Author Archives: mohawkvalleygirl

Garlic Good Times

Posted on September 17, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

Saturday I was delighted to attend the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival in Little Falls, NY. Steven unfortunately had to work, but I was joined by my sister Diane, her daughter, Camille;, and her mother-in-law, Sally.

This is the third time Diane, Camille and I have been to the Garlic Festival, and it is always a good time. It was Sally’s first visit. Eat, Stink and Be Merry, their advertising said, and we did.

Next year, I want to try to arrive closer to ten, when it opens. We got there after 11:30, and it was in full swing. We dropped Sally and Camille close to the gate while we drove a few blocks away but were happy to find a parking spot. I don’t mind walking; I need the exercise. I later found out there was a shuttle but never got any details as to where we could have caught it. Hey, I never said I was the most detailed blogger.

Before going into the festival, we saw that The Piccolo Cafe was offering a free beer tasting. I enjoyed some Saranac Pumpkin Ale. The young man pouring gave me a couple others he said I’d like (he was right), but I foolishly neglected to write them down (I’m not very detailed and not very organized). Most of the beers were made in the area. I must check out some of those breweries.

Then it was on to the Garlic Festival! $3 admission for adults, under age 12 free. That was a bargain, because there was a lot to see and live music playing. We walked around a bit before getting something to eat. We were lucky enough to find a picnic table to sit at while we ate, then we walked around some more.

We were not able to spend as much time chatting with the vendors as we have in the past, because it was so crowded. Everybody was friendly and ready to answer questions, but there were so many people, I felt obligated to move along. Getting out of one person’s way, I would usually bump into somebody else. People were very good-natured about it, and I tried to be more careful.

Regarding neither detailed nor organized, I picked up a number of brochures and business cards, which I promptly left in Diane’s car, which she drove back to Liverpool. She said she would send it to me, so perhaps I can do a follow-up to this post, adding specific details about some vendors. In the meantime, I’ll just say the Garlic Festival is a wonderful annual event in the area. For more information, you can Like their Facebook page.

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Not Writing

Posted on September 16, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is Wrist to Forehead Sunday, and there is nothing I can do but let it continue to be Wrist to Forehead Sunday and hope that Monday is better.

And yet I still must compose a blog post.

However, another blogger once pointed out (or maybe it was somebody who commented on another blog) (or maybe it was me) that writing about not writing is still writing. Some weeks I spend a lot of time writing about why I’m not writing. I imagine it gets tiresome to some people.

What can I say? If you’re tired of reading it, QUIT READING! Oh dear, I do hope nobody did. I’m thinking this gives some people a chance to feel that delicious wave of superiority: “If I wrote a blog every day, I would make damn sure I had something to say.” Maybe there are even some readers who do write a blog every day, and do find something to say. That would be cool.

OK, so here is my assignment for the rest of the week: to write extra blog posts so that the next time I hit a wrist to forehead kind of day, I can just find one in my Draft section and hit Publish.

Won’t that be nice?

I do hope tomorrow is not Wrist to Forehead Monday.

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My Thoughts Run Away With Me

Posted on September 14, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went running this morning for two reasons. First, I need a blog post. Second, when I got dressed to go do laundry (I got up EARLY this morning), I felt fat.

“I feel like I’ve gained back all the weight I ever lost,” I wailed to Steven. As usual, he did not know what to say. In his defense, what could he say? Anyways, I knew it wasn’t true. However, one cannot always help what one feels.

Be that as it may, as soon as I got home from the laundromat, I got into my running clothes. As I mentioned yesterday (if any of you nice people read it), the temperature has dropped around here. Still, I thought bicycle shorts and a t-shirt would be OK. I added a headband, in case of cold ears, just to be on the safe side.

I was soon glad of the headband, and wished I had something for my hands. Never mind, I didn’t need to use my hands for anything. They could get cold and stiff. I wasn’t going to be running long enough to do any permanent damage, not by a long shot.

I thought I could equal my last week’s time of 25 minutes. I reflected as I ran that one cannot run only once a week and expect to get into good running shape. Still, I have to start somewhere. I’m not in completely flabby shape, because I work out at Curves three times a week.

As I ran, I reflected on the differences between running and working out at Curves. Curves is more intense, and there is a lot more going on. Peppy music plays, other ladies working out make funny jokes, you move from machine pad to machine. Altogether a great deal more variety is involved. When running, the entertainment comes from one’s own thoughts and the slowly (very slowly in my case) changing scenery. Oh, I know, some people run with headphones in their ears. I prefer to be aware of my surroundings.

So I felt a little pleased with myself, providing my own entertainment, as it were. I enjoyed the leisurely pace, and the grey day around me. I looked at the houses I ran by and speculated on their possible occupants. I enjoyed my own thoughts.

And then my thoughts took a turn for the worse.

It’s a terrible thing, how sometimes you just let your thoughts wander and they wander right over to something that pissed you off. Then you start thinking about how it pissed you off, and how you were justified in being pissed off, and what steps you will take to keep such a thing from pissing you off in the future. And would they work?

Then I realized I was being rather ridiculous and ruining my nice run. So I tried to think about something else. Mostly I started thinking about the weather, which seemed to have gotten colder. I thought running was supposed to warm me up! I hoped the cold air would not give me a raging sinus headache, as it was clearly threatening to do. No matter, I told myself. A hot shower and a cup of hot tea would cure my ills.

Well, I have not had the tea yet, but the shower felt pretty good (what, you didn’t think I ran straight to the computer in all my sweat and started typing this, did you?). I’m not sure that it was a good run, but I made my 25 minutes. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I ran up the hill by Valley Health. So I am glad I ran. Now to get on with the rest of my day.

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Walking into the Weekend

Posted on September 14, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

After two days of 80+ degree weather, things cooled off here in the Mohawk Valley. Therefore, after supper, I suggested Steven, Tabby and I take a walk, so I could write my blog post about that, rather than my usual Lame Post Friday schtick.

Full disclosure: Earlier in the day, I had told myself that if it did not rain, I would go running and write my post about that. Imagine my chagrin when, on leaving work, I discovered that it was NOT raining. In my defense, I had spent a good portion of the day with a rather debilitating headache, such as I am unfortunately subject to. I try not to complain about my headaches overly much, but I do just mention them, especially when they prevent me from doing something I intended to do.

This being Lame Post Friday, I could now go into some half-baked philosophy about how what to me is “merely mentioning” is to somebody else “pissing, moaning and whining like a baby.” Somebody unpleasant, no doubt. Never mind, I’m writing about our walk.

Steven and I put on sweatshirts over our t-shirts. Tabby, of course, had her natural fur coat. Steven and I felt a little chilly right off the bat, especially when the wind blew. Tabby seemed fine. Then again, Tabby ran up and down the backyard barking excitedly while Steven smoked a cigarette. I’ll have to try that sometime. Maybe not the barking. We’ll see.

We decided to walk the Tabby way. She pulled us down Bellinger Street toward Myers Park. We like to go through the park. I admired some flowers still blooming on a neighbor’s porch. We discussed garden plans for next year, and Steven shared some gardening memories from his childhood.

It felt very good to walk, and I enjoyed the fall-like temperature. Our walk lasted about a half hour. It was not very eventful, but we enjoyed it. Now we will continue to enjoy our Friday night and the rest of the weekend. I’m hoping more blogworthy adventures will ensue.

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At Least I Mentioned the Benefit

Posted on September 13, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh, this is terrible. I’m sitting here looking at the blank screen with my fingers on the keyboard and NOTHING IS HAPPENING.

Apparently something is happening, because I just typed in two sentences. Anyways, the screen isn’t blank. It says “Add New Post” at the top, and there is a box that says “Enter Title Here,” and a bunch of little symbols that I can click to access other posts or italicize words on this post etc etc etc.

Welcome to Non-Sequitur Thursday.

I had not meant to write yet another nothing post. I had meant to dash out a blurb for a benefit spaghetti dinner to be held this Saturday, Sept. 14 for Father Paul and Patricia Bailey. Fr. Paul used to be the pastor of the church Steven and I attend (when we attend church). They both have health problems, and it is just too bad, because they are the nicest people imaginable. I know, you would expect a pastor and his wife to be nice, but still. Really, really nice.

I donated an afghan for the Chinese auction to be held with the dinner. I had been going to write about my tribulations finding the lady’s apartment to drop it off (you know my terrible sense of direction). But, quite frankly, nothing is coming.

By the way, East Herkimer Fire Department, 193 E. Main Rd., East Herkimer. 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14. $7 ages 12 and over, $4 ages 5 to 12, younger than 5 free.

Ooh, look, over 200 words. That works, doesn’t it?

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Toot! Toot!

Posted on September 12, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I don’t usually write about work in my blog, but I told Joanie I was going to tell this story.

Some of us are on overtime. We walk into the factory at quarter to five, which some people feel is the middle of the night. I walk up the stairs, but several people were getting on the elevator.

Joanie said, “Toot, toot! All Aboard!”

She later told me another co-worker said, “Glad you’re so happy to be here,” adding that she would not be when she had worked there as long as he had.

Joanie disputed this. I guess we’ll have to wait thirty years to see who is right, although I’m betting on Joan. In the meantime, Joanie agreed with something I like to say: “You can laugh or you can cry. You might as well laugh.”

I’d like to call this a Mid-week Middle-aged Musing, but I already had a Monday Middle-aged Musing this week. How much musing can one middle-aged lady do in a week? OK, I do a lot. How many blogs about mental meanderings can one blogger get away with? I’m hoping a lot.

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On To The Produce

Posted on September 11, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought, being as I am Mohawk Valley Girl, it would behoove me to mention that I stopped by the Herkimer, NY, Farmer’s Market on Monday.

The stop was part of some wild gyrations that enhanced (or made hideous) my Monday. I was going to write about that, but thinking about it made me tired all over again. I think a short shout-out to the Farmer’s Market and I’m out of here.

The Herkimer Farmer’s Market has had various homes over the years, but I think I like their current one best. It is in the parking lot of the large building owned by HARC at 420 E. German St. This provides lots of space and lots of parking. I had no problem pulling in and finding a space.

Full disclosure: Steven and I actually stopped by the Farmer’s Market last Monday, Labor Day. I did not feel we got the full effect, however, since some vendors were not there due to the holiday. We had purchased a Halloween dish towel with one of those crochet things you can attach to a drawer handle. I love those dish towels with the crochet thing. We also got some grape tomatoes. Yum.

This past Monday I was in the market for tomatoes again, one big one this time. The produce stand was at the opposite end from where I started. So first I sampled some Three Village Cheeses. I believe I’ve given Three Village Cheese a shout out before. An excellent product. I purchased some Havarti, mentally revising my dinner plans to include cheese.

I also impulse bought two breakfast granola cookies. I foolishly neglected to get a business card or make note of that vendor’s name. Perhaps I shall return to the market next Monday and repair that omission.

On to the produce. I wavered for a moment: $1 for one big tomato or $4 for five? But I couldn’t bear to buy more tomato than needed and let them go bad before I ate them. I went for the one.

I was pleased with my purchases and pleased to have a Mohawk Valley attraction to mention in my blog. The Herkimer Farmer’s Market is on Mondays from 1 to 7 p.m.

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Not Even an Excuse

Posted on September 10, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, here it is Middle-aged Musings Monday and I have nothing, not even an excuse.

Other days when I have not written my blog post while at work, it has usually been because I was working on my novel. Truth be known, this is not an airtight alibi, because other days I have been able to do both, utilizing different breaks for each purpose. Still, working on a novel. There could be no possible objection.

I did work on the novel. I wrote a little more than a page.

And it wasn’t very good.

I realize I may not be the best judge of this. However, since I am the only one allowed to read the dumb thing at this point, I am the only judge. And I judge: gotta do better than this.

That’s really all I want to say about the novel, though. For one thing, if you talk too much about a novel, you no longer need to write it. And anybody out there who says, “I told you that years ago,” just shut up, you did not. Oh, but that’s the other thing: everybody is SO READY to offer advice, whether or not they have actually written a novel themselves. Even a bad novel. Even a stupid novel that never got published.

Oh wait, I wrote a stupid novel that never got published. I guess that means I can give myself advice. My advice to myself is: don’t publish this blog post, it’s stupid. Write something good.

How many of you out there take advice? Let me see your hands.

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Shouldn’t the Mice Have Eaten Cheese?

Posted on September 9, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

As I checked out the listings for TCM one Saturday, in my ongoing quest for cinematic cheese, I came across a kind of a blast from my past, Gay Purr-ee (1962).

I remember that I watched Gay Purr-ee with my sisters one Saturday afternoon roughly a hundred years ago. I remember that I watched it more than I remember watching it, if you see what I mean. I was pretty young, although I couldn’t tell you my exact age.

I know I was rather unsavvy about cinema (that was expertise I was to acquire in later years) (and anybody who said, “Still waiting, huh?” I bet you’re pretty pleased with yourself). I thought it was The Aristocats. In my defense, beautiful fluffy white cat with a rough and ready tom for a boyfriend. Which was pretty much all I knew about The Aristocats, either.

One thing I remembered well: the tom cat has this thing he does when he goes after a mouse. It’s as if he’s possessed and becomes a mouse-catching machine. Or maniac. His eyes bug out, his fur sticks out, his claws come out… it’s pretty cool. And if figures hugely into the plot, so I don’t like to say too much about it.

Anyways, I DVR’d the movie for nostalgia’s sake. Eventually I got around to watching it.

Who knew there were movie star voices! It seems I should have at least known Judy Garland plays the beautiful white cat. I knew who Judy Garland was; we watched The Wizard of Oz every year when it came on television (this was the olden days, even before VCRs).

As I watched it this time, I also recognized at least one voice from the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, but I did not track down the name that went with it. Of course I would not have known the name as a kid, but I might have been expected to say, “Hey, that’s Burgermeister Meisterburger!”

Speaking of Christmas, at times the animation reminded me of Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I believe I saw the name Chuck Jones at the beginning, and I think he had something to do with those.

It’s sometimes fun to watch a movie you saw years and years ago and say, “I remember that part!” and “I don’t remember that AT ALL!” Sometimes you say, “Wow, I had lousy taste as a kid.” Sometimes you say, “That was worth a watch.” Gay Purr-ee was fortunately in the latter category. It’s not a great movie. I won’t be searching out the DVD for my younger relatives, but I didn’t mind watching it once. And so my search for cheese continues. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

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Thanks, Nicky!

Posted on September 8, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have missed running. I have been trying to make it to Curves three times a week, so I get exercise, but it is not the same. I committed to a year at Curves, which is almost up. I told them I would be taking a break and going back to running. I still have this month and next to go to Curves, after which I will seriously apply myself. In the meantime, I thought a Saturday morning run would be a good idea.

I debated whether to run before or after Steven left for work, but decided to go while the going was good. I confess to feeling a little excited to run after all this time (did not check my running journal to see how long it has actually been. Too long is all I know). I put on bicycle shorts and a large t-shirt, because it was 50something out. I grabbed a headband, in case my ears got cold.

Right away I felt terrific. It was a little after 6:30. I waved and called good morning to our paper deliverers. They are awesome. I always get my paper in a timely fashion. They have quite a large delivery area, it seems.

Right away I could cross German Street, so I did. I might run the hill by Valley Health! I usually don’t get that ambitious on a run when I’ve had a long layoff, but like I said, I felt terrific! Then I remembered the closed road up ahead and was afraid I would have to run in the road on the right side with traffic. I can’t do that! Left side facing traffic, always!

I crossed back at the next corner. Anybody watching me might assume I was crossing back and forth to make my run longer. Or they could think I was a crazy old lady. What do I care what anybody thinks?

The terrific feeling, of course, did not last. It didn’t matter. Being a first run after a layoff, expectations are not high. I could run slow. I didn’t have to run very far or very long. I could even stop and walk if I had to, although I did not expect to have to. One thing I know how to do is keep up at least a slow shuffling run for just about as long as I decide to.

I ran all the way down German street, then around that corner. Hmmm…. down Church to Main? I might be walking on Main with Tabby later. Down Graham, then Park Avenue to Myers Park. My hands got cold, but I ignored them. My ears got cold, but I pulled the headband over them and was comfortable. Through the park and to Prospect Street. I would run for 20 minutes. I had thought 15 would be acceptable in a pinch, but I knew I could make it for 20.

Heading up Prospect, the owner of Curves drove by on her way to work.

“First you run, then you go to Curves!” she called.

“I will run to Curves!” I told her. I meant that figuratively, of course.

Up Prospect to Church. I saw a cute little dog on Church Street (I guess I describe all dogs as cute; this one appeared to be part poodle). I would have liked to pet it, but the person turned away to walk up Prospect away from me. I could have continued towards it, but since the person might have been trying to avoid me, I kind of didn’t like to.

Turning down Church, which goes to my street, I figured I could run past the house and maybe through the parking lot of the apartment building at the end of the street to make my 20 minute goal. Or I could go another block, up Henry and around. That might make it a 22 or 23-minute run. That was doable.

Then I saw a little white dog up ahead. Was that my friend Nicky? I wanted to pet Nicky! This necessitated my running past Henry and crossing the street.

“Hi, Nicky! Good dog, good to see you!” He graciously allowed me to pet him. “Nice to see you too,” I said to his person.

“You too. Have a good run. You’ve got nice weather for it!”

“I do!” No time for more as I ran up Margaret and made for home. That made it a 25-minute run. Woohoo! I’ll be back in shape in no time!

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