No Pictures, But a Great Cinco de Mayo

Posted on May 7, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

When I made my silly blog post yesterday I neglected to mention that I did so have a Mohawk Valley Adventure on Tuesday:  I attended the Cinco de Mayo festivities at the Ilion Elks Lodge.  Unfortunately, I took no pictures, so it won’t be such a great blog post.  It’s a funny thing.  I went five years without putting a picture in a blog post.  Now, if I don’t have a picture to add, I feel paralyzed.  What’s that all about, me?

I do not often find ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but I have identified with the holiday ever since I made the possibly Freudian typo Cindy de Mayo.  But I love Mexican food and occasionally a good Margarita, and I had to be in Ilion on Tuesday anyways, so…

The Elks offered $2 mini Margaritas and $3 tacos.  You got to build your own taco, which was pretty sweet.  I chose soft shell.  I also opted for a full size margarita, because I loved the glass.  I got Patron tequila.  For one reason, another person at the bar told me it was delicious.  For another, my maiden name is Vetrone, and it rhymes. I find that unassailable logic.  It was, in fact, a delicious margarita. There were some good desserts too. I enjoyed a Margarita Bar, which was kind of like a lemon square, only lime.

Alas, I could not linger.  I had to move on to a rehearsal for A Revolutionary Murder. (preview of coming attractions)  We are giving another performance on May 16 at Morning Star Methodist Church in Ilion, at a Roast Pork dinner.  I have written a different ending, so anybody who attended the first performance will still be surprised.

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First Rule: Make a Blog Post

Posted on May 6, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have somehow made it halfway through the week and, oh dear, not a whole lot done.  Then again, what is the rule for how much a crazy old lady is supposed to get done, and who sets these rules anyways?  There are always my rules for me, such as Any Writing Counts, but I do not remember setting a rule for How Much Should Get Done.  Note to self:  Set rule about how much should get done.  Or don’t.

Where was I?

Ain’t nobody here but us chickens!

I threw in a picture to distract from the fact that I have not much to say (I bet you thought I was going to say “to pep things up”) (you know who you are).  As I chose the chicken (yes, CHOSE the chicken, kindly do not get vulgar, this is a family blog!) (again, you know who you are), I thought to myself that it is too early for a Non-Sequitur Thursday post.  Then again, that is another Cindy-made rule.  There are no penalties for transgressions.

He loves me, he loves me not…

I found this picture in May 2023 of my Media Library.  I was thinking of mowing down or trying to move my wild daisies this year.  They get a little out of control and completely overshadow the forget-me-nots and lilies of the valley.  They are not very far along so far, but I guess it is early days yet.  I have not bestirred myself to do much outside yet.  The first thing I need to do is to get my lawnmower looked at. I seem to remember indulging in No Mow May last year.  They say it is good for the environment, but for me it was a handy excuse to be lazy (judge me if you are so inclined).

I see I have babbled on for over 300 words.  I shall bill this as a Wuss-out Wednesday and drive on.  I shall be out and about today and try for some Mohawk Valley Adventures.  I hope you are all having a lovely week.

 

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I Love Good Food

Posted on May 5, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

The first Monday of every month, Herkimer Elks does a dinner.  I am almost always busy on Mondays, covering a town or village board meeting for the Daily Sentinel (regular readers may remember I am an intrepid girl reporter) ( you know, from a 1940’s horror movie or screwball comedy).  However, the first Monday of the month is usually Herkimer Town Board at 6 p.m.  Dinner starts at 5.  I can get my dinner at 5, bring it home, eat some of it, and still make it to the meeting on time.  Score!

I was especially anxious to try yesterday’s meal: Lemon Parmesan Chicken.  It sounded wonderful!  I got to the Lodge around 4:30 to enjoy a glass of Chardonnay and some company while I waited for my to-go meal.  I really do need a little bit of sociableness, living alone as I do.

It looked and tasted awesome!

I make bold to show my messy coffee table as well as my delicious meal.  As you see, I am re-reading another Agatha Christie book.  It is my comfort these days.  However, I have read every Agatha Christie book within reach within the last month or so, including the three I brought home from my sister Diane’s house last week, so I must resign myself to a comfortless period.  But never mind me.

I cannot describe how delicious that chicken was. I could barely restrain myself from eating it all.  Now, of course, I am happy I have some left over.  I wonder what delicious treat the Elks will have for me next month.

 

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Trying to Cook Up a Blog Post

Posted on May 4, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I haven’t done a cooking post in a long time but I thought I might do one since I did not do much of note since my fabulous hat of Saturday.  Of course my recent cooking has not been wonderful since I have not been shopping.  In my defense, I realized I did not want to be in the middle of walking up and down the aisles of Hannaford and suddenly want to sit down because my leg hurt unbearably.  That is where I was at Sunday.  It happened while I was doing the dishes then again in the shower.  Sorry to moan about my physical ailments.

At times like these, we look into the cupboard and freezer and see what we have.  I had some onions and a jar of pre-chopped garlic in the refrigerator (don’t judge me), so I chopped an onion and set it to cook in olive oil, added a good dollop of the garlic, and opened a bottle of Merlot, because I like to cook with wine.

Not the wine I was actually cooking with, but I wanted to throw in a picture to pep things up.

I added only one small can of tomato sauce, because I didn’t want to make too much, since this was not going to be much of a sauce, as you can guess by the meager ingredients.  I had some pierogies in the freezer.  They were the potato and cheese kind.  I wasn’t really sure about putting potato with tomato sauce, but I didn’t have anything else to make a sauce with, so I hoped for the best.  I put a few spices in the sauce, added salt and pepper and grated cheese when it was done.

It didn’t turn out too badly.  My legs don’t feel so achy today.  If I don’t feel up to supermarket walking (although I do love strolling the aisles and finding stuff I didn’t know I needed), I can always do the Hannaford-To-G0 thing. Although that would necessitate getting the bottles and cans out of the trunk of my car.  Oh dear.  How one things leads to another.

In any case, I have made some semblance of a blog post.  I must try for some semblance of a Mohawk Valley Adventure so I can find something more better to write about.  But as always, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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I Guess There Was a Race

Posted on May 3, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

There was a little bit of scatter to my Saturday but not enough to make it a Scattered Saturday post.  I got a little silly, so I was going to call this Silly Saturday, but a quick check of past posts showed that I used that headline back in 2012.  I suppose it would be OK to repeat myself after that length of time (it was kind of a dumb post, actually).  Well, let me lead with the silly.

I say it is fabulous and fashionable.

We are supposed to wear fancy hats on Kentucky Derby Day, aren’t we?  This was a hat I have had for some years now.  I found the furry thing earlier Saturday at a rummage sale at a nearby church.  I know, I am supposed to be getting rid of junk at my house, not purchasing more, but I just can’t resist a good rummage sale!  I also found a great pair of shoes for costume purposes, a few pairs of gloves good for running this winter, a bowl for my next Halloween party, the man’s blazer I’m wearing in the picture, and a handy zipper bag.

Yummy place to eat!

Before going to the rummage sale, I had breakfast at Saturday Spreads in Frankfort, NY.  I had an everything bagel with garden toppings, which I had last time I ate there and had been craving ever since.

Attired in my new fancy hat, I did not go to any Kentucky Derby parties or even to Pete’s Tavern, where I could have made a bet on the race.  I did stop by the Elks Lodge so my hat could be seen.  My friends were suitably impressed.

I think I need to start dressing fabulously more often and perhaps with less excuse.  It is fun and at my age, I think such eccentricities are to be encouraged.

 

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Running Into May Flowers?

Posted on May 2, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well here I am with another early-ish morning post for a day late Lame Post Friday.  I am lame these days.  I don’t know if I have whined about the trouble I’ve been having with my legs lately, but, well, I’ve been having some aches and pains.  Whatever will happen to my Boilermaker hopes and dreams?  More importantly, I count on my walks and runs to supplement my anti-depressant medications, which my doctor heartily approves.  I suppose these things will work out one way or another, and I think I had better throw in a picture to lighten up the post.

Is that an azalea?

I saw this in my Media Library from May 2022 and thought it was my own rhododendron but I see now it is a plant from a neighbor’s yard.  I can’t see pictures in my Media Library as clearly, because now they show an IMG code or whatever it is (regular readers know I am far from tech savvy).  Anyways, this is a good picture for the beginning of May.  We had a few April showers and I for one am looking forward to May flowers.  I must plant a few.

Alas, an increasingly distant memory.

One thing I have let slide is my container garden, which used to grace my back deck.  Since 2020 I have been determined to reinstate it, and I have met with very little success.  Will this be the year of the pots?  Or will I once again, go to pot?  A little uncertainty adds interest to my May.

In the meantime, I am over 250 words.  Sufficient for a late Lame Post Friday post I say.  I hope you all have a marvelous weekend.

 

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For Pete’s Sake!

Posted on May 1, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Thursday morning I met a few of my Elks friends for breakfast at Marr-Logg Restaurant in Utica.  I may have mentioned that a group of us meets every Thursday at various places in the area. We enjoyed a very good breakfast.  I only took one picture, but I think it makes a pretty good story (or perhaps I flatter myself).

I kept looking at a figurine standing up over the counter on the other side of the restaurant.  The lighting was not bright, and I was wearing an older pair of glasses, so I could not see it very well.

“I don’t know what that doll is,” I finally said.

“It’s the chef,” Michele said.

“Oh, that’s its hat, not its head.  Silly me.”  It also had flowers for eyes and was holding a flag.  “I think I have to take a picture for my blog.”  I went across the restaurant to do so, explaining to a waitress who happened to be standing there.

Isn’t he cute?

“He’s all dressed up,” she said.  “His name is Pete.”

“It is not!”  the man behind the counter said indignantly.  I did not ask for the whole story, but I was amused by the man’s indignation.

Marr-Logg Restaurant is located at 1130 Culver Ave., Utica, NY, phone number 315-797-7730.

 

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Monstrous Memories on a Late Wuss-Out Wednesday Post

Posted on April 30, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well I wussed out on Wednesday and failed to make a blog post.  In my defense… my defense is too long and boring to share. Instead I will make a late  Mid-Week Monsters post and try for a Non-Sequitur or other Thursday post later in the day.  It is not super early for me, but it is prior to 7 a.m. which is considered early by many.

Extra points for crazy eyes.

How about me and a monster, qualifying this as a Wayback Wednesday post as well.  This was from October 2020, when we were all trying to recover from the COVID lock-down.  I was pursuing a challenge of exercising for 34 minutes 34 days in a row to call attention to 34 million Americans who suffer from diabetes.  Part of the challenge was to post a selfie every day and talk about the challenge.  Naturally I included friends.

It’s Mookie Wilson!

I was so taken by that selfie, I make bold to share another one.  I talked about Mookie Wilson the bat in a recent blog post.  If I can find it I will make a ping back to it.

I don’t want Bonaparte to feel left out!

And one more, just to make it three pictures.  I have been having a little trouble running and walking this past week, but I will not share my woes with you yet (key word being yet; I cannot always refrain from whining).  In the meantime, I have achieved over 200 words, my first, and perhaps only accomplishment of the day.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Not Too Tired to Jump Around

Posted on April 29, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m afraid today is going to be a Tired Tuesday post.  My over-60 body has betrayed me yet again (oh, shut up all you over-70 and over-80 bodies; I KNOW you are older and I have something to look forward to!).  I still have a few pictures of Mohawk Valley Adventures to blog about, but my cell phone is across the room charging, and I cannot possibly go over there and upload pictures to my Media Library.  How lame does that sound?  Am I sure it is not Lame Post Friday?  And so I laugh at myself.

Where I may be soon.

I thought a picture of me supine behind a chaise lounge with only a sweet pair of mules sticking out would be a good depiction of how I feel this afternoon.  However, that guilty-looking guy moving the suitcase out is less appropriate.  Nobody has just strangled me is what I am saying.  I swoon from my own lack of oomph.  Regular readers may recognize that as a rehearsal shot from Prescription: Murder at Ilion Little Theatre last year.

Good place to get jewelry.

Here is a Preview of Coming Attractions. I missed it, but today was the Grand Re-Opening of Weisser’s Jewelers.  The picture shows the location where they have been since the building next to theirs met with an unfortunate end.  They are finally able to move back into their original location.  I must go there and purchase some jewelry.  I do not especially need any new jewelry, but the beauty part of jewelry is that it is small.  I do not have to search for space in my messy house for it.

So this is my blog post. I guess it jumped around a little. Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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A Little Help Waking Up

Posted on April 28, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last week when I was out and about and wanted to treat myself to a late breakfast, I finally went to Saturday Spreads in Frankfort, NY.  I was extremely happy I finally made it there.

I love a good coffee shop!

The cafe is located where the Knight Spot used to be.  They were open only for ice cream for the longest time and finally opened indoor seating.  They have remodeled the inside.  There is less seating than when it was the Knight Spot, but it is charming.  I ordered a coffee and an everything bagel with fancy toppings, then sat at a tall table (regular readers know I have a thing for tall tables).

They serve Utica Coffee, which has the memorable tag line, “Wake the Hell Up!”  Of course I love local, but this is also yummy coffee.  My bagel came with cream cheese, tomato, capers, red onion, and fresh dill.  It had a name but I foolishly did not make a note of it.  All the more reason to return!  The other reason being to try the other bagel toppings or treats they offer, and to drink some more coffee (I often need to wake the hell up).

For those who do not share my thing for tall tables.

Saturday Spreads is located at 264 Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-444-8151.

 

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