I Didn’t Can It

Posted on February 15, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not mean to go to the tasting at Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer, NY on Friday (yesterday). However, I was taking a walk for my mental and physical health, remembered I was short on cash so stopped by the ATM, realized the ATM was right across the street from the liquid store (OK, that is why I chose that ATM), and decided to stop in.

He was a cool guy.

They were sampling Cutwater canned cocktails.  I am not a huge cocktail drinker myself, but I thought it was worth a taste.  I said they would be good for parties, especially outdoor parties in the summer.  I’m sure many people would like to sip out of a can poolside.  I guess that is looking a few months ahead.  Eddie, the young man pouring, said they would also be good for bars.  I agreed, noting how bartenders maybe be too busy to make fancy drinks, and two bartenders may make the same drink differently.

There were three martinis: Espresso, Chocolate Espresso, and Lemon Drop.  Oh, were they yummy!  And dangerous!  The Lemon Drop tasted just like lemonade, and I could see myself sucking down the Chocolate Espresso as if it was chocolate milk (my recovery beverage after a work-out).  Personally, I prefer my booze to taste like booze, and I sip it slowly.  Still, to have one at a party…

I also liked the Lime Margarita.  It was as good as any blender Margarita I have had.  The Spicy Bloody Mary was also good.  I actually liked it better than the ones I make myself, because it was not too thick, which is the effect the tomato juice sometimes has (you may suggest I add more vodka, but I will refrain from doing so).

Last was the Long Island Iced Tea.  Of course I told the story of how that was one of the first cocktails I ever had, at JJ’s in Rome, NY, age 18 (which was the drinking age at the time).  It tasted just like iced tea, and I got into a little bit of trouble that way.  I never had an iced tea that tasted as good since, even in Long Island.  This one tasted just like iced tea. I was not really surprised, after the Lemon Drop Martini that tasted like lemonade.

I had a nice time sampling, and made tasting notes.  I will keep Cutwater in mind if I have any parties this summer.  I will inquire of my guests what they might like.  I personally will probably stick with wine.  Well, maybe one Cutwater can.  But not of each!

 

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A Little Help with Self Help

Posted on February 13, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

On a recent visit to Athenix Books and Brews (the Brews are coming soon!), I saw a book I had read before and liked, Atomic Habits by James Clear.  It is about making small changes to have a large impact on your life.  It was recommended to me by one of my VA doctors, and I found it had a lot of helpful advice.  I decided I would like a copy of my very own.

No, it wasn’t nailed to the door.

 

Nick Bennett, the proprietor, praised my choice.  It turns out he read the book and loved it.  I am not surprised, because that young man definitely has his act together.  He said he loves self help books.  I do, too, but usually I read them and mess up on the follow-through.  Well, we can only do what we can do.

Speaking of not following through, I love to read books about writing.  Another VA doctor had recommended one about not just writing but any creative endeavor, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.  I got it on inter-library loan through midyork.org.  I was partway through it when it came due, but I was able to renew it.  I soon decided this was another book I should have for my very own.  Accordingly, I went to Athenix, and Nick nicely ordered it for me.  Full disclosure:  I also found two books to purchase while I was there.  Can you blame me?

Will they help? One can hope!

I took a picture of the two books for blogging purposes, including the pen-holding ghost and coffee mug I purchased on my first visit to Athenix.  The books in the background were purchased at some used book sale; I read them and am passing them on to my parents, who will perhaps pass them on to my sisters.  We are big readers in my family.

Athenix Books and Brews is located at 624 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY, open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  You can follow him on Facebook to stay updated on when the Brews will be available!

 

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I Treat Myself at Chickweed

Posted on February 13, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I read recently that we should treat ourselves to nice things once in a while.  Regular readers know I also like to support local businesses.  I did both this morning with a stop at Chickweed Boutique in Little Falls, NY.

I LOVE to shop small!

Chickweed Boutique has a variety of items to tempt most tastes:  clothes, soap, candles, jewelry, cards, and more.  I found some nice Christmas presents there in the last two years.  I knew I could find something I liked.  Now I am wishing I had taken a couple pictures of things I liked and didn’t get.  Damn!  Next time!

I just spent a foolish amount of time searching through my Media Library then through my phone, looking for more pictures of the Boutique with no luck.  I will return, take more pictures, and do another blog post.  In the meantime, I will continue with this one.

After looking through everything in the store twice, I settled on some loose herbal tea.  I have not had loose tea in a while, and I liked the illustration on the label of this one.  I thought it looked like me, only skinnier.  I came home and made myself a cup.

Yeah, the chick on the label is MUCH skinnier!

 

I enjoyed my tea quite a bit and look forward to having another cup.  I also look forward to my return to Chickweed Boutique.

Chickweed Boutique is located at 624 East Main St., Little Falls, NY.

 

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Take This Job and Shovel It!

Posted on February 12, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I fight the lawn all summer and the snow all winter.  I often say I prefer the winter, because it MIGHT snow in the winter while the grass will DEFINITELY grow in the summer.  Of course Mother Nature has to prove me wrong.  There has been no maybe about snow this year; it snowed.  While a neighbor has been very kind about snow-blowing my front walk and driveway on occasion, I feel I should take responsibility for my own home.

White on white hurts my eyes. Just to whine a little more, what a kvetch I am!

I remembered to take a couple of “before” pictures before I shoveled and pushed the snow this morning.  We had not gotten all that much, but I thought it was well to stay caught up.  Additionally, I need the exercise.  I was delighted to find that the snow was the white, fluffy kind (see, I don’t just complain!).  I started my car and brushed it off, then took on the driveway from the road on in.

The problem is there is not much space to put the snow I move out of the driveway.  I try to pile it on the growing banks but cannot keep some of it from running down into the road or sidewalk.  At least the banks are not over my head, and so I count my blessings.  I backed the car out and parked it in the street and tried to clean out where it was.  Full disclosure:  as winter wears on, I park my car closer and closer to the sidewalk.

After.

You can see my car across the street.  It is the one with the wipers up in the air.  I also tried to clean a space for my trash and recyclable container.  They are actually supposed to be kept out back, out of sight, but I was unable to clear a path that far.  At least I got them out of the mailman’s way, and where I hopefully will not hit them with my car.

One does what one can.

I did the usual shovel-width across the front.  I wondered how much I was really accomplishing, as the snow continued to fall.  Then again, it is easier to clean off a smaller amount twice than a huge amount once.

Looks like a Christmas card!

I took a shot to show the snow coming down like a sonofabitch.  I like to describe things as “like a sonofabitch.”  It actually tapered off as the morning wore on, so perhaps I will not have to bear winter’s brunt again tomorrow.

 

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A Walk in the Cold

Posted on February 11, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been way too sedentary with the bad weather, so I thought I would take a walk with my phone and make a Pedestrian Post with Pictures.  For one reason, it was supposed to be warmer today: double digits at least!  I wrote a post card to an aunt, thinking I could walk by the post office, put on a coat, hat, mittens, and boots (not in that order), and set out.

The beauty part about walking through the snow is that it is more of an effort than walking on bare pavement.  Full disclosure:  sometimes I went into the road and walked on bare pavement.  I need to get out and walk more.  My legs got tired easily!

I believe the time was accurate.

This is not the first picture I took, but I thought it would look good as the photo showing when I share the link on Facebook.  It is on Albany Street in Herkimer, in front of Crazy Otto’s Empire Diner, which I did not get a picture of.  Silly me. What I would have liked to get a picture of was Meyers Park. It was a grey and gloomy day, and the bare trees looked really cool against the sky.  The gazebo looked a little forlorn, not at all how it looks when the bands are on it at the Herkimer Downtown ChowDown.  But I had no faith in my abilities, and I could not decide which angle to shoot from anyways.

Yes, I stop here sometimes; judge me if you like (you know who you are).

If I had wanted to walk with a nefarious purpose, as I did on a long ago blog post, I could have stopped at The End Zone.  Don’t think I wasn’t tempted.  It was colder than I thought it was!

Another local watering hole of note.

Likewise, I did not stop at Pete’s Tavern.  I kept walking, checking my watch to see how long I had walked.  The wind picked up, and I was sorry I had not worn a scarf.  I soon decided three pictures was enough, the walk was long enough, I was going home!  By this time I had walked far enough that the walk ended up being just over a half hour.  That seems healthy enough for me.

And my blog post is approaching 400 words.  That seems healthy, too.  I’ll try for a Mohawk Valley Adventure tomorrow.

 

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Can I Manage a Monday Post?

Posted on February 10, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

If I want to continue (return to?) being a daily blogger, I must admit that some posts will be less worthy than others.  I have fewer Mohawk Valley Adventures these days, despite having more time on my hands.  Yet I want to post something, anything.  Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up.

“A little busy here.”

I might as well make it a Monstrous Monday post. Regular readers will recognize this as my favorite guy, Nosferatu, of the eponymous 1922 silent film.  He is scary, yes.

And it is winter.

This is a picture from some years back, but just to show you I am also dealing with quite a bit of snow.  I have help from a nice neighbor on my driveway.  I confess to ignoring my back deck at the current time.  This particular year we cleared all the stuff off the deck, which is obviously a wise thing to do.  This year, I was not so wise, nor so ambitious.

Resting peacefully?

Here is a picture that combines Monstrous Monday with Winter Woes:  a skull on my deck last winter.  It is part of one of those skeletons you can make look like it is coming out of the ground.  I have a picture of it doing that, but I am too lazy to search my Media Library for it now.

Another skull angle.

Here instead is another picture of my snow skull.  I see I am over 200 words, so I say it is OK.  I thank you for tuning in, and once again, I will try for a better blog post tomorrow.

 

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Not a Competition on Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on February 9, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been busy all morning thinking I was not getting anything done, then not getting anything done.  It is not easy being me, but it is mildly entertaining.  I pause in my inactivity for a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  It is frigidly cold out today, as it was yesterday.  I ventured out yesterday and intend to do so again today, to go to the Elks Lodge for some fellowship and perhaps a glass of wine.  I will bundle up.

Look how chubby my cheeks are!

The coat I am wearing used to be Steve’s, although he rarely wore it.  He was more of a jacket guy.  One of our rummage sale finds, I think.  I do not remember where we got the hat, but it is one of those hood-like things that wreaks havoc on your hair-do.  Luckily, I rarely do my hair.  The scarf is one I made, using up several stray balls of yarn.

The reason I took the picture is that a friend posted a selfie on Facebook of him with a winter hat pulled all the way down over his face.  Then he put glasses on and took another picture.  It was very amusing, so I got inspired.  I posted the above selfie and told him to eat his heart out.  Then I said it was just kidding; it was not a competition.

I guess that little story is no reason for me to swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead.  Never mind.  It is a blog post.  I’m posting it.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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I Yetty While I Still Can

Posted on February 8, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

The For Sale sign on Yetty’s Pizza and Pasta of Herkimer, NY tells us a great place to eat might not be with us much longer.  Of course, Yetty’s fans hope somebody will purchase the property and continue the restaurant.  In the meantime, I was happy to see they were still open and serving on Friday, because I was hungry.

He looks so jolly.

I took that picture on a previous visit.  I did not take any yesterday, because I did not think of it.  It took me some time to peruse the menu, because I did not know what I wanted.  Pasta? Pizza?  At last I decided on a Black and White Burger.  Black and White refers to the sauce.  It came with fries, and I asked for ranch dressing to dip them in.

They always treat me special!

The special board probably says something different now, but I did not notice.  I really must start paying more attention to these things.  In any case, my food was delicious, and I took leftovers home.  I love leftovers!

I do enjoy eating out, and I especially love a local eatery.  When it is walking distance from my house, Score!

Yetty’s is located at 109 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY.  Their website is yettys.com.  Go eat there while you can!

 

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It Was a Sauvignon Kind of Day

Posted on February 6, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not done a wine tasting post in a while.  In fact, I go to fewer wine tastings these days, but Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer has them almost every weekend.  In fact, many area liquor stores do, but Valley is the closest one for me.  When I still worked it was oh so handy to stop by on my way home on a Friday.  When I would go adventuring with my friend Kim on Saturdays, we often stopped in to taste, if something was going on.  I have a lot less wine in my house since I stopped being so faithful!

This weekend, Valley Wine and Liquor has tastings Thursday through Sunday.  I speculate that they are helping people get stocked up for Super Bowl parties.  I have not been invited to a Super Bowl party, but one never knows when a last minute invite may come along.  I needed exercise, so I walked down to the store Thursday afternoon.  I questioned my ability to carry multiple bottles of wine home but hoped for the best.  Sasha, one of the regular pourers, was sampling Bonterra Organic Wines from California.

We love wine!

We started out with Cabernet Sauvignon, which I declared very tasty.  Regular readers know I do not have a sophisticated palate and rarely taste notes of anything, but I liked this.  I liked the Red Blend, too, but not as much.  Alas, I neglected to ask what it was a blend of so cannot tell you.

For whites, I was quite taken with the Sauvignon Blanc.  I told Sasha I found I liked California Sauvignon Blancs best.  She said she liked all California wines.  Indeed, there are great wines coming from CA.  I liked the Chardonnay a lot, finding it not the least bit buttery.  I know some people like buttery chardonnays but I prefer the crispy, unoaked ones.

I purchased the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Sauvignon Blanc.  I confess I did not enjoy my walk home.  Two bottles of wine are heavy for an old, un-muscular broad like me!  It reminded me of a blog post I made years ago, when I walked home from the much missed Ramar’s Liquors with my even more missed dog Tabby and a box of wine.  I could have made a whole post about yesterday’s walk home but prefer to give a shout-out to a local business instead.

Valley Wine and Liquor is located at 326 S. Caroline St., Herkimer, NY.  You can check their website at shopvalleywine.com for the tastings schedule.

 

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More Memories, This Time Theatre

Posted on February 5, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I want to do a Throwback Thursday Post today, specifically a Theatre Throwback Thursday Post, because I realized that with the pictures I shared of my late, dearly missed husband Steve, I did not share any of our joint theatrical endeavors.  Theatre was something we both loved and loved to do together.  Steven was a great actor and director.  We helped start the Seaway Valley Footlighters in Massena, NY back in the 1990s.  About that time we started the company Murder for Hire, which did interactive murder mysteries at area restaurants and clubs. We didn’t make a lot of money, but we had a great deal of fun.

After a dry spell (long story,not very interesting), we relocated to Herkimer and found Ilion Little Theatre in the 2000s.  A little later, I started again writing murder mysteries, which I now only do for free and to benefit not for profits.  Well, this is turning into a long story.  Quick, throw in a picture.  I hope I can find something in my Media Library.

It was our “big scene,” as Steven called it.

Here we are in Harvey in, I believe 2012.  Steve is Dr. Cbumley, I am Veda.  It is one of my favorite theatre memories, and this is one of my favorite pictures of the two of us.

I set him straight in this scene.

This is our scene from Splitting Issues, which was a series of sketches about relationships.  There was a large cast and, I think, three directors.   I went with Steven to auditions, not intending to audition myself.  However, I agreed to read with him.  We read this scene, and I was later told that when the directors discussed who should play which part, all were agreed that Steve and I had to do this sketch.  It was very flattering, and it I think we did a pretty good job.

A suspicious bunch, indeed!

I close with a picture from a murder mystery, Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, which LiFT, Little Falls Theatre Company performed at the Overlook when it was a bed and breakfast.  I do love a 1920s theme, and have been trying to write another one ever since.

Steven kind of participated in Prescription: Murder, the play I was in last year about this time (perhaps you read a few of my blog posts about it).  I loaned his wedding ring to a fellow cast member.  I think Steve would have liked that.  Anyways I liked it.  I hope to make some more theatre memories soon (preview of coming attractions).  In the meantime, I guess I got kind of long-winded (for my blog posts), but you’ll have that.  As always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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