Author Archives: mohawkvalleygirl

Don’t Run, Walk!

I walked instead of running for my 34 minutes for diabetes (see previous post). I brought my cell phone to take pictures. It seemed about to rain, and I figured the phone was easier stashed in my pocket for protection.

Love the bright trees against the dark sky.

I walked towards the dark clouds. I questioned the wisdom of my choice but could not resist a grey sky.

Another view.

I walked down German Street, going the way I most often run. My only plan was to keep going for 34 minutes, taking pictures along the way.

I have always admired this horsy.
I could have just kept taking pictures.

I rationalized taking so many pictures with the thought that some might not come out. It was getting darker out. Full disclosure: I used all I took.

Approaching Lou Ambers Drive.

I debated whether I wanted to cross German Street. In the meantime, I admired the old brick building.

I zoomed in on the building.

I decided I would cross German and go up Lou Ambers Drive to take a picture of the hill up to Herkimer College. I didn’t have a fall view of it.

Where I ran earlier this week.

I continued over into the residential area, another favorite running place of mine. I soon came to the exit of the parking lot for Valley Health. Regular readers know, I love to enter where it says not to.

I can never resist being a rebel.

It was continuing to get darker, and starting to rain. As I approached the building, I thought I saw some fall decorations but was not sure till I got up close.

So cute!
He invited me to have a seat.

Crossing back over German, I walked toward the high school for some pictures of the stream.

I like the rocks.
Another view.
I have a thing for dead trees.
I took this one on the other side of the little bridge.

As I continued my walk, it started to rain in earnest. It was too dark to take any more pictures anyways. I enjoyed my walk. I only have nine more days of my 34!

I Wanted to Save a Life

Today is going to be a Tired Tuesday Post, because I feel quite terrible. I gave blood today for the first time in at least a few years. I just have not wanted to feel awful if I could avoid it.

In my defense, I often have other responsibilities: rehearsals for plays or murder mysteries, training for runs… OK, those are my main things. Additionally, I often suffer from migraines, vertigo, and other ailments.

Oh, just listen to me whine and make excuses! I mean, don’t listen to me. don’t mind me at all. Let’s just call this a Blogger’s Sick Day and drive on. However, in the interests in offering some entertainment, I append my silly selfie taken after this morning’s run. I ran well before I gave blood.

I DO look silly, don’t I?

I’m sure I will feel better tomorrow. I will certainly try to make a better blog post.

Looking for Local Monsters

I promised myself a Monstrous Monday, and now I am sitting at my ailing laptop, typing with ten fingers — an unusual activity these days. I am still getting used to this new WordPress editor, and I must say, I am not a fan. But perhaps I will find things easier with an actual keyboard. We shall see.

Wait: monsters, not murder!

I peeked into our downloads and found this. My husband Steven used to have this movie poster hanging on his wall, so when videos first started to be a thing (that is a thing for us; as always we are slow to get into the new technology), I got him the video of it for Christmas. It has been one of our go to movies ever since. But I stray from my stated theme of the day.

He’s a charming fellow.

Having discovered I no longer know how to download photos from Facebook, I retreated to my Media Library. Here is a ghoul from Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit. See, I can even plug a local business on Monstrous Monday!

I think these are friends with the other.

Here is another picture. I have visited Pumpkin Junction three times this Halloween season. I do not rule out making it four.

“Let me out!”

Here is a skeleton (or rather parts of one) I purchased on my first visit to the Junction. I immediately put him in my front yard. I did not decorate as thoroughly as I had hoped this year, but one does what one can.

Pumpkin Junction is located at 2118 Graffenburg Rd., Sauquoit, NY. They are open daily till Halloween from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Run for a Reason, Selfie to be Silly

A little crazy eyes, I admit.

This is a selfie of me after a run. For the past 23 days, I have been running (except for one day when I walked) at least 34 minutes, then posting a selfie on Facebook, because of the Diabetes Challenge. Every few days, I add the following:

Diabetes is a serious problem for many. And exercise is a good idea for everybody! I am not nominating anybody, but I am encouraging all my friends and family to challenge themselves! Even if you don’t do the full 34 minutes or days, do some exercise and make a post about it! Let’s all encourage each other to be a little healthier!

34 Days, 34 Minutes of physical activity for the 34 MILLION diagnosed with Diabetes in the USA.
Let’s bring awareness to this issue that plagues our nation.
According to the CDC, more than 34 million Americans have diabetes and of those, 90-95% have been diagnosed as type2. “You May be able to manage diabetes with healthy eating and being physically active.”

RULES:
*Once nominated, your 34 days begin the following day.
*Post a “selfie” of your post workout sweat everyday for 34 days
*please nominate a friend you think will FOLLOW THROUGH with this challenge. WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO HELP SPREAD THE AWARENESS.
*HAVE FUN, work on you for the next 34 days for 34 minutes!!!! BE CREATIVE!!!

You can just about see Harold Ghoul in the background.

I have been having fun with my selfies by including various Halloween friends.

This is a new friend from Casler Flower Farm.

I keep thinking I am going to do a Running Commentary Post then don’t do it. However, I thought sharing a few of my silly selfies might be equally as entertaining. Additionally, I encourage all my readers to take the 4 day challenge, or at least to get a little exercise, with or without Halloween friends.

Mookie Wilson is Halloween friend who stays out all year long.

Fabulous Photos for a Late Post

On the brighter side, I have not made a late post in a while. On the dimmer side, why am I making a late post at all? On the even dimmer side, if I wasn’t too lazy to go back and check, I would probably find it has not been that long after all.

I begin a new paragraph, before I descend deeper into the gloom.

Remember the Drama Queens?

I wanted to flash back to Fabulous and Fatal ,the murder mystery we presented to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society last October. I was supposed to write a virtual murder mystery for them but have so far been unable to do so.

A dramatic moment.

I add another picture, to distract myself from continuing to lament my continuing writing problems.

Then again, why not lament? I strive to remain cheerful, but sometimes we all need room to vent. So I will just say it: I am having trouble writing. It is not for lack of trying: I put pen on paper (or stylus on Tablet). Sometimes words are forthcoming, sometimes not so much. And some words on some subjects are definitely NOT forthcoming.

There, I feel better now that I have said that. And I see I am over 200 words. As regular readers know, I call that respectable. I shall close with one more fabulous photo.

We make a handsome couple, or do I flatter myself?

As October Wears On…

So pretty!

I have spent a good deal of time this October admiring the scenery. I feel grateful that whatever else is going on in my life, I have had more opportunity to do this than in previous years. “Whatever else” is really not as heinous as it might be. Merely, I am on furlough from my job and may soon hear I am terminated. I add that for clarification’s sake.

That was not a very good paragraph. I don’t know where I think I am going with this blog post, but I say that is OK on Lame Post Friday.

One of my favorite places.

I have visited Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit twice this year, and I may go again tomorrow. I plan to go adventuring with my friend Kim, and we have not made definite plans yet.

Last week’s adventure.

Last Saturday we went to Iron Rock Brewing in Little Falls. It was so much fun, I wouldn’t mind going again. Or there is always Copper City Brewing in Rome.

I was there in September for the Mini-Maker with Roman Runners.

Or Heelpath Brewing Company in Frankfort.

I totally forgot this bartender’s name.

Scenery, pumpkins, beer, or maybe wine, as Kim is drinking in the photo above. I look forward to a fun Saturday. Now I shall get back to enjoying my Friday. Thank you for tuning in.

Is this Post Classic? Or Just Horror?

The Masters.

As I was looking through my Media Library for something for a Throwback Thursday Post, I came across this gem. I have been watching a lot of Halloween movies lately. Of course, I love Halloween movies all year long. The above picture, in case you didn’t know (and I feel so badly for you if you do not!), shows Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and Vincent Price .

Gotta get me an outfit like that.

This is a shot from Mark of the Vampire, which I watched last night. It features Lionel Barrymore, another favorite of mine and not just for horror movies.

Anybody could lose their head sometime.

I add in Peter Lorre and Vincent Price. I am following the theme of horror classics, but I seem to be a little disjointed about it. Am I disjointed enough for this to be a Non-Sequitur Thursday Post? You decide.

I can’t choose!

I need to get back to the movie watching portion of my evening. As you may have guessed, I prefer the classic flicks. Perhaps I can write more about specific movies. In the meantime, Happy Thursday, and Happy Halloween Movie Viewing!

Two Views on Wuss-out Wednesday

Main Street in Herkimer.

This is not the best picture I have ever taken, I admit. It was my view as I sat outside the End Zone Pub and Grub in Herkimer. I had an idea of also getting a picture of a vista of fall colors. “The view I was hoping for/The view I got.” I don’t know if I can find a picture of the view I wanted.

I could have had this view, minus the clouds.

The colors are not too advanced in my backyard so far. This is a picture I took a couple of weeks ago (less than a week? Days? I am in SUCH a time warp).

I have enjoyed many fall colors this year but have not taken many pictures. Well, other people take better pictures than me anyways, so I encourage you to look at those pictures if you have no resources to enjoy colors on your own

In the meantime, this is Wuss-out Wednesday. I may not be up to 200 words, but I will call it a day.

Two Walks, One Picture, Don’t Judge

In fact, I expect some people will judge me whether I give them permission or not.

I hope the picture conveys the astonishing color.

I brought my Tablet on both walks, hoping to take a few pictures for a fun post. However, before I got any photo ops on the first walk, it started to pour rain. As I am not sugar (you may have noticed), I am in no danger of melting. However, devices are notoriously averse to liquids.

On my second walk, to the post office to mail a letter, some color caught my eye. I went a few steps out of my way to take the picture.

This is rather short and insubstantial, even for a Tired Tuesday Post. But I shall let it stand and hope that tomorrow I can come up with something better than a Wuss-out Wednesday Post. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

Good Music at the Chowdown

I have been interested in the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown for a while but did not make my way down till tonight. I had a letter I wanted to mail, so that worked out: I go right through Meyer’s Park on my way to the post office. I brought my Tablet to take some pictures, and made sure I had a mask.

I could smell tantalizing aromas as I got to the park. I had my purse with me but knew it would be far more sensible to go home and heat up leftovers. I mailed the letter first, then went back through the park, Tablet on Camera mode.

Italian Ice! Yum!

I wanted to get a picture of all the trucks, but I purposely tried not to get any people. Sad to admit, but I did not feel like talking to anybody, asking permission, taking names, etc.

Said to be good for allergies. However, I am pretty set for local honey right now.

I think I’ve heard about Brewvey Bites being other places locally. In any case, I like the punny name.

A big draw for me was live music by local musician Max Scialdone. I have heard him before and liked him. I stood by a tree and listened to a few songs. I especially liked Margaritaville. He substituted Herkimer for one of the Margaritavilles, and his whistling was awesome.

The tiki torches were a nice touch.

I was wishing I had brought a lawn chair, as some people had. However it was a little chilly for the way I was dressed (I had been misled by a hot flash before I left home). I enjoyed what I heard.

I don’t know how long the Chowdown will go on. The Facebook event says they are the second and fourth Monday from July to September. I’m glad they went at least one Monday in October, so I got a blog post in. I’ll have to watch to see if it happens again. If not, I shall look forward to next year.