Author Archives: mohawkvalleygirl

Christmas Past Post

Posted on December 25, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

As the Grinch famously said, “Tomorrow is Christmas. It’s practically here!”

“Looking for me?”

Since it is also Thursday, I chime in with a Throwback Thursday picture. This jolly old elf made his first appearance on our mantle in 2016. We acquired him from the Herkimer County Historical Society. It is, in fact, only half a Santa. He had blown into their yard during a windstorm. They posted him on Facebook, but nobody claimed him. I am certain I have told this story before, but as I often say, reduce, reuse, recycle.

There’s a happy girl!

This picture is from December 2017, a close-up of a busier area of decoration. I have mentioned that we were more elaborate in previous years. Perhaps we will be more so in the future. I started to put “No doubt,” but in fact I have my doubts. However, my purpose now is not to dwell on doubt but to enjoy Christmas Eve with a Throwback Thursday Post.

Here’s a fun bunch!

I skip ahead to December 2019. I think all of these decorations were acquired prior to that year. A few of them are still out. It is my way of making Christmas last all year. Oh, don’t start on how making Christmas last all year is about giving and goodwill etc (you know who you are). I KNOW THAT!!! I hate those holier than thou sorts.

Look at the size of that list!

I close with another shot from 2018. This Santa is in front of our fireplace this year. He is a Throwback piece himself; my mother found him for us in an antique shop in Pennsylvania while she was visiting my sister.

I hope everyone is having a delightful Christmas Eve and will have a Merry Christmas. Or, if you do not celebrate, a delightful Thursday and merry Friday. I personally plan on having a Lame Post Friday. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

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And I Am Too Sick to Think of a Title

Posted on December 24, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today is a Blogger’s Sick Day. Of all the rotten timing for ill health! How many weeks have I been furloughed and laid off, two weeks into a new job, and they send me home. Two days before Christmas!

It is, as usual, my own fault (I believe I have mentioned that most of my life can be summed up with the words “Operator Error”). I mentioned my symptoms. I work amongst nurses, in a setting where they must be very careful of infection. I protested, but they made me go home.

I suppose they were right, because I started to feel a little worse as I drove home. I took a nap. I ate some chicken soup. I will probably go to bed early. I am sure I will feel better. Without going into disgusting details, my symptoms are more indicative of gastroenteritis than COVID. Quite frankly, anything that is not gone tomorrow will suck.

One reason I feel so annoyed is that I had plans. I was going shopping and to the bank after work. I don’t want to deal with that shit on Christmas Eve! I had a vague thought of trying to use the order online, pick up curbside option, but I do not feel up to navigating the internet tonight.

I did not up to making a blog post, either, but here I am, over 200 words. Perhaps they are whiny words. These things happen. Let us all hope for better things tomorrow.

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Will Santa Come Down That Chimney?

Posted on December 23, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Who could blame me for having a Tired Tuesday Post on Tuesday of Christmas week when I am trying to learn a new job? Oh, you probably could (you know who you are).

It is increasingly difficult for me to write. I have barely written in the TV Journal.TV Journal. Writing is not the only thing that is difficult for me. Clean my house? Not likely. Shop for Christmas presents? Nope.

And just listen to me whine about it! What a pathetic display. Maybe I could lighten things up with a picture.

A jolly scene.

Here is a picture of my fireplace taken earlier this month. Regular readers may recognize it as a different angle from a picture I took for last night’s blog. You may notice the absence of fake poo.

What a difference a year makes.

This is my mantle I 2019. Steven did the decorating. I believe he has a knack for it.

Just look at all that stuff!

This is December 2017. If I was trying to cheer myself up with these blasts from Christmas past, the effort has failed. All I can feel is disappointed in myself for having such meager decorations this year. But let us not travel further down THAT road.

I occurs to me as I look at these pictures that Santa would have a hard time coming down this chimney, if he were inclined to do so. Lucky for him I was bad all year.

 

 

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I Need a Little Christmas

Posted on December 22, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Christmas is just days away. I wore Christmas socks and a Christmas vest today. I listened to Christmas music as I drove to and from work. And yet the Christmas spirit eludes me. Perhaps I can chase it down with a few Christmas pictures.

I draw your attention to the little Christmas trees.

My sister Diane sent me a picture of her mantle via instant messenger. I was delighted, because she used the garland of crocheted Christmas trees I made for her some years ago. I invented the crocheted Christmas tree back in the mid 1980’s. I was pretty pleased with myself.

It is not as elaborate as when Steve does it.

I naturally sent her a picture of my own mantle. Full disclosure: we did not make a concerted effort with this. We just put stuff up as we found or acquired it.

Pardon the mess.

And this is our fireplace. Yes, that is fake poop on top of a pile of scripts on an old television. I just now noticed it. When I took the picture, I was more annoyed with myself about the bottles and jars I left sitting n the stool with the wine light. Not annoyed enough to clean it up and re-take the picture, I’m afraid.

Now I am laughing at myself. Here is my messy house, with Christmas decorations and fake poo. It’s not quite the Christmas Spirit, but it’ll do.

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Thank You, Elks and Others

Posted on December 21, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

People have been helping people a lot this year, and I have had my share. Today I got a free turkey from the Elks Club, an offer they made to everyone who was laid off from my previous place of employment.  They sent a letter with a form to fill out saying you wanted a turkey and how many in the household.  Then they sent a voucher with instructions for pick up.

This morning, I went to Mary Street, where Herkimer Elks Lodge is located, and there were not many cars in front of me.  I had my mask on, as did the volunteers, and I did not have to leave the car. 

The view from the driver’s seat.

Two volunteers met me at the end of the street and looked at my voucher.  As I drove past, I thought to grab my phone and take a couple of pics for a blog post.

I stuck my phone out the window to try for a better shot.

Santa Claus handed me two candy canes.  I said I had to get a picture of him for my blog.  The other volunteers told me I could take him with me if I wanted.

“Hop in!” I said, but he did not avail himself of the invitation.

It was quite a fine Santa suit.

In addition to the turkey, they gave us potatoes and a box of stuffing mix.  The food was in a nice reusable bag.  What a generous gift!  A paper in the bag told me it was from the Doug Christman Project.

Several organizations involved!

Now that I am gainfully employed again, I must find ways to pay this forward.  In the meantime, the turkey is in the freezer, and we may use some of the potatoes tomorrow in a Shepherd’s Pie.

 

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Christmas Memories on Slacker Saturday

Posted on December 20, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today is a Slacker Saturday and I can only be grateful I am not making it tomorrow morning. The question is: do I have anything to say?

That voice!

I just shared this picture the other day, but earlier today we watched our DVD of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I have said it before and I will say it again: Boris Karloff is the only Grinch for me.

It’s the scariest!

I was so into Boris Karloff, I almost went on to a horror movie with him, but we both wanted Christmas.  I thought of the animated Christmas Carol produced by Chuck Jones.  When I was a kid, I thought it was so scary!  Then they stopped showing it on television.  Many years later, Steven found it on video.  Yay!

Rankin Bass, a cherished childhood memory.

We are now watching Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.  These Rankin/Bass specials were so important when we were kids!  It was so exciting when our favorites were coming on.  How terrible if it was a Sunday when Dad had a football game to watch!  Sometimes he would graciously agree to change the channel if it went into overtime.  It was years before I appreciated what a sacrifice that was!  However, it was usually a moot point, because my show would be on the same channel.

But enough of my silly reminiscences.  For one reason, I am over 200 words.  Score!  I’ve made my blog post!  Which Christmas video should I watch next?

 

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Lame Predictive Text

Posted on December 19, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just love the Facebook memes where it gives you a sentence to finish with the middle predictive text (which I previously called “that predictive text thingy”). For example, Freddie is chasing you. Your salvation is (hit the middle predictive text)…

They do not always work out. Just now I found out my salvation is “the real reason I wanted to have to do so much.” And then I gave up. I thought I would like to do a blog post this way. For one reason, it might be OK for Lame Post Friday.

The beauty of my favorite people who just can’t bear it when other people get to the page of Where Are the Romans

That was me hitting middle predictive text apropos nothing. Not so blogworthy, eh? But what if I added the beginning sentence… (I try “This blog post is about”)

This blog post is about the same ring to it.

I do not care for that much. Let’s try another one. (I try “Lame Post Friday”)

Lame Post Friday and I have a lot of the things I could do this weekend

Yeah, this is not working out. This is good news for me. It means that when I feel able to write, I really am doing something. It is not something any computer could do for me.

I may make a Lame Post or two (or more), but I am writing. Sooner or later, I will probably write something good. At least, I daresay I will do it sooner than Predictive Text.

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Plugging Away at the Blog

Posted on December 18, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday I said I was not too tired for monsters. Today, I think I am. What a big baby I am! Four lousy days of work, what’s my problem? At least tomorrow is Friday. TGTF. Hmmm… doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Be all that as it may, I still want to make a blog post. I think I will speculate on some of the things I could do this weekend. The last Saturday before Christmas! Yikes! I have purchased very few Christmas presents for anyone.

Can Santa Claus help me now?

I could go to Mohawk Valley Community Market on North Main Street. I saw some sweet tree ornaments there as well as jewelry and other handcrafts. I admired some gorgeous handmade wood furniture by One of a Kind by GS. The beauty part about that is that after I shop, I can bop across the street for a drink at the End Zone Pub and Grub.

Gorgeous stuff by GS.
Animals and skulls at the Rose Quartz Stand.

Another Herkimer business I have not been in a while is the Rose Quartz Stand on Mohawk Street. I especially love the carved stone animals. Right down the street from that is the Emporium, another vendor market. After that I just may head on down to Valley Wine and Liquor for a nice bottle of wine.

How is that for a few plugs of local businesses?

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Not Too Tired for Monsters

Posted on December 17, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had been thinking that the reason I was so tired was that I was not used to working eight hours a day. Then I remembered I have ALWAYS been tired after working eight hours. This is why I have features like Monstrous Monday and Wuss-Out Wednesday. Or my favorite combination of the two, Mid-Week Monsters.

I would love to have a hairdo like that.

Full disclosure: the above picture is the real reason I wanted to have a Mid-Week Monsters Post. Isn’t that awesome?

And here is her husband.

This is a picture I have used before. I just love a monster in a Santa hat.

Two of my favorite monsters!

I have always loved the fact that Boris Karloff narrated How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He is and will always be the only Grinch for me.

Just to include the happy ending.

Some people celebrate Halloween, then move on to celebrate Thanksgiving and then Christmas. I am obviously not of their number. But I think I have shown that I can enjoy my monsters and still be seasonal. Merry Monsters, everyone!

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Making Spirits Bright

Posted on December 15, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl
Full disclosure: I don’t know anyone who does.

Earlier this evening I went for a walk and took several pictures with my phone. Let me tell you something about me: I don’t like posting on the Tablet, typing one letter at a time with the stylus. I find it well nigh unbearable on my phone. I got most of the pictures uploaded to WordPress. Now I am tired.

However, I still have the wherewithal for a Monstrous Monday Post. Before I left for the walk, I took picture of a couple of our own Christmas decorations that I think my readers will enjoy.

Yes, that is a Santa hat.

That ghost was in an upstairs window for Halloween. He was a little too bright to leave on all night. I brought him downstairs recently for that very quality. I added the Santa hat, because I found some for a good price. I also put a Santa hat on another Halloween friend.

Meet Elliot Ghoul.

He is still plugged in and occasionally lets loose with an evil laugh and an invitation to accompany him to the graveyard. The cool thing is you can see the reflection of our light-up Santa. I was unable to get Santa to light, but my husband Steven cleverly solved the problem.

Unlike me, he is a little too bright.

The beauty part is, I have several pictures and a couple of paragraphs saved as a draft. That means tomorrow’s blog post will be a breeze! I guess Mondays aren’t so bad after all.

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