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It All Started with the Spider

Posted on April 15, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am having a Tired Tuesday Post.  It may even be construed as a Terrible Tuesday Post, but let us not become too dramatic.  Then again, drama is my life!  (Said with a dramatic gesture).

This morning there was a spider in my coffee.  Ew!  This is what happens when you do not examine your mug before adding coffee.  I have only myself to blame.  Full disclosure:  I drank the rest of the coffee, spider germs be damned.  I had to finish my story about the Ilion Village Board Meeting for Sentinel Media.  Caffeine helped.

As my day progressed, I needed to go to Ilion again to drop off a flier of my latest murder mystery, A Revolutionary Murder, at Morning Star Methodist Church.  While there I shopped at their Pay It Forward Thrift Store.  Alas, I did not take any pictures.

Later in the day, I walked to the post office to mail a note and post card, then on to the Herkimer Elks Lodge to reserve two tickets to the previously mentioned murder mystery.  Then I walked on to The End Zone Pub.  Just to say hello.

You can’t really see the new light.

While I was there, Brock, the owner, was placing a new light in the front display.  I took a picture, but as you see, not a very successful one.  What can one expect on a day which began with a spider in one’s coffee?

 

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Another Brew, Another Book!

Posted on April 14, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

This morning I had occasion to go to Little Falls, NY, so naturally I made a stop at Athenix Books and Brews, one of the all time coolest bookstores ever.  Nick, the owner, greeted me by name as I walked in, which is so flattering!  I had a box of books from my parents’ house and asked if he was still taking donations.  He said, “Always!”  This is good news for me, because I haven’t even started cleaning out my own library!

Lots of choices!

I was in need of a treat to ordered a Mocha with whipped cream and a deluxe brownie (it’s true:  I do not have weight-loss goals; I have weight-loss daydreams).  I sat down at a tall table and worked on a letter to a friend while I sipped and nibbled.  I really want to begin some more substantive writing projects than letters and post cards, but one does what one can, and I believe most people like to receive snail mail on occasion.

A very welcoming atmosphere.

Sometime I will have to come in with a friend, so we can sit on the couch to sip and chat.  After I had finished my treat, I naturally looked for a book and found one amongst the used books.  Reduce, reuse, recycle!

No, I did not purchase one of these books!

It has actually been a while since I had stopped into Athenix but I hope to stop in again soon.  As I was leaving, two ladies were entering.  “This is a great place,” I told them, and I could tell they were quite taken with it as they continued into the store.

Athenix Books and Brews is located at 624 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY, and is open daily.

 

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Not Even the Ambition to Swoon

Posted on April 12, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am having kind of a Wrist to Forehead Sunday, when I swoon, dramatically posed with the back on one wrist to my forehead — why do I not yet have a chaise lounge to faint upon?  This is not an unreasonable goal.  Actually, it is, considering I cannot even get my house cleaned and organized.

The sign that should be in front of my house and definitely in front of my brain!

I could not find an appropriate illustration during a quick check of my Media Library so make due with this.  I ran by this sign on this morning’s run, then I went through Meyer’s Park.  It was only a two-mile run, so shorter than the last run, but I still feel I am getting into shape for the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY in July.  I suppose I should feel pleased with myself that I went for a run, was it two days in a row?  I am getting so forgetful in my old age.

I do love purple.

I throw in a picture of a few crocuses to cheer myself up.  Things got colder this weekend than they were earlier in the week, but I don’t really mind that.  The temperatures haven’t killed off the flowers.

I don’t suppose it was the temperatures that have killed off my ambition, either, but I need to get some of it back.  Maybe I could manage a Mohawk Valley Adventure this afternoon.  I hope you are all enjoying your  Sunday, with or without a chaise lounge.

 

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Ah, Murder In Springtime!

Posted on April 12, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been at the Herkimer County Historical Society twice in the last two days concerning the next murder mystery, A Revolutionary Murder, which will be presented on Saturday, April 25 to benefit the Historical Society. I thought I might give a little teaser about that.

Wednesday when I stopped by, it was for dramatic purposes.  Without going into too much detail, a character reports that a cell phone was blown clear and landed in a bush.  In fiction (and probably real life too, but I don’t know too much about that), it is nice to be exact. Not just “a bush” but “an azalea bush” or “a hydrangea bush.”  So I stopped to ask what kind of bush grows around the historical society.

Oh, no, not that kind of bush!

I guess by two weeks from now the bushes will not really be that far along, but I hardly think the audience will call me out on that.  Several bushes that will be there as spring and summer wear on, and I think I am going to settle on Bleeding Heart, just for the reference to blood (you should see the fliers!) (which you can see on the Historical Society’s Facebook page).

Aren’t they cute?

Yesterday I stopped by to see if they had some tickets I could bring to the Elks Lodge, in case any members wanted to purchase them.  On the way out, I took the two pictures I just used as illustrations.  I mostly took them because I tend to take pictures of everything I see growing.  I try not to let winter drag me down, but oh, do I love the rebirth of spring!

Funny to be enjoying rebirth when I am about to kill somebody off for fun and non-profit, but so it is.  A Revolutionary Murder will be presented Saturday, April 25 at the Herkimer Elks Lodge, 124 Mary St., Herkimer, NY, doors open at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m.  Tickets are $45 for individuals, $80 per couple, available at the Historical Society, 315-866-6413.

 

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Too Lame for a Running Commentary

Posted on April 11, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had meant to make a Running Commentary Post today, but these are best made soon after the run.  It was some hours ago that I ran (by a very generous definition of the word) up the hill to Herkimer College (affectionately known as HCCC or H-trip-C).  It is a pretty good hill.  I would like to say I ran it triumphantly, but feelings of triumph were to follow.  At the time I felt pretty damn miserable.  But here I am runningly commenting when I decided to do a Lame Post Friday post after all.

Non-sequitur illustration.

I took this picture yesterday, I think.  I was delighted to see buds on the tree, and it looked so pretty against the blue sky.  I have not been running enough, but I manage to get in at least a short to medium walk almost every day.

Pretty!

I paused on my cool-down walk to take a picture of these crocuses.  Some people may roll their eyes and say, “We KNOW what a crocus looks like!”  I explain to them, “Shut up.”  (That is a line from S.J. Perelman, ” ‘Shut up,’ the policeman explained.”)

I zoomed in a little closer.

I confess I stepped a few feet onto these people’s front yard.  Nobody came out and yelled at me nor fired a shotgun.  You never know around here.

One white crocus to make me happy.

I was across the street from my house at the end of my cool down when I saw a couple patches of white.  A crocus?  Don’t get your hopes up, I told myself;  it is probably garbage.  Well, one of the white spots was, but the other was a crocus.  Yay!

So this is my blog post today.  Not quite a Running Commentary, and a little bit of spring.  I hope you are all having a lovely Friday.

 

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Murder Remembered

Posted on April 10, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Alas, I have once again fallen down on the job as a daily blogger by failing to make even a Wuss-out Wednesday post.  A quick check of my phone tells me a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday is also ineligible.  As I sit here on my couch feeling rather tired, I fear a Throwback Thursday is my best bet.  For one reason, I am pondering the latest murder mystery and throwing back to past triumphs may inspire me.

You knew I would include a picture of Steven if possible.

This was indeed a fun one, Fabulous and Fatal in the fall of 2019.  My late, dearly missed husband Steven made quite the hit as Ophelia Upp, a member of Drag Queens Along the Mohawk.  I played the glamorous Roxanne Rolls.

Nothing suspicious about him!

And here is my friend Tucker as Renwick Spaulding, a great lover of all things insect in Donate to Murder.  He was pretty awesome.  I feel proud of myself for writing these murder mysteries, but really, it is the actors who make the stories come to life.  Which may seem like a funny thing to say about a murder mystery.

How could somebody that fabulous kill anybody?

Here is a less than candid shot of one of our suspects for Shooting at the Grange, which we performed at Salisbury Grange in the spring in 2023.  It was a pretty fun script in a nice setting.

I don’t know that I feel particularly inspired now to work on the mystery we are rehearsing tonight, but at least I have my blog post done.  I hope you’ll stay tuned for future Mohawk Valley Adventures.

 

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Last Wintry Run?

Posted on April 8, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought of this title as I was walking my cool-down and watching the snow return.  I woke up with my usual case of I Just Can’t Even, thinking tomorrow would be just as good to re-start my Boilermaker 15K training program.  Ha-ha, like I have a program!  I just try to run a little further each week and not miss a bunch of days in a row like I recently did.  The weather gurus at WKTV News assure us that today is the last day of winter like weather.  Will they be accurate?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my week.

The flowers say it’s spring!

I ran near this patch of purple flowers which I took a picture of last week and thought, oh good, at least I will have one appropriate picture.  I was pretty pleased with myself for getting out there and moving, the more so since I had washed the dishes first.  Full disclosure:  I only washed the dishes first because I had neglected to charge my Garmin so needed to give it some time to come back from the dead.  Now I am happy the dishes are done.  If I can do a little laundry, I will really feel like the happy homemaker.

Some eye-rolling at myself ensued when I was getting ready to leave.  I picked up the arm band I put my cell phone in (I use Garmin and Map My Run, which should surprise no one who is acquainted with me), then thought I needed a hat and gloves.  After I found gloves and thought a headband might do instead of a hat, I said, “Where did I put that armband?”  Of course I could not find it.  I retraced my steps about eight times, finding a hat in the process but no arm band.  Finally I said to hell with it, I will hold my phone in my hand!  I got everything else together: tissues tucked in sleeves, sweatshirt to wear on cool-down walk, bottle of water (I had to fill a second one, because I misplaced the first), Garmin on, cellphone in hand, go to the door…

There was the armband!  I had sensibly put it near the door before looking for the hat and gloves!  Who knew I would ever do the sensible thing!

I contemplate my experience.

I did not take a selfie after the run, but here is one from April 2020, on a similarly cold day.  My hair is about as wild, and perhaps a little longer.  I guess I haven’t really talked much about the run itself, but I see I am over 400 words.  I must get on with the rest of my day.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Vincent Price Helps Me Out Today

Posted on April 7, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is late in the day (for me) and the only thing I can manage is a Monstrous Monday Post. After a lovely Easter holiday, I had rather a blah day today.  I guess I partied too heartily.  You’ll have that.

This is kind of how I feel right now.

Here is a guy whose name escapes me from House on Haunted Hill.  The original, Vincent Price version, directed by William Castle.  I love that movie.  I guess he’s not a monster, but he is in a monster movie.  It will have to do.

You’d scream, too!

Here is a monster from that same movie.  He is terrorizing Vincent Price’s wife.  She has the line, “Darling, the only ghoul in this house is you,” but I think she is a little monstrous herself.  Watch the movie for yourself and see if you agree.

Talk about don’t let the bed bugs bite!

And here is Vincent Price himself, in The Tingler, another William Castle thriller.  I think I have a picture of Vincent in House on Haunted Hill, but I feel too tired to look for it.  Or perhaps I am too lazy.

I confess to feeling down today.  Post holiday letdown?  Still disappointed because I did not get cast in the play I auditioned for?  Just sad because the weather turned cold again?  I don’t suppose it matters.  On the brighter side, I made a blog post of at least 200 words.  I’ll hope for a better day (and blog post) tomorrow.

 

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Where’s Vincent Price When You Need Him?

Posted on April 5, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m afraid this is going to be something of a Slacker Sunday blog post. I will soon be celebrating Easter Sunday with some of my family and want to get the blog post made before I forget to do so, as is apt to happen on a Sunday.  Or any other day.

Preview of Coming Attractions?

I was actually looking for the picture of Vincent Price as Egghead from the Batman TV series, only the egg he is holding is painted Easter colors.  I know it is in my Media Library somewhere, but I cannot spend all day looking for it.  Instead I share this “before” picture of plants purchased for my container garden on my deck one year.  I have not had a good container garden in years.  Will 2026 be the year it returns?  I can hope.

Oh, just shoot me!

I could not find another picture at all appropriate, but there could be no possible objection to Bette Davis.  After we saw this movie for the first time, when we lived in Georgia, I wrote my mother a letter where I was talking about it. How Bette Davis killed this guy and it was self defense, only she had written this letter to him that proved it was not and she had to buy back the letter, etc., but I could not remember the name of the film.  My husband Steven wrote in the margin, “It was The Letter.”  We were both pretty amused.

There he is!

Here’s Vincent Price!  I think I have another picture of him somewhere, but this one will totally do.  I hope you are all having a lovely Easter if you celebrate, and a lovely Sunday if you do not.

 

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