Author Archives: mohawkvalleygirl

It’s a Mystery on Lame Post Friday

Posted on August 22, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today I was not feeling well and decided to take the day off.  I already had the day off work, so it was only a matter of letting myself off the hook regarding household chores.  I had already mowed the back lawn when I decided, so I can comfort myself with the thought that at least I did something.   A day off blogging, however, is a much more serious proposition, especially on Lame Post Friday.

I would love to be at such a cocktail hour.

Earlier today, we watched Evil Under the Sun, a star studded Agatha Christie romp.  In fact, that is how I expressed it to Steven when I suggested a movie, “I could get into a star studded Agatha Christie romp.”  I do love a good old movie, especially one featuring the divine Maggie Smith.

Since the movie, I have been looking at regular television in a rather desultory fashion.  At least I have gotten some crocheting done.

One of my favorite movie couples.

Here is a scene from another Agatha Christie adaptation we recently viewed, Witness for the Prosecution.  Although the cast includes Charles Laughton, Else Lanchester, Tyrone Power, and Marlene Dietrich, it is not a star studded Agatha Christie romp.  Nonetheless, it is an excellent movie, directed by Billy Wilder.

 

Who killed Benny the Bootlegger?

This was not an Agatha Christie,  but it was definitely a romp and we like to feel it is star studded.  It is the LiFT,  Little Falls Theatre Company, production of the interactive murder mystery, Rubbed Out at Ruby’s.  Regular readers may remember that it was written by me.  Do I flatter myself by including my mystery in a post about Agatha Christie?   I daresay I do.  Then again, a healthy ego is an asset for writers and actors.  Happy Friday, everyone!

 

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Errands and Beer on Non-Sequitur Thursday

Posted on August 21, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today I went for a walk with a few stops to make.  I carried my Tablet thinking to take a few pictures to make a blog post.  We’ll see how well I did.

I hoped to get the hanging flowers in the shot.

My first stop was to pay our water bill.  I also took a picture of the memorial to K-9 Ape, who sadly died in the line of duty.

A very sad day in Herkimer history.

From there I walked down Main Street to Renewed and Rescued, a consignment shop which has expanded recently.  I was particularly interested in a vendor shot  occupieed by a friend.

I did not know how to get the picture without my reflection opin the mirror.

I mean to make a longer blog post about the various new vendors.  For today, I merely took some pictures and repaired to the End Zone Pub and Grub for a refreshing beverage.

This is a shot from a previous summer.

After enjoying a draft there, I decided to stop at Pete’s Tavern for one.  He has been doing some renovations and I wanted to check them out.

I did not get to sit at the bar today.

Another view showing the woodwork.

In the second shot, you really cannot see the neon signs.  In the meantime,  this is a few shots sharing with you my Thursday.   We shall see what I decide to share on Friday. As always, I hope you’ll all stay tuned.

It was an enjoyable afternoon.  I would now like to get on with enjoying my evening. I hope to see you all again on Lame Post Friday.

 

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Schulz and Dooley, Can You Help Me Now?

Posted on August 20, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

This is shaping up to be a bad blogging week.  Never mind why; explanations are so tiresome.  As regular readers know, I like to post every day. So let us get in with the post.

Give a cheer! Have a beer!

This is one of the pictures I took at Showcase Antiques of CNY in Little Falls last Friday.  It has nothing to do with the article I was working on for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  However, Schultz and Dooley, there could be no possible objection.

Pretty impressive pottery, I say.

And here they are in person.  Debbie Guile, one of Showcase’s owners, told me that these steins were originally produced only for merchants.  However, they were so popular, they soon were made for anybody to purchase.

After talking about these, Debbie speculated that I would soon be ready for a beer.  You bet I was!  Perhaps I should go on a brewery tour at Saranac.  I went on it years and years ago, when it was known as the Utica Club Brewery.  But as Shakespeare said, what’s in a name?

Home of many interesting antiques.

Here is an outside view of Showcase Antiques of CNY.  Lots of fun stuff!

So I give another shout-out to a local business.  And I mention beer.  Not bad for a Wuss-out Wednesday,  I say.

 

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From Little Falls to my Yard and Back

Posted on August 19, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Sometimes Tired Tuesday follows Monstrous Monday,  we all know that.  I won’t bother telling you why I’m tired; explanations are so tiresome.  I will attempt instead to share a few pictures and make a non-tiresome post.  No promises.

A depiction how I feel: old and fat.

This is one of the pictures I took last Friday at Showcare Antiques of CNY in Little Falls.  In case you can’t read the card, it is an historical ovoid jug.  Ovoid is a good word, which, unfortunately my autocorrect wants to change to “avoid.”

I never gave him a name. Any suggestions?

Making this more of a Non-Sequitur Tuesday, I put in my alligator (or crocodile; I don’t know whether I will see him later or in a while).  I need to find a better spot for him.  Perhaps he would like to lurk amid my Brown-eyed Susans.

A place for a reptile to lurk?

I have several overgrown spots he might like.  He previously resided under Frankentree in my front yard, but I got tired of moving him every time I mowed.

Regular readers will remember Frankentree.

So I went from antiques in Little Falls to my yard in Herkimer.  Can I find another shot from Little Falls to tie this post together or will it be hopelessly non sequitur?

A great place for coffee and a snack.

I think this is a shot of Little Falls which maintains this post’s non sequitur status:  The Cafe at Stone Mill.

And here we are, approaching 250 words.  Happy Tuesday, everyone!

 

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Is It Halloween Yet?

Posted on August 18, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I knew this would be a Monstrous Monday Post,  since it was my first day back to work after ANOTHER month’s furlough.  I am indeed happy to be once again gainfully employed.  However, this is not a work blog.  It is, I confess, many types of a blog, but never work.  Today, it is monsters.  I like monsters.

Who else is ready for Halloween?

This is a neighbor’s yard, from last October.  I know I am not the only one who feels increasingly content as Halloween approaches.

Another angle.

I need to step up my front yard decorations this year.

My own front porch.

I like this shot, because the ghost looks like it is in mid-flight.  I look forward to what I will come up with this year.

Not exactly monsters, but fun.

This is a rehearsal of Mummers Along the Mohawk,  for our performance at last year’s Great American Irish Festival in Frankfort, NY.  That was a great deal of fun.  Of course, this year, things were different.

Who says monsters can’t be cute?

Here is another domestic monster, a present from my wonderful husband Steven.  He really does give the best presents.

One more cute one!

This little guy is perched atop a tiny bottle of Q vodka.  Or is it gin?  I am too lazy to go look at the bottle, which is par for the course on Monstrous Monday.  Thank you for tuning in, and I hope to see you all again on Tired Tuesday,  or whatever sort of Tuesday it turns out to be.

 

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Oh Yeah, and I Watched Svengoolie

Posted on August 16, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello, and welcome to another Slacker Saturday Post.  I did some yard work this morning, went to a neighbor’s graduation party this afternoon, and that is it.

He’s fun.

Oh yeah, and I watched a DVR’d episode of Svengoolie.  The featured movie was Curse of the Werewolf, a Hammer horror feature from 1961.  I thought, “Hammer horror!   Oh boy!”  Boy was I disappointed!

Sven’s pre-movie summary told me it was going to take a while to get to the werewolf part.  He was so right!  I fast forwarded it through some of the annoying set-up (which some people might have found entertaining; there’s no accounting for tastes).  In so doing, I may have missed some of the explanatory narration.  Still, I was able to follow things.

I could totally write one of my blow-by-blow movie write-ups, because I was taking copious notes in the TV Journal.  In fact, I would love to do so.  I enjoy writing them and have not done one in a while.  However, then this would not be a Slacker Saturday Post.

Now how dumb is this: I just looked at a previous paragraph and saw that autocorrect made “Sven’s” be “When’s”.  What the hell is that all about (and I mean hell not he’ll for heck’s sake!) (and it was heck’s sake, not Jack’s sake!) (I thought it would allow heck if not hell, but apparently not)?

Anyways, I have gotten myself over 200 words,  so we’ll call this OK for a Slacker Saturday Post.  I now continue to slack.

 

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A Productive Lame Post Friday

Posted on August 15, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

This is my last weekday off till Labor Day, since I return to work from my latest furlough on Monday.  I spent a good part of the day running here and there to research an article I hope to write for Mohawk Valley Living magazine. I thought I could write a whole blog post about my gyrations.  I have a number of pictures I can share.  However, as the evening wears on, I feel increasingly less inclined to do so.

Then again, it is Lame Post Friday.  How about if I share some of the pictures but do not worry if there are not as many words.  Oh, who am I kidding?  Once I start sharing the pictures, I ought to come up with plenty of words.

I love research.

My first stop was the Oneida County History Center in Utica.  They were very helpful.  While there, I realized that some of the pottery I was researching was on display at Fountain Elms, part of Munson Williams Proctor Institute.  Accordingly,  I headed back down Genessee Street.

Mmmm… beer steins.

I did not stay there long, although I was tempted to grab a bite at their Cafe.  Next time, I hope!  Instead, I took a drive to Little Falls, to Showcase Antiques.  First I did stop for a bite at Ann Street Deli.  I was hungry and needed a pick-me-up!

One photo of many.

I found the particular display I was looking for and had a delightful conversation with one of the owners.  I also looked all around the shop and took a few pictures unrelated to my project at hand.

How could I not take a picture of Schulz and Dooley?

It was a productive and enjoyable day.  Now I have a lot more writing to do.  It should be fun.  In the meantime,  Happy Friday, everyone!

 

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Drinks and Friends

Posted on August 14, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

My idea was to have a Throwback Thursday Post,  but I wish to be sure I am throwing back far enough to be entertaining.  It does no good to throw back to something that everybody perfectly well remembers.

Good father and son team.

This is a shot from some time ago at the End Zone Pub and Grub in Herkimer.  It is the proprietor and his son.  I had a very pleasant time at the End Zone this afternoon. Monday I will be back at work with fewer opportunities for afternoon drinks at local watering holes.

Just to give an outside view of the place,

So that is a throwback and a current shout out.  Surely I can do better than that (and I will call you Shirley if feel like it).

Ah, memories of drinks past!

Here are Steven and I with our dear friends Phyllis and Jim at Herbert’s 1933 Tavern in Utica, NY.  That wonderful place is a little difficult to get to with construction the way it is in that area.  I must check out if it is still open and find my way there.

Another toast to friendship.

Here is a picture of our friend Tracy and me at the Waterfront Grille in Herkimer.  We have had many good times there as well!

So this is my Throwback Thursday Post, about different places to enjoy drinks and friends.  Naturally I can enjoy my friends with no alcohol involved! I will share those pictures in a future Throwback Thursday Post.

 

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Back to Zeina’s!

Posted on August 13, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went to lunch today at Zeina’s Cafe in Utica.  Regular readers may remember that I went there on Saturday to participate in their fundraiser for the Lebanon Red Cross, in support of relief for that horrible blast.  I LOVE Middle Eastern food, so I decided to treat myself to a little more.

Yum!

Utica is challenging these days, due to all the construction.  I got lost both coming and going.  Full disclosure: I may not have gotten lost on the way there if I had not tried to be on the right side of the street to park.  Quite unexpectedly,  I succeeded.

Again I say, yum!

I ordered a falafel gyro and unsweetened tea.  I was surprised at the size of the sandwich.  I was even more surprised by my ability to eat the whole thing! Usually I bring half my lunch home, but this was so good, I just kept eating.

There was a lot more on the menu I’d like to try.  I brought home a take out menu, so I can plan ahead.  They also offer catering, so I could have some wonderful food at my next gathering.

Zeina’s is located at  607 Varick St., Utica, NY, phone number 315-738-0279.  They are open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday,  11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

 

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I Know! We’ll Blame it on the Weather!

Posted on August 12, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

This was actually not the illustration I was looking for.

It is not Writer’s Block; it is Writer’s Blank.  I can pick up a pen (or a stylus as the case may be) and produce words, but they are not the words I want.  When I try to think of characters, scenes, plot… nothing.

Yet I must persevere.

This isn’t it either, but what the hell, it is Tuesday.

I knew I could at least manage a Tired Tuesday Post.  I have been trying to abide by my rule of Any Writing Counts, but so far it has not been working out well.  Today I only made some notes in the TV Journal.  Yesterday I managed a couple of cards, before that a letter.  However, when I put pen to paper and attempt fiction, nothing.

THIS is the one I was looking for!

I really did put pen to paper and try.  I feel this is important.  There are many times (and I feel sure I am not the only one here) when I feel so discouraged, I do not even try.  I will, of course, try again.

In the meantime,  this is yet another blog post about not writing.  I wonder if I can’t find one more illustration, for your amusement and mine.

Me not be dramatic? Dream on!

Perhaps the hot humid weather is to blame for my malaise.  Most likely it is, as usual, operator error.  However, I shall try again tomorrow.  Sooner or later I hope to meet with success.

 

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