Author Archives: mohawkvalleygirl

Good Cup of Java

Posted on April 18, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was running down Main Street in Herkimer (or possibly up it; I’m not good with directions) when I saw a sign for The Java Shop by Cucino Berto.  Well, I am always on the lookout for a new place to sit, sip, and write.  I made up my mind to stop in soon.

I had been to the restaurant Cucino Berto when they were located at the Frankfort Marina.  According to their website, after two successful years there, Cucino Berto decided to relocate and rebrand.  They now offer Friday dinners at the Herkimer Elks Lodge as well as breakfast and lunch daily at The Java Shop.

The first time I stopped into the Java Shop was a Saturday afternoon, and it seemed to be crowded with people who knew the owner.  However, the gentleman behind the counter immediately greeted me and took my order.  I enjoy a home town shop supported by family and friends.  I hope to become, if not a friend, at least a regular customer.

I later learned that the Business and Professional Association of Herkimer had been there earlier to welcome them to the neighborhood.  That explained the balloons I saw hovering by the cash register.  I think it’s wonderful to see local businesses supporting each other.

The second time I tried to go to the Shop (the following Monday), it was closed for renovations.  The renovation was worth the wait: more seating and a more open feel.  I got there just after they opened on a Saturday and had a breakfast sandwich.  I chose a roll over a bagel (even though they had Everything Bagels, my favorite!), fried egg (with a broken yolk), ham and provolone.  Oh, was that a good sandwich!  The ham was sliced thin and the egg was cooked to perfection.

I had regular, fresh brewed coffee on each visit.  I tend to be a “regular coffee” kind of person, but they have a variety of coffees available.  You can even get a coffee flight and try three different kinds.  I’ve had beer flights but never a coffee flight.  Perhaps I should expand my horizons.

The Java Shop has a friendly, pleasant atmosphere.  I enjoyed to sit by myself and write in my notebook, but I will be happy to bring a friend or two as well.  After all, my husband Steven loves his coffee. He shouldn’t always have to brew his own!

The Java Shop is located at 143 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-717-7724.  They are open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  For more information you can visit the Cucino Berto website at https://cucinaberto.wordpress.com.

 

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Monday Movie Meditation?

Posted on April 17, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

So there I was, sitting on the couch with my laptop and telling myself I could NOT again post the picture of Frankenstein’s monster saying, “No like Monday!”  I looked through my monster groups on Facebook for a new picture. Do you suppose I could find anything?  Then I saw this movie poster, which has nothing to do with Mondays and is actually a kind of a disappointing monster, but I downloaded it anyways, and here it is.

He is rather intimidating on the poster, I suppose.

I’ve seen Curse of the Demon a couple of times, DVR’d from TCM.  According to pre-movie commentary by Ben Mankiewicz, producer Val Lewton did not want to show the monster right away but was overruled by the studio.  I agree that it would have been much scarier to see the first victim looking utterly horrified by… what?  But these were pre-Jaws days.

For the uninitiated, in the first Jaws movie, we don’t see the shark until well into the movie.  This was actually making a virtue of necessity, because they had a lot of trouble with that mechanical shark, but it turned out to be SO effective.  Who knew?  Val Lewton, apparently, but nobody believed him.  Come to think of it, some post-Jaws movies could be a little more circumspect, too, but that’s a whole other blog post.

What a messy eater!

And here is the Jaws shark.  I feel he is a monster worth waiting for.  I’m afraid this was not a blog post worth waiting for, but what do you want from me on a Monday?

 

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Murder Book, Prison Movie, It’s Wrist to Forehead Sunday!

Posted on April 16, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

One of my favorites, and I like the movie just as much.

I pause in re-reading an Agatha Christie novel to make my Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I like to read a fast paperback on a Sunday.  Steven is watching a movie.  I told him to pick what he would like, because I was reading.  He chose Shawshank Redemption, which I got him for his birthday.  I forgot how heavy this movie is.  Steven pointed out to me how I reference it all the time, by “doing Shawshank Redemption” when it rains.

I do it with my shirt on.

Now that I’m reading Death on the Nile again, I want to see that movie.  It is a star-studded Agatha Christie romp (which I believe I have written a blog post about).  It is also an excellent adaptation.  There are differences between the movie and book, but I can see why they made the changes they did.  Let me see if I can find a good picture from the movie.

I REALLY wanted a hat like this for “Rubbed Out at Ruby’s.”

I couldn’t get the full cast picture to download (you know me and computers), but here is the best character in the flick, Angela Lansbury as Salome Otterbourne.  This is one of the characters that is changed somewhat in the movie, into a definitely more theatrical version.  I love it.  Maybe we can watch that movie next.  First I need to finish re-reading the book.

 

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Almost Springtime Saturday

Posted on April 15, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I pause in my Saturday gyrations to make my blog post.  I’m afraid it will be a short one.  Then again, if it’s dull, short is better, no? Discuss amongst yourselves.

My husband Steven and I got up early, because he had to be to work early.  I suppose I could have stayed in bed, but what the hell, I was awake and I like coffee with my husband in the morning.

I was determined to go for a walk at least.  I have not been exercising properly this week, and I think it is doing me dirt in the tension headache department.  I took a 35-minute walk after work yesterday, and it felt pretty good.  Yesterday the weather actually reached 50 degrees.  Woo hoo, almost seasonal!  Oh, that brings up another point.  Yesterday I heard a meteorologist say that mid-50’s was seasonal for April, and I realized:  I’m in my mid-50’s.  I’m not old:  I’m seasonal for April.  I’m in the springtime of my life!

Today was cooler but still felt vaguely spring-like.  I put on a scarf that you can twist around your head and your face (it’s pretty nice; my sister Vicki made it).  If it got windy, I hoped to avoid the sinus headache the wind seems to give me.

It was an enjoyable walk, and I saw some crocuses.  Woo hoo again!  I reminded myself to definitely put down more crocuses this fall.  I put some in the fall after we moved in, and we usually get a few blooms.  My intention was to put more down every year and eventually have a yard full.  I have forgotten each year.  So I reminded myself again.  Who knows, maybe 2018 will be the year!

If I had sat down right after the walk, perhaps I could have come up with a decent Pedestrian Post.  Instead I felt light-headed (spring allergies?), so laid down with my face thing on.  My mother got me this face mask that you heat up in the microwave and lay down with.  It’s awesome. Now I am up and sipping hot tea, which is definitely soothing to the sinuses, and the disposition.

I guess I can’t really call this a Scattered Saturday post either, since I didn’t do a whole lot of different things.  And I don’t know how far away I am from going back to Saturday Running Commentary!  Never mind, this is my post and it will have to do.  I hope to see you all on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  Happy Saturday and Happy Spring!

 

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Holiday for Slashers?

Posted on April 14, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Hello and welcome to my Lame Friday the 13th Post.  I always feel as if Friday the 13th should be a holiday, but I have hardly done anything to celebrate today.  I am doing a few of my favorite things, though:  sitting on the couch in comfy clothes, husband nearby, glass of wine at hand, Snapped on the television, and I will go back to crocheting as soon as I make this blog post.

Not even close to mine.

I thought an illustration would pep things up, because my mind is in a strictly non-peppy mode right now.  I say once again that it is flatly amazing to me how I sit down, stare at a blank screen, feel I have less than nothing to say, and yet I type in words.  Good words?  Interesting words?  Let’s not ask for miracles, especially on Lame Post Friday, and Friday the 13th.

“It’s OUR holiday!”

This is the Friday the 13th guy, right?  I’m not as up on my ’70’s slasher flicks as some.  I’m more of a black-and-white horror chick, heavy on the cheese, with a little Hammer thrown in on occasion.  But when it is Friday the 13th, one likes to give Jason a nod (I just quickly used Google to check that his name is really Jason, which is not the same thing as doing real research, but I am only a silly blogger after all).

Speaking of Hammer Horror…

And it is Lame Post Friday, after all.  I wish one and all a Happy Weekend.  Don’t walk under any ladders or let a black cat cross your path.

 

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Thirsty or Non-Sequitur, It’s Thursday

Posted on April 13, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I had a real post yesterday and I am not going to continue the trend.  I’m exhausted!  Never mind what all I did after work (and work wasn’t easy).  I ran around, I wrote some stuff,  I did some housework.  I did not work out.  Don’t judge me.  Oh, what do I care?  Go ahead and judge me!  I’m pathetic!

Oh dear, that sounded suspiciously like whining.  I apologize.  I recently made the observation that we do not have the luxury of giving in to despair. I guess I don’t even get to be too tired to make a blog post.   Well, too tired to make a good blog post.  But perhaps I can rouse myself enough to say something reasonably entertaining.

“Do you need a shave?”

Looking through my Media Library, I find a picture that mentions Thursday, which is today (that’s two days in a row of me knowing what day it is, for anybody who is keeping track).  It reminds me of a thing in my high school.  Some girls started this thing of running a hand along a guy’s face and saying, “Have you shaved?”  I was, of course, too shy and geeky to do such a thing myself, but I witnessed it on several occasions.  The practice stopped when a guy grabbed for a girl’s leg and said, “Have you?”

“Who were you expecting me to dance with, Deborah Kerr?”

I was looking for a related picture when I remembered:  It is Non-Sequitur Thursday!  I can be random as well as silly!  So here is Vincent Price dancing with a skeleton.  Who doesn’t love Vincent Price?  If you just raised your hand, you are probably reading the wrong blog.  However, I will not judge.  Love whoever you like!

This is what I’m waiting for!

To make another non sequitur, I go from monsters to flowers.  I am waiting and waiting for things to begin to bloom around here!  Today at work, I overheard some guys saying things like, “I keep hoping it will snow,” and “I can’t wait till it’s winter again!”  Eventually I called over to them, “Say, are you fellows doing some of that there sarcasm thing?”

Speaking of Thirsty Thursday (see first picture), I think I’ll have a glass of wine.

 

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yum, Yum, YUMMY Lunch!

Posted on April 12, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would give a shout-out to a local business in lieu of my usual Wuss-out Wednesday post (I figured out what day it is, after a little confusion yesterday).  I think I mentioned a recent breakfast my husband Steven and I enjoyed at Heidelberg Cafe in Herkimer, NY, during which I was quite interested in some of the lunch choices.  Well, I was fortunate to enjoy lunch there on Monday.  It did not disappoint.

I got The Veggie: sauteed mushrooms, peppers, onions and eggplant with Swiss on French Peasant Bread.  Steven got half a chicken salad sandwich with a cup of French Onion Soup.  His sandwich was on French Peasant Bread too.  Oh, was my sandwich delicious!  Every bite was a wonderful experience.  It was a little messy, though, so I ate it with a fork and knife.  Definitely worth the extra effort.  Steven nicely gave me a bite of his half sandwich, and it was yummy, too.

We purchased a loaf of French Peasant Bread to take home as well.  By a major effort of will, I did NOT get any further treats.  Not even an English Tea Cookie or the Carrot Cake that sat temptingly on the counter.  However, I had better not rhapsodize on the marvelous treats I passed up or I will find myself running to my vehicle and burning rubber out to Heidelberg before they close for the day.

Heidelberg Cafe and Bakery is located at 3056 State Rt. 28, Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-0999.

 

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I Feel Like a Monster

Posted on April 11, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

It was going to be another Monstrous Monday.  I found some monster pictures in my Media Library, I wrote some foolish comments about them. I was just finishing up and ready to think up a title and hit publish when I remembered:  It isn’t Monday!  It’s Tuesday!  This is what happens when you don’t go to work on Monday.  It messes up your head.  It doesn’t help that I’m not feeling well (my ostensible reason for taking a Monstrous Monday).  In fact, my stomach is starting to roil as I type.  I’m just going to slap a headline on this, hit publish and stretch out.  Here is what I typed in when I thought it was Monday:

I’m afraid it is going to be another Monstrous Monday.  Both Steven and I seem to be down with some 24-hour (I hope) bugaboo. But I shall not go on about our health woes. For one reason, it would be a HIPAA violation.  For another reason, it is boring and a little disgusting.  Never mind, let’s find a picture of a monster to share.

Raise your hand if you think these Monster Monday posts are silly!

I couldn’t find a new picture so I went to my Media Library and found one of Frankenstein’s monster I haven’t used recently (I hope).

He’s been hanging around for a while now.

Here is a friendlier monster.  My husband Steven got me this nice vampire for Christmas some years ago. He’s been hanging in our living room ever since.  As regular readers know, I like to make Halloween last all year.

This plant required a red thumb, not green one.

Oh, here’s a picture I haven’t used more than once, I don’t think.  It is from Roger Corman’s Little Shop of Horrors (1960).  I confess to not being a fan of the musical, but I LOVE the cheesy black-and-white horror flick.

So say I.

I end with how I feel:  tired and ready to say good night!  Full disclosure:  I probably won’t go to bed for a while yet, because I don’t want to wake up at 2 a.m. unable to get back to sleep.  You know how it is.  I’m afraid this has been a foolish post.  We’ll call it a blogger’s sick day and drive on.

 

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Monday Movies

Posted on April 10, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

One of our all time favorites!

Yes, I said I was going to have a real post this Monday, and here I sit, watching old movies.  I took a vacation day today, never mind why, explanations are tiresome.  When we got back home from our obligations, we wanted to watch movies. I wanted an old one, and Steven (my husband) recommended Witness for the Prosecution (1957).  It was a good idea.  Billy Wilder, yes.

Instead of going on with a Billy Wilder theme, or perchance an Elsa Lanchester or Una O’Connor theme, Steven wanted to see a movie with good music. I suggested The Big Chill (1983).

Quite the star-studded cast for the day.

I think the above image is photo-shopped. I hope it is not copyright protected. I just found it on Facebook and downloaded it.  I see it came from Marshall Jay Kaplan’s Fame Cafe.  I think as long as I credit the source, it falls under the “fair use” clause.  It seems the Facebook page last posted in 2016.  I don’t properly understand the internet, as regular readers know.

Right now, I have more important things to ponder, such as what movie to watch next.  Good music? Old movie?  Monsters? The possibilities are endless.  In the meantime, I need to finish this post. I think I will call it another Mental Meanderings Monday and include one more photo, just because three’s the charm.

Back in the day when people made engravings on lighters for presents.

I don’t know if we’ll watch Strangers on a Train (1951) next, but I’m having trouble finding a picture to include, so this will have to do. In fact, I did mention this as a movie to watch tonight, since the  murder victim in Witness for the Prosecution shows up as in a small but pivotal role in Stranger on a Train.  I guess I don’t know what movie, if any we will watch next.  But at over 300 words, I call this respectable for a blog post. Happy Monday, everybody.

 

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Fun Movies on Wrist to Forehead Sunday

Posted on April 9, 2018 by mohawkvalleygirl

Obviously one of them is up to no good.

Hello and welcome to another Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  My husband Steven and I just got done watching Deathtrap (1982) with Christopher Reeve and Michael Caine.  It took me a LONG time to find and download an image from the movie!  I am not as adept as others at these things.  No matter.  My only purpose right now is to post something, anything, so that I don’t go a day without posting.  As regular readers know, it is kind of a thing with me.  I think a post about movies will fill the bill nicely.

It’s a real ensemble cast.

Steven wanted to watch a fun movie next; he felt he just couldn’t bear anything serious.  I know the feeling.  I said he should pick one of his old favorites, and he suggested Soapdish (1991).  I was just thinking about that movie the other day, because it was an answer in a crossword puzzle I was working on.  I have had kind of an obsession with pencil puzzles lately, mostly crosswords and cryptograms.  I may psychoanalyze  that some Lame Post Friday.  I think tabletop psychology counts as half-baked philosophy.

Never give up! Never surrender!

I like to include three pictures, so I add one from a movie Steven watched the other day, after I had gone to bed (I go to bed early during the week).  This is one of my favorites too.

I suppose it might have been nice to say something ABOUT these movies and not just show pictures.  Then again, it is Wrist to Forehead Sunday.  Tomorrow I will actually start my week and see if I can come up with better blog posts.  I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

 

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