Tale of My Morning

Posted on September 21, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I ate the last of my eggs yesterday so thought I would either go out to breakfast or go grocery shopping this morning.  Or maybe go out to breakfast then go grocery shopping; I’ve done that on occasion.  Instead I went out to breakfast then made one stop at that bakery I’ve been talking about.

I finally made it there!

There are not many places to get breakfast on Sunday mornings, but Ann Street Deli is one of them.  That is right near the Fox Tale Artisan Bakery on Canal Place in Little Falls, NY.  I checked their opening times: 7 a.m. for Ann Street, 9 a.m. for Fox Tale.  I figured breakfast shortly after eight would be about right.

Picture taken earlier this year.

Of course I was indecisive about what I wanted for breakfast, even without my Elks breakfast friends to entertain.  I settled on waffles with blueberries and cream.  It sounded easy on my stomach and was quite tasty.  For once I never got a refill on my coffee.

A few doors down at Fox Tale, I studied the display case with care, deciding on six rolls with olives baked in.  I considered getting a cookie or scone for a treat.  Did I deserve a treat?  Ought I to get a treat?  My weight-loss daydreams shimmer in the distance, like a mirage in the desert (Freudian typo: I first put “dessert”).  There was nobody else in the store, so I looked around at other things available.  Some fancy olive oils, soup mixes, ooh, note cards!  I chose a pack of six.  You write your note, then it folds in a fancy way so you don’t need an envelope.  That will be something different to send to friends and family!

I feel I need not have a Wrist to Forehead Sunday today, having enjoyed a good breakfast and lunch (yes, I have eaten one of the rolls already; YUM!), and supported two local businesses.  If I spend the rest of the day on the couch, watching true crime shows on RokuTV and knitting, who could blame me?

 

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Shout-outs After Slacking

Posted on September 20, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I end out the week with a late Saturday post on Sunday morning.  It was rather a Slacker Saturday.  I wrote my usual Saturday post cards and took a walk, and that was about it, unless you count a Facetime conversation with my bestie, Kim, and watching some Columbo while knitting.  Maybe a little bit of cleaning.

A long ago adventure with Kim.

Kim and I both lamented that she now lives far away and we can no longer go adventuring together on a Saturday.  This is her at Asteroga Ale House in Herkimer, NY, although it was so long ago it may have been Belly Up Pub at the time.  I was just reminiscing about Belly Up Pub at the Hot Spot Salon and Spa the other day.  The lady who owns the Hot Spot used to own Belly Up Pub.  It was a great place to go.  Asteroga Ale House isn’t so bad either.  And I got a nice hair cut at the Hot Spot, so now I have given a shout-out to two local businesses.

Another nice stop.

Just to give another Saturday shout-out, we also used to go to the End Zone Pub, and I still stop in there once in a while. It is handy walking distance from my house, and they have outdoor seating for the nice days.

I see I am over 200 words.  That will have to do.  I wonder if I will start my week out right by making my Sunday blog post on Sunday.  We can only hope.

 

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Once Again, Better Lame Than Never

Posted on September 19, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

No, I really did forget to make my Lame Post Friday blog post on Friday.  I thought sure I would make it and be caught up.  Then I forgot.  I think the euphoria engendered by the afternoon cups of coffee I had chased all thoughts of blogging out of my head.  Or I am just old and forgetful.  No, that can’t be, because I have always been forgetful.  Quick, throw in a picture before I get more bogged down in self-recrimination.

Sometimes things do blow up in your face.

This picture ought to remind me I was going to work on my latest murder mystery yesterday.  Instead I did not work on anything, except for a little house cleaning. However, every day is a chance to do better than one did the day before.  Will I do better?  I shall try.

A reward if I do better?

Returning to my Media Library, this caught my eye.  This baker in Little Falls, NY has wonderful bread and is only open on weekends.  I refrained from purchasing anything from them the Saturday of the Garlic Festival, because I already had some good bread from Hannaford’s in-store bakery in my freezer and did not want to get too far ahead of myself.  That bread is gone now, though, so this could be a Preview of Coming Attractions.

My readers, sitting around waiting for me to finish a novel.

I remind myself that I also need to get my house cleaned and decorated for the upcoming holiday.  Will I have a Halloween party?  Will I finish the murder mystery I am working on?  Will I treat myself to artisan bread and if I do will I have earned it as a reward?  For the answers to these and other questions, tune in next time to Mohawk Valley Girl!

 

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Will Mohawk Valley Give? I Think So!

Posted on September 18, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Thursday I went to the Mohawk Valley Gives kick-off at Rock City Centre in Little Falls, NY.  Alas, I neglected to take a picture of the Centre or even of its sign. No matter.  I will be in Little Falls again soon and will rectify the omission, the easier since it is right near the library, always a favorite stop.

Mohawk Valley Gives is  “a day of giving powered by the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and UpMobility Foundation. This event was established to support the incredible nonprofit organizations that uplift our region.”  I copied that from the Facebook page.  The actual day is today, Sept. 18, and people are encouraged to give at the link givemv.org.  Many non-profits are represented.

He was wonderful!

The kick-off was a fancy event with food catered by the Canal Side Inn and music by a very talented violinist, whose name I foolishly did not ask.  Several non-profits had tables, and I walked around and chatted with most of them.  Of course I also ate some of the food and had a glass of wine (Menage a Trois red blend, YUM!).

I may need this one!

I am somewhat familiar with Herkimer County Office for the Aging, being as I am myself rather aged.  The lady at the table pointed out that today is the youngest any of us will ever be.

I did not take one of the candies. No, really, I heroically refrained.

I did not find out much about this one, but I believe education is well worthy of being supported.

I loved the purple.

I chatted with the people at Empowered Pathways right after I got the wine, because I was rather naughtily enjoying it (one glass of wine before driving one, especially with food is OK, but I generally try to avoid even that), and they were very encouraging of my enjoyment.  However, I may need them if my Social Security widow benefits and side hustle of writing for the newspaper cease to support me, because one of their services is helping women find employment, especially those reentering the workforce.

I also chatted for a while with the lady at the Little Falls Public Library table, libraries being one of my great loves.  Many more non-profits are represented by Mohawk Valley Gives than were present at the kick-off.   I saw 442 on the Leaderboard showing how many donations have been made so far.  I have yet to make my own donation.

 

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Pretend It’s Still Wednesday

Posted on September 17, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last night I dreamed I neglected to make a Wednesday blog post early Thursday morning or even Thursday afternoon.  I do not know what day or time it was in the dream, but I searched for my computer, composing in my head, “Now I’ve done it, now I have done it.”  As is the way with dreams, I when I found my computer I could not log on properly or find where I wanted to go or anything.  Then I dreamed about something else.

Now it is prior to 6 a.m. (early by almost anybody’s standards) and I am sipping tea (the ubiquitous old lady tummy troubles) and wishing I had taken enough pictures for a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday post.  I have gone to a couple of Mohawk Valley businesses but neglected to take pictures then either.  I used to post entirely without pictures but feel strangely loathe to do so now.

Something to feel a little sad about.

Looking in my Media Library for something to use for a Wayback Wednesday, I saw this and said, “Oh yeah, rats!”  A year ago I was preparing for this very race.  An invitation to register for it showed up in my email recently, and I sadly ignored it.  I am walking but not yet running.  I see my primary care physician next week and will ask her about the advisability of ever running again.

Unfortunately, I am not a night owl either.

I change the subject to something more cheerful, showing a present my late, dearly missed husband Steve gave me several years ago.  I need to find that mug.  It is in my cupboard somewhere.  The vampire is packed away with Halloween decorations. I will find him eventually.

I see I am approaching 300 words.  I am going to bill this as a Wuss-out Wednesday and drive on.  I will try for some kind of a Thursday post later today, but no promises.

 

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Not Tired of True Crime

Posted on September 16, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to my late Tired Tuesday blog post.  I am sipping tea instead of coffee, out of a mug from a Mohawk Valley business long closed (always sad when that happens), and looking pensively at the pile of knitting on my messy coffee table.  Last night I did something I have not done in a while, although it used to be my nightly enjoyable activity: knitted while watching Dateline.

I had to search my Media Library for the logo.

The first Dateline was one I had seen, but I forgot who did it.  It did not take me long to remember it was the wife.  Isn’t it always the spouse?  The next Dateline was about a serial killer, which I find less interesting (I admit, thus losing a lot of cred with other true crime aficionados), so I looked for a City Confidential, whose logo I do not have in my Media Library.

This was a case I had also seen on Snapped, which made it doubly interesting.  The story she told on City Confidential was different from the one she told on Snapped, but in both she maintained her innocence.  She had married an older, richer man.  I was just saying to some friends how I would like to find a Sugar Daddy.

“Only I wouldn’t murder him, like those ladies on Snapped do,” I promised.  To watch these shows, you would think millionaires lurk around every corner, just looking for some suspicious chick to hook up with.  Oh well, I do not really need to have some old rich guy showering me with jewels and affection.  For one reason, somebody else might murder him and I would get blamed!

 

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A Pause in Writing to Blog

Posted on September 15, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

It’s a late post week, I suppose, although it is not too late to turn things around.  Only I can’t look that far ahead.  It is early-ish Tuesday morning (these things depend a great deal on perspective), and I am taking a break from the story I am writing for the Daily Sentinel about last night’s Ilion Village Board meeting.  Sometimes these stories are an interesting challenge, because my editor does not want over 800 words.  I am at 793 right now, so that is OK, only I think my lead is a little, well, leaden.  So I hopped over here to chatter on for a bit and try to wake my brain up.  I am on my second cup of coffee, so that should help.

Where’s Juan Valdez when you need him?

As you may have guessed, this is a Monday Mental Meanderings.  I meandered so far away on Monday, I didn’t make my blog post till Tuesday.  In fact, I did little or nothing of note on Monday.  You’ll have that.  Will I improve things on Tuesday?  We shall see.

Oh, there’s a thought!

As I jumped back to my Media Library for another illustration, I saw this.  It was taken at Saturday Spreads in Frankfort, NY.  Check out the notebook, complete with purple pen!  That is what I must do today: Go someplace and write!  Yes, yes, I know, I ought to be able to stay right here and write.  Well, maybe that will work out this time.  I will try it both ways and report back.

In the meantime, I am over 250 words.  Score!  Back to my journalistic duties.

 

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Late Typing, if Not Writing

Posted on September 14, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m up to my old tricks, missing blog posts and trying to make up for it the next morning (oh, here’s a Freudian typo: “typing” for “trying,” which of course echoes Truman Capote’s famous line, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.”  I fear it may be true).  I could not even manage a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post yesterday.  I cannot even say why.  My brain said no, and no arguments sufficed to get it to at least try.

Oh deer.

I throw in a picture to pep things up.  I confess to having rather a Wrist to Forehead Sunday but could not tell you why.  Just a mood, I suppose.  I could not do anything but read a book and doom scroll on Facebook.  I like some of the Reels, like We Rate Dogs and Stanzi Potenza.  Every so often I would pick up a puzzle book and do a Cryptogram puzzle or a deck of cards and play solitaire.  Now that I type it out, it does not sound like such a bad Sunday.  What am I complaining about?

Preview of Coming Attractions, I hope!

I cheer myself up with the reflection that fall approaches, and I will soon be noticing colored leaves and Halloween decorations.  Come to think of it, walks usually improve my mood if not my writing.  This is going to be great!  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

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Getting Festive with Garlic

Posted on September 13, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I made it to the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival in Little Falls, NY, known more often as the Garlic Festival.  Unfortunately, I did not take many pictures.  Also, I am feeling quite tired and a bit headachy and stomach achy (oh, sure, “achy” is a word, but “headachy” is not, at least according to my Chromebook).  I know, what a big baby I am.  But regular readers are used to my whining.  On with the blog post.

I really should have taken more than one picture of him.

The tagline for the Festival is Eat, Stink and Be Merry, and this was perhaps the merriest guy there.  He was handing out mints for people who had sampled too much garlic.  As a matter of fact, he is one of my usual suspects for the murder mysteries I write and present (not in that costume, of course).   I was delighted to see him.

These were actually the stinkiest.

My great niece Evie was anxious to ride on the horse-drawn carriage.  I did not  ride but was happy to sit in the shade and wait for them.  I tried to get a good picture on their return but was not quite quick enough.  Still, I thought this one was good enough for inclusion.

I did not purchase any garlic but got a jar of cilantro pesto.  I had a sample and it is yummy.  Who thought there would be a pesto I would like better than basil pesto?  I may have to do another blog post about that when I eat some of it.  Pesto Pasta might make a good headline.

It was the first time in several years I had been to the Garlic Festival, so I was happy my sister Cheryl had invited me to come along with her and her daughters and granddaughter. Family and garlic, it was a good day.

 

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Remembrance and Hugs on 9/11

Posted on September 11, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Earlier this morning I drove up to Herkimer County Community College (HCCC) for a 9/11 Memorial.  I found out the college has gone back to its original name and is no longer known as Herkimer College, as it was for a while.  I never keep up on these things.

At least they always keep “Herkimer.”

I got there extra early, because I was a little confused over the times.  Also, I like to chat people up before an event.  I was there not only to remember but also to cover the event for the Daily Sentinel.  I wore my good sneakers, in case I was standing the whole time.  I had thought of walking up to it but knew I would want to drive back down and get my article written and emailed out in a timely fashion.

Veterans Memorial Park.

A few guys were setting up chairs and getting the microphone in place.  I helped set up chairs.  Eventually people started arriving, and I chatted with a lot of them.  Some remembered where they were when the planes hit, others had not been born yet.  All were agreed that it was important never to forget.

My new favorite guy!

The president of the college and the mayor of Herkimer both gave nice speeches about courage, compassion, sacrifice, and unity. However, I felt the best speaker was impromptu.  There were a few minutes before the designated moment of silence, so they invited anybody to go up and say something.  Yes, I went up and said a few not very memorable words.  Then Sintral got up and talked about community and spreading positivity.

“Hug somebody today,” he said.

I went to get his name so I could include it in my article, and I gave him a hug.

I hope we can remember the lessons of unity, compassion and service that were talked about at the Memorial this morning.  I shall do my best.  Also, I hope I can find somebody else to hug.

 

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