Author Archives: mohawkvalleygirl

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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Monsters in the Sky

Posted on August 11, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

When it feels too hot for me to do anything useful,  I spend a lot of time looking at the television and saying, “Shut up!”  That is neither here nor there for a Monstrous Monday Post, but I thought I’d throw it in.   Part of me feels I should find some new monsters for my post.  The greater part wants to take the proverbial path of least resistance (I have mentioned before that it is acceptable to use a cliche as long as you add a qualifying phrase such as “the proverbial”).

Looks threatening to me.

OK, this is not really a monster, but it could be.  It is, in fact, a picture I took some time ago from in front of my house.  It was shared on by Jill Reale WKTV News as a weather photo.  It was quite exciting for me.  Come to think of it, I had another photo featured recently.  I wonder if I can find it.

Sufficiently threatening, I think.

I think this was the photo.  I think dark scary clouds can count as monsters.  We can pretend they do for this blog post, at any rate.

Taken the same day.

This photo was used in the same post as the previous photo,  but I include it because it seems apropos.

I can’t believe I didn’t use this before!

This is a picture from Halloween 2019.  Obviously this was a night of many monsters of different varieties.

I am going to call this my Monstrous Monday Post.  After all, dark clouds MIGHT be monsters.  Prove me wrong.  In the meantime, Happy Monday.

 

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Susans, Sharon, Johnny, and the Crocodile

Posted on August 10, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Aren’t they pretty?

I went outside just now take a picture of the Brown-eyed Susans I previously mentioned as peeking over the edge of the deck.  Looking at my Media Library,  I wonder how different this shot is from others of these flowers.  However, I took several other shots before looking at my Media Library,  and I see no reason not to share them as well.

A wider shot to show volume.

The Brown-eyed Susans have really spread out since they magically appeared a year or two ago.

Who wouldn’t want an alligator in their backyard?

Full disclosure:  this could be a crocodile.  He has been in various parts of the yard.  Right now he is where he can get maximum sunlight.

Please ignore the weeds.

My Black-eyed Susans have a lot of blooms. I find them cheerful.

Also looking pretty good.

I grabbed an update on our Rose of Sharon while I was in the area.  Then I thought of our Johnny Jump-ups, which I had noticed are also looking well.

My favorites!

They have not jumped up elsewhere yet, but they have filled in the little area where I planted them.

I hope to plant more flowers next year.  Then I might have more variety in these blog posts.  In the meantime,  I feel this is a better post than my usual Wrist to Forehead Sunday.   Does anyone agree?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

 

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Two Cafes, One Pub, Good Saurday

Posted on August 9, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

There was not a whole lot of scatter to my Saturday, by I hope enough to warrant a blog post.

First my friend, Kim, and I went to Zeina’s Cafe in Uitca for lunch.  They were doing a fundraiser for the Red Cross of Lebanon, in aid of the recent horrendous explosion.  They were donating 50% of profits, addition to collecting any donations patrons cared to make.

It is a really good place to eat.

They were doing a HUGE business.  I must return under more normal circumstances.

Next we went to the So Sweet Candy Cafe.  How could I be so close and not stop in?

My husband, Steve, with the proprietor, Margaret.

This is an old picture,  but I neglected to take any pictures today.

Next we went to the End Zone Pub and Grub in Herkimer.  We enjoyed a couple drinks and more snacks.

Also an older picture, but here is my lovely friend Kim.

I also neglected to take any pictures at the End Zone.  So sue me.  The above is a shot of an earlier occasion,  obviously during cooler temperatures.

I came home and sat down to watch movies with my hubby, who had declined to join us.

I’d scream too!

House on Haunted Hill was on of our selections.  We are continuing our evening with other cheesy movies, I hope.  Perhaps I will write about them on Cinema Sunday.  As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

 

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Lame Lawn Work

Posted on August 8, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to Lame Post Friday, my day of random observations and half-baked philosophy.   My first random observation is that our Brown-eyed Susans have started peeking up over the edge of our deck. I did not take a picture of said Susans, but will post a previous picture of these delightful flowers.

They are supposed to be a favorite of honey bees.

It is the time of year when I wish I had taken more effort in my lawn and garden earlier in the year.  However, that ship has sailed, to use a cliche (sorry about using a cliche, by the way).   I can only appreciate what already exists.

I love these.

Speaking of what already exists,  here is an earlier shot of my Johnny Jump-ups.  They look equally as beautiful now.

Pesto… Mmmmm…..

To continue with what is glorious right now, here is my basil, which is even better as we speak.  I snipped some off for a salad recently.  Yum!

It looks better now, but here are some blooms.

My Black-eyed Susans are doing well too. It may have been a good idea to take a more recent picture,  but, you know, I can’t always do the right thing.

So here is my post:  random observations of flowers.  For Half-Baked Philosophy, I will offer: flowers are good,  gardening is good, sometimes they are not as good as we had hoped.  We must drive on.

Happy Friday,  everyone!

 

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Past Places, Future Plans

Posted on August 7, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about another Throwback Thursday Post (even though I am posting large enough that my timestamp probably says Friday)?  Last week was a Theatre Throwback, so let me search my Media Library for something different.

Cool place to eat and shop.

Here is a picture from August of 2019.  Was it really a whole year ago I went to the Main Street Ristorante in Newport, NY?  Time for another trip there, I think.

Regular readers know I love all things cheesy!

Another local business I need to get back to: Original Herkimer Cheese in Ilion, NY,  home of Chudder:  tastes like cheese, spreads like butter!  I Like them on Facebook, so I am always seeing their specials.  They currently offer curbside pick-up, so what’s not to like?

Regular readers also know I love wine.

Here’s another great place I’d love to revisit: Prospect Falls Winery.   I’ll have to check if they’re open for tastings again.  Then again, if they are at least open to sell, I can remember a couple of their wines I really like.  Don’t worry: I’ll imbibe responsibly.

Beer is good too.

Here is a place I went to once and would like to revisit: Ommengang Brewery in Cooperstown, NY.  Steven and I went there once and tasted beer but did not take the tour.

There are all kinds of places I need to go to again.  As they slowly reopen, with proper distancing restrictions,  perhaps I shall.

 

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Not Much Writing on Wuss-out Wednesdsy

Posted on August 6, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am afraid this is going to be a bad blogging week.  I did not mean to make a Wuss-out Wednesday Post, and yet, here we are.  I went on a long run this morning.  Perhaps that is what took it out of me.  I did a few household chores, wrote a letter, and wrote a little bit on my novel.

Here’s a thing:  as I started to write on my novel,  I thought, “What is with this not writing?  All I have to do is write!  Just put the pen to paper and write!”  Of course the pen petered out shortly after that.  And the part I left out was how much I had to bestir my brain to start that first sentence.

What I find is that if I say to myself, “OK, just write,”  not much happens.  If I think of a scene — for example, what if something freaky happens to Olivia in a dark alley? —  I can often come up with something.

OK, you may say (you know who you are), so just think of a scene.  It is these glib bits of advice that make writers like me tear our hair out.

Me with my hair torn out.

Just kidding.  Regular readers know my bald has nothing to do with my frustration.  I am not even sure I would call it frustration.  In fact, I think I will try to follow the above mentioned glib advice:  just think of a scene.  I will let you know how it works out.

In the meantime, sorry about another lame blog post.  I’ll try for something better tomorrow.

 

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I Need More Effort On My Blog Posts

Posted on August 5, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Regulat readers know, Tired Tuesday often follows Monstrous Monday.  The reason I am tired today is that I expended great effort cleaning my living room.  It may perhaps have called for less effort had I not waited so long to do a real cleaning.  What can I say?  I can cry that I waited too long, or smile because I finally did it.

Oh, look at me, trying to avoid judgement for my laziness!  All right, I accept judgement and hang my head in shame.  For one reason, I am too tired to defend myself.

The sad thing is, my living room does not lend itself to pictures as readily as my yard.  I could not work in my yard today, because it rained ALL DAY.  I think it just now stopped.

Obviously prior to cleaning.

This isn’t the picture I thought it was!  But it does show a portion of my living room.  Most of the stuff you see has been moved, so this area is not nearly as cluttered.  Hmmm… I think it is a little boring.  I will share another picture after I make some improvements.

This is obviously prior to said improvements.

Here is the picture I was looking for!  I believe this shows the normal eclectic nature of my life.  Yes, I am a mess.  But I am an interesting mess.  I hope.

In any case, I am over 200 words.  Happy Tuesday!

 

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Monsters, Don’t Fail Me Now!

Posted on August 4, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to Monstrous Monday.  I am really out of words this evening, so let me start right out with a monster.

Scary creature, check. Scantily clad woman, check.

This monster looks familiar to me, but I am not sure I have ever seen the movie, although since it is directed by Roger Corman, I feel sure I would like it.  I’d like to watch more old, cheesy horror movies, but my husband, Steven, is less often in the mood.

It’s not too monstrous yet, but wait.

Here is a shot from another Roger Corman flick which I have enjoyed on numerous viewings: Little Shop of Horrors.  I have never seen the musical stage play, but I disliked the movie musical.  However, to each his own, as the old lady said when she kissed the cow.

You should have known we’d get around to him.

Here is my favorite,  Nosferatu.  He’s scary!

Somebody’s hungry!

And here is the delightful natural monster from JAWS.  I suppose it is obvious by now that all I am capable of doing today is posting pictures and typing a few words about them.  If I did not have this obsession with making my blog posts at least 200 words long, I would be done by now.

I thought I might as well throw in a cute one.

One more monster put me over the top!  The cup he is in commemorates the last murder mystery we did for the Herkimer County Historical Society, Fabulous and Fatal.  Perhaps I should write a murder mystery featuring monsters.  That would be worth a blog post.

 

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Salsa and Snapped on Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on August 3, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

And so it is time for my Wrist to Forehand Sunday post.  For anyone just tuning in, this is the day I swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, because it is all Just Too Much for me.  My only regret is that I do not have a chaise lounge to swoon upon.

Full disclosure:  I have never actually swooned in my life, and things have so far never been Just Too Much for me.  OK, sometimes I have felt they were, but yet, here we are.  So anyways, let’s get on with the blog post.

A great place for produce!

One of the few useful things I did today was to drive to Little Falls to AW Greenhouse Gardens for a red onion.  I wanted it to make some salsa with the rest of the Roma tomatoes I got there last week.  I also impulse bought some blackberries.  It is the end of their season.

I did make the salsa, adding to the day’s usefulness.  Earlier I had gone running and done a few more household chores, so one could argue that I am not so useless after all.  However, I am no hand at argument.

One could argue that this is a creepy image.

Under the heading The Devil Made Me Do It, I was scrolling through my Media Library looking for a Snapped logo and came across this picture of Nosferatu that I really wanted to share.  Does it fit with today’s post?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

Here is a Snapped logo!

We have been watching Snapped for most of the day.  I just can’t get enough of True Crime.

At least he is wearing the same shirt today.

I wanted to end on a picture featuring a glass of wine, because I have been enjoying a sip or two today.  This is my husband Steven at the Waterfront Grille in Herkimer, NY.  It may even have been a Sunday.

No matter.  Today is Sunday.  Let us all relax.  I may even have another glass of wine.

 

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